Cameryn Edwards

November 4, 2025

ANT 315: Ethnicity, Race, and Nation

Interview about Race, Structural Racism, and Opportunities

Analysis

After conducting my interview, two core concepts that were major topics of the

discussion were race and the idea of structural racism. This interview included lots of deep

conversations and insight into important issues surrounding the concept of race, and my

interviewee, Ms. Stokes, was able to delve into her own experiences of race and how it affects

the opportunities that are or are not given. The interview also explored how structural racism also

plays a role when it comes to opportunities and privilege in American society, and my

interviewee was able to share her own personal experiences and her own opinions to why the

issue is still currently happening and what the specific solutions are to resolve issue of structural

racism and the lack of opportunities it gives to specifically minority groups of color.

In this anthropology course, we define the definition of race to mean, “ A concept that

signifies and symbolizes the social conflicts and interests referring to different types of human

bodies”. In other words, race is a concept created to differentiate people based on their body

types, and inevitably also creates the social issues that stem from the differentiation between

people and their character. All around the World, in most places, we witnessed that people with

darker skin color tend to receive a more negative connotation to their character in contrast to

those of lighter / whiter skin color. These negative ideologies have stemmed from years of

systemic racism and colonial influence, which conditions people to believe that lighter skin is
superior and darker skin with inferior. This mindset thus causes people of different skin tones to

receive different privileges or not, and opportunities look very different. When it comes to

defining structural racism, another important concept is discussed in this interview. In class, we

defined it as “The way that society perpetuates racial discrimination through interconnected and

mutually reinforced systems., Key topics that we talked about in class included redlining and

unequal education. Structural racism creates a system that gives those on top more opportunities

in the ability to climb the social ladder while those who are already at the bottom stay at the

bottom due to the lack of resources that are provided to them. The reason why it's called

structural racism is that it is strategically conducted in a way that allows certain laws and

discriminatory practices to keep those in power on top and reap the benefits of those who stay at

the bottom.

A quote from my interviewee, Ms Stokes, that I found interesting was when I asked the

question of whether her parents ever discussed her race when it pertained to finding jobs or being

promoted. What she said about those conversations was how she “Would have to work harder, be

better, be smarter, do more to maybe get as far as a white person who was not as smart, or did not

work as hard, or just simply had the right connections. And I gotta be honest, that's very

draining.” The reason I found this interesting was because she added the part of having to

constantly work harder and be smarter, and it can be very draining for a person, and I feel that

this contributes to structural racism because it highlights how the systematic inequalities that

many minorities face constantly put the pressure to overperform just to be seen as equal. This

type of mental toll can disparage those who want to work hard from doing so, thus feeding more

into the system and allowing it to have that effect on people, ensuring that they stay at the

bottom. As for race, one of the reasons why people of color feel as though they need to work
harder is because of the negative connotation around their characters being not as smart or lazy

compared to their white counterparts, which then forces them to work hard to prove to not really

to themselves but to other people that they are not a part of that category. Another quote that

[Link] said related to opportunities and the reason why many people of color get overlooked

and he explained how "African Americans would be considered on the lowest end of the cast, so

why, if you believe in a caste system or a caste mentality, would you want to bring your child to

someone who is considered the lowest, even though the person that you're believing is the lowest

has the highest level of education to whom you're even looking at”. Ms. Stokes is a children's

speech pathologist, and what she is saying in this quote is that because of the concept of race and

how it puts black Americans at the bottom of the caste system, it affects opportunities for

working with people. In Ms. Stokes' case, people do not want her to work with their children

because of their view of African Americans. This also relates to structural racism because, even

when it comes to hiring people in that field at a hospital, it's likely that more of her white

counterparts would get a job over her. After all, they also know how others depict people of

color. The third quote that I found interesting was when we began talking about why some

people get upset about programs that are aimed to help those who tend not to receive certain

opportunities be able to. And why it tends to be the white counterparts that are the loudest voices

against it, Ms. Stokes replied with “I think because they don't see and won't acknowledge what

privilege they have as a white person, right? Because I think their mentality is that they've gotten

ahead because they were qualified when I'm not gonna quantify the number of instances, but

they're definitely people, because you did not face discrimination” What she means by this is

because certain white Americans are unable to understand that we do live in racially systematic

nation, and those who were not born with the same privileges are forced to work a lot harder and
even when they do so still might not be able to reap the benefits. Not to mention that those same

people are also working harder with fewer resources to help. As it relates to race, I think the

people who tend to have the loudest voices are, in a sense, being color blind, because they don't

see how the many generations of oppression still affect people nowadays. While at the same time

they will categorize people based on race, making it seem like that entire group of people are

their cause to their own problems

In different ways, my interviewee has been structurally privileged in the sense that she

grew up in a safe neighborhood and got the opportunity to get a good education from the start,

