tradition Archives - The Race Card Project

White Bones Ache For Black Moves

March 3, 2023March 3, 2023 ache, Black, bones, breakfast, Brown Sugar, CA, Floyd LIttle, food, Jim Brown, Mike Tracy, Oakland, oatmeal, tradition, white

Mike Tracy,
Oakland, CA.

When I was 3 or 4 I asked my parents to put brown sugar on my oatmeal so I could grow up to be a running back like Jim Brown or Floyd Little.

No one wants to hear your heritage

December 7, 2022December 7, 2022 German, heritage, immigrant, Knoxville, Macy Willett, proud, second generation, story, The University of Tennessee, TN, tradition, we al have a story, white

Macy Willett,
Knoxville, TN

Yes, I do have a heritage. Yes, I am also white. While I celebrate the unique backgrounds of my friends and coworkers, I often feel as though I have no identity or culture to grasp onto. No one wants to hear your “percentages” and what comes along with you if the end result is that you are simply Caucasian. But, I am the daughter of a second-generation German immigrant who moved to the states as a single mom. I have stories, traditions, and culture. I am proud of my heritage, even if that looks like a percentage number to some people.

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville Sociology 110

Expansive Roots, Exquisite Tongues, Diversity Perpetuated

October 24, 2022October 24, 2022 AZ, Christopher Ramsey, Diversity Perpetuated, Expansive Roots, Exquisite Tongues, food, Guam, Ireland, Mexico, Phoenix, respect, Spain, tradition

Christopher Ramsey,
Phoenix, AZ.

From Mexico, to Ireland to Guam and then back to Spain. I embrace the wealth in language, food, faith and tradition. I intend to continue what my parents started and charitably inform those inquisitive minds to breakdown their misconceptions into fertile ground for understanding and respect.

View perceived differences as valuable opportunity.

October 24, 2022October 24, 2022 common, culture, difference, Half, Lauren C, Mexican, opportunity, tradition, TX, white

Lauren C,
TX

I wish for my half white, half Mexican children to grow up knowing that perceived differences should be an opportunity to learn about another person or people, and how much they may truly have in common. An opportunity to embrace someone or their culture and traditions, and maybe learn something new about themselves.

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.

She wishes for American eyes.

October 24, 2022October 24, 2022 American, ethnic, ethnicity, eyes, Lakewood, multi, Rose McKenney, tradition, WA

Rose McKenney
Lakewood, WA

I’m glad we’re finally acknowledging the number of multi-ethnic people in the US. Sadly people my age (50s) have been asked to choose one; yet I know several multi-ethnic people around my age. They lost a lot because they or their parents felt the need to choose one tradition or ethnicity.

Anti-asian racism is America’s tradition

March 18, 2021March 18, 2021 American, CA, Historical immigration policies, Ken Yamamoto, Santa Barbara, tradition

Ken Yamamoto,
Santa Barbara, CA

Historical immigration policies

When Skin Color Fades Away

December 22, 2020December 22, 2020 American Indian, Bigotry, CA, fades, Imperial Beach, Leonard Rios, Native American, neighborhood, old school, skin color, stereotype, tradition, tribal

Leonard Rios,
Imperial Beach, CA.

I am an American Indian on tribal roles and racism has followed my people childhood to present. I am a traditionalist and live an old school life style founded on respect and the spirit of taking only what we need and giving when all possible. I moved to Imperial Beach with high hopes only to face the reality that things may change but more than likely not in my lifetime. The latest example of racism and bigotry came to life and reared its ugly head in Imperial Beach on the corner of Elder and 7th street you can get first hand view on how racism and bigotry abound in our beautiful little city. How a single individual decided to take the law into his own hands and post offensive signs in his front lawn declaring there are thieves in our neighborhood. He went so far as to even describe the suspect individual indicating a young male, approximate age, color hair and personal habits, yet when asked, he said he never saw who allegedly entered his property. So begins the hunt for just about any young dark haired male in our community during out peek summer months and so goes the quiet secure image of our fair city. Some individuals have a need to be noticed as do gooder no matter whom they might hurt. I for one believe that the alleged theft, if it did occur, should have be left to our Local law enforcement to investigate. These offensive signs, clearly demonstrate a community of potential racist troublemakers. I for one believe our community is made up of a much higher caliber of families individuals. Such individual action on the part of a resident can only result in visitors viewing our beautiful city as a troubled neighborhood and undesirable to live in. I pray our city council and new mayor consider the negative aspect of such actions and seek a moderate solution. Our city has come to far so as to have a dark shadow to be cast upon it.

I don’t know how to act

November 23, 2020November 23, 2020 biracial, culture, different, Eryne Tinajero, Explore Identity, HI, Honolulu, language, tradition

Eryne Tinajero,
Honolulu, HI.

