I’m not white enough I’m not good enough I’m not supposed to be here I’m not
I’m not supposed to be here I’m not
I’m not supposed to be here I’m not important I’m irrelevant it’s only meant
important I’m irrelevant it’s only meant
important I’m irrelevant it’s only meant for white I should probably go back to
for white I should probably go back to
for white I should probably go back to where I belong
where I belong
where I belong these are words that I had been telling
these are words that I had been telling
these are words that I had been telling myself my entire life and there’s a word
myself my entire life and there’s a word
myself my entire life and there’s a word that I believed every second of my life
that I believed every second of my life
that I believed every second of my life as an Asian female born and raised in
as an Asian female born and raised in
as an Asian female born and raised in the Western country life has been a
the Western country life has been a
the Western country life has been a struggle
struggle
struggle Lee since I was born into this world I
Lee since I was born into this world I
Lee since I was born into this world I haven’t lived the moment for your
haven’t lived the moment for your
haven’t lived the moment for your oppression and discrimination every day
oppression and discrimination every day
oppression and discrimination every day I walk down the same streets to go home
I walk down the same streets to go home
I walk down the same streets to go home to school to hang out with friends or
to school to hang out with friends or
to school to hang out with friends or just simply for a walk and every time I
just simply for a walk and every time I
just simply for a walk and every time I get the same dirty looks from people
get the same dirty looks from people
get the same dirty looks from people passing by some little way others
passing by some little way others
passing by some little way others whisper things to their friends and the
whisper things to their friends and the
whisper things to their friends and the braver ones yell racial slurs it can be
braver ones yell racial slurs it can be
braver ones yell racial slurs it can be that I’m never seeing an Asian with pink
that I’m never seeing an Asian with pink
that I’m never seeing an Asian with pink hair I’m pretty positive that my race is
hair I’m pretty positive that my race is
hair I’m pretty positive that my race is the origin of their discomfort I can’t
the origin of their discomfort I can’t
the origin of their discomfort I can’t really do anything if they have a
really do anything if they have a
really do anything if they have a problem with me can i but I would like
problem with me can i but I would like
problem with me can i but I would like the problem that they have with me to
the problem that they have with me to
the problem that they have with me to become a problem for everyone
become a problem for everyone
become a problem for everyone it sounds like narcissism at its finest
it sounds like narcissism at its finest
it sounds like narcissism at its finest but it’s actually a much bigger issue it
but it’s actually a much bigger issue it
but it’s actually a much bigger issue it does not regard just me it regards every
does not regard just me it regards every
does not regard just me it regards every single individual on this earth each and
single individual on this earth each and
single individual on this earth each and every one of you in this room we live in
every one of you in this room we live in
every one of you in this room we live in a society where an oppressive system is
a society where an oppressive system is
a society where an oppressive system is present and it’s been dominating our
present and it’s been dominating our
present and it’s been dominating our consciousness for centuries and
consciousness for centuries and
consciousness for centuries and centuries it’s not simply racial
centuries it’s not simply racial
centuries it’s not simply racial oppression we are talking about a whole
oppression we are talking about a whole
oppression we are talking about a whole oppressive hierarchical system the
oppressive hierarchical system the
oppressive hierarchical system the humans have
humans have
humans have created since the ancient past it’s an
created since the ancient past it’s an
created since the ancient past it’s an unjust system with a majority group the
unjust system with a majority group the
unjust system with a majority group the oppressors are privileged and benefit
oppressors are privileged and benefit
oppressors are privileged and benefit from every aspect of society while the
from every aspect of society while the
from every aspect of society while the minority you’re pressed face all kinds
minority you’re pressed face all kinds
minority you’re pressed face all kinds of inequity in the same society I
of inequity in the same society I
of inequity in the same society I started understanding that concept the
started understanding that concept the
started understanding that concept the racism and oppression back in
racism and oppression back in
racism and oppression back in kindergarten when I was only four years
kindergarten when I was only four years
kindergarten when I was only four years old and there felt Thurman’s hatred
old and there felt Thurman’s hatred
old and there felt Thurman’s hatred towards me for the first time hatred
