stereotypes Archives - The Race Card Project

My children won’t rob you

June 1, 2026June 1, 2026 children, fit the profile, good people, military, OK, Oklahoma City, rob, Shamica, single mom, stereotypes

Shamica,
Oklahoma City, OK.

I never knew that becoming a mom would be different based on race. I was raised on military bases, everyone got along. I knew that people could be racist but I never really experienced it. I was . . . naive. Then I married my husband, at a young age, then we had kids. I realized quickly that a good amount of people assumed I was a single mom or teen mom, when the truth is I valued my body enough that I saved myself for my husband. As my kids grew and we decided to have a larger family, I would be asked random questions like “Do they have the same father?”. But the worst was listening to my 8 year old daughter ask me why a little boy at church called her a mudface. Or when she became a teenager and was told by another teen that a certain boy wouldn’t think she was pretty because she’s black. Or how about the fact that I have to tell my boys not to wear hoodies in public, because someone may think they look suspicious. When truly they are just cold. I don’t mind raising my children to be respectful people and productive members of society, that has always been my goal. I mind that I have to worry if someone will shoot my honor student because they “fit the profile”.

Smart black kid plays tennis alone.

August 9, 2024August 9, 2024 Alexandria, black kids, Raheem Cash, smart, stereotypes, tennis, tennis shoes, VA

Raheem Cash,
Alexandria, VA.

As a kid I spent a lot of time being one of two or three black kids in honors classes. Spent a lot of time being only black kid that played tennis. Spent a lot of time not being considered “black enough”. Well I’m not a kid anymore and fortunately I managed thrive in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic world.

It should never make a difference

May 20, 2024 difference, Hartsdale, human, Mark Baron, NY, stereotypes

Mark Baron,
Hartsdale, NY

We’re all human. We should celebrate all of our diverse human cultures but never denigrate them. And while we’re at, how about eliminating the stereotypes.

Brown in summer, white in winter

January 28, 2024January 28, 2024 brown, CA, Laugna Niguel, Ronisha, skin color, stereotypes, summer, tan, winter

Ronisha,
Laugna Niguel, CA

I am of mixed race. My mother is one hundred percent Filipino and my father is white. In the summer, my skin is dark due to extra sun exposure. In the winter, my skin is pale. In the summer, I get compliments such as, your skin is so beautiful and glowing, you are so exotic, etc. In the winter, I feel ugly because of stereotypes like “Becky”

My Obaa is Japanese – I’m not.

January 11, 2024 Asian, can't speak my own language, Japanese, Livia Messenger, MA, Northhampton, Obaa, SAT, Smith College, stereotypes

Livia Messenger,
Northhampton, MA.
Smith College

Before I told you my grandmother was from Japan, I wasn’t Asian to you. I’m white. I don’t speak Japanese. I’ve never been to Japan, worn a kimono, or even met my Japanese relatives. I flunked out of calculus – but I suppose my “white side” was holding the pencil when I took the SATs, right? I don’t identify with that race – keep your stereotypes away from me.

Being me is unique and beautiful!

September 8, 2023 athletic, beautiful, girly, New Hyde Park, NY, Sam Coope, sports, stereotypes, style, tomboy, unique

