culture Archives - The Race Card Project

Who’s lunchbox smells like a fart?

February 15, 2026May 28, 2026 CA, culture, fart, food, lunchbox, Newport Beach, Persian food, Sophie Vienna

Sophie Vienna,
Newport Beach, CA

It was mine. As my cheeks got red and I pretended I was done with my stinky thermos lunch. A thermos that to me just smelled of Persian food my grandmother had cooked the night before. A thermos my mom had closed and put in my lunch box as she imagined me enjoying a hot meal instead of a smushed cold pb and j. A thermos that came back home, the same way it left, full. And when my mom opened my lunch. my heart broke because I didn’t mean to hurt her feelings, all the while her heart was breaking for me, because she had once been asked the same question.

Known as dark, smelly, smart – Indian

January 26, 2026January 26, 2026 American, culture, dark skin, dismissive, Indian, MA, Marlborough, Risha Patel, skin

Risha Patel,
Marlborough, MA

To me these words mean what I think others think when they first see an Indian. Our oiled hair and spiced food is smelly and our dark tan skin is viewed as undesirable. Stereotypically we have to be smart, exceeding in math and science. We might have great ideas to share but our thick accent is a barrier to your ears. To be Indian, is to be many things. To me, it means the cultures, the languages, and the foods. It is all so beautiful, but am I not also American? I may not be white or smell like vanilla. I am so much more than someone with dark skin, with spices in my food, and supposedly smart.

Race is just a social construct that allows people to think they know who I am. A social box I was placed in by others when I was born. Now that I am older, it does not affect me who I am, but it is infuriating that governments allow violence and hatred to flow through because of race. Why aren’t the good characteristics able to outstand the bad? Why is being dark and smart dismissive? I do not smell bad. I am just a person that every American and every Indian is.

Stuck between two races..fitting neither.

July 9, 2025July 9, 2025 Bartow, culture, different, fit in, FL, group, Margaret Hayes, Native, Race, southern, stuck between, two races

Margaret Hayes,
Bartow, FL.

I am mostly White on my mother’s side. Her family is all Southern. I do not look anything like them nor was I raised in the South so I don’t always think or act like they do. I am Native American on my father’s side. I definitely look much more like my father than my mother (actually nothing like my mother’s side with their pale skin and light eyes) but I wasn’t raised like he was either. With my parents being military, I moved everywhere. I have little to nothing in common with either side as my extended families didn’t share my experiences nor I their’s. I wish I had more in common with my Native side since I live in the south. But while I live in the South, it’s definitely not the same as being born and raised here. I have good relationships with both sides but I feel culturally like an outsider on both sides. I feel cultural ties are one key part to our identities. For me, it’s an important one. It shows up in family gatherings… on both sides. I have no shared childhood or early adulthood memories. Culture is tied to race. For me, it feels isolating. I feel different. I fit neither group.

This country is such a beautiful place

March 4, 2025March 6, 2025 america, AZ, beautiful, Chandler, culture, great, Kelly Mulvany, People, privilege, USA, variety, whitewashed

Kelly Mulvany,
Chandler, AZ

This country is beautiful BECAUSE we are not all white. The variety of cultures and beautiful people ARE what makes America great and I would not like to see that whitewashed. If that means giving up privileges than so be it- after all, have so many people already proved it’s doable?

While there’s no finishline: Americans All

January 23, 2025January 23, 2025 American, atlanta, come from, culture, different, Family, finishline, GA, make tomorrow better, William Eckman

William Eckman,
Atlanta, GA.

We come from different families, different cultures, different schools but for all to win as a great nation we must be less tribal and remember “out of many one”! This is the glue that holds us together and allows all of us to work to make tomorrow better than today across ALL arenas.

Chicana Falsa I Am Not!

January 22, 2025January 23, 2025 Amber Nicole Gutierrez, American, CA, Cesar Chavez, Chicana, civil rights, culture, different, Hemet, higher education, identity, Loteria, Mexican, Mike R. CA., military, speak Spanish, stereotype

Amber Nicole Gutierrez,
Hemet, CA.

Everyone grew up with a different life-style, just because I look of Mexican decent does not mean I am the same as every Mexican stereotype. I am an American and have grew up in the middle of both worlds of “American” and “Mexican”. I understand Spanish and speak some. I was not raised in the barrio it does not mean I do not know the culture. I may shout the word Loteria but it does not mean I do not know of the word buenas. I am as American as they come . My father served in military for a 20 years span, my mother was born here as her mom’s mom was. However, I do self-identify as a Chicana. This is due to the wonderful culture of Mexico and the Cesar Chavez Movement for civil rights and belief in higher education. I hope to assist minorities wherever disparities are found.

SHOUT OUT- CBU HIS311

It’s about culture not about race

October 22, 2024 CA, culture, Josiah, Race, Ventura

Josiah,
Ventura, CA

Being hispanic is the best culture

October 9, 2024 culture, food, Hispanic, Huntington, NY, Yolani Cabrera

Yolani Cabrera,
Huntington, NY

Being hispanic is the best especially when it comes to traditions and the food and the countries we are from as well.

