Summerville Archives - The Race Card Project

Is it because I’m a ginger?

February 12, 2024February 12, 2024 GA, ginger, judge, Red Hair, red-headed, seven, stereotype, Summerville

Seven,
Summerville, GA.

I am a redhead from Visalia CA. I moved to Georgia with my family and after the move I realized things weren’t going to be the same anymore. People often poke fun at me saying that I have no soul or that I would take theirs. Just because I am a redhead does not mean that I would harm anyone. People ask me why I don’t just dye my hair? I choose not to dye my hair because it is who I am and I am not changing for anyone. Life would be much easier if true equality existed, but now I know it never can.

Bruh, not all Mexicans are illegal.

June 30, 2022June 30, 2022 america, Arely Cruz, Bruh, come-back, cross the border, GA, illegal, jump the border, Mexican, straight, Summerville

Arely Cruz,
Summerville, GA.

A common “come-back” to be used always is “Why don’t you go back and jump the border.” Well, why don’t you get your facts straight, because I was born in America.

Cajun heritage and worked for everything

June 21, 2022June 21, 2022 Ancestors, Cajun, Feldon Starns, Graduate, heritage, KKK, middle class, SC, Summerville

Feldon Starns,
Summerville, SC.

I come from a lower middle class family. I was the first to graduate collage in my family. I worked full time at menial jobs and paid for everything myself. No loans, grants, scholarships, or aid. Nothing was given to me. If working inside old fuel tanks in a shipyard is “privilege” then so be it. However I did what it took to better myself and have no guilt about the color of my skin what so ever.

I can only shake my head at the attitudes of so many people these days and times. They believe because their ancestors had a hard time and suffered that they deserve special treatment or I for that matter should feel bad about who I am and where I came from. Well here’s a check for you; life isn’t fair, and everybody had a hard time of it in this country. Admittedly some worse than others, but you can bet if you look close enough you would see the truth in this statement.

My father as a small child had the Klu Klux Klan burn a cross in his yard. Why? He was white? Because he spoke French, was catholic, and my grandfather ran a saloon. He was beaten by his teachers for not speaking English in school. He had it rough even after he left Louisiana. But he worked hard and believed in this country. That’s what he taught his children to do also.

In the 1970’s I had long hair and black friends. I wish I had a dollar for every time the cops pulled me over and tore my car apart looking for drugs or contraband. I’ve been not waited on in restaurants because of how I looked, called names and treated badly by people of all colors. So I really have a hard time with people who walk around talking about this or that, then expecting me to feel bad or guilty about who I am and where I’m from.

My ancestors were put into slavery by the British. Those that were able to make it to New Orleans where shunned by the Creoles, and the white population. They were pushed west into the swamps and bayous to the land no one wanted. There they built a solid foundation and thriving culture with help from no one.

So the next time you want to throw out that life is not fair to you because of the color of your skin remember that every group has had their problems. And to the people of all colors and creeds who hate or think the world owes them something, get a life.

Why isn’t my hair work appropriate

July 3, 2021July 3, 2021 afros, black hair, curly, hair, kinks, Natural hair, SC, Summerville, work, Zuleka Grant

Zuleka Grant,
Summerville, SC

If you ever look on google for work-appropriate or professional hair it is full of straight hair and Caucasian styles, but when you look up what is not, it’s natural black hair: afros, curls, and kinks!

What if everyone was the same?

January 17, 2019January 17, 2019 different, Drew Middleton, everyone, GA, same, Summerville

Drew Middleton,
Summerville, GA.

My six words are about people thinking that they are different but they are all basically the same in one way or another.

I’m just as perfect as you

June 4, 2018June 4, 2018 better than, GA, Gavin, perfect, Race, Summerville

Gavin,
Summerville, GA.

People think they are better than other people just because of their race.

Not White Nor Asian But Wasian

April 11, 2016April 11, 2016 Asian, asian-american, Bryce Barrett, GA, jokes, stereotype, Summerville, Thai, Wasian, white

Bryce Barrett,
Summerville, GA.

I am Asian-American and that means Asian jokes. People call me Wasian when I say am part Asian, Thai in particular. Im not offended by it and sometimes I play along with them. It sometimes gets on my nerves that that say “Hey Wasian!” instead of my name. :L

No seriously I am not Hispanic

April 6, 2015April 6, 2015 but you don't look, Emily Alfonso, French, GA, Hispanic, irish, italian, last name, name, Summerville

Emily Alfonso,
Summerville, GA.

Everyone thinks because of my last name, that I am hispanic. But I’m not, I am Italian, Irish, and French.

Not all southern people are racist

April 6, 2015 change, culturally diverse, GA, homophobic, Logan Money, Minority, Racist, resistant, southern, stereotype, Summerville

Logan Money,
Summerville, GA.

As southern citizens, we are often accused of being racist, homophobic, and resistant to change. Some are, but not all of us are. Most of my friends are minorities and that includes homo/bisexuals. as a matter of fact, most of the major towns are culturally diverse.

White privilege equals open vernacular relishment

May 12, 2013 heritage, Kathryn Sanders, open vernacular, SC, Summerville, uncomfortable, white privilege

Kathryn Sanders
Summerville, SC

I am white Southern woman . I will never forget overhearing a group of white co-workers harshly criticize a black co-worker’s slip into African American vernacular at an on-the-job baby-shower while handing out gifts. I have some Appalachian forbears and am an English major and I take great pleasure in using colorful expressions and language that I learned from my family as a child. I feel like it is a part of my heritage. I never felt uncomforable using this kind of language with these women at a relaxed social function or felt like I had to guard against grammatical slip-ups or face repercussions. The incident described above along with another incident where I heard some of these same co-workers belittling a masters-level, African American trainer at a workshop we attended for her word usage, with the implication that she was unfit to train us because of it, brought home to me how much language prejudice many black professionals have to deal with as they perform their jobs. One little slip could trigger the kind of backbiting fallout that I witnessed. The weirdest part was that most or all of the critics would be offended if someone told them their criticism was racist. Personally, I have always taken the view that for many Americans, Standard English is a secondary language and unless a person is engaged in law-making or jurisprudence where language misuse creates legal loopholes and problems, as long as I understand the communication, it is all good!

Join the Newsletter

Info

Join our community