towards me for the first time hatred
towards me for the first time hatred towards a child an innocent naive child
towards a child an innocent naive child
towards a child an innocent naive child what possibly could a child have ever
what possibly could a child have ever
what possibly could a child have ever done wrong but the factor that horrifies
done wrong but the factor that horrifies
done wrong but the factor that horrifies me the most is that that same one was my
me the most is that that same one was my
me the most is that that same one was my own teacher
own teacher
own teacher I kept the harsh hatred inside me I was
I kept the harsh hatred inside me I was
I kept the harsh hatred inside me I was left an open wound on my mind
left an open wound on my mind
left an open wound on my mind growing up life didn’t get any easier
growing up life didn’t get any easier
growing up life didn’t get any easier the wound was still open and pretty soon
the wound was still open and pretty soon
the wound was still open and pretty soon he got infected infected with false
he got infected infected with false
he got infected infected with false beliefs I started believing what society
beliefs I started believing what society
beliefs I started believing what society was telling me the white people’s
was telling me the white people’s
was telling me the white people’s superior white people are better white
superior white people are better white
superior white people are better white people the social Paragon and obviously
people the social Paragon and obviously
people the social Paragon and obviously everyone else is inferior these beliefs
everyone else is inferior these beliefs
everyone else is inferior these beliefs make me want to be as white as I could
make me want to be as white as I could
make me want to be as white as I could become so what did I do
become so what did I do
become so what did I do I started acting like my tan friends
I started acting like my tan friends
I started acting like my tan friends dressing like them talking like them or
dressing like them talking like them or
dressing like them talking like them or even eating like them at the same time I
even eating like them at the same time I
even eating like them at the same time I started neglecting my Chinese origin
started neglecting my Chinese origin
started neglecting my Chinese origin ignoring all the racism towards me and
ignoring all the racism towards me and
ignoring all the racism towards me and counterbalancing it by being racist
counterbalancing it by being racist
counterbalancing it by being racist towards other people I was living in a
towards other people I was living in a
towards other people I was living in a stranger’s body but pretty soon I was
stranger’s body but pretty soon I was
stranger’s body but pretty soon I was finally being accepted by Italians I was
finally being accepted by Italians I was
finally being accepted by Italians I was happy or at least I thought that I was
happy or at least I thought that I was
happy or at least I thought that I was because I thought my wound had
because I thought my wound had
because I thought my wound had completely healed but little did I know
completely healed but little did I know
completely healed but little did I know that I was internalizing the actual
that I was internalizing the actual
that I was internalizing the actual system that was oppressing me after a
system that was oppressing me after a
system that was oppressing me after a few years
few years
few years my wound started to hurt it was hurting
my wound started to hurt it was hurting
my wound started to hurt it was hurting not for the one memory from kindergarten
not for the one memory from kindergarten
not for the one memory from kindergarten but because it became a massive wound
but because it became a massive wound
but because it became a massive wound from the accumulation of racial hatred
from the accumulation of racial hatred
from the accumulation of racial hatred that I had neglected over the years it
that I had neglected over the years it
that I had neglected over the years it was more than infected and I could not
was more than infected and I could not
was more than infected and I could not ignore it any longer I decided that I
ignore it any longer I decided that I
ignore it any longer I decided that I had to bring some changes into my life
had to bring some changes into my life
had to bring some changes into my life bring real happiness in me in order to
bring real happiness in me in order to
bring real happiness in me in order to overcome my internalization I started on
overcome my internalization I started on
overcome my internalization I started on winding the false image that I had
winding the false image that I had
winding the false image that I had created by rediscovering myself
created by rediscovering myself
created by rediscovering myself embracing my Chinese origins and
embracing my Chinese origins and
embracing my Chinese origins and overcoming the oppression I surrounded
overcoming the oppression I surrounded
overcoming the oppression I surrounded myself with people that could accept me
myself with people that could accept me
myself with people that could accept me respect me for who I was I could finally
respect me for who I was I could finally
respect me for who I was I could finally be myself
be myself
