skin Archives - The Race Card Project

Dress like trouble, seen as trouble

February 12, 2026February 15, 2026 Arlington, Asia, criminals, dress, gansters, hoodie, skin, Trayvon Martin, trouble, VA

Mike
Arlington, VA

I’m tired of people dressing, acting, talking like trouble makers, gangsters or criminals then complaining of discrimination. You will become as those with whom you associate. Each individual has the choice how to dress, act and with whom to associate. If they want to be treated as the scum of society, they can just act like it, regardless of skin color.
Millions of immigrants came to this country dirt poor from Asia of all skin tones. They had their businesses and possessions stripped , then were imprisoned during war. Yet Asians are not reviled? No, they worked hard, lived in poverty until they succeeded. They still face discrimination yet build successful businesses and their kids are top performers in school. People who are born in this country can only blame themselves for not succeeding.

Known as dark, smelly, smart – Indian

January 26, 2026January 26, 2026 American, culture, dark skin, dismissive, Indian, MA, Marlborough, Risha Patel, skin

Risha Patel,
Marlborough, MA

To me these words mean what I think others think when they first see an Indian. Our oiled hair and spiced food is smelly and our dark tan skin is viewed as undesirable. Stereotypically we have to be smart, exceeding in math and science. We might have great ideas to share but our thick accent is a barrier to your ears. To be Indian, is to be many things. To me, it means the cultures, the languages, and the foods. It is all so beautiful, but am I not also American? I may not be white or smell like vanilla. I am so much more than someone with dark skin, with spices in my food, and supposedly smart.

Race is just a social construct that allows people to think they know who I am. A social box I was placed in by others when I was born. Now that I am older, it does not affect me who I am, but it is infuriating that governments allow violence and hatred to flow through because of race. Why aren’t the good characteristics able to outstand the bad? Why is being dark and smart dismissive? I do not smell bad. I am just a person that every American and every Indian is.

Your words don’t change who I am

December 1, 2025December 2, 2025 Accept, beautiful, biracial, Blake Coffey, CA, Mexican, mixed, mixed father, skin, Van Nuys, white mother, words

Blake Coffey,
Van Nuys, CA.

In a world where being mixed is supposed to be looked at as beautiful, it’s not as easy when you are. People automatically assume that all mixed people are supposed to look mixed just like they assume all Mexicans are brown. I’m born to a mixed black/white father who looks full black and society deems him so, and a white mother. I’ve looked for people that are the same thing or mixed but not looked at as mixed but I’ve always felt left out. I don’t look at people as a certain race but they sure look at me like I am. I’m judged and denied of who I am because genetics determined that I wouldn’t come out looking mixed. Although I’ve faced racism from every race.

Today is the day when I fully accept myself for who I am. I’m not denying myself or anyone else of who I truly am. I am not Mexican, I am not Middle Eastern, I am not Puerto Rican or whatever else I’ve told people. It’s time for me to not only come to terms with who I am but to come to terms with the world and how it is. To stop shielding myself and hiding behind fake back stories because of peoples judgments and words. It doesn’t matter if I had brown eyes, blue eyes, black kinky hair, blonde straight hair, a bump on my nose, big lips, high cheek bones, dark skin, light skin, because I am what I am and I can’t change it. People can make whatever assumptions they want or say whatever but that doesn’t change who I am ethnically.

I wanted to change who I am ethnically my entire life. But I can’t. It’s time to stop lying and just be honest. Whether or not I’m accepted by the black community or even the biracial and multiracial community, I am a multiracial person of African and European heritage. My dad looks full black and my mom looks white as snow, yet my sisters and I came out with light carmel skin tones, different hair types, colored eyes, and unique facial features that make us look completely different from anyone else in our family. Whether someone tries to portrait me as white or Mexican or something else that I’m not is not my problem. I can’t change it and your words or judgments isn’t going to change anything either. It’s not your place to determine who or what I am. I am a person of mixed race. That’s just what I am.

