Race: Perspectives

An SLCC Community Writing Center Community Anthology Race: Perspectives is published by the SLCC Community Writing Center All inquiries should be directed to: SLCC Community Writing Center Director 210 East 400 South, Suite 8, Salt Lake City, UT 84111

Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) and the SLCC Community Writing Center (CWC) are not responsible for the opinions expressed in Race: Perspectives, nor does the writing represent any official position at SLCC or the CWC. Individual authors are solely responsible for the opinions expressed herein.

Each author retains copyright individually. Reprinting of this publication is permitted only with prior consultation and approval from the SLCC Community Writing Center.

Race: Perspectives was compiled and edited by Megan Robertson Cover Art created by John Paul Brantly

Race: Perspectives ISBN 978-0-9887367-1-9 © 2014

Introduction

Everyone Can Write!

Conversations—honest conversations—about race, ethnicity, and cultural identity can be difficult to have: political correctness can be a concern, others aren’t sure how they feel about race, and some may have strong feelings but fear offending. Words can have an impact, but so can silence. Based on the Michelle Norris’ national project, the Utah Race Card Project instigates candid dialogue about race, ethnicity, and cultural identity by asking people to write one sentence of only six words on the subject. From those six words, community participants have written longer pieces of either poetry, nonfiction or fiction genres exploring their own thoughts, feelings or experiences with race, ethnicity and cultural identity. It is these voices that make up the Race: Perspectives community writing anthology. The SLCC Community Writing Center (CWC), in collaboration with The Grand Theatre, Utah Humanities Council, Salt Lake Arts Council and many other community partners, has expanded the idea of the Race Card Project with not only this anthology, but with various community Race Card walls, panel discussions and lectures, and multiple exhibits throughout the Salt Lake Valley. The Utah Race Card project plans to continue the community dialogue on race, ethnicty and cultural identity. For more information about upcoming events or how you might share your voice or get involved, call the SLCC Communinty Writing Center at 801.957.2192. Community Partners

Salt Lake Community College’s School of Humanities and Social Sciences Utah Humanities Council Salt Lake Arts Council SLCC Arts and Cultural Events SLCC Grand Theatre Salt Lake City Public Library SLCC Student Writing Center Mestizo Cafe Utah Cultural Celebration Center YWCA

Race: Perspectives

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the writers and participants of the Utah Race Card project and Race: Perspectives anthology. Without their voices, the dialogue would not exist in as rich or thought-provoi- king a fashion.

We would also like to thank our sponsors of the Utah Race Card project and Race: Perspectives: SLCC School of Social Human- ities and Social Sciences, Utah Humanities Council, Salt Lake Arts Council, and SLCC Arts & Cultural Events.

Our gratitude also goes to those organizations who offered space for Race Card walls and artistic exhibits, including Salt Lake Arts Council, the Salt Lake City Public Library, Salt Lake Community College and other community partners.

Also, thank you to Andrea Malouf and Elisa Stone for their support and advice. And thanks to everyone at the SLCC Com- munity Writing Center for feedback and editing assistance: Paul Brantly, Keaton Butler, Shauna Edson, Nkenna Onwuzuruoha, Sandra Salazar-Hernandez, and Brandon Schembri.

Special thanks to Paul Brantly for designing the cover art, and Keaton Butler and Sandra Salazar-Hernandez for assisting in collecting and organizing submissions.

We would also like to express our gratitude to the Literacy Ac- tion Center, the Homeless Youth Resource Center, YWCA, the Road Home, University Neighborhood Partners, Mestizo Cafe, Utah Cultural Celebration Center, Salt Lake Community Col- lege, the University of Utah, Westminster College, and Brigham Young University for inviting us to share the Race Card Project with their administration, staff and community. Table of Contents

Preface xiii Culture is Colorblind and It Changes Sara Palomino 1 Releasing Monsters Doug Woodall 2 Take A Lesson From The Dead Bailey James 5 I Want to be Japanese, too! Linda Waters 6 Welcome Back Students Caz Ondra 8 DADDY, PEOPLE DON’ T HAVE Jim Kelley 11 ANY COLOR ! Changes Gabriel Omar Laurel 13 People Should Be Treated the Same Alex Obradovich 14 Doctor Derp and His Evil Minions Nick Obradovich 16 When The Jews Came To Utah David E. Moore 17 He Never Called Me A Jap Linda Waters 19 Race is a Narrative Still Unfolding. Zendina Mostert 22 Sick of Being Silenced by Guilt Kaya Hartley 23 Everybody Has an Opinion That Matters Julie Liljenquist 24 Meanings of Race That Matter Gary Howard 25 Race is Only So Deep Jesse Lovato 27 What Color is Underneath the Skin? Nicole Brown 28 Let’s Become Blind and Love Everyone Nelly Victoria Potenciano-Cortez 29 Interracial Marriage Noosha Shahini 31 A Wave of Love Overflows Everyone Nick Obradovich 35 Old Habits Do Not Change Overnight Nicole Brown 36 A Perception of Race Carina Yesenia Aguilar 38 So I Am an ALIEN, Apparently Repeka Touli 39 When Pressed Against the Iron Gate Jaren K. Johnson 41 Don’t Judge Her Because She is Different Ellen Peterson 44 Selfish Learning Daniel Yocom 45 Feeling Guilty to Be White Benjamin Young 47 Prejudice is Nothing More Than Ali Rahimi 49 Bitterness Racism Is Just Fucking Bullshit, Period Kendall Swenson 50 Are You Sure You Belong Here? Joseph Gallegos 51 Racism Knows No Boundaries Deborah Young 54 Oppression Matters: Trying to Make the Josh Gold 55 Invisible Visible, part 1 The Best Neighbor He Ever Had David E. Moore 59 Discrimination or Mismanagement? Armando Gonzalez-Escobar 61 Gaining True Knowledge Through My Rodney Gehlen 62 Experiences! On Race, On Folly, On Life! Linda Waters 64 Racism Builds Strength. Strength Equals Kendall Swenson 66 Empowerment. Colored Skin Does Not Define Within Emily Beck 67 Race is What Defines My Triumph Anonymous 69 Roadblocks to Employment and Other Joe Woodward 71 Opportunities Six Words on Racism Scot A. Briggs 73 I Thought You Were the Babysitter Repeka Touli 74 Grandad Mitchell J. Baca 75 James Bond and My Unexpected Grades Nathan Cole 79 I Will Always Win the Race Katelyn Prawitt 80 Untitled Denise Amber Pineda 81 Sprouting Hope for a Kinder World Linda Waters 83 My Street Life Opened My Eyes Mason E. Gramly 85 Let the World Grow More Peace Misha Busch 86 The Changing Nature of Racism Since Archie Archuleta 87 MLK

Race: Perspectives

An SLCC Community Writing Center Community Anthology

Preface

“All writing depends upon the generosity of the reader.” This quote, penned by author Alberto Manguel in A History of Reading, reveals the essence of reading and writing: the text and the reader animate each other. A generous reader will dance with a text—following every turn— appreciating the rhythm, pace, and flow. A hostile reader takes the lead— pushing and pulling when the text doesn’t perform as expected—forcing it to conform to a preconceived expectation. As you read this anthology, challenge your expectations. Each turn of the page will surprise you. Consider it a conversation, between friends, family, neighbors and total strangers, on a topic people tend to avoid. A generous reader has an active role in the discourse: to appreciate the diversity; to acknowledge each piece of writing as an opportunity to view the world through a different lens. Each writer has an intimate relationship with their own opinions and the unique experiences that inform them, as does every reader. This presents an unusual situation, because candid discourse about race tends to take place between people who look like each other, talk like each other and share similar backgrounds. This ensures that individual and social perspectives—the­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ comfortable space from which we view the world and everyone in it—are never questioned; however, productive discourse about race requires a willingness to question perspective, no matter how frightening and awkward that may be. Dancing with a text that challenges your worldview may be clumsy at times, but each false step presents an opportunity to learn and grow. A single perspective is much too small an area to perform this dance with any pizazz. Learning these steps requires space, patience and humility. Embrace the challenge; revel in every twist, even when it’s dizzying, to find an understanding and a true appreciation of the diverse people and opinions that build a community.

Race: Perspectives 1 Parece como si la gente de se olvida Parece que la cultura es un sistema dinámico y que se transformaadaptativo de acuerdo a las cambiantes realidades de este mundo, un proceso que no requiere que seas de una raza o color determinado para participar. It seems as though people forgetIt seems as that system that adaptive culture is a dynamic transforms itself according to the ever- realities ofchanging a process this world, are of whether you that does not ask you a certain to participate. color/race This Sara Palomino Sara cambia. it changes. Culture is Colorblind and It Changes and Colorblind is Culture PROJECT PROJECT Este es un experimento que va más allá del color de su piel. Este más allá del color de su piel. Este es un experimento que va la el amor de sus padres, experimento es sobre: tu sentido de identidad, acciones, amistades, tu barrio, primera canción que aprendiste a cantar, y sueños compartidosvalores quien sigues en twitter. y por supuesto a piel, por el con nuestra No mostramos lealtad a los Estados Unidos mostramos lealtad y nos unimos como Estadounidenses contrario, creencia compartida la por nuestra en el “Sueño Americano”. Así que, y un poco Cherokee, que es ¼ Filipino a un newyorkrican próxima veas nación. él o ella es el futuro de nuestra sonríe porque is an experiment that goesis an experiment that the color of beyond about skin; it’s your of the love you learned the first song how parents, self-identity, your and shares valued friendship/communion, neighborhood, to sing, your loyalty do not show of and dreams, We in twitter. follow course who you allegiance and are show we skins; on the contrary, to America with our belief our shared by united as Americans Dream.” on the “American that is ¼ Filipino and a see a Newyorkrican the next time you Thereby, the future of smile because he/she is little bit Cherokee, our nation. Culture is colorblind and Culture is colorblind La cultura es daltónica y THE THE RACE CARD RACE CARD Race: Perspectives 2 RACE CARD What monstersarebeing THE companion hemanwas disliked. slightly The crippled. Ibelieve he had Istill remember is Stapley hada in 1914when one he story was 18.The really were andhow we thought. one exception who seemed to know who we, mostly 19-year-old males, exalted ideals. Not Stapley. andspoke He wasused lofty of language the churchfrom to come speak to us. headquarters Most were dourmen who apostles andseventies crossed the street Mission Home, asmallnumber of at the aproselyting mission.While to New Zealand to serve to going training prior Temple Street inSalt Lake, andIwas there forone week of when place Iwas was 19.The the Salt Lake City MissionHome onNorth being created today. before 1978.Also,and Mormon they made me wonder what monsters are what it was like to be black two instances reminded me Ihadaglimpse of President Barack Obama.These at the least andher hate at the most of her fear one more time. was when Iheard This anelderly woman talk of 2010,Isaw the monster Romney. wasgovernor George Inthe summer of L.Stapley, apostle was The Elder Delbert Michigan. andthe of governor the church to the was racist letter written shownby anapostle of aflagrant to hate.became fearful. Some learned people. Others it. Asinmy case, the monster swath bypassed of alarge a monster. Once the monster was released, the church hadnocontrol over isjust talking about why Godcreated different skincolors released belief church.from But inthe last decade, I’ve my changed mind.My current my foreveryone life, Iknew Ithought this was true racist. For most of with the change, butIcan say my religious upbringingdidn’t make me a removed the curse andblack men could have the priesthood. Iwas happy the church, saidhe received arevelation where Godsaidhe’dprophet of in1978when President Spencer Kimball,the race. started change The blacks to the priesthood. God by earlier generations. Another reason isthe church refused to ordain disobedience to is we were told darkskinisacurse brought onbecause of created today? PROJECT Stapley told us he served in the Southern States Mission. He went out inthe Southern Stapley told ushe served the church to know Stapley slightly better than most members of I got I first saw what the monster didabout seven years ago.This was when I For manyyears, the LDSchurch hastamped down its teachings about Releasing Monsters Doug Woodall the audience hadto be friendly. Onereason Also, lesson, orsermon. full-length article, but it couldn’tsubject was important, be a used innewspapers andmagazines. The taught about it the same way sidebars are topic.colors was animportant We were different skin up,growing the originof I was Iwas raised inthe LDSfaith. When Race: Perspectives 3 of laughed. laughed. “He says he’s says he’s teachings.” Joseph Smith’s concerned about concerned main reason is it main reason is it Romney’s position Romney’s position on civil rights. The on civil rights. The doesn’t square with doesn’t square with Starting the visited Stapley day the David for President speak cannot he He says respectfully. writes Stapley old, 84 years Obama was about disparagingly spoke who The woman presidential the said about woman the night,” election last “On the me tell to her I asked cry, to her caused what decide I couldn’t Because of said, “one she think,” Office.” “To Oval in the is sitting people those one leg that was shorter than the other. Also, they often went from one went often they Also, shorter was that leg one other. the than When companion his tracks. railroad on the walking by next the to place this At walked. he way the imitating by followed Stapley lead, in the was lectern from the us in show to stepped Stapley away in his speech, point all an exaggerated did. We he what way and mocking Stapley told us more of us more told Stapley sum and the his antics, him. us love made his stories him. Then I treasured I Mission Home, to wrote he letter the to introduced was is typed, His letter Romney. Governor on church his secretary, probably by At 23, 1964. The is January date stationary. Congress legislation debating time, the was of Act Rights Civil the became that 1964. was Stapley legislation; the for was Romney opposed. of prophet the McKay, He for himself. do is speak All he can church. the The main rights. on civil position concerned Romney’s about he’s says juncture, this At teachings. Smith’s Joseph with square doesn’t is it reason and page of titles the numbers gives Stapley Romney books where two is book first The blacks. about words own prophet’s first the read can ofTeachings pages Smith, Fielding Joseph by Smith Joseph Prophet the is History second 269 and 270; and the of Smith Joseph where Church the pages 440. Stapley’s 436 to editor, is the Roberts and B.H. author is the for “the who worked presidents U.S. three last the is about thought next by continues He demise.” their by “I am sobered says, He Negro cause.” story the telling of a McKay was believed LDS but wasn’t who a friend ofprophet a great of “was he champion says God. Stapley colored the The message of drowning.” very had a and “he by end tragic race,” what is clear: friend and the presidents those the to happened destroy God will is the letter in the statement worst the me, against For his will. work who of or race class any force right to is not “It following: upon those people of when happier are People classification. or race order social a different of and association environment in the placed instinct, racial interests, like groupings.” natural and habits, on writing I taught in a class was 2010. She in August her and I met write to wanted who senior citizens were students my All personal essays. The Contest. was theme Aging Services County Lake for Salt Pen Silver was world the how about write to asked were Contestants “Then & Now.” is today. it and how past in their a time at ofelection of most “I cried in class, me 2008 to night.” the more. She took a few seconds to ponder and then added, “That’s not something I can write about, is it?” “No, you cannot,” I said sternly. “I know,” she said, “but I remember a time when a black man couldn’t walk across the campus at BYU.” “Thank goodness times have changed,” I said and went back to teaching. I have a dim memory of what it was like before 1978. One reason is in June it’ll be 36 years since Kimball said God spoke to him and another reason is all my lessons about race were academic. My world was filled with white-and brown-skinned people. Except for two brief times, no blacks went to my schools or lived near my house. Then New Zealand didn’t have many blacks. That’s where I was living in 1978. I recall one of the big stories on the news and in the newspapers in June that year was about Raymond Clinton Phillips, 16 years old, of Wellington. He was born in Montreal, Canada, to a white mother and black father, and he was the first black person in New Zealand to be ordained to the priesthood. Because he was a student at the LDS church’s boarding school in Hamilton, I can only wonder what it was like for him. All the male students at his school were ordained deacons at age 12, teachers at age 14, and priests at age 16. For four years and through no fault or transgression of his own, Raymond was left out. I am grateful the race monster my church released didn’t catch me. When I first read Stapley’s letter, I lost a person I was fond of and to some degree admired. Then I still have a difficult time believing a prim and proper elderly woman could ever say, “To think, one of those people is sitting in the Oval Office.” Before that day, I had no clue there was a time when a black man couldn’t walk across the campus of Brigham Young

Race: Perspectives 4 Perspectives Race: University. Then I wonder what Phillips must have felt when he saw young men no better than himself be given offices and privileges he couldn’t have. When he was born, the church said one drop of African blood was enough to exclude a man from the priesthood. The sum of Stapley, the 84-year-old woman in my class, and Phillips makes me wonder what monsters are being released today. One instantly comes to my mind. As in the case of blacks, the LDS faith says it knows the origin of LGBTQ people and they are not entitled to equal rights. Their attacks are relentless. They even have the gall to say the First Amendment gives religion more rights than the individual. Never mind the first words of the Constitution, which were there before any amendment, are, “We the People.” This new monster has caught a large number of people. Their fear and hate might last their entire life. They might pass it on to the next generation. All I can say is heaven save us from all monsters that spread fear and hate.

