Duck Race to End Racism

Syracuse Stories is proud to partner with InterFaith Works of Central New York for their annual Duck Race to End Racism. During this community event, Syracuse Stories asks participants to answer a series of questions concerning community and identity. Syracuse Stories also worked with the Downtown Writers Center Young Author’s Academy to film and edit a short documentary highlighting the event (above).

Duck Race to End Racism, 2017

Identity

: I identify myself “Love” of Race. I come from a family of many races. I do not like all the “hate” towards races.

: I was born in the U.S. and my grandparents are from China. I celebrate Asian culture as well as American customs. However, instead of thinking of myself as “Asian” I think of myself as “me.” I don’t think of myself as a “minority” and when others get to know me, they don’t see me as “Asian” either, they know me as “Pat.”

: Race – I describe myself as Bi-Racial. I am both Black & White. American – I was born here. I was asked why I just hang out w/white kids. I have all kinds of friends. They are my friends.

: I am a American I am black brown

: How identify myself is brave, confedent, a little sassy, and nice to be around.

: Human

: As a gay male, I find it difficult to identify myself in labels or race. My father died young and taught me to treat everyone the same. Despite all the racial issues, [sic] I hope, sees Race/Ethnicity/Nationality, as I do. I hope they appreciate the works we live in, and can emphasize the struggles we’ve overcome.

: I like to identify myself as … well myself rather than what I’m forced to write on all my standardized test [sic] known as “white.” But I believe in expressing yourself however you feel no matter the color of your skin.

: There appears to be a void in my own identification with race and heritage. My association in terms of who I am is more spiritually based. We are all connected!

: According to papers I’m white. But I’m from Middle East – so that category doesn’t really define me. In Turkey, where I am from, nobody asks you your race. Ethnic – I am Turkish. Nationality – Turkish-American.

: African – American(less) – African (nationality as defined in this country. Living in Syracuse adds a unique bent to these definitions. Our lack of cohesiveness – leaderless – to be a representative community. Overlooked. Fragmented. Slave mentality. Influence how other races see me. This will keep us powerless. Sad.

: Puerto Rican – I respect everywhere that people come from. I don’t use all those labels. That’s the answer for me. America has … people. As long as you respect me, I respect you.

: I am an inhabitant of Earth. I try not to go further. I identify as woman most days. Like most 3rd or 4th Generation American I am a mixture of nationalities.

: I identify myself as a African American. My ethnicity id I was born in America and my ancestors were born in Africa.

: I am who I am. You are who you are. We are all one.

: White/Irish/Scottish/American/ Liberal – Democrat – Protestant/ Female/Wife/Mother/Grandmother/Great Grandmother

: I am Muslim. Perhaps that does not answer the question above! But for me, it does. I learnt in my belief to be a world citizen where universe is my nationality, human is my race and I respect and love people unconditionally.

: I identify myself as a Somali but I think I was born in Kenya. My parents are Somali. I also identify myself as a human, compassionate, believer, and a friend.

: I identify myself as Asian. I am half Vietnamese and American.

: I am from Congo. And I am American.

Community

: A good community looks like everyone working together, cheering each other on to stride to success. I think Syracuse is not a good community. I think this because there is a lot of violence against each other, when we should be working together trying to lead everyone to a great future.

: A good community has inclusive opportunities for all. Syracuse is a good community because we have many agencies and community members striving for growth and improvement. In many ways Syracuse can improve by providing more equal opportunities to our diverse population. In many ways there is a great need to combat racism and improve inclusion.

: A good community holds no prejudice against ANY individual. Syracuse holds potential to be a community. Everyone just needs to come together.

: A good community is a place where people respect each other. Syracuse is small so we can learn from one another. Syracuse is very challenged.

: A good community is lively, diverse, and culturally and economically egalitarian. People enjoy each other. There is enough perceived and real justice that people are …

: … not angry, hungry, suffering, unnecessarily. Most human needs are met but there is enough individuals freedom for people to become the best versions of themselves. The arts thrive, people do work they love. Education prepares them.

