The Race Card Project
By Michele Norris
Deborah Halperin,
Bloomington, IL
A man said this to me while we were in line at the post office. I was 18 and had just moved from Hawaii to Iowa for college. I am part Chinese and Filipino. I look Asian. He must have thought I was Vietnamese? Korean? I was caught off guard. I said nothing. No one ever said anything like that to me. In Hawaii we all look “hapa” but not on the mainland.
Dylan,
San Jose, CA
I am Vietnamese, so when people hear this, they automatically say, “So you are Asian, ” which is a big generalisation. They also think I am automatically good at school, which is why I wrote six words: Yes, I am good at math. But what they don’t see is the amount of hours I put into studying. Yes, I am good at what I study, but it isn’t a genetic thing; it’s a putting in effort thing. People are so quick to think about why they are at a disadvantage compared to others, without recognizing the work that goes into overcoming obstacles. I have seen a lot of Chinese children studying for a test, and those endless hours of studying aren’t genetics; it’s discipline.
Madison Le Lam Carter
Canada
Chinese/Vietnamese and Irish/Scottish
Kaia Van-Seng,
Santa Rosa, CA
My identity is something I take seriously. It shapes who I am and how I interact with the world. So when I was racially profiled for the first time in second grade, I was shocked. Taylor Mountain elementary school was where I learned how to communicate with others, especially as I worked on my speech issues with a speech therapist.
But during my very first session, something felt off. When I was called out of class, I was greeted by a very tall blonde haired man. The first word he said to me was “Konichiwa”. I didn’t even know what it meant – most English speaking second graders wouldn’t – so I just stared at him. Then he asked “What type of Asian are you?” I told him I was Vietnamese- it was a common question. He laughed and told me ‘I looked more Japanese.’
To this day I am still confused about this interaction- not offended but curious. It was the first time I understood how casually people can reduce someone into a stereotype. Even when it’s a core part of who they are.
Hannah Johnson,
Marina, CA
…and even though I am a quarter Vietnamese, I don’t feel comfortable calling myself anything other than white but also part Vietnamese because I only have European features.
Kenna Hensen
Philadelphia, PA
I’m so ashamed to say I have racist thoughts. I grew up in a small suburban town believing that no matter your ethnicity, racist remarks where never appropriate. I moved into a large urban city 5 years ago and found my thoughts and feelings on racism being altered by my experience with people in my neighborhood.
I live in an area with a high immigrant population of Asian/ Vietnamese / Hispanic families. I also live down the street for a low income housing project that has a high majority of African American families. The Asian and Hispanic populations are very hard working individuals, opening stores, restaurants and businesses. They put me to shame with their work ethic, often working weekends and holidays. I always see my Asian/ Hispanic neighbors working their houses, playing in the park with their children, or sending time with their families, after they have worked all week and into the weekend. We always greet each other with simple words and friendly gestures.
When I walk past the housing project, I am heckled by my neighbors who yell sexual and offensive comments, fail to respect quite hours in the evening and often let their children wander around late into the night. I feel voices that I’ve heard say racist and offensive comments creep into my head and I bite my tongue to hold back a lot of words I feel inside.
But why? Why has the negativity of Racism crept into my head? I have very good friends who are African American, Ive been in mixed relationships, I even have an “adopted” aunt who I loved. I see their children as my own I would never disrespect an individual of this race, but I am struggling to understand the overall values of this ethnicity and the reason that I feel the way I do. What is happening in our culture and why has the majority of this ethnic group ended up becoming the so displaced in our society?
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