Doug Woodall is a longtime volunteer for SLCC’s Community Writing Center. Currently he’s one of the mentors for Gay Writes, a DiverCity Series writing group. Doug is active in Toastmasters International. He’s won multiple speech contests, and is close to finishing his Advanced Communicator Gold designation. For more than two decades, Doug has worked in a number of positions for three different property and casualty insurance companies. Doug has traveled extensively. His favorite place in the world is New Zealand. When it comes to hobbies, Doug says, “I’ve lived my entire life outdoors.” When he has to be indoors, he likes to read, write, and challenge his math skills. Race: Perspectives 5 Listen. Listen. Listen. Listen. Listen. Listen! Bailey James Bailey Take a lesson from the dead, Take Dragged of the chains hostility. A land that was once declared free, once declared free, A land that was Pain and hatred destroyed each one, one, each and hatred destroyed Pain stained red fields burned like hot coals. stained red fields burned hot coals. like This disunity of men is more than done. Fifty thousand men baring their souls, These baring their souls, Fifty thousand men Smoke and lead pouring through their bodies, and lead pouring through their bodies, Smoke Boys too young to see past physical inequalities. inequalities. to see past physical too young Boys Take A Lesson From The Dead The From A Lesson Take Dead. Love one another before YOU fall into the same rotting bed. YOU one another before Love PROJECTPROJECT ake A Lesson From The ake A Lesson From T THETHE RACE CARDRACE CARD Race: Perspectives 6 RACE CARD THE I wanttobeJapanese, I’d beenteased for my squintyblueeyes forsolong. hereyescaught mequiteby surprise. shapeof The Her facewas smile. dressedinagentle bright redsticks holdingitinplace. Her ebonyhairpulledback inaperfectbun, She was beautiful, willowy like thetrees. knocked onmy doorwithhismother. On my next birthday, ayoung boy, Steven, my head,pretendednottonotice. Iturned Not wanting toberude, theyard? wasWho this, why was hesittinginthecenterof figure,I passedby concrete, acarved just my height. One day hemotioned, inviting metoseehisfish. or reaching highatopaladder, picking apricots. hunched over histidyKoi pond, I mightseethesmallman peeked intotheirbackyard, walkway, Iwandered upthepruned If looking forsomeonetosay “hi”to. I walked by each day Same silver-green busheswe had,theirswere pretty. yardswere neat,bushesnicelyshaped. Their like theotherneighborsdid. never droppinginunexpected, never buttingintoourdailylives, familieswere different,neverThe loud, even toafive yearold. seemedespeciallynice,They politeandkind, Yoshidas,The andMiradaswere exceptionally quiet. livedThey down thestreet,andaroundblock. PROJECT too! I Want tobeJapanese, too! Linda Waters Race: Perspectives 7 healthier place for all generations to come. all generations healthier place for After 28 years with AT&T, and raising two daughters, Linda Waters pursued her heart’s passion pursued her heart’s Linda Waters daughters, two and raising with AT&T, After 28 years for promoting peace. She loves traveling extensively as a training facilitator, with an emphasis on facilitator, as a training extensively traveling She loves peace. promoting for thrive, and strives to act on their behalf, knowing it’s easier to “say” than “do”. Her hope is through than “do”. Her hope is through easier to “say” it’s knowing to act on their behalf, and strives thrive, developing human potential. Linda believes that her grandsons and children that her grandsons deserve human potential. Linda believes to everywhere developing increased awareness, hands on educational tools, and mutual support the World can be a kinder and and mutual support educational tools, hands on the World increased awareness, She placed a gift at my feet with a graceful feet with a gift at my She placed bow. in thin goldunfold, foil, a treasure to Wrapped I gasped...so grand a present! parasol! and red-swirl paper sun-yellow My own best. was certain,was I being Japanese Now I mused. you, to be just like I want I declared, ever, more than Really, too!” to be Japanese, “I want When closed. they nearly I laughed formed, perfectly were Hers so! just made them, God taught. so I was mistake, been a Mine must’ve Race: Perspectives 8 RACE CARD THE The FirstDayofyour hr eealto words Ididn’t understandasshelowered hervoice were alotof There being slave owners. siblings onthe bus, accusing themof aggressively something that actually madesense. Apparently, my studentssurrounded unnoticed inmy attempttotranslatemy sister’s frightenedramblinginto snack, to my attemptingtogo afternoon beforereturning concern thud. thehouseandshutroom tohisdoorwithaloud walk thelengthof my brother’s heavy footsteps ignored them,listeningtothesoundof from thekitchen tocalmmy where my sister. motherstood,trying I stairs,his feetwithnothingtosay, disappearing heranup theback setof lookonhisface. Lookingdown at walk directlypastuswithapissedoff bowl asIwatchedmoment, my handstillinthestrawberry my brother my momcutup formeasasnack. Ipausedforalong ate thefreshfruit stool atthekitchen asImindlessly counterwatching cartoons afternoon everyone elseuntilmy sistercamehomeinhysterics. Iwas sittingona attending thesamehighschool Inow attended,ridingthebushomelike were recenttransfersfromaprivate school inRed Springs. started They bus yearprior. atthetime. Back grade Iwas then,my in fourth siblings —like “bussing”—withoutunderstandingwhy iteven mattered. us. We lived amongthewords thatmadeourparentshotunderthecollar well we hadit;oblivious to theideathatanyone hadalifedifferentfrom us were oblivious tojusthow friends, by various sorted cliques. Mostof was justaroundthecorner. Afewdozenstudentsstoodamongtheir lives. our for afirstday impressionthat would markthenextfouryears of school; thesamemomsthatensuredwe were wearing therightclothes topicking usupfrom at-home momswhodedicatedtheirafternoons We were thelucky for having ones—oblivious stay- toourown luxury school asparentssiphoned,onecaratatime, circle. throughthecarpool the atthefrontof we alreadyhadinHonorsEnglish.Studentsgathered PROJECT I stared at the ceiling, looking in the direction of hisroomwith I staredattheceiling,looking in thedirectionof My momthoughtitwas bestformy siblingandmetostopridingthe weather hadalreadycooledslightly,The proving thataCarolinaFall Future... Welcome Students Back our new teachers and that huge assignment our newteachers andthathuge loud, talkingexcitedly withafriendabout high school. Ilaughedout my firstday of Ihadofficiallysurvived in theafternoon. freedomonlyfeltat2:48 way toasenseof I leanedintotheheavy doorandpushedmy Caz Ondra Race: Perspectives 9 So there I stood with little regard as to whether or not I would have a have little regardSo there I stood with I would as to whether or not our seemingly endless Before I could join in complaining about when a student to the side of after him, barely in sight now, I looked to the faces ofI woke me in the front knelt over three cheerleaders periodically in her explanation. All I could hear was, “They us…. called was, could hear All I explanation. in her periodically of the accused and then weren’t them we tried to tell I haters. being… understand every Although I couldn’t from here!” weren’t that! We like brother my enough to know I understood saying, was sister my word place in this here, inability to fight back his dejected by into hiding, went no longer where he was sea and the a big fish in a small lived, now we idea of into the realms display a once macho beyond reached fighting of a day once after dad say heard my something I It was life or death. of sister with had intimidated my boys where some high school school Back up for us. he stood home, Back behavior. some inappropriate someone. with the plan to kill no one came to school home, week ofbetter first my brother and sister had so here than high school I had plenty ofmany years prior. these same kids I had known friends. shopped at the We the same clothes. wore since elementary We school. from many different backgrounds came and all had one We same stores. constant competition to be top ofthing in common—the Our our class. the amount of clueless towards simple; were lives that existed hatred around us. from the far I noticed someone running the school homework, towards side of a student. I assumed he was probably He was the carpool circle. being caught behind the small, red to avoid school running towards back common knowledge that kids from across the street where it was church or share a drink. With a bowl all backgrounds to smoke skipped class cars moving dodging barely one hand, he held his pants to his waist, briefly as he jumped to the front curb of and took cut right, the school, off with little regard the front side walk for anyone faster down even who stood in his way. I book bag. bright yellow brand new, into my me stumbled backwards, I thought stabilize himself. out just slightly to help him reacted, reaching him aside as he jumped shoved runningthe mysterious student must’ve book bag, from my The step student attempted to away to the curb. the side of with one hand to stumbling still as he fell forward his head. A car horn blared, cutting through the moment as if to announce a sudden instinct of The student nearly fell into the street as his foot fear. slid off just in front of the car parked out towards He reached the curb. him. With the sudden twist of hit the ground and back he fell his ankle, A rushwith an audible crack. of clear and dark liquids streamed from the tips ofhis skull towards senses up to my caught Reality shoes. my and with little warning, I too fell to the ground. coach. the cheer My sister was they announced. awake!” “She’s lobby. feet with a slight laugh, helping me to my slowly side, She came to my joking that they thought they had lost me too. There was no need to explain. I knew what had happened. My mind pieced it together though the sharp pains of a post-adrenaline headache. I had passed out and now that I was awake, I was a witness to how the seemingly innocent Mexican boy on the curb was pronounced dead after a young, black boy rushed the front platform to punch him in his temple, using a combination lock as a makeshift pair of brass knuckles. Everything had happened in a matter of seconds. It was the first time I had seen a fight and most certainly the first time I had witnessed anyone die right in front of me. Shocked, I sat in the front office of the school holding myself as if in a blizzard. I watched as everyone moved on with their lives as if nothing had happened. To them, it seemed like a sad excuse to shuffle around more paperwork - the only noticeable difference to any other day. There would be no news coverage. To the news, it was just another day, the story wasn’t special and the high school certainly didn’t want the responsibility of bad PR. I didn’t understand. To me, it was a turning point of the reality I perceived. My innocence was captured by a brief visit to a reality that once moved past me and now, “It nearly swallowed me whole. When their was the version of the story was described to first time I me based on the accounts of other had seen a fight witnesses, all I could do was nod and most certainly in silent agreement. No one wanted to the first time I know why. The had witnessed why was already anyone die right explained and seemingly allowed by the fact that it Race: Perspectives 10 Perspectives Race: in front of happened between a me.” black student and a Mexican student. Even the authorities seemed to operate as if it had nothing to do with them and would be best to just stay out of it. None of it seemed real. I hardly believed it for myself until my sister walked me through that same heavy front door with one hand rested reassuringly on my back and then I saw the dark, reddish-purple stain of an obvious hand-print at the hood of a parked car and an already forgotten stain on the now empty platform. There was only the sound of a large, vinyl banner waving back and forth in a light, summer breeze. Distracted by the sound, I burst into tears as I read the sign as if for the first time, “Welcome Back Students! The First Day of your Future...” Race: Perspectives 11 Jim Kelley When my daughter, Pamela, was little we we little was Pamela, daughter, When my adventures. our weekly used to both enjoy call them.) We (“Bentures” as she would go the bus take for ice cream, or would out the airport. or check We’d downtown, her vocabulary on she’ll and skills work One “benture” I remember particularly well. Pam was just learning was particularlyOne “benture” I remember Pam well. ask everything, would her Dad, who knows that She seemed annoyed I thought as I discretely pointed to Oh this is just too good to pass up, If easily have I had been a more experienced parent I would I do when it out loud, the way saying think I was I don’t staring. I was sky like; the clichés know She doesn’t I am sure she can see the colors. PROJECT Have Any Color! need when she is a mom by preparing a gourmet by need when she is a mom of lunch macaroni name for it. I on a more exotic work with hot dogs and and cheese her get her mind and and watching her new words had fun giving always and seeing it filtered her the world showing I loved tongue around them. through her glacier green eyes. point to something and ask, What color is that? or she I’d her colors. and still is, Green was, point to something and tell me the color. would blue jeans are New Cars are really blue. Sky is kinda blue. her favorite. into her as I looked say I just had to hear what she would kinda black. tanned armintelligent eyes and held my against her delicate pink one, “ What color are people?” I asked Pam?” “What color are we, “ People she explained authoritatively, a dumb question. “Dad,” such are just plain.” “People any color.” have don’t “What color are they?” dark skinned couple. a nearby recognized the early symptoms of “teenagesyndrome” as she eye roll People any color!! have don’t People exasperatedly declared, “D-a-d-d-y, are just plain!” been. Where did she have understand something, but I might I don’t learn I’m the one who taught to not sort color? Not from me. by people that got us both in trouble with her for “idiot driver” her the word IfMother. learned, she got if it’s and is so loving from her Mother who accepting of – especially children. everyone I’ll bet ifblue or metallic blue or indigo. I took flesh colored paint and some with pink, some with sienna and some with burnt umber mixed But be able to describe the color for me. she would then put it on paper, on people they are just plain. Daddy, People Don’t Daddy, People Don’t THE RACE CARD DADDY, PEOPLE DON’ T HAVE ANY COLOR ! COLOR ANY HAVE T DON’ PEOPLE DADDY, Did I once know that? When did I forget it? Wouldn’t this world be a better place if we all had the wisdom of my young daughter. People don’t have any color. People are just plain. I gotta write this down before I forget it. No pencil. Repeat it several times to remember it. People don’t have any color. People are just plain. Race: Perspectives 12 Perspectives Race: Race: Perspectives 13 Changes Nothing has changed, racism still remains. changed,Nothing has racism still remains. head held up same, the streets the I walk These white people high, color is no shame. long will they oppress how need to change, going fate? Immigrants founded America’s to put a color code are you who this place, Gabriel Omar Laurel Gabriel PROJECT on this space? America the land ofon this space? America and can live the free where you the people aren’t and Brown Black grownsee what racism has to be. white man is killing all fellow Your these streets. only ones shooting in see. our growing white is all they fucking seed. They do as they please, America the home ofof and land the brave be what will never the free people to stop for my waiting day by day Living wished it could be. you things can never Its time for change, the modern slave. like day living to tell the story of to see another day, remain, will I live made, I was how and be forgotten a slave. the white man today like or get out by taken racism still remains. Nothing has changed, Nothing has changed, THE RACE CARD Race: Perspectives 14 RACE CARD People shouldbetreated THE be treatedthesame. skincolor, race, orreligion,should skin color. of Allpeople, regardless less rightsthan people withbrown hair, right?Itisjustthe samewith your hair. It wouldn’tthe colorof berighttogive peoplewithblondhair mistreating peoplebasedonskin colorislike peoplebasedon separating forcivil rights. and Separating struggle thelarger just representing thelaws.” black athletes was racismagainst The equal protectionof law; nordenytoanypersonwithinitsjurisdictionthe process of life, liberty, orproperty,any statedeprive anypersonof withoutdue the14thAmendmentwhich states, “...norshall was aviolationof had toputupwithalot. willpower. were brave very prosports and athleteswhointegrated The underitaswell,had toplay which asport must have requiredimmense hadtoliveand tauntthem.They withthat,like mostblack people, and they facedabusefromwhitepeople, whowould callthemnastynames because whitehotelowners would notletthemstay intheirhotel.Also, onthem andsometimeshadtosleep players rodeonoldbusestogames asthewhite-onlyleagues. BaseballLeague nearly asgood Negro The to arguethattheseathleteswere athleticallyinferiortothewhiteathletes. Fame. Itwould behard batting once, andwas inductedintotheHallof he hadsixAllStarteamselections, ledtheleagueinstealstwice, ledin when Jackie Robinson played hisfirstyearinprobaseball.Incareer, athletes. Also, MLBwould notallow black peopletoplay until 1945, sprint, longjump, and100by fourrelay, beatingouttheotherwhite Owens proved in100-metersprint,200-meter himwrong,winninggold white athleteswere farsuperiortothecoloredones. However, Jessie counterparts. For instance, asstatedabove, saidthattheir theNaziparty ways. arewrong,andyou willsoonfind outwhy. They white only. People have thoughtcolored peopleareinferiorinmany ones. theleagueswere Anotherexampleisbaseballandother sports PROJECT h iciiaino tebakahee n l lcso thattime theblack athletesandallblacks of discriminationof The leaguesandconditionsblack athleteshadtoplayThe inwere not Colored athletesarenodifferentinabilitythantheirwhite People ShouldBeTreated theSame the same. Alex Obradovich athletes were farsuperiortotheotherblack saidthat theirwhite and theNaziparty For example, inthe1936Olympics, Hitler theminotherways.discriminated against orhavecolored peopletoplay manysports In thepast,peoplehave notallowed Some people disagreed that blacks should be treated equally. They only have few arguments to support their stand, as most of their hate is based on decades of a sort of traditional hatred of black people. Their major argument is that the conditions were separate, but equal. This was not true, however, as the old buses of the teams, and the schools of that time show (black students received less public funding per student than white students.) Separate was true, but equal was not. As a rule, it is not right to mistreat and segregate people based on physical properties like hair or skin color. However, since the abolishment of slavery, people have segregated black people in the form of sports as well as other things. When sports were integrated, it was a major step in the battle for civil rights. In conclusion, it is not right to discriminate based on race. Race: Perspectives 15 Race: Perspectives 16 RACE CARD THE Doctor Derpandhisevil you love tospreaditaroundtheworld. andtry other canoverthrow hate. to overthrow theworld becausehehatedotherraces. Onlylove foreach again. evil minionsbecomegood love overthrows evil,andHitlercan’t wrappeopleinhateanymore. The thepeople theylove. of people left havepeople left. Those to overthrow the evil hate by thinking wrappingpeopleinhate, untilthere areonlyafewgood There’s alotof holds himdown, soHitlercancomeandwraphiminhisevilhate, too. PROJECT fHitlerever comesaroundtoyour door, rememberallthepeople If Some raceshateotherraces, like (akaHitler).Hewanted DoctorDerp Hitlercomesaround andtriestowraptheminhisevilhate,When the minions. Doctor DerpandHisEvilMinions Nick Obradovich Nick evil Derp minion. evil Derp himintoan him inhisevilhateandturns hecatches When game. someonehewraps to spreadhisevilhatearound,inadeadly Doctor Derp, (akaHitler)chases people When aminioncatchesWhen someone, he Race: Perspectives 17 I graduated from the University ofI graduated from the University Utah College of in 1977. When Medicine I was I had the good fortune applying to the “U,” and Cecil DeVries to be friends with Bill IfSamuelson. of know you guys, these Both ofwas. I lucky how know you them David E. Moore David E. When The Jews Came To Utah To Came Jews The When Utah. In 1942, a decision was made to expand the Utah College made to expand the ofIn 1942, a decision was Medicine ifAt that time, academic at a first rate medical a Jewish were you Wintrobe and Goodman, had already The afore mentioned pair, practicing Orthopedics I was A in St. George. years later, Twenty PROJECT told me that the “U” was a much better school, with a much better with a much school, better a much was told me that the “U” location. provincial its expect given national reputation would than one names: Max Wintrobe and they offered two As evidence to this “fact,” I thought published doctors. famous, exceptionally Louie Goodman, two why. and wondered Utah had these important odd that it was teachers, it make to a 4 year professional institution: from a 2 year trade school This created a and everything. with research into real medical school crisis of a legend There’s recruiting an expanded and qualified faculty. suggestswhich accomplished. this task was how a glass ceiling limiting institution on the East Coast, there was within medical departmentsadvancement regardless of your superiors WASPy nominal servingwere stuck your You qualifications. Someone in power professor. (often intellectual inferiors) as an associate got party a bright idea. A Utah raiding who, know I don’t at the “U,” to court Hopkins medical school smart, angry, young, sent to Johns was They offered the opportunity were to come academic clinicians. Jewish, ofto the backwaters Utah and become full professors and department They came in 1943 and effectively It worked. chairmen immediately. created the Utah College of Medicine as a modern school. edited and written the “Bibles” of Hematology 1942) (Wintrobe, and Pharmacology and Gilman,1943) for the nation and (Goodman I’m not exaggerating. Ask any doc from that era. probably the world: Internal Medicine in 1950, a big on to edit Harrison’s Wintrobe went ofdeal in medical education. They came to Utah with a number their when I first heard about who the others were know I didn’t colleagues. if I wondered it. Frankly, the story true; was it to be true. but I wanted retired U of came to U academic surgeon Dolowitz named David he him if I asked see me. era. “Yes” he practiced during Wintrobe’s it?” He nodded name isn’t a Jewish I said, “That’s said. “Dolowitz,” THE When the Jews Came to When the Jews RACE CARD cautiously. “Did you happen to be at Johns Hopkins before coming to Utah?” He answered “yes,” and I responded that “I’ve heard this legend.” I repeated it to him; asking whether it was true. He told me “I was one of them. Sixteen of us came. Most all stayed.” After the glass ceiling fell, Harvard, Yale, Johns Hopkins, and the rest of the East Coast elite came to Utah courting to no avail...karma. I had the good fortune to be taught by both of the “big two” professors during my four years at the medical school. I remember being assigned to review the diagnosis and treatment of a VA patient with pernicious anemia to Wintrobe. To me, and many others, he was the foremost hematologist known to man. I was rightly terrified. I read his text carefully and paraphrased it as I presented the patient. He was nice to me: he only made me squirm a little. I recall hearing a talk in church that suggested that “Right things should be done for the right reasons,” I suppose it was a cautionary principle against hypocrisy. It seems to me that a very good thing “the Jews coming to Utah” had happened—for doctors in training and a great many patients in this state. And this “very good thing” seemed to have happened for the wrong reason: Racism in the form of anti- Semitism in the East. Personally, I’ve ceased to worry about “wrong reasons” and become content when right things happen. Hell, most the time, I’m not sure why I do anything, let alone the reasons why others do things! Good things happening for any reason is good enough. This was one. Race: Perspectives 18 Perspectives Race:

I, David Earl Moore, am a retired orthopedic surgeon, father of seven children, and husband of Linda. Every Friday afternoon, I volunteer at the free Hope Clinic in Sandy. I grew up in Ogden, went to MIT to become an engineer, built parts for space ships, got a MSPH at UNC, an MD at the U, practiced orthopedics, and experienced as many of Utah’s canyons as my legs would allow. I’ve noticed that I’m getting old, but I aspire to deny it as gracefully as I can. Race: Perspectives 19 he grabbed Three days, shot his foe, head tucked, Hellzapoppin’ his hunger fed straight ahead, a pact to fulfill, already too late. cloaked in mud. cloaked crawled forward, crawled dark, rain soaked, smack in the face, smack A blast, his buddy by smoky artillery, by a damn bitter fate. in case it’s the last. in case it’s drug him to safety, lay limp twenty feet limp twenty lay Fueled by fieryFueled by grit, hold the next inhale Linda Waters and buckets ofand buckets hate, trained to kill on site the next blast, down, well concealed, dense, concealed, dense, well snipers tied to treetops what was left ofwhat was an arm, lunged toward the bunker, lunged toward He crawled through the jungle, through the jungle, He crawled He Never Called Me A Jap Me A Called Never He jap. PROJECT He never called me a He never called me THE RACE CARD It took six months to get back to the states, stretcher bound, dodging torpedoes, ships sunk all around, he found nothing close to smile about.

