Chopsticks

"You're going to show the class how to use chopsticks today"

The weeks lesson had been about different cultures and customs
How each one was special in it's own way
From the Serengeti, to Moscow, to London, to Beijing.

Ah, it was Beijing that racially profiled me!
Of course, this 8 year old boy has to be Chinese, with is slanted eyes
Black hair, dark brown eyes, he's the spitting image of a chinaman!

None of them ever bothered to see where South Korea was on the map
Let alone that there really were other "yellow people" out there
But all of them MUST know how to use chopsticks right?

"Go on Sam, show everyone how people in China eat their food!"

The class was the monster and the classroom was the lair
How tiny fingers worked desperately to make those damned sticks move!
All eyes on the boy now, can't he do what his people are supposed to do?

"C'mon Sam! Quit goofing off and show everyone!"

They never bothered to ask if the little boy even knew how to do this
Or that he was adopted at a young age and lived in a Caucasian household
Whispers, staring, wondering how can he feed himself if he can't use them?

The racial stereotype wins, the boy places the chopsticks on the teachers desk
Face in hands, he heads back to his desk in defeat.

"I'll help"

Another young boy, a black boy, comes up and takes the chopsticks
He maneuvers them clumsily too, almost getting the technique, but fails
Soon, all the children are getting out of their seats and trying.

"It's hard! No wonder he couldn't do it!"

For a moment, just a moment, a small victory flag is raised
And the little South Korean-American boy, smiles.
♠ ♠ ♠
this actually happened to me back in 3rd grade, a time when having an Asian kid in the class was like having a foreign exchange student. when i went home in tears and cried to my mother about this, she drove up to the school and had it out with the administration.

And for the record, i can fully use chopsticks now! I didn't learn until i was 17 though!