| Someone in one of my workshops asked a young girl from Iraq why she sounded so calm when she talked about being called a “terrorist” simply because she was wearing a hijab. The young girl looked sadly away and replied, “That’s not what hurt, because I get called that all the time. What hurt was that no one said anything. They just stared at me as if I were a dangerous animal.” The audience suddenly gasped until even the silence was oppressive. Sound familiar? This type of scenario is happening all over this country – in every town, in every college and in every institution. We struggle with something or anyone who we perceive as different. You see, we are under the illusion that celebrating our differences is the same as embracing and honoring our differences. The truth be told; anything or anyone that doesn’t look or sound “American” enough is considered different. So, who is an “American” in this country? Why only someone who speaks perfect English, is white, Christian, heterosexual and born here? To truly be considered a “real” American you must have all these characteristics. Being born here is not enough. You see, I was born in Oakland, California and even graduated Oakland High as Student Body President. My father was voted Oakland Man of the Year and even he was not “American” enough. Being called a “chink” and treated like one was commonplace for my father. A legacy that was passed onto even his children and their children, despite all of us being born in this country. It’s not always about being called a derogatory name, either… it’s those “looks” that say to you: “What are you doing in our town? Our country?” Seldom have those types of experiences become more real and dangerous than the world we are living in today. It is a tale of two Americas, each divided and separated by power, gender, class, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, and ableism. For change to truly take place will require reflecting and acknowledging that all these fears and suspicions of others who are different are not some evil defects in them, but rather in ourselves. Bolstered daily by fears and hatred and violence promoted and sanctioned by the media and sadly by Trump, our governmental institutions, ICE and law enforcement. |
| There is always a price to be paid for our silence. And that price is exacted on who we become and who we do not as a community and as a country. |
| We are all descendants of immigrants, except those who are indigenous. No one group is better or less than another. We each must stand up and support each other in these divisive and unjust times. Our differences were never meant to divide and separate us, but to be revered, valued, and honored – as gifts to each other. As the First Nation peoples reminded all those who came here in search for a better life: Take care of each other. Share what you have. Care for the land. |
