[Applause] tell your story change the conversation
tell your story change the conversation
tell your story change the conversation organized by students TEDx youth at s HC
so I was walking home one day minding my
so I was walking home one day minding my own business like any other angsty
own business like any other angsty
own business like any other angsty teenager in their sophomore year of high
teenager in their sophomore year of high
teenager in their sophomore year of high school with my earbuds on listening to
school with my earbuds on listening to
school with my earbuds on listening to the hip Tunes at the time then suddenly
the hip Tunes at the time then suddenly
the hip Tunes at the time then suddenly a group of five middle schoolers
a group of five middle schoolers
a group of five middle schoolers completely surround me and I just stand
completely surround me and I just stand
completely surround me and I just stand there
there
there dazed I had no idea what was going on
dazed I had no idea what was going on
dazed I had no idea what was going on then they start badgering me with
then they start badgering me with
then they start badgering me with insults one boy repeel he says Neha Neha
insults one boy repeel he says Neha Neha
insults one boy repeel he says Neha Neha another one is asking how my calculus
another one is asking how my calculus
another one is asking how my calculus homework was and others asking if I had
homework was and others asking if I had
homework was and others asking if I had rice for lunch that day different
rice for lunch that day different
rice for lunch that day different stereotypes were being thrown out of me
stereotypes were being thrown out of me
stereotypes were being thrown out of me that I just stand there not really sure
that I just stand there not really sure
that I just stand there not really sure as to how I’m supposed to respond when
as to how I’m supposed to respond when
as to how I’m supposed to respond when they saw that I wasn’t reacting to their
they saw that I wasn’t reacting to their
they saw that I wasn’t reacting to their jeering they made some passing comment
jeering they made some passing comment
jeering they made some passing comment on how Asian and serious I was for not
on how Asian and serious I was for not
on how Asian and serious I was for not being able to take a joke and walked
being able to take a joke and walked
being able to take a joke and walked away after they left I was finally taken
away after they left I was finally taken
away after they left I was finally taken out of my stupor what in God’s name just
out of my stupor what in God’s name just
out of my stupor what in God’s name just happened after I got over the irritation
happened after I got over the irritation
happened after I got over the irritation the disbelief the discomfort I began to
the disbelief the discomfort I began to
the disbelief the discomfort I began to realize that there was a problem and the
realize that there was a problem and the
realize that there was a problem and the problem didn’t just come from from the
problem didn’t just come from from the
problem didn’t just come from from the fact that five middle schoolers with
fact that five middle schoolers with
fact that five middle schoolers with throwing racial slurs at me but more so
throwing racial slurs at me but more so
throwing racial slurs at me but more so from the fact that these middle
from the fact that these middle
from the fact that these middle schoolers were also Asian let that sink
schoolers were also Asian let that sink
schoolers were also Asian let that sink in for a second these middle schoolers
in for a second these middle schoolers
in for a second these middle schoolers were making fun of me for being Asian
were making fun of me for being Asian
were making fun of me for being Asian and making fun of our heritage and
and making fun of our heritage and
and making fun of our heritage and culture as if it wasn’t theirs but what
culture as if it wasn’t theirs but what
culture as if it wasn’t theirs but what scared me the most was that I saw myself
scared me the most was that I saw myself
scared me the most was that I saw myself within them I saw their attempts of
within them I saw their attempts of
within them I saw their attempts of pushing away their heritage and culture
pushing away their heritage and culture
pushing away their heritage and culture as far away as possible as a reflection
as far away as possible as a reflection
as far away as possible as a reflection of my own struggles
of my own struggles
of my own struggles I went through starting their age and
I went through starting their age and
I went through starting their age and continued to face throughout high school
continued to face throughout high school
continued to face throughout high school now I believe the source of this
now I believe the source of this
now I believe the source of this struggle is the lack of Asian
struggle is the lack of Asian
struggle is the lack of Asian representation within the media and the
representation within the media and the
representation within the media and the curriculum because the asian-american
curriculum because the asian-american
curriculum because the asian-american community has been considered the
community has been considered the
community has been considered the invisible minority for far too long
invisible minority for far too long
invisible minority for far too long because despite the fact that we are
because despite the fact that we are
because despite the fact that we are present within the American culture were
present within the American culture were
present within the American culture were often disregarded during the discussion
often disregarded during the discussion
often disregarded during the discussion of race and overlooked by both white
of race and overlooked by both white
of race and overlooked by both white people and people of color when we are
people and people of color when we are
