QA问答:为什么我应该为自己是亚洲人而自豪,而不是希望自己是白人?
正文翻译
Why should I be proud to be Asian instead of wishing I'm White instead?
为什么我应该为自己是亚洲人而自豪,而不是希望自己是白人?
为什么我应该为自己是亚洲人而自豪,而不是希望自己是白人?
评论翻译
on the subway back to the dorm
在回宿舍的地铁上
waiting for class to begin
等待上课
Feifei Wang
I’m binging the Canadian period crime show Murdoch Mysteries. There was this one episode about two mixed raced siblings. The sister was light-skinned, while the brother was darker-skinned. Their mother, a black woman, sent the sister away so she could pass as white and have a better life. The sister took the name Gloria and lived as a white woman. She later married a rich white man Andrew Thomson. However, she couldn’t be with her family, and she was cut off from her community.
我最近在看加拿大早期的破案节目《神探默多克》。其中有一集,是关于两个混血姐弟的。姐姐的皮肤是浅色的,而弟弟的皮肤是深色的。他们的母亲是一位黑人妇女,她把姐姐送走了,这样姐姐就可以冒充白人过上更好的生活。姐姐取了个叫 Gloria 的名字,以白人妇女的身份生活。
后来她嫁给了一个富有的白人 Andrew Thomson。然而,她不能和家人在一起,她被切断了与属于她的社区的联系。
I’m binging the Canadian period crime show Murdoch Mysteries. There was this one episode about two mixed raced siblings. The sister was light-skinned, while the brother was darker-skinned. Their mother, a black woman, sent the sister away so she could pass as white and have a better life. The sister took the name Gloria and lived as a white woman. She later married a rich white man Andrew Thomson. However, she couldn’t be with her family, and she was cut off from her community.
我最近在看加拿大早期的破案节目《神探默多克》。其中有一集,是关于两个混血姐弟的。姐姐的皮肤是浅色的,而弟弟的皮肤是深色的。他们的母亲是一位黑人妇女,她把姐姐送走了,这样姐姐就可以冒充白人过上更好的生活。姐姐取了个叫 Gloria 的名字,以白人妇女的身份生活。
后来她嫁给了一个富有的白人 Andrew Thomson。然而,她不能和家人在一起,她被切断了与属于她的社区的联系。
At the end of the episode, another black woman in the show, Rebecca James, has a conversation with Gloria Thomson. Rebecca wasn’t happy with Gloria’s choice of passing as white. Gloria replied:
“If you could, wouldn't you do the same?”
Rebecca James said: “I never wanted to be white.”
在这一集的结尾,片中的另一名黑人女性Rebecca James 与 Gloria Thomson (送走的姐姐) 进行了交谈。Rebecca 对 Gloria 选择冒充成白人生活,感到很不高兴。Gloria 回答说:“如果你也可以的话,你难道不会选择这么做吗?”
Rebecca James 说:“我从来都不想成为一个白人。”
原创翻译:龙腾网 https://www.ltaaa.cn 转载请注明出处
“If you could, wouldn't you do the same?”
Rebecca James said: “I never wanted to be white.”
在这一集的结尾,片中的另一名黑人女性Rebecca James 与 Gloria Thomson (送走的姐姐) 进行了交谈。Rebecca 对 Gloria 选择冒充成白人生活,感到很不高兴。Gloria 回答说:“如果你也可以的话,你难道不会选择这么做吗?”
Rebecca James 说:“我从来都不想成为一个白人。”
原创翻译:龙腾网 https://www.ltaaa.cn 转载请注明出处
To which Gloria Thomson replied: “I didn't want to be white. I just wanted to be free.”
As a minority, I often wonder what my life would be like if I were white. And I realized I knew what my life would be like if I were white because I lived that life when I was in China. In fact, every time I traveled back to China, I felt it. I can blend in. I’m no longer an outsider, even if I hold a blue passport instead of a red one. I can be just a person instead of an “Asian-” person. I can walk the street as if I own the place. Nobody will ever ask me, “Where are you REALLY from?” Nobody will have a weird fetish about how I would behave in bedrooms.
And then I came back to the US, I’m an “Asian-” again.
对此,Gloria Thomson 的回答是:“我不想成为一个白人,我只是想要自由。”
作为少数民族,我经常会想,如果我是白人,我的生活会是什么样子?
