Race is a colour, peace isn’t!
Janine Stroebel,
South Africa.
I love the initiative. South Africa could do with with a little of this…
Not Mexican Looking “You know Spanish!?”
Daisy Reyes,
Rialto, CA.
Even as a little girl in Mexico I was the “Chinita” (little Chinese). When I came to the U.S., I was either confused with Filipino or just Asian when people couldn’t figure out which race. My now husband, has been confused with a Hindu. We are both Mexican-born. But the thing I always get when I talk in Spanish to him or my son is “You know Spanish!?” follow by “I thought you were Filipino or Asian” Even Filipinos have confused me as Filipino. Funny thing my husband calls me “My Chinita” and friends of him asked him if I was really Chinese. Now with my son, I wonder if he would encounter any racial questions once he grows up. It has never bothered me that I get confused, I am proud to be Mexican-American and we are going to pass down our heritage to our son. Shout out CBU HIS311!
Not just a little white girl
Nicolette Vogelman,
West Chester, PA
Most people see me as a quiet, little blonde girl. Honestly, I’ve heard people refer to me as a little white girl. In large crowds, I have heard people say “there she is, the little white girl.” I hate being referred to that. Yes I am small and your typical little white girl but I have way much more going for me than to be called a little white girl. Being called that, is embarrassing. I feel helpless. From the outside, I may just be a little ole white girl but the inside is much much more.
Little brown man in white class.
Student
Century College, MN
As an English language learner, sometimes I feel bad, shy, and ashamed. I still struggle as everybody moves on. Every day I am waiting to understand what everybody understands. By that time I am going to feel I am a big man.
See more from the Century Race Card Project conversation: HERE
So much depends upon so little.
Geoff
Ann Arbor, MI
Understanding Race Project – University of Michigan
