Today's topic is so interesting to me. I saw many news and medias which dealt with the topic 'racism'. Also, I experienced not only I discriminated against other people but also I was discriminated against.
First of all, I want to talk about racism of Southeast Asian in Korea. From when I was young, I thought Southeast Asian is poor, smelly, lazy and dangerous. No one told me like that and I don't know any of SE Asian. Now I can't understand why I thought like that, but the image of SE Asian was not good to me.
In 2009, I travelled Thailand and I made some Thailander friends. One of them was really fascinated with Korean and Korea, so he used to tell me "I want to live in Korea" He is a good man, not poor, intelligent and obedient. After I met him, the image of SE Asian was totally changed and when I saw SE Asian in Korea I felt they are my friends. He lived in Thailand very peacefully and wealthy. I knew Korean discriminate against SE Asian a lot, so I didn't want him to be distinguish from Korean. However he came to Korea after all. I didn't meet him yet, but he called me and said "Korean always say fast fast! but I am doing my best! but blah blah...I'm so tired~". He just told me about his working stories, but I could imagine his Korea life which is worse than his life in Thailand.
I also have experience that I was discriminated against. Sometimes during my travel I felt very little discriminations from white people, but one day I got it directly. I was in a restaurant with my Danish friend and 2 of his Austrailian friends came to us to talk with him. They were excited about the topic so they spoke English very fast. I couldn't understand what were they saying, so I just ate my lunch alone. They didn't care about me and I also. That was very weird experience because i've never felt the feeling from Asian. Also I realized the feeling of SE Asian who are discriminated against in Korea.
I always cast a spell on myself 'All people are the same. They are my friends!'. However, sometimes the spell doesn't work! I felt scared of very tough-looking faced black people even though I really want to have black friends! The situation will be changed when I get black friends. I really looking forward to make all ethnic friends, and I will really try to be a nondiscrimination person.
After reading your essay I think the reason I am still afraid of SE people might be that I haven't met them in Korea. Oh, you met Thai guy in Thailand, though. Now I came up with this proverb; Men are blind in their own causes.
답글삭제I love the Benetton ad you posted, Hailie. Benetton does such a great job illustrating this topic.
답글삭제Thanks for sharing your personal experiences with racism. I'm glad that your Thai friend changed your opinion of Southeast Asians. However, I'm so sad that he is experiencing discrimination here in Korea. I hope that Koreans will give him a chance to show how amazing he is. As I mentioned in class, discrimination hurts everyone! Think of all of the people who won't get to know such a great person.
You're right. We just have stereotype to other ethnics, and it should be changed.
답글삭제Yes you thought inevitably that SE dirty in youth. However, we should not discriminate!
답글삭제Yes, I totally agree with your opinion. Frankly, I have never experienced racism so far because I have not stayed out of the country for a long time. However, I have seen people who are going through racism in Korea. I think why we are discriminating them with another them. I can't understand. We are the same person!
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