我意识到,我自己很清楚,如果我是白人,我的生活会是什么样子的,因为我在中国的时候,我就过着这样的生活。
事实上,每次我回到中国,我都有这种感觉。我可以融入其中。我不再是一个局外人,即使我持有蓝色护照而不是红色护照。我可以只是一个人,而不是一个“亚洲人”。我可以自由的走在街上,就好像我拥有这个地方一样。没有人会问我,“你到底从哪里来?”。没有人会认为我待在卧室的表现,是一种怪异的恋物癖。
然后,我回到了美国,我又成为了一个“亚洲人”。
As a minority, I often wonder what my life would be like if I were white. And I realized I knew what my life would be like if I were white because I lived that life when I was in China. In fact, every time I traveled back to China, I felt it. I can blend in. I’m no longer an outsider, even if I hold a blue passport instead of a red one. I can be just a person instead of an “Asian-” person. I can walk the street as if I own the place. Nobody will ever ask me, “Where are you REALLY from?” Nobody will have a weird fetish about how I would behave in bedrooms.
And then I came back to the US, I’m an “Asian-” again.
对此,Gloria Thomson 的回答是:“我不想成为一个白人,我只是想要自由。”
作为少数民族,我经常会想,如果我是白人,我的生活会是什么样子?
我意识到,我自己很清楚,如果我是白人,我的生活会是什么样子的,因为我在中国的时候,我就过着这样的生活。
事实上,每次我回到中国,我都有这种感觉。我可以融入其中。我不再是一个局外人,即使我持有蓝色护照而不是红色护照。我可以只是一个人,而不是一个“亚洲人”。我可以自由的走在街上,就好像我拥有这个地方一样。没有人会问我,“你到底从哪里来?”。没有人会认为我待在卧室的表现,是一种怪异的恋物癖。
然后,我回到了美国,我又成为了一个“亚洲人”。
I didn’t change. My skin color didn’t change. My social context changed.
It isn’t about wanting to be white. It is about wanting to be treated with respect, given the benefit of the doubt, and be part of the community, like a white person would. It is about wanting the same opportunity and freedom that white people enjoy.
This is true for all underprivileged and marginalized groups when they express wanting to be part of the privileged group. It was never about them “betraying” their people or being ashamed of their heritage. It’s about wanting to have the same social status as the dominating group. It is about being able to walk on the street and not be treated like an outsider or second-class citizen.
It is about wanting to be free.
我没有变。我的肤色也没有变。我的社会背景发生了变化。
这不是想成为白人。这是关于希望得到尊重,能够得到疑罪从无的好处,并像白人一样成为社区的一部分。这是关于想要和白人一样的机会和自由。
当所有弱势和边缘化群体,表示希望成为特权群体的一部分时,他们都是如此。这不是他们想要“背叛”他们自己的人民,或者是在为自己的传统感到羞愧。
这是关于想要拥有与统治群体相同的社会地位。这是关于能够走在街上,而不是被当作局外人或二等公民对待。
这是关于想要自由。
It isn’t about wanting to be white. It is about wanting to be treated with respect, given the benefit of the doubt, and be part of the community, like a white person would. It is about wanting the same opportunity and freedom that white people enjoy.
This is true for all underprivileged and marginalized groups when they express wanting to be part of the privileged group. It was never about them “betraying” their people or being ashamed of their heritage. It’s about wanting to have the same social status as the dominating group. It is about being able to walk on the street and not be treated like an outsider or second-class citizen.
It is about wanting to be free.
我没有变。我的肤色也没有变。我的社会背景发生了变化。
这不是想成为白人。这是关于希望得到尊重,能够得到疑罪从无的好处,并像白人一样成为社区的一部分。这是关于想要和白人一样的机会和自由。
当所有弱势和边缘化群体,表示希望成为特权群体的一部分时,他们都是如此。这不是他们想要“背叛”他们自己的人民,或者是在为自己的传统感到羞愧。
这是关于想要拥有与统治群体相同的社会地位。这是关于能够走在街上,而不是被当作局外人或二等公民对待。
这是关于想要自由。
So perhaps you’re asking the wrong question. You felt that you were “forced” by your family and/or community to be proud of your Asian heritage, but in your heart of hearts, you just want to be white.
But do you want to be white? Do you want potato salad with raisins and food with no seasoning? Or do you want what white people wanted: freedom, acceptance, opportunities, priority treatment in society, being given the benefit of the doubt in suspicious situations, being treated with leniency in the penal system…
所以,也许你问错了问题。你觉得自己是被家人和/或社区“强迫”,为自己的亚洲传统感到骄傲的,但在你的内心深处,你只想成为白人。
但是,你想成为白人吗?你要加葡萄干的土豆沙拉和不加调味品的食物吗?还是你想要白人想要的:自由、接受、机会、在社会中的优先待遇、疑罪从无的好处、在刑事系统中得到宽大处理……
But do you want to be white? Do you want potato salad with raisins and food with no seasoning? Or do you want what white people wanted: freedom, acceptance, opportunities, priority treatment in society, being given the benefit of the doubt in suspicious situations, being treated with leniency in the penal system…
所以,也许你问错了问题。你觉得自己是被家人和/或社区“强迫”,为自己的亚洲传统感到骄傲的,但在你的内心深处,你只想成为白人。
但是,你想成为白人吗?你要加葡萄干的土豆沙拉和不加调味品的食物吗?还是你想要白人想要的:自由、接受、机会、在社会中的优先待遇、疑罪从无的好处、在刑事系统中得到宽大处理……
“There must be in-groups whom the law protects but does not bind, alongside out-groups whom the law binds but does not protect.”
