my name is yuan Chen but I prefer to be called Maggie and as you can see I’m
called Maggie and as you can see I’m
called Maggie and as you can see I’m Asian yet I’m the prime example us as to
Asian yet I’m the prime example us as to
Asian yet I’m the prime example us as to why the stereotyped Asians are gonna
why the stereotyped Asians are gonna
why the stereotyped Asians are gonna math is not true I am pretty bad at math
math is not true I am pretty bad at math
math is not true I am pretty bad at math I spend sixth grade abroad in small town
I spend sixth grade abroad in small town
I spend sixth grade abroad in small town champaign-urbana there I went to a
champaign-urbana there I went to a
champaign-urbana there I went to a public Middle School and since I passed
public Middle School and since I passed
public Middle School and since I passed the English proficiency test I took the
the English proficiency test I took the
the English proficiency test I took the same classes as my fellow American
same classes as my fellow American
same classes as my fellow American friends for my math class I was put in
friends for my math class I was put in
friends for my math class I was put in what they called AI math an intermediate
what they called AI math an intermediate
what they called AI math an intermediate level math class
level math class
level math class quite possibly just because I was Asian
quite possibly just because I was Asian
quite possibly just because I was Asian in my 3rd quarter of 6th grade I
in my 3rd quarter of 6th grade I
in my 3rd quarter of 6th grade I received my first B in you guessed it I
received my first B in you guessed it I
received my first B in you guessed it I math as mentioned in the hit American
math as mentioned in the hit American
math as mentioned in the hit American sitcom fresh-off-the-boat
sitcom fresh-off-the-boat
sitcom fresh-off-the-boat Abby – is an Asian F so when my parents
Abby – is an Asian F so when my parents
Abby – is an Asian F so when my parents heard about might be in math they yelled
heard about might be in math they yelled
heard about might be in math they yelled at me and told me to practice more
at me and told me to practice more
at me and told me to practice more although this anecdote of mine has more
although this anecdote of mine has more
although this anecdote of mine has more to do with just Euro types for the
to do with just Euro types for the
to do with just Euro types for the purpose of this TED talk it serves as an
purpose of this TED talk it serves as an
purpose of this TED talk it serves as an example that the stereotype Asians are
example that the stereotype Asians are
example that the stereotype Asians are good at math is in fact inaccurate Asian
good at math is in fact inaccurate Asian
good at math is in fact inaccurate Asian stereotypes however don’t just refer to
stereotypes however don’t just refer to
stereotypes however don’t just refer to being the perfect student having
being the perfect student having
being the perfect student having impeccable grades they range with the
impeccable grades they range with the
impeccable grades they range with the most classic one being all Asians look
most classic one being all Asians look
most classic one being all Asians look the same as I mentioned before I
the same as I mentioned before I
the same as I mentioned before I attended a public school in
attended a public school in
attended a public school in champaign-urbana which if you’ve heard
champaign-urbana which if you’ve heard
champaign-urbana which if you’ve heard of the city you would know that it is
of the city you would know that it is
of the city you would know that it is quite literally in the middle of nowhere
quite literally in the middle of nowhere
quite literally in the middle of nowhere thus I was the only full Taiwanese kid
thus I was the only full Taiwanese kid
thus I was the only full Taiwanese kid in an entire middle school of around 800
in an entire middle school of around 800
in an entire middle school of around 800 students there was another girl however
students there was another girl however
students there was another girl however who was half chinese and half American
who was half chinese and half American
who was half chinese and half American and because of that I’ve gotten
and because of that I’ve gotten
and because of that I’ve gotten questions like hey do you have a sister
questions like hey do you have a sister
questions like hey do you have a sister in eighth grade or oh my god are you and
in eighth grade or oh my god are you and
in eighth grade or oh my god are you and Lauren related countless of times well
Lauren related countless of times well
Lauren related countless of times well here’s the thing contrary to your belief
here’s the thing contrary to your belief
here’s the thing contrary to your belief just because Lauren and I are both
just because Lauren and I are both
just because Lauren and I are both Taiwanese it does not mean that we look
Taiwanese it does not mean that we look
Taiwanese it does not mean that we look alike and moreover it definitely doesn’t
alike and moreover it definitely doesn’t
alike and moreover it definitely doesn’t suggest that we are related moving on
suggest that we are related moving on
suggest that we are related moving on another stereotype that is this is all
another stereotype that is this is all
another stereotype that is this is all Asians are interchangeable now what does
Asians are interchangeable now what does
Asians are interchangeable now what does this mean
this mean
this mean when I was a sixth grader in Champaign
when I was a sixth grader in Champaign
when I was a sixth grader in Champaign Urbana my friend and I were approached
