not white Archives - The Race Card Project

Hitler taught I am not White

February 5, 2025 Henderson, Hitler, Inupiat, Jewish, not white, NV, Richard H Erlich

Richard H Erlich,
Henderson, NV

My wife, who is Inupiat, keeps reminding me of this. So, how do I fill out the race question? Other- Jewish?

I’m Hispanic, stop thinking I’m White

August 29, 2022 complicated, ESOL, Hispanic, Houston, kindergarten, language, Latinx, Leslya Chavez, light skin, not white, TX, VA, Virginia

Leslya Chavez,
Houston, TX

Born and raised on the East coast of Virginia, though was raised in a Hispanic household. Grew up only Spanish till I was placed in Kindergarten and had to teach myself English. Coming from a Hispanic background where Spanish is your main language at home and then your second language is English, even though I was born in America. I still had to make sure my culture continued to grow within me. It got to a point where I became fluent in both languages and even people in the Hispanic/ Latinx Community would see me as a White girl. Just because I’m light-complected and don’t have the features of a Hispanic person. Deep down it breaks my heart when I have people or simply patients that have difficulty getting around their daily lives and I encounter them struggling to try to explain to those around them that they need help looking for something. And when I see them struggling I do the best of my ability to guide them in the direction they are needing. The face of relief they give me when I ask them if they need help in Spanish fulfills my heart each time. Though, it’s saddening that even within my culture I’m just seen as a helpless white girl that doesn’t know Spanish at all. And it shouldn’t be viewed that way, or even simply looking around for someone that is tan or darker complexed and ask them for help. Therefore they should at least build the courage to ask if someone around speaks Spanish and if they could be of their assistance.

“Basic white girl”, who’s not white.

October 25, 2021 Asian, basic, bath and body works, Betsy F, convers, Intersectionality, middle school, Minneapolis, MN, not white, pumpkin spice lattes, starbucks, UGGS, White girl

Betsy F,
Minneapolis, MN

p>I grew up wishing I was white. I was raised to hate my culture, my eyes, my language, and my background. In middle school, I was known for being the most “basic white girl” who wasn’t actually white. I did what every other girl did, wore, and ate. I bought bath and body works lotion and perfumes. I wore yoga pants, UGGs, converse, etc. I drank Starbucks and loved Pumpkin Spice Lattes. Any basic trend I would hop on the bandwagon. I’m aware now of the nuances of the term “basic white girl” and the intersectionality that comes along with being female, but I’m focusing on the race aspect. Being adopted into a Caucasian family I have no ties to the culture I was born into. To put it simply, I’m not white, but I don’t feel connected to my Asian ancestry. Growing up it was incredibly difficult and confusing about what my identity is and even now I’m still figuring it all out.

A harder life not being white

June 19, 2021 Brian Lester, harder, life, New Zealand, not white

Brian Lester,
New Zealand

I only realized in recent years I had a privileged upbringing.

Not white, but my kids are?

September 29, 2020September 29, 2020 Assimilation, bullied, bully, CA, El Salvador, heritage, Indo-Dutch, kids, not white, Oakland, Rob Silva, white kid

Rob Silva
Oakland, CA

First generation with Indo-Dutch/ El Salvadoran heritage. Family has seemingly always been the non-white in the group, especially when listening to the my parents’ stories of assimilation. So strange then when my son was bullied at his new school in Berkeley for being the white kid.

I’m not white, I’m a Scot.

July 16, 2019July 16, 2019 annoyed, ignored, IN, Indianapolis, not white, Races, Samuel J. Lawso, Scot, white

Samuel J. Lawson,
Indianapolis, IN.

I’m always annoyed when I have to fill out a form that only includes five or six races and there is no ‘other’ option. I feel ignored when I’m lumped together with all the “white” people in the world. “White” is not a race, it’s just a color.

Not White, not Native, not enough.

April 3, 2017 enough, MD, Native, Native American, not Native, not white, Silver Spring, Vivian Johnson

Vivian Johnson,
Silver Spring, MD.

Not white but people assume so.

January 10, 2017 assume, Center for the Arts, Elon Race Card Project, Isabella Cannon Room, not white, stereotype, white

Elon Race Card Project,
Isabella Cannon Room, Center for the Arts

Sometimes I forget I’m not white

October 21, 2015October 21, 2015 CA, Darshi Balasuriya, forget, Long Beach, not white, Race, reflection, separated, skin, world view

Darshi Balasuriya
Long Beach, CA

I spend my days mostly in Orange County California. I live in this white world and often see myself in the reflection of those whom I love and enjoy the company of. I rarely think about color of skin or race. But occasionally I encounter treatment from others that doesn’t align with my world view. This is when the jarrign happens and forces me to see myself from the outsider’s point of view. Yes, my skin is brown, I look typically south asian. I am not white. they are not like me on the outside. We are suddenly separated from the color of our skin rather than that which I see when I look into my husband’s beautiful eyes.