with going to a private preschool and having the ability to also go to college. On the other hand,

my interviewee had mentioned that the safe neighborhood she grew up in was relatively racist,

and at a certain point, her parents were very concerned for her safety, which can be seen as a

disadvantage because my interviewee expressed how, at different points, she felt very isolated. I

believe that having the luck of being able to come from a more well-off family than some could

say has given my interviewee more privilege but the color of her skin has and has continued to

be a disadvantage for her at certain points and her life, as mentioned earlier when it comes to job

opportunities and being overlooked as someone who could potentially help another person's

child, simply on the color of her skin. In different ways, her family demonstrated agency when,

as a child, they would not allow her to play with the other children or walk to the bus stop

because they didn’t want there to be an altercation with the white children. Overall, Ms. Stokes

has a more inclusive civic nationalism because of how she explained that she felt America wasn't

a melting pot but should instead be like a salad, because salads are filled with different, unique

ingredients that make them special. Plus, she believes that people should not have to assimilate

to have opportunities.
Reflection

After completing this interview, one question that I have when it comes to race is why, as

a society, do we allow false narratives that surround race to create this caste system where white

skin is at the top and everyone else is at the bottom, some more than others. Especially when

considering that there are more people of color in our world than white people. When saying this,

it's not coming from a place of people of color should be the ones on top, but thinking more

towards if there are more people of color, why do we allow ourselves to be subjugated as being

seen as second-class citizens? Why is it hard to band together when we are both oppressed?

Questions about my interviewee's own experiences went very well because she was able to talk

about the lack of opportunities given to minorities, given the fact that, at some level, she has also

experienced it. I also believe that questions that pertain to her reasoning of why there are those

inequalities in opportunities were also good because they give insight into the way that some

people view race, especially coming from the point of view of the minority. Questions I felt that

didn't go as well was my reflection question because I believe I had assumed that the questions I

was asking were some that might interviewee might have been either asked before or have

thought of, but instead my interviewee answered that she has just had more of an overview when

it comes to the concept of race and opportunities so even though my particular questions aren't

necessarily what she has thought about the ideas behind them have been up to discussion. If I

could interview Ms. Stokes again, I would ask more questions that dive deeper into her own

personal work experiences, the different kinds of disparities she may have faced, and what she

did to be able to overcome them. Being an older woman, she has gained lots of insightful

experiences that have shaped her life, and others would benefit a lot from hearing about them.

During this interview, at one point, Ms. Stokes felt that her answers were very pessimistic, but to
me, I felt as though she was just speaking her truth, and if the truth is hard to say or hard to hear,

that just means there is a lot of work that needs to be done. Hence, during this entire interview, a

lot of factors I thought about pertaining to how race truly can be a barrier when it comes to

opportunity, in the sense that people can judge you before even getting a chance to know you,

thus already denying you a chance at opportunity.

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Ms. Stokes: Doing very well. How are you?

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Cameryn Edwards: I'm good, I'm good, thank you for asking. So, today, the purpose of this
interview is to kind of think about how race plays a role in opportunities, and
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Cameryn Edwards: you know, people being able to pursue different opportunities, such as jobs
or education, and then understanding how it

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Cameryn Edwards: Kind of relates back to privilege.

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Cameryn Edwards: So, to start, let's go into your early childhood and growing up. My first
question is, growing up, what was the predominant demographic, in the area you lived in?

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Ms. Stokes: I grew up in an area that was predominantly white.

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Ms. Stokes: The majority group were either Italian or Jewish.

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Cameryn Edwards: Okay, and how would you say that environment influenced your sense of
identity, or even opportunities?

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Ms. Stokes: So, as far as identity, I realized quickly that I was not a member of the majority in
the town. As a matter of fact, the first day that we moved in, it happened to be Halloween.
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Ms. Stokes: And someone had spray-painted KKK on our driveway. So, I think I was turning 5
the following month, so I was practically 5 years old.

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Ms. Stokes: So, I definitely remember hearing my parents have that discussion. Here they are,
happy that they had just bought this new home, and this is basically our welcome to the
neighborhood.

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Cameryn Edwards: Did your parents talk to you about it afterward, or did they feel like maybe
you were too young to truly understand, or did you understand?

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Ms. Stokes: No, they did speak to me about it, so they did explain the significance of KKK and
the message that people were trying to send, or what they were trying to do, basically, trying to
intimidate us, or definitely let us know that we were not

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Ms. Stokes: Welcome, and we were different from the people who were in that particular
development that we lived in. So, no, they definitely explained what was going on.

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Ms. Stokes: They always felt, especially from that point forward.

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Ms. Stokes: That it was very important for me to understand…

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Ms. Stokes: The significance of events, especially when they pertained to race, with us being,
like I said, we were only one of three.

