The Race Card Project
By Michele Norris
Paul Cabler,
San Francisco, CA
I grew up in the deep south, and have been on the west coast for over 30 years (I’m 68.).While I would never consider myself racist, I’ve found that racist thoughts can pop into my head unannounced (“How did that black man afford a Lexus?”). I hate that, but have learned I might have to check myself for the rest of my life. Such biases are taught, and sometimes difficult to unlearn
Dylan,
GA
I grew up on the west coast, and my community was culturally diverse (whites, Asians, Hispanics). However, my community had a low population of blacks.
I moved to the Deep South. This is the least culturally diverse place I have lived. It is quite literally black and white.
The city I live in is majority black. Poverty is rampant. Crime is rampant. In black neighborhoods, people do not care for the upkeep of homes. The tenants could give a damn. Property values are low. The public school are atrocious. Neighbors hate each other.
I have seen numerous examples of black people who carry themselves with dignity and treat others with respect. Sadly, the majority of blacks here are not that way.
I was sympathetic to the Black Lives Matter movement and notions of securing racial equality for blacks by changing the system. Now I see it’s the black community that is primarily to blame for their predicament.
Does racism exist? Yes. Does generational poverty influence black communities? Absolutely. Does welfare help raise blacks from poverty? No. Do blacks lack opportunity in the community because of their skin color? Nope.
Black community leaders need to step up and show them there are other ways of living. Trashy is trashy. Whites have an aspect of their culture which is shameful (rednecks, trailer trash, etc). The core identity of the black community is trashy. Listen to the music young black people listen to. Look at how they dress. Listen to how they speak. Anyone who sees this difference and believes it is perfectly acceptable and not capable of being elevated to a more elegant, culturally rich version is blind.
It doesn’t have to be this way.
Amber Jackson Baswell,
Columbus, MS.
As a military brat I was naïve, sheltered. It was only when my father was stationed in the deep South that “RACE” entered my vocabulary. I was shocked as a 15 year old (back in ’95) to see that churches, schools, hangouts, even the local beauty pageants were segregated! Blew my mind. So much emphasis on the color of ones skin when we all bleed red and what matters most in a (wo)man comes from deep within.
Cooper Shell,
Jackson, TN.
She’s White in a Black Body…..
That is what has ALWAYS been said to describe me—since I was at least 12 years old. My name is Cooper Shell, and I grew up in Choctaw County, MS. I hail from a blended family which is very typical in my town. I suppose that I should dress, speak, and behave in a certain manner because I am an African American female in the deep South; I don’t…at least not in the manner most people expect. I prefer to wear business suits, pearls, and pumps; Paramore is one of my favorite bands. My natural hair has always looked more like a weave, and I am incredibly articulate. However, society says that I should wear Jordans and Sean Jean, aspire to be Beyonce while dancing to Lil Wayne, and wear weaves as I speak the latest slang and broken English. I had African American and Caucasian friends as a child and teenager. But apparently my speech and preferences just seemed to be more “White” than “Black”. As an adult, I have gotten quite use to my clients and business contacts assuming I am male because of my name. However, I am never prepared for the awkward stammers, stares, and hearing “Are you sure you’re Cooper?” once those people finally meet me face to face. It is even more disheartening to meet people who make incredibly racist comments on the phone, only to learn they were speaking to a “Black” all along.
Katy Wilkerson,
Houston, TX.
In the deep South, in my experience, racism is pervasive, especially when you talk about poorer and poorer white people (not just men). There truly does still exist a level of social acceptability that is just not OK. I’ve always been extremely disgusted by it, despite being white and having these people in my family, but I am well educated now and I did grow up poor in a mostly black community. My husband is white, from a poor white family, and they’re all less educated and living in white, rural communities. The racism they display sickens me. My father in law refers to black children as “nigglets”. And that’s a tame example. They are not alone and the culture is pervasive– otherwise hardworking, loving, and “good” people can do horrible things when there is social acceptance and pressure behind it. My husband is not, I believe, a racist, but when around his family he has to “play along” and I generally have to physically leave when this is going on, since I refuse to “play along”. If we continue to tell ourselves, as white people and as humans, that this isn’t happening anymore or acting wounded and dismissing it, we are making it worse for whichever generation finally addresses it and doing ourselves a great disservice. There is no “acceptable” racism in the modern world, no reason that makes it OK, it’s ALWAYS wrong, and this will be a problem as long as it’s ignored.
Jessica McMurtry,
Collins, GA.
I am white, yes, but it makes me very bitter when other white people refuse to see how being another “race” could affect their life. Empathy is not the same as not being prideful of your heritage. My ancestors were Irish, Scottish, and Native American- and I am supremely proud of that… but I am quite aware my blue eyes and pale skin can be advantageous in certain situations and places, especially here in the Deep South. The racism makes me cringe. Sitting in history class at GSU, listening to the Professor talk about slavery with such a flippant attitude made me want to dig a hole and hide under my seat. What slaves endured makes my blood boil.
I would like to see “race” eradicated one day. My daughter is my hope, my anchor. Her innocence and complete lack of ‘seeing’ color makes my heart swell. Racism is taught- end of story.
Maria Victoria Salazar,
Mobile, AL.
Hi! My heritage is a little more complicated than others’, especially here in the Deep South. I have roots in Mexico and Costa Rica (which of course are from deeper roots in Spain), Italy, and a dash of Ireland from my great-grandmother. However, according to the culture my family and I participate in most, we are Latin American. That’s cool and all, but it poses an identification issue for me, my sisters, and some of my cousins. I’ve lived in Alabama my whole life. And while I like some of the perks of living down here, some other things piss me off. Like, why does everyone need to belong in a certain category? Why do I have to look like I belong to a certain people? And when people find out that I’m not like them, why do they have to focus on the differences when, in fact, we have so much in common? Yea, it’s kinda weird down here. Most people don’t think Latinas should be light-skinned, which I totally am, but Latinas come in all different shapes, sizes, and colors. They’re surprised when they find out that “this white girl” is pretty good at soccer, or has nice curves, or can dance! But when I make it known that I am Latina, they also are surprised that I have a bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Sciences and a well paying job that doesn’t require manual labor. The only thing they don’t seem surprised about is that I have a sexy black boyfriend, who has direct roots to Nigeria. But even though it seems like I’m ranting on and on, really I’m very happy. I can be whoever I want! I don’t need racial barriers or expectations to fulfill! And that is the coolest thing about being multiracial/multicultural! So, peace out America and let the world know how beautiful it is to be different.
Ellison Weist
Portland, OR
I grew up in the Deep South, the white child of parents who championed Civil Rights in the 1960s. Yet it’s this story from my elderly Portland, OR neighbor that speaks volumes to me about race and forgiveness.
M. D. K. C.,
Deep South, USA.
At some point in history, the powers that be thought it best to skew history. I’m sure the reasoning for this is very obvious. In my schools years, 89-current, we are not being taught the whole truth. Why? Whose agenda does this fit? Why were children not told about black slave owners? Why was nothing ever mentioned about the white and oriental slaves? Why were they left out of history? What purpose did it serve the black populace to lie about whites kidnapping them? Why were students not told that African tribe leaders sold their own? Why were southern slave owners not compensated for their loss of property? After all, many other countries paid their slave owners. Why wasn’t it explained that southerners of all races fought willingly for the Confederacy? Why is my heritage under attack when the truth is hidden from most people? Why are white children being publicly shamed on a mass scale via the “white privilege” indoctrination? Because a white woman said it was so in the late 80s? Really?There are only more questions. We are responsible for our own education. We are obligated to know the real history of our great nation, yet it is kept hidden from us.
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