I Was Snow On The Ground And Snowflakes Covering My Window

“Sitting on the hard-wooden bench, I watch each white person clear immigration in seconds and I’m filled with hopelessness” (Ahmad 38). In the short story, ‘I Belong Here’, the author Amin Ahmad tells of the unfair treatment he experiences while at a British airport. Ahmad was born in Calcutta, India. He now resides with his Caucasian fiancé in Boston, Massachusetts. This essay was published by The Sun Magazine in January 2010 and reprint by Utne Reader May-June 2010. His documented experience exposes, “splendor and heartache of being human” (38). The warrants Ahmad uses to support his claims are not directly stated but more implied. He incorporates various descriptions and scenarios that correlates with his argument. For instance, he compares the two passports at the beginning of the essay. This comparison hints to the reader that he will soon encounter judgement based on appearance. Ahmad then proceeds to the next scenario. He is placed into a categorized with others like him and receiving the same treatment. Finally, he uses his fiancé as an example of what many people do while witnessing unfair treatment; attempt to minimize the situation. His claim is apparent. Inequality is a significant issue mainly targeting those of diverse backgrounds, ethnicity, and race.

This made me perceive myself as if I were subordinate or not enough, later on I found out that was not it; but for a while that was my battle. Daniel Munczek Edelman in his short academic journal also writes about the fear his mother had of him being different and not being able to speak the language (English), “My immigrant mother freaked out when I couldn't speak English at the beginning of nursery school.” (Edelman 59.40). His mother knew how hard it would be for him not knowing the language, how the difference of his culture would and could affect him. This article was written in two-thousand thirteen, it is a recent article proving that the differences in cultures are still relevant. His anecdote is essential because he gives background to what goes on in the differences of culture and examples of how culture has perceptions and how it can shape oneself. “My boss, half African-American and half white herself, jokingly called me "half-caste," insisting that I would one day admit that I wasn't totally white.” (Edelman 59.40) This justifies my point that the way we look does have an influence on the way others view “us”. Daniel Munczek Edelman’s boss did joke about his ethnicity because of the way he looked, he didn’t totally look like his other ethnicities and didn’t really involve himself

Perhaps one of the most disgusting accusations one can receive today is “You’re racist!” However as disturbing as racism is, it is just one of the many mediums in which people use to control others. Whether the motive is race, religion, nationality, financial standing, or even gender, in every society, certain groups of people have always been oppressed. The culprit of seemingly unnecessary and ignorant oppression is human nature itself. Humans will always experience the need to feel superior, and for that reason, similar connections can be made among those people living under oppression thousands of miles and centuries apart from each other. “The Man Who Was Almost a Man” by Richard Wright, “Sweat” by Zora Neale

The Smolinsky family soon discovers the difficulties that come with being immigrants in America. Discrimination is one such problem. The family lives in an apartment building and they encounter discrimination from the rent collector. The Smolinskys, because of financial problems, cannot pay the rent regularly and when the landlady shows up on their doorstep, she is upset and says, "The cheek of those dirty immigrants! A fool I was, giving them a chance another month" (17). These words are a far cry from the father’s expectation that "all America will come to my feet to learn" (9). Discrimination is certainly not what the family expects upon their arrival in America. They expect a welcome with open arms and what they receive is just the opposite.

I made my way to my aunt’s house. Her home smelled of fresh cut pine, and she offered me a cup of coffee with a cinnamon stick in it. I accepted, and we went to the kitchen table and discussed our week. As she talked, I looked out her kitchen table. A small oak grew in the front yard. Snow capped the birdfeeder beside her bird bath.

In “Mother Tongue” essay by Amy Tan, Tan shares her discoveries about the different variations of English she learned growing up in an Chinese-American household, and then reflects on these findings. Tan shows the reader that racial profiling still exists, even in a time where every person is promised freedom and equality in the world. Tan talks about not only does the profiling exist and occur, but that it is also done incorrectly and inefficiently, as Tan clearly demonstrates it by surpassing any test that suggested she study medicine or engineering. In her essay it is noticeable that all the evidence used to support Tan's arguments are past experiences she had as a child growing up, speaking what was considered "broken" English. I can definitely relate to Amy Tan’s essay because I too came from a bilingual home and Like Amy Tan, I had intelligent immigrant parents and I was their main avenue of communication with people who didn’t understand them.

In today’s society it causes no alarm for people of various ethnicity to sit on a barstool at any counter and be served. When patrons walk into a public place, there are no signs that so white’s only or colored anymore. Yet, only a very short time ago in 1954 Brown v. Board of Education outlawed segregation in the public education facilities. Even though being served at a restaurant or using the same restrooms has changed in the last 50 years, it has not erased the racism that so many people still face as James Baldwin did in “Notes of a Native son.”