He yelled “no!” when they said they’d take off his leg. Months in traction, then full body cast, he fought for his sanity, a new bride bedside, Purple Heart and Silver Star near his ever-present bottle of rose colored wine.

Time moved on, days upon days, restless nights, five kids, a pain-laden limp, lugging along, an unusually ordinary life.

Lopsided, jaw clenched, Race: Perspectives 20 Perspectives Race: he planted both feet, taking a solid stand, for lasting peace.

Swift end to fifty-three years of unspoken pain, his last breath, final, serene. Twenty-one gun sendoff, Marines in military suits, doubtful this gesture was one he’d approve.

His box, left to rest on a west coast hill, peered over the sea that carried him home, from those blood-soaked isles, distant ghosts. Shen, his old workmate, slipped by, whispering, wiping his eyes, “How did he do it, when he was trained to hate? He never called me a jap...Not once! I will not forget.. A true buddy...the best I ever had.

He never called me a jap.”

for Dad...M.L.Waters 1/19/14 Race: Perspectives 21 Race: Perspectives 22 RACE CARD THE Race isanarrativestill change thestory,change we needamoreinclusive approach. enough toredefinethesociety we aspiretobe. So, when we decideto our humaneness. withtheindividual, big buttheygrow Storiesstart more questions, orseekadifferent perspective, cultivates which inturn, reference isequallyvalid. ustoask Storiesencourage frameof Every conversation. the andeventheir guilt,shame,of anger indifferencetobe apart white peopleneedtobeablesharetheirstory, work through thesolution.For tohappen, change story, of andtherefore, onlypart the of colortocommentonracebutthatisonlypart out peopleof look like usandfeellike us. peoplethatwe The canrelateto. We seek We talkaboutrace(ordon’t talkaboutrace)amongstthepeoplethat iselusive,experience. Andthattruth not oursalone. us thatthereissomuch morebeyond whatwe cansee, orwhatwe humanityandremind pictureof are whatconnectustothebigger theworld, arewhatwillsave usfromourselves. Stories of and corners storiesfromalltheindividual perspectives stories, copiousamountsof thathave intoourvernacular.untruths seeped different world; we don’t and have topassonthesameracialbaggage PROJECT We needeveryone atthetable. ispowerThere incontext,thereasonbehindouractionsorfeelings. For manyyearswe ournarratives fromeach have other. segregated whichI amanethnographer, means, Icollectstories. I believe that Race isaNarrative StillUnfolding. unfolding. Zendina Mostert our children? They candefineanentirely our children? They can’t have adifferentonealltogether. And doesn’tor fathershadonestory meanwe next. Andjustbecauseourgrandmothers orthe tomorrow mean itisthesamestory todayJust doesn’t becauseraceisonestory Race: Perspectives 23 While agree I completely and that racism minority groups discrimination towards I are still huge problems in America today, racism’ is another that ‘reverse also believe nobody talks about, existing problem that to acknowledge. or wants Kaya Hartley Kaya Sick of Being Silenced by Guilt Sick of by Silenced Being guilt. Because for me, a white female, if a white female, Because for me, that to come out and say I were I am silenced. on race, It seems to me that no matter where I stand PROJECT I have experienced reverse racism I would be considered ignorant, self racism I would reverse experienced I have to come out and say a white female for me, BUT, absorbed, and racist. on opinions share my and for minority groups, that I am an advocate been told that I I have seriously. I am not taken racial discrimination, no right to advocate, so therefore I have like’ no idea what it’s ‘have relate. because I can’t the mindset that in this middle because I am guilted into I am stuck treats certain ancestors and society because my ethnic groups wrongly, racist, that’s because speak out for whites, I can’t I am also in the wrong. because I’m naïve. speak out for minorities, and I can’t Sick of being silenced by Sick of being silenced THE RACE CARD Race: Perspectives 24 RACE CARD Everybody hasanopinion THE Everybody HasanOpinionThatMatters matters. valuable by andaccepted listening totheiropinions. Everybody’s opinion color. Make themfeel have anopinion,pleaseexpressittoapersonof you aperson’s skinkeep you hisopinion.If fromaccepting color of difference. the wholeworld willbestuck withtheopinionthatskincolormakes a aperson’swe allow skin, ourselves tothinkdifferentlyaboutthecolorof color.the samewater. Unless We fromthosewhoareof catch nogerms ourskin. matter nowherewe comefromorthecolorof something. Ithinkallpeople’s opinionsmatter. Ouropinionsshould don’t feellike theiropinionscount. Julie Liljenquistisa fifty-year-old married Shehasanother woman withthreecockatiels. PROJECT that matters. h oo fpeople’s skinmakes nodifferencetome. Don’t colorof The letthe We blood.We areallthesame. We drinkfrom bleedthesamecolorof We allhave opinions. hasdifferentopinionsabout Everybody niece ornephew ontheway. Julie Liljenquist the way peopletreatthem—these skins whobleedfromtheinsidebecauseof differentcolored treat us. Iknow peopleof the sameway aswe ourselves want othersto are allpeople. We tobetreated alldeserve ourskincolors, Ibelieve we Regardless of Race: Perspectives 25 Race should be irrelevant, but isn’t. The be irrelevant,Race should but isn’t. have as many matter, only race that should observed, is the human one—but try trying that, or after saying debate to end discussion yourself find and you you where right back started—curiously unfinished, incomplete, Gary Howard Meanings Meanings of Race That Matter matter. matter. It is a baffling, indecipherable enigma, and the more we seek to enigma, and the more It is a baffling, indecipherable get can begin to close to a serious think that we we should Why ofSo as complex and problematic as the subject race has been in There of are, many and Social psychologists no guarantees. course, Krugman, Paul and Reich, luminaries and heroes as Robert Such PROJECT up against an impervious out defensively barrier able to reach somehow to engulf consciousness. your any pattern, threads comprising the innumerable the more unravel become. may we entangled and ensnared apprehension and understanding of and yet I suppose we this issue, Norris be Michelle has proposed. Nothing less may try—asmust NPR’s or our place within history, than defining at least for Americans, at stake, uncluttered paths our relationship with it. But again, there are no clear, —only varying degrees of obstruction and disorientation. and in the entire context ofAmerican history, human history as well, been gained, is to focus on what has the only redeeming option now and This to me represents our best as Americans are becoming. on what we and cruelty ignorance, hope for escaping the inexhaustible blindness, of a united a shared humanity, steadily toward past, and moving the ofcommunity and purpose. covenant if argued that humans are nothing others have resourceful not infinitely in their creation and perpetuation of and targets scapegoats, to hate. There is nothing yet to suggest abandoned this have that humans as any factor in predisposition, and race is as paramount ravenous our appetites. stimulating and steadfastly exposed “the politics of patiently have Stiglitz Joseph mobilized in pursuing a ruthlessinequality” that many oligarchs have and relentless agenda. of Much this agenda is aimed squarely at race, Thus, conceal and obfuscate. made to efforts are always though massive the importance of the in secretly revealing Carter a Jimmy operative narcissistic arrogance of or the blunderbuss stupidity a Mitt Romney, of that not all opposition allow one must And, yes, a Donald Trump. The to Obama is predicated on obscene vitriol and racist demagoguery. Meanings of race that Meanings of race THE RACE CARD President is sometimes his own worst enemy in sabotaging what he epitomizes, champions, and defends. But, the essential lesson here may be what Obama has been perceived to symbolize and uphold, namely an America incrementally growing more comfortable about its many diverse expressions of identity, not only in race, but in gender, sexual orientation, and belief structure (e.g.: from institutionally religious to non-religious to spiritual to atheist to secular). So, the continuing story seems to be that we are becoming more accepting and inclusive (in the midst of our political and ideological polarizations) of our differences and our sameness. Differences in that we hail from a collective hodgepodge of racial and ethnic origins and identities; sameness in that DNA has disclosed, more definitively than ever before, how much we are all alike, how the only genetic markers that matter show how much we all share and have in common. This, therefore, should be good news, notwithstanding our creative genius for stirring up divisiveness, viciousness, and indiscriminate aggression. There is no sign yet that these are slated for extinction in spite of Steven Pinker’s hopeful forecast in Better Angels of Our Nature that our violence as the human race has declined, and that sunnier climes await us. To be fair, I’m wondering if Dr. Pinker has adequately factored in ferocious global competition for shrinking resources, the scientifically immutable reality of global climate change, and the unending human quest for more—i.e. power, greed, conquest, inexorable innovation and change. Is it realistic to believe that these perils, both within and without, many of our own making, can be blunted and/or deterred? The answer Race: Perspectives 26 Perspectives Race: for now is…undetermined. So, to conclude, there is evidence that we can make substantive progress toward racial integration and amalgamation as we set aside old boundaries, hostilities, and artificialities (as idealistic and wishful as this still may sound), and strive to resolve the greater challenges confronting our survival and our world’s, as formidable and inseparable as these are. To reiterate, there are no guarantees. Our impediments are immense, perhaps impossible. But, to the degree that we ALL affirm and celebrate our unique and universal membership in the only race that matters, the odds can be tilted toward the only promise we can make ourselves, a reasonable and sustained expectation of success.