people and people of color when we are seeing however it’s only through the
seeing however it’s only through the
seeing however it’s only through the lens of prejudices and stereotypes even
lens of prejudices and stereotypes even
lens of prejudices and stereotypes even Asian Americans themselves are passive
Asian Americans themselves are passive
Asian Americans themselves are passive towards this in accurate portrayal to
towards this in accurate portrayal to
towards this in accurate portrayal to the point in which we take part in
the point in which we take part in
the point in which we take part in making fun of ourselves first let’s talk
making fun of ourselves first let’s talk
making fun of ourselves first let’s talk about the media let it be in the
about the media let it be in the
about the media let it be in the comforts of our home scrolling through
comforts of our home scrolling through
comforts of our home scrolling through our phones or in the car listening to
our phones or in the car listening to
our phones or in the car listening to the radio
the radio
the radio we are always somehow engaging with the
we are always somehow engaging with the
we are always somehow engaging with the media and are bombarded with information
media and are bombarded with information
media and are bombarded with information after information about a myriad of
after information about a myriad of
after information about a myriad of topics when we hear something over and
topics when we hear something over and
topics when we hear something over and over again we internalize it and we
over again we internalize it and we
over again we internalize it and we begin to view it as the truth so growing
begin to view it as the truth so growing
begin to view it as the truth so growing up I loved to watch TV I did my absolute
up I loved to watch TV I did my absolute
up I loved to watch TV I did my absolute best to spend as much of my time in
best to spend as much of my time in
best to spend as much of my time in front of it even if it were to watch
front of it even if it were to watch
front of it even if it were to watch those reruns of those awfully boring
those reruns of those awfully boring
those reruns of those awfully boring shows but as I would switch through
shows but as I would switch through
shows but as I would switch through different channels the same theme would
different channels the same theme would
different channels the same theme would appear there were no Asians because of
appear there were no Asians because of
appear there were no Asians because of this slowly without even realizing it my
this slowly without even realizing it my
this slowly without even realizing it my definition of what being a typical
definition of what being a typical
definition of what being a typical American bent was to be white and I’m
American bent was to be white and I’m
American bent was to be white and I’m sure you realized by now I’m not white
sure you realized by now I’m not white
sure you realized by now I’m not white I’m Chinese so I grew up in this
I’m Chinese so I grew up in this
I’m Chinese so I grew up in this perpetual gray area not really knowing
perpetual gray area not really knowing
perpetual gray area not really knowing as to where I stood I wasn’t exactly
as to where I stood I wasn’t exactly
as to where I stood I wasn’t exactly Asian because the culture outside of my
Asian because the culture outside of my
Asian because the culture outside of my home wasn’t but I by my definition Ben
home wasn’t but I by my definition Ben
home wasn’t but I by my definition Ben wasn’t American
wasn’t American
wasn’t American so what I did was that I tried my best
so what I did was that I tried my best
so what I did was that I tried my best to be white I did whatever I could to
to be white I did whatever I could to
to be white I did whatever I could to just fit in and be deemed as cool and
just fit in and be deemed as cool and
just fit in and be deemed as cool and normal even if it was at the price of my
normal even if it was at the price of my
normal even if it was at the price of my own culture my own identity and my own
own culture my own identity and my own
own culture my own identity and my own happiness now people may argue but there
happiness now people may argue but there
happiness now people may argue but there is representation have you not seen
is representation have you not seen
is representation have you not seen Milan rush hour well I have two things
Milan rush hour well I have two things
Milan rush hour well I have two things to say to that first with the exception
to say to that first with the exception
to say to that first with the exception of an extremely small number movies and
of an extremely small number movies and
of an extremely small number movies and TV shows tend to only have one Asian
TV shows tend to only have one Asian
TV shows tend to only have one Asian American supporting character if any at
American supporting character if any at
American supporting character if any at all each playing to the same story if it
all each playing to the same story if it
all each playing to the same story if it was in a high school setting there were
was in a high school setting there were
was in a high school setting there were the nerds in the back of the AP calc
the nerds in the back of the AP calc
the nerds in the back of the AP calc class who always got straight A’s if it
class who always got straight A’s if it
class who always got straight A’s if it was in a business setting
was in a business setting
was in a business setting they were either the janitors with heavy
they were either the janitors with heavy
they were either the janitors with heavy accents or just another socially awkward
accents or just another socially awkward
accents or just another socially awkward worker in the background that’s it these
worker in the background that’s it these
worker in the background that’s it these were the only Astaire these were the
