lighter Archives - The Race Card Project

You’re not hispanic your skins white?

January 26, 2026 dark skin, dark spots, darker, Hispanic, Jasmine Dionne, light skin, lighter, Manchester, NH, sun damage, white spot

Jasmine Dionne,
Manchester, NH

I get asked this question a lot, what my race is and everytime I do they mention “no your not, your skin’s white, you can’t even tan you burn that’s how white you are!” This comment makes me instantly sad. I know that my skin is white as white can be, I see it everyday. I tried to tan but my skin doesn’t change drastically, it just burns. My doctor tells me to always use sunblock because I get these white dotted permanent patches on my skin from sun exposure that can lead to skin cancer if not covered. It’s embarrassing especially standing next to my brothers and other darker hispanics. People need to use their heads and think why; like that my entire family aren’t hispanics so I didn’t get the “dark” gene, maybe I have low melanin, or that not all Puerto Ricans ancestors were “dark”?

Lighter than us, Darker than them

June 18, 2024June 18, 2024 CA, darker, Juliette Delacano, lighter, Los Angeles, mixed

Juliette Delacano,
Los Angeles, CA

Growing up mixed race, it’s hard to feel a sense of belonging with each side of your family, each community of color, and connected to each culture. It often feels alienating or that you are a fraud, not Black enough, not Filipino enough, somewhere in between, neither and both at the same time. When thinking about your identity and place in a world that likes to define and assign labels, you seem to settle on “I don’t know”
(submitted as student at LA Mission College)

Do y’all have the same father

December 13, 2021 brother, dallas, Darrell Langley Jr., father, lighter, shade, TXfather

Darrell Langley Jr.,
Dallas, TX

My brothers and I have been asked this question several times, or too many to count growing up. My twin brother and I are a lighter shade than our little brother, but yes we all have the same father.

Sick of being “The White Girl”

June 28, 2021June 28, 2021 14 year old, assume, brain food, culture, Ellie Warring, food, lighter, New York, NY, stereotype, water, White girl

Ellie Warring,
New York, NY.

I am a 14 year old white female and every single day I am judged for my skin color. Everyone assumes that because I am white I am a Trump supporter, rich, happy all the time, racist, and snobby. They tell me that I have no culture. And I’m tired of it. I am the same person as you. I have a heart and a brain and I need food and water just like you. I may be a different color but is that supposed to mean something? Am I terrible for being lighter than you? Do you expect me to fit your stereotypes too? Or can we be equal? I have a friend who is not white. I have known her for a very long time but I am not as close with her as her other friends because of my skin color. I want to be equal to my peers. Not all white people are as terrible as you may think! Please do not assume. I am the same as you. Please, remember that. I love everyone no matter what color they are. I am white and I am not racist. Please everyone, do not think bad of others based on their skin color.

Mixed. Considered White. Considered Not ME.

May 5, 2014December 13, 2023 CA, light, lighter, mixed, Oakland, privileged, rich, skin, stereotype, white

Anonymous,
Oakland, CA

I’m mixed with black and white, but have lighter skin color. Im tired of being considered a “wannabe black girl” when thats that 50% of me is anyways. Always seen as the rich, privileged, white girl. Thats not ME.

Oh, I like that skin better!

March 24, 2014April 24, 2014 Afghanistan, Carolyn Parks, Decatur, defense contractor, GA, lighter, like, skin

Carolyn Parks
Decatur, GA

I think most Americans do not realize we are socialized to be racist. To not like black or brown skin……

While working as a defense contractor in Afghanistan, I had an allergic reaction to something I touched. My skin became severely irritated, which caused the skin on my hands to peel. Imagine, getting a bad sunburn.
I am African American and the color of my skin is honey brown. As my skin began to peel, the old (top) layer of skin was much darker than the new layer of skin. Probably because the old top layer of skin was dead.

One of my co-workers, who is Caucasian was inquiring about what happened. After I explained, he stated, “Oh, I like that skin much better”! Referring to the new skin emerging on my hands, which was “lighter” than the old skin. I asked why? He replied, it just looks better. He went on to say, he didn’t like “dark skin”. He had no idea how offensive his comments were.

Here come the white people….Family!

December 2, 2012 Chester, fair skinned, Family, joke, lighter, mom, People, Robbie Wolfe, skinned, VA, white

Robbie Wolfe
Chester, VA

My mom and us, her children, were noticeably “lighter” than the rest of my family, which were very brown to dark-skinned people. Yet, that’s how we were greeted on Sundays and family gatherings, in front of other family members, friends and invited guests. Running joke? As I got older, I secretly think the very ones who heckled and laughed resented us, for being “lighter/fair skinned”…. How sad, I just thought of us as family….period.

You like him because he’s lighter

November 12, 2012 because, Jennifer Fernandez, lighter, like me

Jennifer Fernandez

Yes, we are mixed…

May 31, 2012September 11, 2020 9/11, Bayoone, bi-racial, darker, Krystal Scott, lighter, mixed, mother, NJ, questions, skin, TSA

Krystal Scott
Bayoone, NJ

This is the answer to the question I am asked weekly. I was asked this question as a child often. However now that I am a mother of two girls one who has lighter skin then I and one who is darker we are asked all the time. In the grocery store, at the park, in the airport by TSA. Why do you Care?

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