The Value Of A Man's Life

[neo_prodigy]

The value of a man's life, as long as he's not white?

Never forget the story of Vincent Chin. Vincent Who? Exactly.

And this post here, speaks for itself.

As I said to Box, this is my black ass, exhibiting no surprise.

Comments

[azn_jack_fiend]

I was a little kid when that happened, and I never knew about Vincent Chin until decades later. But I was already living through the same hate that killed him. Other kids used to call me "jap" and "chink" interchangeably, and when I tried to tell them I was American, they'd just laugh at me and tell me it didn't matter because we were all the same. Anything they said to me or did to me was OK because I was responsible for WWII and "taking American jobs".

That was a terrible time. I think things are a little better for Asian-Americans today, but I'll never forget it, or stop worrying that it will happen again.

[deepseasiren]

I got called names like that and I would beat the shit out of a kid who said that to me. I have relatives who all got put in Internment Camps because this country wasn't able to distinguish the face of an American from that of the 'enemy alien' my relatives and ancestors were considered. NO ONE called me a Jap or a Chink without getting their face slapped or nose bloodied as a kid. My dad was the same way. I remember in 1975 when the Vietnam War ended, some people called my dad a gook when we were driving, and he chased their asses down the street. My dad took NO racist shit from anyone

[kittenmommy]

Because my ex wife was from Vietnam/Japan/Phillipines.

I'd say that's pretty telling right there.

And I'm sorry people were so awful to you and to your family.

[deepseasiren]

Not many people, I'd say over my 43 years, maybe a dozen. That's not so bad out of all the really cool friends and people that I know. Later on I just chalked it up to ignorance but as a kid, when they said racist shit, you couldn't insult a white person back in the same way.

[kittenmommy]

I can understand that. I can't think of anything you could call me that would be as hurtful and dehumanizing to me as an ethnic slur would be to you.

[deepseasiren]

And I used to get in trouble all the time for slugging these kids. The teachers would say " Don't let it bother you." But NOW, they have to take that a little more seriously. It's called racist bullying.

[kittenmommy]

Thank God for changes like that! I can't even imagine what you and other POC went through in school. :(

[deepseasiren]

Well my school and neighborhod was all white. There was only one other Asian kid in grammar school. High school of course was better and so was college, where San Jose State was 50% POC. But now when I go back to Cali to visit my old neighborhood, 50% is ASIAN!! :)

[kittenmommy]

That's awesome. I only remember one Asian kid in my elementary school. I'm sure it's changed by now!

[deepseasiren]

Yes, indeed. I worked for a family who had kids in their 50's. Back then, the high school they went to was all white. I mean ALL white. Then, many years later, the grandkids attended the same school, and it was....50% Asian LOLOL. All the wealthy Asian families from Taiwan and Hong Kong moved into that neighborhood...Saratoga, California, and San Jose. I was stunned when I saw that yearbook one of the grandkids showed me. And....WOW....there were even a few Latino and black students!!

[kittenmommy]

Yay!! :D

[trinker]

41-year old Yonsei here. Yeah, your story is familiar to me, even though our paths have never crossed before.

Too tired and angry for "war stories" tonight, but I remember Vincent Chin's death ;lpas it was unfolding all those years ago...

[deepseasiren]

Kewl. I'm a 43 year old between yonsei and sansei :)

[trinker]

Heh. I'm Nisei on the other side.

I don't remember whether I heard of the trial results at all. My parents subscribed to Rafu Shimpo at the time, so the results would have been posted there, but I have no recollection of it, and don't know whether that's my failing to remember that, or my having avoided the story back then.