Political Debate For Teens discussion
racial justice
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hate against aapi
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everything abby and cass said. as an asian american, i will admit that it’s very difficult to come to terms with the racism we face when it isn’t blatant (like with people blaming covid entirely on asian/chinese people, etc) since we’re often taught that it’s actually a good thing. the model minority myth is not!! good!!! on so many levels!! and the infantilization/fetishization of asian women and female-passing people such as myself is equally disgusting.it’s by no means the oppression olympics, and i would never say that asian people are “””more oppressed””” than other poc (which is just Not Cool) but i have to admit i’m glad that the fact that we even experience racism is getting acknowledged at least a little bit more right now. obviously not under these circumstances, and honestly now that i’m reading this it sounds kind of fucked up, but uhhhhhhh what i mean i guess is silver linings????? oh my god please ignore me im-
Cass wrote: "Asian Americans are usually pushed to the side, hyper sexualized, or used as token diversity because of where their ancestors are from. What's frustrating as an Asian american is that supposedly, w..."💯💯💯💯
As an Asian American, I am disgusted and terrified. I can't even go outside anymore or see my mom go outside without being scared.It shouldn't be like this.
The prejudice is so stupid.Why do they hate us? We didn't start this pandemic. China didn't even start it. If it started in, say, England, would Trump have called it something racist like kung flu or the China virus? No. It's racism at its finest. And now there are so many attacks on Asian Americans but the thing that scares me the most is the racism people around me have. The people at my school who blame China for everything and call COVID the kung flu. The people who are around me every day.
What do you think about how Asian American people and Pacific Islanders are being treated? I think it's fucking horrible. As an Asian American myself, I face 10x racism now. It's great, real great /sarcarsm
Should China be blamed for starting the pandemic?
You can't blame one country for everything. Everyone did something to contribute to it. So, no, I don't.
^^thisI feel like one of the things about people who are racist to Asians is that most of them do it in a way that's not obvious so it's hard to actually get them in trouble and no one actually addresses it.
TheBlueShelf wrote: "so I do have some thoughts about aapi racism in america, but I want to make it clear before I say anything that I am a white person and therefore I don’t have all the perspective and insight people..."i understand this and where you’re coming from, and i don’t *disagree* per se, but it’s really important to remember that poc are people too. we don’t exist to educate white people on how they’ve fucked up, and if the best we can do in a moment is saying “that was racist, please research more on the topic to understand”- or even just “that was racist”- then we shouldn’t be demonized for that.
i don’t think a lot of white people realize how emotionally & mentally taxing it can be to have a conversation with y’all about racism. we have to tip-toe around most things we say (you can’t say “that was racist” because the white person will take offence, you often can’t explain things and their impact on systematic & institutional racism without doing a whole background on that, you can’t “insult” the person, you can’t say “white people” but instead have to say “white people who-“, the list goes on and on and on). white people don’t like to know that they’ve done something racist, because they refuse to see themselves as racist.
they don’t listen to us when we calmly tell them that they’re being racist any more than they do when we scream it. they’ll listen when we don’t say what we mean, when we spare their feelings over ours, and that’s the only way to have a conversation with then a lot of the time.
once again, we don’t exist to educate white people. y’all can and should do that on your own. and if, when we try, we don’t do it in a way that you like, suddenly we’re still the bad guys? we literally can’t win unless the white person is never, ever, uncomfortable or offended. and that’s really damn hard to do.
TheBlueShelf wrote: "so I do have some thoughts about aapi racism in america, but I want to make it clear before I say anything that I am a white person and therefore I don’t have all the perspective and insight people..."i mean, it's hard to have compassion when it's literally something offensive? to someone's race? like for someone who has internalized racism and is trying to work on it (like i'm ashamed of my race but i also hate it too, it's kind of internal more), i would be super weirded out if ppl were nice to me. for my racism. but maybe that's just me idk.
i understand where you're going with the whole "educate, not hate" message but u gotta understand that it's hard to not hate when ppl u know/love literally get (view spoiler) by racist ppl.
it doesn't matter if they're being unintentionally racist, they're still part of the problem. they're not on our side.