You are a member of the out-group. And you want to be a member of the in-group. You just lack the social understanding of the white supremacist structure, so you see it as a “minority vs. white” issue.
The reality is you will never be white. It doesn’t matter how many backyard BBQs you host or how conservative “mainstream” you are; American society will never consider you “white.” You will always be Asian American. And I think deep down, you don’t want to be white, or at least don’t really care about the skin color either. What you want, and what we all want, is the racial privilege that comes with being white.
The only thing you can do is to make the American society more inclusive. Fight for equality for all, and maybe one day, minority children wouldn’t need to secretly hope that they’re white and then feel guilty and ashamed about it.
“内群体:法律保护但不约束的群体;外群体:法律约束但不保护的群体。”
您是外群体的成员。你想成为内群体的一员。你只是缺乏对白人至上主义结构的社会理解,所以你认为这是一个“少数族裔 VS 白人”的问题。
现实是你永远不会是白人。不管你主持了多少后院BBQ,也不管你是多么保守的“主流”,美国社会永远不会认为你是“白人”。你永远是亚裔美国人。
我认为,在内心深处,你不想成为白人,或者至少也不真正关心肤色。你想要的,也是我们所有人想要的,是作为白人所带来的种族特权。
你唯一能做的就是让美国社会更加包容。为所有人的平等而战,也许有一天,少数民族儿童,不需要再偷偷的希望自己是白人,然后,为此感到内疚和羞愧。
原创翻译:龙腾网 https://www.ltaaa.cn 转载请注明出处
You are a member of the out-group. And you want to be a member of the in-group. You just lack the social understanding of the white supremacist structure, so you see it as a “minority vs. white” issue.
The reality is you will never be white. It doesn’t matter how many backyard BBQs you host or how conservative “mainstream” you are; American society will never consider you “white.” You will always be Asian American. And I think deep down, you don’t want to be white, or at least don’t really care about the skin color either. What you want, and what we all want, is the racial privilege that comes with being white.
The only thing you can do is to make the American society more inclusive. Fight for equality for all, and maybe one day, minority children wouldn’t need to secretly hope that they’re white and then feel guilty and ashamed about it.
“内群体:法律保护但不约束的群体;外群体:法律约束但不保护的群体。”
您是外群体的成员。你想成为内群体的一员。你只是缺乏对白人至上主义结构的社会理解,所以你认为这是一个“少数族裔 VS 白人”的问题。
现实是你永远不会是白人。不管你主持了多少后院BBQ,也不管你是多么保守的“主流”,美国社会永远不会认为你是“白人”。你永远是亚裔美国人。
我认为,在内心深处,你不想成为白人,或者至少也不真正关心肤色。你想要的,也是我们所有人想要的,是作为白人所带来的种族特权。
你唯一能做的就是让美国社会更加包容。为所有人的平等而战,也许有一天,少数民族儿童,不需要再偷偷的希望自己是白人,然后,为此感到内疚和羞愧。
原创翻译:龙腾网 https://www.ltaaa.cn 转载请注明出处
Manthi Nguyen
Beautifully written. Thank you. I have always enjoyed your insightful answers.
写得很棒。非常感谢。我一直很喜欢你富有洞察力的回答。
Beautifully written. Thank you. I have always enjoyed your insightful answers.
写得很棒。非常感谢。我一直很喜欢你富有洞察力的回答。
Mia Cooper
Beautiful answer! as a Black woman i completely agree.
We dont want to be White. We want to be free; free to be ourselves!
漂亮的答案!作为一个黑人女性,我完全同意。
我们不想成为白人。我们想要自由;自由地做自己!
Beautiful answer! as a Black woman i completely agree.
We dont want to be White. We want to be free; free to be ourselves!
漂亮的答案!作为一个黑人女性,我完全同意。
我们不想成为白人。我们想要自由;自由地做自己!
Matthew Harris
Your last paragraph seems like it should be everyone’s mission if we want a better world. My ex-wife is Japanese so our two kids are mixed race. I seriously underestimated how much identity pressure they would experience. We raised our kids mostly in Austin, TX, so a medium size city that had significant minority populations. In those early years I naively believed such forces were attenuating and would not be such a large factor in their lives. These things change slower than we need them to.
