I am mixed. My mother was born in the Philippines, and when she was just three years old, she was brought to the United States by my grandmother and my grandfather, who was a medical exchange student. My father was born in rural North Carolina and grew up in a small town where everyone knew each other.
Growing up, I never really thought of myself as a “minority.” My friends never made comments about my appearance or my family history. Everyone got along, and it didn’t matter if your best friend looked differently than you did. It wasn’t until middle school that friendship dynamics began to shift. Friends started viewing each other differently, groups changed and minorities seemed to stand out more than ever. My friends became more interested in where I “came from,” even though I was born in the same state as them. Classmates made fun of the food I brought for lunch, asking me if I made my own sushi, if I ate dog or they teased me because they thought I was Chinese. These verbal remarks always stung a little bit on the inside, but I never had to face the kind of racial discrimination that so many other youths of minority still face today.
It shouldn’t matter if someone’s skin is darker or their eyes are shaped differently. We have come so far from where our ancestors started, so why do we still see through this old-fashioned lens and tell our children to see the colors that divide us?
We cannot ignore that racism still exists. Children and adults across America still face discrimination and unequal opportunity. In our educations, our jobs, and our family lives, we are still singled out for our cultural identities. We shouldn’t have to fear that our friends and fellow citizens will discriminate based on our heritage or our looks. We all have different backgrounds and different identities, and our diversity brings us together and strengthens our community.
– By Leah Kallam