The Power of Two Minutes

Media portrayal of the Hmong community

First off, I should not be surprised or disappointed. This will only show how I have internalized racism and in doing so is allowing the perpetuation of white supremacy and white privilege without doing anything about it. It should not take an incident like this for me to remember what whites are born knowing of their place in this world over non-whites and the fear of losing that position is a daily decision made to maintain it to be so, while at the same time convincing everyone think it should be this way, therefore will never change, and setting up very complex systems to ensure the existence for over 250 years. This leads a many years and dedication, and collaborative effort to dismantle this web that has and is so intertwined into our lives both white and People of Color. May I never forget that racism is the biggest pillar that upholds colonization.

Secondly, Freedom of Speech is a guiding principal on this land that has not been practiced from the start. Had it been, the Indigenous People of this land, we call our rightful home, would not have been stolen, colonized, raped, acts of genocide, and "taking the Indian out of them" from the rightful owners. But when it comes to the "right" to dehumanize and define who Hmong people are, this act is protected only for the benefit of white people or who don't look like Hmong people. The slavery of Africans stolen and made to work this stolen land while white owners stood on their backs would also not have occurred had Freedom of Speech been practiced. even though this 2 minute parody was small in comparison but we can not exclude the small yet impactfull actions and inactions which helps to maintain this system that took over 250 years to start, maintain, and still exist very well to this day.

 To all the Hmong individuals who thought it was funny or not racist: Please remember this when you don't get that job, get denied by a home loan, get denied for a school loan or scholarship,wonder why your insurance is higher and why "diversity" training gets lowered to a check- off box for professional training and didn't change anything at your work environment or institution or if you get maltreatment at a health facility, or when a teacher thinks having high expectations means getting a "D" when referring to a student of color. I can go on.... Racism isn't about one statement or act. Racism needs all of those little comments to maintain and sustain itself.

When we live in a country that " values children" while having the greatest achievement gap between white children and kids of color and when freedom and equal justice means justice for all, we have a lot to do yet.