Sam Coope,
New Hyde Park, NY

Growing up, I was always the tomboy type. I loved to play sports and be active. I am someone who loves to work out and go to the gym on a daily basis. I played on many different teams all throughout high school. Some of them were all women’s teams and other’s were all men’s teams. I was able to experience playing with both men and women. The different levels of competition between the two were extremely different but exciting. I loved the thrill of being able to be the only girl on a men’s team. It allowed me to feel like I was strong enough to compete on this level of competition. However, when I go out with a group of friends, I do like to dress up once in a while, even though I am someone who always felt more comfortable wearing athletic clothes. As I got older, I started dressing up a lot more while also continuing to be an athlete. I guess you can say I have two different types of styles when it comes to the activity I am doing. I am also a girl who doesn’t like to wear makeup. I don’t own any makeup and have never been into wearing anything like that. As a girl, it sometimes feels weird for me to say that I don’t like wearing makeup. However, it isn’t for me and not something that I feel comfortable wearing myself. I love being a part of many different teams and playing on a team with all guys because of how tough it makes me feel. I often feel like I am one of the boys even though I am a girl because I play on a team with them. To some people, a girl playing on a men’s team may look crazy because of the competitive level. However, I love to be challenged and love the competitiveness I get while playing with them. Just because I am a girl, doesn’t always mean that I have to follow the stereotypes of all girls and do all the girly things that girls do. There is nothing that a girl can’t do even if the levels of competition and interests are different than most. Overall, being me is something that I would never want to change. I may be different than most girls and not always into girly things, but I am always going to continue to be myself and do what makes me happy. I will always be unique and beautiful in my own way and strive to continue to do the things that make me happy.

Poor white trash, not welcome here.

February 24, 2023February 24, 2023 Appalachian, Austin, Kentucky, Poor White Trash, PWT, stereotypes, Tracie Combs-Cantu, TX, welcome

Tracie Combs-Cantu
Austin, TX

I was born and raised in Kentucky from an Appalachian family. The stereotypes and the realities of being poor and from Appalachian decent always make you self-conscious of your speech, look and skills. Even when you don’t need to worry about any of it.

Not Just Any Other White Girl

October 24, 2022October 24, 2022 Francesca Magno, irish, italian, ME, Portland, stereotypes, texting, tradition, UGGS, White girl

Francesca Magno
Portland, ME

I come from a very large Irish/Italian family. We have traditions and ideals representative of different cultures. Yet, when people identify me I am simply a white girl. People do not view me as a mix of races. I could be any other ugg wearing, latte in hand, textaholic, but I don’t feel I am only what I appear to be. Due to my non-defined characteristics for either of my ethnicities I am only seen as one. Yes, I am white, but my heart is a representation of three flags. Green, white and red. Orange white and green. But most importantly red, white and blue.

Not all innocent. Not all guilty.

September 12, 2022September 12, 2022 billboards, Caroline Kish, Dunwoody, GA, guilty, High School, innocent, modern day, order, peace, social, stereotypes

Caroline Kish,
Dunwoody, GA.

I will not deny that race continues to reek extreme havoc on modern day social order. I see it every day at my high school, in the news, and even on the billboards lining the highway. We can all say that we ‘don’t see color’, but in reality, there are not many truly color blind people in the world. Most of us can’t help resorting to stereotypes the instant we see someone who is not a member of our race.

But this does not mean that we are all racist. Today, many think in black and white and generally tend to emphasize the licentious tendencies of human character. But we are not inherently evil, and if we work together to break down the barriers between the peoples of the world that have stood for centuries, we can make peace with who we all are.

Hi. You must be the nanny.

July 7, 2022July 8, 2022 affluent, CA, Hispanic, Mayra Cramer, Menlo Park, middle class, nanny, stereotypes, suburb

Mayra Cramer,
Menlo Park, CA.

I’m a brown typically Hispanic looking upper middle class woman living in an affluent suburb of San Francisco. I’ve allways had a hard time fitting in because I was raised in “white” neighborhoods and went to elite and desirable schools. My third child is fair and people in the street or grocery including other Hispanics assume I am her nanny-stereotypes of nationality and socio economic class are alive and we’ll and thriving in a Silicon Valley

Privilege, Stereotype’s, Socialism, Classism, Acceptability, Strife

May 27, 2022May 27, 2022 Acceptability, classism, culture, Deerfield Beach, FL, Marvin Lucas, privilege, Socialism, stereotypes, Strife

Marvin Lucas,
Deerfield Beach, FL

From My experiences, perspectives, objectives, hopes, and dreams. There’s a variation with each individual, groups, and cultures. And yet My objective is to reach a pinnacle of being human which transcends beyond race. However, realistically on a society as a whole that’s almost virtually impossible because every individual come with their own ideations, experience, and aspirations on race. Culturally I’ve explored humans with an opened mind, or at least my intentions were set to these experiences. Yet some individual/s within various Rave’s are unwelcoming for these kind of explorations on different levels of conception. Even within My Own Race & Culture there’s Classism, Racism, and Social Structuring.

