I Feel Alone as a Minority…

So the University of Georgia began classes again a week ago…AND I must say I felt very alienated. Its disheartening when no one looks like me. I don’t try to change my personality or become an introvert, but when I see that I am the minority, I clamp up. I know it isn’t an excuse, but its something I am dealing with. i don’t want to change myself to fit in, but I’m not sure how I can liven up.

Diversity is so amazing, but its hard to get that point across out to others…sighs. I get let down myself.

All I can do is suck it up! I’m different. I know it.  I just have to be comfortable letting others see the same thing about diversity.

Peace and Love

Debs

DEFEAT BAD MEDIA!

Media sucks!

Right? How can something so powerful be good? right?

I have had a love/hate relationship with media since I became aware that media wasn’t just created from nothing but there were people and corporations and companies involved in it…but what is all the hoop-la?

First, I must acknowledge that BAD exists…

Yes, Asians are portrayed as geeks or kung-fu masters or Latinos are depicted as non-English speaking undocumented immigrants or over sexualized beings or ya-da ya-da ya-da…

I know that.

But, can it really be combated…?

I speak to young college students about how we can change A LOT of crazy stuff in the world whether it’s apathy in our community or stereotypes in media, but they just look at me blankly.

They nod as if they hear me, but then I know, they have heard the same lecture…their whole lives and nothing has really changed for them.

It’s discouraging.

When the biggest grossing movie is about a panda that does martial arts, how far have we really come?

I may have lost a little bit of faith in the cause against the ‘man’ but I still see an opportunity to change things…you know?

AGHGHGHGHH, but how?

Since media is so important in the lives of people, I think that minorities need to be involved behind-the-scenes…

It’s not just picking up a picket sign and marching…its about being proactive in your core beliefs, being educated about the issues, and bringing that to your job!

Influence people around you.

Whether you are a minority in science, media, math, and academia…as a minority …you are being watched.

And if you aren’t a minority…be an ally to the cause. By allowing yourself to help you are also helping yourself by providing a more open dialogue with people and the world you live in will become a much more open and welcoming environment.

So, yea…media sucks. But instead of taking it…open the dialogue to your peers and change will no doubt follow. Resources are out there—all that needs to happens is unlock them!

 

Sorry for being MIA…

So I haven’t written in a while, its just because I haven’t had my computer and I have been working out of the kazoo! I will try to update tommorow.

Peace and Love

Debs

Fact Sheet: Domestic Violence in Asian Communities « Donna Darko

Fact Sheet: Domestic Violence in Asian Communities « Donna Darko

You know, I never really [REALLY] thought about domestic violence with Asian Americans…who knew?

But, I started thinking, if I was put in the situation, what would I do and how would I react?

I hang my head in shame because my culture or better yet, my family, has taught me to accept domestic violence as just a moment of un-stable ground. My father has NEVER put his fingers on me or my family, yet the ambiance toward domestic violence from my aunts and uncles tells me that if I was ever put in a situation where my boyfriend hit me, I need to suck it up.

 FUCKED UP RIGHT?

I tell myself to look at the other side so how can they think that?

Well, my family sees a relationship as a bond, and if you rat out your boy as someone who beats you, then…damn, you just betrayed him.

That is the ugly truth of the matter. And though, we often say stereotypes are the cause of all our problems as Asian American, the truth is, some of our own archaic viewpoints are hurting us. Why do I need to take shit from my boo…? This article is alarming, so I know I cannot change society or the viewpoints of an entire people, so I will just say…I KNOW NOW! I cannot ignore it! I can’t fall into the trap. Its really up to me. I can’t try to make an excuse that I didn’t know because, now, I do!

So, be aware!

Peace & Love

Debs

Asian Americans in the Immigration Mix

Asian Americans in the Immigration Mix « The Mustard Seed

Interesting.

No one really sees Asian Americans as part of the immigration debate….but…uh, yeah we are here AMERICA!

And, in truth, immigration is still a large part of our agenda…

We want our family to come…though everyone and their mother…thinks that Latino immigration is the only form out there…well wake up! Asian Americans need to be part of the dialouge!!! A large array of Asian Americans are also being deported in lieu of the fact thtat they have lived in the United States for over 10 years and have carried stable jobs-families are being torn apart, yet half of the dialouge about Immigration is about a damn fence in Mexico and the Southwest United States. If America would stop being so strict, maybe a fence would be unneccesary. In my opinion, the increase of restraints on immigrants are increasing the demand to immigrate. Just economic principle transferred to a social problem.

AGHGHGHGH! But I mean, I’m only in college, GOD forbid I know anything…

so I will comment later…

but enjoy the small article…

Peace & Love

Debs

UnFORTUNATE Cookies

Hello, my name is Debbie Ebalobo and I am a 20 year old college student at the University of Georgia [GO DAWGS!], and I want to welcome you to the blogosphere…its quite amazing how we can all be connected…sooooooo, where to begin?

So…who am I? Why did I create this site? And what is my favorite disney movie? All valid questions…hmmm but one answer at a time, where to begin? I am an Asian American halfie…to some, I’m straight up White… to others, FOB [fresh off the boat]…however, less about me and more about this lovely startup blog! The reason for this blog…

UnFortunate Cookie…why? Well where should I begin…hmmmm?

THE MODEL MINORITY!

If you didn’t know…thats our stamp! Its our definition. It is who WE are…uhhhhh yeahhhh, who knew we were soooo AWESOME!? Damn straight! What’s wrong with that right…everyone wants to be HELLA AWESOME! I do…wait…but there is something WRONG with this label!

TSK TSK to those ASIANS who don’t succeed…we have everything we need…right, so how the hell can you fail? How can you trip through life? How can you be sad? How can you not like Science? How can you let down your family and society…? TSK TSK…

According to America, we are fortunate cookies…WE are not like any other minority, WE have something more…we are Asian-American! So, when that Asian kid has trouble in math, the system doesn’t see. When an Asian, god forbid, is low income, the system chooses to look away. In society, there is too much of this. People constantly look away. I’m tired of it!

WE HAVE BECOME INVISBLE! Straight up–like some cloak has rendered our heritage opaque to the others in our society.

FORTUNATE Cookie eh? I beg to differ…

Actually, BULLSHIT, and excuse my language, but I am tired of ignoring OUR issues because some people choose to look away.

WE, sorry to say, are at an UNFORTUNATE state!

What can we say?

We are unfortunate cookies…

Sighs, the truth hurts!

oh, and Lion King is my favorite Disney movie…just in case you were wondering…