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Ms. Stokes: African American families in the entire town, and the entire town was…
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Ms. Stokes: Less than 1% minority period, so that's in total.

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Ms. Stokes: So, from that start, they knew that they had to explain things to me at my level, but
that everything needed to be discussed.

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Cameryn Edwards: Thank you. Thank you for sharing that experience of yours. So…

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Cameryn Edwards: You already mentioned that you lived in a more predominantly white Italian
area. Were there any other, like, specific groups

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Cameryn Edwards: Maybe, like, a social group, religious, community group that you were a part
of that kind of shaped your experience?

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Ms. Stokes: So, we did attend church. Once again, the church itself was also, predominantly
white as well. I will say that the church

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Ms. Stokes: was probably one of the few places where we did feel more welcomed. Still knew
we were not a part of the majority.

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Ms. Stokes: But felt welcomed and did enjoy attending, attending church, and we were active
members.

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Cameryn Edwards: Thank you.

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Cameryn Edwards: You kind of already touched on my next question, because it was going to
be the first, your earliest memory of witnessing racial disparities. So, would you say that
experience at Halloween was, like, the first one, or, like, the earliest one you can remember?

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Ms. Stokes: Definitely, I think probably the first and earliest. I don't remember…

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Ms. Stokes: issues prior to that, but prior to that, even though we still lived in a town that was
predominantly white, I attended a private preschool program that had more diversity to it.

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Cameryn Edwards: Okay.

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Cameryn Edwards: That was a… so you were younger then, so was that crowd more, people of
color, or, like, just…

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Cameryn Edwards: Black students.

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Ms. Stokes: Yeah, definitely more African American students, but there were also, white
students, Asian students, it was… it was just more diverse.

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Cameryn Edwards: Right.

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Cameryn Edwards: So, I think, again, you already touched on it, but for my next question I was
gonna ask, growing up, with your family, was
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Cameryn Edwards: The topic or discussion of race, prominent, and what were they? And

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Cameryn Edwards: Why do you think you needed to have those conversations?

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Ms. Stokes: So, the topic of race was mentioned frequently in our home, of course, because we
pretty much started out with a racial incident.

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Ms. Stokes: But that wasn't the only one.

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Ms. Stokes: I definitely experienced several racial incidents, from being called the N-word by
peers, to the parents of the children who were

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Ms. Stokes: You know, using the N-word. Also, not being the nicest to me.

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Ms. Stokes: So to the point where my parents actually had to stand with me at the bus stop,

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Ms. Stokes: We all took the bus to school because we lived more than two miles from the
school. So, my parents had to stand with me to ensure that nothing transpired, to the point
where, also, my… my father would… had actually just forbidden me from

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Ms. Stokes: interacting with the children in the neighborhood, in our particular street, because of
the number of incidents. So, he would come home from work and play with me, because I'm an
only child, so I didn't have siblings to play with.
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Ms. Stokes: And from the way people were talking to me or treating me, he was just like, Nope,
we're not… you're not going to interact with them.

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Ms. Stokes: And we actually had family members from the DC, Maryland area

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Ms. Stokes: just to kind of…

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Ms. Stokes: I'd like to say the polite way is to say, speak to the other,

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Ms. Stokes: children in the neighborhood, but it basically was to let them know, I, I, you know,
my cousin may be an only child, but we can come down here all the time.

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Cameryn Edwards: If need be.

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Ms. Stokes: And that kind of was a turning point.

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Ms. Stokes: Because my cousins definitely spoke to people and let them know they were
prepared for what could occur every weekend if people didn't

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Ms. Stokes: act accordingly. So after that, things definitely did get better, but there were
incidents at the school. You have to keep in mind that

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Ms. Stokes: Like I said, this is a town where,

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Ms. Stokes: You know, less than 1% minorities collectively.

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Ms. Stokes: So they really were not accustomed to people who were unlike them.

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Ms. Stokes: And this is in the 70s, so you definitely had people who just were not welcoming to
people who were not like them, and it showed in their actions. So, constantly, there were
conversations, because we had to discuss something that occurred.

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Ms. Stokes: So whether it was how to handle it, how to interpret it, you know, was it really just
someone

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Ms. Stokes: being mean for the sake of being mean, or was it more racially motivated?

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Ms. Stokes: So, and as I said before, being the only child.

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Ms. Stokes: And with two very protective parents.

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Ms. Stokes: Who wanted to ensure that I did have a great upbringing, a good education.

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Ms. Stokes: This was just kind of…

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Ms. Stokes: what, what we had to deal with in order to get said education and quote-unquote
good environment. Because sometimes I question, well, how good was the environment if this is
what I always had to endure? Yes, it was good in the sense of

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Ms. Stokes: I lived in a beautiful home, our neighborhood was very safe, you know, we didn't
have, like, crime and things like that, or a high percentage of crime.

