(this work is fiction)
Huh? Where am I from?
I’m from San Francisco.
Oh, where am I originally from?
Well, I was born in Sacramento.
That’s not what you’re asking? Where are my parents from?
My mom is Canadian and my dad is American.
Where are they originally from?
Oh, well I guess my mom lived in Hong Kong as a child while my dad lived in Chengdu.
Yes, I’m Chinese American.
Yes, I do like bubble tea.
Yes, we celebrate Chinese New Year.
Yes, I went from ABC to ABG.
No, I can’t speak mandarin.
No, I don’t know your friend Hanyi.
No, I have never eaten dog meat.
No, I have never been to China.
For one, you can say I’m a Twinkie.
I’m yellow on the outside but white on the inside.
Actually, I do listen to J-pop and love kimchi.
This has nothing to do with my race though but everything to do with my taste.
I like Mariah Carey and Olivia Rodrigo.
I have the pledge of allegiance etched into my heart and mind.
I prefer pasta over noodles and eat bread instead of rice.
I grew up reading about Hobbits and rats named Geronimo.
I’m just as American as you, but you reject me because of my looks.
No matter how much I try, I will always stand out amongst the crowd.
I’m too White to be with my relatives, but too Asian to be with others.
I don’t feel like I belong anywhere and your questions just reinforce my anxieties.
But that’s fine. It’s fine if I stand out.
I don’t need to conform and fit into boxes made by ignorant idiots.
I can be unapologetically me, myself, and I.
After all, who’s to stop me from enjoying things I like?
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139,202 Literary Works • 672,505 Reviews
I've recently read yellowface by RF Kuang so reading this poem aligns well with the thoughts I've been having on this theme recently. As a poc I love the way you represent these annoyingly common and overlooked experiences that a lot of people have to face, it's self explanatory but thought provoking nonetheless.
What stands out in this poem though is the description of these experiences to a twinkie.
"For one, you can say I’m a Twinkie.
I’m yellow on the outside but white on the inside.
Actually, I do listen to J-pop and love kimchi.
This has nothing to do with my race though but everything to do with my taste."
Personally I've never had a twinkie lol but from the way you describe it I believe it's enough to get a general idea of what you're trying to describe here, I have to say it's one heck of a metaphor (or is it a simile? Sorry I'm still learning) and I love the way you express it.
Also loved the ending lines, it's very hopeful because ofcourse it's completely fine to stand out, or as you say you "don’t need to conform and fit into boxes made by ignorant idiots." Which in my opinion is very valid and justified.
Keep writing!
Don't think I'm stupid, but I actually thought you were talking about the food Twinkies in your poem based on the short description. I was surprised when it was really about your own identity. Not trying to spill any unwanted tea, but I also have the same issue. I mean, I'm black (just light skinned) and some people call me a cracker (even my friend) or they'll call me white. For reasons such as the way I talk, and the way my body is not of a black girl, which is honestly kind of racist if you ask me.
''No, I can’t speak mandarin.
No, I don’t know your friend Hanyi.
No, I have never eaten dog meat.
No, I have never been to China.''
UGHHHH! I just loathe when people use stereotypes. It's just no! Honestly, it just shows how feeble and so belittling the human brain is. When we see something that is different, we automatically reject it and make assumptions. ALL OF US DO! Sometimes we all need to man up.
''I’m just as American as you, but you reject me because of my looks.
No matter how much I try, I will always stand out amongst the crowd.
I’m too White to be with my relatives, but too Asian to be with others.''
I remember doing a MELCON (main idea, evidence, link, conclusion) a few months back. It talked about the same idea presented in your poem: identity. The question was posed: What makes you truly American? I read some experiences from other kids of other national backgrounds and found out that being American is not based on the skin color you are. I found that very inspiring.
''But that’s fine. It’s fine if I stand out.
I don’t need to conform and fit into boxes made by ignorant idiots.
I can be unapologetically me, myself, and I.
After all, who’s to stop me from enjoying things I like?''
I LURVED the ending. I'm glad the narrator hasn't let the shackles of responsibility be a prison to them any longer. All of us can learn a lesson from that.
I really enjoyed this poem, and I hope others who read this love it as well!
xoxo, lovelydove