educator Archives - The Race Card Project

Well How Black Am I Really?

December 22, 2020December 22, 2020 Aurora, Carnesia, classroom, CO, compliment, educator, glasses, how black, rap music, stereotypes, students, too black, well mannered, what am I, what does it mean

Carnesia,
Aurora, CO.

As far back as I can remember I’ve always been told by past educators that I am very “well mannered” unlike the other students in my classroom who were all Black. At the time, I saw this as a wonderful compliment. I wasn’t loud or disruptive like the others. I didn’t play loud rap music and flail about wildly when my song came on, I was well-mannered me with crooked my purple framed glasses nose deep in a book of many chapters and not one picture to be seen. As time dragged on I began to question if I were Black. What does it mean to be Black?

Identity Thief Blasian Sensation Lifelong Educator

November 16, 2020November 16, 2020 blasian, bridge, Chester, Chinese, educator, identity, Jennifer Wong Cernak, MD, mixed, racial divide, thief, undercover

Jennifer Wong Cernak,
Chester, MD.

I have been listening to your race-card stories for a long time and heard the topic of mixed race come up again and again. In the past identity has been a struggle for me, but now I feel comfortable with who I am. There were many days, growing up, I felt like I was wearing the skin of someone else and disguising myself amongst the “identity secure”. As I grew older and left the racial safe-haven of my mostly white hometown, Columbia, I struggled more and more with who I was and how I identified myself. I later decided to immerse myself in the African-American communities and felt like an “undercover white person.” The experience really opened my eyes to a part of myself I had been ashamed of even though it was the most apparent part of me. Now more than ever, I feel compelled to educate and bridge the racial divide for others. I know who I am and I’m ready to let the world know. I am an adopted girl, Korean and Black woman, daughter of a Chinese father and a White mother, sister of a Chinese-and-White woman, twin, wife of a white man, and expecting mother of my own mixed race child.

Teaching hope in spite of racism.

August 1, 2017July 31, 2017 CO, educator, hope, Joyce Corley, Montrose, racism, society, target, teacher, teaching

Joyce Corley,
Montrose, CO.

As an educator, I witnessed the results of racism that targeted the most vulnerable people in our society.

Teach in Japan, but you’re black

April 17, 2016April 17, 2016 backlash, Black, black teacher, Dee Moore, educator, Hajimemashite!, Japan, LA, Shreveport, stereotype, stigma

Dee Moore,
Shreveport, LA.

Hajimemashite!
That is the stigma I am always facing in my community. I am a 25 year old African American educator who has plans to teach overseas in Japan. I am also studying Japanese so that I can develop some kind of fluency. Since I was young, I was always interested in Eastern culture, particularly in the Japanese community. I made up my mind that I wanted to spend time in Japan and teach Japanese children. I want to know the feeling as an educator to teach outside of my norm and Western culture.

When telling people my intended plans, there is often backlash. Responses like “Asian people don’t like black people,” “They will kidnap you,” and “Why not teach in Africa where they really need black teachers.”

I feel as though that I am individual who has right to teach where ever I am pleased and going to Japan is something I really wanted to do. It is about time to end this stigma of stereotypes and fear. If one continues to fear, then nothing can be accomplished.

I don’t know when I am going to Japan, but trust me, I WILL GO AND WILL TEACH! Because teaching is something I am good at, and I will be the best educator any Japanese student would love to have.

Sayounara!

Ignorance breeds isolation, learning creates community

September 25, 2015September 25, 2015 break down walls, breeds, community, educator, ignorance, isolation, KS, learning, Overland Park, Reva Friedman, school, silo, teacher

Reva Friedman,
Overland Park, KS.

We live in our comfy, constrained, psychic silos. My mission as a teacher educator is to create opportunities for my students break down those walls and create open, safe learning communities where all are welcomed and all are celebrated.

STILL SO MUCH WORK TO DO.

June 29, 2014 educator, Jersey City, NJ, Rachel Potts

Rachel Potts
Jersey City, NJ

As an educator, I see every day the ongoing, engrained inequities when it comes to our youngest african american students, mainly boys. 50 years later, access to education alone just isn’t enough.

Number one bullied race in America

May 13, 2013 American, Asian, educator, Hannah Lucky Tran, model minority, PA, Philadelphia

Hannah Lucky Tran
Philadelphia, PA

As an Asian American educator, I have personally experience and witnessed countless acts of bullying based on Asian identity and/or labeling. Society tends to disregard the Asian American experience, sugarcoating it with ‘model minority’ rhetoric. I hope to open up dialogue on the daily struggles of Asian Americans–beginning with the bullying that occurs in our schools.

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