如果我们想要得到一个更美好的世界,你的最后一段似乎应该是每个人的使命。我的前妻是日本人,所以我们的两个孩子是混血儿。我严重低估了他们会经历多大的身份压力。我们的孩子大部分时候在德克萨斯州的奥斯汀长大,这是一个中等规模的城市,有大量的少数民族人口。
在早些年,我天真地认为这种力量正在减弱,不会成为他们生活中的一个重要因素。这些变化比我们需要的要慢得多。
Your last paragraph seems like it should be everyone’s mission if we want a better world. My ex-wife is Japanese so our two kids are mixed race. I seriously underestimated how much identity pressure they would experience. We raised our kids mostly in Austin, TX, so a medium size city that had significant minority populations. In those early years I naively believed such forces were attenuating and would not be such a large factor in their lives. These things change slower than we need them to.
如果我们想要得到一个更美好的世界,你的最后一段似乎应该是每个人的使命。我的前妻是日本人,所以我们的两个孩子是混血儿。我严重低估了他们会经历多大的身份压力。我们的孩子大部分时候在德克萨斯州的奥斯汀长大,这是一个中等规模的城市,有大量的少数民族人口。
在早些年,我天真地认为这种力量正在减弱,不会成为他们生活中的一个重要因素。这些变化比我们需要的要慢得多。
My kids are grown leading full lives, and are mostly comfortable in their identities. But as a parent there were some jolting moments along the way. It is astounding how so many people just have to put someone into a specific slot when they meet, and all they need is a quick glance to do so. I could write a long post just on dealing with the idiotic assumptions thrown at my kids, and those would be only the ones I know about.
我的孩子们,在成长过程中过着充实的生活,他们大多数时候,对自己的身份感到舒适。但作为一名家长,一路上也有一些震惊的时刻。
令人震惊的是,有这么多人在见面时,会把某人放在一个特定的位置上,而他们所需要的只是快速地看一眼就可以决定了。我可以写一篇很长的文章,来处理针对我孩子的愚蠢假设,而这些都是我所知道的。
原创翻译:龙腾网 https://www.ltaaa.cn 转载请注明出处
我的孩子们,在成长过程中过着充实的生活,他们大多数时候,对自己的身份感到舒适。但作为一名家长,一路上也有一些震惊的时刻。
令人震惊的是,有这么多人在见面时,会把某人放在一个特定的位置上,而他们所需要的只是快速地看一眼就可以决定了。我可以写一篇很长的文章,来处理针对我孩子的愚蠢假设,而这些都是我所知道的。
原创翻译:龙腾网 https://www.ltaaa.cn 转载请注明出处
The issues around race identity were more difficult for my daughter than my son. Dad bias aside, my daughter is remarkably beautiful. When she was a child it was a common experience to be approached by model recruiters wanting her to work with them. I am talking about dozens of occasions. (It was actually the first big disagreement I had with my ex.) My ex thought it would be a cool experience, while I was deeply wary of the message it sends. We wound up compromising and allowing some limited photo shoots for ads promoting kid products. The superficiality of the ad biz always bothered me.
关于种族认同的问题,对我女儿来说,比我儿子更困难。抛开爸爸的偏见不谈,我的女儿非常漂亮。当她还是个孩子的时候,模特招聘人员想让她和他们一起工作,这种事情经常发生。我们谈论了几十个机会。这实际上是我和前任之间的第一次大分歧,我的前任认为,这将是一次很酷的经历,而我对此非常谨慎。我们最终妥协了,允许为宣传儿童产品的广告拍摄一些有限的照片。广告业的肤浅总是困扰着我。
关于种族认同的问题,对我女儿来说,比我儿子更困难。抛开爸爸的偏见不谈,我的女儿非常漂亮。当她还是个孩子的时候,模特招聘人员想让她和他们一起工作,这种事情经常发生。我们谈论了几十个机会。这实际上是我和前任之间的第一次大分歧,我的前任认为,这将是一次很酷的经历,而我对此非常谨慎。我们最终妥协了,允许为宣传儿童产品的广告拍摄一些有限的照片。广告业的肤浅总是困扰着我。
As a dad, I was always glad that my kids felt like they could (mostly) talk with me about what was going on in their lives. As a teenager, my daughter had to learn early how to navigate the fetish energy coming her way (lots of angles including when in Japan). As adults, my kids seem to have a magnetic energy attracting people navigating identity issues of all kinds. I suppose it is a learned skill, like most things.
