1972, frightened seeing first black man
Nicoletta Fusi, Italy I was six years old and I was in Paris with my parents, first trip for tourism. sitting for some rest on...
Trying to Navigate, Willing to Fight
Donna Scott, Seattle, WA. I’m passionate about social justice, but I sense the amount of space that I take up, as a white person. I...
Don’t waste your time on college
Patricia L. Gadsden, Central, PA. As an African American female in the 1960’s, I was discouraged from attending college. It was explained to me that...
Latin, Bald, Tattoos = Thug = Mistaken Identity
Eduardo Meza, Albany, NY. I get it! I look like the typical thug you will find in disadvantaged neighborhoods throughout most of California. I know...
They assume my wife’s the nanny.
Sean Robertson, Kensington, MD. People impressed with how my wife handles our children have stopped her on the street to ask what agency she was...
With kids, I’m dad, alone….thug!
Marc A Quarles, Pacific Grove, CA. Pacific Grove, I’m African-American my wife is German we have two children a son 15 and a daughter 13....
Two Black Lesbian Daughters. Say What?!
Shelley Ferrand, USA. After the initial shock of their coming out, I realized that THEY are the long search for fruits of my 1960’s labor...
Left Crying in the Bathroom Floor
Charlie, USA. I brought my car in for an oil change (in the predominantly black area I live in) and they told me that it’d...
Our Outer Appearance Does Not Matter
I grew up in a very divided household when it comes down to the words race and racism. When I 7 my parents divorced, I...
Yes, I am the Racist Salesman
Sam Smith, Stafford, TX. Ya I figured that would catch people off guard. I’ve been a salesperson now for about 10 years in Houston. Love...
My Blackness isn’t up for debate.
AARP Empathy For Impact Other Black people assume that because my grammar is correct and I grew up upper-middle class, my Blackness isn’t authentic. It...
Can’t always speak for the group
AARP Empathy For Impact I’ve often been in rooms and spaces where I must speak for the entire group of people who look like...
I can’t see my race story.
AARP Empathy For Impact As a white male who grew up when the goal was to not “see” whether someone is Black, Hispanic, etc.,...
“It’s different, shopping with mom”
Chas. Sundling, Tillamook, OR These words were spoken by one of my two sons. They were spoken a few years back, and led to quite...
So many racists look like me
Robert Goffeney, Pittsburgh, PA At first, I thought it would be difficult to come up with six words to encapsulate my experience of race as...
Adobo Beef Stew Rice Potatoes: Dinner
James Estanislao Herr, Los Angeles, CA. Dad’s side came over in 1717–Swiss-German and Irish with some Danish and Greek thrown in. Mom came over in...
