Check Race: “Other-American Melting Pot”
Roberta Wyse Torres Houston, TX When I completed my childrens’ forms to enter kindergarten, I was confronted for the first time with that droplist, “Check...
European American just doesn’t make sense.
Emma Croskrey Des Moines, IA Drake University During my senior year of high school we were filling out our College applications, and I remember I...
Plain ol’ white. No I’m not.
Quinn Woods Detroit, MI It’s always bugged me, that when it comes to filling out “race” on things such as applications, the only thing that...
I am only Asian to non-Asians.
Karina Irvine, CA I live in an area that has many distinct Asian groups who are first generation Americans: Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese, etc. My...
Are you black, Asian, or normal?
Jenna Overton Langhome, PA I’m a half-black college student. My friends and I were having a discussion about race one day and a few of...
Only A Minority On College Applications
Sarah Nesbitt Dallas, TX I guess you could call this an epidemic of the current generation. Race is now often viewed as a factor to...
You must check only one race.
Maureen Shuh New Orleans, LA In New Orleans, my children are told by teachers to check one box for race since there is no multi-racial...
Hardship. Coffin-ships. Caucasian?! Don’t whitewash me.
Olivia Myers Denver, CO I get rather irritated by the way, whenever race is discussed, it’s assumed that I’m part of a classification because of...
“What are you?” people always ask.
Nancy Sheperd Sacramento, CA As a mixed-race woman, I’m often struck by others’, and especially strangers’, need to put me into a box. It isn’t...
I refuse to just check one.
Sarah Pasadena, CA I love the words “Check all that apply.” I proudly check white AND Asian. Sometimes even Pacific Islander to honor the island...
So ambiguous, a different race everyday.
Mintii Ann Arbor, MI You ask me my race just to comfort your mind because it’s hard for me to fit in a box. I...
When checking “white,” I am diminished.
Adelia Dozier Atlanta, GA Every time I have to check my race as “white” or “Caucasian” my stomach turns and I feel diminished. I search...
Check: White… Wait, I’m Hipsanic too?
Andrea M. Newton, MA I grew up not really ever thinking about my race until my college applications asked me to literally box myself into...
MY GRANDSON IS NOT AN OTHER!
Henry Lonnemann San Mateo, CA When contacted by the census bureau I was thrilled. It was a pleasure to fulfill my civic duty, and exciting...
“White,” Turkish husband, speak 2+ languages.
PHYLLIS HULL AKTURK Rockville, MD I check “other” for race because we are all just homo sapiens. Although Father was from Norman English+Dutch and Mother...
Not all blacks are African American
Eric D. Riner, VA Both of my parents were born in Haiti and legally immigrated to the United States where I was born. I feel...