: Syracuse is just the right size to know so many people, from all my neighbors, so many writers, people different from myself when I step out the door, get an ice cream in the valley, at festivals selling their country’s special foods the Lacrosse International at Onondaga Nation …

: … so all can access health care and good education. Syracuse. Poverty concentration is terrible. Need action at all levels to support all our neighbors.

: Everyone can flourish. Children are cared fro by the whole community. Justice is obvious to all and fair laws let people know this. Enough resources …

: You have a little place in a neighborhood where folks can gather. I wish Syracuse had more of it. I don’t think there is enough being done for us – like for teens. Dunbar Center – tried to close it down, but more teens using it.

: A good community to me is where neighbors all get along no matter what race/ethnicity/nationality you are. To me we all look and bleed the same.

: I think Syracuse is a good place to live. I believe more people should stick up for the neighborhood and not give up on it. That’s how we can get rid of the drug dealers and violence.

: A good community is one that values people collectively and individually. People in Syracuse make many different kinds of connections, formed to help each other in difficult times. Larger scale, though, the condition of infrastructure is not equal across the community. This creates animosity, misdirected within the community itself.

: People come together to help one another protect each other – fight against drugs and violence.

: It is a community where everyone looks different. People are kind and caring, non judgemental. Syracuse is full of good people – people who care about each other. It doesn’t have a lot of focus on helping others – need more programs that promote acceptance of others.

: In a good community there are many people from all segments of society who take responsibility for the respectful, equitable life of all. Syracuse is far too segregated but has a lot of decent people. It is small enough and densely networked enough to function on something like a face-to-face level. But there is still a huge amount of racism quietly practiced.

: Events like this are what a good community look like – people learning about each other, asking questions and honoring differences and similarities. In many ways we have a long way to go to honor all cultures, races and beliefs but this is a good start.

Cultural Communities and Ethnic Groups

: In terms of degree of cultural differences, they range rom very close to very different. As human beings who nonetheless share a lot of evolutionary history and contemporary global encounters, we can all relate to one another with a little effort, patience, respect, “empathy”.

: A logo a tega to dfroto bkosa dosbag so lagyeta tde bhyaro. They come from different countries they don’t speak the same language I know this because I loved this. My family comes from Somalia. All the people don’t speak different language.

: More different. I have worked in the social services field since 1975. I have worked with a variety of cultures/ethnic. Many are in a poor socio-economic category – more issues. Sad, but true. Wish we could all be alike.

: I believe all people are much more similar than not, We all want peace happiness and dignity. I believe communication and the ability to build bridges are critical to this process.

: More different, because they are not same skin. (but it doesn’t matter).

: I don’t know.

: More people say are same skin as me. And more different, They are the same when they speak the same language If not they don’t even know what they are saying.

: Definitely more alike. Their interaction with an open heart.

: I believe they are more alike. I work with children facing health problems, and have interacted with hundreds of refugees from dozens of countries – a parent’s love and concern for their child is UNIVERSAL!!

: Cultural differences are important and should be honoured. But people are fundamentally the same. We all desire safety, respect, opportunity for our loved ones. Coming from a foreign country to live in the U.S. and being involved with the refugee community to made this so obvious to me!

: Cultural communities or ethnic groups are more alike than we think if you think back to the basic needs of what being a human mean. We are psychological like to feel that we belong to a certain group. We love, we laugh, and we dance, and we sing. This is just a way different people around the world express themselves.

Generation

: My friend, Sahyesta, have troubles with moving away from her families because Afghanistan turned into a dangerous place. I became friends with her and learned about her point of view and her life.

: 100 + 100 = 200 1+1 = 2 3 + 2 = 5 5 + 5 = 10 6 + 6 = 12 Math is hard for me

: Educating generations before mine to be more accepting and release ideas/thoughts of the past.

: Bridging cultural gaps is so hard because we segregate ourselves socially. We have to be game for stepping outside of our normal social circle. It will take a ling time.

: President Trump. I don’t understand him. All my family and friends in Africa he stopped them from coming.

: Many seniors are facing poverty and unable to afford the necessities of life including medication. For all people social tensions are high. Fortunately for me, DWC classes are often diverse.

: The challenges we face is economic opportunities to sustain ourselves and our family. We, ages, 28 – 38, are looking for opportunities to learn and learn enough to be independent. We need jobs, places like Syracuse to open up to our ideas.

