Emma Nelson grew up in a rural, all-white neighborhood where race was rarely discussed. While no one expressed overtly racist views, diversity was not emphasized. Now recognizing her white privilege, Emma believes race has shaped her life by providing unacknowledged benefits and shielding her from concerns that people of color face daily due to their race and gender.

1. Emma Nelson
FYS- Blanco
Race Questions
1) My neighborhood was not racially diverse at all. I grew up out a dirt road in the
backwoods. Therefore, my neighborhood mainly consisted of white males.
2) Race was never really talked about as I was growing up. No one was ever “racist” or
talked bad about colored people, but it was never a huge issue of “be super nice so you
don’t seem racist”. I guess growing up I never really saw much racism, so it was never
something I thought about much,
3) Race has definitely shaped my life because I 100% believe white privilege is a thing. I
don’t think I could name the ways that privilege, along with the fact that I’m a girl, has
been beneficial for me. It’s a really weird feeling when you realize the thing you never
had to worry about, others have to on an every day basis.