When I was younger, I used to live in an area around Los Angeles. Being Asian American, I was one of the only kids in my class that stood out. Even though there wasn’t that much discrimination, there was a lack of representation. I had no idea how to do anything because of the differences between the other students and I. Standing out was the last thing I wanted to do and I felt so alone. Recently, I read a book named “They Called Us Enemy”. It’s about the story of a young boy’s journey through the times of WWII, and how he deals with the struggles of being Japanese American in those trying times. When I read it, I knew that the events and issues that had occurred are still prominent today and speak to many people facing the struggles of today’s racism towards Asian Americans. Recently, there has been a rather tragic spike in hate crimes toward elderly Asian Americans and I think that there are so many small things that people do everyday that contribute to these problems. As a part of a larger community, recognizing wrongdoings in everyday mannerisms that build up hate is crucial to the support of spreading kindness. This page from the book that I’ve attached depicts the experience and Trauma that the main character’s family and himself experience during these events. The intense series of emotions and portrayal of the story highlights the emotional and physical trauma of the hate that just keeps growing. Seeing the depiction of a subject that has been looked over fr such a long time has personally affected so many people like myself and provides a sense of security and belonging in a place where I felt isolated and alone. This story and its relation to present times has left me feeling whole again and like I belong in my home.
Quaranteen 