: Economic difficulties of college. Student loan debt. As a white male millennial – I probably have it better than others. I would like to see more events like this where diverse people come together and play together.

: Members of my generation (Z) are faced with many of the problems the previous gen neglected – the environment, economy. It’s up to us to find the drive and passion to solve them and not create more issues!

: Making opportunities for our youth – jobs! For me – means – trying to make a living as a performing and visual artist. Making a living with your “joy” is a challenge. I think you have to open yourself up to new experiences, situations and not shield yourself in your own sameness in order to find out about people different than yourself.

: Raising children to be kind and resistant to negative outside influences.

: We have a great deal of tradition here in Central New York – some of this is very good. However, sometimes it prevents us from thinking in new ways, accepting new people, and trying new things. How can we honor the history of our traditions and be open to the richness of new ideas, cultures, and people?

Race

: Racism = classifying people w/out regard for who an individual is. Assuming neg. stereotypes are true without trying to understand the history of power and privilege and how these contribute to negative “stories” about groups of people.

: Racism effects everyone. It to me is a wrong hurtful crime – being bullied when my family first moved to my street the neighbors were hurtful due to us being the only white family on our street of 5 houses. We were called white trash because everyone else was African American.

: Racism is hating or shunning a race of people without compassion, with malice. A prejudgement of different race. I experience racism in some form almost every day! Being made to feel invisible in stores and not getting waited on – sometimes ‘cause I’m Black – or at the other extreme, being followed in stores because of my race. By confronting it, not excusing it, and education.

: Beyond the literal dictionary definition, I see racism as not simply a matter of superiority and hatred, but also of ignorance and indifference. Racism isn’t always malicious. It can also be a feeling of apathy regarding people of other groups. And apathy is a greater problem than malice.

: Racism is the indoctrination of one group in the belief that they are in some way special or different or better – an example is a person of another creed believing I cannot understand them because I don’t believe in the soma thing. We end racism by events like this.

: Racism is the failure to recognize and appreciate difference or the belief that some ore one race is superior. This includes unconscious bias – we are all racist – facing conscious to unconscious bias through education can help.

: I think racism means to me is the color of people. Because people talk about there color religion.

: People need to choose to live amongst people that are different in race, ethnicity, language, religion, and/or culture.

: Fear separates us Love brings us together

: I was denied a shared contributing $ match program at Coop Federal because I am white.

: I don’t like racism. People shouldn’t be identified by their skin color but by them as a person. Stop racism by Duck Race and … When I am older

: To me racism is when there is lack of respect geared toward one individual that is different. Ending racism is simple. Show respect to all and expect it in return.

Duck Race to End Racism, 2016

Identity

: How I identify myself in terms of race is I say I’m black or African American.

: According to papers I’m white. But I’m from Middle East – so that category doesn’t really define me. In Turkey, where I am from, nobody asks you your race. Ethnic – I am Turkish. Nationality – Turkish-American.

: African – American(less) – African (nationality as defined in this country. Living in Syracuse adds a unique bent to these definitions. Our lack of cohesiveness – leaderless – to be a representative community. Overlooked. Fragmented. Slave mentality. Influence how other races see me. This will keep us powerless. Sad.

: Puerto Rican – I respect everywhere that people come from. I don’t use all these labels. That’s the answer for me. America has … people. As long as you respect me, I respect you.

: Race – I describe myself as Bi-Racial. I am both Black & White. American – I was born here. I was asked why I just hang out w/white kids. I have all kinds of friends. They are my friends.

: I identify myself as a African American. My ethnicity id I was born in America and my ancestors were born in Africa.

: African American American

: I am an inhabitant of Earth. I try not to go further. I identify as woman most days. Like most 3rd or 4th Generation American I am a mixture of nationalities.

: I identify myself “Love” of Race. I come from a family of many races. I do not like all the “hate” towards races.

: I was born in the U.S. and my grandparents are from China. I celebrate Asian culture as well as American customs. However, instead of thinking of myself as “Asian” I think of myself as “me.” I don’t think of myself as a “minority” and when others get to know me, they don’t see me as “Asian” either, they know me as “Pat.”

