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Growing Up Sheltered by New York City
I never realized how different the rest of the world was
I grew up in New York City in the 1970s and part of the ’80s. When I was a little girl, the other kids and I played on my block while our mothers kept watch and socialized. They sat or leaned on the low wall in front of the apartments across the street from the three-family houses, one of which I lived in. None of my friends looked like me. And they all ate meat while I was a “pure vegetarian” as my mother said. No eggs but ghee was OK.
I was an Indian girl with pale gold skin, huge black eyes, and wavy hair.
My friends included twins whose father was from Ireland. They had straight copper braids and freckles and they burned in the summer.
My South Indian friend’s hair tended to frizz, which drove her nuts, and her skin was smooth and chocolate colored.
Another friend immigrated from the Caribbean in the 6th grade. I liked her bold attitude and laughter. A half-Japanese had the best stuffed animal collection, along with soft chestnut hair and delicate features. She became a model. Another girl’s parents came from…
