backgroundfile-65634

Growing
UP
By Anthony Gebrehiwot
“
I remember racial slurs being
thrown out towards me or the
other two African Canadian
kids at least once a week.
66
“
Like most first generation immigrants, both my parents left their homeland of Africa in search of
safety, stability and better opportunities. Upon their arrival, they were instantly faced with obstacles and
controversy. Between acquiring their citizenship (which was particularly difficult at the time), finding a
home and holding down a steady job, life was already tremendously challenging for them. This was all
happening before I came into the picture. Prior to entering the world, my parents, with their combined
income, managed to save up a decent amount. They were able to save up enough
money to take the weight off their shoulders for a little bit.
That was until they decided to have a child. When you do something for the first time, you aren’t
always prepared for what’s to come. When I was born, whatever amount that my parents had saved up
went straight to diapers, formula, toys and whatever other expenses go into raising a newborn. By the time
I was four, both my parents’ savings accounts were exhausted and they had even managed to run into a
debt that my mother is still attempting to pay off until this very day. When I turned 7 years old, the stress of
financial instability took its toll on my parents resulting in a separation. I remember the day that my Father
left the home. My mom told me that he didn’t want to give her money to do laundry and for many years,
growing up, I believed that they split up over that specific argument.