作为一名父亲,我一直很高兴,我的孩子们觉得他们(大部分时候)可以和我谈论他们的生活。十几岁的时候,我女儿就必须尽早的学会如何做一个偶像(包括在日本的时候)。作为成年人,我的孩子们似乎有一种磁性能量,很容易得到人们的喜爱,来处理各种身份问题。我想这是一种习得的技能,就像大多数事情一样。
作为一名父亲,我一直很高兴,我的孩子们觉得他们(大部分时候)可以和我谈论他们的生活。十几岁的时候,我女儿就必须尽早的学会如何做一个偶像(包括在日本的时候)。作为成年人,我的孩子们似乎有一种磁性能量,很容易得到人们的喜爱,来处理各种身份问题。我想这是一种习得的技能,就像大多数事情一样。
Michel Saint-Ghislain
So so sad… I hope US will evolve. Well it IS evolving, but it is such rooted that the process takes ages and generation after generation.
Thankfully there is no such thing here in Switzerland, I mean children don’t secretly hope that they are white. Even though we are a quite conservative country in most matters compared to our neighbors.
太令人难过了……我希望美国会发展。它正在进化,但它是如此根深蒂固,以至于这个过程需要很长时间,一代又一代人。
值得庆幸的是,瑞士没有这样的事情,我的意思是,孩子们不会私下里希望自己是白人。尽管与我们的邻国相比,我们在大多数事情上都是一个相当保守的国家。
So so sad… I hope US will evolve. Well it IS evolving, but it is such rooted that the process takes ages and generation after generation.
Thankfully there is no such thing here in Switzerland, I mean children don’t secretly hope that they are white. Even though we are a quite conservative country in most matters compared to our neighbors.
太令人难过了……我希望美国会发展。它正在进化,但它是如此根深蒂固,以至于这个过程需要很长时间,一代又一代人。
值得庆幸的是,瑞士没有这样的事情,我的意思是,孩子们不会私下里希望自己是白人。尽管与我们的邻国相比,我们在大多数事情上都是一个相当保守的国家。
Suzanne Yoon
Because you are who you are, like it or not! Why shouldn’t you be proud to be Asian? I’m Asian and am proud to be one. Not all white people like being white either. Each of us has a lot to offer to the world regardless of race or ethnicity. Focus on your talents and abilities. Concentrate on being kind to others, loving your friends & family and living well. What we can bring to the table is more important than wanting to be someone else. Best wishes to you!
不管你喜不喜欢,你就是你自己!为什么你不应该为自己是亚洲人而感到自豪?
我是亚洲人,我为自己是亚洲人而自豪。也不是所有的白人都喜欢成为白人。
无论种族或民族,我们每个人都可以为世界提供很多。专注于你的天赋和能力。专注于善待他人,爱你的朋友和家人,过上好日子。我们能带来什么,比想成为别人更重要。向你致以最良好的祝愿!
Because you are who you are, like it or not! Why shouldn’t you be proud to be Asian? I’m Asian and am proud to be one. Not all white people like being white either. Each of us has a lot to offer to the world regardless of race or ethnicity. Focus on your talents and abilities. Concentrate on being kind to others, loving your friends & family and living well. What we can bring to the table is more important than wanting to be someone else. Best wishes to you!
不管你喜不喜欢,你就是你自己!为什么你不应该为自己是亚洲人而感到自豪?
我是亚洲人,我为自己是亚洲人而自豪。也不是所有的白人都喜欢成为白人。
无论种族或民族,我们每个人都可以为世界提供很多。专注于你的天赋和能力。专注于善待他人,爱你的朋友和家人,过上好日子。我们能带来什么,比想成为别人更重要。向你致以最良好的祝愿!
Jacques Lebrun
You shouldn't be proud of being Asian or white. Think about cars: Would you be proud to own a car that's white? The color doesn't say much about the car, does it? A white car can be an excellent car or a terrible one. Would you be proud to own a European car? Again, it depends on the car. With people it's the same. You should be proud of the unique individual that you are. The rest is irrelevant. Do you know how many people in this world are white or Asian? That's not a thing to be proud of.
你不应该为自己是亚洲人或白人而感到骄傲。想想汽车:你会为拥有一辆白色的汽车而自豪吗?颜色并不能说明这辆车的好坏,不是吗?一辆白色的车可以是一辆优秀的车,也可以是一辆糟糕的车。你会为拥有一辆欧洲汽车而自豪吗?同样,这取决于汽车。和人一样。你应该为自己的独特个性感到自豪。其余的都无关紧要。你知道这个世界上有多少人是白人或亚洲人吗?这不是一件值得骄傲的事情。
You shouldn't be proud of being Asian or white. Think about cars: Would you be proud to own a car that's white? The color doesn't say much about the car, does it? A white car can be an excellent car or a terrible one. Would you be proud to own a European car? Again, it depends on the car. With people it's the same. You should be proud of the unique individual that you are. The rest is irrelevant. Do you know how many people in this world are white or Asian? That's not a thing to be proud of.