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Ms. Stokes: But… I was constantly being exposed to this.

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Ms. Stokes: So… How good was it, if that's what you're dealing with?

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Cameryn Edwards: How do you think that affected you, you know, internally and mentally? Like,
having to constantly deal with…

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Cameryn Edwards: That level of racism is, in a way, somewhat isolated from your peers
because of it.

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Ms. Stokes: I think it definitely made me a more guarded person. I think…

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Ms. Stokes: Being an only child in itself tends to, cause a person to be more on guard because,
you know, you don't necessarily have the support of siblings.

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Ms. Stokes: So you have to be very mindful of who you let in. So I think that in itself makes me a
guarded person. I think the experiences of racism really made me more guarded. And,
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Ms. Stokes: Not trusting of people, because… You know, there were just so many instances
where maybe this person didn't…

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Ms. Stokes: treat me poorly, but when they saw someone else doing it, they didn't say anything.
Or then you had the people who were treating you poorly, but then maybe when no other kids
were around, and they wanted somebody to play with, then they kind of were like, well, I guess
maybe I can be nice.

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Ms. Stokes: So it definitely made me, one, just more aware

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Ms. Stokes: of racism, because clearly I was experiencing it on a pretty frequent basis. It made
me more guarded, and it just made me aware of,

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Ms. Stokes: the… the different ways that… the discrepancies in how, I was being treated, other
people were being treated, even within the… the people who were in the majority group.

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Ms. Stokes: And they are inconsistent.

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Ms. Stokes: behavior based on who was around. So, like, you start to realize that there's a lot of
group mentality. Like I said, when people aren't around, and kids want somebody to play with,
then it's really not an issue to want to play with me. But then, when this one gets around, or
maybe this one, then it's a, you know, it's a totally different

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Ms. Stokes: Different story and different behavior.

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Cameryn Edwards: Yes.
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Cameryn Edwards: And to transition kind of into our theme about opportunities, my last question
related you your upbringing

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Cameryn Edwards: Have you ever… your parents ever had, like, the discussion of
discrimination when it came to, like, finding jobs, getting promoted? Even in terms of pay, was
that a conversation that was ever brought up?

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Ms. Stokes: So, it definitely was a conversation that was brought up. It very much was the
classic

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Ms. Stokes: conversation of how I would have to work harder, be better, be smarter, do more to
maybe get

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Ms. Stokes: as far as a white person who was not as smart, or did not work as hard, or just
simply had the right connections. And I gotta be honest, that's very draining.

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Ms. Stokes: just college life and working, period, getting to a point of having a job is already
stressful and hard enough as it is. And then to think that, you have to be better than best.

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Ms. Stokes: And have to go above and beyond, and yet that still might not even get you as far

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Ms. Stokes: as the next person who is nowhere near as qualified as you are. It's very… it's just
disheartening. You're just like, geez Louise. But unfortunately, that's the reality. It did come to
bear that what they said would be the case would be the case. You know, I see it now even in

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Ms. Stokes: My own profession. Who selects me to work with their children, as compared to
where they go first?

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Ms. Stokes: And I think even some of those people who they go first to would say to you that, oh
she's who I would take my kids to. But yet.

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Ms. Stokes: I won't necessarily always be certain people's first choice.

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Cameryn Edwards: Thank you. Still continuing with the opportunities now,

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Cameryn Edwards: Have there been times where… You were… I know you did mention being
overlooked, but also

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Cameryn Edwards: Times were you were underestimated, like, in your abilities, because of the
color of your skin.

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Ms. Stokes: I would say more overlooked,

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Ms. Stokes: And, I think it's definitely…

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Ms. Stokes: One of those things where… because I live in a town and work in a town where
there is a large South Asian population, so they themselves are already coming from a caste
mentality.

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Ms. Stokes: And so they kind of… I don't want to generalize and say everybody.

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Ms. Stokes: But there definitely are people who will bring that same mentality here.

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Ms. Stokes: And so if you're looking at the United States in the sense of a caste.

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Ms. Stokes: Right? African Americans would be considered on the lowest end of the cast, so
why, if you believe in a caste system or a caste mentality, would you want to bring your child to
someone who is…

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Ms. Stokes: Considered the lowest, even though the person that you're believing is the lowest
has the highest level of education to whom you're even looking at.

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Ms. Stokes: And so there had definitely been cases where.

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Ms. Stokes: Families have chosen other therapists, their child did not succeed, and then they
kind of came along as a, okay, well, let's see, and then it turns out that their child has just grown
tremendously.

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Ms. Stokes: So I always find that interesting, because…

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Ms. Stokes: I'm sure these families experience their own type of racism, probably much different
than my own.

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Ms. Stokes: But are still of that mindset of assimilation.

