But Where Are You From, Originally?
Christian La Mont Los Angeles, CA It’s just another way of saying, “Well, you don’t look like you’re from Colorado, what nationality are your parents?...
Saying you’re “color blind” is OFFENSIVE.
Lacey Johnson Los Angeles, CA I know that saying you “don’t see color” is a hot trend right now, but I don’t think that many...
Your lack of education is voluntary.
Winter Rose Los Angeles, CA Everyone in the USA is required to attend school, unlike impoverished countries around the world. Our education system is paid...
I am a “real” Black person.
Maya Segirah Los Angeles, CA I have heard this all my life, exclusively from white people (ok, men) , who, for some arrogant reason, think...
You have a cute English accent.
Angel Liu Los Angeles, CA I’m an international student studying in America. Since I was born and raised in China, I have an obvious accent...
Are you sure you’re not mixed?
Jennifer Lindsay Los Angeles, CA I get asked some variation of this on a fairly regular basis, about once or twice a week. The conversation...
Dark mother. Fair daughter. Recessive genes.
Rita Kane Los Angeles, CA Recessive genes will never allow the human race to fade to one color, as some people fear. It’s the opposite....
Color is my armor: its heavy
Alicia Lara Los Angeles, CA Being a woman of color, a Chicana, is my source of strength. More often than not it is a shield...
Must be black on the inside
Angie Featherstone Los Angeles, CA When I was 39 years old, my mother informed me that my great, great-grandmother was an escaped slave named Hatti....
Amazed it is still an issue
Brigitte Ferry Los Angeles, CA The Universe really likes variety, so why do we hold on so tight to this brand of ignorance! Trillions of...
You don’t have to whisper “black.”
Tracy Gray Los Angeles, CA I’ve noticed that when some people described a person as “black,” they will whisper or hesitate, as if they will...
But, you didn’t sound black.
Steven Nelson Los Angeles, CA Before the advent of email, people would commonly say this to me when they would meet me after a phone...
Them That’s Got Shall Get. History.
Daria Roithmayr Los Angeles, CA For me, and maybe also for Rich Ford, race isn’t primarily about people’s interpersonal interactions but about big structural processes,...