also, on an unrelated note, i’d add that i’m really fucking tired of asian people (especially women & femme-passing people) being infantilized & fetishized. we’re not cute! we’re not china dolls! we’re not weak! we’re not sweet and docile and kind! and if we’re not those things then we’re not tigers!!!!! let asian people be multifaceted and dynamic!!!!! /gen /posalso, we aren’t your fucking fetish! i don’t think a lot of (well meaning) white people realize how long a history there is of the sexualization of asian women & femme-passing people. offhand comments can often contribute to a stigma where we’re made out to be exotic femme fatales or sexy china dolls. just. like. if you’re complimenting an asian person’s appearance, maybe just... don’t make it about their asian-ness. you know, like how you wouldn’t compliment a white girl by saying “i love white eyes, they’re so unique!”. /gen
( i forgot to mention that I’m only saying this in the context of someone you have to deal with on a regular basis. some random racist stranger obv doesn’t deserve this kind of gentle approach )
uhhh, stop saying "unintentional racism" then. you make it seem like that's a good excuse to be racist or something. being "unintentional" doesn't matter and don't add that to the end of "racism", a word that's a very fucking bad thing.
no one cares, period, if you're unintentional or not. either way, they're racist. they're ignorant. and that's the same as "intentional" racism, buddy.
also, if you're white, stop telling us what to do. i'm not gonna be kind to anyone, unless they're trying to make a change on their racism. just stop defending racist ppl, they wouldn't care more or less.
please just know I’m not trying to defend racists and i don’t want to tell anyone what to do. im not trying to start an argument either. all i was trying to do was encourage people to spread kindness, even when it isn’t deserved.
maybe I just don’t understand how it works since I’m not part of this community. I’d love to learn what you guys do when dealing with racism so I can improve in my own actions.
yeah, well, you're white. idk why you thought you could relate to this anyway. just stop speaking for us, we have our own voices. we can speak up for ourselves.you can repost donation links and put whatever "no peace, no justice" thingie in your bio, i wouldn't care more or less. just, please, for the love of atheism, stop speaking for us. especially if you're not a part of the aapi community.
as for me, i don't do anything when racism happens. there's some things you can fix and others you can't. sometimes standing up for yourself has more risks than benefits. that's why i do nothing lol.
but, say, if one day, something were to physically damage me (and it wasn't just a bunch of slurs), i would fight back. i wouldn't waste my energy with words though.
then again, that's just me, and ik others do it differently.
and if i were you, a white person, i would be standing up for the racism. since y'all have white privilege and all, there's literally no reason for you to be afraid anyway.
I’m deleting my earlier comments. I feel really guilty now bc if what I said made anyone think I condone racism, it doesn’t need to be heard
TheBlueShelf wrote: "I’m deleting my earlier comments. I feel really guilty now bc if what I said made anyone think I condone racism, it doesn’t need to be heard"it's ok, i'm sorry if i took my anger out on you. there's just a lot of things i have to go through everyday and not everytime does it happen the same way. not everyone forgives each other and we have good reasons for doing that. i just hope you understand :)
yeah I understand, thank you for forgiving me :))
TheBlueShelf wrote: "I’m so sorry if I sounded like I was trying to put words in your mouth. I did say in my original post that my voice should be heard secondarily to aapi voices which are obviously more important, bu..."yeah, i know what you said. i was thinking it was kinda weird for you to talk about the whole forgiveness and kindness thing, but ofc, your voice matters, and i'm glad you support us.
i just want you to understand that not everything can be fixed easily and educating someone isn't always gonna do the trick. especially when what they did hurt a person, it's impossible to erase that and the history of their racism /gen
that's the reason why i don't stand up for myself when racism happens to me. until it's something extreme, then i'll do it.but if it's a slur and i stand up for myself, that racist kid's parent is gonna do a heck ton of worse things to me. and i'd rather not face those risks.
yeah I realize that now. immediately after posting what i did i realized that what i was saying probably wasn’t helpful bc there are just too many blatantly racist people who don’t care to change their ways. you shouldn’t be expected to “educate” people either, that should be in them. in the future I’ll think more before I post an opinion about topics like this.
