Immigrant they don’t tell to leave
Anonymous,
Cupertino, CA
This is my experience as a Russian immigrant to the US! Whenever I hear complaints about immigrants, it is always implied that due to my light skin I am an exception.
BREAKING NEWS: Jews experience prejudice AND white privilege
Osher Fein,
Cupertino, CA
This took me an embarrassingly long time to realize, but there’s this weird thing that white Jews experience called “conditional white privilege”. As long as my Jewishness isn’t obvious or doesn’t “offend” anyone, I experience the same privilege every other white person does. But, it was the moments of overt antisemitism that made me wonder if I fell under “minority” or if I fell under “privileged white person”. Eventually, I realized that these experiences don’t discredit one another. Do I experience bigotry? Yeah. Does that erase the fact that I still benefit from this corrupt system? Nope! I still benefit from injustice, unfortunately.
I am not one for boxes.
Denise Duvernay,
Cupertino, CA.
People are always trying to figure out exactly, what I am. But does learning my nationality, ethnicity, religion, sexual background, or any other particular thing tell you anything about WHO I AM? So often, I feel like people are just looking for any excuse to dismiss you, or box you into their own narrow view of what they want you to be, so I live my life challenging everyone’s basic biases. I work at Trader Joe’s, but that doesn’t mean I’m uneducated; I actually hold a Juris Doctorate. And just because you think I look white, don’t make me deny my father’s heritage. And I wear my freckles proudly, I am sorry if you think I may be prettier if I bleached them or covered them up with makeup. I embrace all the differences that make me an unconventional beauty, weighing more than you might expect. I am smart, funny, caring, and generous. I love food and traveling. And I will do anything for my family. Knowing which boxes I check off on my census paperwork will never truly reveal all of the wonderful intricacies that make me, so ME!
You’re Pakistani- so you’re basically Indian right?
Nayaab,
Cupertino, CA
Growing up in a fairly diverse area like the bay area, I was lucky to be raised around so many different cultures. That being said I still face stereotypical comments and racists statements by my peers. Being Pakistani, and knowing the history of how India and Pakistan split, for someone to dismiss your ethnicity as being “practically the same thing” is just incorrect. If someone tells you their racial background, don’t question it, it’s just rude.
United we stand,divided we fall
Justin Singh,
Cupertino, CA.
Race shouldn’t divide us and we shouldn’t split ourselves off based on the color of our skin. If we do that humans in general wouldn’t be strong as we are together. In our ancient past we survived by being together and living harmoniously. If we continue to split ourselves off based on color we will be divided and our species will endure more harm than good.
No you’re NOT Latina, YOU’RE white.
Karen Davis,
Cupertino, CA.
Recently, I was told by my closest friends that I am NOT latina I am white. I can not understand this because they know I speak fluent Spanish. My father was a migrant worker. My mother was from Mexico and her English was okay however it was obvious she preferred spanish.
What is at the surface for me is that because I have a Master degree, professional, successful, and do not have children, volunteer with non profit organizations to serve children all over the world, I no longer fit into their/societies perceptions of a Latina in modern society.
I am saddened my accomplishments and decisions professionally would discriminate against who I am. I desire other underserved Latina girls like myself to know there is hope. My passion is to inspire other inderserved children to overcome poverty and find their passion.
Removing me out of the “Latina” ethnicity would fail me on every level. It takes for granted the courage and perseverance that were necessary to make a different life from what I knew to be true, my reality as an impoverished child from parents with a 6th grade education.
When I am told what I am it undermines the perseverance and strength it took to build my precious life.
I will be pursuing my PhD next year. That does not take away my ethnicity and being the women my mother only dreamed of becoming….
Check One Box Only-White? Asian?
Elizabeth Soda
Cupertino, VA
Being from a mixed racial background brings a whole other set of issues. Your not White enough to be White and not Asian enough to be Asian. All the racial surveys out there that force me to pick one of my “halves” over another just highlight how much further we have to come in accepting our racial differences.
