Re: Color Line Cuts Through the Heart (Score: 1)
by curiousgeorge on Saturday, July 29 @ 20:39:41 EDT
(User Info | Send a Message) | Ok, I've read your p.o.v. carefully and this is what I got out of your solutions (I'm being sincere here, I want to discuss this issue and gain insights): unifying all AA into an AA-only culture, talk about cases of racism in America, and develop AA civil rights movements based on voting and money.
In this case, I completely agree with your last solution. In the face of racist crimes and prejudiced actions, such as the murder of Vincent Chin, political action must be taken. Furthermore, I believe that AA shouldn't be afraid to be involved in politics if their passion is to make a change in this world. From personal experience, A parents advise kids against politics and are important influences in our lives, so there's a natural incubator for most AA against politics. Many times my mom has sad to my sister, "Marry well. If you find a husband who's poor and uneducated, you'll shame the whole family." In and of itself, this is an example of a common mindset among AA parents, who only want their children to become rich and safe. Here, I say we must go against the grain, and realize we are the generation to go out into the world and make big changes, create fairer laws, discover cures for diseases, educate the young minds of tomorrow against racism. Movements are powerful, but can only affect change if at their grain lies true and kind principles that all the world can accept. Not violent intents, or ignorant assumptions.
Now, for the first two solutions I'd have to disagree. You're separating AA culture from Asian culture, and advocating it as a nest apart from the rest of American society, where AA can put themselves into, so that, like one big block, we turn to fight the rest of America. This won't create empowerment, only fear and division. I, for one, feel that AA aren't a separate culture, we've learned Asian influences from upbringing and outside American culture too. We shouldn't be ashamed of either, and should walk out bravely into the world, as AA, to do whatever it is we dream of. Second, by talking about cases of racism, we should realize that we need to stick up for ourselves. By this, I mean that if ppl, or friends, make racial slurs, it's necessary to confront them. I personally say, "What you just said is racist and hurt my feelings. I'm proud of being AA, and I'd like you to treat my differences with respect in the future." Yeah, it may not seem to work, but deep inside, that person will feel ashamed. It's necessary to tell people that they're doing something wrong and tell them to do what's right, but its DEF not necessary to hate all whites, or jews, or politicians, etc. We need to make constructive changes through nonviolence.
This website is a very good forum for discussion. But it's also necessary that out of this discussion emerges truths that will aid us in all areas of life, not just anger or hatred. Ever since high school only raising my hand to answer math questions, and seeing all my Asian classmates bury their head in their schoolbooks, I resolved that college would be different; that I would speak out and be involved in the community, that I would try to better this world. And I've been laughed at for my sincerity, but I've been able to make small differences in people's minds as well.
Basically, from where I am right now, I see the viewpoints of a conflicting America, mirrored in the different races on campus, and this is what I learned. Many white ppl view Asians as "incubators", that we're nerdy, shy, and uninteresting, because few engage in pep rallies, or social events, or parties, because we've been raised to be modest, careful, and somewhat withdrawn. This is totally untrue, as Asians have parties too, and associations, but they are composed mostly of asians! More and more so, Asians are drawing ourselves into a little ball away from "big" society, and empowerment, for me, entails ALL AA re-entering that society and making a difference. Referring to seraphfire's quote, AA aren't "kissing ass", or being "yellow white supremacists
Read the rest of this comment... |
| Parent |
|