Gary H. Howard is an Associate Professor of English at SLCC, who enjoys writing poetry, teaching, attending classical music events, listening to science lectures, watching movies and public television, playing chess, engaging in theatre, and stimulating conversation with good friends. He is an unabashed progressive dedicated to justice and truth, and guarding the rights of undervalued voices in our society. Race: Perspectives 27 As a young child, I didn’t know about know I didn’t child, As a young the My family was in Kearns. racism. I lived in an area with Anglos, only Hispanic family We and Greeks. PuertoChinese, Ricans, occurred got It never to me boys along well. in people. a difference that there was Jesse Lovato Race is Only So Deep Only is Race likes anything that includes family, friends, and the outdoors. friends, that includes family, anything likes mattered. I first watched Martin Luther King Jr. give a speech on TV in 1964. I on TV in a speech give Martinwatched King Jr. Luther I first I on TV. with racism came from what I saw My initial experience high. At agewas in junior twelve, My first encounter with racism This made me angry. than ways rights in more my for be treated equal, I had to fight To my rights for a this meant fighting for good education. My In school, PROJECTPROJECT Jesse Lovato is a great-grandpa. He loves sports, camping, fishing & hiking. Actually, he Actually, fishing & hiking. camping, sports, He loves is a great-grandpa. Jesse Lovato remember him talking about equality. I didn’t understand what he meant understand what he meant didn’t I about equality. remember him talking high. to junior until I went equality by a lot ofsaw beatings of different people of and other color in Georgia This startedsouthern that the color of me to realize states. skin my mattered. learnedI quickly about the color of a big and that it makes skin my towards school I began own notice discrimination in my to difference. skin and disabilities. people with darker words and were sometimes in The I had to endure difficulties one. encounters. sometimes in physical fun of make peers would I for me, me and embarrass Fortunately me. good passed me sportswas and teachers in high school and the coaches education. better my I didn’t Unfortunately, along. ...the color of my skin ...the color of my THETHE RACE CARDRACE CARD Race: Perspectives 28 RACE CARD What color is underneath THE truly areoneinthesame. truly is tostopdividing ourselves from oneanotherandrecognizing how we theentire “humanrace.”something much solution toracism The bigger stereotypes we have pinnedtoonlyoneskincolor shouldbepinnedto criminalactsanddemanding entitlement.These performing capable of powergood orbad.Each “race”isequally toinfluence othersfor dream fulfilled. was andwhenwe canachieve thatitwillbetheday we seeMr. King’s iswhatIbelieveLutherKing’sdown uponthem.That Martin dream alienateandlook are differentandtocelebratedifferencesinsteadof what’s ontheinside, seetherealitythatwe aremorethesamethanwe experiences, theday we canlookpastouroutward appearanceandsee tocherish fromeach each other’sand learn otherandlearn different theskinissame,is ontheinside, tosee that thecolorunderneath usinteresting, itmakes usauniqueindividual. is whatmakes each of may differentforeach bevery personbutthat fearsandstruggles These to overcome fears, heartbreak, andinsecurities. challenges, struggles, that hasever lived, isnow living, andever willlive hashad ontheearth undoubtedly hasbeenbroken. We would humanbeing seethatevery would seethatwe allhave apowerful that brain andastrongheart we have allowed todivide us, we would seeexactlythesamething. We unity. ourselves inthecauseof Itisaparadox ustofeelaccepted. todivide withineachfound deep of alienate othersbuttohelpourselves appeasethequenching desire peopletodivide ourselves. We of dothistonotintentionally a group Ibelieve Doyou thatraceisanideawe agree? I agree? have createdas people unified by sharedinterests, habits, or characteristics. Do kind of I belongto?Merriam-Webster’s describesraceas:aclassor Dictionary I have whatrace adoptedintomy life, dothesethingshelpdetermine with?Myreligiousgroup, thevalues andbeliefsthat to associatemyself PROJECT eadeso orsi oo,ec fushas withinourselves the ourskincolor, each of Regardless of thesedivisions and seewhat day thatweThe canlookpastallof we were topullback theskinandremoveIn reality, allthethings if What Color is Underneath theSkin? What ColorisUnderneath the skin? Nicole Brown lsiidb h ru fpeopleI choose group of classified by the from?AmI generates where my ancestry whereIlive currently, oris it location of talk? Ismy racebasedonthegeographical Does ithave todowiththeway Idressand my skin? israce,What isitthecolorof Race: Perspectives 29 where I am from stories of the past My culture is different, we all know all know My culture is different, we I have Freedom to speak my thoughts. to speak my Freedom I have Different colors like a beautiful rainbow. Different colors like And yet they still see me as a threat, why? And yet they still see Only if cherish would blind you were you Where I belong, were I feel that am from. I feel that am Where belong, were I The crushed. dreams that I once had were Nelly Victoria Potenciano-Cortez Nelly Victoria With no problems no one holding me back. Liberty to have dreams and accomplishments, dreams and Liberty to have However I feel proud ofHowever the color of skin my If other. will be for each all blind, love were we Oh if here let me stay would blind you were you Yet you ignore our voices because of ignore our voices you Yet our accent. Maybe ifMaybe will recognize me, you become blind you I have grown to the words of grown words to the I have liberty and freedom. I have shown you the progress you of shown I have can do things we My life, my dreams, depend of dreams, my My life, society sees me. how We had success stories why not pay attention to that? not pay why had success stories We That head, with the people around you. picture in your Have I tried to show them the meaning of them the meaning to show I tried Have yes! success, My skin color is different from yours and everyone else’s else’s and everyone My skin color is different from yours I have thought and wonder why? Would I be the outsider? Would why? and wonder thought I have I am the one that gives you a smile, with no care of a smile, you I am the one that gives color. your If become a greater person in life, have blind, I would were you If me the telling next to you, let me walk would blind you were you love everyone. PROJECT Let’s Become Blind and Love Everyone and Love Blind Become Let’s My last name does not sound important, I am not. that does not mean If not mind would presence and you feel my would blind you were you I have saluted our flag many times with no hate however with much love. much with however hate no with times many flag our saluted have I Let’s become blind and Let’s become blind THE RACE CARD Not caring who you are from the outside, only the inside With no terror, that I will be judged for my hair, my color, my culture. As long as our image in our head is clear and we only hear The heart beat you will know that I am exactly like you If only you were blind you would love us equally If only you were blind we would see each other with Love and respect, like I look at you. Race: Perspectives 30 Perspectives Race: Race: Perspectives 31 Nowadays, many people from different many people from Nowadays, getnationalities and cultures married immigration all know, As we together. internet also the creates cultural diversity, is a great tool for meeting people as well. ofMany countries are composed various Noosha Shahini Noosha Interracial Marriage Interracial There are 215 nations in the world, and every one of There in the world, are 215 nations them has to see people and unusual it is not a novelty world, In today’s PROJECT ethnic groups and mixed cultures, especially the United States. ethnic groups cultures, and mixed 170 distinct City has over New York United States. in the someone living that broadcast in radio stations has two Houston ethnic communities. percent Nearly 61 that prints in Chinese. Chinese and a daily newspaper of the people of More born Miami were outside the United States. speak a languagethan 32 million people in the United States other than up 45 percent of Asian Americans make English at home. first-year ofstudents at. The University (Lucas 22-28) California, Berkeley. of races holding hands and going different their daily lives. about “By the Interracial marriage has become a common trend in society. middle of so many people from so many the nineteenth century, Herman novelist lands had come to the United States that Melville cannot spill a drop of ‘You exclaimed, American blood without spilling the blood of 22-28). In society, (Lucas, the whole world’” they should communicate it is necessary how know that people Interracial cultures. two and understand differences between views ofmarriage can enhance people’s help them the world, learn multiple languages, and advance their Interracial It is marriage cultures. can reduce the distance between cultural understanding. as food, culture such get to a great experience with diverse wider way on a new perspective you Because it can give etc. religion, dance, poetry, get another race and different background, When you you to know life. to experience and you It allows thoughts and feelings. will share your with an understanding for learn you about new cultures and also provide previously had. Therefore, when people not have others that they may it will result in a better and I believe are able to understand one another, because a strong interracial marriagepeaceful world, into a develops and an amazing community family becomes a powerful family, powerful What creates an incredible nation to the world. an amazing community interracialmakes marriage a richness can make interesting is that you the part can choose ofand unique culture also you like. culture that you races holding hands. ...people of different ...people of different THE RACE CARD Knowing different cultures and customs brings a new culture with mixed values. Interracial marriage gives children the opportunity to learn more than one language, so they can communicate with others well and strengthen their relationships because they have greater access to people. “There are as many bilingual children as there are monolingual children and our world is becoming increasingly multilingual. We can consider some of the statistics in the United States that shows 21% of school-age children (between ages 5-17) speak a language other than English at home. This number is projected to increase in the coming years’’(Lowry). Also parents can learn another language from their partner. Usually people think in their native tongue and then translate into a second language to speak, sometimes they make mistakes in meaning. So it is valuable for couples to take steps to learn each other’s language and improve communication. Furthermore, interracial marriage helps children understand how people are different and learn judgment. It is very important to teach children justice and equality, so we can increase desire to put racism behind ourselves because it is important to change “...more society’s views about personal prejudices. interracial Interracial marriage leads to more understanding understanding between two would reduce levels cultures, so more interracial of racism and make understanding would reduce our society more levels of racism and make our united” society more united. Race: Perspectives 32 Perspectives Race: I interviewed my host family about multicultural relationships. My host parents are in an interracial marriage and have lived together for about 26 years with four children. The wife was born in Ecuador and the husband is from Utah. Their experiences with interracial marriage are very positive. They have a successful and happy life because they know how to communicate with each other without barriers. When they married, they discussed where they should live and raise their family, because both of them have opportunities for working in their careers and the support of their respective families. Although they have different ways of thinking and kinds of taste, they are able to compromise and do not put obstacles in their way. Also they have a wonderful rapport with their children. They decided to celebrate two cultures and adjust themselves to their way of life with ease. They firmly believe that challenges are prevalent in all relationships. They think misunderstandings can happen for both same-race couples and interracial couples. They also mentioned if we all were like each other in life, it would be a boring world. I actually agree with them because diversity is not only for humans, is abundantly evident for animals and plants. So cultural diversity can make life more beautiful. They recommend interracial marriage to anyone to increase the chance of marriage around the world because there are more choices for people of different races to meet each other. Some people think that interracial marriage can create pressure, tension and conflict between couples, because they are from two totally different cultures and religious beliefs, so sometimes forces one side of the couple to leave his or her family to follow the other half. But I believe that an interracial marriage is a marriage like any other and it is all about coming together as two separate people to become one. In every condition, couples should respect their different ideas and create a balance in their decisions. Partners should remain open-minded when facing other religious beliefs because all people have their special beliefs and rituals. They should avoid ethnocentrism and not think that their own nation is better than any other. They should not care about the color of a person’s skin, because finding love in the right places and the human race is the important thing. If interracial couples do not minimize their different expectations and paradoxes, children will feel like they do not belong to any parent’s ethnic group and they will be confused. Couples should immerse their children in both cultures to the Race: Perspectives 33 best of their abilities. Many years ago, interracial marriage in most parts of United States was against the law but nowadays it is legal in all part of the U.S. Unfortunately, in some societies it is still illegal to marry with someone of a different religion especially in Muslim countries. Well-educated people are realizing that freedom to marry is one of the basic and vital personal rights for everyone and laws have been passed banning racial discrimination. Interracial couples should not agree with all cultures and practice of all groups and they can stay in the middle such as a scale that needs balance. So we can understand each other and make a bridge between two cultures. Interracial couples can create a positive understanding and provide some enriching opportunities for their children’ s growth. The numbers that I mentioned in my introduction prove the fact of rising interracial marriage and some places have the fastest growth in mixed marriage. All collective races such as Whites, Blacks, Asians, Hispanics, American Indians, etc. represent a majority of the Unites States population. So interracial marriage is not a big deal and all we know some values are universal such as respect, openness, patience, sacrifice, etc. that have an impact on how we observe and understand. We should have a strong understanding of biracial families and treat every one fairly by showing respect to our cultures. We can incorporate every aspects of our partner’s culture into our daily life and make life interesting. Race: Perspectives 34 McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. 2013. Vol. 60,No. 2.June 2005:3-36.SIRSIssuesResearcher. Web. 30Nov Families: U.S. Population RadicalandHispanicIntermarriage.’’ Bulletin Parker, Sonia.Personal Interview. 19Nov. 2013. PublicSpeaking,8thed.,pp. 22-28.The of Lucas, Art E.The Stephen Lowry, Lauren.BilingualisminYoung Children,fromwww.hanen.org New Edmonston.‘’NewMarriages, Lee, SharonM.,andBarry Work Cited Race: Perspectives 35 Nick Obradovich everyone. A Wave of Love Overflows Everyone of Overflows Love A Wave Hate stinks like a squashed tomato a squashed Hate stinks like with moldy purple spots. Hate causes war. Hate corrupts the mind. crocodile. Hate is green a seasick and mean like Hate opposes everything good. Hate hates love. If hate gets the right feeling heart can grow too big hate’s size brain. for its peanut Then hate pops into a million pieces, ofand a wave everyone. overflows love PROJECTPROJECTPROJECT A wave of love overflows A wave of love overflows THETHETHE RACE CARDRACE CARDRACE CARD Race: Perspectives 36 RACE CARD Old habitsdonotchange THE a differentworld. Myfather mentionedabouthow heremembers the upin I hadnotrealized beforetalkingtohim;ismy fathersimply grew color didn’t matter, sowhy diditmattersomuch tomy father?What taughtmeinmy tohim?They school clearly, very skinsoimportant of could my fatherbelookingforsomething like that?Why isthecolor movies, skin.How andnever stoptothink about someone’s colorof through myunderstand how dailylifewatching Icouldgo TVand are theresomanyblack peoplein thismovie?” Growing up, Icouldn’t him, occasionallyhewould say acommentsimilartothisone, “Why make fromtimetotime. watching While amovie ortelevisionshow with onecommenthewould about race, Ididnotbelieve himbecauseof conversationlife, whenIactuallysatdown withhim andhadaformal claims tohave black people, nothingagainst anduntilthispointinmy inequality. the previousstatement,yes, butstillcontainsasenseof long astheystay isok.” intheir placeeverything Animprovement from and thathisfatherdidn’t reallyhave aproblemwithcoloredpeople“as father continued toexplainhow uphadablack hisfamilygrowing maid other thingtohearafirst-handaccountfrom my own family. bookandanentirely commentsinahistory read aboutthesekindsof comment would comefromsomeoneinmy family. Itisonethingto I thoughttomyself. Iwas completelyshocked tohearthatthiskindof Isthisfor real?” “What?! dropped whenIhadheardthisinformation. directly fromhim,“Just soonasshot‘emlookat‘em.” Myjaw colored people. Myfathersummeduphisgrandpa’s opinionby quoting past. fading away andwithmoretimeitwillbenothing butjustthesticky Ifeelthatracism,nomatterhow togeneration. slowly,generation is that racismisahabitdoesn’t dieovernight. Itisdissolvingfrom thisencounterIdiscoveredbetter persontodiscussracewith.Through a such historicalsignificanceatthetime, Icouldnotthinkof be of Old HabitsDoNotChange Overnight PROJECT hc rnsm om ahri n fhimself, today my father Which bringsmetomy fatherinandof As we move improvement tothenextgeneration canbeseen.My feltabout distinctlyhowMy fatherremembersvery hisgrandpa overnight. Nicole Brown the speech andhehadnoideaitwould he admittedcouldbarelyremember gave his“IhadaDream”speech, though LutherKingJr.years oldwhenMartin CarolinaandFlorida,hewas ten in North My fatherwas South, raisedintheDeep Race: Perspectives 37 He acknowledged there are still racial issues in the United Stated today, today, Stated United in the racialare still issues there He acknowledged family history that racism in my I believe discovered what I have From time when there were segregated were when there time and bathrooms fountains drinking The of color and blacks. for white that something skin was someone’s so naturally it is in his early years, prominent in society extremely was about it. thinking even he still notices without something instead of now it goingbut he sees both ways history in it was how with reason it that for some He explained blacks. over whites dominating to acceptableis socially or actresses in Hollywood for a colored actors “racist” comment, but if an offensive make to say were a white person degrading the white comment or equivalently the exact same comment understand get doesn’t harassed and labeled as a racist. He person would ofthe double standard of He thinks because speech. of history, black a use this as that sometimes they may and being suppressed, slavery ofjustification for some their actions. are moving There still a problem, but we is obviously is fading away. that started something see how can out as You in the right direction. What started morphedcomplete hatred has where I stand today. into hate has been passed on to the family as a very straight forward in my current generation a different where through education and having color of think about someone’s culture to grow up in; I barely even skin old habits die hard and I believe someone else. unless it is brought up by openness of time and continued over all; racism will be dissolved. Race: Perspectives 38 RACE CARD RACE CARD THE THE No esalgoquedefineel Not adescriptionof PROJECT PROJECT Entrada aunaRaza Nuestro vecino anuestro lado entralaspuertas unicos Entramos alconvertirnos No esloquedefinecaracter Un choque decultura No eseljuiciodecontenido deelcerebro delavida Una solapercepcion No acompañadoportalento Una fielLenguaMaterna quedefineelalma No esalgo Un huracancompuestodecaracteristicas Una Percepcion deRaza Admittance toaRace Our neighborentersthedoorsalongside We enteraswe becomeunique Not whatdefines character culture A clashof braincontent Not thejudgmentof life of A soleperception Not accompaniedby talent A faithfulMotherTongue your soul Not adescriptionof characteristics composedof A hurricane your soul. alma. A Perception Race of Carina Yesenia Aguilar Race: Perspectives 39 “Alien” is the one word I grew up hating is the one word “Alien” to carry old enough because when I was (a job requirement), an Identification Card thing ever the coolest I thought it was grown up I’ve feel like because it made me the adults did. and I get just like one to own Repeka Touli Repeka So I Am an ALIEN, Apparently an ALIEN, I Am So apparently. Every year for as long as I can remember, my parents and I would parents and I would my Every year for as long as I can remember, of a number At one point, I sat and watched people stand in front I started the purpose to question of a harsh and derogatory such PROJECTPROJECT Unbeknownst to me, I was unaware of unaware I was to me, Unbeknownst on me have the impact it would for years to come. ofvisit the Immigration meant I had to miss a full day office which of Missing a day school. punishment to me because it like was school vast Inside the Immigrationwere a happy place as a child. office my was amount ofturn for their waiting to strangers sitting for the entire day, were there to startwe I had no idea why see the Immigration officer. routine an annual it was Nonetheless, with until I became a teenager. the course of againbecause I had done it before time and time over my younger years. of to obtain taken while their pictures were colored (fabric) back-wall a took his/her the next person get called up, I watched their ID cards. changed him and up towards walked but not before an officer picture, the color of blue to red) behind sake…from (for point’s the back-wall did he change the “Why myself, him and I became confused. I asked color of meant… realized what that back-wall I quickly back-wall?” the my Aliens and suddenly, for “citizens” and the other for One color was an Alien, an “outsider,” I felt like crashed and for the first time, world me and over Sheer disappointment washed in a place I called, “Home.” the feelings of the agonysuddenly, by followed being ashamed hit me, of From reality of the “So I am an Alien, apparently.” status: life’s my that point on, I really took notice of ID card. details on my the minute it referred I was to as Alien, and in those moments, name, Next to my to come to the saddest realization and understanding ofhurt so much visited the parents and I growing up years that my After all my “why.” was to renew our did it occur to me that it Immigration never Office, a place I life, young in for almost my lived Alien status in a place I have home. my because it was loved term of identification because the primary association of Alien I knew bald looking creature with big grey eyes that by A tall, skinny, was: So I am an ALIEN, So I am an ALIEN, THETHE RACE CARDRACE CARD Race: Perspectives 40 completing hereducation.Repeka iscurrentlystudyingat theSaltLake tobe aNutritionist Community apparently.” subtle enoughforayoung person“not”tonotice. “So, IamanAlien unity in humanity, butnot different shun awaycountries and the spirit of young personlike mine? Itisasubtleway todiscriminate othersfrom negative andalienatedemotionstoa could causeanexplosionof because your IDcardsays so.” reminderthat,“Ohthat’sIt isascarring right,you’re stillanAlien, afterliving inAustralia particularly unchanged, forthelasttwo decades. came back tohauntmeasanadult.Clearly, thesadrealityremains memories as:Alien,theuglyanddegrading how toagain Iwas referred answered,here?” towhich “No.” Ishamefullyandregretfully next teacher “Peka, asked methesamequestionagain, were you born thatyearuntilthefollowing yearwhenthe haunted mefortherestof this iswhereIbelong).” Butthenhaving beentaughtrightfromwrong able tosay, “Yes, here, Iwas (therefore, born IamNOTanAlien,and cameover me andforthetimebeing,itfeltsonicetobe segregated “Yes, “belonging”ratherthanbeing here.” Iwas born feelingsof The here?” Iinstantlydidaquick justificationin my young mindandsaid, toAmericanSamoa,“Peka,called outtome, referring were you born day. teacher was Myelementary markingsomethingonherrollandshe justtonameafew.looked-down atandultimatelyfeelsegregated, to beashamedof, thusleaving metofeelostracized,isolated,excluded, becamesomething usedtobe somethingtobeproudof ID card.What is how Ialways feltoratleastitmademefeelwhenever Ilooked atmy “To make away, indifferentorhostile, toturn transferordivert.” This to definethe“other”otherthanAlien. “foreigner” or“non-citizen”“newcomer?” Surelythereisabetterway more humaneadjectives tochoose of from?”What inthedictionary would refertoanotherhumanbeingasAlienwhentherearebetterand atthetime,As ateenager Iasked myself, intheirrightmind “Who definition arecreaturesfromouterspace, IusedtoseeonTVasa child. would adamantlytellyou, “ItisallaboutMaking theMemories.” Repeka loves singing, listeningto College andtransferring Utah.Shealsoplanstostudy totheUniversity of Photography alongside with Nutrition.Repeka isknown tobetheavidPhotographer nomatterwheresheisbecause After twenty livinginBrisbane, years of Australia, Repeka Touliof isfinallyfulfillingherdreams Who would Who have thoughtthatonesignificant word like Alien andwhenIsaw forms LastyearIfoundsomeoldImmigration inclassone nightmareoccurred thisunforgettable realityof The for“alienated”or“alienation”which by Alienisshort definitionis: classical and easy listening music, reading,classical andeasylistening music, walking andeatinghealthy. Race: Perspectives 41 I have walked in the shoes in walked I have Of one who is a minority Religiously Linguistically, Racially, to be what it is like I know Alone; to feel—Alone what it is like I know Jaren K. Johnson Jaren When Pressed Against the Iron Gate the Iron Against Pressed When When no one else ofShares the same color skin languageWhen no one else speaks my to be known what it is like I know others by By a name given a job to lose what it is like I know Because of race and gender my And yet, when pressed, against the Iron Gate Trapped When anger ruled the day IfWhenwondered I then my frame weakened Sick, destroyed broken, be beaten, Would When opposition trembled the With unbridled enmity Barely able to speak due to rage it because of: Was The color of skin? my No My ethnicity? No The accent of a foreign tongue? No Then why? JESUS IS NOT MY JESUS!” “YOUR GOD IS NOT MY GOD!” “YOUR GOING TO HELL!” “…YOU’RE in California living children were When we My siblings and I loved England from Our playmates they did not One day Come out to play Why? the iron gate. PROJECT When pressed against When pressed against THE RACE CARD The color of our skin? No Our ethnicity? No The accent of our foreign tongue? No Then why? Their parents Learned of our religious beliefs For that we could not friends? Heartbroken, confused, sad But not ashamed Once in love; once engaged My friends, family, and I welcomed you With open hearts and warmth But you and those from your world Hated me, condemned me; despised me You would consign me to Hell Rather than hope to save me According to your beliefs You loved to work with youth Your colleague was an alcoholic Addicted to drugs It was acceptable for him To work with the youth of your Faith But when it was learned Race: Perspectives 42 Perspectives Race: That you were dating me You were threatened With losing all that you had worked for The leaders of your faith Threatened to never let you Work with the youth again Your dreams were stolen from you Because of me Your drug-addict colleague Was empowered - because he was a “project” My ancestors were driven from home to home Beaten to death by a mob Shot through the neck - paralyzed for life Children kidnapped Deliberately poisoned by the neighbors We can’t change the color of our skin But we can change our beliefs - right? If I change my beliefs, then I change The very mountains—even the air—around me I change where I came from I change where I am going I lose my eternal perspective— The reason for my existence I lose my eternal identity I have always been able To laugh about, to shrug off The challenges of race and culture For me, the color of one’s skin Or ethnic background Is important and interesting But it does not tell me Who they are I first identify my fellow beings As a Child of God If God is the Father of all souls If God is eternally Just Eternally Merciful Then will he not judge us According to the law that we were given Race: Perspectives 43 Rather than after someone else’s law? Can we not be so merciful – one to another? The hatred directed toward me; Toward my ancestors, toward my people Because of our religious beliefs Is more painful Than I could have ever imagined. When pressed against The Iron Gate It was not because of the color of my skin It was not because of my ethnicity Or, for the accent of a foreign tongue It was because –

I am a “Mormon”

When it comes to childhood memories, canoe excursions on Shoshone Lake are Jaren Johnson’s favorites. Jaren, along with his dad and brother, would spend a week at Shoshone – canoeing, fishing, and visiting the geyser basin. When not at work or school, he’s often found on a dusty trail heading toward his favorite fishing hole. Jaren’s endeavors have taken him to Costa Rica, Honduras, and along the US/Mexico border. Jaren is proficient in Spanish, and has studied Russian for three semesters. Race: Perspectives 44 RACE CARD THE Things theysaidmade wonderful friends. weekBeing withthesefantasticpeopleevery mademehappy. hugs. amazingpeopleempowered These me. by lotsof surrounded anyone,judged ever. showed Everybody respectforeach other. We were theirskin,andwhattheylooked like. never They from, thecolorof love herforthepersonshewas. have about.Noonewould her. judge anythingtoworry Everyone would there becauseshethoughtwould Itoldherthatshedidn’t bejudged. usmadefriendswithher. Shetoldusshewas afraidtobe A coupleof theysaidmadehercry.Things her. darker skincolor. peopleinherneighborhood madefunof The Ellen isasinglefemale livinginherown Sheisenjoying apartment. lifeevery day. She is PROJECT Casy now enjoys comingtoSpecialNeedsMutualweekly toseeallher didn’tOur SpecialNeedsMutualgroup carewherepeoplecame firsttimeCasycametoSpecialNeedsMutual,she The was scared. her Casycametothe United States,When becauseof shewas judged her cry. Don’t Judge HerBecauseSheis almost ready togocollege soon. Ellen Peterson Different was thesameasCasy’s. England withotherpeoplewhoseskincolor livedCasy andherstep-mom inan areain by aBritishwhitewoman. herstep-mom, My friend,Casy, was adoptedinEngland Race: Perspectives 45 Accepting the diversity ofAcceptingthe diversity is a selfish others of are told that everyway We learning. one of of us is unique; each us having of Each special talents. us also has a unique see our we background coloring how learn.current we Being situation and how Daniel Yocom Selfish LearningSelfish Through the differences I have learned more about the world than learnedThrough world more about the I have the differences been able to learn and understand what it means others I have From learned and empathy I have with others, With these exchanges PROJECTPROJECT around people with different backgrounds brings together more pasts, different backgroundsaround people with brings together more pasts, own our learning from my more colors to draw I cannot know from. I be raised in Africa, Asia, or Manhattan. to like experiences what it was with people who I find similarities experiences from others. these know many more differences. but I find experiences, had other have At times it has been tough to accept the through the similarities. no common reference to draw because I have differences in others, shared then similarities we built on the from. My understanding was These of have expanded into the unknown experiences. another person’s been opportunities for me to learn from, and to cherish. a different and even a different culture, to grow up in a different country, of a number I have time. friends who started life in other parts of this and other parts ofcountry, come to Through them I have the world. to growlearn up in other parts it was and understand how of the United temperature and not for closed Alaska where schools Places like States. learned to come to this country what it is like without I have snowfall. in a culture that belittles the ability to speak English and be immersed of because as being unintelligent.non-English How, speakers differences in appearance and culture they struggled and as a as an individual learned they How sitcoms and eventually English from television family. heard what is was degree I have in communication. completed a master’s to grow up during the depression in like and hopping trains to get work kamikaze pilots. by California attacked and being on a ship when it was different told me about being on two compassion. My father in-law his journal have II (I even War during World attacked ships that were burnedthat was able to come home and have on the edges) and was friends of descent or had emigratedthe war. from Asia after Japanese that in Iran during the revolution learned to live it is like what I have a blessing coming to the United States was the shah; and how removed There are many more stories ofand a curse. and why. are, who we my knowledge grows. Through diverse friends Through diverse THETHE RACE CARDRACE CARD Race: Perspectives 46 other timeinhistory. our friendships, we now morethanany have tolearn theopportunity insights tonewproblems. ouracquaintances, Through ourinteractions, lookingatoldproblems, orold brings uniqueexperiences:newways of alltheseindividuals bringwiththem.Eachbut fromtheopportunities whatthislandoffersus, be. Notbecausewe have of all the opportunity money.earning have They storiestotell,ideasteach. did notalways have thatluxury. traveled They hereformorethanjust whatthey know. peopleIhave The of metfromtheseothercountries meet peoplewhoseldomtravel, tostay homeinthecomfort preferring arebroader. theirbackgrounds Ialso came arebroad,thestoriesof were fromall6populatedcontinents. represented reasonsthey The about300employees, over 40countries the world. Inonecompanyof United States, Ihave hadthechance towork with peoplefromallover We have living inaplace so manypeople want aunique opportunity to the In my professionalcareer, hereintheRocky Mountainregionof Race: Perspectives 47 Growing up in America’s school system you system you school up in America’s Growing learn that other races have about hardships Some examples world. had to endure in the true. Many are glaring and obviously think about you are more opaque when in instance slavery them long enough. For Benjamin Young Benjamin FeelingWhite Be to Guilty Unless you go ancient times when European to more Unless you back to be a slave gladly volunteer that I would There is no way forgotten.

