The hardest people to stand up to are your friends, and what I've come to realize is that every time I am passive when I hear off-color remarks that some pass off as only joking, I am perpetuating the discrimination that is present in this country. I would definitely describe myself as non-confrontational, but from this point on, I'm going to try and be confrontational in situations that I see fit.
My parents were immigrants that came to this country and worked for everything they have. The fact that my sister and I are attending college and working towards creating a bright future for ourselves is the American Dream for them. I grew up in suburban New Hampshire surrounded by mainly white people all my life. My sister and I were the only black kids at my elementary school for a few years. I came out of it all pretty unscathed, but there are things that still stick with me. Kids laughing at me when I wore cornrows to school in 2nd grade. In 5th grade, a boy told me he would never date a black girl. Constantly being told I did not act black. Friends casually saying the N-word around me. Actually being called the N-word in a malicious manner.
At the time, I acted like all of these things weren't a big deal. I didn't address them. I didn't talk about it with anyone. I just pretended it never happened. I'm through with acting like that because these things do matter. The fact that I can vividly remember them now, and it's bringing tears to my eyes as I write this is a testament to that.
So when you're talking shit about immigrants. You're talking shit about my parents. When you make off-color remarks about anyone because of their race, sexual orientation, religion or whatever. You are making that same joke towards me. You are telling me that you think it's okay to judge people based on those things, and that it's okay to judge me based on those things. So if you want to make a remark like that around me, go ahead. Just be prepared to get a mouthful from me, and know that you will lose my respect. I'm 20 years old. I'm at a time in my life where I am figuring out the type of person I want to be and the type of people I want to be associated with. I hope you are one of them.
Peace,
Kim
"Prejudices are what fools use for reason." - Voltaire
I know it's difficult to speak up about this stuff, and I'm proud of you for doing so. It's like the older we get, the more we realize that racism and prejudice won't just go away on their own. I wish more people would said something.
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