Urbana my friend and I were approached
Urbana my friend and I were approached by classmate after lunch he proceeded to
by classmate after lunch he proceeded to
by classmate after lunch he proceeded to ask me what I thought was a quite
ask me what I thought was a quite
ask me what I thought was a quite insulting question do you eat dog meat
insulting question do you eat dog meat
insulting question do you eat dog meat I shot him a confused and disgusted look
I shot him a confused and disgusted look
I shot him a confused and disgusted look no I don’t do you that didn’t stop him
no I don’t do you that didn’t stop him
no I don’t do you that didn’t stop him from pestering me I heard that all
from pestering me I heard that all
from pestering me I heard that all Chinese people eat dog meat you’re from
Chinese people eat dog meat you’re from
Chinese people eat dog meat you’re from China right I shook my head no I’m from
China right I shook my head no I’m from
China right I shook my head no I’m from Taiwan and I certainly don’t eat dog
Taiwan and I certainly don’t eat dog
Taiwan and I certainly don’t eat dog meat what he said next was what
meat what he said next was what
meat what he said next was what flustered me the most China Taiwan
flustered me the most China Taiwan
flustered me the most China Taiwan they’re all the same and they all eat
they’re all the same and they all eat
they’re all the same and they all eat dog meat excuse me I could feel myself
dog meat excuse me I could feel myself
dog meat excuse me I could feel myself boil with rage yet I stood there silent
boil with rage yet I stood there silent
boil with rage yet I stood there silent my friend who originally stayed silent
my friend who originally stayed silent
my friend who originally stayed silent throughout this whole conversation
throughout this whole conversation
throughout this whole conversation rushed to my defense leave her alone she
rushed to my defense leave her alone she
rushed to my defense leave her alone she said this is what I mean
said this is what I mean
said this is what I mean not only are people faced with
not only are people faced with
not only are people faced with ridiculous stereotypes such as Chinese
ridiculous stereotypes such as Chinese
ridiculous stereotypes such as Chinese people eat dog meat but also China
people eat dog meat but also China
people eat dog meat but also China Taiwan South Korea Japan and many other
Taiwan South Korea Japan and many other
Taiwan South Korea Japan and many other East Asian countries are at times all
East Asian countries are at times all
East Asian countries are at times all grouped together and in situations like
grouped together and in situations like
grouped together and in situations like these we’re all interchangeable right I
these we’re all interchangeable right I
these we’re all interchangeable right I attorneys and just like anyone at the
attorneys and just like anyone at the
attorneys and just like anyone at the 1.34 belly in Chinese population right
1.34 belly in Chinese population right
1.34 belly in Chinese population right wrong Asia or my specific case East Asia
wrong Asia or my specific case East Asia
wrong Asia or my specific case East Asia is made up of a myriad of cultures and
is made up of a myriad of cultures and
is made up of a myriad of cultures and ethnicities all of them different and
ethnicities all of them different and
ethnicities all of them different and unique from one another instead of
unique from one another instead of
unique from one another instead of assuming these ethnicities as these
assuming these ethnicities as these
assuming these ethnicities as these cultures as interchangeable what we need
cultures as interchangeable what we need
cultures as interchangeable what we need to do is to respect and acknowledge them
to do is to respect and acknowledge them
to do is to respect and acknowledge them as they are finally I like to bring up
as they are finally I like to bring up
as they are finally I like to bring up one final example of Asian stereotypes
one final example of Asian stereotypes
one final example of Asian stereotypes in place today this was vastly different
in place today this was vastly different
in place today this was vastly different from everything I’ve mentioned before
from everything I’ve mentioned before
from everything I’ve mentioned before which were my personal experiences show
which were my personal experiences show
which were my personal experiences show of hands how many of you has ever seen
of hands how many of you has ever seen
of hands how many of you has ever seen or heard the recent hit Netflix show
or heard the recent hit Netflix show
or heard the recent hit Netflix show thirteen reasons why now what I’m
thirteen reasons why now what I’m
thirteen reasons why now what I’m bringing up does not directly relate to
bringing up does not directly relate to
bringing up does not directly relate to the show itself but rather one specific
the show itself but rather one specific
the show itself but rather one specific act
act
act in the cast and crew his name is Ross
in the cast and crew his name is Ross
in the cast and crew his name is Ross Butler he’s six feet four asian-american
Butler he’s six feet four asian-american
Butler he’s six feet four asian-american and a classic hunk due to copyright
and a classic hunk due to copyright
and a classic hunk due to copyright issues I’m not able to put up a picture
issues I’m not able to put up a picture
issues I’m not able to put up a picture of him in my slides so for those of you
of him in my slides so for those of you
of him in my slides so for those of you who are unfamiliar with the show or this
who are unfamiliar with the show or this
who are unfamiliar with the show or this actor you just have to use your
