A “Racist” charge changed my life
Robert Crosman, Anchorage, AK. Explanation: I was a good liberal, with the milk of human kindness in my veins, when a black student I viewed...
Didn’t know/you don’t sound black.
Charity Son Anchorage, AK I was disappointed that this seems to even surprise a congenitally blind white woman I work with–“I didn’t know you were...
I never understood why. Do you?
Kristen, Two Rivers, AK. Grew up in the 60s in south Georgia. As a child, I didn’t know there were differences. I didn’t know to...
Try so hard – still see color
Sherri, Juneau, AK. As hard as I try to see people as people, not black or white or Asian etc., I can’t seem to deprogram...
Forgive, I am not my ancestor.
Donna Hanson Bella Vista, AK My ancestors were slave owners and themselves indentured servants and sharecroppers. I’ve worked on my family genealogy for over 14...
Me racist? But I teach ESL!
Lynn Schaefer Conway, AK As a university-level ESL teacher, I interact with students from all over the world every day. I am well read in...
I pray all people feel essential.
Marne Eggleston Conway, AK More than anything else, I want to be understood as a person, and I deeply desire to understand others as individuals....
Black. Not Black Enough. Too Black.
Toolie, Anchorage, AK. To the black community, I “act” too white to be like them. To the white community, my skin is too dark to...
What am I, I am human.
Anne Ward Masterson Anchorage, AK Growing up Black, White and Cherokee in NH in the 1960’s and 70’s made for some painful tensions. In Kindergarten...
Too old to play w/colored girlfriend.
Jewel Nies St. Charles, MO I grew up in SE MO, the Bootheel. 20 miles from Arkansas border. Very southern town. My neighborhood bordered a...
Having a foot in two canoes.
Emily Wood Anchorage, AK Growing up in small town Minnesota where the local summer celebration was “Swedish Heritage Days” could be awkward for a girl...
Zimmerman’s acquittal is now his hoody.
Cindi Lagoudakis Petersburg, AK I’m still shocked by this verdict. And it’s sad and ironic that George Zimmerman, in playing judge and jury, has sentenced...
Don’t drink out of THAT fountain!
Alice Lynch Jonesboro, AK This is what my father said when I ran up to the water fountain with no line in the big downtown...
