Borderlands born. Always illegal. Always home.
Chuy Benitez, Houston, TX. When you grow up at the collision of two countries, of two cultures, of two identities, you learn very quickly the...
A journey through language and space.
Grace Morse, New Orleans, LA. Aspen X I chose those six words because reading and writing (within travel) are some of the most important aspects...
I know I’m well spoken, surprised?
Carrington Anderson, Indianapolis, IN. Never sure why I get “You’re so well spoken” so often. Not sure why people look at me and expect me...
Kindergarten without English. I’m still fine.
Vishwa Dhuleshia, Shrewsberry, MA. I started Kindergarten knowing how to say only two things in Enlgish: “my name is Vishwa” and “I have to go...
It’s Okay To Talk About Race
Courtnay S., Arlington, VA. Why are we so uncomfortable talking about racial privilege? Does anyone shy away from saying they are privileged because of their...
I’m learning to hear ebonics differently
Penelope Howard, USA. I realized lately that while I don’t discriminate against skin color (as far as I know), a part of me discriminates against...
Wow, so you speak African right?
Yasmin Igal, Seattle, WA. Africa is a huge continent made of 1000s of languages and assuming I speak African because I’m Somali doesn’t makes no...
No, I dont need a translator.
Kristy, San Luis, AZ. The older I get the less fun it is for me to go places. Constantly getting judged for being Hispanic and...
I’m Hmong, and I am proud.
Kabao Lee, Sacramento, CA. I am Hmong and I am proud. I think it pretty much explains itself, but there are many people I know...
Mexican white girl, doesn’t speak Spanish.
Elysha O’Brien, Las Vegas, NV. Whites see me as Mexican, Mexicans view me as White because I don’t speak Spanish. I find it interesting that...
But you don’t have an accent…
Sandra Reyes, Santa Cruz, CA. Response from some when they learn that my parents are from El Salvador and English is not my first language.
I, Woman Of Color Can Articulate
Epiphanie Malloy Inkster, MI This stereotypical notion that women of color,especially us in the African American community, are incapable of orating with yell, screaming, being...
You’re spanish and don’t speak it?
Keatan Oliva, McAllen, TX. Growing up near the boarder of Mexico, where I would often cross with my mother to have lunch on weekends, it...
Wow! You speak Spanish so well.
Jorge Talamantes, Azusa, CA. Student ’15 I am a Latino man of Mexican and Cuban descent, so when people tell me that I speak Spanish...
White nurse. Inner city hospital. Disaster
Liz Kelly, Cleveland, OH. The big insight happened when I couldn’t understand the language no matter how hard I tried, although it was English. Knowing...
Stop assuming I speak your language.
E. Agardi, American Canyon, CA. Please speak English when in America.
