Straight, white male not a privilege
Timothy Cox,
Winchester, VA
Lord Fairfax Community College
All I can say is that I have worked hard for everything I have.
I don’t owe you my body.
Emily ” Em ” Arrington,
Lord Fairfax Community College, VA
I chose these 6 words because as someone who was born a ginger female, I get cat-called every time I go out. Always by older men and never by anyone my age. I am 19 years old and I have experienced this for YEARS. The first time was when I was only 13 years old. These men are in their late 40s and 50s asking a CHILD for a lick of their ice cream cone and looking them up and down. This is the reason why I never go anywhere by myself anymore. They think that just because they say something “nice” I owe them something. I don’t. It’s MY body.
You eat a lot for a girl
Kendall Creswell,
Winchester, VA
Being profiled as someone who limits their food intake because of the way I look has been an ongoing issue for me since I lost 30 pounds, I have struggled with disordered eating and am recovering though not restricting. This comment makes me second guess myself and my recovery.
I’m too light, yet too dark!
Lucia Osei Anim,
Manassas, VA
I am Lucia, I live at Manassas Virginia. I chose those six words because I come from Ghana, West Africa, and I am considered too dark in America but too light in Ghana. The main idea of choosing these six words is that in United States when white people see me, the first question ask is, “Where are you from?” I respond, “I am from Virginia” and the next thing that comes out of their mouths is “No, but where are from? To which respond I am Ghanaian. Despite living in America from my infancy and speaking English, I will always be considered Ghanaian rather than American. When I visited Ghana last year I felt like a foreigner, they called me ‘Obroni’ which means white lady, so I was left wondering who am I? Ghanaian or American, or both? I can never seem to be both.
Yes, I’m Hispanic no hablo espanol.
Joshua,
Warrenton, VA
My mom lived in Columbian until she was adopted at 9 y/o by a white midwestern family who doesn’t speak Spanish. My dad is an average white male from the midwest who also doesn’t speak Spanish. Because of the way I look and y skin color people assume I speak Spanish all the time. Some Hispanics are even prejudiced towards me for not speaking it. Lord Fairfax Community College
Because I’m balck I’m a threat
Zuanisha Jones,
Winchester, VA
I’m Zuanisha. I am from NJ currently in Winchester VA and attending Lord Fairfax Community College in Middletown VA. I am a black woman and when I go onto a retail store or any store I feel like I am watched and followed. I am there to shop I am not there to steal or hurt anyone I would love to be looked at the same. I am a single mother and I would never risk anything from me being a mother. I am a black woman in America and I would love to be trusted until proven other wise.
I’m too light, yet too dark
Jessica Tolentino,
Winchester, VA
I chose those six words because I am considered too dark in America but too white in Mexico. In the United States, when white people see me, the first question they ask is, “Where are you from?” I respond, “I was born in Winchester, Virginia,” and the next thing that comes out of their mouths is “No, but where are you from?” to which I respond, “I am Mexican.” Despite being born in the United States and speaking English, I will always be considered a Mexican rather than a Mexican American. When I visited Mexico a few years ago, I felt at home and like an outcast. When I was walking through the streets of Mexico City, people would call out “guera,” which is a term for white people. I was labeled as white and an American and left wondering, “Who am I?” Am I Mexican or American? and why do I never seem to be able to be both?
White people don’t season their chicken
Carter Stoecker,
Warrenton, VA
It may horrify some, but sometimes I eat unseasoned chicken. I wear khaki shorts often, as well as hawaian shirts. I wear big white Reebok shoes. I do all these “white people” things, and I know people make fun of it. I don’t care if I fit the stereotype of a boring, corny white guy. I’m comfortable. I don’t care that it’s normal and funny for people to mock my race for being bland, unseasoned, and stale. If I’m not cool, I’m not cool, and that’s fine.
Marching while white doesn’t declare solidarity.
Katie Moss,
Winchester, VA
I own a t-shirt that lists famous African American leaders on it in bold white lettering from Harriet Tubman to Ibram X. Kendi. I recently wore it while marching at a Black Lives Matter event in my local town in response to the horrific killings of unarmed black people at the hands of police. I remember feeling good about myself, good about the moment I was in marching alongside other black, brown, and white bodies, like I belonged too. I found myself assuring my naive race conscience that by showing up in this woke t-shirt, I was a “good” white person. I wasn’t like the others. I belonged here, too. Marching while singing along to the African American Spirituals as if the lyrics resonated with me, as if my own white hardships could understand, felt like the right thing to do. Later that day as I was walking to my car to go home, this rush of ironic guilt came over me. I thought I was doing the right thing when it came to taking a stand against police and supporting black lives. Yet, I had made this experience about me, and my inevitable contributions to the corporate whitewashing made my solidarity disappear.
Examining my own prejudices and privilege every day has forced me to remember that just by showing up to this conversation about race as a white person, doesn’t mean I am truly marching in solidarity. The choices I make every day, the racist remarks I speak out against, the bigger issues I stand for that make equitable differences are the actions that show that I believe Black Lives Matter. I do stand in solidarity for a better world for them to live in, like me.
