We were riding in a 10 passenger van on our
way to visit some of the monuments in DC. I was excited about this trip. I
enjoy trips when I am able to have fun and learn something new. A few of the
girls were discussing how disgusting the girls shower in the “hostel” we were
staying was. There were piles of hair on the floor of the shower. It was quite
nasty. One girl looked at me and said, “Do you have to wash your hair?” Her
question shocked me. I didn’t know what to say. She continued, “I don’t think
it’s fair that you have to see our hair in piles on the floor when you don’t
have to wash yours.” That’s when I learned I was different.
On the same trip we were sitting on park
benches at the National Mall in DC eating our peanut butter and jelly
sandwiches. A couple walked by: a White man, Asian woman, and their child. A
(White) guy from my group said to me, “Have you ever noticed that when an Asian
person marries a normal person, you know, a normal White person that the baby
always comes out looking Asian?” What is a normal White person? Are Asian
people abnormal? I’m confused…
I told my older sister this story. She told me, "You should've said it's not your fault that White people don't have dominant genes!" Now, is that a productive comment?
1 comments:
Yes, that's a very productive and educational comment to add to the scope of the conversation. I may have changed the wording so that it didn't sound like I was being insulting. We learn as early as elementary school science about dominant and recessive genes and how genetic traits are expressed in offspring. Food for thought! How would you respond to the scenario if it occurred today?
Post a Comment