I am biracial. I wasn’t raised with much knowledge of either culture. It’s always tough to visit the two different sides of my family. I feel as if they don’t see me as one of them. I feel like an outsider because I don’t know the cultures. I don’t know the languages. I don’t know the traditions. I don’t know who I’m supposed to be. Sometimes I feel as if I’m missing a big part of my identity.

Please don’t ask me to jig.

May 23, 2019May 23, 2019 dancing, Grand Rapids, irish, jig, MI, music, stereotype, tradition, Zee Brennan

Zee Brennan
Grand Rapids, MI

Often times when I share with people that I am Irish, many people aren’t surprised and demand that I dance a jig for them. Although I am also an accomplished Irish dancer, it feels as though there is an assumption among many Americans that all Irish know how to dance a jig. It feels as though my culture has become a bit of an entertainment act among Americans as they do not have the same kind of respect or appreciation for the tradition behind Irish arts and music.

That’s so typical of you people.

March 18, 2019March 18, 2019 Angela Ogbonna, Baltimore, MD, Nigerian, People, tradition, typical

Angela Ogbonna
Baltimore, MD

I chose these six words because I find myself following this learned behavior. As a Nigerian, I even hold other Nigerians to a certain high standard because that’s what we are taught as children and what’s expected of us. I feel that no matter what your ethnicity is people will always feel as though they have a general understanding of it. By opening my mind to other opinions I realized that race is more of an learned action. To turn a blind eye on traits that differentiate us from one another is not the answer. By accepting that we all have different ethnicities, culture, and traditions will help us understand each other and play less of the “race game.”

Mexican girls don’t need a Quinceañera

August 13, 2018August 13, 2018 8th Grade Holland New Tech High School, girl, Holland, Mexican, MI, party, quinceanera, stereotype, tradition, Yadhira

Yadhira,
8th Grade Holland New Tech High School,
Holland, MI.

My friends and cousins tell me that I need to have a Quinceañera and I tell them I don’t want a big party with everyone dancing, Some of my family members say I should have my quinceanera at Mexico, but I don’t want one I just want a normal party with my family & friends when I turn 15. This bothers me because not every Mexican girl needs a Quinceañera and I’m fine with not having a Quinceañera it’s not a big deal.

White People Don’t Have A Culture?

January 22, 2018January 21, 2018 absent culture, culture, Gabrielle Ientile, lifestyle, Monmouth University, NJ, Spring Lake, tradition, white, white people

Gabrielle Ientile,
Spring Lake, NJ.
Monmouth University

Sometimes I hear people say that white people don’t have a culture. Then what am I? Where do my traditions and lifestyle fit in? What are the consequences of an “absent” culture?

For tradition’s sake, we mock others.

January 21, 2018January 21, 2018 football, Kyle McDonald, mock, name, Native Amrican, NC, NFL, trademark, tradition, Washington Redskins

Kyle McDonald
NC

A couple of weeks ago, a friend and I got in an argument about race and sensitivity that started from watching football, of all things. I mentioned something about the fact that, if you think about it, the team the Washington Redskins is pretty offensive. His thought was “who cares?”. “People these days are too sensitive.” If he was Native American, he may feel differently.

Mexican Until Death Does Me Apart

January 21, 2018January 21, 2018 culture, death, define, Family, Mexican, tradition

Anaisa Sanchez,
Riverside, CA.

Ever since I was a little girl, my mom made sure I knew about all the Mexican Traditions within our culture. Of course growing up Mexican you always listen to everything your respectful elders comment on. However, as I’ve gotten older, I question everything that crosses my path. For example, there are just some traditions that I don’t like enough or I don’t want to carry on, but people within my family can become really upset with me. On the other hand, I praise my family for raising us (the women in particular) for giving us options. My mom and dad taught us how to work in two different fields, both equally important. My mother taught us how to cook and all the difficulties it takes to keep the household together. However, my dad taught us how to work and deal with people in the workforce. In many Mexican families, the women are required to work and bring the money home, make sure the men are always taken care of, that the laundry is done, and whenever the men are hungry for us to cater to them. But I am so very thankful my parents sought a future for us since we were born, they believed in our education, and always continue to be our number one supporters. We are very blessed to have them to run back to when everything else fails.

Im just white on the outside.

December 16, 2015December 16, 2015 American, CA, culture, ethnicity, European, George Nalbandian, Middle-Eastern, pale, San Francisco, skin tone, tradition, white boy, white on the outside

George Nalbandian,
San Francisco, CA.

I look like a typical white boy, but my culture and family traditions are nothing like that of a white male/ or an American. My ethnicity is Armenian, and my skin tone is pale, but there are a lot of darker skinned Armenians too. A lot of us look Middle Eastern, or European, and some of us look just white, like me. I feel like every time some one calls me white, or a “white boy” it takes something away from me and my culture.