Valhalla Awaits Me When I Die.
Chris D,
South Bend, IN.
He is truly wise
who’s travelled far
and knows the ways of the world.
He who has travelled
Can tell what spirit
governs the men he meets.
I’m gay; with pride and fear.
Mark Albin,
South Bend, IN
I love the person I am, but I also sometimes fear that other people, that strangers, will hurt me. My sexual orientation has nothing to do with anyone else, but I know there are people in the world who make my identity their mission to resolve. People enjoy being oppressive towards others and I don’t wanted to be on the opposite end of someone else’s hate crime, “religious” belief, legislation…I just want to be free.
Don’t teach children labeling early on.
Elaina Barber
South Bend, IN
I worked in a kindergarten classroom my senior year of high school and those kids didn’t care about the color of everyone else’s skin or even how they talked. The only way they knew any different was if their parents had told them something.
Love and kindness equals love forever
Brandon McGee,
South Bend, IN
Teach us our history, free them.
Myron Anthony,
South Bend, IN
I grew up my whole life in a predominately white city. I grew up thinking that Christopher Columbus was a hero. I grew up believing that ancient pharaohs were white. I grew up believing that Africa is a dirty continent full of unhealthy people and wild animals. I believed all of these things because these are the things that were taught to me in school from kindergarten throughout high school. I believe that our education system in America has failed on teaching us the proper African/African American history. African American people have invented a lot of things and completed a lot of important task in America. Africa is the money maker for multiple countries throughout the world but we do not know that. Our education system has failed to inform us about these things and I believe have created this disguise that white individuals are the master minds behind everything. I put “free them” because their history should be know, their names should be in those text books, we are equal and just as important to this countries success as any other race.
How do you racially identify? HUMAN!
Nancy Jo Taylor,
Mishawaka, IN
#TRCPIUSB
I am required to ask this question at my job each day. It irks me to no end. Just because some governmental types want to keep a racial accounting of the populations we serve.
Children just see people, not color
Leonora Triska,
Knox, IN
#TRCPIUSB
When children look at someone they are not judging them on what they look like, or what color their skin is. Children are unaware of these differences, only wanting to befriend new people. To a child a person is a person and that is it, everyone should think with the innocence as a child especially in this aspect.
Skin Color Does Not Equal Worth
Angela D. Huff,
Plymouth, IN
#TRCPIUSB
I am a white woman with two children: a white daughter, and a biracial son whose father is black (if you were to ask my son’s father, he would tell you he doesn’t like being called African-American). My children grew up in my small hometown community, attending the same school as one another for many years, and playing sports with their peers.
I was never questioned as to whether my daughter was “really mine,” but I have had that question concerning my son. I’ve also overheard conversations about my family among soccer parents who had no idea that I and my son’s father were sitting several rows below them on bleachers. They discussed how my son’s grandparents would often drop him off for practices, and how they were “pretty sure” he had been adopted by the grandparents. I turned and asked which child they were talking about, even though I had heard them call my son by name. They repeated their story to me, and I responded that I was his mother, and his father was sitting next to me, and that under no circumstances had he ever been “adopted.” I told them that I was unable to get him to practices because of my work schedule. I received one soft and mumbling “sorry,” and none of those parents spoke for the rest of the practice.
Those grandparents – my parents – had done the same for my daughter when I couldn’t make it to soccer practice. Those parents didn’t assume that she had also “probably been adopted.” There were no assumptions made whatsoever. So, why the difference? Sometimes what is not said can speak volumes.
This is just one example of many, many situations we’ve gone through and continue to go through. My daughter has been questioned about her brother, and vice versa. The three of us all have different last names. I’m judged by that, too, but not as much as being judged by having biological children of different races. And why should it matter? The answer is that it shouldn’t, but today, in the communities in which we live, work, and visit, it is sometimes painfully clear that it matters.
Skin color does not equal worth. See what you may see, and follow with kindness in thoughts and actions. That is what matters most to me and my family.
Everyone, everywhere, deserves real equal opportunity.
Andrew Lovell,
Mishawaka, IN
I am white, but throughout my entire life, I have always believed that everyone deserves equal opportunity. This means equal opportunity in this country and everywhere in the world. Your opportunities in life should not have to do with the color of your skin and every living being deserves an equal chance at making a difference in this world. For themselves and for others. I’ve been very lucky to have met all walks of life in the ways that I have and the human experience is different and similar when it comes to all races and their respective cultures. All in all, it has been such a joy for me to experience.
I am black AND enough
Airra Jackson,
Elkhart, IN
I know that I can do and be anything that I set my mind to. I am enough.
I am worthy enough of teaching your children.
Is systematic racism still around? Yes.
Ryan,
South Bend, IN
A lot of people say that systematic racism doesn’t exist anymore, such as laws and policies. However, something pretty modern, the war on drugs, from about an hour of research many can tell that in the end it was just a huge war on minorities and separating families.
Blue Eyes. Blonde Hair. White Privilege
Kait Vinnedge,
Niles, MI
I recognize the privilege I have had in life just based on the way that I look. I am always mindful of it and make sure to check myself when thinking objectively about politics, my views on education, etc.
I am not followed around stores
Katie Andrews,
North Liberty, IN
Because I am a white woman, I am never followed around the store or thought to be shoplifting.
Embrace all race, despise no face.
Teresia Nganga,
USA.
Having relocated from East Africa to the United States of America, I have been treated with so much respect. In my workplace, at school and out in the community, I have been treated just like any other person who is from a different race. This has also been a wonderful encouragement that we should embrace all races and not despise anyone by the color of their faces.
Race is just a social construct.
Tommie Billups,
Michigan City, IN
I believe the idea of race was to develop as a way to make one group of people feel superior to another. Outside of complexion and small physical features, we are all the same. There is truly only one race and that is the human race.