were the only Astaire these were the
were the only Astaire these were the only stories about the Asian American
only stories about the Asian American
only stories about the Asian American experience that people were exposed to
experience that people were exposed to
experience that people were exposed to and savvy these became my definition of
and savvy these became my definition of
and savvy these became my definition of what being Asian meant and I hated it
what being Asian meant and I hated it
what being Asian meant and I hated it these stereotypes only made me
these stereotypes only made me
these stereotypes only made me embarrassed to be myself now secondly
embarrassed to be myself now secondly
embarrassed to be myself now secondly with the little representation that we
with the little representation that we
with the little representation that we do have well they’re only of some East
do have well they’re only of some East
do have well they’re only of some East Asians meaning Chinese Japanese and
Asians meaning Chinese Japanese and
Asians meaning Chinese Japanese and Korean you have to understand that
Korean you have to understand that
Korean you have to understand that there’s so much more to Asia than these
there’s so much more to Asia than these
there’s so much more to Asia than these three countries yet all these people are
three countries yet all these people are
three countries yet all these people are being left out Sony and know there is
being left out Sony and know there is
being left out Sony and know there is barely enough Asian representation
barely enough Asian representation
barely enough Asian representation within the media because a little amount
within the media because a little amount
within the media because a little amount we do have her only of some Asians now
we do have her only of some Asians now
we do have her only of some Asians now the issue of representation isn’t
the issue of representation isn’t
the issue of representation isn’t limited to the media either it is
limited to the media either it is
limited to the media either it is prevalent in schools as well the purpose
prevalent in schools as well the purpose
prevalent in schools as well the purpose of Education isn’t just to teach us how
of Education isn’t just to teach us how
of Education isn’t just to teach us how Adams
Adams
Adams or how to find the theme of a poem but
or how to find the theme of a poem but
or how to find the theme of a poem but rather it’s about the practical skills
rather it’s about the practical skills
rather it’s about the practical skills we gained so that we can apply them to
we gained so that we can apply them to
we gained so that we can apply them to society and better understand the world
society and better understand the world
society and better understand the world around us education gives us the power
around us education gives us the power
around us education gives us the power to question society and acknowledge its
to question society and acknowledge its
to question society and acknowledge its faults with this in mind there needs to
faults with this in mind there needs to
faults with this in mind there needs to be more representation to help fight the
be more representation to help fight the
be more representation to help fight the preconceived notions than many people
preconceived notions than many people
preconceived notions than many people including asian-americans themselves
including asian-americans themselves
including asian-americans themselves have towards Asians so that the single
have towards Asians so that the single
have towards Asians so that the single story that pushes many Asian Americans
story that pushes many Asian Americans
story that pushes many Asian Americans away from their heritage can finally be
away from their heritage can finally be
away from their heritage can finally be destroyed but increasing representation
destroyed but increasing representation
destroyed but increasing representation we help Asian Americans from a younger
we help Asian Americans from a younger
we help Asian Americans from a younger age to feel more included within the
age to feel more included within the
age to feel more included within the conversation and to become more
conversation and to become more
conversation and to become more comfortable with themselves we read so
comfortable with themselves we read so
comfortable with themselves we read so many books in English and history
many books in English and history
many books in English and history classes mainly talking about the white
classes mainly talking about the white
classes mainly talking about the white experience yet rarely do we learn about
experience yet rarely do we learn about
experience yet rarely do we learn about the Asian or Asian American experience
the Asian or Asian American experience
the Asian or Asian American experience until we reach our high school years by
until we reach our high school years by
until we reach our high school years by that point many have already
that point many have already
that point many have already internalized the fact that we simply
internalized the fact that we simply
internalized the fact that we simply aren’t part of the conversation we feel
aren’t part of the conversation we feel
aren’t part of the conversation we feel as if we’re only supposed to be part of
as if we’re only supposed to be part of
as if we’re only supposed to be part of the background I have friends who feel
the background I have friends who feel
the background I have friends who feel uncomfortable whenever the Asian
uncomfortable whenever the Asian
uncomfortable whenever the Asian experience is even mentioned within
experience is even mentioned within
experience is even mentioned within classes simply because they’re not used
classes simply because they’re not used
classes simply because they’re not used to their culture of being brought up
to their culture of being brought up
