Jeasung J. Yoo - Asian American
When people see Jeasung J. Yoo or Yoo Jeasung, what runs through their minds?
Let offer a few stereotypes:
Cold, Conformist, Conventional, Hard-working, Inhibited, Kind, Non-confrontational, Obedient, Passive, Polite, Pragmatic, Regimented, Respectful, Rigid, Risk-averse, Routine, Scholar, Soft-spoken, Undesirable, Unemotional
Some of these apply, but not all. We all have immediate judgments, and we need to be careful.
At 16, when I got my license, I affirmed my identity as an Asian-American. I did it by formally declaring my name as Jeasung J. Yoo (vs. Jay Yoo). It was a memorable event. I had to think about how I wanted the world to view me by a combination of letters, and I recognized the weight of meaning wrapped in a name.
You might think, "well, you do not look Asian." And I am not 100% (1/2 Korea, 1/4 German, 1/4 English). That matters very little because I feel Asian and was raised Korean. I am fully aware of the things people might think when they see my name (Jeasung J. Yoo or Yoo Jeasung) but have not met me. Let me give you an extreme example from an exchange on Facebook with a friend-of-a-friend.
"i think you're a north korean peasant who lives in an apt. with no electricity and eats grass for dinner and drives unpaid for volvos around pyonyang..."
Really? This was over an opinion I had about people naysaying wind turbines in Cleveland. He made plenty more derogatory and flat-out racist comments; this was the least offensive. If this person met me without seeing my Facebook name at the time (Yoo Jeasung), would he have treated me differently? I think so.
While I share some of the typical stereotypes of being hard-working, organized, polite, and respectful, I am not the "Model Minority" people might immediately associate with my name. Nor am I North Korean. And a lot of other people who are not Asian have these characteristics. They are not uniquely Asian.
Stand up to hatred and people's mistreatment at every opportunity, big or small? And not let it slide. People with bad ideas are watching and may act out eventually. Don't permit these people. Every act (big or small) to stand up to hatred, misogyny, sexism, bigotry, and racism matters. And let's not forget little people are watching. Very closely. These are defining moments that can shape people for a lifetime. Take it seriously.
To all my friends and friends-of-friends who let racist comments towards me slide on their Facebook page - don't f****** do that again, or you will be indirectly complicit. Next time stand up to hatred. Don't be a coward.
Lastly, can we make a little room to be surprised? Are we open to the idea that, as good of a human as we think we might be, we all still have automatic, preconceived notions? Are we open to changing our minds before we ask that of others? It’s cliche, I know; but necessary.
The violent attacks on the eight Asian women in Atlanta are a gross manifestation of giving someone with sinister ideas permission to act out. Peace and love to the victims' families.