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Ms. Stokes: And if it's someone from the majority population, it has to be better, it must be, you
know, that's kind of what we want, and yet not realizing that even

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Ms. Stokes: Within who they're searching for.

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Ms. Stokes: That they themselves have to deal with. Aspects of racism, where going to the
person who already is dealing with racism and is not about to now, discriminate against

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Ms. Stokes: another person of color. Unfortunately, you know, that's not what they're necessarily
thinking, and thus.

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Ms. Stokes: Experience what they experience.

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Ms. Stokes: And then eventually come around to see that, hey, I probably should have just gone
to her from the start. Yes, if you yourself weren't, a victim of…

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Ms. Stokes: racism and believing that assimilation is going to get you further ahead than you
probably would have realized. You should have given the person of color a chance, to the same
degree that you were willing to give someone who is not of color.

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Cameryn Edwards: Thank you. So, kind of conversely

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Cameryn Edwards: Have you ever felt that an opportunity was given to you due to the color of
your skin?

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Ms. Stokes: I do believe that… Other parents of color, or parents who

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Ms. Stokes: They are very aware of discrimination, whether it's because they are experienced or
have experienced discrimination, I do believe they tend to seek out

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Ms. Stokes: therapist of color, and I… so I definitely think there are people who, yes, conversely,
because of their own experiences of discrimination, want someone who is sensitive to that.

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Cameryn Edwards: So, when you say… Hmm.

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Cameryn Edwards: Would you also say families of color are probably looking for someone who
looks like them, that's where the opportunity really comes from.

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Ms. Stokes: No, I wouldn't say, because I'm thinking of actually families who do not look like me,
but I'm thinking of families who do experience discrimination, don't look like me, but do,
experience discrimination.

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Ms. Stokes: Dentists of color, doctors of color,

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Ms. Stokes: But as I said, don't, don't look like me.
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Ms. Stokes: But because of their situation, they have experienced discrimination. So, no, it's
actually not, people who always look like me.

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Cameryn Edwards: Thank you, thank you.

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Cameryn Edwards: So… With that being said, how…

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Cameryn Edwards: Has your idea of equal opportunity

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Cameryn Edwards: How has it changed over the years?

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Ms. Stokes: I don't believe there's such a thing as equal opportunity. I don't… I do not believe
that there is equal opportunity. I believe that as long as,

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Ms. Stokes: There is… White supremacy and people who buy into the belief that you know, the
majority population is better, and that's what they're aspiring to.

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Ms. Stokes: Then there's always going to be people who believe that they are better.

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Ms. Stokes: So, no, I don't believe there's ever, nor do I believe there ever will be.

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Cameryn Edwards: So then I was gonna go to my next question, kind of. Would you… even
though you don't believe there could be equal opportunity, do you think that with, like,
mentorship, better community, and, like, social networking, that can be, you know, used to
overcome some of those racial barriers?

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Ms. Stokes: No, because I believe that…

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Ms. Stokes: People who are in power will always want to remain in power.

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Ms. Stokes: And unfortunately, they believe or have established, systems where, in order to be
in power, someone else has to be disadvantaged.

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Ms. Stokes: So I think that it's… it would start… in order for it to really happen, it would have to
start with those who are of power wanting

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Ms. Stokes: to have more equality, and people who are in power never want to give up their own
power. That just would never happen. So…

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Ms. Stokes: Could it possibly happen?

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Ms. Stokes: Through economic boycotts and sanctions. Sure, if you had a lot of other people,

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Ms. Stokes: who were disadvantaged if they were to band together. I don't really think that
necessarily is going to happen, because there's always going to be people who believe,

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Ms. Stokes: That they themselves can get ahead through assimilation.

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Ms. Stokes: So, I think a lot would have to happen amongst groups who are disadvantaged in
their own ways.

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Ms. Stokes: A lot would have to happen with those groups banning together.

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Cameryn Edwards: Thank you.

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Ms. Stokes: Thank you.

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Cameryn Edwards: Do you believe that everyone can make it here, specifically in America? So,
in other words, like.

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Cameryn Edwards: Even though you said there's not really equal opportunity,
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Cameryn Edwards: I guess equal instead saying equal chance, everyone has the chance to
succeed. Why or why not?

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Ms. Stokes: I, I think… Success is going to look different amongst different groups.
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Ms. Stokes: So, like, for instance, if someone is coming from a very impoverished situation,
right? Impoverished in mentality, financially, and mentally, their success

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Ms. Stokes: will look different from my success, not coming from an impoverished situation,
right? Coming from,

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Ms. Stokes: one, that was financially wealthier, had more opportunities. So I think success is
always going to look different. Do I think everyone has a chance to succeed?

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Ms. Stokes: Sure, in their own way, at different levels. You know, so do I think that, for instance,
like I said, the child that comes from impoverishment financially, mentally, socially, can equally
succeed to the same level as the wealthy millionaire's child who has all the opportunities? No.
But I think they both have the potential to succeed.

