Over the years, humanity has learned to accept and appreciate different cultures. The United States welcomes diversity from all across the globe. It is evident by the different kinds of cuisine, the student bodies in universities, etc. But color and appearance are factors that induce judgement, and even disregard in certain cases. They are inevitable entities that create first impressions when a person is seen. Hence, the abolition of racial prejudice in society can be an onerous task.
I originally hail from the Indian subcontinent in Asia. I have dark brown complexion which is very different from the majority color in Houghton, Michigan. So one Friday night, my roommate and I decided to go out for a walk through downtown Houghton. All was quiet, except for the muffled sounds from crowds stuffed inside the little pubs along the roadside. As we reached the bridge, an American man riding a bike screamed, “Go back to your damn country. No one wants you here,” and accelerated away. That moment was poignant; the words sank in slowly and painfully. And I wondered if such thoughts secretly lurked inside many people’s heads. And the question popped up: Am I safe here?
International students invest a ridiculous amount of money and effort into receiving a foreign education legally. Yet several unwelcome advances present themselves now and then. One time, when I was standing in line at Dairy Queen, I noticed the facial expression on the cashier’s face. Every customer received a smile, and a courteous thank you after their order. But when my turn came, her face suddenly lost its glow, and became neutral, like I had offended her. I did get my strawberry blizzard, but it would have been great to be treated equally. Another incident I had was in the elevators at Magnuson hotel. The doors opened in a floor midway, and two children were about to get in. But they immediately turned and walked away upon seeing me. It was an eerie moment, filled with confusion. It made me wonder if I had done something wrong; if there was something I could do to convince them that I am just another harmless being.
There is a different response to a person’s appearance depending on where they reside. In Chicago or New York, there is already a heterogenous mix of races. Hence, different races aren’t observed with keen curiosity, whereas in upper Michigan, the cultural diversity is relatively weak. So it is not surprising why the locals give curious looks to foreigners. For example, there was a time I walked into a bookstore. The lady at the counter was obviously curious about me. She immediately came over and asked if she could help me find anything, instead of allowing me to browse, like the ten other shoppers who were already in the store. I’m still not sure if she was really concerned about whether I could find a book, or if she was restricting me from free browsing. But it is still interesting to see how I get welcomed differently.
One way to coax people from their preconceived notions based on what they observe is conversation. Just a few friendly sentences can break the ice, and create warm relationships. Being charming, and possibly matching the lingual accent of the area are bonuses. But are the different few of us doomed to be judged for our color forever? Within the premises of Michigan Tech, things are a little different. Every person I encounter is less prejudiced and very nice; more willing to get to know me for who I am. But I will not be able to have a conversation with every stranger I meet on the street. So will I be labelled based on a stereotype, or a past incident pertaining to my race by them? That seems very likely.
A person’s appearance will always speak a million words. His actions will have the ability to rephrase those words into a true image of himself. I believe that for as long as one is well groomed and surrounded by the right kind of people, looks will not matter at all. But shreds of racism will linger on. Maybe with time, and the birth of utopian societies, things will change.
