Until they saw I was black.
Joyce Moody,
Windsor Mill, MD.
Por supuesto que soy su mamá
Sonia Kang
Northridge, CA
Are you their mom? As a biracial mom (Black/Latina) married to a Korean man with children who look more Asian than anything else, we are often looked at with curiosity. They look at them then at me. Is she the nanny? Who can she be? Whether at their Korean language immersion school, Tae Kwon do class or at the park, I get the inquisitive look. There are those that just stare but then there are those bold enough to inquire, are they your children? Of course they are my children!
White Jewish girl in a bubble
Emily Einhorn,
Beachwood, OH.
Whenever there is talk about racism, a part of me feels guilty. I have lived in a small suburb my entire life. In this town, people joke you’re either black, Jewish, or Asian. I have never witnessed a racist act and I feel as if I’ve missed out on being a part of a prominent aspect in American culture. I have never felt targeted as a Jew and I have never seen any of my friends be targeted for the color of their skin. I am taught that, that is not how America really is and as ridiculous as it sounds I want to have the opportunity to stand up for what I believe is wrong. I hate feeling like a lucky little white girl.
“Shonda?” No interview. “SK?” Wow, interview!
Shonda Kay Purvis,
Green Cove Springs, FL.
I have had to rebrand myself and change my name because “Shonda K. Purvis” (and her “BLACK” resume) doesn’t get job interviews, but SK Purvis (and “his” “WHITE” resume) does. (By the way, I am a Caucasian female. You thought I was black, didn’t you?)
You black? Passe blanc. No, Creole.
August A. Goins Jr.,
Atlanta, GA.
Growing up as a light skin black man of creole decent, people assume I want to be white. Not because of something I said or did, but based solely on my skin color. As if I had a choice of my skin color. I’m proud of who I am, and my skin color is part of me. When someone makes a comment, usually derogatory, about my color, I reply, “Contrary to popular believe, I like my skin color. And I wouldn’t change it for anything or anyone.”
I am part of the 92%
Jacqueline Gittens,
New York, NY
92% of Black women voted against Donald Trump. Without deciding in some private chat we voted as a bloc. The sisterhood and community that I felt after seeing those statistics touched me at my core. I love being a Black woman in America. We may be the most disrespected but we are sisters and neither power nor time can take that from us.
Black, but I do White activities
Ke Se,
Des Moines, IA
Black, but I do white activities
There are so many people who can relate to this sentence. Whether you are Mexican and like black music, whether you are White and love the Asian culture. Or being black and doing activities that are more common to white people, such as myself. Growing up there were television shows that labeled white people activities, such as Jack A**.
Growing up in Chicago, IL, I was different than my surroundings for sure. Panic At the Disco “I write sins not tragedies” was the first “weird” song I had on repeat. I loved listening to Pink and Christina Aguilera, but the rest of the household did not like nor understand the way it sounded. Fishing and hiking caught my attention in the Girl Scouts, but it was not a regular activity for my neighborhood. Now, I am living in Iowa, and I go to DMACC. It has given me the opportunity to do common ‘white people activities’ with no judgement. I love to fish and listen to pop music in the car. Going to country concerts has become a yearly tradition, leaving me in suspense for who will perform the following year. This does not mean I do not look forward to hip hop artist coming to little old Des Moines, IA. These ‘white people activities’ are nothing more than a preference every person is entitled to have or experience, if they so choose. Going through scrutiny for my music preference as a child should not have been an identity battle. People should not have to look in the mirror and question if they belong in the skin, they’re in based on the limited opportunities their community has to offer. This world is full of alternative lifestyles, and I am happy to experience all of it. This is a part of my identity now. These are descriptions I can say when someone asks, “what makes you, you?” There are no longer limitations on myself based on what is socially acceptable in my community. And I am proud of that.
Family contrast black white shows beauty
Sherry Weaver,
Woodstock, GA.
Our family is a beautiful rainbow. We are pink with brown spots and brown with pink spots.
We are just a family. I didn’t “rescue” anyone-we gave each other gifts. I was given the incredible gift of love and diversity, and they got a family who loves them and can appreciate them. Just like all families, each individual brings something different to the whole. My first son is empathetic, my second son is a great athlete and my daughter is beautiful and caring.
It’s not about surviving being black, It is about realizing how wonderful it is to be of African heritage and how wonderful it is to be of Scottish heritage. I tell my daughter how beautiful she is while I put on my makeup and tell her how lucky she is to have such gorgeous mahogany skin.
She understands this is just one of the the many joys of being black. Anyone who can’t see that is just not looking.
And no disrespect Chris Rock- She does have “Good Hair”. It is as beautiful as the rest of her.
I am bi racial and confused.
Najm,
Burlington, IA
As early as I can remember I have been flooded with questions “are you mixed?” “what are you mixed with?” ” is your mom white or your dad?” or comments such as ” you be acting white”, ” you have white people hair”. As a child this led me to have identity issues, caused me to be in denial about my culture, and played a huge role in introducing me to anxiety. I was ashamed to be the lightskin girl in every setting, there was nobody who understood me and I was never good enough for any group.
Black, Gay, Dyslexia, Creative, Technology, Fun
Rob Bexter,
USA
Do what you want. Don’t let anybody stop you!
Hi, I’m Black and I’m PROUD!
Elecia Terrell,
Arlington, TX
I’m very proud of my blackness. To many, we’re too loud, always angry, ghetto, love chicken and watermelon, always on government assistance, have too many kids and don’t know who their fathers are, always late, don’t want to work, don’t know how to keep a job, have nappy hair and we always wear weave, always in drama, stay in the hood..the list goes on with these stereotypes, but I’m here to say that you could associate these characteristics with any person of any ethnicity on this earth. For some reason black people have all these stigmas and stereotypes attached to us and it’s not always true. For me, I can relate to all the above characteristics in some way, shape or form, but that does not define me. What defines me is my genuine interests, my ancestral bloodline, my family, my choices. I am only a part of the above listed characteristics and I love every single one about me. I love my thick kinky hair, I love my loud over the top personality, I am late to a lot of things, I enjoy hearing about drama, I get angry at times, and I loveeee me some chicken and watermelon. I am not a walking stereotype, I’m a wonderfully imperfect, flawed yet strong unapologetic BLACK WOMAN.
You’re too pretty to be black.
Brandi N. Scarlett,
Lansing, MI.
When people ask me what ethnicity I am, I get excited. I am so proud to be mixed race. My mother is white and First Nations, and my father is Jamaican. However, I always make sure to tell people no matter WHAT I am, I identify as being black. I interact with the world as a young black woman. That is how society treats me and I am not ashamed to embrace that.
Number of black male colleagues: 0.
Jason,
Kansas City, MO
Awesome project.
I’m black and I love math
Jasmine VanExel,
Northampton, MA.
Smith College
Educated Black and Still Not Equal
Kenneth D Crowley, SR.
Denver, CO.
Love this idea
