My name is Brandon Marion, I am an African American 24 year old. People's perception of me is usually along the lines of thinking I'm goofy, carefree, caring, and kind. I don't pretend to be anything I'm not, but I do try and hide my stress and being nervous when out in public, or in more serious situations. I wish I could be more confident in myself and see the potential everyone sees in me, and not let myself and inner thoughts be the reason I'll never reach my full potential. Race has played a huge role, being a black man there is so much support and I've always had a great foundation lifting me up whenever I felt down.

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My first experience with race was as a child. I was at school and this was while Obama was winning the election. A girl in class was arguing with one of my peers, and she said "that's why our president is a monkey!" I just stood there in shock, I didn't have a response because I was close with her and seeing the true side of her hurt the most as I perceived her as someone she obviously wasn't. This shaped my worldview to know people aren't who they always seem.

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I think someone with a bad sense of self will never feel accepted with their ethnic identity. They'll try and act and be a certain way that is accepted by people they shouldn't focus on instead of being themselves and how they are. Someone with an identifies positively will have a stronger sense of self. They'll know their roots, where they came from and what those before them went through. Knowing your past and what you came from will give you motivation to keep that going.

Ubuntu is alive and well in my eyes in African American culture. What I've learned of Ubuntu is that it deals with togetherness and helpfulness. I feel as if now African Americans have been stronger than recent years. We always have a hand out no matter who it is that needs help, and we keep each other safe. Being a young black man, every time I pass someone of my ethnicity we give each other a head nod. That acknowledgment gives me security that someone has my back and I also have theirs. Now a similarity I see in African cultures and African American culture is food. My family always made collard greens no matter what the occasion was. Even the music they would play, my aunts would always tell me "this is your heritage" and I never paid much attention as I should've.

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Veneration of the person is a big aspect in todays age for us. It is to value all of life and its moments and lessons. As the days go by there is someone who is always telling me that my life is a life worth living, and to never forget that. I want to grow and be someone that people younger than me want to be like when they get to where I am, or even better. The weakest out of the seven would be human authenticity, being genuine and sincere. I think we can be better with how we are to each other. We should always be together, and sometimes it feels like we're against each other for no reason without even knowing the person we're arguing with.

Theme 3

Imani or faith, has been most prevalent in my life. Since I was a kid I was taught my faith in God will be what gets me through the hardest times of life. I've tried to use things of the world to deal with pain or emotions and it never gets me anywhere. Every time I've left it in God's hands, its been dealt with and I've learned and healed.