Racism I've Faced

Last year, a teacher told me "ching chong." A World Language teacher teaching in a school that is filled with about 80% Latinx, African American, and Asian. I couldn't believe it.

I called her out on it in front of a classroom of about 20 kids. I told her that "That's racist. You should apologize right now." But for some reason, she just left the class without a word.

My friends and teachers couldn't believe it. Our school celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month, Black History Month, and Asian Pacific Heritage month every year with an assembly and after-school celebration. So obviously, I emailed my vice principal. The head of the World Language Department called me in to write a statement and soon after called me into a meeting to have a talk with the teacher.

I couldn't believe it when the World Language teacher told me "she didn't know it was racist."

I was so frustrated that all it took was for a teacher to get away with no repercussions was to just say "I didn't know." I told her I didn't accept her apology, that we're not "cool." I didn't shake her hand and I just left. While this was going on, our "mediator" was on the phone the whole time. What a great job he was doing.

Why wasn't she held responsible? Why did the school not care? I didn't understand and I still don't understand...

This happened in 2019. There is no excuse for ignorance especially if you teach at one of the most diverse schools in the state.

Ignorance isn't an excuse anymore.

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Fast forward to my first semester of college, another iffy scenario played out in my Calculus I classroom. My teaching assistant asked me "where are you from?" I go to a state school. There's a 90% chance I am from in-state but I guess 10% is a big enough chance. I said I was from in-state: Jersey. That didn't seem to stop the conversation though... My TA says, "oh? You don't sound like you're from Jersey."

Side bar: I've lived in the same house in New Jersey my whole life. There is no way I had anything other than a Jersey accent if that.

I asked him if he thought I had an accent and if he thought I wasn't from around here. He quickly tries to cover by saying "everyone has an accent" or some bs like that. I had a calc quiz to start so I dropped it at that but that was a strange experience.

I don't think him asking where I was from was inherently racist but then not believing me and essentially telling me that I'm lying is pretty bad don't you think?

Basically, people need to do better.