impression Archives - The Race Card Project

Image portrayed, impression made. It DOES matter.

March 19, 2021March 19, 2021 Asian, Benicia, Black, CA, clothes, dress, Hispanic, hoodie, image, impression, matter, P. Contreras, portrayed, stereotype, Trayvon Martin, wear

P. Contreras,
Benicia, CA.

How you choose to dress gives an impression about you. Whether that impression is accurate or not no one will know unless they get to know you. But, they won’t get to know you if your image repels them.

Example. Teenage Boy (black, Hispanic, Asian, white) in your neighborhood in jeans (that fit), t-shirt, and athletic shoes compared to a teenage boy in your neighborhood in saggy jeans (prison style), hoody obscuring most of his face, and athletic shoes.

It’s how you wear the clothes.

Call Me Irish, Not Just White

March 12, 2019March 12, 2019 Belfast, CA, define, Ellis Island, grandmother, identify, impression, irish, Northern Ireland., Rowen, San Francisco, UK, white

Rowen,
San Francisco, CA.

I was always close to my grandmother, although she died when I was pretty young -she made a big impression on me. She was a strong woman and that came through.She had come to the US when she was 21, just her and her sister. They left Belfast Northern Ireland after a childhood of being raided on a regular basis by the British. They landed in New York Ellis Island. The first years were tough but they went on to better lives. They were the youngest of 11 children, and the only ones who came to the US, so I ended up having more relatives spread throughout the UK then I do here.When I got old enough I saved and traveled to the UK, in search of the people I identified with. I think everyone should take this trip, whether you can find your relatives or not-just seeing the country you came from is a learning experience. I learned more about my family history- but also about American History while there. In the UK white people are not just white- but White-English, White Irish, White Scottish, as well as British African, Carribean African, etc. I liked my etnicity being acknowledged, because I am proud of my backround, and that is the side of my family that I identify with. Not only because my dna is over 60% Irish, but because of my grandmother, and my mother. I know even though after that trip it was clear that I was culturally an American, my roots and characteristics passed down, the things we have in all of us that make us different- and add to our American culture, we should respect in everyone. There are racial and ethnic differences everywhere, but nowhere are there so many conversations, or focus on it as here, everyone is fighting to be recognised in their own right- maybe because we are so big, with so many cultures. All of that said -you can’t move forward if you’re always looking back. So take what you know and keep going.

Bias helps me form true impression

March 12, 2019March 12, 2019 anonymous, bias, helps, impression, MN, Morris, true, University of Minnesota

Anonymous
Morris, MN

No black kids in my school

November 26, 2018November 26, 2018 1954, 1966, black kid, Howard T. Uhal, impression, island of white, James A. Garfield, Mentor, OH, president, public school, school, school system, sea of diversity, white

Howard T. Uhal,
Mentor, OH.

I attended twelve years of public school in the town of Mentor, Ohio, birthplace of President James A. Garfield. To the best of my knowledge, there was not a single black kid in the school system, and perhaps none in the entire town. This was in the 1954-1966 time frame. We were an island of white in a sea of diversity. I did not get the impression that our parents were worried about that.

Lost in race as a mixed kid

November 20, 2018November 20, 2018 Black, CA, community, German, identity, impression, judge, kid, lost, Mexican, Minority, mixed, Ninasophia Stowe, Race, Riverside, white people

Ninasophia Stowe,
Riverside, CA

I am mixed with Black, German and Mexican. Growing up I was very confused about what it meant to be mixed. I didn’t feel fully accepted by the Black community because I didn’t have enough black features, was called the “black friend” around white people and didn’t speak Spanish so felt excluded from hispanic communities and was called white washed. This impacted my view of myself and made me feel a bit displaced. I only felt fully accepted when I was around other mixed kids, which is unfortunate. As I got older, I found parts of my identity in being a woman of color and had a heart for minorities. However, in some ways I was pushed out because I wasn’t Black enough-minority enough.

On the other hand, I did experience racism while growing up and it bred a prejudice in me towards white people. I am not proud of the way that I judge white people so harshly on their actions because honestly I expect the worst from them and history has proved that over and over. I know that not all white people are racist and there are some who genuinely mean well. Not initially judging white people off first impressions or preconceived ideas is something I am working on.