Black Men Have Feelings As Well
Jaleel Swauncy,
Memphis, TN
Black men are treated as though they are sub-human or animals with little to no feelings, both emotionally and physically. We are so much more.
“Basic white girl, you’ll never understand.”
Rebecca Robrahn,
Holland, MI.
No matter how much I try to learn and read and participate in conversations, I’m told I can’t understand, will never understand, that my privilege blinds me. I know I can never truly feel the experience of living in America as a black, Asian or Latina woman, but I *AM* trying. I *DO* care. I may have one of the whitest white girl names around (Becky), but I’m curious about others experiences and I want to know more.
Deserves more than just six words
Tristan Cordier ,
Submitted via Twitter: @SharkStats.
@totn @michele_norris
More than just a “white” woman
Brandi Schroeder,
East Lansing, MI.
I have a rather diverse group of friends, and the other day one made a comment about my origins. I grew up in a predominantly caucasian town where my high school held maybe 10 black students. My friend, who happens to be Somali, asked this question, and upon my answer he said “but you’re so cool with us” as if the lack of my town’s diversity would have an effect on my interactions. A human is a human is a human.
American, Mexican, and probably much more.
Manuel Holguin,
Phoenix, AZ.
I don’t really get being proud of your race to any extreme. I suppose my argument is that you as a person has nothing to do with your race or color of skin. It was decided for you! No one ever says “I’ve worked hard my whole life to be white!”
I am mostly proud of the things I’ve accomplished, things I have actually had a say in. I’m not saying that I hate my culture, because I don’t. I am intrigued and amazed by the successes we have had in the past, and embarrassed and critical of our mistakes. I am happy to be Mexican, even though I was born in the US. I happy to be American, even though I’m not white. But there is so much more to me than race, and the culture I was born into.
Mostly, I am proud of the human being I have become. My accomplishments and failures are so much more of a better description for me.
I am more than skin color
Mitch Dobbs,
Columbus, OH.
There was a time in our society when individuals were treated differently based on the color of their skin. It was and is apalling and just plain wrong. Nothing will change that or make it right. “I am more than skin color” means that we must look past the burden of these issues and into the future. The choices we make today will determine how hard and long the journey to true social equality is going to be.
More than just a “white Male”
Jonathan Foster,
Monticello, KY.
I so often here people or media lumping all white males into the same misogynistic racist pile, when the truth is we can be so much more.
Much has changed more to do
Kathy Gips,
Boston, MA.
65 year old. White suburba. Removed, but remember.
65 year old, white, witness from a distance.
I’m Slavic; more than just “white”.
Nicholas Ellis,
Somerville, MA.
Being referred to as simply “white” strips me of my ethnicity, of which I am very proud. I look Slavic, I am Slavic, why should I be OK with being referred to in any other way? My people were also slaves, in fact the word “Slave” comes from an old French or Medieval Latin term for Slavic people (who were enslaved), and Slavic history is fraught with conflict and micro-cultures. My mother and grandmother were treated terribly in Yugoslavia and also in America, as new immigrants, but they persevered with no help, despite the judgement and predjudice they faced. To be made to feel as though I have no culture, past, ethnicity, simply because my skin is light strips me of my ability to be proud of my people, without having to apologize for it. We (everyone, not just me) are more than colors and shades, and we all have history and culture of which we should be proud. I am Slavic, not “white”.
How much more I gotta give?
Deria Matthews
Germantown, MD
The work of civil rights activists and social justice workers alike is exhausting, emotionally taxing and just takes a lot out of you. People have given their entire lives to this fight against racial oppression in America and I want to know how much longer until the country takes accountability and stop demanding or burdening with this problem that is quite frankly is not our own. We did not create this mess yet we give and give of ourselves to clean it up.
If only we loved each other more.
Lil Frey
Eugene, OR
The University of Oregon
Just equality; no more, no less.
D. Frost
VA
The goal is to embrace diversity for all; not just for minorities. Everyone one should receive the same rights and NOBODY should receive special treatment or advantages.
I am more than my race.
Cestau Clark
Louisville, KY
It was against the law for my parents to be married in 1966. I was born in 1967. Florida was unkind to us then. But somehow, I still believe people are generally good. Race was a card I had to deal with everyday. Everyone wanted to know what I was…Well, I’m just me. I call myself “generic” now. I can look like several races of people. It really doesn’t matter now like it did then. I’m happy and that is what matters. I don’t answer race questions anymore on applications etc…I want it to be excluded. My heritage matters to my family. My color is just a reflection of DNA from many different people. Each one my children are a different hue, different eye color (same dad). I raised them to be good people and that is what matters.
