Dear Uwe Klemm,
I would like to thank you. The internet is one of the greatest
things to be a part of but, it also has its drawbacks. I just don't
understand why someone would create something like this. It is kind of
like mass-international vandalism! Well there is nothing I can do about
it. So I will let it be.
I hope I didn't slow down your project. I hope I haven't done
anything to mess it up. Everything has been busy at home, work and
school. Also I haven't been able to get in touch with you earlier because
of our Thanksgiving holiday (very sorry).

What is your name?
My name is Douglas Edward Ray II.

Where do you live?
I live in Huntingtown, Maryland in the USA. Maryland is on the middle
eastern coast of the USA. I live in a Calvert County. Which is an area
in south-west Maryland.

Do you live in a neighborhood, where the most people are black?
Yes.

If yes, how do you like it?
I seem to like it better. Black people tend to know each other more than
white people. It is kind of like being at a party or gathering (this is
catered to if you are a kid) and you are either ten years older then all
of the people at the party, or you are ten years younger then everyone
else at the party. You are going to feel uncomfortable around people who
aren't you age (or shall I say race).

Is there violence between blacks and whites in your neighborhood?
There is not any violence (that I know of) now between us.

If so, is discrimination a reason for this violence?
Discrimination is part of the reason. If you are a very racist and
discriminatory black then yes (maybe). Really it depends on the
situation. If it has to deal with moral or values most likely it is
racial. If it has to deal with nothing but money it most likely is not.

Have you ever experienced discrimination because you are black?
Yes. If you are black you will most likely have faced discrimination.

If so, what kind of discrimination?
There are many ways I have been discriminated against. At school there
have been white people walking in front of me and a teacher would just
pass by them. Then the teacher sees me or another black person and wants
to see their hall pass.
I have sat at restaurants were when we sit down people stare at us. Then
it seems as though we are the last to get waited on (believe me, we
didn't take that we walked out before we got to eat).
You go into a clothing store and the employees either don't even try to
look at you or, they keep asking questions.
Mine are not big discrimination situations compared to other situations.

Are both of your parents black?
It is kind of weird you should ask that. You see in the USA you most
likely won't have one type of race in your family. I have African
American (black), Native American (indian), English, and Irish. My
parents are more black, and indian then the Irish and English though.

Do they have a job?
Yes

If so, which job do they have?
My father is a carpenter at National Airport near Washington, D.C.
My mother is a custodial manager at Patuxent High School.
My step-mother is a computer systems analyst.
My step-dad is a employment office secretary.

If you walk through the streets, do people stare at you because you are
black?
It depends. Most of the time they don't. There are some days\places
though that seem to be the times they would stare

How do you feel about being black?
I love who I am. I love what I am. It is just the people around me that
bring me down. The pressure of unexcusable beings tend to make you think
you don't like yourself. I love being black. There are just times when
it is like God why did I have to be this way and not that way. God it
would have been much easier. Then other times it would be like "being
the way I am is the best thing EVER!"

Do you think, that you will get disadvantages in your later live?
Yes I do. I may be big-time disadvantages or small ones. I will be
prepared though.

Is it important, whether you are black or white in the USA?
I would say no really. If you wanted to be president of the USA ,or a
southern state governor I would say yes, you have to be white.

Do you often think about your origins?
Yes I do. I would like to know a lot more. It is much harder to keep
track of black heritage in america. especially back in the separation
years and before. To tell you the truth I think that the only way people
are to get info on their heritage is to pray your ancestor did something
bad and went to jail (so that his information was on file).

Do you have different habits than whites?
Yes but, not very much. PERFECT! Like Thanksgiving Day. If you ask the
question to people "what pie did you eat on Turkey-day." Most the blacks
would say they ate sweet potato pie. A majority of the whites would say
pumpkin pie.
Did you ever wish not to be black?

What kind of music do you listen to?
That is kind of weird because, I like all kinds.
Do you make your own "black" music?

Do you have special holidays?
Kwanza. This is a combination of Hannaka and Christmas. This is an
African Religion.

Do you wear special clothes?
Only in Kwanza (our family doesn't celebrate Kwanza though, we celebrate
Christmas).

Are you religious?
Yes.

If so, what kind of religion do you
believe in?
It is a Christian Religion. It is called Baptist.

In which area is your school?
My school is about fifteen miles north of my house.

What is the name of your school?
My schools name is Northern High School.

How many pupils are at your school?
We have around one-thousand three-hundred (1,300).

How many are black?
I don't know. If I were to guess I would say about twenty percent
(20%), or about two-hundred sixty (260).

Do you have black teachers at your school?
Yes. But they are few I would say that they would we about twenty
percent (20%) of the teacher population at our school.

Which possibilities do you have to spend your free time at your school?
The only free time we have is lunch and the time (7 minutes) between each
class period.

Are there certain rules at your school?
YES! We receive a book of new and old rules every school year. There
are also rules that they make in the middle of the school year that we
have to obey.

Do you work after school?
Yes. I work at a restaurant called Chessie's. It is a pizza and sub
restaurant. We cook much more things than pizzas and subs though. We
also clean the restaurant.

I would like to know if I could write extra to you.
Racism and descrimination are the worst things in the USA's society.
Although it is here everywhere it is not at prominent. I agree with the
saying that "Everyone was taught how to act the way they do. They don't
just choose to act that way."

All of the years that blacks have been here (in the USA, accept recently)
we have been treated very wrongly. The black people who are living now
either have been put through the misery of segregation and descrimination
, or have parents that have been put through this. The black society has
grown to put up a barrier between us and caucasians. Our parents and us
teach our children, friends, and family to be paranoid in their mind
about whites. My parents grew up at a time in which if they just looked
at a white person they could be put in jail. God forbid if the ever had
a white girl/boy friend (they would be put to death!). They grew up at a
time in which if they didn't do what a white person said (whether it was
stupid, humiliating, weird, or life threatening) they would be put in
jail just as fast as a I could blink my eye. My ancestors have been put
through so much pain and tortured of white people. The amazing fact is
that this stuff still goes on in the USA. The south (southern whites)
still just won't let go of white supremacy. They still have the groups
like the KKK (Klu Klux Klan) that haunt us constantly. We are always in
fear (whether we believe it or not). Everything from church burnings,
to killings, to civil rights cases. Also It doesn't just happen to
blacks now. It has spread to Hispanics (Chicano's), Africans, Indians,
Native Americans, and Asians. There is discrimination to all races from
the white society.
Believe me when I say it is not all whites. It is only the select few.
The few that are stupid and ignorant enough to go on with these beliefs
and antics. The few that are so filled with hatred that it isn't a sport
to them anymore it has risen to be their religion. As they keep there
selves secret but strong enough to make your body ting when you hear or
think of them. Most white people don't care about if you are black or
white (or any other race). Though they still don't understand us and
still stare and talk about us (whether nicely or horribly).
Our parents teach us to "watch our backs" and other peoples. Because the
"war" (shall I use such a harsh but, fitting word) has not ended and, I
believe it will never end.....

Thanks,
Doug