: I would say I’m white, American and a New Yorker. My race/ethnicity are pretty generic for where I live, so I have to rely on factors outside of my race or nationality to define my community.

Community

: Everyone can flourish. Children are cared fro by the whole community. Justice is obvious to all and fair laws let people know this. Enough resources so all can access health care and good education. Syracuse. Poverty concentration is terrible. Need action at all levels to support all our neighbors.

: You have a little place in a neighborhood where folks can gather. I wish Syracuse had more of it. I don’t think there is enough being done for us – like for teens. Dunbar Center – tried to close it down, but more teens using it.

: A good community look like with no trash on the ground a bad community look trash everywhere and bad cut grass and people smokeing

: A good community is a non littering place, good, people, Not so much pollution to the earth. Taking care of the earth and loving our earth. That’s a good community.

: A good community to me is where neighbors all get along no matter what race/ethnicity/nationality you are. To me we all look and bleed the same.

: I think Syracuse is a good place to live. I believe more people should stick up for the neighborhood and not give up on it. That’s how we can get rid of the drug dealers and violence.

: A good community has inclusive opportunities for all. Syracuse is a good community because we have many agencies and community members striving for growth and improvement. In many ways Syracuse can improve by providing more equal opportunities to our divers population. In many ways there is a great need to combat racism and improve inclusion.

: A good community holds no prejudice against ANY individual. Syracuse holds potential to be a community. Everyone just needs to come together.

: A good community is one that values people collectively and individually. People in Syracuse make many different kinds of connections, formed to help each other in difficult times. Larger scale, though, the condition of infrastructure is not equal across the community. This creates animosity, misdirected within the community itself.

: A good community is one where people and organizations work together and pool resources to support the needs of all people. Syracuse is a small enough community and is committed to ensuring the health and vitality of its citizens.

Cultural Communities and Ethnic Groups

: I believe all people are much more similar than not, We all want peace happiness and dignity. I believe communication and the ability to build bridges are critical to this process.

: Cultural and ethnic groups are more alike though exhibiting different stages of social maturity.

: They are different to me because they don’t seem to want un-races in there [sic] space, neighborhood, etc.

: I have 2 different ID’s from parents. Father – Christian, loud, fun, obnoxious – Black Mom – Christian – laid back, quiet – White Both sides, I had fun.

: More different. I have worked in the social services field since 1975. I have worked with a variety of cultures/ethnic. Many are in a poor socio-economic category – more issues. Sad, but true. Wish we could all be alike.

Generation

: Raising children to be kind and resistant to negative outside influences.

: Making opportunities for our youth – jobs! For me – means – trying to make a living as a performing and visual artist. Making a living with your “joy” is a challenge. I think you have to open yourself up to new experiences, situations and not shield yourself in your own sameness in order to find out about people different than yourself.

: Economic difficulties of college. Student loan debt. As a white male millennial – I probably have it better than others. I would like to see more events like this where diverse people come together and play together.

: Members of my generation (Z) are faced with many of the problems the previous gen neglected – the environment, economy. It’s up to us to find the drive and passion to solve them and not create more issues!

: The challenges we face is economic opportunities to sustain ourselves and our family. We, ages, 28 – 38, are looking for opportunities to learn and learn enough to be independent. We need jobs, places like Syracuse to open up to our ideas.

Race

: Racism = classifying people w/out regard for who an individual is. Assuming neg. stereotypes are true without the trying to understand the history of power = privilege and how they contribute to negative “stories” about groups of people.

: Racism effects everyone. It to me is a wrong hurtful crime – being bullied when my family first moved to my street the neighbors were hurtful due to us being the only white family on our street of 5 houses. We were called white trash because everyone else was African American.

: Racism is the indoctrination of one group in the belief that they are in some way special or different or better – an example is a person of another creed believing I cannot understand them because I don’t believe in the soma thing. We end racism by events like this.

: Racism is hating or shunning a race of people without compassion, with malice. A prejudgement of different race. I experience racism in some form almost every day! Being made to feel invisible in stores and not getting waited on – sometimes ‘cause I’m Black – or at the other extreme, being followed in stores because of my race. By confronting it, not excusing it, and education.

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