The Bite Magazine

TO BE BLACK: AN
AISB EXPERIENCE
To read “To Be Black,” scan the QR
code or access thebite.aisb.ro.
As you probably know, Aries’ article “To Be
Black” went viral at our school, and then
beyond, as it was picked up by the BBC.
Here’s what she has to say now.
Q: DID YOU EVER EXPECT YOU
WOULD RECEIVE SO MUCH
ATTENTION FOR THIS ARTICLE?
A: Definitely not. I actually got
pulled aside just today because
a visitor from California
is at the school. She told me
about how my article reached
her via Twitter and she shared
it with a community she runs
online made up of people who
have graduated international
schools. They had been really
pleased by what I wrote as
most of their discussions stem
from race and intersex issues
and how they aren’t properly
taught in these settings. She
even mentioned that she went
to a conference in Thailand
and that the majority of those
attending were talking about
the piece. I never expected my
words to get so far, especially
being the second piece I’ve
ever written for The Bite. Like
my first one, I expected my
friends to read it, my family to
share it, and then move on to
the next one.
Q: WHAT WAS IT LIKE GETTING
THIS REPUBLISHED ON THE
BBC?
A: It’s very overwhelming. I’m
really not too sure of how I’m
supposed to respond and I get
really anxious when people
thank me for writing it; I’m
only capable of smiling and
thanking them for their kind
words, but I never feel like
that’s enough. I find myself
not knowing what to say next,
and I hope I’m not seen as
awkward as I feel. I think the
biggest shock was the Reddit
thread. Since comments were
disabled on the article itself,
I never thought that people
would use other outlets to
discuss it. It was ignorant on
my part due to the age we live
in, but to think that the words
I produced are worthy of such
conversation is just... it makes
me feel really giddy inside, but
there’s also this small knot of
fear.
Q: HAS THIS INFLUENCED
YOUR PLANS FOR AFTER HIGH
SCHOOL?
A: The publishing of my work
has actually made me doubt
what I initially planned to do
after high school, which was
to pursue a bachelor’s in 2-D
animation. However, the editor
at BBC sent me some advice
in an email telling me that
writing isn’t necessarily a
passion that needs to be studied,
and that most people find
themselves gradually pulled
back into their pastimes later
in life. So, I’m still going to
study animation, but with help
from the school, I’ll hopefully
find some internships to keep
myself writing throughout
college.