你不应该为自己是亚洲人或白人而感到骄傲。想想汽车:你会为拥有一辆白色的汽车而自豪吗?颜色并不能说明这辆车的好坏,不是吗?一辆白色的车可以是一辆优秀的车,也可以是一辆糟糕的车。你会为拥有一辆欧洲汽车而自豪吗?同样,这取决于汽车。和人一样。你应该为自己的独特个性感到自豪。其余的都无关紧要。你知道这个世界上有多少人是白人或亚洲人吗?这不是一件值得骄傲的事情。
Marc H
I am a relatively short man. I can think of a hundred things “wrong” with that, opportunities I was at a significant disadvantage in pursuing or denied altogether. Statistically speaking, being a short man is as much of a disadvantage in the marketplace as being a woman or, in many contexts, black. Except there are no quotas or preferences for short men. There are so many ways my life would have been different if I were even a few inches taller.
I never wished I was taller. I never tried to make up for my lack of height with things like elevator shoes. I can’t imagine how much of my mindspace would have been frittered away thinking about such things or wishing I was something I was not, including all the times the world tried to remind me of my lack of stature. How much of my life was I willing to waste in anger or regret or, worst of all, activism in trying to make society (or at least cute girls) accept me as I am? Not one minute.
我是一个相对矮小的人。对此,我能想到一百件“不公正”的事情,我在追求妹子和不被拒绝方面,处于显著的劣势。
从统计数据来看,身材矮小的男性,在女性市场上,与许多情况下是黑人一样处于劣势。没有什么为矮个子准备的配额和偏爱。如果我再高几英寸,我的生活会有很多不同。
我从来不希望自己更高。我从来没有试过用电梯鞋之类的东西来弥补我的身高不足。我无法想象我用很多思维空间浪费在思考这些事情上,或者希望我不是这样的人,包括世界所有事情都在试图提醒我身材矮小的时候。
我一生中有多少时间,可以浪费在愤怒或遗憾中,或者最糟糕的是,为了让社会(或者至少是可爱的女孩)接受我的现状而积极行动?
一分钟都没有。
I am a relatively short man. I can think of a hundred things “wrong” with that, opportunities I was at a significant disadvantage in pursuing or denied altogether. Statistically speaking, being a short man is as much of a disadvantage in the marketplace as being a woman or, in many contexts, black. Except there are no quotas or preferences for short men. There are so many ways my life would have been different if I were even a few inches taller.
I never wished I was taller. I never tried to make up for my lack of height with things like elevator shoes. I can’t imagine how much of my mindspace would have been frittered away thinking about such things or wishing I was something I was not, including all the times the world tried to remind me of my lack of stature. How much of my life was I willing to waste in anger or regret or, worst of all, activism in trying to make society (or at least cute girls) accept me as I am? Not one minute.
我是一个相对矮小的人。对此,我能想到一百件“不公正”的事情,我在追求妹子和不被拒绝方面,处于显著的劣势。
从统计数据来看,身材矮小的男性,在女性市场上,与许多情况下是黑人一样处于劣势。没有什么为矮个子准备的配额和偏爱。如果我再高几英寸,我的生活会有很多不同。
我从来不希望自己更高。我从来没有试过用电梯鞋之类的东西来弥补我的身高不足。我无法想象我用很多思维空间浪费在思考这些事情上,或者希望我不是这样的人,包括世界所有事情都在试图提醒我身材矮小的时候。
我一生中有多少时间,可以浪费在愤怒或遗憾中,或者最糟糕的是,为了让社会(或者至少是可爱的女孩)接受我的现状而积极行动?
一分钟都没有。
As a short white man (though some people don’t even consider Jews “white”) living in America, I am in many ways ahead of 99% of all humans to have inhabited this planet. I can live in disappointment about what I don’t have and never could. Or I can live in gratitude with what I was given. Everybody has that choice. Even those among my family that survived the Holocaust had that choice. I’m guessing you do, too.
作为一个生活在美国的矮个子白人(尽管有些人甚至不认为犹太人是“白人”),我在很多方面都领先于这个星球上99%的人类。
我可以生活在失望中,但我没有,也永远不会。或者,我可以对所得到的一切心存感激。
每个人都有这样的选择。即使是我的家人中,那些在大屠杀中幸存下来的人,也有这样的选择。我猜你也是。
作为一个生活在美国的矮个子白人(尽管有些人甚至不认为犹太人是“白人”),我在很多方面都领先于这个星球上99%的人类。
我可以生活在失望中,但我没有,也永远不会。或者,我可以对所得到的一切心存感激。
每个人都有这样的选择。即使是我的家人中,那些在大屠杀中幸存下来的人,也有这样的选择。我猜你也是。
Frank Lazar
White America will never stop reminding you that your skin color, the way your eyes are set, means you’re not in the club.
You should be whoever you feel you are, but you should be aware that others will chose to perceive you as they do, not as you do.
