The Race Card Project
By Michele Norris
Juan Dominguez,
Sacramento, CA.
Mexican people say I am a shame to our people with gauges in my ears, the clothes I am wearing, the fact I do not have an accent when I speak. It’s like I was raised in America but by Mexicans that eat tortillas with every meal celebrate mothers day the 10th of May. Am I white washed or just a mix of both cultures?
Tasha Thompson,
Coon Rapids, MN.
I’m a 19 year old white female, and my grandma was born in the 40s. She is very old fashioned and when she talks about my mom’s work in a majority black community where the accept EBT, she starts to sneer and act like it’s the worse thing that could happen. It always makes me uncomfortable and I don’t even want to go to holidays anymore because I’m sick of her comments towards black people. It makes me upset that she would even think it is ok to talk like that, but my family just says it’s the way she was raised.
Siera Adams,
Conyers, GA
I live in a country that stereotypes black women, like myself, as “loud”. If I laugh, it’s too loud. If I talk, I’m too loud. If I express any form of joy, I’m too loud. People want to silence, arrest, and kill us for the noise we make. However, when I use my voice to protest the injustices and wrongdoing of my people, I go unheard by many.
-A senior at Peachtree Academy
Cameron McCall,
Fontana, CA.
The reason I choose these six words is because I don’t like how I am stereotyped to be un-educated and ghetto. I am a proud African American male in college and I am proud of the proper english that I use.
Madison Martin,
Ewing, NJ.
Growing up in a predominantly white town, race was not a topic of much discussion in the classroom. My parents were good role models to me and my brother and did not hide us from the world outside the “bubble” of our town, but the rest of my town seemed to pretend that race was not an issue since it did not directly affect them. Until college, I had never had a class with someone who was not white. I did not understand the extent of racism in America because in my town we did not talk about it or see it, but rather acted as if it did not exist. It wasn’t until college that I realized that this silence and neglect of conversation was in itself, a form of racism.
Lucy Pipkin,
Minneapolis, MN.
My own white discomfort is much less painful than continuous microaggressions and real racism faced by my fellow undergrad students who are POC. Let’s talk, and not stop until they feel safe again. We’re all different but need to come together in our communities, as shown by my photo of this mural in Cedar-Riverside Minneapolis.
Elizabeth D
Atlanta, GA
But I’m sure not white either. You think because I speak a certain way and dress a certain way, because I don’t fit your stereotypes, I’m not ‘black’ enough? Sorry if I shatter your preconceived notions, but as always I’m just being myself.
Grace Marie Sanchez,
Scotts Valley, CA.
When I took a room mate to my house after graduating from college this is what she said to my Mother. I was completely embarrassed that she said this to my Mom but she did not seem to realize this was a faux pas. I remember my Mom doing a double take and just giving her a wan smile. My Mother was third generation Mexican-American and spoke both Spanish and English beautifully.
Daniel Brewer
CA
There is only one race, and it’s the human one.
Warren Miller,
Indianapolis, IN.
I have been profoundly deaf since early childhood but raised in a hearing family and attended an oral school. I was not exposed to Deaf culture and American Sign Language until college. Hearing people do not see me as deaf because I “talk good” (even though I heavily rely on a hearing aid and lip reading and sometimes an ASL interpreter). Deaf people, on the other hand, consider me “think-hearing” because I speak well and rely on my hearing aid and lip reading skills more than ASL. Like my painting illustrates, I am between two worlds.
Anonymous
USA
Real, round table discussions on race need to occur. But when people are concerned about being PC, they’re not honest. Honesty and understanding is need for progress.
Susana Gluck,
Minneapolis, MN.
There has to be open and sincere talk about race, our perceptions and preconceptions. Each group has to be able to hear the goods and bads we perceive about each other to find common and higher ground and an acceptance of our shared humanity. We can be critical but also loving.
Paige Nicole Malcuit,
Wadsworth, OH.
Sacramento, Maryland and California
After a lifetime of colorblind talk, my beloved Dad gasped when I brought home a black man. We were both surprised. The walk can be harder than the talk.
Stephanie Lucianovic,
Menlo Park, CA.
My words come from Hamilton, and they have become even more powerful for me to remember and say to others since the recent election.
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