Beauty and strength in our differences
Joan E. Beaudoin, Wayne State, Oakland MI One of my favorite public art murals is located in the Grays Ferry are of Philadelphia. Called the...
Race was constructed by white men
Robert Symens Bucher, Oakland, CA. Aspen X I am a white man, and I realize that the concept of race was created by people like...
Not white, but my kids are?
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...
Your hair’s pretty. What are you?
Renee Bracey Sherman. Oakland, CA. “Can I touch your hair?” they ask, hand already extended, a mere inch from my thick brown curls. I feel...
Learned about race FEAR at 13.
Jay Bailinson Napa, CA In lived in Oakland CA. during preteen and early teen years. I belonged to a Boys Club sponsored by the Chinese...
As a Bi-coaster, race is terrain
Mary, Oakland, CA. Wherever I am living in this country also affects my racial/cultural identity.
Different rivers run into same ocean 海纳百川
Ruomeng Huang, Oakland, CA. “I am a international junior student at Bishop O’dowd High School in Oakland, CA, in the English class of Ms. Sarah...
Conversations and connections change perspective
Mary Jo Nash, Oakland, CA The one connection we all have is that we are human. I am lucky because when I was pretty young...
Ever had sex in the backseat?
Earlaine Williams, Oakland, CA. This is the question that was asked of me, when I was 17 years old, by the white man who was...
People never guess my race correctly
Lara Jean DeShayes, Oakland, CA. I was born in Olongapo Philippines to a Filipina mom and French-American Naval seaman. In Oakland, I’m often assumed to...
My Son’s Blackness shouldn’t Disable him
Monika L. Brooks Oakland, CA My Son still has to be given the talk about how he has to ignore the people that think he...
So, which race are you today
Axel Broome, Oakland, CA. “I am a junior at Bishop O’dowd High School in Oakland, CA, in the English class of Ms. Sarah Tunik–
Half Indian, Half German, totally American
Marika Oakland, CA People often ask me “What are you?” or “Where are you from?” which is par for the course for people like me...
Asians ARE people of color, too!
Maureen Boyd, Oakland, CA. It is very hard when non-Asian people of color who are supposed to be your allies in racial justice do not...
I Play The Card I’m Dealt
Cedric Bedford-Chalale, Oakland, CA. Black people play the race card because that is the only card dealt to black people by white America. It’s a...
Not Mexican, Hispanic, brown, just human
Marco Perez, Oakland, CA. I choose these six words because this is how I feel about the relationship between me and my race. I believe...
An outsider in my own family
Lisbet Mingo Oakland, CA What it feels like to share everything with those closest to you–except the color of your skin. And how that changes...
