“LATANYA”

This piece is based upon an African American girl, age 16

Her main quote: I can be myself all the time, regardless of where I am at. 

Some of her other quotes:

• Being popular is all about clothes.  It don't really think it's the personality, it's just your appearance. It's not important to me to be popular because I feel that if people can’t acceptance me for who I am, then why bother hanging out with them?  For me,  I am the kind of person that if you don’t like me for who I am, you don't have to speak to me. 

• Just be yourself.  Don’t change for anyone, you know.  Live life to the fullest!  Enjoy it.

• Most adults think teenage girls are out there doing things that they shouldn't be doing.  Most of us are not like that,  so you can’t stereotype people.  Don’t judge us. 

• I do look women in magazines and I'm like, "that's nice," you know, but you can change yourself—that is how you were made.  If you're are to supposed to be big, then that is natural for you.  Most people change their image for other people instead of for themselves. 

• I'm 16, and I just want to live my life for a while—I'm not ready yet for a boyfriend. You know, let the relationships hold off for a while.  You still got your whole life ahead of you.  I mean this is just high school now. 

• I think relationships are harder for girls.  There are so many girls who just want to be loved by a guy.  I feel that you have so much love from your parents and friend—why would you need love from a guy? 

• Anybody can be sexy...even in, like, just regular clothes.  It doesn't mean wearing your little cleavage out and your stomachs, wearing short shorts and tight pants stuff and stuff like that—that's just yech.  I mean, I can be "all that" in a pair of raggedy jeans.

• The girls complain about how guys just want them for sex, you know, and it's like, look how you present yourself.  How do you expect to not have guys behave that way?  Dress more sophisticated.  You don’t need clothes like that to know that you're beautiful.

• I don’t want to sound conceited—I’m not like that at all—but consider that I am a beautiful person inside and out. 

• Don't worry about make up.  You probably don't look too much better with it on!  That gump on your face makes you look even worse.  

• My parents, they always taught me, "be yourself, you don't need to change for anybody."  And I feel that's true but I don't think other people's parents tell them that because they really don't believe that.

• On a scale from one to ten, I'd say my self-esteem is a ten.