My identity’s not for your pleasure
Naveena Karusala Alpharetta, GA The day every person of color can be themselves and display their cultural identity without being hated for it is the...
I don’t see you as Black
Adrienne Crew Los Angeles, CA I’m always troubled about the concept of being an “Oreo” and not really projecting an “African American” identity but rather...
White mother of adopted Bolivian son
Nancy Rawn Storrs, CT I have been so proud of my beautiful boy for all of his 20 years. He struggled with so many high...
America’s minority education is in crisis
Alondra K. Poindexter Arlington, TX I am a doctoral candidate at Texas Wesleyan University. I am currently working on my dissertation “Cultural Identity and African...
Black, Mixed, Metisse, Exotic, Afropino, Fulatto
Christina Lewis Halpern New York City, NY The strange thing about race in the western world is the strong need to put people’s identities into...
Less about me, more about race.
Kristen Milwaukee, WI As a white, middle-class lesbian, I often focus conversations regarding diversity around how I am a part of the subordinate identity. I...
People see white- but I’m Mexican!
Mikah Broken Arrow, OK A lot of people are surprised when I tell them I’m Mexican… I’m light-skinned with dark hair and it disappoints me...
We-all bleed red. So don’t judge
Nathalie Gregoire New York City, NY Brooklyn All my life I have been judged. When we see black people we automatically think they are thieves....
Mexican With White Skin No Spanish
JS CA Brought up to believe my Mexican heritage was secondary to my white heritage. Didn’t learn Spanish, didn’t learn culture. As a young woman...
NPR journalist to deliver Blackburn lecture
REPOST FROM: IN NEWS / BY EMILY WILLIAMS / ON APRIL 2, 2014 AT 12:00 AM / National Public Radio host and author Michele Norris...
We are only who we are
Netanya Stein Caldwell, NJ You cant pretend to be someone you’re not. you are who you are; our background shapes a large part of our...
I witness and rewitness history
Melissa Johnson Brooklyn, NY With the continual killing and imprisoning, marginalization and exploitation of the black individual–blackness as an identity is loved and hated all...
Bland identity. Culturally disappointing. Plain white.
Dianna Pategas Sandy Hook, CT I’ve always felt a strange longing for more cultural identity. My family doesn’t have strong traditions or ties to any...
I’m not Japanese-American. I’m just Japanese.
Katie Hana Kuyama Northridge, CA I’ve always thought it weird to add “American” to my identity when my ethnicity is indeed Japanese. I’m a second...
I’m Caucasian, therefore the assumed oppressor.
Casi Scheidt Carbondale, IL It’s come to my attention that, throughout my life, others sometimes assume that my racial identity as white means that I...
