I experienced a typical American upbringing, or as typical as any American experience could be. Born to Taiwanese immigrants in Hayward, California, I later moved to a predominantly white suburb for its excellent public schools. My parents, along with the school system, instilled in me the belief that America was the land of opportunity, where everyone was treated equally. What a facade that turned out to be.
You might think I grew up with a unique perspective on racism, but the truth is, I absorbed anti-Black sentiments just like many others do—from my surroundings, the media, and my community. This anti-Blackness is deeply rooted in our society.
Despite this, I never considered myself anti-Black. I believed I assessed people based on their character, not their skin color. Since my family arrived in the U.S. in 1976, how could I be implicated in societal racism? That was a white issue, right? The only ones to worry about were the extremists.
I thought America had progressed beyond its racist past. After all, we celebrate figures like Martin Luther King, Jr. I considered myself a decent person, not overtly bad. But I failed to grasp that combating racism involves more than just avoiding the wrong words; it requires a fundamental shift in perspective. It’s about overhauling everything I believed to be true about society, which is a daunting experience. It forces you to reevaluate your own achievements and question your worthiness in a system that privileges some over others.
The reality is that Black individuals face significant challenges. Due to systemic racism and medical biases, their life expectancy is shorter than that of white individuals, and they experience higher rates of severe health issues. Black women, for instance, are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications. Moreover, Black Americans are disproportionately victims of police violence.
As non-Black individuals, we have the power to ignore these truths, but we can also choose to confront them. I opt to confront the toxic beliefs I have internalized. Acknowledging my complicity in anti-Blackness is uncomfortable, but it’s necessary.
I recognize that I am not always receptive when confronted with my own biases. Though I’m making progress, it’s largely thanks to the generous Black women who have guided me. My fight against anti-Blackness goes beyond a sense of obligation; it’s a moral imperative because Black individuals deserve to be treated with dignity, irrespective of their connections to others.
This isn’t about performative activism, such as changing profile pictures or sharing viral content. It’s about fundamentally restructuring how we perceive the world and recognizing the pervasive nature of anti-Blackness that sustains white supremacy. It requires practice and a willingness to be uncomfortable, akin to the process of learning new pronouns. We must actively dismantle preconceived notions of Blackness and engage with Black individuals as they truly are—human beings deserving of respect.
For non-Black people of color, this means critically assessing our roles in perpetuating anti-Blackness and understanding how it ultimately harms us. We must confront the complexities of being both oppressed and oppressor. This could involve altering who we follow on social media, diversifying the narratives we consume, and embracing the discomfort of confronting our biases.
We also owe it to our children to educate them about anti-Blackness, even if it means exposing them to harsh realities. Black mothers must have candid conversations about the risks their children may encounter, and we should do no less in creating a safer world for everyone.
From birth and continuing into the future, I have been surrounded by anti-Blackness. It’s naive to think that one moment of enlightenment can erase a lifetime of conditioning. It demands a lifelong commitment to unlearn and resist anti-Blackness because Black lives matter—full stop.
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Summary:
The author reflects on their upbringing as a Person of Color and acknowledges the internalization of anti-Blackness despite believing they weren’t racist. They emphasize the importance of recognizing and confronting these biases, understanding the systemic challenges faced by Black individuals, and committing to a lifelong process of unlearning and resisting anti-Blackness. The article calls for active engagement and education, both personally and for future generations, to create a more equitable society.