CAN/DID: Personal Stories


As part of the CAN/DID Inclusion Series, we launched "CAN/DID Personal Stories" in 2022 as a way to share additional personal experiences and insights from members of the De Anza community.

  • To commemorate Black History Month in February 2022, the first installments featured students, faculty members and classified professionals speaking about their "Experiences as a Black Person." 
  • In May 2022, to celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we released more videos featuring members of the Asian and Asian American communities at De Anza. More videos were released in October 2022 for Filipinx American History Month.
  • Also in October 2022, we honored LGBTQ+ History Month and National Coming Out Day with some videos featuring members of De Anza's LGBTQ+ community talking about the experience of coming out.


Personal Stories: LGBTQ+ HIstory Month

Personal Stories: Coming Out Was Liberating

Personal Stories: Coming Out Never Ends


Personal Stories: Experiences in the Asian and Asian American Communities

How College Changed My Life

Experiences as an Indo-Fijian American Scholar

How Did You Feel About Learning About Filipinx History?

When Did You Learn About Filipinx History?

Personal Stories: What Makes You a Proud Filipinx Person?

Personal Stories: Experiences as a Korean American



Personal Stories: Experiences as a Black Person

When We Have a Support System – Abriana Holliday

Allies All Around You – Iman Seale

It Came Like a River – Derrick Felton

Nextdoor Experience – Iman Seale

Feeling Out of Place – Payton Sample

Developing Tough Skin – Robert Alexander

Solidarity Through Storytelling – Iman Seale

Feeling Alienated – Khari Crawford

My Black Experience – Derrick Felton

Enduring Injustices, Part 2 
– Deborah Taylor

The World is a Chessboard 
– Derrick Felton

The Whitewashing of History 
– Abriana Holliday

Seen Beyond My Intelligence 
– President Lloyd Holmes

The Pressure to Work Harder 
– Deborah Taylor

Why Black Representation is Important 
– Daniel H.

Father-Son Talk on "Driving While Black" 
– Payton Sample

Student Stopped by Police Multiple Times
– Robert Alexander

The Great Migration and Injustices 
– Deborah Taylor


Previously In the Series

Previous installments in the CAN/DID series have explored perspectives on the Black Lives Matter movement, provided context and strategies for countering anti-Asian racism and celebrated De Anza's unique Intercultural Studies program.

Black man in sportcoat: What Is Black Lives Matter?

What Is Black Lives Matter?

What does this important social movement mean to Black students, faculty members and classified professionals at De Anza?

Watch the Videos

Young Asian woman: What Are the Effects of Anti-Asian Scapegoating

Countering Anti-Asian Racism

What is the history behind anti-Asian racism and scapegoating during the pandemic – and how can we confront it?

Watch the Videos

Smiling Latinx man in front of 3 smiling students: Inclusion in Practice at De Anza

Intercultural Studies at De Anza

What are the vision and goals behind the creation of De Anza's ethnic studies program – and what makes it unique?

Watch the Videos

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