service Archives - The Race Card Project

United we stand, divided we fall.

June 12, 2018June 14, 2018 Army, Bend, Chad Beauvais, College, disabled, divided we fall, experience, irish, OR, orphan, service, United we stand, white privilege

Chad Beauvais,
Bend, OR.

You are exactly right for sharing your real story. Many people feel the same way as you do and have similar experiences. I was told that there was no financial aid for me because I was predominantly white (even though I had the grades and financial need to qualify), so I joined the Army for 13years in order to pay for college. I am grateful to have served my country, but I am 70% disabled because of my service. If I was any other ethnicity, I would not have had to risk life, limb and mind just to receive an education. Where is my so called white privilege? I traced my lineage back several generations to find that not only did none of my ancestors own slaves, my grandmother was an indentured Irish orphan servant (slave) to English foster parents.

You are smart to be Mexican

October 11, 2016 housekeeping, ignorant, intervene, jobs, maid, Mexian, nationality, offensive, service, smart, stereotype, Teresa Gonzalez, TX, Weslaco

Teresa Gonzalez,
Weslaco, TX.

Many people say expressions like this one without taking into consideration its being offensive. They don’t think or recall that being smart or dedicated to your job, school etc has nothing to intervene with your knowledge or nationality. Not because your Mexican they will treat you how they want. This is an example of many “maids or housekeeping” have to go through, because the people think that if they are doing those kind of jobs it’s because they don’t know anything, and just ” because they are Mexican. From my point of view they will be the ones being ignorant people who don’t even know what they are expressing.

I am white but not racist.

July 31, 2015 Baltimore, DC, first experience, MD, Racist, service, service trip, Stephanie DeRoose, Washington, white

Stephanie DeRoose,
Baltimore, MD.

During a service trip to Washington DC, I encountered many nice and talkative people while I walked the streets. I made a comment to another volunteer and her response was, “It’s because they’re black isn’t it?” I had never experienced such rude commentary and didn’t know what to say. My comment wasn’t about that I simply was raised to keep your head down in a city and do your business. I wasn’t expecting people to chit-chat and thank us for being there helping their community. It was a pleasant surprise that became my personal horror. So no, just because I’m white doesn’t mean the words that come out of my mouth are meant to offend others.

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