Decatur Archives - The Race Card Project

I’m so white “ginger” from Alabama

March 1, 2025March 6, 2025 AL, Alabama, being white, blondes, Cindy, Decatur, ginger, hated, redhead, white

Cindy,
Decatur, Al.

We can’t change things but I hope blondes and redheads always remain, I hate what is being lost, I hate being hated for being white I guess now we know!

“You remind me of my mother.”

August 20, 2024August 20, 2024 blessing, Decatur, GA, grateful, mother, prejudice, spirit, Susan Boyer, you remind me

Susan Boyer,
Decatur, GA.

These words were spoken to me by a young black waiter. I’m an old white woman. “We got a connection”, he said. And I felt it. I was so touched by his generosity of spirit. I walk around my diverse city, aware of my racist culture and upbringing and practice looking at folk who don’t look like me thinking “There goes Jesus, incarnate again.” I have to work at letting my prejudice go. But for this young man, it just came naturally. He was a blessing to me and I’m grateful.

You’re not like the other blacks

August 25, 2022 being different, Decatur, different, GA, Jasmine Patterson, not the same, other, you're not like us

Jasmine Patterson,
Decatur, GA

Confederate Flag: The American Swastika

July 2, 2015 Confederate flag, Decatur, GA, Swastika, Wayne K Robertson

Wayne K Robertson,
Decatur, GA.

That’s how we should think of it – a banner that intimidates.

Perceptions of race…change….over time…

March 19, 2015 absence, change, community, Decatur, Family, GA, M'Karyl Gaynor, Midwest, Paisley Park, perceptions, Race, time

M’Karyl Gaynor,
Decatur, GA.

I am 52 years old and I am from the Midwest (Rockford, IL) and while there was not an absence of racism per se…my friends and I were fortunate enough to grow up in a community where our families, communities and educational experiences allowed us to experience integration at its best…I am grateful for how well-reared I am and how well-integrated I am with the human race…please join us…there aren’t any rules in Paisley Park…xoxoxo

Oh, I like that skin better!

March 24, 2014April 24, 2014 Afghanistan, Carolyn Parks, Decatur, defense contractor, GA, lighter, like, skin

Carolyn Parks
Decatur, GA

I think most Americans do not realize we are socialized to be racist. To not like black or brown skin……

While working as a defense contractor in Afghanistan, I had an allergic reaction to something I touched. My skin became severely irritated, which caused the skin on my hands to peel. Imagine, getting a bad sunburn.
I am African American and the color of my skin is honey brown. As my skin began to peel, the old (top) layer of skin was much darker than the new layer of skin. Probably because the old top layer of skin was dead.

One of my co-workers, who is Caucasian was inquiring about what happened. After I explained, he stated, “Oh, I like that skin much better”! Referring to the new skin emerging on my hands, which was “lighter” than the old skin. I asked why? He replied, it just looks better. He went on to say, he didn’t like “dark skin”. He had no idea how offensive his comments were.