The Race Card Project
By Michele Norris
KB
Louisville, KY
I can’t count how many times I have been through airport security, worldwide, including dozens of times with my husband. I’m a white “girl next door” type. My husband is harder to peg (he has been “read” as Chinese, Okinawan, Thai, Indian, Arab and more, although he is from Mexico). Whenever we travel we have come to expect delays for him in security, while I regularly breeze through. It just doesn’t feel random.
Aren Kazanciyan,
CA
As far as the popular conceptions of race go, I am usually considered Middle Eastern. My family members and I are always heckled by airport security, without fail.
Sanaz Chloe Homayounieh,
Irvine, CA
It’s a common joke among Iranians: “They used to classify us as Caucasian, but once 9/11 happened, now we aren’t white!”
Traveling has always been an interesting experience for my family. Growing up, being stopped at airport security was not unusual. Whether they checked our hair, ankles, or even our bare wrists, there was always something that caused airport security to pat us down. So much for “random security checks”, right? Some trips result in quicker checks, while others lead to quite uncomfortable situations. Even now, my mother and I in particular are stopped every time we pass security. Every 9/11, I await the never-ending jokes about how Islam is the motivation behind the attack. How my people are terrorists. How every Middle Eastern was directly involved in the attack. Even years after 9/11, the comments do not stop. It also did not help that my younger brother was born on the same day, his teachers end up thinking he is trying to cause a disturbance in class when announcing his birthday. A few years ago, my family and I went to take passport photos at Costco so we could visit Iran. It was the first instance where I had to wear a hijab in public since Iranian documents required us to wear one for any legal photos. I had never been stared at so much in my entire life. My family was met with weird looks, some even glaring at us. The walk to the photo center felt like it lasted an eternity. As a child, I never expected I would experience racism in any way, shape, or form. This was America, after all: my family traveled here to start a new life. Unfortunately, racist remarks towards my people are tossed around like their words have no meaning. I will not deny the privilege that my lighter skin holds. However, I will not deny the fact that my family has been direct targets of racism and prejudiced intentions.
Naim A.,
San Francisco, CA.
These are the words I hear every time I go to the airport. Being Arab-American, I always face discrimination whether it’s from peers or random people on the street or social media but never let it get to me. The airport is the one place that always seems to get to me because I always get singled out for a “necessary random search” that takes a lot of time. It’s become such hassle that when we fly somewhere, we show up to the airport at least 4 hours early to be on the safe side and not get held back.
Yuko Taniguchi,
Rochester, MN
When I am in a line with my white husband at the grocery store, hotel check-in, or flight check-in, etc, I am approached by a staff with “Can I help you?” “No thanks, I’m with him,” I say. My husband also gets approached when I go through the line first. He says “No thanks, I’m with her.” It reveals how people unconsciously hold the image of a married couple in Minnesota. We are constantly reminded that people don’t notice that we are together.
Ashlyn Herd
Denver, CO
In 2012, the top choirs at Denver School of the Arts took a trip to Boston, because we had been accepted to perform in prestigious settings such as Berkley College of Music, Boston Conservatory, New England Conservatory, and Harvard. In Bellissima (our 33 member, 9th and 10th grade all women’s choir), we were mostly composed of young women who were white. We went through airport security as a group. By the time all of us were through, my choir director had to stay back while 4 of our members were chosen for further questioning. Despite nothing suspicious having come up on the scanners for any of them, they were they only four of the young ladies who were African-American in our choir. This occurred in DIA (Denver International Airport), which depicts pictures of equality in paintings along its walls. A few years earlier, it even opened up a section specifically designed to celebrate the Native American culture. How can we say that we are a society of equality when the basic rights of African Americans are still questioned?
Sarah Day,
Waynesboro, VA
I have an adopted child and a biological child. My son looks Hispanic, Arabic, you choose. I fear for him, have seen him pulled out of line at airports for scrutiny I have never faced. Some say he has advantages but I see no evidence of that anywhere. The world, while evolving is still an unwelcome place for so many. Fear drives this.
Krystal Scott
Bayoone, NJ
This is the answer to the question I am asked weekly. I was asked this question as a child often. However now that I am a mother of two girls one who has lighter skin then I and one who is darker we are asked all the time. In the grocery store, at the park, in the airport by TSA. Why do you Care?
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