Sometimes I have to keep reminding myself that not everything in life is obvious, that our notion of "common sense" is simply the core of what ideologies are based on, and that in a world of difference we will never stop learning from each other.
Asian Girl In a Bubble: Are you a professor?
Woman I Once Had a Class With: No, I'm a student.
GIRL: Oh, what's your major?
WOMAN: I'm majoring in African American Studies.
GIRL: Oh... why? What ethnicity are you?
WOMAN: Well... I'm Asian and African American, and my family is from Hawaii
GIRL: You don't look African America... I mean, your hair is straight and your skin color... you don't look African American. I think you look Asian... Japanese?
WOMAN: Yeah, Japanese, how'd you know?
GIRL: I'm Japanese and I can see how you look more Asian... you don't look African American.
The Woman I Once Had a Class With proceeded to give the Asian Girl In a Bubble a lesson in both African/African American history that began in the 1600s and ended with an explanation of how African American people can have blood from all over the world, and how they don't just come in one complexion or have one hair texture, and how a person could be a natural blond and have blue eyes and still be an African American.
Sadly, that must of been the first time that Asian Girl in a Bubble had heard any of this because she still had a hard time comprehending what she'd just been told. She just couldn't "see" it, and she couldn't understand just how two different cultures could come together and create one or a person that possessed both. As I sat next to Asian Girl in a Bubble on that 25 minute bus ride home, one minute I wanted to burst out laughing and the next I wanted to turn around and shake her, but I had to resist doing either since I had my earbuds in and wasn't even suppose to be listening in on their conversation. I found myself turning toward the window and mouthing wow a lot. And raising my eyebrow a lot. And trying to stop making eye contact with the Woman I Once Had a Class With. And constantly adjusting the volume on my iPod.
GIRL: So, what are you gonna do with that (Referring to a BA in African American Studies)?
WOMAN: I plan to teach. I am working as a nurse now, and its just much more beneficial for me to get my degree and teach. Do some traveling, possibly teach in another country.
GIRL: Oh... I thought you were just doing it for fun...
Another lengthy lesson on how much hard work earning a degree is in general, and how obtaining a degree in African American Studies is no cake walk, and...
You get the picture. I don't know all the struggles around the world, but I was under the assumption that mostly everyone was aware of the race relations within the US, especially concerning African Americans... guess not.
Asian Girl In a Bubble: Are you a professor?
Woman I Once Had a Class With: No, I'm a student.
GIRL: Oh, what's your major?
WOMAN: I'm majoring in African American Studies.
GIRL: Oh... why? What ethnicity are you?
WOMAN: Well... I'm Asian and African American, and my family is from Hawaii
GIRL: You don't look African America... I mean, your hair is straight and your skin color... you don't look African American. I think you look Asian... Japanese?
WOMAN: Yeah, Japanese, how'd you know?
GIRL: I'm Japanese and I can see how you look more Asian... you don't look African American.
The Woman I Once Had a Class With proceeded to give the Asian Girl In a Bubble a lesson in both African/African American history that began in the 1600s and ended with an explanation of how African American people can have blood from all over the world, and how they don't just come in one complexion or have one hair texture, and how a person could be a natural blond and have blue eyes and still be an African American.
Sadly, that must of been the first time that Asian Girl in a Bubble had heard any of this because she still had a hard time comprehending what she'd just been told. She just couldn't "see" it, and she couldn't understand just how two different cultures could come together and create one or a person that possessed both. As I sat next to Asian Girl in a Bubble on that 25 minute bus ride home, one minute I wanted to burst out laughing and the next I wanted to turn around and shake her, but I had to resist doing either since I had my earbuds in and wasn't even suppose to be listening in on their conversation. I found myself turning toward the window and mouthing wow a lot. And raising my eyebrow a lot. And trying to stop making eye contact with the Woman I Once Had a Class With. And constantly adjusting the volume on my iPod.
GIRL: So, what are you gonna do with that (Referring to a BA in African American Studies)?
WOMAN: I plan to teach. I am working as a nurse now, and its just much more beneficial for me to get my degree and teach. Do some traveling, possibly teach in another country.
GIRL: Oh... I thought you were just doing it for fun...
Another lengthy lesson on how much hard work earning a degree is in general, and how obtaining a degree in African American Studies is no cake walk, and...
You get the picture. I don't know all the struggles around the world, but I was under the assumption that mostly everyone was aware of the race relations within the US, especially concerning African Americans... guess not.
This entry was posted
on Saturday, March 07, 2009
and is filed under
general ignorance,
identity,
race relations
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