How Should We Respond To Schoolyard Racism?
Do any of you relate to the experience? The names, taunts, bullying based on race (and recently, sexual orientation)… regardless of where you stand on the (political) issue I can say as an Asian-American, it sucks when you get the egregious slur, slanty-eyes, kowtow bow or whatever. It hurts. It belittles. So the gratification I received when I read this story of the Korean-American student who got suspended for defending himself when called a “f***ing Chinese” by a white classmate, was suspended, and then was pardoned with a community moving towards reconciliation. It’s that last word that gave me so much gratification: reconciliation. This is one way – the best way to respond to schoolyard racism. Get involved parents. Don’t let your kids get stupid, don’t exemplify it. And when there is the inevitable slip-up – as there was in this case – move quickly to correct it. It can do more than right a wrong – it can bring a community together.
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Wayne – Wow, thanks for passing along this story. You’re right, reconciliation is truly gratifying but, unfortunately, extremely rare. Your words are spot on and great advice for parents who feel like their hands are tied or not sure how to handle racial issues:
“Get involved parents. Don’t let your kids get stupid, don’t exemplify it. And when there is the inevitable slip-up – as there was in this case – move quickly to correct it. It can do more than right a wrong – it can bring a community together.”
By the way, WTF is that photo? Is that Pat Robertson making chinky eyes? I guess I shouldn’t be surprised… *sigh*
Wayne, I see your point on the racism issue. However, is racism an excuse for violence? Also, if the guy is Korean, yet he defends himself for being called f’ing Chinese?
Racism is wrong, but unfortunately this sends a mixed message. What if an African-American student was being verbally attacked about his skin color and broke a white kid’s nose? I don’t think the community (or school) would have responded the same way. For some reason violence from African-Americans is viewed in a whole different context than when an Asian uses martial arts.
I grew up and went to school in a small, rural farming community where I was one of just 3 Asians in my high school graduating class. It was 99.99% white and the KKK was lighting crosses and scaring off minority families at the time. I know racism and have been called all sorts of names. However, I don’t believe that physical attack is an appropriate responses to ignorant people that are hateful and trying to get public attention.
Yes, that’s it. The reconciliation bit is what brought gratification; I should have clarified that. So this is for the record…
and yes. That’s Pat Robertson doing the eyes thing. He was saying something about Botox and how it makes people look “oriental”. I believe that was it…
Daniel & David, thanks for clarifying. Sorry that I misinterpreted the post.
Dave – Not to speak on Wayne’s behalf (but then to do it anyways!), I don’t think he meant to glorify violence in any way. The gratification comes from reconciliation.
Wow, my palms are sweating as I read your story about growing up. That is genuinely scary. I agree with you — physical violence is never an authentic solution.