Brian Roberts, Gaithersburg, MD. I am a middle-aged American black man. I thought that if I lived my life as a solid citizen, went to the right schools, secured a good career, raised a family, I would not only provide for my family, I would set an example that would make white people less frightened […]
Brian, West Hills, CA. To expand on those six words, I’d say that discrimination against people of color still exists, though often more subtle than it used to be (e.g., implicit bias). Still, the degree of discrimination is vastly underapreciated, especially by whites. On the other hand, whites are always under suspicion for being racist, […]
Joseph Palmieri, Framingham, MA. As a white male, I feel like I have been subject to a sort of stigma just like people of other races and genders have. Some may think that white men are relieved from a form of discrimination, but this is not the case. I have been told multiple times that […]
Mary Fruin, Charlotte, NC. I think that Rev . Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s Dream is nowhere near being fulfilled when our big corporations are illegally paying big bonuses to managers to hire & promote minorities and women (read: not white men) and giving soft metric well paying jobs to minorities while chasing White males […]
Jessica Ruth Robkin Port St. Lucie, FL I have faced discrimination my entire life, though the moment that brought about the above sentence occurred outside of my mother’s hospital room, while she lay dying from pancreatic cancer at the age of 57. My father and I happened to meet someone who had known my mother […]
David Chase, New York, NY. Apparently some people feel that “all oppression is not equal”. My experience as a gay white man unfortunately has not always been one of solidarity with non-gay non-white people. Growing up as a child in Woodstock, NY in the 60’s and 70’s I was brought up to be supportive of […]
Annabel Knight, Austin, TX. We were talking about SS Disability, and he said “No, it’s not hard at all to get on disability–all you have to do is be a fat Mexican.” So wrong, I just couldn’t be silent. My husband backed me up, most of the rest of the table squirmed uncomfortably. Why is […]
David Murray, Highland Heights, KY. I feel, especially now, that this sums up what is going on in not only our country, but the world. With what is happening with Trump now and what happened leading up to the election and inauguration, it is clear to see that prejudice and discrimination are alive throughout the […]
Isabelle Norconk, San Diego, CA. As a white woman, I don’t experience the struggle and discrimination that other men and women of minority groups feel. That’s not to say I have no problems, they just don’t have to do with systemic racism and racial stereotypes. Something I can do to combat this and to add […]
Jonathan Routon, Riverside, CA. Often times people are afraid to own up to past racism due to how they may be judged. I must confess that I have thrown hurtful and disgusting words in my youth and while I am far from proud of this period of my life I also fully own the fact […]
Rachael Hall Miller, Virginia Beach, VA.
Shari, NJ. Monmouth Unoversity
Danielle Pitsenberger, USA. My mother is black and my father is white, so I’m mixed. In my day to day life it is very unlikely for me to deal with any discrimination or prejudice. All of friends are from all different types of places and are all different races. My friends and I all cherish […]
Ahpaly Coradin, Pembroke Pines, FL. It is easy to forget that discrimination, ostracism and prejudice are not the exclusive currency of the white race. As much as I have been discriminated against by whites in America and abroad, I have suffered similarly from my own kind, in all my lands of origin.
Stan Lightner, Elyria, OH. As a disabled combat vet I have been a target of discrimination on numerous occasions by “Christian” conservatives. Imagine how it feels to be called lazy, welfare queen, worth less than an Iraq POW just for starters. BTW I have an earned doctorate in Occupational & Adult Education from Oklahoma State […]
Peter Nanula, Newport Coast, CA. I look white and was raised in mostly white areas, so no one knows I am half-black. Because they don’t know, they don’t make racial judgments. This feels hopeful – as we inter-marry (like my parents did) and integrate our society, bias and discrimination go away over time. We all […]
Naim A., San Francisco, CA. These are the words I hear every time I go to the airport. Being Arab-American, I always face discrimination whether it’s from peers or random people on the street or social media but never let it get to me. The airport is the one place that always seems to get […]
Shane Webb, Salt Lake, UT. Race was given to us as a gift, whether that gift came from God or Nature is irrelevant. Race makes humanity more unique and it isn’t valid grounds for discrimination and belittling.
Barry Allen, Cedar Rapids, IA. What I mean here is that when I was thin, (smoking cigarettes) doors were opened much more regularly & loneliness was not a problem. Now fat, (not smoking) the loneliness is at times unbearable. Am I not the same person? Obesity creates discrimination similar to that of racial or gender […]
Emily, Houston, TX. Many people complain about discrimination, stereotypes, and prejudices relating to race; and I am under no illusion that what they experience is real and happens every day. After experiencing such treatment, I would hope that those people would be more sensitive to the subject and try not to stereotype people. Unfortunately, I […]
Kathleen E Lo Pinto Vignolini, Long Branch, NJ. No other group, except maybe the Jews, have had such a long period of discrimination against them. From Slavery, to post Civil war (the North won the battle, but lost the war!) of Jim Crow, “separate but equal” led to Segregation both de facto & legalized, all […]
Asha Parker New York City, NY Though we have come a long way, we are still shown on a daily basis that we are no where near the end of the fight to end racial discrimination.
Doris Bell New York City, NY Brooklyn In my experience in the public school system in NYC starting in 1927 there was always an awareness of discrimination that I had to overcome in order to achieve my goals.
Andrea Franklin Savannah, GA Claiming to not see race too often results in also claiming not to see racism, discrimination, violence, and oppression.
Yuka Nakamura Des Moines, IA Drake University
Perla Alvarez Eugene, OR
Crystal White Detroit, MI Growing up with a fair complexion in a place like Michigan is harder than most would think. With Detroit being pretty much the only city inhabited by African Americans until recent years, living in the suburbs was a difficult life. From being called the n-word in elementary school where I was […]
Jan Mason NY Born and raised in paradise as a Haole (white) person I had more than my share of discrimination but living on the “mainland” where I “fit in” with the white majority(?) my island heritage is invisible. I have taken to checking the box or “Pacific Islander” though I feel guilty about if […]
LaShunda B. Smith Pike Road, AL Even though i am an educated black woman, my name often times precedes me. It makes it difficult to compete but I continue to move forward. Soon to be “Dr. Smith”.
Anonymous Fort Wayne, IN
Artie Dee Franklin, IN My first real contact with black people was living with some black guys in college. There were restaurants, in the mid 50’s where we were refused service if our black friends were with us.
Thanh Phung Waltham, MA There is way too many discrimination and separation among our people and society. It has been this way for too long. There must be a change.
Luc Charwin Salem, OR It may be trite and unoriginal to use someone else’s words. However, the lyrics of that song brought this topic into focus for me. In grade school a friend’s father did not allow David and I to share the experience of a week-long school camping trip. David was one of several […]