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Ms. Stokes: But just to varying degrees.

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Cameryn Edwards: Thank you.

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Cameryn Edwards: And… I don't have a follow-up question to that, just another question would
be…

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Cameryn Edwards: You probably have, but have you noticed any sort of disparities when it
comes to programs that are aimed to help those in need? So, oh yeah, yeah, so, you know,
again, because people come from different situations and that affects their opportunity. When it
comes to programs that are supposed to help.
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Cameryn Edwards: Can those programs also show disparities?

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Ms. Stokes: Oh, sure. Oh, sure! Because the reality is…

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Ms. Stokes: Because the reality is, unfortunately, there are people who are a part of…

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Ms. Stokes: these programs that are bringing in their own biases, some, implicit, others just
outright.

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Ms. Stokes: That are gonna have an impact.

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Ms. Stokes: on the people in these programs. So, like, I'm thinking of…

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Ms. Stokes: a particular woman that I worked with when I used to work in a school district that
was predominantly Black and brown children. And you know, you would think that, oh, someone
who is

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Ms. Stokes: willing to work in a district with a majority Black and Brown children. want to really
see these children succeed. And I would say that actually was not the case for her. She had
very low expectations for the children.
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Ms. Stokes: As a matter of fact, she frequently voted In elections for people who wanted to…

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Ms. Stokes: Get rid of programs for disadvantaged students.
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Ms. Stokes: And it really kind of seemed as though she was working there, because that's
where she could find a job, because maybe some of these other districts would not hire her. So,
no,

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Ms. Stokes: Not everyone within these programs wants everyone to succeed, or believes that
they can, because at the end of the day, I think, I do believe there's a saying that, well, people
want to see you succeed, but just not more than them.

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Ms. Stokes: So I do believe that to be true, and I'm not saying everyone, because I know there
are programs that definitely have people who want to see

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Ms. Stokes: Underprivileged students succeed, but at the end of the day, we all have our own
implicit biases,

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Ms. Stokes: There's no way to stop that from having a negative impact on an organization or a
program. Like, it just is.

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Cameryn Edwards: So then… When you see programs such as… affirmative action. That's, you
know, designed to…

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Cameryn Edwards: ensure that, you know, even, maybe not specifically people in need, but just
so that more people

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Cameryn Edwards: are able to get these, you know, opportunities no matter color of skin,
language barriers, like, anything. What are your thoughts on the recent, you know, controversies
that have been surrounding affirmative action?

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Ms. Stokes: I mean, I think the controversies are to be expected, because there are a lot of
people

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Ms. Stokes: Out here, who don't realize their privilege.

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Ms. Stokes: And believe that they have gotten ahead on their own merits. So then, if you don't
realize

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Ms. Stokes: That, no, you have gotten ahead because you haven't had to have certain
struggles, whether it's because of your skin color or who you know, then you tend to view
anyone else getting some type of assistance.

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Ms. Stokes: As a slight… against you.

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Ms. Stokes: And I think that there are a lot of people, because our nation has developed as it
has. It's always developed in the best interests of white, wealthy men.

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Ms. Stokes: It started out that way, it still is this way to this day.

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Ms. Stokes: That anything that is designed to help someone, even get a little bit closer

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Ms. Stokes: to the level, and it… it can't even be, but anyway, is… is thought of as a slight. So,
like, when you think of, like, silly things, like when, the controversy over the Little Mermaid

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Ms. Stokes: being Black, right? The actress being a Black actress. And the uproar. But nobody
ever stopped to think about the past however many hundreds of years that we were

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Ms. Stokes: weren't… either weren't on TV, or when we were on TV, we could only be cast in
certain lights, or that, here's this show, this show, that show, this, that. Never, right, never see
that as an issue.

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Ms. Stokes: But then, after so many years, this one occasion.

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Ms. Stokes: And you would think our whole nation was coming to an end.

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Ms. Stokes: So… I… I can't in… I can't have faith, in even bigger changes when something's so
small and ridiculous.

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Ms. Stokes: is… Controversy in our… in our nation.

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Cameryn Edwards: To follow up on what you just mentioned.

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Cameryn Edwards: There have just been years of white counterparts being able to benefit from
this system

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Cameryn Edwards: My first question is, do you feel like those are the loudest voices when it
comes to other people, specifically people of color, when they do get more opportunities? And if
so, why are they the loudest voices?

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Ms. Stokes: I do think they tend to be the loudest voices.