PROJECTPROJECT America is cut and dry—it was an evil act then and we still think it is America is cut and dry—it an evil act then and we was structurepersecution that the power though, the the same time, At now. to in modernhas subjected minorities has often helped them America strongerto forge sense of an even The identity than they had before. Scots-Irish are one group that the New World who took the punches When successful despite stigmas and slurs. had to offer and became though, there seems to be a it comes to being classified as Caucasian, in termslot lacking of have background. our culture and Granted we created great marvels are defined as a nation of in the end we but mixed be a shell of would heritage we and without these other elements what being part In the end it almost seems like of are today. we the maligned triumphant cultures that are evident everywhere in but eventually America is preferable to being part of the system that created hardships. could be feelings This with guilt—my is a feeling associated most closely defined as white guilt. societies ruled of and created great works art is little there and literature, to differentiate the struggles American Caucasians) (meaning that we through from other periods ofwent industrialized transformation. We against a war for our independence Britain and won a nation after we examples ofthese things are powerful end the human spirit, but in the we the same nations that defeated those who created us—specifically we descend from. Thisyou is fine in a general sense but I think that when heritage the rich that comes they lack have, look deeper at the roots we This if whole inferiority complex, from suffering. will, is what led us you at all different from us to horribleto subject those who were persecution been a nation. have the decades that we over the risks and or a laborer on the trans-continental railroad knowing hardship that these sorts of entailed, but at the same time it almost lives does seem preferable to being of structure the the same power that was what I am most concerned object of That’s suffering. these subject’s I learn as culture about now from and what my more about where I am ...is long past but never ...is long past but THETHE RACE CARDRACE CARD Race: Perspectives 48 forgotten. It’sforgotten. atoughfeelingthat“guilt”alone hasahardtimedefining. charade thatislongpastbutnever somehorrible of feels like Iampart tocreatetheseproblems. asystemthatdideverything It of also ampart thoseIseeonsidewalks and of create problemsforthegrand-parents despairthatIbothdidnothingto never privy to. Myfeelingsareonesof forcrimesIwas losttimeandinadequatereparation a strongsenseof non-Caucasianorigin.Ifeel to how Ifeelcrossingpathswiththoseof guilt, butmorebroadlyIthinkitshould(andthattomedoes)speak that’s towhatI’ve actuallydoneinmy disproportionate life. burden at thesametimeIcan’t helpbutfeelthatIsharesomelevel of race aloneisn’t responsibleforallthewrong-doingsever committedbut asAmericanslavers politicians?Iknow my anddirty “vanilla”category has producedover intothesame theyears;amIOKwithbeinggrouped