to their culture of being brought up within a classroom setting
within a classroom setting
within a classroom setting they have disassociated their lifestyles
they have disassociated their lifestyles
they have disassociated their lifestyles at home with their lifestyles at school
at home with their lifestyles at school
at home with their lifestyles at school feeling as if it’s normal for classes to
feeling as if it’s normal for classes to
feeling as if it’s normal for classes to never talk about their own lies but this
never talk about their own lies but this
never talk about their own lies but this shouldn’t be the case we need to be more
shouldn’t be the case we need to be more
shouldn’t be the case we need to be more exposed to the incredible stories such
exposed to the incredible stories such
exposed to the incredible stories such as the noble Japanese soldiers that
as the noble Japanese soldiers that
as the noble Japanese soldiers that continue to fight for America during
continue to fight for America during
continue to fight for America during World War two or the first Asian
World War two or the first Asian
World War two or the first Asian American voted into Congress in 1957 an
American voted into Congress in 1957 an
American voted into Congress in 1957 an Indian American Dileep song when we are
Indian American Dileep song when we are
Indian American Dileep song when we are more exposed to these stories we can
more exposed to these stories we can
more exposed to these stories we can replace the come
replace the come
replace the come attitude than many people that many
attitude than many people that many
attitude than many people that many people associate with the title the
people associate with the title the
people associate with the title the invisible minority and the model
invisible minority and the model
invisible minority and the model minority we can finally understand the
minority we can finally understand the
minority we can finally understand the huge impact we had on America in the
huge impact we had on America in the
huge impact we had on America in the past and the enormous power we have to
past and the enormous power we have to
past and the enormous power we have to make change so how can we chase this
make change so how can we chase this
make change so how can we chase this discrepancy this lack of representation
discrepancy this lack of representation
discrepancy this lack of representation in the media and curriculum so that the
in the media and curriculum so that the
in the media and curriculum so that the future generations can have the
future generations can have the
future generations can have the confidence and courage to raise their
confidence and courage to raise their
confidence and courage to raise their voices so that more than one story is
voices so that more than one story is
voices so that more than one story is being heard my solution we as Asian
being heard my solution we as Asian
being heard my solution we as Asian Americans need to reform representation
Americans need to reform representation
Americans need to reform representation on our own terms we understand the Asian
on our own terms we understand the Asian
on our own terms we understand the Asian narrative the best since we live it so
narrative the best since we live it so
narrative the best since we live it so we should be the ones just to decide how
we should be the ones just to decide how
we should be the ones just to decide how we should be represented the little
we should be represented the little
we should be represented the little amount of representation we do have
amount of representation we do have
amount of representation we do have reflects on how our current society
reflects on how our current society
reflects on how our current society views us which may not be completely
views us which may not be completely
views us which may not be completely false but it’s not even close to the
false but it’s not even close to the
false but it’s not even close to the whole story once we take the counter
whole story once we take the counter
whole story once we take the counter narrative into our own hands we reform
narrative into our own hands we reform
narrative into our own hands we reform Asian representation to more positively
Asian representation to more positively
Asian representation to more positively reflect our own experiences the more we
reflect our own experiences the more we
reflect our own experiences the more we talk about our passions and our
talk about our passions and our
talk about our passions and our experiences the more Asian Americans can
experiences the more Asian Americans can
experiences the more Asian Americans can feel that they have a right to be
feel that they have a right to be
feel that they have a right to be included in the conversation by
included in the conversation by
included in the conversation by increasing representation we feel like
increasing representation we feel like
increasing representation we feel like we no longer have to be invisible so
we no longer have to be invisible so
we no longer have to be invisible so that the future generations don’t have
that the future generations don’t have
that the future generations don’t have to go through the same struggles I had
to go through the same struggles I had
to go through the same struggles I had to go through they don’t have to feel
to go through they don’t have to feel
to go through they don’t have to feel that they had to identify themselves as
that they had to identify themselves as
that they had to identify themselves as only Asian or only American at the price
only Asian or only American at the price
only Asian or only American at the price of losing a part of themselves but
of losing a part of themselves but
of losing a part of themselves but rather they can say with confidence I am
rather they can say with confidence I am
rather they can say with confidence I am Asian American thank you
”
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