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Ms. Stokes: Why are they the loudest voices? I think because they don't see and won't
acknowledge what…

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Ms. Stokes: privilege they have as a white person, right? Because I think their mentality is… is
that they've gotten ahead because they were qualified when

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Ms. Stokes: in… I'm not gonna quantify the number of instances, but they're definitely people,
because you did not face discrimination, or because you knew of something because of your
connections, and your connections that will not allow us

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Ms. Stokes: to join organizations, or go to certain clubs, or even just socialize, period, with us.
Like, you know, they have no understanding of things like redlining, when Black people weren't
even allowed to buy certain houses, or the fact that

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Ms. Stokes: There were bills intended to ensure that white people could buy homes, right? But
Black people could not

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Ms. Stokes: And so I think that there are people, those loud, loud and wrong people are seeing
it as, well, we could do it, and so could you, but not realizing all that was behind them being able
to get ahead that we had no access to.
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Cameryn Edwards:Do you think it's ignorance, or just not wanting to see the truth? Maybe
something else.

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Ms. Stokes: I think for some, it is a little bit of ignorance. I'm gonna say for more, it's not wanting
to see the truth.

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Ms. Stokes: I think for those who, it's ignorance, I think they've just been kind of, sheltered from
accessing the truth. For those

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Ms. Stokes: Who haven't necessarily been sheltered and have.

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Ms. Stokes: had people try to really explain it. It's fallen on deaf ears, because then basically
what that's saying is, no, you're not as great as you think you are, right? You got ahead,
because there were just things that were stacked in your favor.

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Ms. Stokes: and other people have not had things stacked in their favor, and if you just compare
the success of those who have had things stacked in their favor to those who have not, what I
do believe is those who haven't

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Ms. Stokes: Have definitely had way more accomplishments, but because we're coming from so
far behind.

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Ms. Stokes: it doesn't necessarily seem that way, right? Because we're all trying to judge the
same finish line, but not acknowledging, hey, you were able to get halfway to this finish line
before I could even begin this race.

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Ms. Stokes: But yet, here's all that I have done. So when you're looking at all that I have
accomplished, I've done a lot more than you.

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Ms. Stokes: But, because, you know, we're all in this same race right here. it looks like I haven't
done much, when in reality, I really have done a lot.

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Cameryn Edwards: My final question in this section, I just want to say there's not that many
questions afterwards, but there's still some.

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Cameryn Edwards: what… What would you do to improve racial fairness and opportunities?

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Ms. Stokes: I really believe that What can be done from…

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Ms. Stokes: People who are in the minority is that we have to band together.

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Ms. Stokes: really economically, boycott.

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Ms. Stokes: And if not boycott… boycott and just start our own.

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Ms. Stokes: And I say that because, at the end of the day, all of this is about power and money.

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Ms. Stokes: And so, as long as people at the quote-unquote bottom, I don't like to think of it that
way, but, you know, those who aren't wealthy white men of power.

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Ms. Stokes: What we have to realize where we can compete is when we band together, right?
Because there's no one who is a wealthy white man of power

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Ms. Stokes: that didn't get there off the backs of the people that they are now discriminating
against. So if the people who have been discriminated against band together and say, - no
more.

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Ms. Stokes: That's the only way that things can start to change, because at the end of the day,
no one who has power and money is going to want to give it up to someone. It's just not going to
happen.

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Ms. Stokes: So I think banding together, And boycotting, and… starting… starting our own.

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Cameryn Edwards: Sometimes when people hear the word boycotting, especially when it's in,
like, you know, reference to equality, they might think to the past, like, not riding the bus, or…

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Cameryn Edwards: And possibly also not buying from certain stores.

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Cameryn Edwards: What has been some recent boycotting that you have seen?

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Ms. Stokes: Well, I don't… I don't shop at Target anymore…
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Ms. Stokes: under any circumstances, do I shop at Target? I have no problem not watching,
particular shows.

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Ms. Stokes: Actually, it's my husband is the one who is in charge of the cable and the internet,
but I would have no problem canceling services, and telling people I'm canceling services for X,
Y, and Z.

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Ms. Stokes: reason I will not go to restaurants if I remotely feel or have heard that my people
have been discriminated against or treated unfairly. I have no problem economically boycotting
anyone.

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Ms. Stokes: you can't get my money. I work too hard for my money to give it to someone who
thinks I'm less than.

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Cameryn Edwards: Love that.

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Cameryn Edwards: So, for my next set of questions right now, they're gonna be in relation to
race

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Cameryn Edwards: So, when it comes to race, would you say America is truly a melting pot?

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Ms. Stokes: So…

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Ms. Stokes: No. And… and I'm gonna say that because… and this is coming from something
within my field that we've talked about. A melting pot, when you think of a melting pot, you think
of things…

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Ms. Stokes: melting to become one, so that means kind of changing its own form to become
one. One, I don't think that's what happens in America anyway. Two, I don't think that
necessarily is a good thing. I shouldn't have to adjust myself.

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Ms. Stokes: to become one. So we, as, my particular profession, like to think of it as a salad,
where everyone kind of keeps their own uniqueness.

