SD Archives - The Race Card Project

I will not inherit inherited racism

January 26, 2026January 26, 2026 Huron, inherited racism, SD, Torrey VanBerkum

Torrey VanBerkum,
Huron, SD

I grew up hearing racist remarks towards others, and I refuse to do the same.

Enough to make you look pretty

June 14, 2023June 14, 2023 Adrienne Zimiga, ancestry, Batesland, Castlewood, culture, Grandma, grandmother, heritage, Indian, look, Minneapolis, MN, Native American, Pine Ridge, pretty, reservation, SD

Adrienne Zimiga,
Minneapolis, MN.

I was born and raised on the Pine Ridge reservation my first 12 years. Upon moving from Batesland, SD to Castlewood, SD my caucasian grandmother was concerned that my brothers, sister, and I could face social problems being part Native American (iyeska: mixed blood/race) in an all white community. She told us “Now you don’t have to go around telling everyone here that you’re Indians. Besides your just enough to make you look pretty.” It was a very confusing statement for me as an adolescent. I came from a place where I was very proud to be who I was as a person and now I have my own grandmother telling me it may be best to keep it under wraps that “Indian” part of me. Anyone who knows me knows THAT will never happen. I’m very proud of my ancestry, my culture, my heritage, and my connection to it. It is the driving force that has made me the person I am today.

Native Stand With Black Lives Matter

July 28, 2021July 28, 2021 black lives matter, hope, incarceration rates, Native, Native American, racial profiling, SD, stand, Stephanie Traversie-Baechler, ticketing, unfair, Watertown

Stephanie Traversie-Baechler,
Watertown, SD.

Growing up in South Dakota, many experiences Native Americans have gone through are familiar to those that have been expressed by Blacks in this country. We, too, have endured racial profiling, high incarceration rates, unfair ticketing practices designed to provide financial gain to counties, and we have experienced deaths. I have always felt that South Dakota was really a state that migrated from the South. Racism is rampant across this state and has been for decades. My prayer is that Natives can become involved with standing up like the BLM movement. Many of continue to scream out in response to an unjust legal and political system in this state. We hope to be heard.

Got an accent. In five languages

November 2, 2020November 2, 2020 Aberdeen, accent, African, Cameroon, country, different, immigrant, Ioana Hojda, Itlay, language, mixed, mother, passport, Romania, SD

Ioana Hojda,
Aberdeen, SD

Immigrant, white wife of an African immigrant and mother to mixed boys. We have moved to the US from Italy, our first country of immigration. When we travel abroad we have three different country passports for 5 people: Romania, Cameroon and the US.

We must stand together as one

October 7, 2020 broad, lavel, McCook Lake, privilege, Ryan Dodds, SD, stand, together, white people

Ryan Dodds,
McCook Lake, SD

I believe in times like these, we must stand together against the evils of this world. I believe that many things can be done to achieve this. White people must understand that their lives are very different from minority lives. They often take everything as an insult. They believe that they are not privileged at all because they work hard, but that is not what it is about. White people do not know what it is like to struggle simply because of the color of their skin. On the other side, I believe that minorities must give white people a chance. White people have wronged minorities many times, but many of us are trying our hardest to understand and get behind the cause. Sometimes, white people in general are labeled as racist and uncompassionate towards struggles that minorities face. Some are, but if you label a broad group with negative connotations based on their race, you cannot expect equality to happen. This will just further widen the gap, lead to further resentment, and escalating racism.

Please ask us what we want!

October 23, 2018October 23, 2018 ask us, Brian Dillon, Parmelee, SD, what we want

Brian Dillon,
Parmelee, SD

Others have decided our destiny for far to long.

Coconut. Brown outside and White inside.

March 30, 2018March 30, 2018 adult, first experience, generation, grandparents, Junior League, language, Mexican, Mexican-American, outside the home, SD, Sioux Falls, Spanish, speak my own language, the look, White America, Yvonne Rosenberg

Yvonne Rosenberg,
Sioux Falls, SD.

Born and raised in Fort Worth, Tx. Raised by Mexican American Grandparents who grew up in a generation where Spanish was not spoken outside the home because of white America. In raising me, they refused to speak Spanish in the home. I was referred as a “coconut” by those of the Mexican community. Often shamed by those who spoke Spanish, which lead to me feeling ashamed and embarrassed. If even as an adult I get “the look” for not knowing my native language. Racism is also hard as work within our own race.

I am a rancher. So what?

March 19, 2015 Earl, hard working, ranch, rancher, SD, so what, Wanblee

Earl,
Wanblee, SD.

I choose these six words because I grew up around a hard working ranch family. I learned to never give up and complete every task with hard work. When you set your mind to go for what you’re after than do it with hard work.