actor you just have to use your
actor you just have to use your imagination in 13 reasons why Butler
imagination in 13 reasons why Butler
imagination in 13 reasons why Butler plays Zack Dempsey a popular basketball
plays Zack Dempsey a popular basketball
plays Zack Dempsey a popular basketball player with a nice insensitive but
player with a nice insensitive but
player with a nice insensitive but mysterious side as I’ve described before
mysterious side as I’ve described before
mysterious side as I’ve described before Butler is six feet four athletic and
Butler is six feet four athletic and
Butler is six feet four athletic and good-looking had some might occur to you
good-looking had some might occur to you
good-looking had some might occur to you naturally but he would be a good fit for
naturally but he would be a good fit for
naturally but he would be a good fit for this character yet it wasn’t always easy
this character yet it wasn’t always easy
this character yet it wasn’t always easy for Butler to land these roles being an
for Butler to land these roles being an
for Butler to land these roles being an Asian American Butler’s path in
Asian American Butler’s path in
Asian American Butler’s path in Hollywood was not exactly smooth sailing
Hollywood was not exactly smooth sailing
Hollywood was not exactly smooth sailing he was stereotyped since roles written
he was stereotyped since roles written
he was stereotyped since roles written for Asians usually required him to be
for Asians usually required him to be
for Asians usually required him to be the geeky computer nerd or the martial
the geeky computer nerd or the martial
the geeky computer nerd or the martial artist he was neither sick of casting
artist he was neither sick of casting
artist he was neither sick of casting calls like these Butler decided to stop
calls like these Butler decided to stop
calls like these Butler decided to stop auditioning for just the Asian rules by
auditioning for just the Asian rules by
auditioning for just the Asian rules by doing so he had stepped out of the
doing so he had stepped out of the
doing so he had stepped out of the ordinary and have begun to obtain roles
ordinary and have begun to obtain roles
ordinary and have begun to obtain roles such as Reggie mantle the playful jock
such as Reggie mantle the playful jock
such as Reggie mantle the playful jock on Riverdale which is another famous TV
on Riverdale which is another famous TV
on Riverdale which is another famous TV show and Zack Dempsey on 13 reasons why
show and Zack Dempsey on 13 reasons why
show and Zack Dempsey on 13 reasons why Ross Butler’s case is one that we need
Ross Butler’s case is one that we need
Ross Butler’s case is one that we need to take a look at why because it shows
to take a look at why because it shows
to take a look at why because it shows that Asian stereotypes aren’t just an
that Asian stereotypes aren’t just an
that Asian stereotypes aren’t just an issue in small towns such as
issue in small towns such as
issue in small towns such as champaign-urbana but it is just as
champaign-urbana but it is just as
champaign-urbana but it is just as prevalent and somewhere as glamorous as
prevalent and somewhere as glamorous as
prevalent and somewhere as glamorous as Hollywood furthermore another reason why
Hollywood furthermore another reason why
Hollywood furthermore another reason why we need to bring our attention to Butler
we need to bring our attention to Butler
we need to bring our attention to Butler is because of his attitude he persevered
is because of his attitude he persevered
is because of his attitude he persevered in the face of these stereotypes and at
in the face of these stereotypes and at
in the face of these stereotypes and at last successfully broke them on the
last successfully broke them on the
last successfully broke them on the other hand consequences of these
other hand consequences of these
other hand consequences of these stereotypes are not always positive
stereotypes are not always positive
stereotypes are not always positive take me for instance in middle school I
take me for instance in middle school I
take me for instance in middle school I was left feeling out of place not only
was left feeling out of place not only
was left feeling out of place not only did I feel like I couldn’t keep up with
did I feel like I couldn’t keep up with
did I feel like I couldn’t keep up with the high expectations teachers and peers
the high expectations teachers and peers
the high expectations teachers and peers had for me but I also struggled with the
had for me but I also struggled with the
had for me but I also struggled with the fact that I was unable to be like all of
fact that I was unable to be like all of
fact that I was unable to be like all of my American friends I begged my parents
my American friends I begged my parents
my American friends I begged my parents not to make me sushi with healthy black
not to make me sushi with healthy black
not to make me sushi with healthy black rice for school lunch because I wanted
rice for school lunch because I wanted
rice for school lunch because I wanted to eat pizza like everybody else I
to eat pizza like everybody else I
to eat pizza like everybody else I wasn’t able to relate to my friends
wasn’t able to relate to my friends
wasn’t able to relate to my friends conversations about Barney the Dinosaur
conversations about Barney the Dinosaur
conversations about Barney the Dinosaur as I had never watched the show growing
as I had never watched the show growing
as I had never watched the show growing up I could ensure anon my friends
up I could ensure anon my friends
up I could ensure anon my friends excitement for Christmas
