black families Archives - The Race Card Project

You Talk Like A White Girl

March 21, 2022March 21, 2022 Aaliyah Gaskins, black families, Dillard University, elementary school, first experience, LA, middle school, New Orleans, sound white, talk differently, you talk like a white girl

Aaliyah Gaskins,
New Orleans, LA

I chose these 6-words because growing up I was always told I talked differently and had my blackness questioned multiple times because I spoke a certain way. I grew up in a nice area where my family was one of the few black families on the street. My elementary school was predominantly white and I grew up with white friends. Once I entered middle school I was introduced to more diversity and when talking to my black peers I was almost always told that I sound white or talk differently.

Growing up white and being oblivious

April 1, 2021April 1, 2021 Annville, black families, Catholic School, first experience, High School, Oblivious, PA, private school, public school, Sydney Fitzgerald, white

Sydney Fitzgerald,
Annville, PA

Growing up, I went to a private/catholic school that was predominantly white. Along with that, I was raised by two white parents and no knowledge of any other race. My neighborhood had maybe two black families and I only had friends who were white. Because I grew up this way, I was completely oblivious to my white privilege and the racial world around me. When I transferred to a public high school during freshman year, my eyes were open to the amount of diversity that occurred in other areas of the community. From what I heard from my parents and teachers, racism was a prevalent topic; however, I never experienced that. Because I never experienced that, it shows how much privilege I actually have. Now that I have been exposed to racism in public school, I am much more open-minded about the topic in college and around others.

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