Korean Job Discussion Forums :: View topic - What does it feel like to be a minority?

Speak Korean Now!

Teach English Abroad and Get Paid to see the World!

Korean Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!"

FAQ

Memberlist

Usergroups

Profile

What does it feel like to be a minority?
Goto page Previous 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

Korean Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> General Discussion Forum

View previous topic :: View next topic

Author

Message

Alyallen

Joined: 29 Mar 2004
Location: The 4th Greatest Place on Earth = Jeonju!!!

Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2004 11:16 am Post subject:

Ody wrote:

peppermint wrote:

- while discussing interracial dating with another group of students, I mentioned that I had dated a black guy and that my parents weren't exactly jumping for joy. ( I come from a pretty homogenous kinda place too) Anyway, I got gasps of horror, and a couple of students refused to come to class ever again.

that says a great deal.

i take any opportunity given to counter racial stereotyping amongst my students, especially as an American, relating to American blacks.

question for Alyallen:
have you noticed/experienced variations of racial prejudice in NYC, say between blacks and east Asians?

Personal friends aside, when my (Korean) husband lived in NY and then NJ, he noticed a marked difference between how African Americans vs. Africans related to him.

.

I will try to answer the question as best as I can. I personally have been very fortunate in not really experiencing any prejudice directed at me. I went to a mixed high school where the majority of students were Asian (Chinese and Korean mostly) and Black (Afro-American, Caribbean, African). Most of the prejudice I noticed in that environment would be directed at people of the same "race". For example, a Jamaican would cuss out a Afro-American and say something about being "too black" (not that this happened to my knowledge but an example). I can't think of a time that a Asian would get into it with a Black person or vice versa.

I have never been insulted by an Asian person (either in NYC or in Korea). My Asian friends and I would actually joke about our own "exclusion" from our own races. I'm an oreo (black on the outside, white on the inside Rolling Eyes

) and my friend would be a twinkie or a banana (yellow on the outside, white on the inside).

In high school, how I was treated based more on how I looked or acted moreso than my race. I have been in Vermont on and off in the last 5 years, so I can't give more recent or more "grown up" answers.

I hope this sorta answered your question, Ody

Peppermint,
I wonder what would happen if I told students I never dated a Black guy (which I really haven't)? I would guess they would be pretty shocked. Maybe they would figure that there were a lot of non-Black guys (Korean, Israeli, Polish, etc.) willing to date a Black woman such as myself?
AlyAllen

Alyallen

Joined: 29 Mar 2004
Location: The 4th Greatest Place on Earth = Jeonju!!!

Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2004 11:23 am Post subject:

Harin wrote:

This is one of my favorite quotes from the book, interpreter;

"Being bilingual, being multicultural should have brought two worlds into one heart, and yet for Suzy, it meant a persistant hollowness. It seems that she needed to love one culture to be able to love the other."

I always feel the "constant inharmony between oil and water." Sad

That is a great quote.
Kinda reminds me of me. I'm American, but raised as a Jamaican but will never be Jamaican because I was born here (NYC). I also will never except the title of African American, so I've kinda declared my own culture that a blend of both cultures that I like. That makes me happy. If you can't accept or choose one culture over another, blend them!

At least it worked for me Wink

AlyAllen

peppermint

Joined: 13 May 2003
Location: traversing the minefields of caddishness.

Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2004 5:48 pm Post subject:

Alyallen wrote:

Peppermint,
I wonder what would happen if I told students I never dated a Black guy (which I really haven't)? I would guess they would be pretty shocked. Maybe they would figure that there were a lot of non-Black guys (Korean, Israeli, Polish, etc.) willing to date a Black woman such as myself?
AlyAllen

I'm not sure, I think maybe the shock value in my situation lay in the stereotypes about black men. The probably figured I was dating a gang member or something, cause it's hard for them to imagine a black man who's not either in a gang or a pro athlete.

Alyallen

Joined: 29 Mar 2004
Location: The 4th Greatest Place on Earth = Jeonju!!!

Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2004 8:06 pm Post subject:

peppermint wrote:

Alyallen wrote:

I figured as much. Gotta love stereotypes Crying or Very sad

Hey, what happened to Homer and Kiwi? Did they finally kiss and make up? Laughing

AlyAllen

Zyzyfer

Joined: 29 Jan 2003
Location: who, what, where, when, why, how?

Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2004 10:59 pm Post subject:

Alyallen wrote:

I'm an oreo (black on the outside, white on the inside Rolling Eyes

) and my friend would be a twinkie or a banana (yellow on the outside, white on the inside).

Oreos and twinkies are both delicious snacks.

uber1024

Joined: 28 Jul 2003
Location: New York City

Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2004 3:33 am Post subject:

Alyallen wrote:

AlyAllen

Ahh, New York, how I miss thee so!

Lots of people did this in NYC. My friends were of all nationalities and backgrounds, and we all brought a little bit of our culture to the table ... whether it be Korean, Taiwanese, or American from New England, or Iowa. I think that's one of the best things about New York ... the people like AllyAllen here.

Here in Korea, it's a little different. The fact that I'm a foreigner is a drum that's beat regularly by the whole country. There seem to be a different set of rules for dealing with foreigners here ... or maybe, more accurately, no rules for dealing with foreigners in a country where rules are everything.

I haven't been here that long, and I've tried to fit in as best as I can. But it's tough sometimes. I think it's just one of the earlier phases of culture shock, though, but I still feel an acute "differentness" that's almost palpable. I was on the subway and it was 100% koreans except for me the whole time ... which would NEVER happen in New York. Even when I lived in the Bronx I never felt so different from the people around me.

I think it's still more than a stone's throw from racism, though.

matthewwoodford

Joined: 01 Oct 2003
Location: Location, location, location.

Posted: Sun Jun 20, 2004 5:52 am Post subject:

Were you on the subway in Seoul? I see foreigners on the subway in Seoul all the time. This country is changing fast IMHO. For example, foreigners are no big deal in Seoul any more and neither is physical affection between couples in public places.

Saxiif

Joined: 15 May 2003
Location: Seongnam

Posted: Sun Jun 20, 2004 6:02 am Post subject:

Quote:

For example, foreigners are no big deal in Seoul any more

Please please tell that to the store employee who spent a good half hour following me around and commenting on my food purchases. Evil or Very Mad

Alyallen

Joined: 29 Mar 2004
Location: The 4th Greatest Place on Earth = Jeonju!!!

Posted: Sun Jun 20, 2004 4:30 pm Post subject:

matthewwoodford wrote:

Were you on the subway in Seoul? I see foreigners on the subway in Seoul all the time.

This country is changing fast IMHO. For example, foreigners are no big deal in Seoul any more and neither is physical affection between couples in public places.

I'm sure Seoulites (hmmm, well that's what I'm going to call people from Seoul) probably interact or at least see Foreigners on a more frequent basis. Good for Seoul, but what about the rest of the country?

I'm not in Korea right now, so this is a genuine question.

AlyAllen

Homer
Guest

Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2004 2:10 am Post subject:

Busan has a fair amount of foreigners (more so every year). Other major cities have a foreign population too but not as important nor do they compare to Seoul (including Busan).

Display posts from previous:

	Korean Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> General Discussion Forum	All times are GMT - 8 Hours Goto page Previous 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Page 10 of 10

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

TEFL International Supports Dave's ESL Cafe