Germans Were in Internment Camps Too
Gina Barclay, USA. People are aware that Japanese Americans were placed in internment camps during WWII. What most do not know is that German Americans...
I am not an exotic creature
Hana Peoples, Seattle, WA Being of Japanese and African American ethnicity has brought many interesting comments from people. Because I have an “ambiguous look,” I...
“She’s so pretty for being Black”
Morgan Cooper, Stockton, CA. In 2007, when my ex husband and I were expecting our baby girl, we jokingly called her “Blackanese”, a term I...
No really what are you?
Mia, Honolulu, HI I grew up in Hawaii which was a very diverse place. Coming to the mainland I had a lot of people ask...
Being Asian, my Authenticity is Questioned
Colette, Sacramento, CA. “I love Asian girls” “I love Japanese people” “Konnichiwa” “Ni hao” “Sayonara” “Kamsammida” ‘Your a bad Japanese. You don’t know Japanese.’ “Are...
“You all look alike to me”
John Kwong, Mesquite, TX Growing up an Asian American in Dallas, TX, I often heard the words of ignorant people say “All Asians look the...
Who is your daughter’s father?
Itoko Richardson, Daly City, CA. I am Japanese and my husband is Black (he extremely dislikes to be called African-American). Our experience alone was interesting...
I am more than a face
Benjamin T. USA. I’m Asian, but I guess I’m pale or something because people sometimes find that hard to recognize, and when they do, they...
Otosan, please teach us your language.
Jaimie Scanlon, Brattleboro, VT. My husband is bilingual Japanese-American. His mother, raising three boys in Iowa in the 1960s, made sure her sons grew up...
Soul Surfer is Light without color
NanJo Carter, Richmond, CA. I grew up in the fifties and sixties. We moved to Japan when I was 2. We moved to Montgomery, AL...
Japanese bred and raised, Black heritage
Brittany Carney, Washington, DC. As a person that is three quarters African American and one quarter Japanese, I feel that culturally I’m the other away...
Never Accepted As American While Abroad
J Smith Kenya I’ve spent several years living outside the US (Europe, Asia, Africa) and being half Japanese, I am always mistaken for being from...
All yellow isn’t the same yellow
Sam Kim, South Korea. It’s because outside of Korea, people would see us as Chinese although we could be Korean or Japanese.
It doesn’t matter. You look foreign.
Michiko Minoura USA I’m second generation Japanese American. This was a comment made to me by a student I met my first year in college....
My family history is shrouded in mystery.
Zan Koh, Singapore. I’m not certain if I’m Japanese or Mediterranean, considering the fact that my Family`s tree on both sides are as mixed and...
Mom said I never saw color.
Corrine Ferrell-Macatee, Baltimore, MD. Me, bad bangs, my best friend, little girl with braids, my cousin, cute little Japanese girl. My nana and sister are...
My Obaa is Japanese – I’m not.
Livia Messenger, Northhampton, MA. Smith College Before I told you my grandmother was from Japan, I wasn’t Asian to you. I’m white. I don’t speak...
No, I don’t tan or perm.
Daniela Charlotte, NC Some people look puzzled when I say I am half Japanese. They tend to ask me if I perm my hair or...
