Miles Chen, Period 2, 1/31/23

Socio-Political Consciousness 

Racial inequality is a well-known issue, yet there seems to be little progress in overcoming it. With the recent Black Lives Matter movement, I expected things to change, but it only seemed to create even more discrimination than before. What started as an inspirational campaign quickly lost momentum as its cofounder allegedly used a portion of the $90 million the movement earned on personal matters. Not only that, but although statistics show that 93% of BLM protests were peaceful, a survey revealed that 42% of people believed that most protestors associated with BLM intended to incite violence. It’s a clear indicator that the actions of the minority are enough to sway the public’s opinion. It is a simple idea, but that’s also why inequality is such a persistent problem. People stereotype and judge races off the worst experiences they’ve had, and to be honest, I sometimes find myself doing the same.

Based on my personal experience, most of my experiences with racism have come from white males, so it only makes sense that I’d have that preconceived notion whenever I meet another white male. If he isn’t racist, then there’s no problem, but if he is, then at least I won’t be caught off guard. I’ve also had my fair share of harassment from African Americans, whether they’re random students around my age or a bus passenger that’s probably high or drunk. I’ve had my mood ruined by being made fun of and having to listen to distasteful jokes and uncomfortably laugh along. Even without experiencing it myself, I’ve heard countless stories from my family and friends about random violence against the elderly, women, and Asians. I’m not saying that it only happens to Asians or that we have it worse, but it’s heartbreaking that I have to worry about my family because of how others will treat them because of their race.

As one of the most welcoming and positive environments I’ve been in, I had honestly forgotten how cruel society is during my experience at Staten Island Tech. I hope I’ll find a similar environment in college, but I’m sure life won’t be sunshine and rainbows. I have thought about my mindset and how to change it because that’s the only thing I can control. For example, even if my fear of others and possible discrimination is well-founded, I can’t say with absolute certainty that I’m the best person. I haven’t done much to combat Asian hate or any kind of hate, and I’m not the friendliest. I’m generally cold to strangers, and I’ll admit that there’s a chance if I was kinder, I’d probably build a lot more relationships, and others might be more inclined to treat me with the same respect and kindness. Of course, there will always be people I can’t change, but that means I’ll have to work on improving myself to balance it out. Eventually, I want to help implement changes to improve safety and decrease discrimination against minorities. I don’t have any bright ideas right now, but as a high school senior, I still have a lot of time to brainstorm.