Week 8 of #TWmemorymondays! I talked to both of my parents today! I asked them what comes to mind of how they were/are treated differently in America vs. Hong Kong (they are both Chinese and they grew up in Hong Kong. They first shared a couple encounters that happened in the past couple of weeks that are just unbelievable. The details are too sensitive so I'm not going to share about it here. This is what they were ok with me sharing:
They immigrated to California from Hong Kong in their midtwenties. My dad was hired to be a system analyst for California's gas and electric company, and my mom was a paralegal for a lawfirm. They both have many vivid memories of the encounters they had there because of their accent. Especially in the early days, they weren't fluent in English. Alot of the times, they had to ask their American coworkers to repeat what they said or say things slower. And so many times, the reaction was annoyance and impatience. My dad said that they would cut the conversation abruptly, and ask to communicate with the boss. Every day for so many years it was like that!
Under that impatience was a strong statement that said: your lack of English fluency combined with you being foreign is a direct link to your lack of intelligence. Yes lack of intelligence and also lack of dignity and value. All that was plainly understood with every encounter like that. That bled into many other work and non work situations. A constant layer of racism right below the surface.
Doesn't it make you mad too??
It's insane how powerful white supremest culture is! It's in the air we breathe back then and now. Not much has changed unfortunately, but there is hope that it will change. ππΌπͺπΌ
Watch my instastories to see my process.
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#TWmemorymondays: A painting inspired by a memory every Monday of 2018. Connecting abstract art to real life. Week 8/53. 'Wake Up' / 8x8 in / mixed media on paper