If you’re a person of color in this country, it’s probably a pretty safe bet to assume that you’ve been impacted by racism. And if you haven’t, consider yourself one of the lucky ones, although, it’s probably another safe bet that you’ve at least been impacted indirectly by racism and not even realized it — or just chose the easier path of willful ignorance.
These are truths. These are facts. This is OUR America. Parlay all dat!
As an Asian American who has called various inner cities up and down the West coast home, racism has been a part of my, and many of my peers, reality. Yes, the eastside of Long Beach, California may be a lot different from the South End of Seattle, Washington. But you know what was always the same? No, not just a street named after Martin Luther King Jr.!
That damn foot! IYKYK…
Now look, I get it, not everybody is going to agree that this is their experience. To be honest, I’m not necessarily here to convince you or anybody to believe otherwise. But regardless of what you think you believe, you’re going to at least respect the message… right? Riiight…
Prison is a weird mixture of different personalities, varying ideologies, lots and lots of conservative politics, and unique life experiences. But even knowing all that couldn’t prepare me for when a colleague of mine (a person of color btw) referred to people potentially giving speeches about their life experiences dealing with racism at an upcoming API cultural event at the Washington Corrections Center as that “boo-hoo shit.” And then continued to express how “nobody wants to hear about people crying about that boo-hoo shit.”
Cuzz, what? No, but wait. Did he just say…? C’mon, bruh!
I want to be clear, this story is definitely not just about my colleague (who’s actually pretty cool) or even his “questionable” comments. This story is about a society that has become so desensitized to White supremacy that even racism has become that “boo-hoo shit.” Yeah, let’s be real… my homeboy ain’t the only one, huh?
Listen, I get it. In a world where it may seem like every other person has become a “weekend woke warrior,” things can often feel hella, well, extra. And yeah, people deserve to have some cheerfulness in their lives.
But which people are we talking about when we’re talking about cheerfulness? And who are we afraid of potentially offending with our truth? Now these are things worth talking about.
You see, I don’t actually think that folks really believe that racism is just some “boo-hoo shit.” Take it from a person who was born in Seattle with Lao ancestry and yet has probably been told to “go back to CHINA” countless times — nobody who has had to survive racism would ever characterize it as just “boo-hoo shit.”
No. People know damn well the effects of racism. I guess it all depends on what side of the foot you prefer to be on.
People like my homeboy, for instance, I don’t really think that they actually believe that racism is somehow just another boring inconvenience. Well, maybe they do. But for the sake of conversation and giving them the benefit of the doubt, what I actually believe is that they’ve been so socialized to protect White supremacy that they would go to any length to maintain and protect that supremacy if it meant ensuring that those who benefit from that supremacy remain… uh, cheery. Because guess what? When they’re cheery, they keep that damn foot to themselves!
Fear.
The truth is, we’re all susceptible to fear and its many forms. It’s sad and scary. But fear is one hell of a drug, y’all. Fear can make you run. Fear can make you hide. Fear will even turn you against your own people. And if we continue to move in ways that turn us into agents of the opposition existing just to protect White supremacy and racism, nothing will ever change. And we can just continue to figure out innovative ways to keep them happy to avoid that foot!
Nah, I’ll pass.
My daughter deserves better. My sons deserve better. Our people deserve better.
We deserve a world where we always feel safe to speak our truth no matter the venue or audience.
We deserve a world where stories of survival and resistance are considered stories of inspiration and love… not fear.
We deserve a world where stories like my immigrant father being dragged to King County Jail in front of a 5-year-old me after calling the police on a white neighbor who purposely damaged our vehicle and not knowing what else to do aren’t looked upon as “boo-hoo shit” stories, but rather stories of the unbelievable strength it took to still raise a young man on his own while dealing with racist ass neighbors and racist ass cops.
But most of all, we deserve to be seen, heard, and valued for everything we are without ever feeling like we have to apologize or censor ourselves.
Until next time, keep dreaming!
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Felix Sitthivong is a journalist, organizer, member of Empowerment Avenue, and advisor for the Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Awareness Group (APICAG). Through APICAG, Sitthivong has organized immigration, social justice and youth outreach forums and has designed Asian American studies courses, an intersectional feminism 101 class and an anti-domestic violence program. You can reach him with questions for “On the Fence Line” via Securus (WA #354579) or write to him at Felix Sitthivong #354579, PO Box 900, Shelton, WA 98584.
Felix Sitthivong is an incarcerated storyteller, community organizer, and founding member of the Peoples’ Empowerment Assembly for Collective Equity (PEACE). Sitthivong is also the former president and senior advisor for the Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Awareness Group (APICAG). He is currently serving a 66-year sentence at the Washington Corrections Center in Shelton, WA. Reach him with questions for “On the Fence Line” via Securus (WA #354579) or write to him at Felix Sitthivong #354579, PO BOX 900, Shelton, WA 98584.
