Anonymous | nationality: Thai | ethnicity: Indian/Thai
“Yellow”.
I was born and raised in Thailand, but my mother isfrom India. So, I’m
part Indian and part Thai. I’m more familiar withthe the term ‘brown’
when referring to someone of an Indian ethnicity.More than someone
of a different race/ethnicity calling an Indian ‘brown’,I’ve witnessed
Indians referring to themselves as brown, which makesme wonder if
they’re intentionally degrading themselves or do theyuse the term as a
sign of pride.
“Asian”.
To me, being Asian itself is a label referring tothose belonging to an
eastern country, culture or background where everyonehas dark hair
and dark eyes. You never stop being Asian. The worldis sadly too
divided to ever imagine everyone being accepting ofpure human unity.
Ethnicity|part1.
My ancestors have always been migrants/travelers/voyagers(whatever
you may call it). As far as I’m familiar, they werePersians because my
great grandmother could speak Pashto. They migratedto Pakistan, then
to India and finally settled in Thailand. My grandmotheris Thai and as
someone of mixed race, I don’t only look a littledifferent but I’ve
always felt like an outsider no matter where I livedor travelled. That
sense of belongingness is never there.
Ethnicity|part2.
My perception of my ethnicity has come to be becauseof society, and
the way I was raised and where I was raised. As achild I was taught
certain things and practices that set me apart fromthose of other
backgrounds/ethnicities/cultures. Even though I wastaught these
things, I always chose to explore and familiarisemyself with other
cultures. I adopted what I liked from other cultureswhich made me
appreciate and accepting of other heritages.
Differ from Asian stereotype(s).
Asian stereotypes and oftentimes “discrimination”has made it hard for
me to secure a job. Especially after moving to Australia.Here, if you’re
not Australian, your chances of even hearing backfrom a potential
employer are pretty slim. For instance, you will findvery few if no one
of Indian ethnicity working a high paying position,unless they’re
entrepreneurs and business owners themselves. MostIndians I’ve
noticed are either working as housekeepers, deliverydrivers or kitchen
aid (employees who do the dishes and cleaning in thekitchen).
A theoretical space without racism.
Without racism, there would be less judgement. I’dfeel less
uncomfortable when doing, saying some things or dressinga certain
way. But I think this goes for all kinds of judgementspeople project on
one another. In a world with no racism I’d feel likeI belonged
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mchaos
(mchaos)
#1