be myself my wounds slowly started heal and he
my wounds slowly started heal and he
my wounds slowly started heal and he turns into the scar that marks my mind
turns into the scar that marks my mind
turns into the scar that marks my mind but that I show with pride today my
but that I show with pride today my
but that I show with pride today my identity is shaved by both Italian and
identity is shaved by both Italian and
identity is shaved by both Italian and Chinese cultures and I have no shame in
Chinese cultures and I have no shame in
Chinese cultures and I have no shame in showing it racial internalization is a
showing it racial internalization is a
showing it racial internalization is a very serious issue and I am not the only
very serious issue and I am not the only
very serious issue and I am not the only one who faced it if I was able to break
one who faced it if I was able to break
one who faced it if I was able to break through the internalization illusion so
through the internalization illusion so
through the internalization illusion so can you don’t be ashamed of your
can you don’t be ashamed of your
can you don’t be ashamed of your nationality erase the only glass your
nationality erase the only glass your
nationality erase the only glass your internalization don’t ignore the
internalization don’t ignore the
internalization don’t ignore the oppression embrace them all be proud of
oppression embrace them all be proud of
oppression embrace them all be proud of your identity overcome the
your identity overcome the
your identity overcome the internalization fight the oppression if
internalization fight the oppression if
internalization fight the oppression if you take a look at our history we
you take a look at our history we
you take a look at our history we realized that we have endured so much
realized that we have endured so much
realized that we have endured so much pain so much agony in the hands of our
pain so much agony in the hands of our
pain so much agony in the hands of our oppressors and that we have come so far
oppressors and that we have come so far
oppressors and that we have come so far from that oppression we have abolished
from that oppression we have abolished
from that oppression we have abolished slavery we have defeated Nazism
slavery we have defeated Nazism
slavery we have defeated Nazism we have ended segregation we have
we have ended segregation we have
we have ended segregation we have marched the flower rights we have stood
marched the flower rights we have stood
marched the flower rights we have stood up for
up for
up for boys certainly we are living the most
boys certainly we are living the most
boys certainly we are living the most progressive era of the history of
progressive era of the history of
progressive era of the history of humankind
humankind
humankind but are we really not going to knowledge
but are we really not going to knowledge
but are we really not going to knowledge but there’s still so much injustice and
but there’s still so much injustice and
but there’s still so much injustice and discrimination happening around us are
discrimination happening around us are
discrimination happening around us are you really just going to sit there and
you really just going to sit there and
you really just going to sit there and ignore what’s in front of your eyes
ignore what’s in front of your eyes
ignore what’s in front of your eyes disregard the sound of hatred in your
disregard the sound of hatred in your
disregard the sound of hatred in your ears every second that would blink her
ears every second that would blink her
ears every second that would blink her eyes so mind the world is being bullied
eyes so mind the world is being bullied
eyes so mind the world is being bullied abused persecuted or even killed for
abused persecuted or even killed for
abused persecuted or even killed for their race ethnicity skin color
their race ethnicity skin color
their race ethnicity skin color nationality by taking a locus artistics
nationality by taking a locus artistics
nationality by taking a locus artistics that showed the rate of death and
that showed the rate of death and
that showed the rate of death and incarceration at the hands of police
incarceration at the hands of police
incarceration at the hands of police they suggest a more than white people
they suggest a more than white people
they suggest a more than white people have been killed and wrongfully
have been killed and wrongfully
have been killed and wrongfully convicted by the police and white people
convicted by the police and white people
convicted by the police and white people yes we are talking about a country
yes we are talking about a country
yes we are talking about a country that’s predominantly white the numbers
that’s predominantly white the numbers
that’s predominantly white the numbers are alarming they are telling us that
are alarming they are telling us that
are alarming they are telling us that something is wrong very wrong
something is wrong very wrong
something is wrong very wrong this oppressive system has been
this oppressive system has been
this oppressive system has been established in our society for so long
established in our society for so long
established in our society for so long they happen it has created strong racial
they happen it has created strong racial
they happen it has created strong racial biases the rest in our minds ice is so
