The Race Card Project
By Michele Norris
KB
Louisville, KY
I can’t count how many times I have been through airport security, worldwide, including dozens of times with my husband. I’m a white “girl next door” type. My husband is harder to peg (he has been “read” as Chinese, Okinawan, Thai, Indian, Arab and more, although he is from Mexico). Whenever we travel we have come to expect delays for him in security, while I regularly breeze through. It just doesn’t feel random.
Jules M. Marquart,
Louisville, KY.
In Louisville during the pre-busing 1960s, this “screening” question was based on assumptions and generalizations about race and class. A high school in the West End of the city–African-American (Negro or Black back then) and poor; in the South End–white and red neck; and in the East End–white and privileged.
Sarah Mutombo,
Louisville, KY.
I attend Louisville Collegiate school, and in my 8th grade year I participated in middle school Musical: The Little Mermaid, Jr. I was a minority at this high-end private school. Going into auditions, I wasn’t expecting to get a good role, not because I was black, but because I didn’t have confidence in my ability. Getting Ariel was definitely the highlight of my middle school.
CeCe Railey,
Louisville, KY
My reckoning with race actually came to a head when Breonna Taylor was murdered. There hasn’t been a single day gone by where the thought that just because of my skin color, that could have been me or could STILL be me. I feel a target on me for no justifiable reason (…I’m as law-abiding as most folks!). I stopped running when Ahmaud Arbery was gunned down doing exactly what I felt so safe doing… running. I feel robbed because of others’ racism and it needs to stop NOW!
Natalie Ngong,
Louisville, KY.
Sometimes in this world not having the voice that is expected of you as the race you are, creates a need for insults. In some people’s minds you are not truly the race you appear to be you act like another race simply due to the way you converse. This should not be an issue in a society that has many dialects and cultures and in a world that is a tossed salad of people.
Lonna Jo Bowen-AlMoctar,
Louisville, KY.
I am from a clan of hillbillies in Eastern Kentucky. My family has a swath of land, called Bowen Farms, near Red River Gorge. As long as I can remember, the old cemetery on my family’s land has been called the “slave cemetery”. My Uncle has always kept up with its care. My Dad has built a Bed and Breakfast up there and now refers to the cemetery as the “African American cemetery”. I find this so insulting; it is as if he is erasing the history of those buried here all so that his B & B will have a nice clean image.
Octavia,
Louisville, KY.
In 2014, our 11 year old son would play outside everyday with the neighborhood little boys. Our son was told by the 10 year old friend and next door neighbor his mom said my son could not come inside his house. He was also NOT invited to the 10 year next neighbor’s birthday party. All white kids were outside laughing and playing in the backyard. None of the children of color in the neighborhood was at this birthday party, even though they would play together OUTSIDE every day. Our son was hurt and confused as he looked out the window in tears and watched this eerie birthday celebration take place. He asked us why he did not get invited to his friends’ birthday party. I called the mother next door several times. She never answered nor returned my calls. I made sure our neighbors were home before I knocked on their door, but no one answered. I made these attempts to speak with my neighbor because I needed to make sure I was sure of their character and mindset. I also wanted them to know mine as well. Disturbingly, in September of 2014 we had to explain to our 11 year old son about the ugliness and cruelty of racism.
Jaimie Benfield,
Louisville, KY
Proud to be white and sick of all this crybaby bs about racism when a lot of the blacks I have met are way more racist than any white person I know. You have the same opportunities as anyone else so stop tearing up our country and crying and being criminals and then acting like you are the victim when you are the criminal.
Allison Foster,
Louisville, KY.
DySharai
Louisville, KY
My girlfriends father said this when he discovered that she was dating me.
Kim F.,
Louisville, KY.
This is cool!
Jayla Johnson,
Louisville, KY.
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