My aim, and cause is to connect with people. Have difference’s amoung ourselves, and yet respect for eachother in order to remain opened to the ideal of the obvious factor that we’re all humans despite Race.

I Will Not Be Silent Anymore

May 26, 2022May 26, 2022 Asian, assume, elementary school, first experience, Hopkinton, MA, speaking out, stereotypes, tiger parents, Yiming Fang

Yiming Fang,
Hopkinton, MA

I remember once in fifth grade, a friend and I were talking, and she was trying to figure out how many hours she slept for some reason. My dad had taught me a trick about that, so I was able to tell her really quickly. She asked me how I knew so fast, and I was so excited to tell her about the trick. But before I could respond, a girl nearby (who was caucasian) did it for me. “Oh well because she’s Asian” she said with a laugh, seemingly thinking herself very funny or clever. It’s a small comment, but I felt shriveled inside, as the excitement quickly turned into confusion and shock. I replied that there was actually a trick my dad taught me, but by then the conversation had turned. My words were lost in the wind.

This was the first moment I can remember where something I did that was “smart” caused me to be reduced to a mere stereotype. There were many instances to follow, where typically caucasian classmates would make a big show if they got a higher score than me on a test, or make backhanded comments if I did well in subjects like math or science. I never knew how to respond, so I just ignored them. It was easier that way.

The last experience I’ll mention here is with a my Sophomore Spanish teacher. I arranged a meeting after school with her once because even though I had a 90 in her class, I felt like I was making a lot of silly grammatical errors. The next day my mom asked me if I had met with my Spanish teacher about something. Apparently, she had sent my parents an entire email about how I’m really “doing fine in her class” and “there’s no need to worry” repeated multiple times but simply phrased differently. I want to believe she would’ve done that for any student, but in reality, I think she thought my Asian “tiger parents” had pushed me to meet with her so she had to “protect me” by sending them that email. I wanted to confront her about it, but I didn’t know how to without sounding sensitive or crazy. Instead, I never went to her for extra help again.

In the past, I’ve hardly talked about these experiences or called someone out for their harmful actions. The instances always seemed too small to make a fuss. However, I now realize that only by speaking out can there be change. Silent shame is a jail, and I will no longer be a prisoner.

Yo soy Tejano, not “White Washed”

May 25, 2022May 25, 2022 brown, Christopher A Hernández, Corpus Christi, father, Gulf Coast, heritage, Mexican, Rothko Chapel, sea, stereotypes, Tejano, TX, white-washed, yo soy

Christopher A Hernández,
Corpus Christi, TX.

Growing up on the Gulf Coast of Texas, you can always smell the sea; after all: it’s practically in your backyard. But there’s also something else that is constantly in the air that one may not be able to smell, but it’s just as pungent: Stereotypes. I come from a family of proud Tejano heritage; my father is always talking about how we are 10th generation Texans, and should never forget about where we came from. I’ve traveled a lot around the US, and I usually get the “Oh, you’re Latino?” or “You’re like a ‘white-washed Mexican” question/response, very often. I feel like I have to prove myself worthy of my Mexican heritage often because I don’t necessarily ‘look’ like your ‘standard Mexican.’ But, there’s nothing ‘standard’ about any of us! I was very fortunate to learn about different cultures, to attend the opera, ballet, and see Rothko Chapel; just because I’m not ‘brown’, doesn’t mean that I’m not Mexican.