biases the rest in our minds ice is so
biases the rest in our minds ice is so heavy
heavy
heavy that needs people to kill other people
that needs people to kill other people
that needs people to kill other people driven by the fear of the others race is
driven by the fear of the others race is
driven by the fear of the others race is this really the world we want to live in
this really the world we want to live in
this really the world we want to live in in which you want to live in together we
in which you want to live in together we
in which you want to live in together we can create a society where we all live
can create a society where we all live
can create a society where we all live in harmony we can develop a system where
in harmony we can develop a system where
in harmony we can develop a system where there is no hierarchy discrimination
there is no hierarchy discrimination
there is no hierarchy discrimination oppression or bias we can treat every
oppression or bias we can treat every
oppression or bias we can treat every human being equally but changes need to
human being equally but changes need to
human being equally but changes need to happen we need to put an end to a
happen we need to put an end to a
happen we need to put an end to a repressive system today not tomorrow not
repressive system today not tomorrow not
repressive system today not tomorrow not later but today you might be wondering
later but today you might be wondering
later but today you might be wondering how can i individual without any
how can i individual without any
how can i individual without any positional power put an end to a system
positional power put an end to a system
positional power put an end to a system that’s persisted for centuries well as
that’s persisted for centuries well as
that’s persisted for centuries well as Paulo Freire once said something
Paulo Freire once said something
Paulo Freire once said something dialogue counseled women and men in
dialogue counseled women and men in
dialogue counseled women and men in order to transform the world
order to transform the world
order to transform the world it’s naively idealistic there is nothing
it’s naively idealistic there is nothing
it’s naively idealistic there is nothing however more real concrete and people in
however more real concrete and people in
however more real concrete and people in the world with the world of humans with
the world with the world of humans with
the world with the world of humans with other humans therefore everyone every
other humans therefore everyone every
other humans therefore everyone every single one of you can contribute in the
single one of you can contribute in the
single one of you can contribute in the fight against oppression even you
fight against oppression even you
fight against oppression even you depressor together we can piece by piece
depressor together we can piece by piece
depressor together we can piece by piece deconstruct what was once built and make
deconstruct what was once built and make
deconstruct what was once built and make our own ideal reality then why don’t you
our own ideal reality then why don’t you
our own ideal reality then why don’t you start by acknowledging your privilege in
start by acknowledging your privilege in
start by acknowledging your privilege in order to understand oppression in other
order to understand oppression in other
order to understand oppression in other people’s lives it is important to
people’s lives it is important to
people’s lives it is important to recognize ways in which you are not
recognize ways in which you are not
recognize ways in which you are not oppressed be grateful for having the
oppressed be grateful for having the
oppressed be grateful for having the benefits of being immune to the
benefits of being immune to the
benefits of being immune to the oppression your society be grateful for
oppression your society be grateful for
oppression your society be grateful for never having to feel the true colours in
never having to feel the true colours in
never having to feel the true colours in your society be grateful for the hatred
your society be grateful for the hatred
your society be grateful for the hatred you don’t have to deal with within your
you don’t have to deal with within your
you don’t have to deal with within your society and use your privilege the voice
society and use your privilege the voice
society and use your privilege the voice the representation the light has
the representation the light has
the representation the light has conceded you the giver voice those from
conceded you the giver voice those from
conceded you the giver voice those from today as we start deconstructing always
today as we start deconstructing always
today as we start deconstructing always once built let’s start building a bridge
once built let’s start building a bridge
once built let’s start building a bridge that brings fruitful discussions a
that brings fruitful discussions a
that brings fruitful discussions a bridge the obliterates hatred and
bridge the obliterates hatred and
bridge the obliterates hatred and division a bridge the unites every
division a bridge the unites every
division a bridge the unites every single human thing thank you
single human thing thank you
single human thing thank you [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment