Racism in China PART II

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It was one of those lazy Saturday nights with the family, me, my mom, my little brother and I. We were seated in this Korean BBQ place just on Lucky Street in one of the back room sections, behind us a Russo-American couple was eating with their two young daughters. Another table of French men were eating right beside ours, the waiters like what happens every time Chinese nad Foreign customers are put into the same setting; decided to service the foreigners while we waited for our beef to turn stale and overcooked on the stove table. So my mother complained about it to the waiters, and they finally started treating us with the respect we deserved.

It was around this time that the American man who had been swiveling in his American country class slang, started yammering away at something that caught my ear. My mother was complaining to a waiter about their services while this American man told one of his young daughters “That lady is talking stink! Chinese ladies, they are always loud.” His conversation basically sounded like this, there were some other tid bits, which I don’t remember, but this is basically what he said on the spot. My chair being the closest of our table to his table, having overheard this conversation from him to his daughter I felt a fiery anger grow inside me, this man had not only mocked my mother, but he had mocked my race, I was sort of contemplating whether or not I should speak up and give him a piece of my mind, I slightly turned my head and looked at him, his hair was white, not like I had imagined from hearing his voice, although his oldness made sense the slurring tone in his voice.

I was determined to say something, of course he looked two times my age, but I figured if I didn’t say anything I would regret it. So I slightly turned, trying to be nice, because I didn’t know this man, suddenly standing up and having a direct conversation with him would be very strange and out of place, neglecting all manners. So I carried my dignity, and directed at him “Excuse me, what did you say about Chinese ladies?” I kept my tone in my flat American English. Right after, he said never mind started shaking his head and looking down on his seat. At first I felt like he had dissed me, but then I quickly realized in my mind that this man was embarrassed and probably regret his actions when he made those comments about my mother. They are really some quite foolish actions of his. But once I think of comments I have made in the past when I didn’t think people understood my English (Just as he had! He probably didn’t think anyone at my table spoke English, let alone a little Chinese girl like me!!!) I have made snide remarks too. But it’s different when I’m commenting or complaining about my own people or mother. This man had mocked my family and race and I wasn’t about to back down.

This leads me to the question “What would happen if I didn’t understand English?”, well as long as I understand something and it is saying something about me or someone I’m close to that I don’t like, I feel the need to tell them wrong. Because in life sometimes we need to speak up, whether we are Asian, yellow, a petite woman, or whatever. Sometimes the time to speak up is decided in seconds, but as long as we do speak up we realize that other people’s wrongs can be made right, that we can correct them. Just because he thought I didn’t understand English he could mock my race in a stereotypical way just like that?! Well in his own probable words “Not a chance buddy.”