I’m really happy that we are finally getting into the books that I find interesting and actually enjoy reading!

As I said in seminar today to my groupies, I find it completely strange when I think about race  and how people are still excluded from different things or treated differently because of who they are. It is weird to think that the history books we read about discrimination and racism are from merely 50 years ago and how it is still presented in today’s society.

Although we focused on the intro and conclusion in today’s seminar, the topic of and the word “white-washed” cam e up quite a few times and it is weird how that word is interpreted. I consider myself 100% “white-washed” and often forget that I am not of Filipino-Chinese decent since I live alone and  do not practice or even see any Filipino or Chinese food, traditions, or even hear the language anymore. I kind of find it sad that when I tell people I am Canadian (because I do not consider myself any Filipino or Chinese), I have to clarify and tell them that I am “white-washed”. It definitely reminds me of a part in the book where I can’t find right now where he says that we are tied to our image, that black people will always be viewed “black” and white people will always be viewed as “white”, being “tied to an image that we are not responsible for” (18).

Another quote that really stuck out to me was:

“Subjectively and intellectually the Antillean behaves like a white man. But in fact he is a black man. He’ll realize that once he gets to Europe” (126)

this quote makes me feel both happy and sad.

When I first read it I felt sad because It says that no matter how he acts. No matter how educated, proper and “white-washed” a coloured person can be in their own civilization, once they go to another region, they will be treated differently in another way. In a less civilized way.

The reason it makes me happy is because although I am completely “white-washed” and although through the years equality between races will hopefully be a completely natural thing, I will still have my roots. I will still be able to go back to my ancestors country and see their society and their way of living. I am proud of my roots and I believe that everyone should be proud of their roots too. That even if equality between different races is reached, that people from Canada would be able to look at a “white-washed” Asian and be able to say “Wow, it is so cool that your ancestors came from China! They have really interesting traditions and awesome food” and stuff like that. I feel like a lot of people are ashamed* of their roots if they are completely white-washed when that shouldn’t be the case at all.

I don’t know where I’m really going with this. This post went from a lot of different thoughts. So yeah I’ll just end it. ahah.

I also really liked Jon’s lecture the because I felt that he touched on every topic and question that I had in mind and that it was really interesting!

*ashamed as in telling people “no, my ancestors may be from Asia but I DEFINITELY DO NOT HOLD THE SAME TRADITIONS. I mean it’s fine to have your own traditions and be able to carry Canadian or American traditions and stuff, but different countries around the world have super interesting traditions, religions, foods…it would be a shame to try to erase all of that from your lives!!

P.S: Sorry for the late post! I usually write what I have to do for the day in my agenda, and since “blog post” wasn’t in it, I assumed it wasn’t my week…SO I FIXED IT SO NOW IT WILL BE ON TIME.

P.P.S: B.F.A audition prepping is really stressful and consumed my mind since…December. So wish me luck and please forgive my tardiness and spaciness for the next week.

Joc 🙂