learned Archives - The Race Card Project

I learned I was Black in kindergarten.

July 10, 2024July 10, 2024 AZ, Black, class, kindergarten, learned, Phoenix, pictures, Shakira, teacher

Shakira,
Phoenix, AZ.

One day after our teacher snapped photos of our class she developed them in black and white and scattered them out on a table and told us to find ourselves. I got frustrated because I could not find my photo; that day my mother was volunteering as class mother and she pointed mine out saying “there’s my chocolate chip cookie”. All of my classmates wanted to see my photo, and when I went to take a look I was crestfallen and in tears because I didn’t know that I was Black not to mention the only Black child in my class. Needless to say my Mom had to take me home early because I would not be consoled and of course that day we had a long talk.

Why is everything always about race?

October 25, 2021 Harlan, hate, IA, it's all about race, Jessica, learned

Jessica,
Harlan, IA

p>Why does everything always boil down to race? Why does everything have to be racially charged? Why is it always black or white? Why can’t we all just get along? Why are people so mean to each other? Why is there so much learned hate?

Love Comes Naturally, Racism is Learned

February 1, 2021 beauty, Chengdu, China, different, hate, learned, Mengyao Jiang, racism, Sichuan

Mengyao Jiang,
Chengdu, Sichuan

Racism is hate, racism thinks one is superior, another is weak. However, race is a matter of just means different. Different means variety and variety is beautiful. What we need as one human race is a change of mindset and teaching to a budding generation the real meaning of race; just different and its beauty.

Learned about race FEAR at 13.

September 1, 2019September 18, 2020 age 13, belong, CA, China, Chinatown, chinks, didn't belong, fear, Jay Bailinson, learned, Napa, Oakland, Race, teenager

Jay Bailinson
Napa, CA

In lived in Oakland CA. during preteen and early teen years. I belonged to a Boys Club sponsored by the Chinese Presbyterian Church in Oakland’s China town area. I played on sports teams in a church league sponsored by this church. I was one of two white boys on the team and in the club. An important part of our practices (or especially after winning a game) was to go out and eat. One Friday night after basketball practice we were going to a hamburger place in East Oakland, Six boys in the back seat of the coach’s “clunker” and two upfront with him. When we got to the hamburger place we piled out being loud, happy, goofy early teenage boys. A group of white older young men was hanging out near one of the picnic tables. As we approached they started yelling racial slurs. The one that I remember clearly was “hey Chinks, go back to China”. I didn’t belong. It hurt that my friends were being insulted by guys with the same color skin as mine. I didn’t do anything. My friends will now think I’m like the yelling guys. I returned to the car. Sat in the back seat feeling sick, apart, and lonely. 15 minutes later all the boys returned to the car with our coach. Got in with all the food. Piled into the back seat, surrounding me with hamburger/french fry filled bags and goofy teenage boy silliness. Nothing had changed for us. I was still Jay. Part of the team and one of the guys. Yet in the core of my being on that night, I learned what race fear was. Our coach who was also a youth pastor talked with me later privately. I don’t remember the words, just the feeling of being loved, accepted, and honored as a person.

Pale skinned but black don’t fit.

June 11, 2019June 11, 2019 bright skin, fit in, FL, Fort Myers, Home, learned, pale, research, school, skin, southwest, where do I come from, Zanetea Reece

Zanetea Reece,
Fort Myers, FL.

I am a bright skinned young woman, grew up in Southwest FL. We we’re not tought about our history in school. But racisim is and was learned at home. Because of that I grew up and still am a loner. No one wanted to be friend me because I didn’t look the same as they did. I have taught myself about history by doing research. But I still long to find out my history and where I come from. So Far hitting dead ends.

Sad I learned. Sad and hopeful.

July 20, 2016July 20, 2016 hopeful, learned, NC, sad

Anonymous
NC

Hate is learned out of fear

February 23, 2016April 7, 2016 fear, hate, learned, MO, Nancy Robinson, Wildwood

Nancy Robinson,
Wildwood, MO.

Missed the day racism was taught

February 9, 2016 actions, culture, curriculum, Erin, hime, learned, MN, racism, school, student, taught, teach

Erin,
MN.

Racism isn’t in our curriculum, it’s not a lesson taught by chalkboards and worksheets. However it is learned. Yes, in school but also at home. It is taught through culture, through actions. This problem cannot be solved by a student’s eraser or a teacher’s pen.

Why have we still not learned?

December 2, 2014 Hanover, learned, NH, Scot Drysdale, USA

Scot Drysdale,
Hanover, NH.

Believe anything learned can be unlearned

November 9, 2014 learned, Patrice, unlearn, unlearned, USA

Patrice,
USA.

Democracy has to be learned from childhood

April 24, 2014 Childhood, democracy, Gunnevi, learned, skin color, Sweden

Gunnevi
Sweden

We are all the same inside our bodies, no matter what your skin color you may have. Why does the mind of people not go the same way? Or do you think it has changed?

Ignoring racist attitudes is learned helplessness.

April 9, 2013 attitudes, Chicago, helplessness, ignoring, IL, learned, Racist, Ranjana Rajendran

Ranjana Rajendran
Chicago, IL

Race is not skin color. It’s learned

November 24, 2012 anonymous, blind, children, ignaorance, learned, prejudiced, Race, skin color

Anonymous

Children and blind are not prejudiced.
Race is not skin color. It’s ignorance.

Prejudice is learned. So unlearn it.

October 10, 2012March 5, 2013 learned, Mary Amundsen, MN, prejudice, Rochester, unlearn

Mary Amundsen
Rochester, MN

Prejudice learned early leaves mental scars

June 5, 2012 Jerry Shue, learned, mental, moab, prejudice, scars, UT

Jerry Shue
Moab, UT

Hatred & bigotry are learned & practiced

April 8, 2012May 8, 2012 @mltaylor13pt1, Bigotry, hatred, learned, twitter

Submitted via Twitter: @mltaylor13pt1

Racism is still alive (and) doing well.

March 28, 2012 African Americans, Albert Seloover, alive, learned, NPR, police, racism, roomates, Talk of the Nation, TX, Weatherford

Albert Seloover
Weatherford, TX
Submitted via: NPR’s Talk of the Nation

I was the first white man to have African Americans as room-mates at Carswell AFB, in 1961, in the air police squadron. I thought nothing about it, but almost every one else, thought it was outrageous. I was from Illinois, and maybe that made a difference, I don`t know.

Prejudice is learned, fed by distance.

March 28, 2012 David James, defined, distance, issues, learned, Linden, MI, NPR, prejudice, Talk of the Nation, white

David James
Linden, MI
Submitted via: NPR’s Talk of the Nation

White, privileged so long, I’m blind. Define yourself now, or be defined. Every heart bleeds red blood, quietly. Thanks for letting me think about this… This is certainly one of the top five issues in our country.

Join the Newsletter

Info

Join our community