media consumption and race concerns

I read a lot, watch a lot of documentaries, and listen to some great music, but I feel like I'm always hurrying to keep up. I can't relax. I have to feel like I'm "improving" my literacy or adding to my body of knowledge all the time, because my "starting point" is low. Being a second-generation Chinese immigrant, I feel that in Vancouver there are a lot of racist energies below a consciously perceptible level. I can't precisely say who or what is racist and what's not, but sometimes it's as simple as this: A young woman is showing her boyfriend pictures of a friend's boyfriend on her phone. She says, "Julie got herself an Asian boy. Yup. An Asian boy." Stress on the "Asian". Another time on the bus a woman asked a man "What do you want for dinner?" The man pondered a bit, happened to look straight at me and said to his friend "Korean!" and the two of them had an unwarrantedly big gigglefest. It's a bad feeling, on all levels, to have your race be a punchline to a non-joke. I've talked to my psychologist and some counsellors about this, but I've been assured again and again that race is not that big an issue, especially in a "diverse and multicultural" city such as Vancouver...True, there is no legislation preventing me from achieving my potential career-wise, socially or creatively, but does that mean being Asian is comfortable? Something else--just to think about--I chatted with a woman I didn't know for a little bit. She told me she was sick with iron deficiency. I sympathized and offered some thoughts. She asked me "Were you born here?" I replied, "No, I was born in China". She said, "Well it's good that you can think for yourself!" implying that other Chinese young adults can't? It's precisely this kind of double-edged compliment that irks me most. How do you ask that others be more sensitive? Or do I just tolerate?

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Wow

Jul 31, 2014 at 10:00am

You need to calm down and get a sense of humour, or life is going to be a tough road for you.

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Honestly?

Jul 31, 2014 at 10:05am

I do think racism is an issue in the city, but I also think there are cultural differences that need to be addressed that aren't being addressed because people are too scared of seeming racist.

The comment about being able to think for yourself- to be honest, yes, many of the young Chinese adults I work with need a lot of hand-holding because culturally, it seems to be the norm to live with your family and just kinda do what you're told well into your 20's. While this isn't the worst thing on the planet, it does require a different management style- but no one wants to really talk about that because they don't want to appear racist, so it just gets brushed under the rug.

So yeah. Not sure what to do here.

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Turtle

Jul 31, 2014 at 10:10am

I neither agree or disagree with you overall, but i would like to say smth i say to some first generation immigrants. try to not think of "them" and "you". accept that people are different, and you can't influence what each person thinks, but what you can do is think of yourself as a vancouverite and a canadian, (of asian descent).

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pussy

Jul 31, 2014 at 10:26am

grow up.
if I moved to china, I would expect people to treat me the same as you find yourself being treated here, or worse. It's not a big deal, we are all different and sometimes people point it out. Get some thicker skin.

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Hey OP

Jul 31, 2014 at 10:38am

Near as I can figure, the most apparent racist in this whole conversation is you. You need to lighten up a bit dude.

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Excuse Me Young Man...............

Jul 31, 2014 at 10:51am

Have you tried masturbation ?

It will help ease your mind and is good for your health.

As for the percieved racism , hey at least you are not in a small town in Mississipi.

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North van chick

Jul 31, 2014 at 11:33am

Perspective is everything, how you look at the world directly affects how you feel about it and what happens to you. Instead of wasting time and energy on the negitive, ignore those people and focus on something positive about your race, I'm willing to bet there way more positives than negatives and it's a good way to train your brain to look for good not bad. Good luck dude, I hope you feel better about all this soon.

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@op

Jul 31, 2014 at 12:01pm

Quit being so sensitive to racism. Seriously. Go back and define what racism actually is.

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Furthermore

Jul 31, 2014 at 12:32pm

Racism is derogatory. Those were not ignorant or derogatory comments. You are racist about being racist.

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Born and Raised

Jul 31, 2014 at 12:42pm

here. Not living in Vancouver currently. Immigrant family, of Jewish descent. Vancouver has deeply racist elements-most especially among the privileged and the ignorant. I managed to make some awesome friends here, too. Maybe just be discerning. Yes, racism still exists and is a cancer of the mind. So do: addictions, eating disorders, cheating wives/husbands, drunk drivers. Some people are just, well, gross. The world is not a bed of roses, but you can choose how you build your nest. I am successful and happy and I know I'll find love. Even if I'm also an immigrant's daughter, with strong-ass views. I chucked my hair-straightener and I am OK with me. You be a man in your way. I think you're a man anyway. Take care.

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