美国白人永远不会停止提醒你,你的肤色,你的眼睛,告诉你,你不是这个俱乐部的成员。
你应该成为,你自己认为自己是谁的那个人,但你也要意识到,其他人会选择以他们的方式来看待你,而不是以你的方式。
White America will never stop reminding you that your skin color, the way your eyes are set, means you’re not in the club.
You should be whoever you feel you are, but you should be aware that others will chose to perceive you as they do, not as you do.
美国白人永远不会停止提醒你,你的肤色,你的眼睛,告诉你,你不是这个俱乐部的成员。
你应该成为,你自己认为自己是谁的那个人,但你也要意识到,其他人会选择以他们的方式来看待你,而不是以你的方式。
Han Miano
Did you choose to be white? I’m sure you did not.
I don’t know if I need to be proud to be asian, all I know is I did not choose to be Asian. It happened that I was born in an asian country, and my parents are asian as well.
Race is just a human construct concept.
At the end of the day, there is only human race.
你选择成为白人了吗?我确信你没有。
我不知道我是否需要为自己是亚洲人而自豪,我只知道做亚洲人不是我自己的选择。我只是碰巧出生在一个亚洲国家,而我的父母也碰巧是亚洲人。
种族只是人类建构的一个概念。
归根结底,只有人类这个种族。
Did you choose to be white? I’m sure you did not.
I don’t know if I need to be proud to be asian, all I know is I did not choose to be Asian. It happened that I was born in an asian country, and my parents are asian as well.
Race is just a human construct concept.
At the end of the day, there is only human race.
你选择成为白人了吗?我确信你没有。
我不知道我是否需要为自己是亚洲人而自豪,我只知道做亚洲人不是我自己的选择。我只是碰巧出生在一个亚洲国家,而我的父母也碰巧是亚洲人。
种族只是人类建构的一个概念。
归根结底,只有人类这个种族。
Edward Crosby
You should do neither of those things. Being proud to be asian is as equally idiotic as being proud to be white. So if you want to continue being an idiot, choose one of these equally stupid options.
这两件事你都不应该做。为自己是亚洲人而自豪,和为自己是白人而自豪,一样愚蠢。所以,如果你想继续做一个白痴,选择其中一个同样愚蠢的选择。
You should do neither of those things. Being proud to be asian is as equally idiotic as being proud to be white. So if you want to continue being an idiot, choose one of these equally stupid options.
这两件事你都不应该做。为自己是亚洲人而自豪,和为自己是白人而自豪,一样愚蠢。所以,如果你想继续做一个白痴,选择其中一个同样愚蠢的选择。
Robert Alan Noble
Because it makes no bit of difference. You have more melanin than a white person and less than a black, but just as much of a human being as the rest of us.
因为这没什么区别。你的黑色素比白人多,比黑人少,但和我们其他人一样多。
Because it makes no bit of difference. You have more melanin than a white person and less than a black, but just as much of a human being as the rest of us.
因为这没什么区别。你的黑色素比白人多,比黑人少,但和我们其他人一样多。
Maciej Morycinski
Because pride does not come from identity. It comes from achevement.
骄傲不是来自身份。它来自于成就。
Because pride does not come from identity. It comes from achevement.
骄傲不是来自身份。它来自于成就。
Jordan Zhouyi
Feifei has a good answer. I'd like to offer a different perspective.
I've been studying in China for close to a year now. Sometimes I take classes on a different campus, so I have to go through the subway regularly. I attend classes with Chinese students.
Feifei 给了一个很好的答案。我想提供一个不同视角的答案。
我已经在中国学习将近一年了。有时我在不同的校园上课,所以我必须定期乘坐地铁。我和中国学生一起上课。
Feifei has a good answer. I'd like to offer a different perspective.
I've been studying in China for close to a year now. Sometimes I take classes on a different campus, so I have to go through the subway regularly. I attend classes with Chinese students.
Feifei 给了一个很好的答案。我想提供一个不同视角的答案。
我已经在中国学习将近一年了。有时我在不同的校园上课,所以我必须定期乘坐地铁。我和中国学生一起上课。
on the subway back to the dorm
在回宿舍的地铁上
waiting for class to begin
等待上课
Point being, I spend a majority of my time being around people of a very different skin color to mine. (I'm black.)
They stare; it's obvious I'm different. Curiosity.
I make friends, we get along great, but there's always some sort of invisible, unspoken barrier there. Discussions about plans for the future that don't include me. Discussions about topics that I know nought about; places in the city I haven't been to, games I haven't played, songs I don't know.
I am with them, but I am not one of them. We're together, but we don't belong together.
There are times I wished I was Chinese. I was surprised at the thought.
