Marine Corps Archives - The Race Card Project

Hatred hurts the hated and hater

October 4, 2022October 4, 2022 angry, black Marine, black people, bottle of wine, Dan Creamer, guilty, hatred, ID, Jim Crow South, Marine Corps, Marines, military, mouth, Sandpoint, saved my life, self-hatred, sharing, shoot, United States Marine Corps, white man, wine

Dan Creamer,
Sandpoint, ID.

I grew up in the Jim Crow South. Being white I always felt both guilty and angry about the way black people were treated. In the Marine Corps, I accepted a bottle of wine from a black Marine and drank from it without wiping off the bottle or my mouth and he remarked on it. We talked about race some and went our separate ways. Two weeks or so later that Marine saved my life by stepping in front of another black man wanting to shoot any white man. It shames me that I have lost touch with him…

Two worlds, where do I belong?

September 15, 2019September 18, 2020 belong, Born, CA, culture, differences, Lompoc, Manuel Catalan, Marine Corps, Mexican-American, military, serve, team, two worlds, United States, where do I belong

Manuel Catalan,
Lompoc, CA.

Being a Mexican American always makes me think about how race affects everyone. I was born in the United States but my family comes from Mexico, although I look like I could’ve been born in Mexico myself. I serve in the U.S Marine Corps and I get to experience and meet the many different people of different races and cultures that put their differences aside and work together as a team. The best part about realizing the difference in races is that those differences are what brings us together. Learning about each culture and race helps to understand better where someone is coming from and what they’re all about.

Hispanic or Latino? I feel American

November 6, 2015November 6, 2015 American, East Coast, Grand Rapids, Hector Vargas, Hispanic, Latino, Marine Corps, MI, minoritites, school

Hector Vargas,
Grand Rapids, MI.

I grew up on the east coast. The high school I attended was primarily populated by minorities. My mother is Mexican and my biological father is Brazilian. My mother remarried and i was raised with Mexican customs. On the East cost I was considered Latino, in the mid west I am considered Hispanic however, after joining the Marine Corps and serving for over ten years, I see myself as an American. Who I am?

You’re not from these parts, huh?

August 13, 2015August 13, 2015 FL, Hispanic, Marine Corps, NC, Pembroke Pines, you don't look, you're not from around here

Steven N.
Pembroke Pines, FL

I am Hispanic, born and raised in New York. I served in the Marine Corps from 1988 to 1992 and was stationed in Jacksonville, NC. I was on my way to Fayetteville to visit some friends and got lost on the way. I stopped at some convenience store to ask for directions and was met with this statement…. I clearly heard,, “Get out: You don’t belong here…. I can’t recall when I have ever feared more for my life.

Join the Newsletter

Info

Join our community