African American Archives - The Race Card Project

In a Class of My Own

June 1, 2026June 1, 2026 adversity, African American, black skin, Chicago, class, half-human, hlaf-demon, IL, InuYasha, Marcus Garcia, Mexican, mix, pretend, Spanish

Marcus Garcia,
Chicago, IL

I chose these words that have been plucked straight out of InuYasha. If you aren’t familiar, InuYasha is about a half-demon who goes through much adversity and is often ridiculed for being both half-demon and half-human. During one fight, he yells out these words and proves himself as a worthy opponent against his full-demon enemy. I myself am a mix of Mexican and African American without really retaining the traits of falling into one group or the other so to speak. There’s something fascinating to me about someone who doesn’t fit in anywhere but finds solace in carving his own path that is deviant from either group. As much as I would love to learn Spanish, the few times I’ve tried to speak it has been ripped to shreds by someone who has spoken it since they were a kid while I was not. As much as I would love to pretend my skin is black, it still resembles a side of me I couldn’t fully connect to anyway. Yet I see both of these cultures as their own thing while I’m neither, and still find something to admire about both.

Proud to be Black, Female, American

January 27, 2026 African American, American, Black woman, Kathy G. Powell, LA, Monroe

Kathy G. Powell,
Monroe, LA

I am surely a complex individual as we all are. But I definitely wanted to put the American part in there. No one can tell me I am African American, I am American. Proud descendant of formerly enslaved folk and unfortunately quite a bit of European ancestry as well. My enslaved ancestors built this country and my family members have participated in every war since the civil war. My oldest brother earned a Purple Heart in Vietnam and my youngest son is currently serving in the Air Force. I have a right to be here. What about you?

Blood and Tears But Footprints Remain

January 22, 2025January 23, 2025 African American, blood and tears, Boston, brave, Footprints, Justin John Banks, labor, MA, Native, U.S.

Justin John Banks,
Boston, MA.

My ancestors were both Native and African American. The U.S. was molded by the labor of both of these brave peoples and although they shed blood and tears in the countries formation, they left their mark on U.S. soil forever.

Created perfect the first time around

October 15, 2024October 15, 2024 African American, beautiful black woman, Black woman, God, God's image, insecurity, Jasmine Dixon, VA, Virginia Beach

Jasmine Dixon,
Virginia Beach, VA

Gods image of you is how we are created. This is the the body he wanted us to have. Along with that I am African American! A beautiful black women that grew to love every insecurity I have about myself.

Adopted but am I still Mexican

August 9, 2024August 9, 2024 adopted, African American, boyfriend, Clemmons, dark hair, ethnicity, Greek, Kasey Nichols, Latino, Mexican, middle school, NC, other, white

Kasey Nichols,
Clemmons, NC.

I’ve known I’ve been adopted since I can remember and never questioned my ethnicity until I reached middle school age because we had to fill out cards with “check yes if Latino, African American, white or other.” Biologically I’m Mexican and Italian, but I was raised white with my dad being Greek and mom “white.” I kept asking myself what am I? I don’t speak Spanish well and I grew up with a white southern family, but my blood says Mexican and Italian. I worked in retail and Hispanic people would assume I was Latina from my short stature, olive skin, dark eyes and dark hair and started speaking Spanish, they would stop when they saw the confused look on my face. Especially when I go out with my Mexican boyfriend. However, I don’t resemble either culture. So what am I? I’m an American born and raised. I’m a mixture but I don’t need a label. I am ME. Just a person.

Scared that we are not enough

May 12, 2024May 12, 2024 adopted, African American, bi-racial, biological, Family, father, heart, mama, Manakin Sabot, mom, scared, Tanya, VA

Tanya,
Manakin Sabot, VA.

My (adopted) son is biracial, his bio-father is unknown. I will never be able to connect him with his biological African American family. There is a void that I will never be able to fill for him . This breaks my heart as his mama.

“I didn’t expect to see you”

March 25, 2024March 21, 2024 African American, expect, Livingston, Mandarin, Mensah Cone, NJ, principal

Mensah Cone
Livingston, NJ

I’m the owner of a start-up Mandarin school. After completing a presentation of my school’s offerings to a principal in an urban school, the principal said, “Mensah, that was a fantastic presentation”. She expressed sincere interest in the program for her students. While packing my materials, she said, “I didn’t expect to see you”. We both are African Americans. Her comments underscore the conditioning that we’ve underwent into believing that certain professions or businesses are limited to certain demographics. I myself , am a student of Mandarin for 4.5 years, and successfully passed a Mandarin proficiency test issued by Han Ban.org The principal was a wonderful host. My six word comment faces challenges within a race, in this case, blacks.

