being black Archives - The Race Card Project

Confederate flags everywhere. Scares me immensely.

August 20, 2024August 20, 2024 being black, Branson, Confederate flag, flag, Kitra Mwania, MO, nervous, scared, slavery, South

Kitra Mwania,
Branson, MO.

The confederate flag clearly means something important to the people around here. Being a black person who learned that this flag represented slavery and injustice makes me nervous about why this flag is an accessory.

Curly hair, yes I am fully black.

March 12, 2024March 12, 2024 being black, Black, black hair, Codi Fillmore, curly hair, Dillard University, hair, Houston, mixed, nappy, skin tones, TX

Codi Fillmore,
Houston, TX

You do not have to be mixed to have curly hair. Black people’s hair isn’t “nappy”. We several different skin tones and several different textures of hair. Still black.

Dillard University

Grandma called me “pretty colored girl”

January 30, 2024January 30, 2024 beauty, being black, colored, DC, Grandma, grandmother, perception, pretty for a black girl, R. Denise Everson, shaped, Washington

R. Denise Everson,
Washington, DC.

My grandmother reared me. Her positive expressions of beauty being black shaped my perception and made me proud to be black.

Rooted in Hatred, Risen in Audacity

March 27, 2023March 27, 2023 17 years old, Ancestors, audacity, being black, black male, comfortable, Ellis Clark, first experience, growing up, identity, implications, microagression, middle school, sacrifice, Spain

Ellis Clark,
Spain.

As a seventeen-year-old black male, my view to race has been cushioned by growing up in a comfortable, yet politically aware household. While I knew racism existed, it rarely touched me growing up, and when it did, it was the microagressive type. Real issues with race didn’t begin to pop up for me until middle school, and my view on race is now that it is an important part of my identity, regardless of the tribulations that people attach to it. I wouldn’t be who I am without being black, and the thought of not being black is one that never crosses my mind. Although I struggle sometimes with the implications of my race, I think of the feats my ancestors overcame with grace and know that my life today is impossible without the fighting sacrifices they made for me. Rooted in hatred as it may be, my race is risen on account of the audacity of those before us. We owe it to them to continue on with their torch to the mountaintop.

“A Teacher Who Looks Like Me”

December 1, 2022December 1, 2022 being black, CA, disney, Marvel, Meghen, neighborhood, questions, stories, white neighborhood

Meghen,
CA

I’ve been babysitting for my current family for about a year and a half now, and I’ve heard of and been present for stories in that time on being Black in a predominantly white neighborhood. One of the first and better chats was my 10 year-old getting excited about moving as she would have a chance at a teacher who looks like her. Being a white woman primarily taught by white women and men growing up, I’d never experienced how it might have felt to not have had others outside my family look like me in my formative years. She, her mother, and I have also had conversations about representation in Marvel and Disney films, the questions/stares both daughters get when they braid their hair, and many more.

Just Do It, Stand For Justice

September 9, 2021September 9, 2021 Aaliyah Blankenship, being black, Just do it, justice, OK, stand for, strong and black, Tulsa

Aaliyah Blankenship,
Tulsa, OK

I’m Soooooo Happy To Be BLACK!!!! 💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽

Black Guy In A Crazy World

June 7, 2021June 7, 2021 being black, black guy, Courtney Taylor-Preville, england, love, world

Courtney Taylor-Preville
England

I love being black.

Couldn’t survive as a black man.

May 27, 2021 being black, Bruce Dunn, Morris, NY, survive as a black man

Bruce Dunn,
Morris, NY

Being Black doesn’t mean I’m ghetto

March 5, 2021 being black, Dillard University, ghetto, LA, New Orleans, Reagan Farmer

Reagan Farmer,
New Orleans, LA

p>My school is Dillard University

You talk well for being black!

September 21, 2020September 21, 2020 being black, CA, Darius Alexander, grammer, Laguna Hills, no offense, speak, you talk

Darius Alexander,
Laguna Hills, CA

I hate when I meet some white people and after having a deep conversation with me, they say, “Wow you talk extremely well for a black guy no offense.” Stop doing that. It’s like you’re saying that blacks aren’t supposed to speak with good grammar.

Being black in a white town.

September 15, 2020February 21, 2021 being black, clutched purse, College, fear, first experience, intimidate, ME, Noel Hudson, scared, school, sidewalk, white town

Noel Hudson,
ME

I go to college in a pretty white community. There are about 10-20 black people out of 600 students. I grew up in a town just south where the population was very mixed; Whites, Blacks, Hispanics, and Asians. The high school I went to rarely had any cases over racism as the town was so used to seeing people of any race. I came to this campus with my sister and immediately I found myself drawn closer to a clique of black friends with some Hispanics. I am a positive person and I want to be as friendly as I can be, but its so hard not to notice how people view me. I am 6’5 in height and I stand out and I always feel like an anomaly here. I’ve seen an old white lady clutch her purse as I walked past her on the sidewalk. I paid no mind, but it still upsets me. No matter how friendly I try to be the only ones that don’t view me as an anomaly or a stereotype are those who get to see my character in person. Off-campus it’s even worse; going into town I could immediately spot I was the only black person in their shopping district. I smiled and greeted everyone cheerfully I crossed paths with like some showcase, but not for a second was I not in fear or paranoia because I am black.