The Race Card Project
By Michele Norris
Emery Boyle-Scott,
Milwaukee, WI.
I want to belong in a group, and it’s nice to belong until someone looks closely. My whiteness is always sidelined when people learn about my lesbian moms. Don’t look closely and I have all the privilege. But, then it disappears and I’m not allowed, I’m questioned on everything. There’s no box for my diversity. There are literally dozens of us, but we’re not connected.
Margaret Hayes,
Bartow, FL.
I am mostly White on my mother’s side. Her family is all Southern. I do not look anything like them nor was I raised in the South so I don’t always think or act like they do. I am Native American on my father’s side. I definitely look much more like my father than my mother (actually nothing like my mother’s side with their pale skin and light eyes) but I wasn’t raised like he was either. With my parents being military, I moved everywhere. I have little to nothing in common with either side as my extended families didn’t share my experiences nor I their’s. I wish I had more in common with my Native side since I live in the south. But while I live in the South, it’s definitely not the same as being born and raised here. I have good relationships with both sides but I feel culturally like an outsider on both sides. I feel cultural ties are one key part to our identities. For me, it’s an important one. It shows up in family gatherings… on both sides. I have no shared childhood or early adulthood memories. Culture is tied to race. For me, it feels isolating. I feel different. I fit neither group.
Georgianna Wong,
Topeka, KS.
When my son, George Wong was playing baseball, I had a woman tell me how handsome my son was and then asked, “How long have you had him?” It always hurt me when people would think I adopted him even though my last name was Wong. Then I had a good friend tell me, “Don’t worry, he doesn’t look Chinese”.
Olivia Rose Castillo,
Sanger, CA.
I am constantly asked if I’m sure of the racial group I belong to because the color of my skin. I am light complected, I’m a lot lighter then most. Doesn’t mean I should be defined by my skin color. All of my are similar in our faces but all different in our colors. Doesn’t mean we aren’t related or of the same race.
Alda
New York City, NY
Staten Island
Isabelle Norconk,
San Diego, CA.
As a white woman, I don’t experience the struggle and discrimination that other men and women of minority groups feel. That’s not to say I have no problems, they just don’t have to do with systemic racism and racial stereotypes. Something I can do to combat this and to add my support to others that can help themselves is to add my privilege to an organization so that they can impress upon me their wishes and I can do my best to support, listen, and spread their cause. Like Black Lives matter, Black Student Union, LGBTQIAS+, or Standing Rock.
Jessica Keast,
Portland, ME.
I’ve noticed that many white people have a tendency to use the pronoun ‘them’ instead of ‘us’ in relation to other white people when talking about race. By failing to include ourselves the group we push the blame off ourselves, but also neglect to recognize the implicit biases present in everyone. This only perpetuates the issues we have with race in todays society.
Tsvia Tabuchi,
Rancho Cucamonga, CA.
I am married to a Japanese man for 30 years , and have two beautiful children. Every time we go out to a restaurant or theater other people think I belong to a different group.
JJ JONES
Roanoke, VA
I am a happy person by nature. But as each day progresses I see the results of a group of Americans that just don’t get it by my standards. So I ask myself “what can cause them to be more like me?”. I believe if this group, who have failed so miserably at life in general, could just drop their sad images of their self worth they could be 1000% better off. I don’t know how to make this happen. Too many have so little hope. They just lay down and barely breathe. I want to see success in this group but do they? As long as they can buy a nice car they really can’t afford and get hair do’s they can’t afford and eat unhealthy they are happy as a witch in a broom factory. Nothing is progressing at all and then they get upset over the police reacting to the real problem. Every where they go trouble exists. So here’s what I do to keep the police from shooting me:
1. Wake up each morning after 8-10 hours of sleep.
2. Look in the mirror and LOVE the human I see, ME.
3. Clean myself for the day.
4. Go to work or school. Never accept idle time. Work legally every day to make a living. Learn more how to have a great life. If you own a smart phone you should be using the free lessons apps instead of social media.
5. After work. Have fun that is healthy to my body, mind, and sprirt.
6. repeat starting with number 1.
I don’t worry about the police at all. I have a hard time not waving and talking to them for I was told they are the enemy. I still concern myself for the others who are treated wrongly. My wishes are for a peaceful existence for all humans, alas humans hate too much then the habit is impossible to break.
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