Tawana'Danyelle Smith felt like she belonged at her elementary school P.S. 95 in Brooklyn, where she was surrounded by kids from different backgrounds who knew each other from living in the same neighborhood. When she went to I.C. Norcom High School in Virginia, she struggled to fit in with the ethnocentric groups and found her nationality, accent, style, and mannerisms to be different. It was not until attending Norfolk State University that she gained the confidence to form her own ethnorelative group of friends where everyone felt comfortable regardless of where they were from, how they dressed, or their accent, as long as they had class and sincerity.

1. Outgroup

2. P.S.95Tawana’Danyelle Smith, age 12, Brooklyn, New York. Attended P.S. 95 in the early ninety’s. That’s were a point in my life I felt I once belonged. I was surrounded around kids of different nationalities and we all quite knew each other from living in the same burrows.

3. I.C. Norcom High School2003, going to I.C. Norcom High School in Portsmouth, Virginia I felt I had to find myself towards an “Ethnocentric Group”. I couldn’t find a group of which I fit in. My nationality, accent, pose, dress, and swagger were quite different.

4. Norfolk State University 2006, coming in to college at Norfolk State University, I finally got the momentum to be a leader and form a group of my own a “Ethno relative Group” of friends. Were everyone feel comfortable no matter were you are from, your style of dress, and your accent. Just as long as you have class and sincerity, you cool with me.