Different skin, same hope, same fight.

October 13, 2025 Anna Kate HIll, different, GA, skin, Young Harris

Anna Kate HIll,
Young Harris, GA

Always searching for where I belong

July 9, 2025July 9, 2025 belonging, cultural difference, Ellenwood, GA, hair, HCBU, middle school, skin, Tyler Brown, white charter school

Tyler Brown,
Ellenwood, GA

I chose the phrase “Always searching for where I belong” because it encapsulates my journey as a young black female who grew up in predominantly white environments. Throughout my childhood, I often felt out of place, struggling to find my identity because of different cultural influences. My hair, skin color, and even culture were constantly put on a critical pedestal. Up until middle school; I attended a predominately white charter school; and due to this environment, I spent my early years with many negative thoughts and feelings about myself. During middle and high school, I had the fortune of, not only, being around people who looked like me, but individuals from other cultures and backgrounds, Being exposed to various cultures, I’ve come to appreciate mine and others, however, I still struggled with a few of the same feelings that stemmed from my early school years. Attending an HBCU has been transformative, allowing me to connect more deeply with my culture and the experiences of others who share similar backgrounds. This ongoing search for belonging and self-acceptance emphasizes the significance of celebrating our unique identities in a world where racial and cultural differences can often create feelings of isolation.

You like this type of music?

July 9, 2025July 9, 2025 country, Janesville, music, Rap, skin, Valkyrie Hall, WI

Valkyrie Hall,
Janesville, WI

I grew up very diverse with music since I grew up around many people from country to rap, so sometimes people see me listen to something that doesn’t seem like I would listen to since I’m white. I find it weird whenever I get judged about what I listen to. Music is for everyone, not just one race or the color of someone’s skin.

Family contrast black white shows beauty

January 23, 2025January 23, 2025 beauty, Black, Chris Rock, contrast, diversity, GA, good hair, rainbow, Sherry Weaver, skin, white, Woodstock

Sherry Weaver,
Woodstock, GA.

Our family is a beautiful rainbow. We are pink with brown spots and brown with pink spots.

We are just a family. I didn’t “rescue” anyone-we gave each other gifts. I was given the incredible gift of love and diversity, and they got a family who loves them and can appreciate them. Just like all families, each individual brings something different to the whole. My first son is empathetic, my second son is a great athlete and my daughter is beautiful and caring.

It’s not about surviving being black, It is about realizing how wonderful it is to be of African heritage and how wonderful it is to be of Scottish heritage. I tell my daughter how beautiful she is while I put on my makeup and tell her how lucky she is to have such gorgeous mahogany skin.

She understands this is just one of the the many joys of being black. Anyone who can’t see that is just not looking.

And no disrespect Chris Rock- She does have “Good Hair”. It is as beautiful as the rest of her.

Hapa: but always the wrong half.

January 22, 2025January 23, 2025 blood, Chattanooga, Elissa Yukiko Weichbrodt, fair, foreign, freckled, Half, Hapa, mixed, Race, skin, TN, what are you, wrong

Elissa Yukiko Weichbrodt,
Chattanooga, TN.

I’m half Japanese and half white. In Hawaii, where I grew up, mixed race people like me are called “hapa” or “half.” Although I feel most at home in the primarily Asian culture of Hawaii, I also felt like I stuck out physically because I was tall and had fair, freckled skin. But, when I moved to the mainland for college, I didn’t fit in there, either. People ask, “What are you?” “Do you have foreign blood?” But sometimes they also say, “I never thought of you as anything but white,” and that hurts just as much.

Blacker the Berry, Sweeter the Juice

April 22, 2024 AL, bully, dark skin, light skin, Opelika, skin

Brailynn Billingsley,
Opelika, AL

People judge me because I’m darker toned than my peers. If they were to talk to me, they would understand I am the sweetest seed in a peach. I’m bullied because of my skin, so when i retaliate with my words, I’m portrayed as an angry “monkey.” I’m actually the nicest “human” being.

