Colorism and Racism within the Asian Community

Due to the recent events I wanted to make a post about how we should try to combat racism in our Asian communities. It would be wrong to pretend it doesn't exist. This may be a very all over the place post mainly because I don't know who to address. I was going to talk specifically about how to educate our parents and the older generations, but I realized that the younger generation may need to become self-aware as well.  

I think I've talked about this in a blog post before but growing up in a Desi household in America has caused a lot of inner conflicts. Beliefs and opinions of two different cultures clash and you're left wondering what wrong and what's right. South East Asians, at least in my experience, are very good at being subtly racist. 

Have you ever been told to try a skin lightening cream? Told to stay out of the sun or you'll turn "kalo"? Seen people say stuff like "she's too dark to get married" or "you're pretty for a dark skin girl"? When I was younger I didn't realize how damaging it was, but when I grew up I realized that this behavior had a word... that word is colorism. 

col·or·ism
prejudice or discrimination against individuals with a dark skin tone, typically among people of the same ethnic or racial group. 

গা skin় ত্বকের স্বাদযুক্ত ব্যক্তিদের বিরুদ্ধে বৈষম্য, সাধারণত একই জাতীয় বা বর্ণগত গোষ্ঠীর লোকদের মধ্যে। (let me know if the translation is wrong)

I'm not here to shame you for what you've allowed in the past, but I'm asking you to not allow it anymore. Those sneaky negative comments you hear about people of different races/ skin complexion, correct them when you hear it. I know it's hard especially when the mouths they come out of may be your own relatives, but it must be done. I don't want the next generation having to feel insecure about their skin or having to explain why they are friends with people of a different race. It doesn't make sense for us as minorities to hate on other minorities.

Although Colorism is not the same as Racism, it's encouraging racist remarks and actions. We as Asians have benefited from racism towards black people. We have time and time again been referred to as "model minorities", but the thing is we have not even gone through the same struggles as black folk in the slightest. We are being used and we need to understand that black people deserve human rights. We need to acknowledge that black lives matter. Black people have been forced to come here and been put through a systematic oppression. When they show the outcomes and negative effects of that oppression, they are slandered, imprisoned, and killed. 

Rest in Peace George Floyd. 

Stand with Black Lives. Stand with Humanity.