Creative Writing: Racism Hurts

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Racism Hurts

It was a pastel morning in June when I boarded the long, pencil-colored bus and headed for my favorite seat—the one at the back of the bus next to the escape hatch. My rubber tennis shoes bounced and squeaked with excitement with every step as I bounded to the coveted spot, and one step closer to the beach. On my first morning of summer daycamp, we were heading for Crane’s Beach! The bus filled up fast with campers and chatter.

“Hey Dumpling!” a boy’s voice suddenly exploded out of nowhere. “Are you Asian? Are you Chinese? Funny-eyed girl, can you hear me?” He screeched badly out of tune. His striking, forceful words turned into a destructive tsunami headed right toward me, threatening to swallow me whole.

My face suddenly felt …show more content…
Yeh-yeh became a street vendor, selling simple toys and amusements just to survive and that’s where he met your Yin-Yin. She had a street cart and sold the freshest dumplings you ever tasted. Every day at lunchtime they talked about a brighter future together. They immigrated to America sacrificing their language, culture and all they knew for more opportunities. They made sacrifices for us that they never regretted, but that is why we have a responsibility to make our lives worthy of those sacrifices. Your grandfather said your grandmother’s spirit was stronger and more resilient than the sturdiest bamboo. She was as crusty and thick-skinned as the outside of her dumplings, and yet as sweet and soft as the inside of them,” he added laughing at …show more content…
I had learned firsthand something about the world we all share. Before that experience, I thought the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday was only one day in January set aside for African Americans to ponder racism and civil rights, hard-fought and hard-won equality, and opportunity. However, when I experienced racism first-hand-- it stung. Up until then, I never really saw myself as different from other kids. Rob Henderson changed all that. He had his own stereotyped view of Asians and wasn’t afraid to share it with everyone. He tried to make me feel like I was nameless, someone without my own identity, unique talents, and personality. I now understand that anyone can be a target of racism. And when one person achieves a victory over racism, we all win. I also learned on that day to be proud of who I am, my race, and my culture. Finally, the celebration of “MLK Day” and what Dr. King achieved is not only for African Americans, it is for everyone. It is for
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