Racism and racial stereotypes have existed throughout human history. The radical belief associated by thinking the skin color, language, or a person’s nationality is the reason that someone is one way or another has become extremely detrimental to society. Throughout human existence it has sparked tension between groups of people and ultimately influenced wars and even caused slavery. Racism in America dates back to when Native Americans were often attacked, relocated, and assimilated into European culture. Since then, racism within the states has grown to include various other cultures as well. In the essays by Brent Staples, Bharati Mukherjee, and Manuel Munoz, they discuss the various causes as well as the effects that racial stereotyping can place on a victim and the stigma it leaves behind for the society to witness.

Whether you’re African, Mexican or American, discrimination is everywhere. People call each other names such as “wetback” or “spic” but that doesn’t describe you. The author of the essay, Anna Lisa Raya, describes what it feels like to have your world turn upside down and learning the hard truth about what it means to be a Latina. Anna Lisa uses a good amount of ethos, pathos and logos to describe the process she went through when she found out the truth.

Society can be a smooth talker, it can slyly belittle someone until they fit the stereotype society has placed upon them. Some people are willing to sever past the constant bigotry and persevere towards the person they want to become, but others get stuck and fall into the trap called the pigeonhole. The line separating those who ignore society’s harsh accusations and those who listen are classified directly with how the targets react towards discrimination. Ifemelu, the main character from Americanah by Chimamanda Adichie, was a Nigerian women that lived in America who received an abundant amount of discrimination towards her African race and accent. Within a short story by Gabriel Marquez, A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings, people treated

It can be argued that an immigrant’s entire career can be negatively impacted by prejudice. Firstly, Asian people cannot land a job interview because of their name. In comparison to those with Anglo names, according to the joint study by the University of Toronto and Ryerson University immigrants are called back 20.1% less from organizations with 500 employees or more and 39.4% and 37.1% fewer calls from medium-sized and small organizations and every 100 calls an applicant with an Anglo name receives, an Asian name gets 72 (Keung, 2017). Furthermore, this is an injustice because an Asian immigrant does not even get to enter the workplace since they can not land an interview, thus they will not get to experience the other levels of prejudice

“Nothing in this world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.”-Martin Luther King, Jr. Unfortunately, racism is now a part of human nature. The environment and living conditions people endure is constantly analyzed and evaluated by personal views and values. The articles, “FOBs” vs. “Twinkies”, written by Grace Hsiang and “Black Men and Public Space”, written by Brent Staples, both apply to the issues of interracial and intraracial conditions. Hsiang informs the reader of interracial discrimination and ethnic harassment, not only with Asian culture, but for all whose families are not originally from America, she goes into detail about how people expect her to behave exactly how her ancestors did because she is

As in today’s society, one can witness someone being treated differently from others or oneself. Throughout the world, many can see discrimination, prejudice, poverty and happening. It contributes on a larger scale to people and how one gets treated whether it is their race, nationality, ethnicity and religion. In the article, “Alabama school won’t let Latino teen enroll, right group says,” by Nick Valencia, CNN, states that “an Alabama high school declined to enroll a 17-year-old Latino student twice “simply” because he was born in Mexico, the Southern Poverty Law Center said” (Valencia). This is a valuable point. It shows that one can discriminate for no particular reason yet for national origin. Prior to this, the author points this to raise the issue of how a school can treat one differently, yet there are factors on why does the school not enroll the student. Many people may also experience what the teenager feels and is going through. This article is important today because there are some who do not have prior knowledge of realizing on how someone can treat differently based on categories. In additional, the article, “Poor Latinos are victims of abuse nationwide, activists say,” by Arthur Brice, CNN, reports that “Forty-one percent of the people surveyed said they had experienced theft of their wages by employers. Forty-seven percent said they know someone who was treated unfairly by police. Seventy-seven percent of women surveyed said they have been sexually harassed by bosses, many saying that bosses used their immigration status as leverage.” (Brice). It is important to consider this point because many do not recognize how others put in an effort such as some low class Latinos yet not get treated equally. This points out that due to lower class society being “believed” as not worthy therefore when something happens to one, they won't believe them except the

Ethnocentrism is a serious problem in society because these prejudices lead to violence, hurting individuals both physically and mentally. Anna Steers stated that an original play should be developed in response to our nation’s dire circumstances. Her production successfully provides a clear response to the issues of racial profiling, discrimination, and segregation.

Without the support of my father and the drastic change in my life, I understood that the only way to improve my quality of life was to study and find the passion to which I was going to dedicate the rest of my life. After careful thought, I decided to move to the United States. Leaving my family, I came to this country in search of knowledge, contacts and “greater opportunities”. During these years, I have been confronted with many obstacles, but I have been able to resolve them thanks in part to my dedication. When it comes to achieving my goals, I find it in myself to push myself until that goal it met. I consider that there is no lack of opportunities for someone that believes in their capabilities and is aware that nothing comes without sacrifice, meaning that hard work and dedication are required in order to achieve goals.