With the recent talk about Harlem and African American along with social conflict I have decided to write about my family’s(parent’s) perspective on race. Before going into the meat of what I will be saying I mean NO OFFENSE TO MY AFRICAN AMERICAN BROTHERS AND SISTERS. So my parents are what you would imagine as typical Chinese parent who want their child to get the best grade, etc. As parents they give advice though they are not always good or ethical or even moral. My parents and I mean BOTH of them warn me on occasion to not hang around the African American people. We Asian are naive to the extent that we believe fallacious stereotypes. Other form of this warning comes in “Don’t date anyone not Asian” and stay away from black neighborhoods. I do not understand if my parents are over protective but being the disobedient son I ignore whatever they say. I actually have a friendly relation with my African American brothers throughout my life. They are typically the friendly, in my opinion.
Regardless I feel the racial stereotypes have taken a toll on me. The illusion of danger from rumors flying in New York of heinous crime are often blame on the blacks. As Chamelonaire would say “Murder was and the crime and they blame me.” I feel that my brothers have been mistreated by history to the extent that it has become unremovable. African American culture has now become a part of who I am. I understand their linguistic and interests as if our cultures have intermingled. I feel that this is what the city does. Even though I had no realized it until writing this blog but I have already become accustomed to other cultures.
