NH Archives - The Race Card Project

Can you say that again? LOL.

February 12, 2026February 15, 2026 accent, Caitlin F., Canada, East Coast, first language, frustrated, Midwest, NH, Southeast Asia

Caitlin F.,
NH

My Dad and his family are all from Canada, with thicker Canadian accents. Over time, his accent has become less noticeable, but growing up I did seem to also have somewhat of a Canadian accent. My accent became more mixed after living in the Midwest US and Southeast Asia. I never noticed it until I moved to the East Coast, to a predominantly white area where there wasn’t a lot of movement in and out of the community. I was constantly made fun of for how I speak. People (adults and kids!) would ask me to repeat a word and then say it back in a mocking way. It frustrated me and really embarrassed me, and made me not want to talk much in school. I was so taken aback that people went out of their way to interrupt a conversation to point this out. English is my first language, so I can’t imagine how horrible it makes people who are learning English or English as a secondary language.

You’re not hispanic your skins white?

January 26, 2026 dark skin, dark spots, darker, Hispanic, Jasmine Dionne, light skin, lighter, Manchester, NH, sun damage, white spot

Jasmine Dionne,
Manchester, NH

I get asked this question a lot, what my race is and everytime I do they mention “no your not, your skin’s white, you can’t even tan you burn that’s how white you are!” This comment makes me instantly sad. I know that my skin is white as white can be, I see it everyday. I tried to tan but my skin doesn’t change drastically, it just burns. My doctor tells me to always use sunblock because I get these white dotted permanent patches on my skin from sun exposure that can lead to skin cancer if not covered. It’s embarrassing especially standing next to my brothers and other darker hispanics. People need to use their heads and think why; like that my entire family aren’t hispanics so I didn’t get the “dark” gene, maybe I have low melanin, or that not all Puerto Ricans ancestors were “dark”?

Educate yourself on new hardships

January 26, 2026January 26, 2026 DF, Durham, educate, hardship, NH

DF,
Durham, NH

I think people are scared to share their thoughts because they don’t know what to say. If you educated yourself on these concepts, you are able to open up more. Education is the most powerful weapon.

White, but scared to be alone.

January 26, 2026January 26, 2026 alone, Derry, fear, Hailey Mosher, NH, privilege, scared

Hailey Mosher,
Derry, NH

While I am white and live in a privileged world, I am still afraid to be alone in public places, especially places I am unfamiliar with. As a woman it has been instilled in me to be aware of my surroundings and the people around me at all times, especially when in public. I cannot imagine women of other races fear if even I am fearful while I live in privilege. I wish that we could all be treated as what we are, human beings, and not have to fear when doing day to day activities.

Blonde ambition with blue-eyed privilege.

June 12, 2025 Allie Nikias, blonde ambition, blue eyes, Goffstown, NH, pirvilege

Allie Nikias,
Goffstown, NH

I decided to use the words “blonde ambition and blue-eyed privilege”. America’s idea of the “perfect woman” is a white girl with blonde hair and blue eyes. While I may have those characteristics, it doesn’t make me perfect or even close to it. I don’t understand why the color of your skin, hair, or eyes matters when it comes to the perfect woman. Is there even such a thing? Perfect women shouldn’t be perfect due to any of those characteristics; they should be perfect because of their whole personality, not just one of their traits.

Diversity in race paints humanity’s story.

June 12, 2025 canvas, community, diversity, Durham, expand, Flynn O'Sullivan, NH

Flynn O’Sullivan,
Durham, NH

Each race carries its own rich history, traditions, and worldview, contributing unique colors to a portrait of broad human experience. It’s important to realize that diversity in a community can be something that is deeply enriching. We all come from some origin that is weighted with trials and tribulations, eventually blossoming into what we are now. It’s important to consider how we can continue to shape the present and bring together our shared origins and the fascinating cultural contrasts under our one roof of the humanity. It is up to us as a whole to determine the rest of the story for the human race, and what kind of lessons we want our chapter of the story to teach future generations. that control the rest of humanity’s story by honors both our shared origins and the fascinating cultural contrasts that shape our present. Differences in race and culture shouldn’t divide us, but rather expand our canvas on what it means to be human.

White American, Dad’s South African though!

December 2, 2024December 2, 2024 dad, Durham, NH, South African, Torsten Diesel

Torsten Diesel,
Durham, NH

She said, “The Jews killed Jesus”.

August 9, 2024August 9, 2024 Bronx, Jesus, jews, Merrimack, NH, parochial school, Sherry Nassauer, stereotype

Sherry Nassauer
Merrimack, NH

I remember the moment so clearly. I was excited to be outside to play with a “friend”. We were standing just outside the heavy glass and black metal door which was the entry to the apartment building where we both lived, and where I grew up, on a small, one block, street in the Bronx.

I went inside and never came back out again to play. There was never again anyone my age in the building, so my friends came from other places, and when I got to high school, college, and beyond I got to have true friends with diverse backgrounds.
Unfortunately, I still have a negative stereotype of people who attend parochial schools.

It’s global, not a racial pandemic.

