Union City Archives - The Race Card Project

Hispanic but also white I think

March 5, 2024 American, CA, don't speak Spanish, El Salvador, fluent, Hispanic, identify, proud, Speak English, Union City, white

Claysi Arevalo-Garrido,
Union City, CA

This is my race card because I never truly know how to identify myself. My parents are from El Salvador but I was born and raised here in California. I sometimes get embarrassed because I am not fluent in Spanish and it seems to come as a shock to many Hispanic people. But I seem to also get embarrassed saying that I am white but truly I am. I wasn’t raised with the Hispanic culture. My mother believed that since we are in the United States we must speak English and do things the way Americans would. This has always been my struggle and something to this day I continue to struggle with. I am proud of where my mother is from and proud of where I am from but I can’t seem to mix the two evenly.

You’re the African American of Indians.

October 5, 2021October 5, 2021 African American, CA, ethnicity, Fijian, Hawaii, Indians, Nikolette Joseph, Pacific Islander, Union City

Nikolette Joseph
Union City, CA

People always ask me what is my ethnicity. I respond saying Fijian and they look at me like what the heck is that. I explain to them that its an small island next to Hawaii. ”Ohhh okay” as they say. The Fiji water , that’s where you come from? So “you’re the African American of Indians? Yes I say the “Fiji water” is where I come from. I am not the African American of Indians. I’m Fijian if you don’t know what that is then call me Pacific Islander . They said they always thought I was Indian and Black. I didn’t like being called Indian or Black because that wasn’t who I am. I don’t mind being called Pacific Islander. Fijian is not a known ethnicity but being called ” the African American of Indians” is something I get offended by.

Please Doctor King, do it peacefully.

September 30, 2021October 5, 2021 AARP, CSAC, Dr. King, Minority, NJ, peace, Sister Kathleen Reilly, teacher, UAC, Union City

Sister Kathleen Reilly, UAC, CSAC
Union City, NJ

The above summarizes my main prayer when the movement for racial equality got started. I think of myself as more a part of it now than I was then as I am now teaching in a predominantly minority high school. A large percentage of the young men and women I teach will be the first in their families to attend college. The publicly stated goal of my school is to get them prepared for, admitted to and graduated from college. Thanks for this opportunity. Now I’m going out to buy your book. By the way, I heard of your project in the AARP magazine.

Wow you speak english very well!

June 9, 2021 MadelCarmen Gonzalez, NJ, Union City

MadelCarmen Gonzalez,
Union City, NJ

I’m African American; With No Kids.

July 5, 2020July 5, 2020 African American, Aniaka McCowan, CA, judge a book by its cover, kids, stereotype, Union City, young mother

Aniaka McCowan,
Union City, CA.

Everyone one always says “oh my god you have a kid” Just because I hold a child doesn’t mean I’m a young mother. A caucasian women asked me why I ruined my life having a bastard child you probably don’t even know the father. I simply said why do you think that I have a kid and if I did I would know the father have a blessed day. You should never judge a book by its cover.

Reading actually helps quell racist thoughts.

December 1, 2014December 1, 2014 CA, destruction, Ferguson Card, hate, Jules Jeung, Michael Brown, minorities, negative, Oakland, quell, racist thoughts, reading, Union City

Jules Jeung,
Union City, CA.

At this very moment, as I write this, destruction is going on in Oakland due to the decision of the grand jury in the Michael Brown/Ferguson case. I grew-up in Oakland.

I hate having negative thoughts about another race and their experience in this country. I hate feeling like a racist. But sometimes those thoughts just crop up out of anger, frustration, and misunderstanding. Coming to this site helped me get my thinking back on track tonight. I know there are many people who feel like me—they see, hear and experience things that make them think negatively about another race, but really, truly do not want to feel that way or think that way. Let me tell you, reading really helps. There are some great sites and great blogs where you can read some brilliant and eloquent discourse about racism and the experiences of minorities in America. It really, really helps.

I don’t know any other way!

April 24, 2014 Affirmative Action, Crutch, Dan Angel Dufresne, excuse, NJ, Union City

Dan Angel Dufresne
Union City, NJ

I feel that sometimes people use race as a crutch to act a certain way, and do certain things. People claim ignorance, come up with excuses and have a lot of pressure put on them. As long as we have things like affirmative action there will always be disparities between races.