TheBlueShelf wrote: "yeah I realize that now. immediately after posting what i did i realized that what i was saying probably wasn’t helpful bc there are just too many blatantly racist people who don’t care to change t..."no, it's okay! i'm glad you understand now /pos :)
ari wrote: "TheBlueShelf wrote: "so I do have some thoughts about aapi racism in america, but I want to make it clear before I say anything that I am a white person and therefore I don’t have all the perspecti..."THISSSSS ^^^^^^
ari wrote: "also, on an unrelated note, i’d add that i’m really fucking tired of asian people (especially women & femme-passing people) being infantilized & fetishized. we’re not cute! we’re not china dolls! w..."fSKDFJSLFKDJS YES OH GOD YES I'M SO TIRED OF SEEING THAT IN MOVIES AND IN REAL LIFE /g
TheBlueShelf wrote: "please just know I’m not trying to defend racists and i don’t want to tell anyone what to do. im not trying to start an argument either. all i was trying to do was encourage people to spread kindne..."If kindness isn't deserved, then I'm not giving it. /g
bookish wrote: "yeah, well, you're white. idk why you thought you could relate to this anyway. just stop speaking for us, we have our own voices. we can speak up for ourselves.you can repost donation links and p..."
I agree with this.
I personally think that white people shouldn't be "educating" us on what we should do when we face racism. That doesn't make any sense. Because they've probably never experienced racism.
Sofia wrote: "bookish wrote: "yeah, well, you're white. idk why you thought you could relate to this anyway. just stop speaking for us, we have our own voices. we can speak up for ourselves.you can repost dona..."
exactly, it's all different for different ppl. and unless they're jewish, yeah, white ppl can't face racism.
There is no excuse for hurting people because of their race or any part of their identity for that matter.Also, I noticed that there is this stereotype that Asian Americans are this quiet, smart, uncommunicative personality, and while it's fine if that is truly someone's personality I don't think we should be creating these stereotypes about all people of a large group.
Maple wrote: "There is no excuse for hurting people because of their race or any part of their identity for that matter.Also, I noticed that there is this stereotype that Asian Americans are this quiet, smart,..."
exactly, idk why some ppl think there's a difference between "intentional" and "unintentional" racism. literally still racism.
and yeah, i noticed that stereotype too. it's funny that you mentioned it because that's literally me, minus the smart part and add an evil (?) part :')
but ik so many asians who are super outgoing and social, it makes zero sense how ppl put those stereotypes.
i would also like to mention that if any of you in the aapi community are adoptees, mixed, and/or the new generations, i just wanna let you know that you are "asian" enough.ik it can be hard to relate to others in the community sometimes, especially when talked about the types of racism faced. but just because you haven't faced some of that or you grew up in another/different household, with other cultures/different traditions, you're still "asian" enough and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
for me, i never could relate to the whole "white kid making fun of my lunch" thing because i always brought a sandwich to school. that doesn't make me any less "asian" tho.
it's tough and it can hurt if you feel like you can't fit in properly, but remember that we're all different ppl. we all face different things in our life and that doesn't exclude us from the aapi community :)
bookish wrote: "i would also like to mention that if any of you in the aapi community are adoptees, mixed, and/or the new generations, i just wanna let you know that you are "asian" enough.ik it can be hard to r..."
ok ngl this made me really emotional fgkjahkjfgjkhakjhd
i’m mixed (white & chinese) and often feel very estranged from my chinese culture and heritage because i wasn’t really brought up to know anything about it or be around it very often, and this makes me feel very fhjkahkjds 🥺🥺🥺❤️❤️❤️❤️ /gen
ari wrote: "bookish wrote: "i would also like to mention that if any of you in the aapi community are adoptees, mixed, and/or the new generations, i just wanna let you know that you are "asian" enough.ik it ..."
no problem, i hope i didn't make u cry or something 😭
bookish wrote: "i would also like to mention that if any of you in the aapi community are adoptees, mixed, and/or the new generations, i just wanna let you know that you are "asian" enough.ik it can be hard to r..."
AWWW
That hit me so hard omg literally thank you I love this so much :')
I'm mixed race and tbh I've never felt "Asian enough," you know? Like I needed to be more Asian to be Asian. I don't look fully Asian and I've always felt like I needed to choose a side, one race or another. It's just toxic overall.
