In Fight the Tower- Social engineering is a very helpful concept to help me identify the entire system (s) of oppression. This article is such a revealing one. One of my many experiences of discrimination was when I was in 6th grade, at Ethel Phillips Elementary school in Sacramento. I won first place in the 6th grade spelling bee in the multi-purpose room. The following week, I was supposed to go to the District spelling bee. The day before I was scheduled to take the bus to the district, Mrs. Jensen (a white 4th grade teacher) told me I couldn't go and that Abby (a white girl) would go in my place. At that time, I was really hurt, I remember coming home telling my dad it wasn't fair, that I won first place but Abby (3rd place) because Susan (asian girl) won 2nd place. For many years, I didn't really understand. Now I do. and I wish Mrs. Jensen was around because I would love to chat with her now.
As I work through my own Hmong American identity, it helps me know that out there, Asian American Women are collectively fighting for me and other women of color. Its so crazy how they've made us internalized their ways as normative, that most of us can't even begin to think beyond it, or break out of it. (I say "they" as in white people).
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