After five straight hours of talking, I'm exhausted. What was supposed to have been a 20-minute videotaping of a young Japanese-Caucasian American teenager turned into an all afternoon gab fest with his cool white mother. Now in her 40's, Mary (not her real name) told me about growing up in the Northwest with relatively no racial awareness. Her Danish grandfather, she said, taught her that all people were the same, and that America was a place where everyone should mix together. Taking his words to heart, she married a Japanese man, produced two gorgeous children, and now hosts foreign students of all ethnicities in her comfortable home. Determined to do her part in making the world an accepting place for all races, Mary told me that being bussed in high school was the best education she ever had. Imagine that. Then contrast Mary's experience with those Southern white kids who spat at, and called degrading names out to, black children attempting to integrate their schools. We've come a long way, baby.
And, it's been a long day, so I bid you adieu.
P.S. A happy belated Valentine's Day to Brian P. Thanks for the card (pix above), sweetie!
Your Hip Hapa,
Yayoi
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