eye Archives - The Race Card Project

That girl spat in my eye.

January 28, 2024January 28, 2024 1870, adopted, afro, black girls, Caprice Becker, decendants, eye, Family, first experience, German, hallway, High School, immigrants, Korean, KS, Manhattan, reminder, small town, spit, State High School Music, television, toddler, Wichita High School

Caprice Becker,
Manhattan, KS.

I was in High School in a very small town of about 1300 mostly descended from German immigrants in the 1870s, all white (except for the one Korean who had been adopted by a local family when she was a toddler) in the early 70’s. All the surrounding communities in Central Kansas were essentially of the same make up with the possible exception of the European country of origin. Most of us had never encountered a person who wasn’t of European descent.

State High School Music festival was always held in a Wichita high school. As some of us were walking the hallways between our performances we approached a small group of Black girls walking towards us. I stared at them. As the groups passed, I felt a glob of moisture in my eye. By the time I figured out what had happened we were well past the other group. This is the first time I have told anyone, including the girls I was with.

Over the years the incident has occasionally returned to my mind. We were both being very typical of our cultures. My father was blatantly racist, I was trying not to be. The sight of the tall girl with a wide Afro mesmerized me. My only experience with such a sight was on television. Her experience with white people staring was likely always a challenge or threat.

The memory of the incident is a reminder that it’s easy to be racist without realizing what one is doing. I’m not justifying the girl’s response to me. It is NOT okay to spit in someone’s eye. Even so, her action helped me, and still helps me, to see who I am and who I really want to be.

Look in the EYE, smile, say HI!

January 14, 2024 Clearwater, Deborah Williams, eye, fear, FL, HI, skin color, smile

Deborah Williams
Clearwater, FL

Fear affects all of us. Bad people are out there but it’s not based on skin color. When you walk by, take a moment to look that fear in the eye. Smile and say HI! You will see that 99.9% of the time your fear was unfounded.

Look in the EYE, smile, say HI!

June 20, 2018June 20, 2018 Clearwater, Deborah Williams, eye, fear, FL, HI, skin color, smile

Deborah Williams
Clearwater, FL

Eye contact can make the difference

May 14, 2015May 14, 2015 CA, difference, eye, eye contact, Lynn Jacobsen, Rocklin

Lynn Jacobsen
Rocklin, CA

Inspired by others entries on this site.

Say Hello First Then Think Twice

March 27, 2015March 27, 2015 contact, eye, Greenfield, hello, Lauri McNamara, MA, say, stangers

Lauri McNamara,
Greenfield, MA.

I see strangers in my neighborhood when I walk my dog and instead of being afraid and making snap assessments based on their age, skin, group, I slow myself down and try to make eye contact, say hello and take it from there. I wish more people would give it a try. Connect with other humans, whether they are familiar or not. Say Hello.

Experience identifies me, not my color.

November 17, 2013November 17, 2013 Color, eye, identify, Kelley Canaday, label, NC, Sylva

Kelley Canaday
Sylva, NC

Race is a label that has morphed over time taking on both positive and negative connotations depending on your perspective. Our perspective determines how we perceive race. No matter how much we try to eliminate bias it will always exist on some level. We are an observant people always making judgments based on what we see. These judgments might change or be confirmed as more information becomes available. We develop bias from infancy based on the teachings, actions, and observances of our parents, family, friends, educators, role models, heroes and society; personal experiences; and knowledge.

Color is only one observance of the eye. It is up to education and character to shape how the mid and heart interprets this observation. Our interaction with others determines if it is a positive or negative experience. We then have to make conscious decisions to seek an understanding or accept our first conclusion based on initial sight, current knowledge, and past experience. We must then live with our decision or choose to learn more, look beyond the surface, and create a new experience that not only changes our character and our lives; but it can impact change in others through their observance of our actions in creating a new experience for them. You choose…will you impact positive or negative experiences?