In this day and age, it feels absurd, even ridiculous, that racial stereotyping is even a remotely small problem in our country. The days of slavery are behind us, we are a nation reborn, a nation immune to racial insensitivity, a nation where all, no matter of race, color, or ethnicity, are to be treated the same. Of course, this is what we all hope for, and supposedly, strive to become. But our current situation, and reality, could not be any further. The truth is, racial stereotyping is alive and well here. Heck, even racism still exists. Before you scoff at me, and utterly dismiss all of my claims, let me tell you a story, and highlight some specific instances in my life where I have been subject to stereotypes.
For those who do not know, I am of Nepalese descent. I was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. My parents were both born in Nepal, which is a small country located in between India and China. It is also the country that Mount Everest belongs to. So, as you know, I am not white. Now that you know my background, let's start going into the story, shall we?
A couple weeks ago, while on a road trip, my father and I decided to stop at a rest stop. We go inside, and stand in front of the vending machine. A lady, with a southern accent, comes up to us, and immediately asks, "Where are you from?". To you, that may not be a big deal, but until you have experienced it firsthand, you simply cannot understand or fathom how it feels. How am I supposed to answer? I'm an American! I cannot say that I am Nepalese, I was born here, am a citizen, and have been my entire life. But if I say that I am an American, I am scoffed at, and told to stop lying and tell where I am really from. It hurts to not belong. What makes me any less American than anyone else on this country? And it doesn't end there. A couple of days ago, while on a car ride, I was asked the same question by one of my friends dads. To that, I answered, "My parents are from Nepal.". Two minutes later, we picked up another friend. This person was born in Russia, and moved here when he was 4. He is white. Of course, he is automatically assumed to be an American, and no questions are asked. Why does being white constitute being an American? Why am I asked of my nationality while he is not? I simply don't understand. I was born here, raised here, and have been here my whole life. He was born in Russia, and is a Russian citizen. Why is he considered to be "American", while I am considered to be a foreigner. If you say that this issue is not in any way related to the color of my skin and my physical appearance, then you are delusional and need to wake up.
Please, think before you speak. What may not seem harmful to you, may be racist and stereotypical to others. You haven't experienced the pain of not belonging anywhere, to not be considered an American when you have been born and raised here your whole life. So, on that, I'd like to show you guys a quote by Ed Koch. "Stereotypes lose their power when the world is found to be more complex than the stereotype would suggest. When we learn that individuals do not fit the group stereotype, then it begins to fall apart."
Take Care,
Political Police
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