Sunday my brother Juliun moved to Houston. He’s turning 23 this month so he’s looking for a fresh start and Houston is his first stop. It’s bittersweet because I will of course miss him but at the same time I’m very proud of him. I know he’s going to be successful wherever he goes. He is the life of the party and has never met a stranger. Juliun and I are complete opposites though. He is an extrovert and I’m definitely an introvert. He is loud and I’m a bit more soft spoken, but the biggest thing that sets us apart is simply how we look. He has an Olive complexion whereas mine is pale. When I got papers back on the first day of grade school or got a speeding ticket, I was a white female. When he got papers back on the first day of grade school or got a speeding ticket, he was a black male. Once, when he was in school, our mom went pick him up while he was in the band room. When he saw her standing there he got embarrassed and ran out because she was white. Once, when I was in school, my dad came pick me up and I too was embarrassed but because he was black. My brother and I are different in many ways. But, we also are alike in ways that we never knew. We both struggled with acceptance within ourselves and social judgments, a lot like other children. But all of that has made my brother my best friend (and sometimes I secretly wish for his tan.) Hopefully Houston keeps him safe!
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