Texican and Kansan adopt beautiful Chinita.

August 20, 2024August 20, 2024 adopt, CA, Chinita, cosas de la vida, culture, foster home, Guatemalan, Kansan, Latino, Los Angeles, mixed, Sandy Mayer, Texican

Sandy Mayer,
Los Angeles, CA.

I was surprised that our daughter’s Guatemalan foster family lovingly called her Chinita but understand that this is accepted in some Latino cultures. Growing up in a bi-cultural household, my sisters and I were called “cosas de la vida” by my Mexican mother. My husband and I are determined to keep our daughter’s language and (most!) customs a large part of her life, and now a part of ours.

Don’t Hide Your Culture Embrace It

July 11, 2024 culture, Dayana Quijano, embrace, Hispanic, Mansfield, TX

Dayana Quijano,
Mansfield, TX

Growing up and having to move to a white community made me feel like I had to hide a part of me away, the hispanic part of me. I felt like in order to be seen as an equal or to at least fit in I would have to abandon my a part of me . As I got older I embraced my culture and sought the beauty of it, I am proud to be part of the Hispanic Culture!

“I am proud, always will be.”

June 10, 2024 AL, assume, clothing, culture, dress code, ghetto, Madison, Mariah A. Humphrey, proud, ratchet

Mariah A. Humphrey,
Madison, AL

In my life, I’ve been a victim of racism but that never made me hate myself, my color, or my culture. I love my people and everything that we do from our food to the way we dress. But I know that’s not the case for everyone. Some people have experienced so much trauma that it creates hate for the thing they were hated for… Trying to find something to blame for their suffering. They feel as if they have to change themselves to not be “ghetto” or “ratchet”. That’s how hatred gets passed down from generation to generation. But, I will always love and eventually teach my children to love their color and embrace their heritage.

Thankful mom embraced non-white cultures too.

May 12, 2024May 12, 2024 Adrianne Tomkinson, asian neighborhood, Aurora, black neighborhood, brown neighborhood, culture, first experience, IL, mom, neighbor, non-white, poor

Adrianne Tomkinson,
Aurora, IL

I am white. I am female. I grew up poor with black, brown, white and yellow neighbors. I loved and felt loved by them all. I wish everyone grew up with that opportunity.

Share culture, ponder perspectives, embrace uniqueness.

May 6, 2024May 15, 2024 CA, Canada, culture, Germany, Hunter Curry, Laguna Niguel, share, unique

Hunter Curry,
Laguna Niguel, CA

I am white, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have culture. My father is from Canada, and my mother is from Germany, and both immigrated to the US in 2000. They built everything they have from nothing, no generational wealth. I am strongly connected to my German culture and thoroughly enjoy discovering what other cultures have to offer, whether it be through cuisine, dance, or practices. We as Americans need to be more openminded and recognize that culture is here to share, and that plenty of people are more than happy to share their traditions and experiences, if you are welcoming and genuinely curious to expand your cultural knowledge.

I have no culture I’m white

April 20, 2024April 22, 2024 culture, Erin Miller, Germany, New Berlin, Norway, Sweden, white, WI

Erin Miller,
New Berlin, WI.

No one has ever asked what country I’m from. It’s assumed I belong in the United States. Although I have various European countries in my background, Germany, Sweden, Norway, I have never had to be aware of them anymore than I have had to be aware of the air I breathe. Or the water I drink. I have the option to leave an empty space, because many will accept my six words.Come to think of it, I don’t even have to say them. Perhaps I should have more to say…

Seen It With My Own Eyes

March 19, 2024March 19, 2024 CA, culture, Elizabeth Swenson, eyes, Hacienda Heights, Hispanic, minority majority, school, Spanish

Elizabeth Swenson,
Hacienda Heights, CA.

I went to school in NC were it was predominately black & white in2006. My husband and the majority of my friends are Hispanic or Spanish descent. I never really though racism exist coming from LA, CA were its divers. But here I saw people say nasty things, dirty looks, and jesters that made me feel uncomfortable. It’s a lot better now that the state is growing but moving to NC was a culture shock.

Confucius say study hard respect parents

January 24, 2024January 24, 2024 Confucius, culture, history, immigration patterns, parents, respect, study

Alex Liu,
Columbia, MD.

Culture, inmigration patterns, history – it’s all very nuanced. Confucius did boil down the success formula though…what do ya’ll think?

Keep culture a strong part of families

November 9, 2023 Adam, culture, Durham, Family, NH, strong, university systems of New Hampshire

Adam,
Durham, NH

Culture and different cultures is what keeps people different and unique. Without different thoughts and beliefs, this world would be boring. Cultures are amazing to learn about the different ones and that should never change!

Different colors make more interesting artwork.

November 9, 2023 Carter Brown, culture, different colors, Durham, NH, The University System of New Hampshire

Carter Brown,
Durham, NH

I think that the diversity we see in the world today is what makes the world beautiful. If we were all the same the world would be boring and dull, its the combination of cultures that make the world interesting. I think the acceptance of our differences and combination of those differences is what will lead to a more connected world.

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