there ain’t no utopia at least for asians
As a typical asian american growing up in the U.S., I had the notion that I could actually fit in with the rest of white america. I was what you’d call a “banana”. you know, white on the inside, yellow on the outside. also known as “twinkie”. I desperately wanted “acceptance” and even dated a “white girl” for three years as a teen.
But sadly, now that I’m older, I’ve come to the realization that I’ll always be labeled “asian-american” with an emphasis on ASIAN. It’s obvious that we as a nation aren’t color-blind and I can’t really see the day ever happening. I’m not sure if living in the “south” has tainted my view but from my experience, it feels like I’ll always have that “scarlet letter” scrawled on me. “A” for asian! I’m looked upon as “different” and will never be a part of white society. As the years pass me by, I feel even more disconnected and isolated from the community in general.
The way I see it, people simply categorize you as either “white”, “black” or “other”. No matter if I’m rich and successful, I’ll always be looked upon as an outsider. and I hate it. I hate the fact that people look at me and my family as “some foreigners”. I get the feeling the folks around here only have had limited contact with asians and quickly base their opinions about us via their dry cleaners and asian restaurant workers. I also have to blame high profile comedians like Bobby Lee and Ken Jeong for teaching middle america to laugh at short, weird looking korean people. thanks for perpetuating asian stereotypes, dudes!
I see this type of “racism” (subtle and not so subtle) every day – at work, at my kids’ schools, in my neighborhood (yes, I’ve got racist assholes for neighbors unfortunately), among parents at kids’ activities, and even out and about around town.
I sometimes wish I had those “blinders” on like I did as a teenager. Where I had some sort of faith in the world. some glimmer of hope. But with age, all I see now is the cruelty, bigotry and the prejudice in people.
I suppose this rant against white america makes me prejudiced as well. oh well. I don’t know. I’m just feeling down and had to vent.
give me some perspective here. anyone?
No related posts.
i think there are pros and cons to being an asian. a lot of it may depend on the area you live in, but anyway, here’s my very long and drawn-out take on it.
i think in some ways, being an asian is nice. you have a built-in community… a peer group that you can relate to. before college my friends were of all ethnicities, but once i got to college i tended to gravitate towards other asians. it wasn’t b/c i felt ‘isolated’ b/c in fact, there were tons of asians. but joining TASA (taiwanese american students association) was like having an instant social network in a situation where you’re trying to see where you fit in. these ppl understood things like the pressures from asian parents, academic-wise, where i think white america just can’t understand. (i mean, c’mon, if i got an A- in school it was like, “that’s not the same as an A in college!”)
on the other hand, i think asians are set apart b/c we as a group don’t stand up for ourselves. blacks and hispanics band together and fight ‘discrimination’ and fight for affirmative action, but the truth is that the things that benefit them don’t benefit asians. so naturally we’re set apart. also, asians from one country look down on asians from other countries (just saying, as a whole)… and asian-americans don’t feel the same way about “asian asians.” it’s hard to ‘stick together.’
and yes, everyone has stereotypes. there’s the korean laundry stores… the loud chinese people… the FOBs who make peace signs… and yes, when i was dating my husband i was told that korean men gamble, swear, smoke and drink. and husband added that they also wear wife beaters and beat their wives.
stereotypes exist, but it’s not just among asians. and i have to admit, i hold them too, for other races.
oh don’t mind me shirley. this old man just likes to whine. I guess, these hicks in NC are getting to me.
but like you said, it’s everywhere. sigh.
I just read on Disgrasian that the team name for Akron Ohio’s East High School is “Orientals”. as in East High Orientals!! WTF!! why in the hell are they allowed to call themselves this? doesn’t everyone know it’s an offensive term??? apparently not. sad, sad, sad how ignorant people can be.