White people are human beings too
John Locke New York, NY I know it may not seem like it from all the crazy racist rhetoric directed against us. It’s okay to...
But I don’t really see color.
Freddi Brown-Carter New York, NY I wonder what else you don’t see? Do you see my gender, do you notice the gray hair? I don’t...
But your kids won’t be white.
Elizabeth New York, NY This is what a family member said to me upon announcing my engagement to a black man. It was actually more...
You don’t have an accent.
Susan Lee New York, NY On the phone no one can tell I’m Asian-American, but in person I sometimes elicit this response. Because I am...
Ivan Lutcher, my student – 19 – deceased.
Michael Kassin New York, NY Ivan was one young man among many that I taught at St. Anne H.S. in Illinois–40 years ago. But he...
My name is Lily, I’m racist
Lily Cohen New York, NY I wasn’t born racist. My parents didn’t raise me to be racist. For the first twelve years of my life...
No racists here; we are gated.
Peter Goodwin New York, NY We have separated ourselves into separate communities, sometimes with physical gates, often with mental or emotional gates, and so have...
My Daughter, I’m not her nanny
C. Fleming New York, NY I am Jamaican-American (black) and my Fiance is white. Somehow even in a place as mixed as NY people generally...
“White Girl” was my name until college.
Samantha McFadden New York, NY I grew up outside of New York in a city that was definitely more urban than suburban. I spent the...
No, where are you REALLY from?
Mike Chen Chicago, IL My wife and I were both born and raised in New York. Our parents immigrated from Asia in the 70s, and...
I’m not here to educate you
Michael Lamont New York City, New York I am not here to be your person of color friend to make you feel better about your...
Gay, but at least I’m white.
David Trahan New York, NY Someone once told me in conversations that even thought I was gay, at least I’m white. As if I wasn’t...
Assumption: I must speak Mandarin, right?
Jasmine An New York, NY A third-generation, monolingual English speaking, Chinese-American’s adventures in Chinatown.
We’re so much more than that!
Vanessa Valdes New York Racism is not *seeing* the person’s humanity, it’s sticking everyone in the pre-assigned box and results in shock when human complexity...