excitement for Christmas
excitement for Christmas as my family taught only celebrated
as my family taught only celebrated
as my family taught only celebrated Chinese New Year my differences felt
Chinese New Year my differences felt
Chinese New Year my differences felt like scars which was something I needed
like scars which was something I needed
like scars which was something I needed to erase in the end I felt myself
to erase in the end I felt myself
to erase in the end I felt myself desperately trying to live up to the
desperately trying to live up to the
desperately trying to live up to the Asian stereotype of the model student
Asian stereotype of the model student
Asian stereotype of the model student well trying to be more American
well trying to be more American
well trying to be more American culturally this continued until one day
culturally this continued until one day
culturally this continued until one day my language arts teacher forced us all
my language arts teacher forced us all
my language arts teacher forced us all to enter a district-wide
to enter a district-wide
to enter a district-wide young authors writing contest at first
young authors writing contest at first
young authors writing contest at first it seemed easy to me I loved writing as
it seemed easy to me I loved writing as
it seemed easy to me I loved writing as it provided for me a way to decide every
it provided for me a way to decide every
it provided for me a way to decide every single detail from witty characters to
single detail from witty characters to
single detail from witty characters to mind-blowing plot twists I intended for
mind-blowing plot twists I intended for
mind-blowing plot twists I intended for my story to make up for everything I
my story to make up for everything I
my story to make up for everything I didn’t have in life consequently my
didn’t have in life consequently my
didn’t have in life consequently my story revolved around a family of
story revolved around a family of
story revolved around a family of wizards on Christmas Eve
wizards on Christmas Eve
wizards on Christmas Eve then something felt wrong I had no idea
then something felt wrong I had no idea
then something felt wrong I had no idea of how to describe the spirit of
of how to describe the spirit of
of how to describe the spirit of Christmas or the thrill of opening
Christmas or the thrill of opening
Christmas or the thrill of opening presents that was when a light bulb went
presents that was when a light bulb went
presents that was when a light bulb went off in my head and I came to a sudden
off in my head and I came to a sudden
off in my head and I came to a sudden realization I began to write furiously
realization I began to write furiously
realization I began to write furiously and as the pages grew that contained
and as the pages grew that contained
and as the pages grew that contained more of what I cherished in life rather
more of what I cherished in life rather
more of what I cherished in life rather than what I desired Christmas Eve turned
than what I desired Christmas Eve turned
than what I desired Christmas Eve turned into Chinese New Year and I became a
into Chinese New Year and I became a
into Chinese New Year and I became a more optimistic person and I realized
more optimistic person and I realized
more optimistic person and I realized what I felt before about not belonging
what I felt before about not belonging
what I felt before about not belonging was a mental obstacle in the title of my
was a mental obstacle in the title of my
was a mental obstacle in the title of my talk I mentioned a term used in film
talk I mentioned a term used in film
talk I mentioned a term used in film breaking the fourth wall for those of
breaking the fourth wall for those of
breaking the fourth wall for those of you who are having trouble understanding
you who are having trouble understanding
you who are having trouble understanding the fourth wall is defined as a
the fourth wall is defined as a
the fourth wall is defined as a theatrical term for in the imaginary
theatrical term for in the imaginary
theatrical term for in the imaginary wall that exists between actors on stage
wall that exists between actors on stage
wall that exists between actors on stage or actors looking at a camera lens and
or actors looking at a camera lens and
or actors looking at a camera lens and the audience thus breaking the fourth
the audience thus breaking the fourth
the audience thus breaking the fourth wall meant that actors break boundaries
wall meant that actors break boundaries
wall meant that actors break boundaries and speak directly to the audience
and speak directly to the audience
and speak directly to the audience instead of into a camera lens in my
instead of into a camera lens in my
instead of into a camera lens in my situation it represented a shift in the
situation it represented a shift in the
situation it represented a shift in the way I thought of myself I began to
way I thought of myself I began to
way I thought of myself I began to appreciate who I was and even qualities
appreciate who I was and even qualities
appreciate who I was and even qualities of my own that seeped into the
of my own that seeped into the
of my own that seeped into the characters and my stories my differences
characters and my stories my differences
characters and my stories my differences were still scarce but now I looked at
were still scarce but now I looked at
were still scarce but now I looked at them as a part of myself as something
them as a part of myself as something
them as a part of myself as something that made me special by just changing my
that made me special by just changing my
that made me special by just changing my mindset I returned into a more