Who’s directing? It’s HER? No Way!!

March 5, 2024March 5, 2024 African American, Altadenam, CA, directing, filmaker, invisibility, Lorna Green, stereotype, woman

Lorna Green,
Altadenam, CA.

I am an independent filmmaker, a writer-director, African American, and a woman. This combination confuses some people; it makes no sense to them because most directors are white guys. Granted, I selected a profession that relegates me to invisibility, but what’s interesting is the day-to-day reality of this. Working with new production crews means being asked if I’m a PA or in craft services. While blocking action or chatting with talent, I’ve had people ask me who’s directing. I’ve heard, “…it’s her? No way…” countless times. Deciding how to deal with this has been challenging. The first few years of my career, I felt offended and compelled to speak upon it, to right a wrong. All that got me was being unfairly accused by some of playing the race card — and we all know that the dreaded race card=you in trouble. Most times, I put those six words on ignore. I know they reflect where we need to grow as a society. Once while directing children actors on an educational industrial, I overheard them talking about me, about being a black woman director, about whether it even matters, and that’s when I realized the part I play in this, that the joy of directing, of visual storytelling, and of challenging societal conventions in front of and behind the camera is worth enduring my race card.

Adopting AA baby started needed conversations

December 27, 2023 adopt, adopted, African American, baby, conversation, Fredericksburg, Susan Kosior, VA

Susan Kosior,
Fredericksburg, VA.

Is all that your real hair?

June 14, 2023June 14, 2023 African American, Alexis Beauford, curly, ethnic, hair, IL, natural, normal, real hair, straight

Alexis Beauford
Normal, IL

2 years ago I decided to go natural. A lot of non-ethnic people don’t know what that means. When an African American woman gets a perm, it’s to make her hair straight and more manageable which is the opposite of when some other ethnicities get a perm. When someone decides to go natural it’s to rid their hair of the toxins and bad chemicals often put in your hair by perms, colorings, or just poor maintenance of ones hair. Some do that by chopping it all off (the big chop) and some transition by cutting it off with monthly end trims. I transitioned; I couldn’t cut off all of my hair because it was already a nice medium length when I decided to go natural. When I began to go natural my hair became more full and healthier. A term used around the natural community is “shrinkage.” My hair experiences shrinkage when it’s wet and although it curls right up, it shrinks and the appearance makes my hair look shorter than it actually is. In the provided picture is my hair blown out (with a blow dryer) and one with it just curly and you can see a huge difference in the length and texture. I often get asked by all of my peers (Caucasian and African American) if my hair is my real hair. I feel that sometimes it’s to say that I couldn’t possibly have grown that much hair on my own (the false perception of African American women and their dependency on weave). Another one is that the big change in the length and texture of my hair is to say that it’s “unrealistic” for hair to change dramatically like that with it being “your real hair.” I love my hair shrunken or long and bone straight. It adds to the diversity of my appearance and who I am. I don’t think it should be that hard to believe that my hair is the length it actually is naturally and I want everyone to embrace the fact that yes I’m an African American woman and yes all of that hair is mine.

Nobody knows I’m NOT the enemy!

June 8, 2023June 8, 2023 1980, African American, black kids, blond hair, custody, enemy, FL, grandchildren, interracial marriage, lily-white, Marlene Krantz, Miami, nobody knows

Marlene Krantz,
Miami, FL.

I’m lily white with blonde hair. I have black children and black grandchildren. In 1980 I married an African American man and we had 2 daughters. I lost custody of my 10 year old son because of discrimination. I really feel sad about all this discrimination around the world.

Dude, could you please calm down?

April 28, 2023April 28, 2023 African American, agressive, calm down, classmate, hurtful, Payton Collier, speak up, stereotype, VA, Woodbridge

Payton Collier,
Woodbridge, VA

“Can you please calm down” is an unwanted sentiment that has been offered to me many times. The most hurtful of these was probably when a friend of mine asked me if I could just “calm down”; I’d gotten “worked up” about a racist comment a classmate had made. As an African American person, I already feel like many people just don’t give a crap and having someone tell you to calm down basically equals telling them to just shut up. If you speak out against racism you suddenly need to calm down and stop being “aggressive”.

