Greensboro Archives - The Race Card Project

Trying to be. Often make mistakes.

June 3, 2024 Dan Tarara, Greensboro, mistakes, move forward, NC

Dan Tarara,
Greensboro, NC

I’m trying to be a better human. Some days go well. Other days not so much. It’s not as if I have a score card to keep track. But in the moment- sometimes after the fact, I realized a person to person encounter was less than what it should have been or could have been. I fumble. And I hope I can be better moving forward.

You’re just a whitewashed privileged Mexican

July 18, 2023July 18, 2023 Greensboro, immigrant father, Mexican, Mikaela Vera, mixed, NC, privilege, voice, whitewashed

Mikaela Vera,
Greensboro, NC

I have always struggled with the color of my skin and the fact that I am a mixed child with an immigrant father who I am proud of however I have to limit my voice sometimes due to also being white and not wanting to offend anyone for being the voice of Mexicans or immigrant children. I just don’t want to step on anyone toes.

My Swahili children: chai ya maziwa

September 7, 2020September 8, 2020 chai ya maziwa, children, Greensboro, milk, NC, Paula Gormley, Swahili, Tanzania, team, two worlds

Paula Gormley
Greensboro, NC

I am white. My children are from two separate worlds: United States and Tanzania. We are living in the US, but I am grooming them for lives in which they, children of privilege, will have an obligation to help their African brothers and sisters. I always tell people that they have that African charm. It’s in their DNA.

chai ya maziwa = milk with tea

White Girl Trying To Be Ally

July 16, 2020July 16, 2020 ally, Greensboro, Lynsey Owen, NC, privilege, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, UNC, White girl

Lynsey Owen,
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro,
Greensboro, NC

I recognize my privilege. I choose to educate myself on how to help in addition to correcting any inherently racist tendencies I witness. I just want to be the best ally that I can be.

I am a United States Citizen

March 25, 2020March 25, 2020 Greensboro, Kinyata, NC, United States Citizen

Kinyata,
Greensboro, NC

I’m a student at Davidson County Community College and this post was an assignment. I chose I am a United States Citizen because so often people hear my name and ask what country am I from. Sometimes it’s frustrating when people assume my origin-based off of my name.

Empathy, we are all from Africa

March 9, 2018March 9, 2018 Africa, empathy, Greensboro, NC, Tiara McCall, who we are

Tiara McCall,
Greensboro, NC.

Being brown doesn’t always equal Mexican

March 9, 2018 brown, Central, color of your skin, Cristal Alanis, equal, Greensboro, Mexican, Mexico, NC, skin, South American

Cristal Alanis,
Greensboro, NC.

Based on the color of our skin does not determine our background. Central and South America have other countries too, not just Mexico.

I am unique, beautiful, and gifted.

March 3, 2015March 3, 2015 beautiful, Ciara Chavis, gifted, Greensboro, identify, NC, proud, unique

Ciara Chavis,
Greensboro, NC.

I am proud of me, who I’ve become and I will continue to grow. I am also proud of where I come from and grateful for the path my ancestors has paved for me. I am beautiful, unique, and gifted . This will forever be true, and my race does not identify me.

We’ve a long way to go

March 31, 2014 Greensboro, long way, NC, Vix Walker

Vix Walker
Greensboro, NC

We’ve come a long way, but there is yet a long way left to go.

No son, it’s not the circus

September 9, 2013 1960, circus, civil rights sit-in, Greensboro, KKK, Lawrence R. Bethea, NC

Lawrence R. Bethea
Greensboro, NC

In 1960 as a young Afro-American child ( 6yrs.old ) growing up in Greensboro,N.C. (home of the civil rights sit-in movement), my mother took me shopping downtown. As we waited on the bus to carry us home, I noticed a large group of men walking down the street in white robes with hoods that covered their faces I became very excited, thinking that the circus was in town. I shouted out very loudly, “Look mom, the circus clowns”. I started to run towards them when my mother clasped my hand very tightly and looked me in the eye. With fear in her trembling voice, she said very lovingly to me,” NO SON, IT’S NOT THE CIRCUS”.

Knew segregation was wrong, accepted it

August 28, 2013 accepted, Greensboro, lunch counter, NC, Richmond, segregation, VA, Walt Pulliam Jr., Woolworth

Walt Pulliam Jr.
Richmond, VA

Grew up in Greensboro, NC and was familiar with the Woolworth lunch counter where the sit-ins occurred.

White Mom, Black Son, barbershop revelations

May 3, 2013May 3, 2013 appears, barbershop, Black, Greensboro, Kathy Osborne, mom, NC, Revelation, son, trans-racial, white

Kathy Osborne
Greensboro, NC

Trans-racial adoption has given me new eyes regarding race. I am Caucasian, my son is multi-racial but appears black to the world. I have attempted to provide the “Black Barbershop” experience for him, thinking he would be getting this cultural exposure if he lived in a traditional family, raised by Black parents. As it turns out, I am probably the one who has received the most “cultural enlightenment” . Taking him for a haircut has resulted in me finding myself in one of those rare experiences where I am in the racial minority in a group. It is from that experience that I allow myself to try and imagine the sense that someone in an ethnic minority must experience on a daily basis. At times, I am looked at with suspicion. I have been asked if I am his foster mother. I have waited for over an hour for his “turn” until no customers remained in the store, only to have the barber ask me if he was there for a haircut. What a curious world we live in.