So where do you come from?
Michael Chan, Maplewood, MN. I am half Chinese and half Caucasian, but my German and Hebrew language skills are much stronger than my Cantonese skills...
Two languages, Three dialects, Three cultures
Vincent Lei, San Ramon, CA. Grew up in Macau, China. Mainly speak Cantonese there. Moved to America four years ago and started to speak English...
Nice small town has race issues.
Sara Przybylski Stevens Point, WI People think this is a great place to live, work, and raise kids… and it is. Just under the surface,...
Not wanting to deny my roots
Laura, Red bank, NJ. Let me just start by saying that racial forms are the death of me. I keep clicking back and forth between...
Am I American o de alla
Juan Dominguez, Sacramento, CA. Mexican people say I am a shame to our people with gauges in my ears, the clothes I am wearing, the...
The Language I wish I Spoke
Jaymi Serna, Aurora, CO Growing up in a primarily Mexican area, my family only spoke spanglish or slang not actually Spanish. It never used to...
I never thought you’d like this.
Asia Smith, Kansas City, MO This has been said to me many times throughout my life. I am a black girl who goes to a...
I’m Hispanic, stop thinking I’m White
Leslya Chavez, Houston, TX Born and raised on the East coast of Virginia, though was raised in a Hispanic household. Grew up only Spanish till...
I didn’t know english, but learned.
Phillip T., Elk Grove, CA. Prior to going to school I didn’t know a lick of English. My parents spoke to me either in Cantonese...
Kids’ mother tongue isn’t their mother’s
Elise DuBord, Cedar Falls, IA. Growing up in the Midwest, I started studying Spanish as a second language in high school, fascinated with learning about...
Wik na tiki wawa bastən wawa
M.H. Culley, CA. It is sad that my Indian Elders and Ancestors were taught to be so ashamed of being Indian that they tried to...
America, we are your children too.
Sheree Lewis, Fontana, CA. The term American should represent the vast multitude of cultures, ethnic backgrounds, languages, complexions, origins and spiritual beliefs of its inhabitants....
Filipinos ridiculed for using proper English
Honorato Velasco, Cleveland, OH My brother and I spoke proper English and generally pronounced the words correctly. This meant that we were often ridiculed by...
Full Filipino, but not quite full
Marsha, TX My name is Marsha, a student at HCC in the US. I am 100 percent Filipino, but there are times when I do...
Everyone deserves toleration, every single person
Kyla J., Scotts Valley, CA. Everyone deserves to be tolerated, no matter your skin color, language, or family.
Where do you really come from?
Blanche Tsetong, Australia. I get this question often. Mostly at work. It never fails to infuriate me, particularly because the question is only ever directed...