Why don’t Afro Americans row?

April 28, 2023April 28, 2023 2012 London Olympic rowing finals, African American, afro, boats, Chapel Hill, crew, Felix Muhlebach, mixed race, NC, row

Felix Muhlebach,
Chapel Hill, NC.

I was at the Head of the Hooch, 2nd biggest rowing event in the US. More than 1600 crews. More than 5000 athletes. I saw only one Afro American crew. No mixed race boats. Check on attached event picture file. Statistically, one out of 5 athletes should be Afro American.
Why don’t Afro Americans row?

When we post rowing lessons in our community, no Afro Americans sign up. Why not?
At the 2012 London Olympic rowing finals, there was only one black athlete (from South Africa).
Why isn’t rowing appealing to persons of color?

Regards
Felix

My skin is not my culture.

March 27, 2023March 27, 2023 1920's, African American, Asian, assume, body, Centennial, check the box, CO, cultire, culture, experience, German Lutheran, human, identity, Inside, offensive, Rachel Brinson, skin

Rachel Brinson,
Centennial, CO.

People always want to put me in a box and assume what I find offensive, what I find familiar, and how I choose to see myself and others. No one chooses to see human first, identity second. I will forever be explaining that the body given to me is arbitrary, and I exist inside of it. I am adopted and was raised as a German Lutheran. I grew up around many Asian cultures but never experienced African American culture until I was well into my 20’s. Biologically, I have an African father and a white mother, but my birth parents do not define me; my family does.

Black Girls Don’t Get Depressed…Wrong!

March 17, 2023March 17, 2023 African American, black girls, DC, depressed, emotional, illness, mental illness, Race, stereotype, Tori Collins, Washington

Tori Collins,
Washington, DC.

Depression is real and doesn’t care about your race. If you’re African-American and female not only are you expected to be resilient enough to just take the hits and keep going, if you can’t due to emotional or mental illness, you’re considered to have an attitude, you’re a mean or a Black b**ch.

Embrace who you are, love it

March 17, 2023March 17, 2023 African American, check the box, embrace, Eric D., Houston, love, skin color, Spanish, TX, white

Eric D.,
Houston, TX.

While my son was in elementary school, I asked what race dose he tells his schoolmates he was. He quickly responded, “White”. When I asked why, he said that his skin color wasn’t brown or black. As he grew older he learned about both his Spanish and African American heritage. Now in 8th grade when you asked his race he will quickly tell you, he is “Blackican”. He may not be politically correct in his newfound word, nevertheless his sincere effort to embrace his heritage instead of the color of his skin makes be a proud parent.

Laundry is the only thing that should be separated by color. ~Author Unknown

No one else chooses my identity.

March 17, 2023March 17, 2023 African American, Chickasaw, Choctaw, German, grandmother, identity, irish, Luxembourgish, mixed, Natalie, Native, pass, Seattle, self-identity, suburbia, WA, welsh

Natalie,
Seattle, WA.

My grandmother never got to pass for white. She was sent to indian boarding school. 50 years later, I grew up in white suburbia, where no one assumed I was Native or even mixed-race. I self-identify as Native, I speak Chahta, I participate as a tribal citizen, I carry on the family stories, and today I’m a physician and activist fighting against poverty, homelessness, addictions, and diabetes. Ancestry: African-American, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Irish, German, Luxembourgish, Welsh.

Look like them, Sing like us

March 3, 2023March 3, 2023 African American, Charlie Pride, CO, Country Sinder, Geoffrey Wodell, look, music, Norwegian-American Jew, sing, Wheat Ridge

Geoffrey Wodell
Wheat Ridge, CO

Many years ago an African-American Country-Western singer, Charlie Pride, released a live album. After one of the cuts someone in the audience yelled out “Charlie, how can you look like them and sing like us?”. I have remembered that comment ever since and now, as a Norwegian-American Jew who sings spirituals with Sankofa, one of America’s leading Concert ensembles, it resonates even more. Music doesn’t know color. Music only knows what is in the heart. Music reflects the soul.

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