A stigma

Stigma-a mark of disgrace or infamy, stained or reproached on one's reputation.

 A huge stigma in my neighborhood is someone who’s sent to jail. The social stigma is that he/she is a criminal or there bad because they have done wrong. Where I grew up it’s assumed that people who end up going to jail is forever a criminal and never can be trusted. For example, when someone with a higher reputation hears or learns about it they seem to be skeptical about whether approaching the person or not.  I personally don’t believe that when someone is sent to jail they should be viewed as the worst person in the world. But I also believe that depending on what the case was they should be thoroughly thought through.

My relationship with this stigma is that my cousin who is very dear to me has been locked up since 2004 for something that he hasn’t committed but cannot snitch on his own blood as well. It’s like his destiny is already written out for him. This is where the stigma comes in. People who hear about that my cousin is locked up they don’t want to have anything to do with me whether it’s my own blood or not. I don’t believe that someone should automatically have a bad reputation on them when nobody knows what the case really is. The media makes it look just like I said above. What I’m doing to reinforce this stigma is staying away with anything that has to do with the law. I understand that the law is to serve us the best way they can but there are pros and cons to everything.