My Original Sin

Mitchell Nazareth

Ms. Waterman

American Lit

9/12/21

    I chose my scarlet letter not by how I perceive myself. Truth be told, when I look back on my past, I have made mistakes, errors in judgment, and faults to which are mine alone. However, I do not interpret these as sins, or even failures of my own. I look at many of my past mistakes as if they were consequences of my surroundings because, with future vision, I understand that they do not represent me. I interpret the scarlet letter assignment as something that needs to stick with me the same way it does for Hester Prynn. She can never abandon or let go of the baby she birthed. No matter where she runs or hides, her baby will indefinitely be a mark on her soul. I want my letter to represent something similar, something no matter how far I run I will never be able to leave in the past.

    I have chosen my mixed race to be my sin, specifically being half black. I think that it’s fitting to choose half of my heritage, who for a large part of history were considered to be non-catholic heathens, to be my sin. Although I personally don’t think that it is a sin, and I would never change this fact about me it is clear that too many others my half-black lineage is something to be condemned. To the white side of my family who I rarely talk to these days, it may be a burden on them to consider that the only two children passing on the family name and blood are both tainted by something their ancestors would have lynched.

    That said, I wear my sin with utmost pride. The idea of being half black, tainting my glorious, pure, European blood is complete horse shit. I love being something in between and holding ambiguity over those who view me. Every time I hear someone talk about how I’m Indian, native American, or maybe even middle eastern, I laugh on the inside and occasionally on the outside.

    With no hesitation I can proudly say, I love my sin. It is the greatest blessing I could have asked for. Not just the skin, but the beautiful people that I was born into. I love exploring and learning about my ancestors on both sides, and talking more with my grandma trying to uncover lost family members. It is something that I will always hold dear in my heart, and hope that others get cursed with the sin of mixed lineage.