Racial prejudice exists even in this day and age!
But we are more outspoken now, and we push back.
I am a halfie. The Chinese part of me has experienced being tagged as Insik Kuwakang by Pinoys, and the Pinay part being labelled as Huwana, a derogatory term for ‘Filipina’.
That’s being slapped twice, a double dose of insults just for being born me.
Each of those terms come with built-in biases that can hurt, and scar you for life.
Wherever we go, we get profiled.
My cousin RG was called an “eggroll” in New York.
My sisters Josielyn Ngan-Gilbaugh and AiAi Nookay both live and work in the US.
Jojo has two masters degrees, graduated magna cum laude. As an Asian, she worked doubly hard to gain the respect she had as a deputy administrator for public works. Her diplomas questioned for their authenticity (Salamat, Recto!)
AiAi is a critical care nurse with an alphabet soup of letters after her name. But even with those credentials, she chalked up racial profiling experiences as well!
On a trip Down Under decades ago, a rude shop owner exploded that he was tired of being asked for directions by FOBs [fresh off the boat], and of course, Maldita Me retorted, “I am here to shop but not anymore!” Followed by a slew of expletives in Cebuano and Hokkien!
The guy had the sense to mutter an apology to my back as I walked away!
Daughter Jen has her own share of experience of being a female halfie in Japan where not a few people are surprised that she is a university graduate who managed to study abroad, has excellent credentials, done a bit of traveling, and speaks Japanese without an accent.
The rash of hate crimes that permeate the world still needs to be scratched!
Racial prejudice, like gender bias, is learned at a young age, and tragically nurtured into adulthood.
That’s why we need to teach our kids religious, racial, and gender respect and tolerance.
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Author’s email: marissa.dames@dtcpromos.com.ph
