The Race Card Project
By Michele Norris
Elizabeth Stuart,
Perkasie, PA
I heard your story on WHYY, and wished I could participate. I’m so glad I got that chance! I’ve been thinking and saying this for years…in only six words. I just wish everyone could understand this.
Pat Grauer,
DeWitt, MI.
We are the comma. We are the now. We are the small point between great ancient forces and a future of positive change in human relationships.
Cash’e Chapman,
Philadelphia, PA.
Kelly White,
Frisco, TX
I am a white woman who people mistake as conservative. A simple way for me to think about the race issues in the US today (and, I know, things are not simple) relate to “we” or “me” thinking. “We” thinkers know we are all connected, and that the strength is to accept and help each other, even though we may be different. “Me” thinkers put themselves first, and are threatened by losing power and privilege, so they resist change and look for excuses not to accept those who are different from themselves (protesters, people who break the law, etc.). I’d rather live in a “We” community and nation, where everyone feels heard, valued and supported. We have a long way to go, and am hopeful we will get there.
Kelly O’Brien,
Carmel Valley, CA.
Muhammad Ali used to say that this is the shortest poem in the world… He stood at the microphone and turn both hands first to himself, and he’d say “Me”. Then he reverse his gesture toward the audience and say “We”. I’ve always loved this incredibly astute and simple act of his.
That’s my grandson, Liam, in the picture, by the way.
Brent Vuglar,
Houghton, MI.
Just like any controversial subject where people do not see eye to eye, people tend to be close-minded to others opinions. This development of tension plants a seed of anger to one another. I myself grew up in a not so very diverse suburb, and when I was younger I believed that everyone was given an equal opportunity to achieve the mythical “American Dream”. Now we are set in a place where entitlement and inheritance are placed on a higher pedestal than, hard work and respect of one another.
Rather than acknowledging race as being a bad thing and comparing differences, we need to individually go out and be accepting. The fact of the matter is there are good and bad people in every culture and community. The sad fact is we cannot change every persons opinions, but the more people that accept that EVERYONE is different and that we cannot change biology, acceptance naturally follows. It is not one voice that creates change, it is an orchestra of them.
Armando Reyes,
TX.
I was born in Texas. 5 generations of my family were born in Texas. Before Texas was part of the US. I can’t go back to where “we” came from. I’m already here.
Richard Coccaro PhD. Clinical Psychologist
Mountain View, CA
I am first generation Italian. As a boy my father told me, “What a man has in his heart, is all that counts.”
I have conducted racial healing groups and we explored our prejudices. It is important to know our
prejudices so that we can prevent our behavior from hurting others. Our society teaches us prejudices
in the way different groups are depicted in the media. Note the way Italians are depicted as criminals
even when the ethnicity of the criminal is not important to the plot.
Sydney,
OH
Assuming who I am based on what I look like will keep you from moving forward. Don’t judge me and I won’t judge you. We are all smarter than that.
Gwen Montgomery,
Dallas, TX.
This country took a race of people and turned them into second class citizen. Many of our problems are a result of the oppression we went thru for hundreds of years. I’m afraid that the results of those actions may never be changed. We have been fighting every since we got here. Even a Black President can’t get respect.
Anonymous,
Milwaukee, WI.
After writing/blogging about race for over 15 years at Blackfriendonline.com there is only 1 thing I’ve learned. We all want and fear the same things, hurt to us and those we love and also failure.
Raul Medina,
Submitted via Twitter: @raulmedina
#theracecardproject
Lane Ikenberry,
Submitted via Twitter: @LaunchSprocket
@michele_norris @NPR @IamDonCheadle
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