How It Feels

I am Asian, but I offer nothing
In the way of extenuating circumstances
Except the fact that I am the only Asian
In the United States
Whose grandfather on the mother's side
Was not--

Was not--

After reading Zora Neale Hurston's piece How It Feels to be Colored Me, I am prompted to analyze the parallels between the racial situation of blacks and Asians. Why is it that racism towards Asians seems to be disintegrating at a much slower rate than racism against blacks?

To a complete stranger, I fit the profile. I am a typical Asian girl who is good at drawing, is in the school orchestra, gets all A's, takes several AP classes, and is pleasantly reticent. I am an Asian girl, and that is what is expected of me.

Here in Troy, there really aren't that many black people, so a lot of racism and stereotyping goes on at school simply because they are a true minority at THS. But, at the same time, here in Troy, a different kind of racism exists for Asians; we are simply seen as a horde, a sea of faces that lacks any kinds of distinction and is consistently, though perhaps not explicitly, marginalized. Racism will always exist, regardless of the prevalence of one's ethnicity in an area.

Now, people are prompted to be racist toward blacks behind their backs, in whispers and after looking behind both shoulders. However, with Asians, people love to be racist to our faces. What with the horrific release of the horrible song "Asian Girlz" (don't Google this if you're weak) by Day Above Ground, I'm noticing more and more how racism toward Asians is simply brushed off as humorous and chumly. The band demonstrated a subtle but very present mindset toward Asians that is one of dismissive marginalization. I guarantee you that Day Above Ground would have NEVER EVER EVER even considered composing an equally racist song toward blacks with the same puke-worthy writing that is typical of all of their music (even the non-blatantly racist music). 

But I must say that the racial situation in America has drastically changed since Hurston's time. Indeed, I would be remiss to completely dismiss all social progress, but I must point out that this progress is fragmented and isolated to select groups; we still see open and blatant prejudice against Asians and Latinos for example (when will our rights movement begin?). But with the introduction of new ethnic and social groups in recent years, such as immigration of Asians and the gay rights movement, America still has to go a long ways in truly appreciating the diversity it claims to vanguard.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQt8-NKPdt0