Despite the abolition of racism across the world, I find it running dominantly within my own classroom. Sitting with people who, in order to generate laughter, call African Americans "black" or the Chinese people "yellow" are incredibly irritating. What have these innocent people done in order to receive such treatment? People call me "blackie" or "the dark lord" (ref. Voldemort), and I can barely control my inner anger. "You can't have been born in America, you're black" is a common statement I hear.
I am also the subject for height jokes. "How can you be in 8th grade, you're puny." "Ha! You're in 8th grade? Yeah right." "I thought you were in 6th grade." I simply fail to understand the relationship between height or color, and the performance of a person. For example, my brother is one of the best basketball players in our school, although basketball is mainly a tall-people dominated sport, and he is short.
Another thing I don't understand is why people say something like "No offense, but-" followed by something that can only aggravate you. In fourth grade, my best friend in America received a comment from our classmate that was something like,"No offense, but your project looks ugly." Why say no offense when you are sure it is going to offend the person you are talking to?
Please share your thoughts about this topic.
And remember: the Panda is a perfect example used by many people: its Black, White, and Asian.
I am also the subject for height jokes. "How can you be in 8th grade, you're puny." "Ha! You're in 8th grade? Yeah right." "I thought you were in 6th grade." I simply fail to understand the relationship between height or color, and the performance of a person. For example, my brother is one of the best basketball players in our school, although basketball is mainly a tall-people dominated sport, and he is short.
Another thing I don't understand is why people say something like "No offense, but-" followed by something that can only aggravate you. In fourth grade, my best friend in America received a comment from our classmate that was something like,"No offense, but your project looks ugly." Why say no offense when you are sure it is going to offend the person you are talking to?
Please share your thoughts about this topic.
And remember: the Panda is a perfect example used by many people: its Black, White, and Asian.
