As an Asian American, part of me dreads this question, because it’s asking one of two things—“What is your ethnicity?” or “Where are you from locally?” In my experience, people usually want to know the former, so I formulate my answer to hit two birds with one stone—“My family is from Hong Kong. I am from here (Georgia).” I don’t mind people asking me about my ethnicity; I enjoy telling them about my cultural background. I like sharing stories about a part of the world that’s unknown to them. What I do mind is the intention behind their question and comments and whether or not their intention is to categorize me.

New York Times editor Michael Luo experienced a similar derogatory event when he was leaving church one day and a woman told him to “go back to China." After reading his letter in response to her comment, I shook my head in disbelief. Why was his physical appearance the first thing she attacked? If a non-Asian looking person annoyed her, would she have said something similar? I don’t think so. She is able to say “go back to China” so easily because she is ethnically different from Michael. Would an Asian person tell another Asian person, “Go back to China?” No. Would a Black person tell another Black person, “Go back to Africa?” No. Would a White person tell another White person to “Go back to England?” No! People only say these comments when the other person isn’t like them.

This is also why it was so easy for Jesse Watters to pass off his Chinatown interviews as "gentle fun." His segment shows him asking New York Chinatown residents about their thoughts about this year’s election, but it is also littered with stereotypes and offensive clips that poke fun of Chinese elders who don’t understand English. Immediately, his interviews were met with a wave of outrage from the Asian American and New York communities, calling his behavior racist. Watters issued an apology on Twitter, “regret[ting] if anyone found offense," but that only led to more people expressing their disapproval on social media. I believe that Watters didn’t mean to offend anyone, but I also think that racism didn’t even cross his mind when he conducted his interviews.

Situations like Luo’s and Watters’ happen every day to Asian Americans and other minorities. They gave rise to the hashtag #thisis2016. How can such insulting events take place in this day and age? It makes me frustrated and sad that people have an urgent need to label one another, instead of taking the time to get to know each other. I get it, though. It’s easier to generalize people than to understand them on a deeper level. Meaningful relationships can only take place with patience and open-mindedness, but who has time for that? We meet so many acquaintances throughout our lifetime; we can’t spend years with each one. So what can we do to prevent narrow-minded thinking?

For my Asian-American and minority friends—we can educate and expose others to our worlds. If we do not share our experiences, thoughts, and feelings, people can only rely on overused stereotypes as their guide. We are more diverse than what media portrays. Let's be proactive by holding meaningful discussions instead of observing quietly on the side, waiting for change instead of being the change. Let's not fear what others may think of us; our own fears can do more damage from the inside. Let people ask their questions—most of them are curious and don’t mean harm—but don’t let them walk away without telling them about your perspective.

For my friends who have little to no exposure to other ethnicities and minorities—talk with us! We won’t bite. I believe that you will learn something interesting. It might be strange at first, but the more you learn about our lives and culture, the more normal it becomes. Some of my closest friends who understand me aren’t Asian American, yet they can relate to my cross-cultural identity because they have already met others like me. The last thing I would want you to do is to not ask us because you think we’re going to get angry. For example, an acquaintance once asked me, “Don’t Asians hate it when they’re asked ‘Where are you from?’” I told him: “Yes and no. Personally I don’t mind and many others won’t either. However, if you ask, ‘where are you really from?', then it seems like we just told you a lie and we don’t belong in America. But you wouldn’t have known that if you didn’t ask, right?”

I don’t have a formula that serves as an all-encompassing solution to cultural awareness. I only know that we have much to learn from each other as Americans with diverse backgrounds. Part of that learning process means that we have to accept others who are different from us. It sounds easy, but it’s extremely challenging because it is part of human nature to lean towards our conservative selves. We want to view the world our way and only our way because it’s safe and comfortable. The problem with this limited perspective is that it tends to be naïve and selfish. I don’t want to live in a society like that. I believe that many of us want to live in a much kinder, less fearful place. We Americans have come far in accepting diversity, but we still have much to do.

Let's do it.

#thisisonly2016