It is much deeper than skin

April 22, 2024April 25, 2024 deeper, Doswell, Izzy Adams, skin, VA

Izzy Adams,
Doswell, VA

Deeper than skin. History’s evolving mistress

April 2, 2024April 2, 2024 history, mistress, NC, skin

Anonymous,
NC.

I’m A Human, Not A Fruit

March 22, 2024March 21, 2024 Asian, brown, CA, coconut, facial features, fault, fruit, Gabrielle Guzman, heritage, human, Mexican, San Diego, skin, Spanish

Gabrielle Guzman
San Diego, CA

Yes, I am Mexican. Yes, I know I apparently hold the same facial features as someone who would be considered Asian. No, I did not just cross the border. No, I do not speak Spanish, although I can understand it fluently and am taking classes to learn it. I am a human, I am not, as some of my friends and family like to say, a coconut. Brown on the outside, white on the inside. Just because I don’t fulfill your or society’s view of what someone of my background could act like, that does not mean that I am any less of a person, or any less proud, of my heritage. I am a human, not a fruit.

I am not defined by society

March 22, 2024March 21, 2024 Christchurch, define, identity, Justina Adarkwah, problem, skin, society, stereotype, VA, you don't sound, you talk like

Justina Adarkwah
Christchurch, VA

I’ve always had a problem with identity, but ironically I realized it was me that thought I had a problem, it was society, my community, everyone else who had an opinion about ‘what’ I was and who I should be. I’m not sorry to let everyone one know that its not their decision to make, the colour of my skin has almost nothing to do with who I am, I didn’t ask to be born to my parents, born in my country, speak the way I do, look the way I do so why is it an issue? I can look ‘black’, talk ‘white’, act ‘latino’, study like an ‘asian’. It’s no one’s business but mine. These are all stereotypes and they are named as such for a reason. We are who say we are, I choose to be just human, what about you?

Think you cute because you’re lightskin?

February 28, 2024February 28, 2024 Black woman, Color, complexion, cute, DC, heart, Kwazi Owens, lightskin, skin, Washington

Kwazi Owens
Washington, DC

I see so much divisiveness among black women due to colorism. I remember growing up and girls automatically not liking me just because of my complexion and me feeling the need to reel in my personality as not seem as though I’m trying to be “better” than others. As an adult still seeing the same issues amongst black women breaks my heart.

I love the skin I’m in.

February 28, 2024February 28, 2024 Karsen, love your skin, skin, USA

Karsen,
USA

I Am A Light-Skinned Black Woman

February 12, 2024February 12, 2024 Black woman, CA, comes in all colors, hues, light skinned, Rosina B., skin, Temecula

Rosina B.,
Temecula, CA.

African Americans come in all colors and hues, and just because my skin may be light it does not make me a lesser African American, it only make me more proud to be who I am!!

You are smarter than you look

January 20, 2024January 20, 2024 Amanda Sperow, bimbo, blonde, Chehalis, eye color, hair, look, Oregon State University, Sexuality, skin, smart, stereotype, WA

Amanda Sperow,
Chehalis, WA.
Oregon State University

Because I am a young woman with blonde hair, and I take pride in the way I look most people presume I am a “bimbo” or dumb blonde. It’s sad our minds don’t extend beyond the sexuality of an individual, and we can only see as deep as hair, skin and eye color.

“My Blood is Red, What’s Yours”

January 15, 2024 affection, beautiful, blood, eyes, heart, PA, Philadelphia, Ralanda King, red, See, sister, skin

Ralanda King,
Philadelphia, PA.

Born and raised in the city of brotherly love, but I’m full of sisterly affection, I not black but brown and beautiful. the heart can see what our eyes can’t or refuse too. but, don’t charge it to my skin, but to my heart.

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