accomplished Archives - The Race Card Project

Ashamed that accomplished minorities surprise me.

May 22, 2021July 18, 2023 accomplished, ashamed, fix, liberal, minorities, National Geographic, progressive, Seattle, stereotypes, Surprise, WA

Anonymous,
Seattle, WA.

No matter how liberal and progressive I might claim to be, no matter how many workshops I’ve been to or essays I’ve read about privilege, I still hear my inner voice express pleasant surprise when I see a minority doing well at something. Whether I see a minority excelling in business, writing an editorial in the national press, or doing rounds in a hospital, inside I first say, “wow, look at that!”

I am not proud of this and I don’t know how to fix it.

American, Mexican, and probably much more.

July 4, 2016July 4, 2016 accomplished, American, argument, AZ, extreme, Manuel Holguin, Mexican, More, Phoenix, skin

Manuel Holguin,
Phoenix, AZ.

I don’t really get being proud of your race to any extreme. I suppose my argument is that you as a person has nothing to do with your race or color of skin. It was decided for you! No one ever says “I’ve worked hard my whole life to be white!”
I am mostly proud of the things I’ve accomplished, things I have actually had a say in. I’m not saying that I hate my culture, because I don’t. I am intrigued and amazed by the successes we have had in the past, and embarrassed and critical of our mistakes. I am happy to be Mexican, even though I was born in the US. I happy to be American, even though I’m not white. But there is so much more to me than race, and the culture I was born into.
Mostly, I am proud of the human being I have become. My accomplishments and failures are so much more of a better description for me.