重点是,我大部分时间都在和与我肤色截然不同的人在一起。(我是黑人。)
他们凝视着我,很明显,我与众不同。他们充满好奇心。
我交朋友,我们相处得很好,但那里总是有某种无形的、无法言说的障碍。一些不包括我在内的关于未来的讨论。一些我一无所知的话题的讨论。一些城市里我没有去过的地方,我没有玩过的游戏,我不知道的歌曲。
我和他们在一起,但我不是他们中的一员。我们在一起,但我们不属于一起。
有时我希望自己是中国人。想到这里我很惊讶。
They stare; it's obvious I'm different. Curiosity.
I make friends, we get along great, but there's always some sort of invisible, unspoken barrier there. Discussions about plans for the future that don't include me. Discussions about topics that I know nought about; places in the city I haven't been to, games I haven't played, songs I don't know.
I am with them, but I am not one of them. We're together, but we don't belong together.
There are times I wished I was Chinese. I was surprised at the thought.
重点是,我大部分时间都在和与我肤色截然不同的人在一起。(我是黑人。)
他们凝视着我,很明显,我与众不同。他们充满好奇心。
我交朋友,我们相处得很好,但那里总是有某种无形的、无法言说的障碍。一些不包括我在内的关于未来的讨论。一些我一无所知的话题的讨论。一些城市里我没有去过的地方,我没有玩过的游戏,我不知道的歌曲。
我和他们在一起,但我不是他们中的一员。我们在一起,但我们不属于一起。
有时我希望自己是中国人。想到这里我很惊讶。
After reflecting on myself I realized deep down I don't really want that. I'm accepting and proud of what I am.
I just want to fit in, therefore I wanted to be like everyone else - Chinese.
If you sent me out of space and told me to go live with and go to school with a bunch of green aliens, given enough time, I'd wish I was a green alien, too.
The way you feel, it's not about race, or skin color. It's not about being white, or Asian, or black, nor is it about race superiority.
It's about wanting to fit it.
在反思自己之后,我意识到我其实并不想那样。我接受自己并为自己感到骄傲。
我只是想融入其中,所以我想和其他人一样——成为中国人。
如果你把我送出太空,让我和一群绿色外星人一起生活和上学,给我足够的时间,我希望我也是一个绿色外星人。
你的感觉与种族或肤色无关。这与身为白人、亚裔或黑人无关,也与种族优越无关。
这是关于想要适应它。
I just want to fit in, therefore I wanted to be like everyone else - Chinese.
If you sent me out of space and told me to go live with and go to school with a bunch of green aliens, given enough time, I'd wish I was a green alien, too.
The way you feel, it's not about race, or skin color. It's not about being white, or Asian, or black, nor is it about race superiority.
It's about wanting to fit it.
在反思自己之后,我意识到我其实并不想那样。我接受自己并为自己感到骄傲。
我只是想融入其中,所以我想和其他人一样——成为中国人。
如果你把我送出太空,让我和一群绿色外星人一起生活和上学,给我足够的时间,我希望我也是一个绿色外星人。
你的感觉与种族或肤色无关。这与身为白人、亚裔或黑人无关,也与种族优越无关。
这是关于想要适应它。
I assume you live in an area where you're Asian and everyone else is white. I'd assume you're a teenager or young adult. We care about our peers' opinions so strongly at that age.
Only thing I can say is wait it out. Given enough time, you'll feel less strongly about such things.
Why should you be proud? To be happy.
You are what you are, you look the way you do. Nothing can change that. It's your identity. Own it.
Be accepting of it, if not happy with it, move on. There's always better things to worry about.
我假设你生活在一个你是亚洲人,而其他人都是白人的地区。我认为你是一个青少年或年轻人。在那个年纪,我们非常关心同龄人的意见。
我唯一能说的就是等它结束。如果有足够的时间,你会对这些事情感觉不那么强烈。
你为什么要骄傲?为了快乐。
你就是你自己,你看起来就是你的样子。没有什么能改变这一点。这就是你的身份。承认你自己。
接受它,如果不满意,就继续前进。总有更好的事情需要担心。
Only thing I can say is wait it out. Given enough time, you'll feel less strongly about such things.
Why should you be proud? To be happy.
You are what you are, you look the way you do. Nothing can change that. It's your identity. Own it.
Be accepting of it, if not happy with it, move on. There's always better things to worry about.
我假设你生活在一个你是亚洲人,而其他人都是白人的地区。我认为你是一个青少年或年轻人。在那个年纪,我们非常关心同龄人的意见。
我唯一能说的就是等它结束。如果有足够的时间,你会对这些事情感觉不那么强烈。
你为什么要骄傲?为了快乐。
你就是你自己,你看起来就是你的样子。没有什么能改变这一点。这就是你的身份。承认你自己。
接受它,如果不满意,就继续前进。总有更好的事情需要担心。
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