Why are you here to judge?
Courtney Chandler,
Roseville, CA.
The inherent racism our society exists with is devastating. It’s been more apparent since Trump became president, but that doesn’t mean we can become complacent after he is out office.
Yes My Mom Is White…
Marisa Boessneck,
Moreno Valley, CA.
Yes my mom is white so what? Just because I have dark brown hair and a tan skin color doesn’t mean I am not mixed. It really bothers me when I go to the grocery store with my mom who is blonde hair blue eyes and I get asked if she is my “step mom” and if she is, we have a good relationship. Just because we look different doesn’t mean we are related. I love being mixed and how that has shaped me into the person I am today.
CBU HIS311
Rice is my LIFE. Deal with it.
Emily,
Perris, CA.
I have NEVER been so proud to be a Filipino-American. My culture is my everything and I would not trade it for the world. Being the handful of Asians at my school makes me even more unique. I want to promote diversity, I want people to be okay with the color of their skin and to absolutely love where they came from. Tradition is everything. Being diverse is BEAUTIFUL. We all come in different shapes and sizes, and all of our physical appearances are not the same. Being ethnic is a blessing, it adds an extra spice to life! LOVE YOUR ETHNICITY. LOVE YOUR CULTURE. LOVE YOUR PAST and, LOVE YOURSELF. CBU HIS311
Held against your will?
Judy Vasquez,
Murrieta, CA.
I am a caucasion female, brown hair with brown eyes and my husband is proudly Hispanic/Mexican. We were pulled over at a checkpoint one evening on or way home from a family event and when the officer looked in the car, he asked me, “Ma’am, are you being held against your will?” I was shocked–why goes it have to be something negative or a crime because I am white and he is Hispanic.
CBU HIS 311
Not Mexican Looking “You know Spanish!?”
Daisy Reyes,
Rialto, CA.
Even as a little girl in Mexico I was the “Chinita” (little Chinese). When I came to the U.S., I was either confused with Filipino or just Asian when people couldn’t figure out which race. My now husband, has been confused with a Hindu. We are both Mexican-born. But the thing I always get when I talk in Spanish to him or my son is “You know Spanish!?” follow by “I thought you were Filipino or Asian” Even Filipinos have confused me as Filipino. Funny thing my husband calls me “My Chinita” and friends of him asked him if I was really Chinese. Now with my son, I wonder if he would encounter any racial questions once he grows up. It has never bothered me that I get confused, I am proud to be Mexican-American and we are going to pass down our heritage to our son. Shout out CBU HIS311!
No way! You speak Spanish?!
Victoria Chapperon,
Anaheim, CA.
When people look at me they think I’m white. Once I start speaking perfect Spanish, they freak out and ask me either where I’ve learned it, or if I am from Mexico. Even, when I tell them that I am from Argentina, they automatically think that just my parents are. Just because we speak Spanish doesn’t mean we are all Mexican. Or when they ask “Why are you white?” as if every Latino is dark. You think I would be used to it, but it shocks me every time, the things people come up with. CBU HIST 311
“Is there something on my forehead?”
Rosalinda Gutierrez,
San Bernardino, CA
As a young child and adult, I have always been confronted by people who assume I do not speak English. At many stores that I go to, I am always talked to in Spanish first or I am looked at with wide eyes and confusion. When I respond in English the person looks at me and says, “Oh my! I’m so sorry. I thought you were Spanish speaking only.” To me these experiences are saddening. I think that they bother me because English has always been my primary language. I do know Spanish but not fluently. I feel like when I do speak Spanish, I will be criticized because I’ve struggled with establishing my Mexican-American identity. Sometimes I feel like there’s a sign on my forehead that says, “Needs translator.” I wonder why people can’t just look at me and say, “Hello.”
Shout out to CBU HIS 311 for teaching me that I can be myself.
Unity, as one stand together
Taylor Phillips,
Riverside, CA.
Shoutout to CBU HIS 311
Not Enough to be Either One
Dellyna Ochoa,
San Bernardino, CA.
Its hard to try and be apart of both worlds when everyone says you’re not enough to be apart of either one. I have to learn how to find my own rhythm in the madness. I give a shout out to CBU HIS311 for an opportunity to.
Yes!! My name means White in spanish!!
Blanca Soto,
Hemet, CA.
I grew up in a community that was composed of mostly white people. Every time someone would ask my name they would go on to say doesn’t that mean white? Yes! I would reply. Mostly likely laughs would follow and the oh so unique question of “why would your parents name you after a color? Those experiences made me ashamed of my name but as I got older I realized my name means White in Spanish and I love it!!-CBU HIS 311
Human- does anything else really matter?
Kerri,
Riverside, CA.
I’m a Hispanic/English woman that was raised very, very Italian. It wasn’t until a few years ago I learned I was Hispanic and not even slightly Italian.
CBU HIS31
Touched. Terrified, Empathetic. Praying for change.
Leanne Gutierrez,
Eden Prairie, MN.
Growing up white and privileged in a midwestern college town, I later lived in a Central American country for several years, married a man from that country and now have been raising a beautiful multi-culture/multi-colored family in various states in the midwest. Seeing racism, watching my family process it and experience it in varying degrees with a variety of responses is eye-opening, terrifying, heart-rending, and encouraging. I am learning what my role is, and seeing how my American-born children and foreign-born husband respond to situations and attitudes is so amazing. I never want to be taken back to my complacent upbringing, and yet I am still learning how to be a force for change in myself and in the country I live in and love. It is one thing to take on racism in my own life and heart, and yet another to watch my children do the same. Praying for wisdom, and courage for them, for myself, and for this entire country to have the conversations and receive the healing that is so necessary as we evolve and grow.
Does being ‘white’ make me racist?
Tara,
Rancho Cucamonga, CA.
Don’t assume a persons position simply because of what their ancestors choices were.
CBU HIS311
Hated for being a white coach
Michael,
Beaumont, CA.
I was hated for being a white football coach in a nearly all black school. It didn’t matter that I had the players best interests at heart, if I had to speak to a player about his behavior I was only doing it because I was white and didn’t like black people. Many times I would have parents yell at me and call me names simply because they thought I was picking on their child. The funny thing was that they never voiced an opinion about what I may or may not have done. It was always about the fact that I was white and was only disciplining their child because he was black.
CBU HIS 311
Unapologetically lovin’ the skin i’m in
Diondra Hogan-Ansong,
Fontana, CA.
Self love is important and I love me. I look in the mirror at times and I say to myself “You’re freaking amazing” and so is everyone reading this.
CBU HIS311
Anonymous,
