Invisible.
I’ve experienced racism, discrimination and sexual harassment my entire life. Born and raised in America but never made to feel like I belonged here. Teachers and adults made it clear to me at age 4 that I was different, that I didn’t belong. But culturally I was taught not to complain, not to make waves, to take the abuse and work harder. But silence is not the answer.
I’m done.
I’m done letting those privileged get away with it. It’s not okay that I’ve felt unsafe at school, work, or lived with fear my entire life. It’s not okay that I’ve constantly apologized when I wasn’t the one who should have been apologizing. I could write a book about how many times I have encountered men who said racial/sexual comments and tried to make me feel like it was a compliment or that it was “okay”. Or all those privileged people who took credit for my work because they didn’t expect me to fight back - I didn’t.
I’ve experienced so much sexual harassment at work I’ve left set crying in my car more times than I can count. One day I will tell those stories but today all I ask is you help us. If you’re Asian American, or Asian - get angry with us. If you’re not, please ally with us because we need united voices to fight this battle. These hate crimes need to stop, how many more need to die before people in power really step up and demand a change? I’m tired of being invisible. Being disrespected. Being killed. I’m tired of crying for all those losing their lives because we are so INVISIBLE.
So much of my life I lived with shame because I thought it was my fault I was different. I was brainwashed by the deeply rooted systematic racism I grew up in. But this shame belongs to those who are racist. Help us be visible.
Click on the resources below for more information on how you can be an ally.
#StopAsianHate #StopAAPIHate