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My students are reading a class book. Each chapter is told from a different POV. Today’s chapter is told from a Korean immigrant. The author wrote each chapter to match the character’s dialect. So, she sounds “Asian.” After reading, I always ask “should I be offended?” 1/
And it usually catches them off guard. I don’t mean for it to be divisive. I’m always genuinely interested in their perspective. I tell them I think there’s a difference between this chapter and a TikTok video of someone mimicking an Asian, but where’s the line between? 2/
I always wonder if being exposed to writing like that justifies stereotypes in some people. Like “Yep. That’s what they sound like, alright.” Or if the author needed to add an Asian character to prove a point or move a plot along. 3/
I use to teach a slam poetry unit and I would have a local poet come in and workshop. He’d show students poems and we’d all discuss. One time, he showed one of a man who pretended to have a disability (couldn’t move his arm, speech impediment, etc.) 4/
But the poem was about his love for a woman, and how it was so strong it allowed him to break free from his disabilities and profess his love. Me and all my students were like “How powerful!” And the local poet would ask why. Then he told us “I hate it.” 5/
He explained he didn’t like it because he didn’t think someone had to pretend to have a disability to prove a point. It was a cop out. If you need to pretend to be disabled to show how strong love is, then you’re not creative enough to describe love. 6/
Don’t get me wrong. I love representation. I love more people are being educated and experiencing diversity in all aspects of life. But even in this book, I just wonder if portraying an Asian immigrant as authentic as possible has negative side effects as well. 7/
After we all talk, I tell the class a couple of the dozens of stories I have about experiences I’ve had with people who assumed I didn’t speak English or when I get the “No, where are you really from?” question. And I think those experiences is where my worry stems from. 8/
And I love when students share similar stories. Who knows where I’m going with this. Short story long, I love when my students get to that chapter and I can ask them about this. It’s one of my biggest “I love being a teacher” moments I have. /end
