How to Fight Back Racism: Lessons from my sassy 86 yr old grandma
While waiting for the bus about 3yrs ago, a man at the bus stop told my grandma “Go back to China!” My grandma responded: “Yeah, I will go back. You buy me a ticket and I’ll go anytime.”
She let the man alight the bus ahead of her, and he still blocked and pushed my 4’11” grandma from entering the bus. He pushed her and she kept pushing him back. The bus driver asked what was wrong and she said, “I don’t know what’s wrong with him! He pushed me.”
Bus driver: “You want me to call the police? I can”.
Grandma, ever pragmatic: “No, never mind I’m too tired, I’m just going to go home”. The racist just wasn’t worth her time ....
Another time a guy told her that she should go back to China and she said: “I am Canadian and I have been here longer than you; why don’t you go back to where you came from.”
My grandma is a sassy, tough and the kindest little lady. These are just 2 stories of the many unfortunate racist encounters she experienced in her life.
I hope we continue to speak out against racism (like she does) and our allies step forward to speak up and defend. Just a bit of humour but also highlight that this is an everyday reality for some. Love you Ning Ning!