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Ms. Stokes: And we work together.

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Ms. Stokes: Right? For the good of becoming the salad.

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Ms. Stokes: And I still don't even think we do that.

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Ms. Stokes: Hence the, you should speak English, or recently talking about, some of… even
though I do not support him and his bid to become governor, I think it's of Ohio, or the vice
president's wife.

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Ms. Stokes: And people saying that, you know, they should consider converting to Christianity,
which I don't think either one of them should do. I think their religion is wonderful as it is already,
and they…

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Ms. Stokes: Should be able to have their religion, and it is not an issue. So, no, I don't even like
the idea of a melting pot because of what it stands for. I do like the idea of a salad, and the
attempt of America trying to be like a salad, and I don't even think we're doing that.

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Ms. Stokes: And I think it's kind of…

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Ms. Stokes: stacked up, because for the people who are trying to assimilate, at the end of the
day, you always have people basically feeling like, you'll never be one of us. And then for the
people who are trying to maintain their own sense of, you know, self and who they are, then
they get hit with the, you're not trying to be like us. So I just think it's a no-win situation.

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Ms. Stokes: I sound very pessimistic.

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Cameryn Edwards: No, I think you sound like it's very honest.

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Cameryn Edwards: You're saying, like, the truth of the matter when it comes to just the concept
of race and how it affects people, and if that's the truth, that's… that sadly is the truth.

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Cameryn Edwards: When it comes to race, do you think social media has helped or hurt the
discussion when it comes to, like, race and opportunities? And…

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Cameryn Edwards: Yeah, that's the first question, then I'll follow up with the second question.
So, when it comes to social media, has it helped the discussion? Has it hurt it, and why do you
feel that way?

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Ms. Stokes: I think with social media.
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Ms. Stokes: Our social media differs so much.

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Ms. Stokes: That I would think it's done both, right? So…

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Ms. Stokes: I don't know how long ago, but it basically was saying that most people on social
media, especially, like, white people, the majority of the people that they're friends with on social
media look like them.

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Ms. Stokes: So, if that is the case, then that means that pretty much

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Ms. Stokes: Everyone who is using social media, it's… are kind of staying in their own bubble.

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Ms. Stokes: So, like, when you think of…

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Ms. Stokes: when popular Black icons have passed.

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Ms. Stokes: And I have a very mixed social media, right? Because of my upbringing, I know
plenty of white people, right? So my social media is very mixed in who my friends are.

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Ms. Stokes: And I'll notice that all of either my Black friends or friends who aren't Black, but
definitely have a lot of Black friends will be talking about a particular subject. So if it's someone
passed away, or something happened, and the white people are just oblivious to it.

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Ms. Stokes: And I think that there are things then, conversely.

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Ms. Stokes: that happened that the white community is much more conscious of and wants to
discuss, where the black communities like, whatever.

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Ms. Stokes: And so I think what social media is doing is kind of keeping us in our own bubble,
and the whole algorithms, right? Like, you get to hear and see…

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Ms. Stokes: What you want to hear and see.

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Ms. Stokes: Okay, so I, am a very liberal person, so if you were to look at my social media, my
social media reflects the fact that I'm very liberal, right? And that's because I don't want to hear
anything else.

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Ms. Stokes: Right? So with that being said, a person, conversely, who is very conservative, or a
person that has this particular belief, their social media is going to reflect that.

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Ms. Stokes: And so, the good in it I guess for people who maybe are open-minded, Is that
maybe they're having that discussion.

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Ms. Stokes: Right? Conversely, the people who don't want to see any progress in certain fronts
then aren't having those discussions.

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Ms. Stokes: And are viewing things that are…

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Ms. Stokes: Showing others in a negative light.

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Ms. Stokes: So, I think for social media, it goes both ways. There's… there has been some good
to it, but I also think there's been plenty of harm as well.

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Cameryn Edwards: Thank you. And just for my last question, have you ever given thought to
these questions before?

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Ms. Stokes: No, not really. I mean… Not that I haven't…

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Ms. Stokes: I have given thought to everything that we've discussed, because I am a
50-something-year-old Black woman in the United States, right? So these are all things, race is
just something that I have to think about at all times.

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Ms. Stokes: So necessarily being asked your particular questions, no, not necessarily. But the
topic of race and all that is involved in race, yeah, I mean, that's just something I…

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Ms. Stokes: That's my world.

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Cameryn Edwards: Well, again, I would just like to thank you so much, Ms. Stokes, for speaking
with me today. I hope that

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Cameryn Edwards: I know I gained a lot of insight, and I hoped you did as well.

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Ms. Stokes: Yes, I did. Thank you.

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Cameryn Edwards: Of course! And hopefully,
we will be talking soon. I hope you have a great day.

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Ms. Stokes: You too.