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Your family isn’t your “real” family

205961_269253959754124_6583323_nAnonymous,
Des Moiones, IA.
Drake University

This is what my mom was told in 1954 when social services came into her home and removed her and all of her siblings from her mom. At that time they were truly poor and were having a hard time finding enough food to eat. Her mother had a dysfunctional relationship with her husband and her younger children did have different fathers. My mom’s father was black. All of her older siblings were white and her two youngest siblings had a hispanic father. My mom did not realize that she was racially different from her siblings until the State of Iowa told her “that they were going to find her real family”. Four of her siblings were able to stay together the twins were adopted by family and her two brothers directly under her were adopted together. Over time, my grandmother did regain custody of three of the 8 children that were taken by the state once she married the hispanic man who was the father of her two youngest children. My mom however, was in an orphanage waiting for her real family. She did have occasional visits with her family until she was sent to live with the THomas Family who were and respectable, and black. My mom did not know that her siblings missed never stopped looking for their sister. It took 40 years but in 1994 my mom was reunited with her “Real” Family.

Your family isn’t your “real” family

205961_269253959754124_6583323_nAnonymous,
Des Moiones, IA.
Drake University

This is what my mom was told in 1954 when social services came into her home and removed her and all of her siblings from her mom. At that time they were truly poor and were having a hard time finding enough food to eat. Her mother had a dysfunctional relationship with her husband and her younger children did have different fathers. My mom’s father was black. All of her older siblings were white and her two youngest siblings had a hispanic father. My mom did not realize that she was racially different from her siblings until the State of Iowa told her “that they were going to find her real family”. Four of her siblings were able to stay together the twins were adopted by family and her two brothers directly under her were adopted together. Over time, my grandmother did regain custody of three of the 8 children that were taken by the state once she married the hispanic man who was the father of her two youngest children. My mom however, was in an orphanage waiting for her real family. She did have occasional visits with her family until she was sent to live with the THomas Family who were and respectable, and black. My mom did not know that her siblings missed never stopped looking for their sister. It took 40 years but in 1994 my mom was reunited with her “Real” Family.

No English. Standardized assessment. No chance.

Katrina
Des Moines, IA

As an ELL teacher, this came from when I had to give a student who was new to the country from Vietnam an annual standardized assessment. She hardly new English, had been in the country for less than two weeks yet she was still required to take a standardized assessment in English. I felt terrible!

NOTE: English Language Learner (ELL) Teacher

Black youth obligated to be intimidating

Brent Hixson
Des Moines, IA

Why is our culture so tied up in image? For a young Black or Latino to walk into a store with hood down and face fully exposed is perceived as weak. Actions must always portray power, in charge and make others around them uncomfortable and then ask the question why are you so suspicious of me, racist?

Constant awareness is difficult but necessary

Mark Reiter
Drake University
Des Moines, IA

I grew up in a very white Catholic community. I always understood that there was more to the world then what was in my community growing up, but there’s no way I could have anticipated just how different everyone’s backgrounds could be. It’s hard to always be aware and sensitive of the differences of others but it is something that I try to remind myself of throughout every day.

Unexposed, Growing up in Lilly-White Littleton

Amanda Horvath
Des Moines, IA

I grew up in a city just outside of Denver that has a nickname of Lilly-White Littleton. I never realized how “white” it really was until it was pointed out. Then I realized how we had limited diversity. I grew up with little diversity, but I am aware of the racism that takes place all of the time. And I am trying everyday to expose myself to new cultures, beliefs, and ideas.

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