My yellow-hued skin
almond-shaped eyes
long, dark hair
My skin that covers my body
protecting my from
injury and harm
My face that differs from others
and yet
the skin can only protect from so much
My ethnicity that has shaped who I am
scapegoated
blamed for a global pandemic
One that I have no control over
one that none of us have control over
one that has put targets on backs like mine
My hands clean
free of diseases
and yet others blame us for the deaths
The scapegoating that makes it acceptable
to yell derogatory slurs from the mouth of
those that see us as commie, chink, covid carrier
My body that now carries a target
and no matter how much I try
it keeps reappearing
Each time I try scrubbing it off
the target comes back even darker
more susceptible to one’s eyes
My body scared of the hatred seeping from their eyes
so I hide in my house
too scared to walk downtown
Too scared to go to the grocery store
scared I’ll have to face someone who tries to
take an aim at the target
Scared I’ll have to dodge the hate, violence, sinophobia
all
by myself
The people boasting their activism
on social media
silent
When Asians are scapegoated
murdered, burned, assaulted
what will you do?
When you see my face
will you see me as human
a deadly virus?
Your silence is not an option
it’s either stand and speak up with us
or support attacks against Asian Pacific Islander Americans
So the next time you see us
what will you think?
that we’re perpetual foreigners, covid carriers, the “model minority”
Or will see you beyond the harmful
stereotypes?
will you see our humanity?
My yellow-hued skin
may look different from yours
but I’m still made from flesh and bone
With my yellow-hued skin
almond-shaped eyes
and long, dark hair
Is a human
who’s community is hurting
see the fear, resilience and humanity we carry
We are no less than you
we may have a target on our back
but it doesn’t mean you have to target us
Your silence is killing us.
by Zabrina Richards
Chinese American Friendship Association of Maine 