dear candidates,
i would appreciate it if you refrained from referring to people of asian descent as "yellow."
though there are americans of asian descent who may disagree w/ me, i believe that, due to the history of this word in reference to those of asian descent, 1/
i would appreciate it if you refrained from referring to people of asian descent as "yellow."
though there are americans of asian descent who may disagree w/ me, i believe that, due to the history of this word in reference to those of asian descent, 1/
the way it is still used by non-asians to refer to an entire diaspora as a single color, & the truth that we have more appropriate words for who we, as americans of asian descent, are today- the word "yellow" should be discontinued when acknowledging those of asian descent. 2/
though i understand a recent example of applying the word "yellow" was used to imply an inclusive upbringing, as someone whom the song refers to, i do not feel this inclusion. 3/
as someone who grew up in oklahoma in the 80s, i experienced songs, statements, and passages in books as the words i was told to ignore the behavior i was impacted by. 4/
more often than not, my feeling of invisibility was denied because i was mentioned in a colors-of-the-rainbow speech, or worse, because i was in the church, didn't that mean i was accepted? 5/
way too often i've had to respond to, "what's wrong with yellow?" to those who have not been taught american history. exhausted myself trying to convince the unwilling that "yellow" and "white" cannot be equated in their usage, history, and relationship to american culture. 6/
i know all childhoods are not the same, but throughout mine, the use of the word "yellow," even if assumed positive, almost always revealed a blindness to me that i learned was a sign of potential danger. 7/
traveling america throughout my adulthood, i've been fortunate to meet those who come from different realities, eras, and understandings, whose usage of the word "yellow," is merely conditioned ignorance. i write this in part because of these few. 8/
what i've experienced in my life shouldn't become a condemnation of all who use the word "yellow." the conversation of race is far more nuanced than we've embraced. our compassion towards ignorance must be supported by our will to challenge the tools that foster hate. 9/
language is so powerful. the origin story of a word's usage reveals its intention. the person who can use certain words without consequence reveals power dynamics within this nation. the words which prevent the truth of identity reveal how we relate in hierarchy. 10/
so, today, if you're not of asian descent, and you have no problem with the word "yellow," please consider why that is. not through a defensive lens. not from a protective lens. but rather, through the lens of one who does not live the life of who the word "yellow" is for. 11/
if you choose to take me seriously on this, know culture and language are relational. allow your considerations to not lead you to immediate answers, but begin walking you further down the path of understanding. i don't know what any one of you will discover about yourselves, 12/
i don't know if you will allow this to be an evolving process within yourself or the quickest way to get back to feeling innocent, 13/
but i do know that there is work to be done regarding bringing people together, and it will take much more than who we can list in a song. especially when the nature of a song is in itself an exclusion. 14/
thank you for reading this far. do not use this to condemn, use this to inspire learning that applies itself to growth that leads to healing. 15/
ps- & for my asian folk using the word "yellow" as reclamation, i see you. keep exploring that path. examine the depth of your choices beyond the desire of your intention. let your work not be reaction but rather source transforming past for future. fin.