The feelings I’ve described may be considered a case of white- feelingsI’veThe describedmay beconsideredacaseof Race: Perspectives 49 Ali Rahimi They say all men are created equal, this was They equal, this was all men are created say ofwritten on the backs and the the blacks extinction of They say Indians. the native all men I believe all men are created equal, freedom, but have are evil. They you say just another servantin this greedy you’re PROJECTPROJECT dark kingdom, serving a wealthy white king, yeah that might make a ring. a ring. dark kingdom, serving white king, yeah that might make a wealthy but being persuaded by with love, not working Predisposed to hatred, The idea better not equal, but superior. they’re a person who believes born that sounds a like in it, I feel and they’re that a pure race exists, that immigrants sit there and say are taking the can you How little bias. from the glorycountry of away This country founded was its old days. claim can’t you Africans, hardworking built by and was on immigrants, if to be yours, a gamethis world of it’s who came first, then the Indians though heard. The ignorance is real, even their voices deserve to have but no big deal, the bigot father raises his kid in fear, it’s hide it like we what he tell me I’m standing right here, fear, what should a little boy no culture, low wearing, that I’m a terrorist, a rag-head, towel hears, to believe, brain Indian. This hear? This choose what you is what you ofthe words for a man in so feel bad a man with a tiny brain, I don’t pain; he closed himselfmuch off from the beauty of away diversity. The beauty of beauty of the color, to understand one and other, each we so different; Our differences aren’t to accept every color. another, are humans! history more in common than our has forgotten.have We all fall victim confusion. We Race is just an illusion constricted to cause is nothing more than prejudice, a little bit, to notice to it, but it just takes bitterness. Prejudice is nothing Prejudice is nothing Prejudice is Nothing More Than Bitterness Than More is Nothing Prejudice more than bitterness. THETHE RACE CARDRACE CARD Race: Perspectives 50 RACE CARD THE Racism IsJustFucking true! IhopetoGodthatitisnot operatinginthiscountry? all black colleges and Ilike that.Ididn’t thatthereare still discriminate. Isitreallytrue and allcultures. my friendsare, Idon’t even know whatracemanyof any thepast.Iamwhite, andmy friendsareof owed basedonsinsof directions. I’ve and noticedthatmoneyhandoutstendtofeelearned it, or thatitdoesn’t flyinall whombelieve of they arenotpart many of Television).(Black Entertainment went homeafterschool andenjoyed Television onB.E.T. programs thissameperson Fund.Ican’tAmerican College helpbuttowonder if or afull-blown lawyer whoseducationwas paidforby theallBlack Afro discriminationlawsuit. Hell,itmay even bealaw student of some sort someone would probablybeblack andbeout“TOGETPAYED” over a realproblemwithW.E.T Television). Entertainment (White That only tofindI was toooldtohire. I’mprettysuresomeone would have workers. advice becauseImighthave Itwas good beentowait 12-years job elsewherebecausetherewas a12-yearwaiting listfornon-minority back in3-monthstocheck wherehewas onthelist.Iwas toldtofinda Pacific with my Italianfriendtoapplyforjobs. He was toldtocome Iwasdistributed, sowhatisracism?When 18yearsoldIwent toUnion race. every Itseemsprettyequally of right,everybody Thats against? isreallybeingdiscriminated Fund?Who white AmericanCollege Bullshit, Period. PROJECT aimeit n tsabnho sadbullshit.Itseemslike thereare Racism existsandit’s abunch of Racism Bullshit,Period IsJustFucking Kendall Swenson decides itistimeforthestraighthaired What’s tohappenwhensomeone going Fund.GiveCollege meafucking break! allBlack AfroAmerican or doesit?The sword doubleedged cutbothwaysThe … I’m heretosay whatmostareafraidtosay. Race: Perspectives 51 These are my six words describing race. race. describing These six words my are because they’ve these words I chose interacted people have transcended the way my From lifetime. my with me throughout Utah, I growing up in Layton, childhood, family parents telling us how remember my Joseph Gallegos Joseph here? Are You Sure You Belong Here? Belong You Sure You Are During the early days in Utah, it was either our family not belonging either our family in Utah, it was During the early days By the time I got older sisters my to grade-school seeing how and At college, in one ofwas the room math classes, the first senior level PROJECTPROJECT members were treated when they moved to Utah in 1954. You see. see. You to Utah in 1954. treated when they moved members were born his parents and their My father was Mexico and so were in New founded, was to the time when Santa Fe back His family traces parents. her My father met mother is German. bride. whereas my a war was She a few he stayed ended, After the war stationed in Germany. while he was mom, gotto New met my back married and moved years in Germany, but when they found out at Los Alamos, My father had worked Mexico. He there anymore. let him work he married a German, they wouldn’t to Utah. and they moved Base, offered a job at Hill Air Force was mom a Nazi. As my was mom Mexicans or because, were because we Her story growing up “not all Germans tell you, Nazis.” were would beat older brothers were So my during that time is fascinating in itself. a Nazi, “some of or for being up for either being a wet-back us have but we over, born, was By the time I was the Nazi hysteria lighter skin.” still wet-backs. were encouraged to do well they weren’t and how treated in school were for work have a principal that he’d told, by and when I was in school; I fate. my going to let someone tell me wasn’t I family in his fields. my good and become good I was at and science. at math decided to study, at it. Some of but I worked math growing up, would schoolmates my mom is your because with it’s follow-up and then would ask me why my mother is German. when people find out that to this day Even German, and the first thing from their mouth is usually “Oh! That is the reason. that As if, math.” like you explains why from a little late and had to walk I was for the front row. full, except ofback sure you “are you me class to the front and the professor asked I belong here?” I said this is math correct? I belong here. Then yes, in Mathematics, and M.S. B.S. and ended up gettingdid well both my program, completed one year before on to ASU in the Ph.D. went and My wife and I had a baby, in San Antonio. getting a job teaching Are you sure you belong Are you sure you THETHE RACE CARDRACE CARD that changed my education plans. I started teaching at San Antonio College, and you know what? There were several faculty members that looked like me and with degrees in mathematics as well. I liked my time in San Antonio, but my wife wanted to move back to Utah. When the opportunity presented itself, I applied and got hired at SLCC. I had taught a course for Continuing Education back in the early 1990s for SLCC, but other than that class, I hadn’t taught for SLCC. That first semester, in the very first day of my first class, I walk in; get to the front of the board with my book and syllabi in hand, when a young white man asked his friend “is he our teacher?” They both got up and left the room before I even said “good morning” to my class. I shrugged this off and have been teaching here ever since; however, I do miss teaching at San Antonio College. That first summer back in Salt Lake City was difficult. One Sunday, I went for a bike ride, my mistake, was deciding to go to Liberty Park. I wanted to ride around the park several times before getting ready for a cookout with my in-laws. I figured it would have been safe to ride around the park without a helmet. To this day, I remember it like it was yesterday. I went along 300 E. to 900 S., I “I said, no remember seeing several police cars I didn’t and and their flashing lights further up wouldn’t do that 300 East. I turned up 900 S. and got because I was a to 400 E. passing the Asian Market, professor at SLCC. when a car, pulled He told me, ‘You out of the lot, don’t look like a almost hitting me as it went out. I got to the park Race: Perspectives 52 Perspectives Race: professor.’” and as I was making my way to the track, the group of people in front of me, stopped and turned to look behind them, this caused me to stop and look as well. A car was on the grass speeding towards us, just then, I felt someone grab my arm from the other side. I was yanked off my and thrown to the ground. Once on the ground, I look up to see a gun pointed at me, inches from my head. I get kicked to turn over and handcuffed. I get pulled up and my wallet gets taken, at this time, I’m asking “what is going on?” and “what did I do?” One officer yells “you just robbed someone with a knife.” I said, no I didn’t and wouldn’t do that because I was a professor at SLCC. He told me, “You don’t look like a professor.” Just then, on the radio, a voice says that they are looking for a white man with blonde hair riding a bicycle. I tell them, “but I don’t fit that description.” Keep in mind, I am not wearing a helmet, the only thing in common, was riding a bike. He says, it doesn’t matter, because she pointed me out. I said, who? He said that they were driving the victim around in the car and she pointed me out. So I stand in front of a police car, with the alleged victim inside, I couldn’t see anyone in the car, but I guess she indicated it wasn’t me after all and I Race: Perspectives 53 The following day, I call Internal Affairs to make a complaint; I spoke I call Internal I spoke a complaint; to make Affairs The day, following belong here?” I ask myself sure you you “are So those six words that was let go. let was with him and set up an appointment the person in charge directly with when I got surprise, an So to my there was to the appointment, myself. and to talk. In short, for me interpreter story, there waiting I tell my my At the time, look into the matter. he will the officer says at the end, I guess I repeatthe city council, and was in the story officemate to her. and the Chiefshe told someone, of The officer the officer. calls Police that, I For his head?” dare I go “How over and tells me, calls me up, because they “lost” the tape interview, in for another back to come have of of in front So I get and in an envelope back, interview. I see my me, the outline of I tell them again, a and the cassette they had made before. and they did themselves exonerated that they I get the word later, week nothing wrong. to Utah. back I moved why and wonder same question often Race: Perspectives 54 RACE CARD THE So, howdowechange how dowe this? change countries andignoresothers, such astheissuesinourown country. So, borders.groups inother U.S. theseconflicted The rescuessomeof peoplewithintheir U.S., of ostracizeandmarginalizeatleastonegroup throughout my life, Ihave thatallcountries, observed includingthe persecuted. adjust theirways. resultwas The thatpeoplefromPakistan were often Pakistani people was forcingmanyEnglishmentorethinklifeand the Pakistan were inEnglandthen,too. takingrefuge influxof The us. Many peoplefrom peoplescaredmanyof to kick thelifeoutof skinheads whocreatedhavoc inEnglishsociety. Usingtheirboots Londonby expresstrain.Here, Iwitnessedtherisingof outside of Japanese peopleforreasonsthateludedme. decimation broughtonfromthewar, were considered inferiortothe totheirlivesto bringcontinuity andlongevity ontheirislandafterthe beneaththeirfeet.” people,people as“dirt whoworked These sohard was atthisyoung thattheJapanese age observation treatedtheOkinawa majorchanges. populationandlandscapewere stillundergoing The My theU.S. of WWIIhadonlybeenoverwas apart foraboutsixteenyears. donotexcuseobservations racismbutputinperspective forme. These foreign countriesleftimpressionsthatwere morepermanent. was always by whileliving racism,butmy in surrounded observations bused toschools inthetowns justoutsidethefrontgates. Perhaps I Deborah Young isfascinatedby people’s behaviorsandinteractions withtheir worlds. PROJECT Since my youth and(asI’ve watched politically, war-torn countries) We were stationedinEnglandduringmy teenyears—about1hour My earlyschool yearswere spentinOkinawa. Atthetime, Okinawa this? Racism Knows NoBoundaries Deborah Young lived onthebases, butIwas routinely bases.military Withfewexceptions, we communitiesor midwestern attached to time intheU.S. was spentinsmallwestern countries: U.S., Okinawa, andEngland.My sixteen,IhadlivedBy age inthree Race: Perspectives 55 Josh Gold Josh The contains US [post-]modern social world constructed artificial [i.e., four primary, specific systems w/in which & contrived] structures operate inter-dependently, More and synergistically. simultaneously, than not, these structures are directed by Oppression Matters: Matters: Oppression Trying to Make the Invisible Visible, part 1 Invisible Visible, the to Make Trying a] the interlocking social categories are all [and have been for social categories a] the interlocking are all [and have the stability of given b] nonetheless, socially ascribed, inter- the PROJECTPROJECT invisible visible. the ruling (sovereign?) institutions ofthe ruling Here is the (sovereign?) the political economy. into its structurally down type’], broken first system [an ‘ideal oppressive components: organized ofcenturies] hierarchically onto [& into] each and ascribed us: gay-straight, old-middle-aged- (dis)ability, gender, race/ethnicity, class, educated-not, urban-rural, fat-skinny, pretty (handsome)-ugly, young, chosen and they are most often not voluntarily etc., religious-which?-not, et Conley; H. Zinn, R. Wren M. Frye; McIntosh; D. [P. individuals by the formsal.]. As a consequence, of that each and re-presents us ‘takes’ is so in a # of and rigid, and this are fixed to the social world social the contents of On the other hand, categories. of each us [what each nurturance, subject to and reflecting and does] are malleable, says thinks, [This is for ‘good’reform and/or and revision, learning and plasticity. ‘evil’ however.] organized and hierarchically categories on locked, pressing down it is in this part of centuries, most Americans over world the social institutions have where political [public] and economic [private] operated, enabling the dominant group in particular social categories history has been full ofto subordinate ‘others’: as ‘American second small group of so has it had a relatively class citizens, first class ones functioned throughout. This structures system contains have which [or teeter- ‘see-saw’ a multi-dimensional [and cont. to function] like of one clearly identifiable set totter] in which categories social [and the is dominant [privileged], and others are subordinate position w/in each] of[oppressed], according to and as a result the institutional the law, roles and the SOPs of the political and economic institutions which specifying acceptable by society, dominated and shaped always have [‘common sense’] formscultural mores and habits [manners], everyday of language construction and expectations arising from interactions and discourses the norms, narratives, Long ago, and daily ‘talk’, etc. of all the dominant social group which became the standard by Trying to make the Trying to make the THETHE RACE CARDRACE CARD persons in society are judged, valued, etc. Those norms, narratives, and discourses have also been on regular display in the mass, commercial media apparatus, feeding the nation [self-reflexive] ‘infotainment’ 24/7. Historically only the norms, narratives and discourses of the dominant group were cheaply distributed and widely consumed, while those of subordinate groups were expensive to produce, distribute and access, and/or prohibited by the ruling political authorities owned and managed by the dominant group[s]. [This has changed somewhat, however. The internet—and social networking through it—has greatly lowered the costs of organizing resistance and direct actions against the political and economic elites’ norms, narratives and discourses, as well as their coordinating and planning of the dividing up and selling of the planet. See, e.g., organizing against the World Economic Forum every year in Davos, Suiss.] c] as a consequence, in the 21st century each individual [American] is internally fractured, because each person’s identity is entrenched in every [mostly involuntary] social category. As a result, some of us have parts [or all] of our identity within the dominant group, while other parts of “Those us are lodged within subordinate group[s]; norms, some of us, however, are only fractured narratives, and into subordinate social categories. discourses have Hence some folks [white, rich, straight also been on regular males, e.g.] should be less fractured display in the mass, psychologically [and ideologically] commercial media than other folks [Mitt Romney, apparatus, feeding the hedge fund Race: Perspectives 56 Perspectives Race: the nation” manager, fits here.] On the other hand, the ‘decision fatigue’ of the poor is especially pertinent in the fracturing of poor individuals, given their positions in the other social categories. I.e., decision-fatigue in the daily lives of poor white single males vs. poor, white single moms, and/or poor blacks and other people and parents of color, should function as a continuum of costs, from those poor people facing the least costs due to being privileged in the first set of categories [poor, white single males] to those facing the greatest costs, due to being in the last of the specified set of inter-locked and hierarchically organized social categories. Most significantly politically, is the fact that the poorest persons in America are children, esp. children of color. [See, e.g., the Children’s Defense Fund, “Report on the State of America’s Children, 2014.”] d] given all of this, what will each of us do w/ privilege, if we have it? If we don’t have any privilege [due to the hierarchically organized & inter-locking social categories each of us is assigned], then what? e] Never forget, however: in the US certain social categories carry more weight, wealth, status, leverage and power than others. This is seen clearly in FDR’s social categories—one of those being polio, as Race: Perspectives 57 f] perhaps not as rigid, there are nevertheless parallels w/ a many g] in the end, the Utilitarian maxim of the “greatest good for the he was in a wheelchair for four elected terms elected for four a wheelchair in he was the total in and 13 years wealthy, and fabulously male, White white, being House—nonetheless in an age ofthree categoriesand those trumped his (dis)ability, radio poor people in the most conversely, Put exclusively. and newspapers privileges of for being but they still derive US are white, the dominant for such ‘feel’ that way It usually doesn’t poor. when they’re ‘race’, even of A reflection it is so. but [‘white’] persons, only 1 in 10+ this is that black young, one in three Or, is. ‘blacks’ whereas 1 in 4 poor, ‘whites’ is system. somewhere in the US criminal justice males [20-29] is trapped in and across worked always things have essentially how And that’s this clearly as frisk’ statistics show ‘stop and NYC’s America. Today, of the likelihood raises and/or brown, black male, Being young, well. Also, ‘finest’ quite precipitously. NYC’s by being stopped and frisked the ‘picture’ of criminal in the US has for a very the long time [since period. In the 21st male, black a young in fact], been early colonial times, black, mediated, commercial picture portrays the mass young, century, [See, w/ the ‘law’ and in trouble ‘schwag,’ male sports stars w/ ‘bling,’ Blazers’ of ‘Jail the Portland e.g., the early ‘aughts’ in the NBA.] social caste system in all of a political perspective, from the above: resist social ascription and assignment? do [or can] we how therefore, for those whose ascriptions mostly [or completely] reside Seemingly, in the subordinate positions of it should be those social category, each life on the margins ofpersons who can live subordinated various the least difficulty—suffering fewer who should have social categories, ofand byways costs—navigating along and through the highways America. [Has this not been true for light-skinned African-American and Latino-American, straight men?] This violent country, is an awfully the “freedom ofand having only at but confident action” is priceless, McIntosh, “White Privilege…” & of level the individual P. analysis [See, of because However, M. Frye, “Oppression.”]. social categories the most mourn, [“Don’t of in #s. There is power allies. need we belong to, us the on-going politics of e.g., St. across See, organize.” Occupy Wall professionals and middle- do we America. On the other hand, how managers state?] organize in a “right-to-work” greatest can be said to be one of number” the greatest tragedies of American [domestic] history: the ‘white’ race [violently] dominated the majority [not in half that it constituted[s] society for the simple sake the political and economic power and wielded however] the colonies, to subordinate others deemed non-‘white’ to foster the ‘white’ race’s generation greatest good, being on top politically and economically, i.e., after generation. The privileges that systematically accrued to ‘whites’ and native ‘blacks’ across American history quite literally divested Americans [and others] ofgeneration from wealth their to generation. Race: Perspectives 58 aiaim lgno theWorld SocialForum. of Capitalism; slogan possible.”* history. [See, e.g., John Adams, isaRepublic?”] “What context [atleast],shouldlay bareitscomplicityandnaiveté in American theUtilitarianmaxim,inUS not ‘white’ones. racializingof The effectson‘black’ and‘brown’in theUShaddisproportionate families, thehousingmarket healthcaretoday intheUS. Also, thecollapseof of by racearethereforedirectlyconsequenttothedisparitiesindelivery medicalcareintheUS, by race. issues Unequallongevity application of It stilldoes. See, e.g., theunequal medicalstudiesconcerning current While there, hetaughtcourses inPolitical Scienceandspentthe‘91-’92 academicyear the “realworld” hadtooffer. Afterfindingout,heleftthe east coast for theUniversity Then, for five years heheldfull-timejobs intheprivate sector, seekingtodiscover what Josh Gold grew up in the archetypal U.S.Josh Goldgrew suburb, upinthearchetypal Levittown, NY. In1980hereceived a Bachelor of Arts from New Arts theState University York of of Bachelor inPolitical ScienceandHistory. of Korea. Political HeiscurrentlyanAssociateProfessorof teaching ScienceatSaltLake was EnglishConversation Foreign atPusanUniversity Studies Republic alecturer of of of OregonwherehestudiedPoliticalof andaPh.D. Science, Arts receivingaMasterof as aVisitingAssistantProfessor atWashington StateUniversity. From 1995-1999 he * David McNally, AnotherWorld isPossible: GlobalizationandAnti- h]However, RESISTANCE ISNOTFUTILE.“Another world is Community College.Community Race: Perspectives 59 I grew up in Ogden, Utah in a WASM I grewWASM in Ogden, Utah in a up Mormon)(White Anglo-Saxon household of By the time I went Utah provincials. I knew to college in Massachusetts, away that any admission of “racism” (to myself at the least, a secular sin. or others) was, David E. Moore David E. The Best Neighbor He Ever Had He Ever Neighbor Best The ever had. I’m told by authorities that we humans are all descended from a humans are all descended authorities that we I’m told by I’m sure I am. I homo sapiens. all genetically humans, We’re of problems arise at the beginning Tolerance personal relationships PROJECTPROJECT Yet, I knew that I recognized a black man, or an Indian, or a Mongolian a black I knew that I recognized Yet, a result, I confessed to myself As as different from me. that, unlike ColbertSteven recognition of (who claims satirically no that I do race), I told By the time I became a father, and more. recognize pigmentation generally race (and do recognize the fact that we that given children my more) the question of and sex, and income, interest is “What do we to do about it?” choose small group ofrelatively from the Great Rift Valley upright mammals in Africa. Then again, other authorities that I’m otherwise advised by of way by children” somewhere in all God’s and Eve Adam “We’re Missouri. There other uncertain are many creation stories that have among these many What is clear to me, invented. been, and will be, all the part of is that we’re explanations, a genetically consistent bunch of often independent of other, who procreate with each creatures “pigmentation and more.” all the same sort ofpretty sure the rest of We’re are. species of you it seems basics, these Given mammals—with admittedly some variability. the question of in its many forms, answers to me that the Golden Rule, Pharisees, It feels right. Samaritans, pretty well. do about race, what we of Variations me. are humans just like the reader, the and you, Blacks, the Buddha, Jesus, Confucius, by been independently derived have Rule of some atheists Rabbi Hillel, a bunch Muhammed, and even Hindu’s, Despite some quibbling (G.B. come to that same conclusion. have as a guiding principle for tolerant behavior. it holds up well Shaw), when our knowledge of prejudice another is based on “top down” bits of the above Given rather than “bottom up” experience. ideas, facts, dad to offer some applicable wisdom that my like and reasoning, I’d regarding to me one day do about it?” the question “Whatgave do we about ten. The I was issue of that is. Race, racism arose in the context of A respected Mormon real estate. friend of in a mildly Dad lived my The best neighbor he The best neighbor THETHE RACE CARDRACE CARD Race: Perspectives 60 the bestneighborhe’s ever had.” todoaboutit?Hisresponsewaswhat hewas this:“Iintendtobe going in Ogden,UtahnearMadisonand21stStreet.MyDadasked hisfriend thatablack manhadmovedreported innext-doortohim.Itwas 1955 ourhouse. friend The milewest of town ahalf of distressed part Race: Perspectives 61 My appointment was at three o’clock to three o’clock at was My appointment I an Asian woman. see our family doctor, before at the clinic fifteen minutes arrived seen our family appointment. I hadn’t my so I to this clinic, doctor since she moved some formscame early to complete that Armando Gonzalez-Escobar against. Discrimination or Mismanagement? Discrimination Armando Gonzalez-Escobar loves his family. He’s a good father. He was born in was He a good father. He’s his family. Armando Gonzalez-Escobar loves The receptionist said, “Mr. Gonzalez, please have a seat to wait for the a seat to wait have Gonzalez, please The receptionist said, “Mr. the receptionist seat, I watched my From and took a seat. I said, “Ok,” Gonzalez?” the receptionist said, “Mr. later, About ten minutes I stood up and said, “Yes.” go can to the exam room.” She said, “You Latino patients leaving. several exam room, I saw to my way On my into the examination nurse peeked a Latino minutes, After forty-five for been waiting I have What is the reason why me. I said, “Excuse questions and replied, “Someone will be here The ignored my nurse doctors three watched After she left, I opened the door wider and the doctor come didn’t other patients seen before me? Why were Why PROJECTPROJECT Guatemala. He’s a good driver, very friendly, and an old man. He loves to Salsa dance. loves and an old man. He friendly, very a good driver, Guatemala. He’s were required before I could see her. I finished the forms I finished by three I could see her. required before were them to the Latino receptionist. and gave o’clock doctor.” forms my if to see check other with ten sitting I was complete. were they around the room. were playing Three ofchildren adults while about five and the rest of Asian, the adults were skinned. I darker the adults were that time. room at the only Latino patient in the waiting was exam door partially into the room and sat in the With my open, I went I read the While I waited, beside the examination table to wait. chair story “Queen of magazine. People the Banda” in still Gonzalez, you’re She said, “Mr. surprised see me. to room. She was here?” come to see me?” and no one has minutes forty-five shortly.” of Two with different patients in other exam rooms. them were working room when I gotAsian men, who had been in the waiting called to go to finally came to see me. doctor my exam room. Thirtymy later, minutes I was ethnicity or skin color? I feel like it my to see me sooner? Was discriminated against. THETHE I feel I was discriminated I feel I was discriminated RACE CARDRACE CARD Race: Perspectives 62 RACE CARD THE Gaining knowledgethrough time hashada profound effectonmy corevalues, raisinghavoc withmy hate& discontent andracialignorance, thatfora experienced alevel of ourdifferences, I’ve friendbecause of expected toalienate agood consequences arepasseddown. was even There apointwhenIwas items.commissary honored. Duringmy stays itwas, Don’t Eat,Smoke, anyopen accept commandisexpectedtobe politics comeintoplay, and achain of strict unity.keeping controlandtodiscourage Withintheprisonitself is this isamethodin affiliationand to race,validation. Mybelief gang forracialmisinterpretations. manybreedinggrounds one of stateprisonsystem.Andmy outlookisthatit’stime intheCalifornia precepts.organization educationandcontinued practicesfocusedon interactions, lack of servitude. indentured theholeoutlookandmeaningof drasticallychanged of never were tooccurwould thatif are allmagicalmomentsinhistory NelsonMandela, LutherKing,theimprisonmentof Lincoln, Martin Abe altered atkey momentswhenracewas afactor. murders of The was history in history. It’s thatthenaturalcourseof unfortunate compassionthroughtheevents of someform andgained learned oursocial,economic,and accepting andeducationalsimilaritiesinlife. other people’s which hinderusfromlearning createbarriers perceptions happiness. Hangingontooldideasand/orbelieving pursuits of that it’s notreallyrelevant, continuing andour toalterlife, itsliberty mindedness andignorance, opposedtounderstandings. and causebehaviors, openingdoorstomisconceptions, close- further historical circumstancesthattothisday continue toinfluenceactions PROJECT Gaining True Knowledge Through My my experiences! Do nottouch, hug,orgive propstoanyotherrace. Orsevere convicts according continues tosegregate Corrections of Department tospendsomeextensiveI have hadtheopportunity unfortunately aresocial Other majorfactorscontributingtoracialbarriers It would bemy assumptionthatwe, (whiteAmerica)shouldof Race isamanipulative tool,instillinghateanddiscontent, inatime Experiences! Rodney Gehlen as well asindividual opinionsbasedon from pettiness, suspicionsandjealousy attitudecreated topic arepurelyalearned experiences. Stigmasstemmingfromthis my own personalthoughts, beliefsand issolelybasedon My “raceperception” Race: Perspectives 63 Society continues to keep what happens historically alive by by historically alive what happens to keep Society continues Morals and beliefMorals formulate but done nothing and has system barriers growth. and Spiritual Emotional my to blocks and read or race that the issues I believe to revisit the horrors. continuing Even further discriminatory beliefs and justify dictates negative Values. oriented organization and cultural organized promote forms Religion of program, own the focus on their discrimination because racism and instead of The treating and loving, important the broader more issues. and have are all GODS children because we respecting one another something to learn from all areas of and benefit from one another life. learnedI’ve to depersonalize myself less racially reactive and promote empathizing while being myself respecting and social interactions, as terms. life on its own living Race: Perspectives 64 RACE CARD THE On Race,Folly, grander men...Ghandi, Lincoln, rumi, king,my heroes...had men...Ghandi, Lincoln,rumi, todiefor grander us perfectlyone...embrace our rainbow flavored milkshake life!... by loving others...mutts have itmade theirown specialcharm...blended, allbackgrounds...real love power blooms liesbeyond brick walls...self of not...black, white, brown, yellow, mellow...xenophiles turning like people seeds hope...don’t beyellow, ittakes guts...home colormatters onearth, overhate crumble time... spread withmanyjams...all of preciouslyhuman inhissight...crumbs overtoo weird, theygot it...soglad,notsad,it’s done...multigrain toast, varieties makegarden lifemoretasty...we’re ourselves... onlylefttojudge hatred diedinfence-lesstowns...orange tulips don’t yellow judge mums... live, letlive, orsurelysuffer...turning ourheadsnever solved anything... right, now?... really race, was it?...righteousme-s, onceblind,now see...why notdoit newways...it far-sighted, great stop it...short-sighted, learning wasn’t why dowe killeach other?...whowould we bewithoutit?...dousafavor, ontoit,blindly...supremacy it,grabbed learned itstwistedhead... turned them?...she always rootedfortheIndians...race isafourletterword... should’ve known...who were Mormons theytojudge oppressed, good unmentionable sin...wonder-bread lifehasnonutritional value...once not minded mantaughthimtoforgive...sharing glazeddonuts, betterthan still...hatediedinitsown poison...narrow- he couldhave beenangry house...he knewsheshunnedthatword...good man,hesaw throughit... town...she never raisedhisbaby muttered forhim...”nigger” intheir of white...bessy-mae was hiskindcolor-blind maid...fromthe“other”side homes hiddeadmen’s bones...dancing withablack-man, marrying PROJECT why not say somethingaboutit?...deliverance, divinely inspiredby how canI make adifference?...progressively reviewingracialpride, have your peace, live ittoo...god don’t make nodumbmistakes... the jailswere filledwithinnocents...they never mentionedthe aracist...trainedtohatethem,heloved...whitewashedno child isborn order,in noparticular heregoes... Life! On Race, OnFolly, OnLife! Linda Waters excuse my random,ramblingphrases... views...on race, onfolly, onlife...please I choose?...to expressmy simpleminded much tosay...which “sixwords” should filled withhopethatnever dies...I hadtoo I thoughtandthought,thought... Race: Perspectives 65 my pie in the sky optimism...why not dare to dream BIG?...it’s up to BIG?...it’s not dare to dream pie in the sky optimism...why my got? all we not give why tomorrow’s peace...Jesus taught well, the golden well, taught everyone rule...onerace, peace...Jesus tomorrow’s greater flaws...far all human dissolves sight not?...universal why wins, skin...heartsthan our outer can be turned for good...people people, are the last stone?... will cast lofty and low...who is speck hopeful day...blue-green one race, human me to decide...one shared earthly human, creatures, human kindness...splendidly sprouting destiny... Race: Perspectives 66 RACE CARD THE Racism buildsstrength.Strength Racism BuildsStrength.StrengthEqualsEm oo fmy skin.Doyou? Iam notaracist.Areyou? color of lived throughhardtimeswith my skin.Iknow my place, and Iknow the do you? Iknow whatcolortheirskinwas becauseIhave ittoo. Ihave that Ithinkaboutit,don’t even know where my ancestorsarefrom… ancestors. Idon’t aboutthemtodoit. Now have enoughinformation Iamthinking aboutwritingmycompelling empowerment. survival! had toevolve like me. Itcanbeamatterof I never even underestimatethoseworthy opponents. Ifiguretheyhave person like me, standingoutinacrowd, Iamimmediatelyatmy best. leaving aretheeasiestones! thetable. Hell,theracistbigots I knewhadtobe. “Feel freetohateonme,” ishow Ioftenfeelwhen based discriminationhasmademebetter, andsmarter, because stronger at my abilitytodealindiverse circles. Changingtheway Iviewrace- pureelation skin color, period.SincethenIhave of feltnothingshort my like nothingelsecould.Ivowed becauseof again tonever fallshort bigots, and Ihatedthem.Maybe Istilldo. Ifelthate, butitgave medrive didn’t, inahatefulmood. andIdeparted table, Iwouldnegotiation simplyhave todobetterthananyone there. I it.Whatever itwas, Iknewforsurethatinordertolevel the or lack of ol’U.S. A.maybe itwas fromthegood theaccent, me asatarget of from Cuba,orJamaica, oranywherereally, butthelocalsquickly pegged doinga deal inaplacewhereIlooked different.Icouldhave arrived of color! change white.swear thattheroomalmostturned Seriously, their facesseemedto everyone. anyone intheplacecould reasonablyaffiliatewithhim.I That watched inwonder asaself-proclaimedsupremacistembarrassed theskin on thejoker. of equals empowerment. PROJECT I thoughtthiswould behardtowriteabout.It’s not.Ifeela racismdon’t endthere. Ispotanother When advantages of The peoplewere andcheated. Those racist I feltdiscriminatedagainst Being thepersonIam,actuallyfeltempowered by it.Iwas reminded Racism isalive andwell. Iknow itbecause, justtheotherday, I Laughs have noskincolor;nordowords. Maybe words… Kendall Swenson powerment. when they are directed at my race regardless when theyaredirectedatmy raceregardless enjoy race-basedjokes. Ilike themeven skin like mine, onlynotasdark. someone toldme, andthatsomeonehad I amaCracker. Iknow thatbecause I am not a racist person. That iswhyI amnotaracistperson.That I - Race: Perspectives 67 Emily Beck On February 2, 2014 million’s sat in front On February 2014 million’s 2, of the biggest their televisions to watch game You the Super Bowl. in America, what does the could be asking yourself, the biggestRace Card Project and football game of in common? If the year have define within. It was the most talked about the next day. It was trending on trending It was about the next day. talked the most It was riding a white horse. The with a cowboy first four seconds are shown theater Latino girl in a dark movie The a young next frame shows it or loved either one the comments were and Twitter On Facebook The comments ranged from: the melting pot of it! It shows •“I loved America.” •“Beautiful!” it.” and this proves Our country is diverse done Coke. •“Well the positive: The comments outnumbered negative Colored Skin Does Not Define Within Not Define Skin Does Colored PROJECTPROJECT you watched just for the commercials, like thousands of thousands like just for the commercials, watched you you others, or think ofcould probably remember a connection. The sixty second on the brought many to the conversation commercial from Coca-Cola, issue of 1963 speech. to Martian race and also back Luther King’s the time of and by about on Twitter tweeted Facebook, only this writing, with 13,634, YouTube 1,469,375 hits on later; it had received days two One seems to automatically ask the question: and 3,149 dislikes. likes a viral buzz? Whatin those sixty seconds that has created such is with pine trees dropped behind a lake mountains are back Snowcapped returns The with his horse and his gloved cowboy in the next frame. hand is gracing the face of “Oh beautiful animal. The words, his beloved The first four seconds a female voice. are sung by for spacious skies,” not what happened in the first But it’s probably brought many to tears. what happened after. four; it’s a bubble with her gum. Theblowing song is still being sung but now the next and a different language; Spanish. For a different voice it’s to lines from America the beautiful being we listen seconds forty-five Images ofsung in all different languages. people from all different the last eleven until and sexual preferences are shown religions, races, “…from sea to shining sea” are sung words, seconds when the last five drop with the red bottle in English. The back a mountain last frame was the hashtag label. Next to the bottle was and white signature coke #AmericaIsBeautiful. no graythey hated it. There area. was Colored skin does not Colored skin does THETHE RACE CARDRACE CARD Race: Perspectives 68 inside. Coloredskindoesnotdefinewithin. and thatwhowe areontheoutsidedoesnotdefinewho we areonthe and was notrealized.Overall Coke definedAmericaasbeing changed and races. Coke alsoproved that,indifferentways, King’s Dreamwas diverse isvery withmanynationalities only Englishbutthatourcountry their character.” theirskinbutby thecontentof bythey willnotbejudged thecolorof have adreamthatmy fourchildren willoneday live inanationwhere Protestants andCatholics, willbeabletojoinhands….” Healsosaid,“I God’s children, black men,andwhiteJewsof andGentiles, professed that,“….we willbeabletospeedup thatday whenall race?King LutherKing’sto Martian 1963speech andtheissueof Muslim.” Coke’s commercialshowed Americaasnotjustoneracethatspeaks How doesthissixtysecondcommercialand itscommentsrelate •“Hated itnotbeingsungallinEnglish.Now IhateCoke.” itin •“How daretheytake apatriotic songandallow alineof •“I willnever drinkCoke orbuytheirproductsagain!” Race: Perspectives 69 Anonymous If in six simple describe race I would be “Race is what defines would it words I was elementary, since Ever triumph.” my talks about ethnicity lectures and given ways— identity in many different and my parents and media, teachers, through books, Race is What Defines My Triumph My Defines What is Race triumph! My perspective about race is that it is in a constant evolution driven by by driven is that it is in a constant evolution about race My perspective this for me to come to this point and think about race However, experience was the most exciting at first, it When I came to the U.S., PROJECT friends. From all that, I was able to constructively build my identity in a build my constructively able to that, I was all From friends. the external personality but I recognize framed my that factors also way up with grown I have As a Hispanic individual, me. has an influence on race. my personality and mindset shaped by objectives, values, goals, my me to do so much who I am and empowers It is the aspect that molds more. recognize I also improved. day and each the education that is provided However, attributes. and negative that it is surrounded both positive by my from that I benefit I decide to look at it is in the ways the way sound somewhat selfish but it is deeper than that, It may specific race. of “taking advantage what I mean by I am referring to seeking race,” my and needed. Thisopportunities background could be is valued where my clubs/programsparticipate that I can talks, empowering scholarships, by discussions about Hispanic class culture, in and shed some light on my at the aspect of I also looked etc. and the dynamic within that group, as being bilingual, culturally competent, such developed skills I have etc. immerged in more cultures, at the age of initially began I came to the U.S. 8, my as a child, way first language and with time I learnedwas Spanish well as as English a process that I went It was became familiar with the American culture. due to the background I felt discriminated through and at certain times, A great aspect about that is that I also became familiar I belonged to. Basically different cultures among the Hispanics. with the hierarchy What to a place in the hierarchy. originating from being Hispanic belong this is that some countries feel they are better than others I mean by I also gotdespite they all might be from South America. Therefore, a glimpse ofof some group own and the the “discrimination” within my background that I identified with. that However, being in the plane goingever to a new country. soon disappeared as I started I remember the first school. excitement Race is what defines MY Race is what defines THE RACE CARD day of going to school; we all had to go through an evaluation process to determine the correct level of education for us. The session where they were determining my literacy skills was the longest of all, as I did not even know ABC’s at the time. The person examining me had a friendly smile on her face and was talking to me in a language that I had no idea what it was. The school I was attending at the time did not have a fully developed ESL program. I was therefore placed in ESL Level 1 during the normal English periods, but was placed at regular mainstream classes for all other subjects. It took me three times as long to learn and complete the material than any other student just because I had to find out the meaning of the words and as a child, I feel like Race was a huge part of my “trial.” Sometimes, I would catch myself saying or wandering about the privilege of being white and mastering the English language. I would feel at times that their race was superior to any other and I lost much contact with my own race and ethnicity. I felt like just the color of their skin, hair, eyes was unfair. I felt like I needed to be ahead of the again if I just wanted to be at that level. Going to school I felt frustrated and ignorant. I could not make any friends nor do anything during my regular class time but to make sure that my seat was not empty. I’m a very active and outgoing person. However for the duration of the school hour, I was not myself. I could not speak my mind, I could not laugh with my classmates, I could not even answer a simple math question, and I could not answer my parents when they asked me what I’ve learn at school that day. Even though I dreaded coming to school every day I came, and over time, after Race: Perspectives 70 Perspectives Race: observing and imitating I started to pick up the language at a faster pace. I did become successful academically because of the desire to be more or equal. I skipped grades, got scholarships, began college at an early age and graduated high school at the age of 15. Even though these were great accomplishments they were not directed to the purpose of my growth primarily. However, as I became older and understood as well as learned more, I was able to reflect upon this and change my mindset of how I looked at race. Instead of desiring another background, I know feel enriched with my own and highlight my triumphs with my background, those two factors in my life are always a combo. Everything happens for a reason and being in a new country and learning a new language created a new me. I am grateful for this “Race Card project” because it does certainly offer different perspectives and stories behind what each of us feels or think about when we define race. Race: Perspectives 71 When minorities try to get employment, some kind of us often keeps block road when I example, For from getting the work. racist. I had were the teachers in school, was and getting homework problems with my didn’t The grade teachers my scores higher. Joe Woodward Joe Opportunities Those of diplomas and no criminal high school us who have After a certain period of rent, plus other bills, when your time, going to get for committing these crimes. caught you’re After a while, criminal records like to have seem While generations older didn’t Many of in these conditions of to live us do not choose poverty, PROJECT Roadblocks to Employment and Other Other and Employment to Roadblocks seem interested in helping me and other students ofseem interested in helping Instead, these color. They seemed with the white students. spent more time white teachers the the white students’ educations than more interested in improving As a result, many ofminority students’ educations. out of us dropped of without gettingschool Lack an education. a proper education is one of I’m referring the roadblocks to. These high school problems getting jobs. backgrounds still seem to have graduates after application and fill out application go on countless that they let them know rarely contact them to interviews, but employers if Or, got the jobs. that the do get in contact, they say back employers qualified for the jobs. applicants weren’t This need for money forces money. to have have you expenses pile up, many of desperation, you forced into us into desperation. When you’re These unwise decisions lead many ofdo things that are not wise. us to acts of burglarizing houses, like committing crimes, mugging violence, or selling illegal innocent people, drugs, just to survive. us a The result is going automatically gives to jail or prison, which our served our time for our crimes, after we’ve criminal record. Even criminal record is used against go us later when we for employment criminal hire people who have don’t because most employers Criminal I’m referringbackground is another roadblock to. backgrounds. use crime as an younger generation because these adults didn’t today’s to gettingalternative out of they still faced discrimination in hardships, other within their each over they watched today, Unlike the job market. other out so that criminal backgrounds were helping each communities, ofnot as much an issue. because of no choice have but we faced in have the discrimination we of Criminal background and education are two our society. our biggest and other opportunities. Roadblocks to employment Roadblocks to employment THE RACE CARD roadblocks. Having a police record keeps you from employment. How can you expect to get a job if your criminal background gets in your way of getting employment or being offered other opportunities? Without a clean record, even educational skills won’t help you. I feel that if people commit crimes and are punished for their crimes, they shouldn’t have to have their crimes hanging over their shoulders for the rest of their lives. One solution, I can think of, is to change the limit to the statue of limitations on criminal records. If we had a way to get around our background checks and have our charges reduced to lesser charges, meaning from felonies to misdemeanors, many employers will hire us. Race: Perspectives 72 Perspectives Race:

Joe Woodward is currently attending Literacy Action Center to get his high school diploma. After he gets his diploma, he’s using it to get better employment. Race: Perspectives 73 Scot A. Briggs Scot A. Six Words on Racism on Words Six ppression – Unjust or cruelppression – Unjust or of exercise or authority. power attack. – To ffensive rejudice – To cause damage cause right or claims. or detriment to ones Prejudice – To O itself! by place or keep Separate from Others. Isolates – To Serious – Dangerous/harmful. O refuse to accept or approve. Negativity - To affect, destruct, fully corrupt – To his/her mind. P.O.I.S.O.N. PROJECT Serious, Offensive, Negativity. THE Predudice, Oppression, Isolates, Predudice, Oppression, RACE CARD Race: Perspectives 74 RACE CARD THE I thoughtyouwerethe mother.” To which “Oh!Ithoughtyou shereplied: were thebabysitter!” babysitter?” Inearlychoked. Ikept astraightfaceandsaid,“Iamthe tomeandasked, ishismother?Areyou “Where the son, sheturned playinghandsome my withmy boy was, etc. Afterabout10minutes of who Iwas) cameover talkingtome, complimentingonhow andstarted lady whomI’ve never metbeforeinmy life(whoobviously didn’t know my sonasItookhimoutforastroll.A Iwas carrying One afternoon anywhere inpublic, butIdidwhich naturallyattractedsomeattention. bypractice toseeafairlookingchild aSamoanwoman beingcarried he was fairlookingandundeniablyhandsome. Itisnotacommon stopped by manyyoung girls“ooh-ing”and“aah-ing”over himbecause out withhimshoppingandlike manytimespreviously, we would get except hiscutenoseinheritedfrommother. Iwas Oneafternoon fairandtolookathim,you couldn’tborn tellhewas anythingSamoan PROJECT babysitter. I ThoughtYou Were theBabysitter Repeka Touli Australian andIamSamoan.Mysonwas six-month baby son.Hisfatherisawhite was abrandnewmotheratthetimewith everyone else, ithappenedtometoo. I would ever beseenasastereotypebutlike I never thoughtforamomentthatI Race: Perspectives 75 “Your grandad is a humanitarian,” my my grandad is a humanitarian,” “Your mom said, a hint of I pride in her voice. in her who a humanitarian was had asked Nelson, had Mr. teacher, since my life, my Nelson Mr. class. posed the question in great on about had twaddled humanitarians Grandad Mitchell J. Baca Mitchell J. My grandaddy is a lot of The master of veteran. A war things. the core of“At a high amount exert being a humanitarian, one must out us to take on about different cultures and asked Nelson went Mr. look or the traditions we we are judged the way by “Sometimes we about being treated unfairly ‘cause ofWhat hell did I know the I how PROJECT A humanitarian can A humanitarian can of the times, but I couldn’t tell you their names as I was keen to tune of keen their names as I was tell you but I couldn’t the times, making spitballs, explanations I caught between him out. But from the in the desert, or hand or live to lead big rallies, had you it seemed like smart say or to be a things using smart words out rice on the streets, humanitarian. And granddad did any of never that. The champ and noogie extraordinaire. checkers cat fish. A catching ofowner A hero to his three grand-kids local feed store. the when he And though mom had told him not to. us out to ice cream even takes precision at earth that has such I know a man on God’s there isn’t and a Marlin Model 55 aimed balancing a beer and cold cut in one hand, and gruff He is quiet at prairie dogs in the other. But I didn’t and simple. Nelson gave examples Mr. see the humanitarian mom said he is in the us. of acceptance to people of Nelson fancied Mr. all races and ethnicities.” by “acceptance” into ten-dollar words like turning one-dollar words deeper than its uncomplicated meaning drove making them sound much look at one another and or creed—can color, human—culture, at. “Any can appreciate the differences.” see something different. A humanitarian a piece of paper. judged were unfairly based on how about a time when you Write follow. others view you.” in a blizzard. No one gyppedlook? I’m whiter than a polar bear playing me out of ‘cause his skin is dark. dad Michael’s change at the store like Or they did at Cindy. pulling faces with thin eyes like me by Or mocked gobbledygooktalked when they made fun of at me like Spanish Celia’s accent. So instead of about, I drew a know something I didn’t writing on Celia and me with the rest of Cindy, Laughing picture: Michael, the kids. other. not at each other, with each appreciate the differences. THE RACE CARD “Your granddad is a humanitarian,” mom said, this time with an undeniable sense of honor. The kind of honor that stands alone without the need of anyone else’s approval or agreement. A couple nights before, Grandaddy took my sisters and me to the Chinese market. Mom was working late again and grandad was fixing to indulge our sweet tooth for the candy wrapped in symbols we didn’t understand. The store was real quiet, with only a few customers milling about. The owner greeted us and went to the back of the store. The candy was at the end of an aisle facing the register where the owner’s wife waited behind the counter. My sisters went for the bright pink and yellow candy while I stooped down for the orange. Grandad looked the candy up and down, trying to suppress the twinkle in his eye that told me deep down inside he was a kid with a sweet tooth too. The store owner’s son—a little kid no more than five—walked up and down the aisles until he met us at the colorful racks. He looked up at the top shelf, where the blue candy gleamed under the fluorescent lights. Grandad hoisted him up to grab a piece, saying the blue was his favorite too. The kid grabbed two, and back on the linoleum floor, handed one to grandad. That’s when the guy came “The in, all dressed up in black from head to man hollered foot, carrying a gun. He started yelling at the boy to for everyone to stand still and for shut up, his the owner’s wife to start emptying demand peppered the register. Her son had started with slurs and crying ‘cause of the commotion— obscenities.” wailing on behalf Race: Perspectives 76 Perspectives Race: of us who were too scared to make a sound. The man hollered at the boy to shut up, his demand peppered with slurs and obscenities. The boy didn’t comply—how could he? Even if they shared the same dialect, the language of threats is seldom well-received. He kept harassing the little guy, his eyes wide with malice and dark with uncaring. They were the only thing visible through all the black fabric, and they told the world he was desperate. Desperate for a thrill, or money, or maybe just to be taken seriously. Who knew? People went to strange lengths to be noticed or get what they want. It led me to wonder what use a disguise and a weapon was to a person who wanted to be understood. The barrel of the gun pointed directly at the boy didn’t sway the kid to calm down either, but it stirred our anxiety. My older sister dropped her candy and grabbed my hand. White-knuckled and tight, the grip was her way of saying “It’s all going to be ok. And I’m also scared as hell it won’t be.” I squeezed hers in kind, saying the same thing. The man had had enough. It all happened in a clamor of bullets and frantic screams, so fast it wasn’t until the smoke cleared that I understood it all. The market owner stood firmly in the door frame of the stocking room, holding a rifle still hot from discharge. The masked man was crumpled motionless on the linoleum, a dark chest stain barely visible through the black sweater. The boy lay on the ground, an arm’s length away from where he had stood. Still crying. Granddad was no longer next to me. Kneeling hunched over, his breathing was labored, and he clutched a red spot on his old army jacket that was spreading over where his medals used to hang. My sister ran to him, and the owner’s wife scooped up her distressed child. She was talking hysterically, and we couldn’t understand the words coming out of her mouth. But as she held her son close, the tone was universal – “thank you, thank you.” My sister sobbed silently, cupping granddad’s face in her shaking hands. “Why?” My sister wasn’t selfish; she just didn’t want to lose a man that meant so much to her. He didn’t say anything, as granddad was apt to do. Just waved feebly for my other sister and me to come closer. He wrapped his arms around the three of us, so tight I could feel the damp spot, and fell still. The blue sweet that was in his hand plinked to the floor. Race: Perspectives 77 The whole town crowded around the grave site at the peak of the sloping lawn. I was struck at the turn out. When the news spread of that night, everyone was up in arms, and the result was a noble funeral fit for a man The Herald deemed a “local hero.” Though granddad wouldn’t have approved of all the fuss. I expected sensationalized gossip to detract from the service. But it was a real somber affair; people didn’t say much. They just mingled around the bedecked casket, faces marked with streaks of genuine loss. Folks came up to mom to shake her hand or give her a hug. It was then that I learned just how much of a loss his death was to our community. They had lovely things to say about granddad. How he gave away feed at no cost to struggling farmers and solved plumbing problems to widows and single mothers. How he volunteered at the shelter, and his donations to the church let kids go on campouts. On occasion he’d take a day to drive for miles, assisting anyone he found stuck on the side of the road. It seemed everyone had a story like that, and mom just nodded her head knowingly, a beaming smile between her tear-stained cheeks. He did so much and he never told me about it. But I suppose that degree of modesty was par for granddad. No one spoke of rallies or rice or rhetoric—just simple stories of kind deeds that touched the lives of many. Mr. Nelson’s lesson about appreciating the differences in others suddenly seemed much simpler. Granddad saw the value in the people around him, making it easy for him to be of value to them. He knew the power of a kind word and a helping hand. The last helping hand he gave saved another person’s life. He looked at that boy in the market and saw someone who had the potential to do good in life. After all, we need people in the world who are willing to share blue candy. I went over to the coffin to bid granddad one last “good-bye.” It seemed almost too simple a container for the humanitarian I had come to learn was laid there. The glint of a shiny wrapper against the wood caught my eye. A ways away, the Chinese family waved at me. I waved back, and then placed my palm to rest on the foil and oak cover. Race: Perspectives 78 Perspectives Race: Race: Perspectives 79 Grades The of question from?” “where are you of asked was me in 7th grade our by Junior to West vice-principal. I went an My father was N.Y. High, in Rochester, Mohawk in a proud working Ironworker, modern life and limb as he risked tradition, Nathan Cole Nathan introductory course to Native American history, literatures and culture. literatures American history, course to Native introductory The vice-principal had come to visit with me outside of Mrs. B.’s The me outside of vice-principal had come to visit with B.’s Mrs. B., with Mrs. talked time, me for my thanked the vice-principal Finally, Nathan Cole is an enrolled member of the Akwesasne Mohawk Reservation, located in northern member of Mohawk Reservation, Nathan Cole is an enrolled the Akwesasne PROJECT is an Assistant Professor of English at Salt Lake Community College. In addition to first and second of Communityis an Assistant Professor College. English at Salt Lake year composition courses, he teaches English 2810: Native American Literature and Experience, an he teaches and Experience, American Literature composition courses, English 2810: Native year New York State. The Mohawk are part of the original Five Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy. He The Mohawk are part State. of Nations of Confederacy. the original Five the Iroquois York New to help build tall building skeletons in different cities, from New York to New York from cities, in different skeletons to help build tall building also a mother, where my in Rochester, settled down Arizona, before we from the Akwesasne were Both Nurse. as a Registered worked Mohawk people are part Our Reservation. ofConfederacy of the Iroquois old. State side of Dad from the New York from the Canadian side, Mom was My grandparents on either side had little formal in the “Rez.” schooling ofthe Indian Boarding schools None had gone past 6th grade. their day. beyond. went But they made sure their children the mix of Unlike English class. students in the class (Black, ethnic Italian, Greek, and me), and what few ofAsian, Puerto Rican, Jewish, in her I excelled in her class, the mainstream “white” students were a mix of at the time was accent, which caught my He class. Reservation, and a curiosity, was I inflections. Rochester Canadian, and inner-city as me interested, to keep some advice on how wanted teacher my to the teach She had to every easy for me. assignment, every was test, the majority ofcrowd, the Bell curve, and many of them struggled with fun, it was me, For chore. a was because for them, reading literature, But this grandparentsbecause Mom and my had nurtured that fluency. as the curriculum what to do with me, was know inner city pair didn’t too easy for me. and the rest of reading, but I doing speed 7th grade taken English was Bond. I me James gave B. Mrs. top speed. So out the machine’s maxed my but he was on to other genres too, read the whole series and went You see, atmosphere. school companion through a difficult inner-city accent, and unexpected unusual that bookworm with the glasses, I was Mainstreamed, and yet...not. grades. Unexpected Grades. James Bond and my James Bond and James Bond and My Unexpected My Unexpected and Bond James THE RACE CARD Race: Perspectives 80 RACE CARD THE Katelyn Prawitt isastudent at SaltLake College, Community shereceived herASinGeneral Studies enjoy the process of writing because of Professorenjoy Lara writingbecauseof Asplund.Katelyn theprocess thanksLara of for herlove of writing and for spreading the joy it brings to her students. Outside of school, Katelynwriting andfor enjoys spreadingthejoy school, singing, itbringstoherstudents. Outsideof I willalwayswin in Fall of 2013. She istransferring toWestminsterin Fall of College inPublicHealth. topursueaBachelor’s PROJECT Katelyn ontheExecutive serves Council atSLCC. Shehasnever been awriter, butshebegan to the race. Now, why? Why can’t we shedthissocialtaboocalled“race”? “Competition,” Ithought whenIheardthe“race.” I WillAlways WintheRace In our younger generation, we are at a good pace. we areatagood generation, In ouryounger e oo ourjudgmentsandwe’ll seetheday. of Let go That’s at,winningwithgrace. whatI’mgood In theend,questionthatwe’ll face… Continue totalkourdifferencesaway, What canweWhat dotowintherace? exercising, and food. running,cheerleading, In theend,Iwilldomy best. Just onepersoncanprotest. Katelyn Prawitt Race: Perspectives 81 I thought I was PuertoI thought I was Rican until about Untitled When you first read my name you might my name first read When you What race is she? wonder. that clarified ago mother years my when two birth at my I looked I am indeed, Mexican. certificatemy dad is on & sure enough, Denise Amber Pineda Denise Amber matter what. I only had one picture ofI only had one picture & in this today, I no longer him, which have My mother two. dad left when I was I grew mother only, up with my the only white girl out of where I was Texas I grew up in Dallas, my felt more comfortable around people of being always I’ve color that race is a huge issue still in our country wide I do believe & world It is also sad that certain people use their race against people & as of I am guilty enough about race. racial profiling or not being sensitive PROJECT there as “Mexican.” It’s kind of It’s there as “Mexican.” though because his name is James funny he is a man ofyou might not expect that Pineda. At first glance, color. on top of he is standing picture, as a construction a building, dressed some blue jeans on & a bright white t-shirt And he had & tan worker. He had very very very long jet a tool belt hanging loosely. with boats, remember hair & a dark orangeblack tan complexion. I honestly don’t any more than that & I’m sure I might of remembered some things not I still have memory. these are the images in my however incorrectly, five. was seen him or had contact with him since I born (Irish) but she was in hair & freckles with red really white, is white, in the military Grandpa was Mexico City because my & stationed there. was Spanish. first language My mother’s or Mexican. This black The is where I learned rest were about friends. etc. to hip hop dance, & how music strange because when I’m around white It’s or different nationalities. people I feel less than & belittled. But sometimes being around people, of for both Honestly I crave I feel better than, or empowered. color people of I want approvals. color to accept me & not treat me as just them to white people I want another white girl. And when I’m around not white trash. view me as an equal member, & other each horrible are stepping all over that we It’s for that matter. to judge on their outside appearance. still continuing someone just based They feed into the stereotypes their race a bad name.” “give say you to set examples of& continue a created. It’s that stereotype was why start unless we vicious & horrible stop, cycle & I’m not sure it will ever talking about it. We’re all equal, no We’re all equal, THE RACE CARD I’m working hard to change this within myself because I am a very strong believer in equality. Most people think that is directly related to gay awareness & acceptance when in fact it is not singled to any particular group or individual. My understanding of equality & what I try to spread is that: WE ARE ALL EQUAL, NO MATTER WHAT. In the mean time I am considering on changing my last name just because 1) it doesn’t really mean anything to me since I don’t know my father or care about carrying on his legacy & 2) I do get judged on paper from it; as in people expect me to be Mexican or something & a blonde white girl appears & sometimes that’s worked to my advantage but most of the time it has not. 3) when people see my last name they automatically think that I can speak Spanish; which I can not. Only a little bit. This last name has caused more complications & misunderstandings, misjudgments than I believe it’s worth! I just want to not be judged because of my race (or lack there of) & I’d also like to stop judging people because of their race. Race: Perspectives 82 Perspectives Race: Race: Perspectives 83 Linda Waters Sprouting Hope for a Kinder World a Kinder for Hope Sprouting kinder world. Crowded, the room teemed with the cacophony Crowded, of and upbeat tunes... nervous laughter, translators, onward a venturing calling, a reaching, a mysterious something more. toward with fate, a rendezvous family, it felt like Strangely, a remembering, the odd comfort of home, no tangible recollection of meeting before. no alarm, causing kind embraces, Cheerful faces, citizens of crossing all ages one human race, and form, melting pot on American soil. a mini-world soft-spoken The room hushed, a slim, willowy, read the names ofpower-angel 51 countries present, not. matter applause...borders chuckles, Their common ground,longing for a caring world a humanity matures, where peace prevails, of ways wisdom masters the blacker war. battle-torn relics ofShedding outdated borders, all sorts... burdens ofLeaning forward, of hate, fear fall away. grudges,Past gone, a simple process and trusted guide. A kaleidoscope of tears cascading, grace... in washed bygones fading, nine days soothing sighs... gentle smiles, With baby-eyes, tight wrapped while those, they gather, cynicism, despair, me-isms, in plastic pleasures, landfills of barely know. minds, singular colliding PROJECT Sprouting hope for a Sprouting hope for THE RACE CARD Stories of bigness, of smallness, of best-ness, of less-ness, worn-out words, righteous reasons, primitive remnants... all folly, jesters of fallen mental courts, toot loudly their rusted horns.