Jew Test: Pick Up That Penny

January 24, 2022January 24, 2022 Jew, Jewish, penny, stereotypes, USA, Victoria

Victoria
USA

I don’t know if this fits on the site, (which I love by the way), because Judaism is a religion and not a race. But I am sick and tired of being judged by my Jewishness and comments like “you don’t have a Jewish nose” or “kinky Jew-fro” and “if someone picks up the penny I dropped, it’s a Jew”. We all need to learn to stop these disgusting stereotypes and be more tolerant of one another.

Me llamo Lora y hablo español.

October 20, 2021October 20, 2021 Altadena, assume, CA, Chinese, espanol, Lora McManus, Mandarin, Me Llamo, my name is, name, social change, Spanish, stereotypes, transracially adopted

Lora McManus,
Altadena, CA.

Being transracially adopted (by Caucasian parents) comes with a plethora of advantages and challenges. One of the most common misconceptions that I face on a daily basis is the assumption that I was raised in an Chinese family and speak Mandarin, when actually neither of those are true. Stereotypes are one of the most predominant forms of microagressions. Additionally, as a woman, and as a woman of color, and as a queer woman of color, I can attest to the fact that people, society, and the world are not one-dimensional; an intersectional lens is imperative to driving social change.

Little White Girl from the ‘Hood’

October 4, 2021November 4, 2021 Caitlin Zembruski, experience, hood, Manassas, neighborhood vio9lence, paycheck to paycheck, privilege, stereotypes, VA, White girl, working-class

Caitlin Zembruski,
Manassas, VA

The town I grew up in is a very diverse community. There are specific areas that vary racially and ethnically, as well as class. My family lives in the lower-working class, living paycheck to paycheck. I lived in a neighborhood where there was not many other white kids and many of my friends were of a different color than me. Although, I found this very enriching that I was able to discover and experience new cultures all in my hometown. I had gained perspectives that I would have never been able to understand if it weren’t for my experience. However, I feel that because of my experiences, I have a weird/hard time fitting in. Let me explain; growing up in the ‘hood’, I had a different relationship with things, like money or neighborhood violence for instance, that my privileged white counterparts cannot relate too. On the flip side, I feel that certain times I’m assumed to be just like those privileged counterparts and stereotypes just because of my color (or the lack there of). Overall, I feel that my upbringing in the diverse community helped me gain a beautiful perspective on the wide range of cultures; I only wish that I could be seen individually for all that I believe and have become.

Not all white conservatives are racists

June 27, 2021June 27, 2021 black lesbian, compain, conservatives, discrimination, Emily, Houston, illusion, political views, prejudices, profiling, racists, stereotypes, TX

Emily,
Houston, TX.

Many people complain about discrimination, stereotypes, and prejudices relating to race; and I am under no illusion that what they experience is real and happens every day. After experiencing such treatment, I would hope that those people would be more sensitive to the subject and try not to stereotype people. Unfortunately, I believe that such profiling and grouping has become a nasty cycle in most people. I am a conservative and I live in Texas, but that does not mean I am a racist. I was half-raised by my mother’s best friend, a black lesbian. To this day I consider her family. I respect those of all races. I think as a nation we need to focus on judging a person by their character- not their skin color, race, region, or political views.

Ashamed that accomplished minorities surprise me.

May 22, 2021July 18, 2023 accomplished, ashamed, fix, liberal, minorities, National Geographic, progressive, Seattle, stereotypes, Surprise, WA

Anonymous,
Seattle, WA.

No matter how liberal and progressive I might claim to be, no matter how many workshops I’ve been to or essays I’ve read about privilege, I still hear my inner voice express pleasant surprise when I see a minority doing well at something. Whether I see a minority excelling in business, writing an editorial in the national press, or doing rounds in a hospital, inside I first say, “wow, look at that!”

I am not proud of this and I don’t know how to fix it.

Join the Newsletter

Info

Join our community