Minorities

*This incident happened in March or April of 2014, but I've only decided to write about this now.  I did write a poem about the incident and recorded myself reading it at the time though.

I remember during the first few weeks of school, I suffered severe culture shock.  This was surprising to me because I had always considered myself as someone who would have no problem assimilating into the US.  I spent 10 summers in SF and was quite up to date with US culture.  However, what shocked me was the people, how I realized that I was used to the homogeneous population of Taipei American School and was surprised that I was not used to people of different color, race, financial background.  It took me quite a long time before the reality finally set in.  Despite this, I became friends with a variety of people at Oxy and loved them because they were so different.  Oxy, just felt like a place where people were different, but you were never called out for it.  It was very inviting, at least that's what I felt like until something happened.

Occidental was going through Student Elections for Student Government and I was called on by one of the candidates to affirm my minority status and to support their diversity plans.  They feared that an article in our school paper portrayed the candidate unfairly and wanted support from minority students at Occidental.  My first thought, was like "What?! I need to be reminded that I'm a minority?  Oxy is like so white!!! What is this!!"  I thought their phrasing was very rude and the fact that they messaged me through Facebook was just as surprising.  The candidate lived in my resident hall, so they could have came to my room and talked to me about it, but the fact that the candidate messaged me through Facebook, a place where I am considered an equal and not different, really made me frustrated.  In the end, I didn't comment, but I did write a poem and recorded it which I will copy and link below.


In all honesty, I really could care less, but the message the candidate wrote made me remember that despite the fact that I indeed was a minority, it shouldn't diminish the fact that I should be just as respected as any other person.  Slapping labels onto people indicates that there is a difference in position, in status, when in reality that shouldn't be the case.

Minorities
You know, I go to a school where it claims to be diverse.
When I really think they mean: hey we got people from all 50 states.
Those international kids? They're just a percentage.
But honestly, I knew what I was getting into, I mean it's a small school.
If I wanted more Asians I woulda gone to U See Lotta Asians.
Let me tell you though, I got angry one day, when a student candidate for presidency asked me to write a status affirming that I am a minority and that I support their diversity plans.
Seriously?? First off, do I LOOK like I need to be reminded that I am a minority?
 I go to a school that is so white, it's called Occidental and not oriental.
Everyday when I leave my dorm I am immediately reminded that I am a minority.
So don't go telling me that I need to tell myself ONE MORE TIME that I am a minority.
Because honestly, How dare you. This country was literally built by the minorities.
Diversity is not something you can plan or create, rather it just happens and you just have to keep an open mind and allow it to.
Words like "minority" just means that you think you are a higher position than the rest.
When it comes down to everything. We are all human beings.