#unpackingracism

I have this one specific fucked up memory where I totally had it twisted and confused about racism. I was at a punk show in downtown Toronto. This guy approached me and commented that it was nice to see another asian at the show. I gave him a funny look and he continued to say something about sticking together. I didn't agree and walked away. 
Sometimes, I look back and regret my ignorance and cold shoulder. Admittedly, I was young and stupid. But I reflect on how I too once refused to "see colour." I guess I believed the utopian ideology that we all have equal opportunity to fit in regardless of race. I had so deeply normalized systematic racism and whitewashing that I was blind to a fellow comrad reaching out in solidarity. Because he had a point, there weren't many other asians or even other people of colour at that punk show or in the punk scene at that time. Sticking together provides allyship, support to be different and stand in diversity rather than continue the assimilation.


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