August 8, 2024August 9, 2024 Anna Pysz, Durham, NH

Anna Pysz,
Durham, NH

Proudly hispanic, only viewed as Caucasian

June 18, 2024 assume, country, Fitzwilliam, Hispanic, look white, NH, proud, Rohyn Contreras-Schofield, rural

Rohyn Contreras-Schofield,
Fitzwilliam, NH

I grew up in rural NH surrounded by a white community which didn’t allow me to embrace my hispanic/latino side, I grew to resent my white side but as I am getting older I am learning to be proud and embrace both parts of myself.

I will have an inclusive classroom.

June 18, 2024 BLM, classroom, Durham, Emily Jackman, Inclusion, new teacher, NH, school, teacher

Emily Jackman,
Durham, NH

As a future educator, I am constantly learning new things myself. I want to learn as much as I can to make sure everyone (regardless of their race, abilities, or ethnicity) feels safe and welcomed into my classroom. I have made it a life goal to do as much as I can to be an ally and recognize the privilege I have as a white person. I have just begun to do the work I plan to do by attending Black Lives Matter Seacoast events. However, saying I am going to do work to be an ally in life and in the classroom is completely different from actually doing it. I will constantly be listening, learning, and supporting those around me that are a difference race from mine.

I’m accepted but my child isn’t

May 23, 2024 accepted, baby, Chelsea Thorne, child, fearful, Keene, NH, not accepted, white woman

Chelsea Thorne,
Keene, NH

I chose these words because as a white woman, I do not face prejudice because of my race, but my child, a biracial baby with a white mom and a black dad, likely will. People have become more accepting in recent years, however, many people discriminate against other races and some don’t believe races should mix. My baby isn’t even born yet but I am already so fearful of what they may hear or what people may say. I know my baby’s father and I will love them unconditionally, but society may not. I hope my child will have the strength to protect themselves if they need to and that they will not feel like their race makes them less worthy.

My family’s salad only has lettuce

April 11, 2024 lettuce, NH, salad, Salem, white family

Kelly Nolan,
Salem, NH

Might sound silly, but it does mean something. In the salad bowl of my family, I can’t think of anyone who isn’t white.

DON’T ASK HER ABOUT HER HAIR

April 9, 2024 don't touch my hair, first experience, haircut, haiur, little girl, New London, NH, pixie

JOLIE HUGHES,
NEW LONDON, NH

1968. I was 7 years old and in 2nd grade when I was aware of one little girl’s shiny, pressed hair, so different from my own brown pixie haircut. I want to know how it got that way and another girl told me “don’t ask her about her hair” as though I had done something wrong. I felt deep shame and embarrassment then and carried that with me as an adult that I wasn’t to ask questions or learn/admire/reach out.
As a little girl all I wanted was a doll that looked like that little girl, because I thought she (the girl) was so beautiful.

I Am My Own Unique Identity

April 2, 2024April 2, 2024 Bradey Malave, Durham, NH

Bradey Malave,
Durham, NH

People are born into a variety of races. Some races take apparent connection towards their religion while others have no correlation at all to whom they are. Your race does not set a fate of destiny that you have to abide by. There will always be people that will cast heavy-weighted suggestions on how someone should live contingent off their race or cast inappropriate slander upon one another. We are all humans trying to figure out what our own destinies are and it’s hard enough without an abundance of external factors impeding our own self-wroth. Race does not define who you are or what you will become – we decide.

I can see it in your face.

April 2, 2024April 2, 2024 Durham, Ella, NH

Ella,
Durham, NH

Often when I tell people my grandfather is from Argentina, they lean in and say ‘I can see it in your face’. They have no idea how diverse a country Argentina is. They have no idea about my ethnic background. My grandfather’s parents were both Austrian. They do not say this to my blue-eyed blonde-haired sister, only to my mom and me who have brown hair and brown eyes.

Why Can’t Anyone Pronounce My Name

March 5, 2024 classroom, first experience, name, NH, nickname, pronounce my name, school, substitute teacher, teacher

Tayeece,
NH

Since I was born, nobody could pronounce my name. In school, appointments, meeting new people, etc. Everyday I would have to explain the pronunciation of my name and even give people a nickname for myself. I tell them, just call me “Tay” or “Tie.” It wasn’t until my 7th grade substitute teacher, who asked me how to properly say my name told me to never let anyone butcher my name. This conversation at 13 years old changed the way I feel about my name forever, I love my name and wouldn’t change it, even though little me wished I had a “simpler” name.

Name doesn’t actualize who I am.

March 5, 2024 American Revolution, bowie knife, Derry, James Bowie, Jim Crow, NH, pioneer

Angela G Bowie,
Derry, NH

My last name is Bowie. I am a descendant of James Bowie, An American Pioneer, The first to behold The Bowie Knife, who had an Impactful role in the American Revolution but was also, known as a slave trader. While older white men think this is awesome, I face embarrassment and anxiety around the subject because of the involvement with slavery. I know many people in the U.S.A. have ancestors who owned slaves, but I never want accusations made about myself no matter how long ago– even though the Jim Crow laws were truthfully not that long ago in history.

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