How does it feel to be racially discriminated against? Many people will never know because they will never have to feel that way. Therefore, I asked my fellow minorities to describe their feelings.
1. “Like I’m below humanity. [It feels] Like you're not real. Your words are never heard.” - Leah Eshelman
2. “Crap. It makes me feel like I'm not welcome. I feel like I can't trust anyone if I can't trust the ones who were selected to protect. I feel like I'm not free. I'm starting to believe that maybe I should've just killed myself a while back before someone else does it. It makes me feel like I have to fight for the rest of my life. I don't want to have kids that have to fight their whole lives either, especially after I'm dead and gone. There's no way people should have to fear the people around them.” - Myana Taylor
3.“You feel less than a person.” - Elijah Bowers
4. “[It feels] Like you are judged by everyone and they are always looking down on you because you are a different color” - Chloe Swartz
5. “As for me personally, it makes me feel like I shouldn't be living on this planet or next to people who dislike who I am. I want to change, but can't. So, I feel hated. I’m disgusted by who I am. The color of my skin shouldn’t mean anything, but to people, if I am not white, I am not American. How does it feel to want to bleach your skin? How does it feel to despise who you are? It feels like trying to be something that you are not to fit in. I look in mirror and pretend that I am a different color. People examine you like you are a piece of meat that has went bad.” -Ariann Swartz
6. “It is horrible. Why does the human population think it is only about the color of your skin? No baby is born racist. They have been taught over the years. By parents, family, friends and co-workers. It just doesn't end there, the list can go on and on and on. People pick it up from society. People follow you around in stores because of it. Just because you are African. Or close enough to African because it is a type of black. They think all black people steal. Well, I have some news for them: we don't. The color of your skin defines you for the rest of your life. It never ends, only when you die. Would white people want to feel terrible for the rest of their lives? Black and white are just colors. It is in newspapers. It is in old photos. Why is that okay, but the color of your skin isn't? Black and white; no one judges the newspaper for the color, so why is different for skin?.” -Hailey Swartz
7. “It feels awful, it's infuriating. It's disgusting that people think they are better than another person just because they have a different skin tone.” -Ilani Mann
8. “It sucks.You always have one strike against you, so you really have to watch your back. You have to watch everything you do. White people will blame black people for everything and black people are always last on the podium. Even the educated minorities rarely see CEO because others are subject to white privilege. Think about it in these Fortune 500 companies. How many minorities do you see owning or running the show? Cops always assume all black people sell drugs or [that] all of us are ignorant. I personally feel neglected from a country that I'm giving my all to. I pay taxes, I vote; I play my part, but yet we don't really get much back.” -James Jordan
9. “It hurts. This stuff is getting worse and worse, for no reason. We were taught that if we didn't like someone to simply stay away. I'd rather someone stay away from me then be next to me and treat me like dirt. I love being black. I just thank God that I'm not a black man. Because my life would be cut short. Simple as that.” -DeAnna Jones
What does it feel like to be racially discriminated against? To summarize, it feels like depression, oppression and repression.
