urban Archives - The Race Card Project

Celtic mutt…happens to be white.

June 30, 2022June 30, 2022 adopted, bias, Canada, Celtic, center, conversation, culture, diversity, intolerant, Jenn Jackson, mutt, navigation, other, predominantly White, racial backgroud, retrospect, urban, white

Jenn Jackson,
Canada.

I grew up in surroundings that were predominantly white, wanting to learn more about other cultures. I moved to an urban center and felt myself stuck; clumsy in the navigation of culturally diverse waters: focusing on differences, as opposed to similarities. It’s taken a long time, a lot of diversity training and many experiences that make me put my face in my hands and shake my head in retrospect. I will, no doubt, add a few more such experiences before the end of my life and welcome the learning that comes along with it. I suppose the thing that I hits me most acutely are the people who were party to some of these conversations, and still accepted me after the fact, recognizing that I was not being intentionally bias or intolerant…just human, flawed and deserving of another opportunity to see each other for more than our differing racial backgrounds.

The definition of urban isn’t ghetto

March 14, 2019March 14, 2019 definition, ghetto, Katie Peter, Minneapolis, MN, urban

Katie Peter
Minneapolis, MN

Not black enough to be black

February 7, 2018February 7, 2018 acting white, Black, black enough, CA, CBU HIS311, Christina Gibbs, church, clothing, La Habra, Orange County, Sunday School, token, urban

Christina Gibbs,
La Habra, CA.

Growing up in Orange County all of my life, I grew up around mostly White, Asian, and Mexican people. I was always the token black person in schools throughout life and in my friend groups. The only only times I was around more than a few black people was when I was around my family or when I was at church. Growing up, my experience at church wasn’t the best with the kids in children’s church or my Sunday school classes. The kids at my prominently black Baptist church in West Covina CA, (we had to go out of OC for church because there aren’t really black Baptist churches in Orange County), would constantly make fun of the way I talk and call me a white girl or tell me to “stop acting white” and would make fun of my clothing because I choose to wear beach-styled clothes rather than typical urban-street brands that the majority of blacks that I knew wore during that time. It was really hard for me and made me feel uncomfortable when I was around the kids at church which is suppose to be the place everyone should feel the most comfortable at and it is meant to be the least non-judgmental place because we are all there for one purpose. Sadly, this wasn’t the case growing up “not black enough to be black”

CBU HIS311

White flight child knows no brOTHERs

January 14, 2018January 14, 2019 50's, brother, Danville, IN, Jeffrey Kingdon, other, urban, white flight

Jeffrey Kingdon
Danville, IN

Whether my 50’s era parents chose their life in the suburbs due to racial considerations or were simply following the trend to find affordable post war housing, the effect was the same. The west suburban central Indiana communities were largely small farming towns rapidly on their way to becoming bedroom sprawl to their larger urban neighbor. These communities were almost homogenously white. Growing up there, I knew no one of another race. And how did this affect my life? Well, I didn’t think too much about it. As a child, adolescent & young adult it seemed normal. My schools were white. I chose to go to a small college, Presbyterian & predominantly white. When it came time ultimately to find a place to raise our family, we moved home … to west suburban Indianapolis.. still white after all these years. However, primarily through the work world, I began to “come to” and realize that my white world wasn’t the only reality. I find myself today sometimes saddened by not knowing the “other.” This breeds fear & distrust when there need not be any. We have not enjoyed each other’s company or shared different food, or taken part in varied family & cultural traditions. In very tangible ways we have missed out by holding ourselves apart. Why? It didn’t seem consciously done, we just gravitate to what we know, what feels normal & comfortable in making life’s choices.

Our kids however are making different choices. Both live in large urban centers. They engage this life with their spouses and enjoy it completely. They have opportunity to live side by side with every ethnicity, gay or straight, young or old. How did this happen? I do not know. There lives will be more complete, richer. Good for them and good for all of us.

Porch-people loud Cabin-dwellers hushed

November 3, 2015November 3, 2015 Aptos Hills, CA, cabin dweller, first experience, Kev Manning, Neighbors, porch people, urban

Kev Manning,
Aptos Hills, CA.

My experience has been– culturally, people with more southern (rural?) roots tend to be porch people (and employ languish-avoiding strategies), making them more outgoing, boisterous, and apt to loud outdoor partying, while feeling sorry for their quiet (near death?) neighbors; ….at the same time, people with more northern (urban?) roots tend to be cabin folks (and employ cabin-fever strategies), making them more introspective, quiet, and apt to sedate indoor gatherings, while feeling abused by their loud (obnoxious?) neighbors. To me, it’s a matter of cultural norms and not race, at all.. We simply misinterpret the intentions behind behavior different from what we became used to, when growing up …. often prompted by these differing contexts. So, living next door to each other can become a real challenge for both households – with suspicions easily manufactured and indulged. It was freeing for me to realize this when confronted with the exact situation. It made me laugh– how easily we can make the wrong assumptions and deprive ourselves of enjoying what would – otherwise be – wonderful neighbors! Which, we became … for each other. I have many happy memories of the times we, ultimately shared, together.

A lifetime of challenge, determination, triumph.

September 24, 2014 1950's, Betty J Byrom Sanford, challenge, determination, education, Lansing, Michigan, reparation, rural, students, triumph, urban, USA

Betty J Byrom Sanford,
Lansing, MI.

I am a child of the 50’s and know full well why we ask for reparation. While I have been recognized through my work which has brought national recognition to Michigan State University, I remain forever mindful of the educational deficits that left holes in my education that will never close. It’s agonizing to see that there are urban and rural students who have the same educational experiences that I had in K-12 during the 40’s and 50’s. This is one of the glaring reasons why the dream is yet to be realized. Thanks for allowing for this expression.

I’m urban anglo not suburban white

July 8, 2014 Anglo, Brooklyn, English, NY, southwest, Spanish, speak, suburban, urban, white

Leslie
Brooklyn, NY

From the southwest. Speak English and Spanish.

I am more than my name

January 9, 2014May 5, 2015 black girl, education, Kelly Grayson, more than a name, name, Tukwila, urban, WA

Kelly Grayson,
Tukwila, WA.

I recall my years of education, all my teachers would call my name and then overlook my hand when I raised it. Repeatedly, they would call me until I said, “I’m right here.” Shocked to see a Black girl with my name (Kelly Grayson), they would treat me more differently than the other students in my class, as if I had been inducted into the some sort of ‘White’ Hall of Fame. Growing up in an urban setting, can you imagine the conflict that caused?! Well, now that I’m an adult, there’s really not been any change. I introduce myself and you should see the looks of wonder I get…all I can say is, my parents were intentional when they named me. It has at times both helped and hurt me…

Racism is stupid; don’t be stupid.

June 15, 2013June 15, 2013 district, FL, Jacksonville Beach, Patrick Nolan, racism, school, students, stupid, teacher, urban

Patrick Nolan
Jacksonville Beach, FL

As an educator having taught in urban school districts for more than twenty-seven years I have had the pleasure of teaching students from numerous cultural and ethnic backgrounds: We’re all one race–Human–and the variety we present is astonishing and awesome. My students have taught me that external factors have nothing to do with the quality of the person inside, and for that I eternally grateful.