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It's Chinese New Year somewhere. In America, it is hell.
My mom just told me the scariest story: She was on the subway and a Black man immediately yelled at her for "looking" at him. A 66 year old woman who did nothing -- she sat down and got yelled at. For being ASIAN.
My mom just told me the scariest story: She was on the subway and a Black man immediately yelled at her for "looking" at him. A 66 year old woman who did nothing -- she sat down and got yelled at. For being ASIAN.
He yelled at her to "LOOK STRAIGHT" and not make eye contact with him. Under any normal circumstance, my mom would have just laughed. She laughs at everything.
So she looked away. This is not about a Black man being racist. It's about racism against Asians, period.
So she looked away. This is not about a Black man being racist. It's about racism against Asians, period.
My first question to her was: Why were you on the subway? I had asked her to stay home given the string of attacks on Asians in the U.S. the last few weeks
But she is fearless. She doesn't hide. She's never hidden. She's faced racism for 40 years and brushed it off. My hero.
But she is fearless. She doesn't hide. She's never hidden. She's faced racism for 40 years and brushed it off. My hero.
This is America in 2021. Where Asians and Asian Americans get blamed, harassed, and ATTACKED in public. In broad daylight.
It damn almost cried on FaceTime bc I wasn't there to protect her. I can't be there all the time. The attacks on the Asian elderly could have been her
It damn almost cried on FaceTime bc I wasn't there to protect her. I can't be there all the time. The attacks on the Asian elderly could have been her
I'm angry. I'm disappointed. I don't know how to feel right now.
Because I know the feeling. I've experienced it my entire life. Being yelled at for riding the subway and "looking at someone".
I've experienced it all. I don't share everything.
Because I know the feeling. I've experienced it my entire life. Being yelled at for riding the subway and "looking at someone".
I've experienced it all. I don't share everything.
I've never shared this, but I've escaped being robbed, harassed, attacked, and almost KILLED. Yes. KILLED. Someone almost SHOT me for no reason. Minding my own business in my own neighborhood 10 years ago.
Walking down my own block. A kid on a bike pulled a gun out on me.
Walking down my own block. A kid on a bike pulled a gun out on me.
And for what? Because I was Asian. I had no money or anything of value that would have been worth killing me for.
Yet... there I was running home on the street. Screaming for help. Barefoot. Lost one of my sneakers. Trying to escape being gunned down by a kid on a bike
Yet... there I was running home on the street. Screaming for help. Barefoot. Lost one of my sneakers. Trying to escape being gunned down by a kid on a bike
I barely made it home that night. It probably traumatized me. I was scared of Black people for a long time after that near-death escape.
This shit reads like a dream. It wasn't. My dad was in total shock when I made it home banging on my apt door, tears running down my face
This shit reads like a dream. It wasn't. My dad was in total shock when I made it home banging on my apt door, tears running down my face
He's experienced this racism for 40 years just the same. Nearly robbed and killed for walking home. For leaving work. For being Asian.
I have been in extreme mental pain this week. I have tried so hard to give a shit about work, about something else. Anything else. But this shit is bothering me. I hoped to neve have to share this story, but here we are because we are fucking invisible
To stay silent is to be complicit to a broken system, culture, and America. To remain full of fear.
I refuse to let fear consume me. That's not how my mother is and not how she raised me.
Her traditionalist upbringing ingrained silence in her
I refuse to be silenced
I refuse to let fear consume me. That's not how my mother is and not how she raised me.
Her traditionalist upbringing ingrained silence in her
I refuse to be silenced
I refuse to just "stick to tech". There's more to life than tech. There's more to life than a phone or gadget.
There's more important shit when my life, my family's lives, my friends' lives, are literally on the line when we step out the door
There's more important shit when my life, my family's lives, my friends' lives, are literally on the line when we step out the door
People are angry and they're taking it out on Asians. We are NOT your punching bags.
I am sick and tired of being a punching bag.
I am sick and tired of being told I don't belong. I can't do this. I can't do that. We are entitled to the same fucking freedom and respect
I am sick and tired of being a punching bag.
I am sick and tired of being told I don't belong. I can't do this. I can't do that. We are entitled to the same fucking freedom and respect
The traditional Asian mentality boils down to "Not my problem."
This is EXACTLY the problem. It's not your problem until it IS your problem. By then it's too late. Your loved one is already gone.
There are serious, deep issues running through Asian/AA communities in the US
This is EXACTLY the problem. It's not your problem until it IS your problem. By then it's too late. Your loved one is already gone.
There are serious, deep issues running through Asian/AA communities in the US
We need to fix them. We need to address them. Everyone needs to stop being ignorant and silent to them because it's "not your time."
IT IS OUR TIME. There is no such thing as "NOT YOUR TIME".
The time is always: NOW.
We've been patient. We can be patient no more
IT IS OUR TIME. There is no such thing as "NOT YOUR TIME".
The time is always: NOW.
We've been patient. We can be patient no more
We should not brush ALL these attacks (there are so many I lost count) and pretend they will disappear. They won't.
America needs education and reform. It all starts with education and information. And please, stop asking for a free link. Make the effort. Show you really care
America needs education and reform. It all starts with education and information. And please, stop asking for a free link. Make the effort. Show you really care
Otherwise, you're just pretending w/your support/solidarity & we don't need that
I'm not writing all this to be performative. It's not a show. I have nothing to gain from sharing something so personal. I only hope someone who looks like me who's fearful is empowered to speak up
I'm not writing all this to be performative. It's not a show. I have nothing to gain from sharing something so personal. I only hope someone who looks like me who's fearful is empowered to speak up
We owe it to ourselves to make things better for future generations. To do and say things our immigrant parents/ancestors didn't have the courage or privilege to do and say
So I'm starting with this. Only by being fearless & sharing our experiences can we begin the hard work
So I'm starting with this. Only by being fearless & sharing our experiences can we begin the hard work