mindset I returned into a more
mindset I returned into a more optimistic person and someone who knew
optimistic person and someone who knew
optimistic person and someone who knew that I what I was worth
that I what I was worth
that I what I was worth to sum up Asian stereotypes are still
to sum up Asian stereotypes are still
to sum up Asian stereotypes are still very much real even though we are
very much real even though we are
very much real even though we are constantly named the model minority
constantly named the model minority
constantly named the model minority meaning that we agents achieve higher
meaning that we agents achieve higher
meaning that we agents achieve higher success than that of the population
success than that of the population
success than that of the population average we still face racism and and
average we still face racism and and
average we still face racism and and discrimination it is something that we
discrimination it is something that we
discrimination it is something that we cannot ignore people like me or sixth
cannot ignore people like me or sixth
cannot ignore people like me or sixth grade me still struggle with the
grade me still struggle with the
grade me still struggle with the negative implications of not fulfilling
negative implications of not fulfilling
negative implications of not fulfilling the image of an Asian model student they
the image of an Asian model student they
the image of an Asian model student they suffer from feeling similar enough not
suffer from feeling similar enough not
suffer from feeling similar enough not to get rejected from the American
to get rejected from the American
to get rejected from the American Society but too different to feel the
Society but too different to feel the
Society but too different to feel the comfortable with their place in it Asian
comfortable with their place in it Asian
comfortable with their place in it Asian actors in Hollywood still undergo
actors in Hollywood still undergo
actors in Hollywood still undergo stereotypical casting calls and receive
stereotypical casting calls and receive
stereotypical casting calls and receive unfair treatment the question is what
unfair treatment the question is what
unfair treatment the question is what can we do to solve this a solid
can we do to solve this a solid
can we do to solve this a solid practical answer to this would be
practical answer to this would be
practical answer to this would be education education is the root to all
education education is the root to all
education education is the root to all kinds of change and change is exactly
kinds of change and change is exactly
kinds of change and change is exactly what’s needed to abolish these harmful
what’s needed to abolish these harmful
what’s needed to abolish these harmful stereotypes however I promise myself not
stereotypes however I promise myself not
stereotypes however I promise myself not to end this talk on a cliche note which
to end this talk on a cliche note which
to end this talk on a cliche note which is why I’m not going to say be the
is why I’m not going to say be the
is why I’m not going to say be the change you wish to see in the world
change you wish to see in the world
change you wish to see in the world instead I want to say talk pass your
instead I want to say talk pass your
instead I want to say talk pass your knowledge on to others share your
knowledge on to others share your
knowledge on to others share your experiences for people who want to hear
experiences for people who want to hear
experiences for people who want to hear them and if you’d like even for those
them and if you’d like even for those
them and if you’d like even for those who don’t let what you say move others
who don’t let what you say move others
who don’t let what you say move others if you find yourself stereotyped or
if you find yourself stereotyped or
if you find yourself stereotyped or caught in a situation similar to one
caught in a situation similar to one
caught in a situation similar to one I’ve been in speak up and stand up for
I’ve been in speak up and stand up for
I’ve been in speak up and stand up for yourself let others know that their
yourself let others know that their
yourself let others know that their actions kind of detrimental effects let
actions kind of detrimental effects let
actions kind of detrimental effects let there be one less sixth grade me in the
there be one less sixth grade me in the
there be one less sixth grade me in the world meanwhile in the face of hardship
world meanwhile in the face of hardship
world meanwhile in the face of hardship be like Ross Butler persist and never
be like Ross Butler persist and never
be like Ross Butler persist and never give up
give up
give up you were you were possibly just one tiny
you were you were possibly just one tiny
you were you were possibly just one tiny step away from your goal but most
step away from your goal but most
step away from your goal but most importantly if you ever feel like you
importantly if you ever feel like you
importantly if you ever feel like you don’t belong be proud of who you are
don’t belong be proud of who you are
don’t belong be proud of who you are embrace your unique qualities and be
embrace your unique qualities and be
embrace your unique qualities and be yourself because differences are what
yourself because differences are what
yourself because differences are what make up this world and by appreciating
make up this world and by appreciating
make up this world and by appreciating yours you can make a difference thank
yours you can make a difference thank
yours you can make a difference thank you
you
you [Applause]
”
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