Sofia wrote: "bookish wrote: "i would also like to mention that if any of you in the aapi community are adoptees, mixed, and/or the new generations, i just wanna let you know that you are "asian" enough.ik it ..."
i agree with literally everything here fhsjfnkjdfgnkjsfx..... i am a mix of literally everything. spanish, British, french, german, Irish, but mostly white, Hawaiian, and asian. and I feel like this doesn't make me "asian enough" or "Hawaiian enough" or anything like that.
Sofia wrote: "bookish wrote: "i would also like to mention that if any of you in the aapi community are adoptees, mixed, and/or the new generations, i just wanna let you know that you are "asian" enough.ik it ..."
yeah, i kinda wish ppl would mention that more ;-;
Asian hate really needs to be addressed because it is not okay.
I feel like people expect all Asians to be a certain way and if they’re not it’s suddenly a problem.
@mic I agree.
People of different countries contributed to us even being in this issue.
No one knows for sure where this virus came from, and to project so much hate towards one country/race is ridiculous. Because, as I see it many people travel around the world and just because China was the first country found to have Covid-19 doesn’t mean it was where it began. It doesn’t even matter where and where it didn’t begin because that won’t help us resolve the issue.
Hate is a virus and no one, ever in their history of living, should be told to: “Go back to your country.” or “Your people are the reason we’re in this pandemic.”
It’s sad that this pandemic has people resulting in violence towards a race that shouldn’t be blamed for this whole pandemic.
I feel like people expect all Asians to be a certain way and if they’re not it’s suddenly a problem.
@mic I agree.
People of different countries contributed to us even being in this issue.
No one knows for sure where this virus came from, and to project so much hate towards one country/race is ridiculous. Because, as I see it many people travel around the world and just because China was the first country found to have Covid-19 doesn’t mean it was where it began. It doesn’t even matter where and where it didn’t begin because that won’t help us resolve the issue.
Hate is a virus and no one, ever in their history of living, should be told to: “Go back to your country.” or “Your people are the reason we’re in this pandemic.”
It’s sad that this pandemic has people resulting in violence towards a race that shouldn’t be blamed for this whole pandemic.
randomgirl ‧̫‧ wrote: "Asian hate really needs to be addressed because it is not okay.I feel like people expect all Asians to be a certain way and if they’re not it’s suddenly a problem.
@mic I agree.
People of differe..."
YES 100%
i blame chinese government for the pandemic, they didnt manage it well enough. maybe italian, spanish and def murican gov for the failure of management. only reason why tehy arent overrun bec they have monies.
its not the peoples fault lol, no one willingly gets the virus to get back at someone.
maybe perhaps i think stereotypes have truth in it but it isnt everything about a minority or race.
everyone should be the good citizen and this doesnt only apply to minorities.
its not the peoples fault lol, no one willingly gets the virus to get back at someone.
maybe perhaps i think stereotypes have truth in it but it isnt everything about a minority or race.
everyone should be the good citizen and this doesnt only apply to minorities.
Amogus1914 wrote: "i blame chinese government for the pandemic, they didnt manage it well enough. maybe italian, spanish and def murican gov for the failure of management. only reason why tehy arent overrun bec they ..."um i blame the US-- we literally did nothing as 500,000 people died.
we had one of or maybe even THE highest death rate in the entire world.
Elizabeth wrote: "The pandemic shouldn’t be blamed on a specific group of people, because that isn’t right. Though Chinese authorities covered up and spread misinformation about COVID-19 when it was discovered, that..."Preach!!!!!!
If we blame one group, that's just rude. Even if it is China's fault, it's weird to be mean to all Asians because of it. One Asian isn't representative of the whole group
*I'm sorry this turned into a rant and this isn't directed at anyone reading this.
On the topic of should China be blamed for the coronavirus, no they shouldn't. Though it started in China, America has more cases than China, because China quarantined and is now mostly covid free. Meanwhile in the US the cases are rising because people aren't taking quarantine seriously or wearing masks. Just because something starts in a country doesn't mean it's to blame for it spreading to the entire world. Especially if measures can/could be taken to prevent it from spreading.
I'm not sure if any of this makes sense, so I'm sorry if it doesn't, lol.