Meeting, on the edge of innocence, fresh winds smiling at the quiet evolution, gentle clearing of air... They fly on the back of a blue-green speck in a sea of a trillion stars sprouting hope, finding it a kinder world for the children of tomorrows, yet to be... Race: Perspectives 84 Perspectives Race: Race: Perspectives 85 I was bornI was and raised in a small corner Race of Utah called Taggerts Utah with my there was family’s family and eight other kid but head up not a lot to do as a young Mason E. Gramly Mason E. My Street Life Opened My Eyes My Opened Life Street My my eyes. My first time I interacted with any other Nationality or race if with any other Nationality or race My first time I interacted will you PROJECT into the High Uintahs that was our back door or back yard. I never had yard. I never door or back our back that was into the High Uintahs was or any other race so I Mexican kids, kids, black any interaction with never was a person as a person or a man as a man I raised to simply see the color of by or child judgebrought up to simply any man, woman, appearances. their skin or their outward already in Ogden, Utah so I was father in with my when I moved was man ofa young others and to raised to respect my 16 years old I was My best friend as of them to treat myself. want treat others as I would that I had the privilege ofthis day the name man by meeting is a black of he is the best thing that has happened to me in Brackett Anthony of many walks had to meet interact with entire life I have my life in all 17 years old up until this since I was been on the streets the years I have current cannot honestly judge the color of a person by time you their on grounds take skin or their ethnic back so that is where I stand on my personal view my for letting me have very much this matter thank you of MY STREET I say subject on race and that how very the sensitive LIFE OPENED MY EYES! My street life opened My street life opened THE RACE CARD Race: Perspectives 86 RACE CARD THE Let theworldgrow PROJECT more peace. Let theWorld Grow MorePeace Let the gardener seethateach flowerLet thegardener isequal. The gardener onlywants the“perfect”ones, gardener The Each flower isbeautifulinits own way, Judgment oneveryone andeverything. The weeds areovertakingThe thebeauty. There isnorightorwrongflower.There Grow more, andletthepeacebe. There isnoperfectintheworld.There Let theworld morepeace. grow Each uniqueandbeautiful. The flowersThe areinbloom, Everywhere youEverywhere look, Where isthepeace? Where Where isthelove?Where Hate, anger, war. Misha Busch The rightones.The Race: Perspectives 87 Simply put: “Race each ofSimply put: “Race each the major The dream is still alive, the reason for it, is the reason for it, The is still alive, dream strides made as a society have we, And too. still a little iffy. that dream. But it’s towards in our country. and well Racism is alive ofdivisions distinct human kind having Archie Archuleta Racism Since MLK Racism The Changing Nature of Nature Changing The to overcome. On the issue of voting rights, we now have a law that was then On the issue of was that a law have now we rights, voting On the issue of desegregation of started they we it, but now schools On the issue of got we affirmative jobs and entrance to universities, did get public accommodations as a right and that is working. We get you the picture. Well, As time goes on, the target of remained, some discrimination have The issue of and the countering of the LGBT Movement a it by legacy including the lessons learned as he King’s Dr. still have We “Outside provincial with the narrow, again afford to live “Never we breaking advocate can you scolded with “How And when he was kinds of“The lies in the fact that there are two answer and Just laws: the as would or defying the law evading “In no sense do I advocate PROJECT physical characteristics, and a group of characteristics, physical people sharing the same culture, An ethnic group “Racism the belieflanguage, etc. race has that each rise to the view that some races are giving certain qualities or abilities, other againstbetter than others; Discrimination or hostility towards races.” making it tougher for some people to register and to changed a little, vote. are nearly as segregated when the Supreme Court as they were said equal. separate but equal, ain’t put restrictions on the implementation. action and then we prominently: The just come to the fore more issue ofhave immigration Muslims, Middle Easterners, of Polynesians, Africans, Asians, Latinos, Once again and close ties to immigrationetc. its cyclical nature, shows nastiness of and the economic busts and booms, scapegoating. different form of and well. racism: Homophobia. Is alive from his following as these, such experienced and led the movement, great letter from Birmingham Jail, be inside the United States can never who lives Agitator” idea. Anyone considered an outsider anywhere within its bounds” and obeying others?” some laws ” at all...’ is no law unjust law Unjust. I agree that, ‘An with St. Augustine Racism is a barrier Racism is a barrier THE RACE CARD rabid segregationist. That would lead to anarchy. One who breaks an unjust law must do so openly, lovingly, and with a willingness to accept the penalty. I submit that an individual that breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust and who willingly accepts the penalty of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the highest respect for law.” This answer is set within bounds of critical thinking, a moral judgment and action—WOW! What a blueprint for civil rights activists. This courage and perseverance of Dr. King, in the face of great odds and being a marked man is affirmed in his posthumously published essay, “A testament of hope,” and is well summed-up by professor Derrick Bell in his book Faces At the Bottom of the Well, The Permanence of Racism: “So while Dr. King led a struggle toward a goal—Racial Equality—That seemed possible, if not quite feasible, in the 1960’s, there was a deeper message of commitment to courageous struggle whatever the circumstances or odds. A part of that struggle was the need to speak the truth as he viewed it even that truth alienated rather than unified, upset minds rather than calmed hearts, and subjected “Keeping the speaker to general censure rather than acclaim.” (Here speak of King’s Anti- in mind that Vietnam speech, his telegram to I too, am seeking Cesar Chavez during his heavy fasting for justice, and his support answers and have of the sanitation workers demands for at least five in Memphis.) My mother used to say, “ Si la verdad Race: Perspectives 88 Perspectives Race: no duele siquiera decades” desencomoda.” And this leads me to ‘Racism since Dr. King.’ So from discussions on racism, readings, and observations I’d like to present the following unpleasant truths; Keeping in mind that I too, am seeking answers and have for at least five decades, and that this list is provided in hoped of enticing you to study them, discuss them, investigate them, and then act. For you are the hope of the future, and this Gordian knot of racism can only be served with the sword of knowledge and action. 1)Racism is still practiced against Blacks, Latinos, Asians, Polynesians, Native Americans, Muslims, Middle Easterners, Jews, Refugees, etc. The targets of choice have shifted to immigrants, women, the poor and LGBT folk. (Classism, Sexism, Nativism and Homophobia) 2)Social Justice has been elusive and according to Dr. Bell there seems to be a permanence of racism.4 (Changes) 3)Demographic changes according to Census Figures of 2010, have brought about major shifts in #’s of ethnic groups. Latinos after Whites are the second largest ethnic group in America. It is predicted that California will soon be 50/50 white with other ethnic groups. Utah has experienced the phenomenon as well. In the 2010 Census Utah went from 90% white to 80.4% White.*5 4)Miscegenation, the word comes from the Latin Misère to mix and Genus race, thus race mixing. Race mixing has been taking place, at least ever since cro-magnum met Neanderthal… in slave holding Latin America, miscegenation took place regularly, and the child of white and negro was called Mulatto, and the child of Mestizo and Indian was called Coyote, the child of a Spaniard and an Indian was a Mestizo. And on until it became unwieldy and was scrapped. As Latinos we are used to this mixing and we call it Mestizaje. In slave holding America, miscegenation took place on a regular basis, the Revelation that Thomas Jefferson had raised a family with Mrs.Hemings is well known. See the movie “Lee Daniels’ the Butler” for a more violent instance of miscegenation. To me this says that our country already has a large population of mixed race people. Perhaps, in a way, this is part of the answer to doing away with racism. As each new phenomenon arises new problems arise. (The experience with UCLR/Comcast/SLCHS with Latino/White kids.) So their question is do we count and in the Census, are we listed as mixed or other? Race: Perspectives 89 Syncretism, the process of combining different religions, cultures, etc. Has taken place in the Americas with religion, when Native Americans adapted to Christianity and adapted it to their own ideas. In food and language adopted and adapted in the U.S., (Examples Cowboys, Foods, Monotheism and Native Religions.) Is syncretism lessening racism? 5)The LGBT Movement, once one of the most discriminated groups has brought about more tolerance and acceptance in a very short time frame. Law suits, ballot issues, state laws, ordinances have brought to the fore the age old struggle between church and state. Homophobia as a different form of racism is slowly being nullified by humanitarian and constitutional wave. This phenomenon didn’t just happen; study the tactics of the LGBT Movement. 6)As groups of us that consider ourselves civil rights advocates gather to discuss racism and its effects on all, we find ourselves talking to each other and a handful id dedicated white allies, we’ve known about dominance, position, privilege and force, sometimes intuitively, but always in fact. We know that many of the educators and scholars that have studied and investigated the issue of white dominance were white. We realize that without white participation there can be no solution to racism. I’ll use the words and ideas of Gary R.Howard, from his book, We Can’t Teach What We Don’t Know, White Teachers, Multiracial Schools. Howard completed his studies at Yale University in Cultural Anthropology and Social Psychology; he earned a master’s in Education from Western Washington University. Currently he’s the president and founder of REACH center for Multicultural education in Seattle, Washington. Here are his words: P-4, 1st paragraph “....I am convinced there is a prior and equally compelling need for White people, particularly White educators in the United States and other nations of the West, to look within ourselves and realign our deepest assumptions and perceptions regarding the racial marker that we carry, namely Whiteness.” (Howard 4) P-11 1st “I was born White and have been that way for more than 50 years..... Since I had never met a person who wasn’t White, had never experienced the “other,” race for me was a non-relevant concept. In my youth I had no conscious awareness of anything that might be called “racial identity.” Like water to a fish, Whiteness to me was the centerpiece of a constant and undifferentiated milieu, unnoticed in its normalcy.” (Howard 11) P-30 End of 1st Para. “....From the perspective of those members of society who are not White. It is. Quite clear, both subjectively and objectively, that Whites have been collectively allocated disproportionate amounts of power, authority, wealth, control and dominance. However, for me as an individual White person, subjectively experiencing my own reality, I may not feel dominant. I may or may not perceive myself as belonging to a collective group defined by Whiteness.” (Howard 30) As you have heard, I have not given you all the information that has led me to say and quote what I’ve said.. I did this to pique your intellectual interest, so that you will explore the issue of racism and Race: Perspectives 90 Perspectives Race: hopefully act upon your knowledge. I have included a bibliography of some of the books that have influenced me about Social Justice. I will share them with Dean Hansen. Let me end with a happening about privileges on position shared with me by a Utah educator, Nancy Livingston: The Cake story: Mom is preparing to share some cake with her two daughters, one older and bigger, the other younger and smaller. Mom, “Now I’m giving the larger piece to your sister because she is bigger than you, and the smaller piece to you.” Little Sister, “ But Mom, if you keep giving the larger piece to her, she’ll always be bigger.” (the story really is about positionality and Mom’s dominance.) Bibliography

Acuña, Rodolfo (1988). Occupied America; A history of Chicanos. Third Edition California State University at Northridge. Harpercollins Publishers, NY. Adler, Mortimer J.,General Editor, George Ducas, Executive Editor, Van Doren, Charles Editor (1969). The Negro in American History: I Black Americans 1928-1968. “Letter from Birmingham Jail”, Martin Luther King, JR..pp186+ Bell, Derrick (1987). And We Are Not Saved: The Elusive Quest for Social Justice. Basic Books, Inc. Appendix Copy Right 1989, Basic Books, Inc. Bell, Derrick (1992). Faces at the Bottom of the Well: The Permanence of Racism. Basic Books, INC. A Division of Harpercollins Publishers, Inc. Compact Oxford English Dictionary (2008). A Current English III Edition Revised. Oxford Press. Holiday, Billie (1991). Lady in Autumn: The Best if the Verve Years. “Strange Fruit.” Recorded as compilation Polygram, S.A., Division of Polygram Records. NY. (Actual songs recorded between 1946-1959.) Race: Perspectives 91 Horseman, Reginald (1990). Race and Manifest Destiny: The Origins of American Racial Anglo-Saxonism. Harvard University Press. Cambridge, MA. Howard, Gary (1999). We Can’t Teach What We Don’t Know: White Teachers, Multiracial Schools. Teachers College Press. Teacher College Colombia University. (Sonia Niets Forward.) Nerval, Saston (Pseudonym for Raul Diez de Medina) (1934). Autopsy of the Monroe Doctrine: The Strange Story of Inter-American Relations. Macmillan Company. NY. (Loaned from Dixie College (Now State University)) Salt Lake Tribune 02-25-2011. “Utah Latinos Numbers Soar” PP 1-4. Lee Davidson. Singleton, Glenn E., Curtis Linton (2006). Courageous Conversations about Race. Corwin Press. Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Weber, David J., Edited by (1973). Foreigners in Their Own Land: Historical Roots of the Mexican Americans. University of New Mexico Press. Albuquerque. “Mestizaje, First Los Angeles Census 1781.