“It is quite easy to be on the winning team and not ask how it is that you’re winning. Most White Americans are comfortable in their dominant roles and are not really concerned about whether or not the scales of justice were tilted.” – Daivid Ruiz
Although I am not a White American, I am fully aware that I too, am on the winning team – and even better, when the other side is winning, I can switch teams. Yes, just like that.
I am a child of an illegal immigrant from the rural rural motherland (was an illegal…, SB 1070 supporters, don’t come and try to deport our ass), I am the first in my immediate family to graduate from a University, I am a woman of color, and I qualify for all kinds of minority funding.
BUT, I am a child of a middle-class family, in May I will join the 7% of Americans and 1% of the world pop. with grad degrees, I am a “model minority,” and although I call cops prejudice for hounding me for all kinds of bicycle violations, I doubt I’ll ever be questioned for “reasonable suspicion," and I get $120 facials.
I live in both worlds, I play for both teams, I empathize, categorize, fight, avoid, ridicule, generalize, reject, embrace, socialize, identify with…the other team.
Confused? Welcome to my team.
I am a hyphenated contradicting concoction who has yellow, brown, orange, white, tan, pale, dark skin – depending on who’s team I am on and who’s team I am playing against.
I am Taiwanese-American.
I am always playing for my team - whether winning or losing, I tan gold.
