Savannah Archives - The Race Card Project

Always wondered why we moved so much.

February 6, 2023 breadcrumbs, GA, granny, growing up, hair, Marcia Lee, moved, passing, Savannah, South

Marcia Lee,
Savannah, GA

When we were growing up we moved a lot, never really met very many relatives on dad’s side. Our widowed granny, dads Mom lived with us and we had finally settled down in a town in south Mississippi. We were teenagers then and it was in the sixties, not a good time or place for anyone who wasn’t all white. Two of our cousins were living with us and they didn’t look at all like us. Our ancestors that we knew about were part CHoctaw and Scotch and French so we looked like a lot of other kids sort of Spanish
or French on dad’s side with straight dark hair and green or hazel eyes. Cousin Lynda had curly hair which I secretly loved and she hated. Many days I secretly ironed her hair. Granny was the cause of that as she would pat us both on the head and say of my straight hair good hair and of my cousins curls bad hair. Then she was always after us about not getting sunburned, even in summer she wore long sleeves and wide brimmed hats. Now we really just went along with it as the way Granny was. Then one day one of my brothers mentioned the cute girl he’d met and wanted to date, when Dad heard her last name he called all us kids to the dining room for a meeting. We knew it was serious cause Dad was a very quiet man.. The next thing he said was aimed at my brothers the truly scary words were you will never, ever think about that girl again, she’s not for you, then he turned to me and you don’t look at her brother. You all know her family are passing. About two years later we found out Granny’s secret, she was passing and so were we.

Teacher of black youth, ancestors slaverholders

September 29, 2020September 29, 2020 ancestor, Black, blackness, disrespect, divide, Ernie Lee, GA, ignore, Savannah, slaveholder, teacher, whiteness, youth

Ernie Lee
Savannah, GA

Struggling with my whiteness and my student’s blackness until we connect. I am a good teacher and after a while I don’t color just students who want to learn. It is more of a socio-economic divide, but I will never know what it means to be black as my students will never know what it is to be white… But we still respect and connect. To ignore we are different is disrespectful, be to acknowledge and both grow.

What is considered “Mexican” enough?

April 23, 2019April 23, 2019 Riverside, Savannah

Savannah,
Riverside, CA

She called me: Basic White Girl.

February 19, 2019February 19, 2019 basic, GA, Molly M., plain, Savannah, White girl

Molly M.,
Savannah, GA.

Black Lives Matter? All lives matter.

January 11, 2016 #blacklivesmatter, all, black lives matter, Blaine, life, MN, Savannah

Savannah,
Blaine, MN.

Ladies Needn’t Wear Long Gowns

March 26, 2015March 14, 2022 1950's, black only, gowns, ladies, lady, Miami, OK, Oklahoma City, Savannah, Susan K. Schmidt, water faountain

Susan K. Schmidt,
Oklahoma City, OK.

It was the mid 50’s in Miami, Florida. It was the time of “white only” and “black only” water fountains and bathrooms. I was 6 or 7 years old and riding in the back of the family car with my Grandmother, who was raised in Savannah, Georgia. We passed a black woman standing at the curb, possibly waiting for a bus. She was wearing a mid-length ordinary dress, possibly a cleaning woman, likely waiting to get home after a hard day’s work. I said something about “that lady” and my grandmother corrected me, “that’s no lady.” I didn’t say anything but wondered how my grandmother would know the woman was no lady without having met her. I figured it must have to do with her clothing; a lady must be like a princess and have to wear a long glittery gown. So that evening I asked my mother if a lady has to wear long gowns. When I got the answer “no” I knew immediately my grandmother was wrong.

My students are just as excellent.

July 28, 2014July 28, 2014 achievement gap, Ed Maietta, GA, HBCU, intelligence, Savannah, strength of character, students, teacher

Ed Maietta
Savannah, GA

After 30 years of teaching in both diverse and not-so-diverse environments, I now teach at the oldest HBCU in Georgia. If there is an achievement gap, it has nothing to do with intelligence or strength of character.

Why are we still moving backwards?

June 1, 2014 #noRacism2014, backwards, Briana Almeida, food stamps, GA, Mexican, moving backwards, Savannah

Briana Almeida
Savannah, GA

Everybody has problems. Instead of moving forward, equalizing and acknowledging everyone, we are squashing and devaluing. We are hashtagging #noRacism2014, and yet putting nooses on Black statues. We are allowing sororities to host “Mexican” parties in sombreros, and accusing the poor of food stamp fraud. Help, not hinder.