In response to the poem “Dear White America,” I’ll be releasing a poem about Asian racism during the worst phases of the global epidemic. “Dear White America” author Danez Smith highlights the African American struggle in the United States of America and the lack of understanding among many people who have the advantage of feeling unaffected. Smith attempts to call out bias while relating to individuals who have experienced it to educate those who are uninformed. When I first read the poem, the first thought that sprang to mind was how fortunate I am not to have experienced hatred in this manner, but I still want to understand the misery and suffering that it brings. There were numerous cases of anti-Asian discrimination during the outbreak, with people hurting elderly Asian men and women as though they were to blame for the illness. Many of you may not know, but I am half-Japanese and seeing so much bigotry thrown towards people of Asian ancestry was both sad and repugnant to me. These acts of prejudice have sparked outrage on social media, and large groups of people have formed movements to stop the increase in violence against Asian Americans and Canadians (https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-aapi-community-fund, I’ve given the link to the main gofundme if you want to do more research). I plan to create a poem with influence from the murder of Vicha Ratanapakdee, a Taiwanese American who died at the age of 84. Ratanapakdee was killed in an attack in which the perpetrator shoved him, causing his head to hit the pavement, where he died. The absurdity of this behaviour was that despite the victim’s counsel showing CCTV footage of the incident, the suspect (who I will not name) was found not guilty. While reading what I have to say, I would appreciate it if you could reflect on situations of discrimination you have witnessed or been a part of, and just reflect in any manner you like.
Rising with the white sun, That flies high out of reach of pain, A beautiful day has just begun, Unforseeing of my bloods stain. Up and down O'Farrell St, A push to my back before I can speak, Face to face with the concrete, All is droned out but a womens shriek. My eyes begin to droop, Hatred in the air, Was it all because of my ethnic group, Bystanders, all they can do is stare. Reminiscent of the past, My daughters face breaks like glass, My life was taken to fast, Pain begins to pass. Fading into black, Hated because of my race, All is silent as I lie on my back, A statistic, just another case.
“In This Place,” by Amanda Gorman, was the second poem to which I responded. Gorman takes the audience on a journey throughout America, stopping in cities connected with tragedies that convey the fortitude and force of African American men and women. According to Gorman, the country is diverse, but it still has a long way to go to include one and another. She closes by telling the readers that they have a poem to write that will transform the world and everything around them. I’ve decided to create a poem in response to Gorman because I believe the injustices faced by Canada’s Aboriginal people are related to what Gorman has said. My poem is primarily about indigenous peoples and residential schools. Although I can’t entirely convey the horrors that occurred in the schools, I have done my research and will attempt to do so justice in this poem.
Where the story starts, There lies an abundance of broken hearts, Across Canada the scars still apparent, Young Aboriginal children stripped from their parents. Their rights taken Households shaken Culture forsaken Yet, we think it's in the pursuit of education. Time flows slowly in these halls, Forced to follow when the preacher calls, Friends we know abruptly missing, In this place their is no reminiscing. Feed us like we are mutts, No possibility of change, No If, And's, or Buts, Cuts and burns flooding my heart with pain, Scars not healing, a testament to the intergenerational strain.
Citation for cover image: https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/stop-aapi-hate