[teens stories] I'M A BLACK PERSON

Please stop glancing at me when I walk in the street... No, it's ok if you look at me but don't point fingers at me, please.

My family are all black. My grandfather was leaving in the US and came to Korea. Then, my mother was born. People pointed fingers at my mom too. She went to Ghana and married my dad. To be honest, I know that there aren't anyone around me who looks Korean but ever since I was born, I have been living in Korea. Up until now, I'm a Korean resident but people ask me every day 'where are you from?'. I don't even know myself so I begin to wonder why I don't even know my own nationality. But no matter what, I'm Korean.

Right now, they are talking about Park Geunhye's political controversies everywhere. So when I go to school, the male students see me and tell me that if ever Park Geunhye comes with a tank, she'll send me back to Africa.

When I go downtown, people stare at me and if I go with my mom and dad, it's even worse.

We were learning about discrimination at school and I was making a power point about it and the other people just said "so you're gonna talk about racial discrimination?" and everyone looked at me. I don't know English but every day, the kids take my English exam away and go 'everyone~ a foreigner doesn't know how to speak English'

Please, stop giving me so much attention.

The saddest thing is that I thought that  I had a really close friend whom I could trust. But she said that she pitied me because of what happened and that I should give up on being friends with her, and ended up ignoring me.

Thank you for reading

T/N: OP made an update saying that she's surprised that her story made it into the featured posts and that she's thankful that people are giving her so much attention and comforting words! She also says that she currently has good friends and spending good time with them! :)

post response:

[+1,459][-21]

original post: here

ㅇㅇ |2016.12.04 17:14 신고하기

You suffered a lot. But I wish that you can remember this. People stare at you not because you are black! People like me just stare at others unconsciously and I end up making eye contact with other people. I don't think much about it and just continue my way. You know, that's a possibility too. I make eye contact with disabled people and black people too but even so please don't think that I look at you only because of your skin color and just think of it as meeting our eyes. Let it pass coolly although I know that it may be hard for you. If you can't escape it, just enjoy it. I know that there's nothing fun about it but I'm sure that you can think of something else! Anyways, have a nice day!ㅋㅋ

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ㅇㅇ |2016.12.04 18:08 신고하기

I stare from time to time so I'm sorry about thisㅠㅠ Since I went to Nigeria and lived there for some years, I  just start to think "is he/she from Nigeria? Maybe we can talk about it" but that's it.. I guarantee you that not all of them are weird stares! So please don't pay attention to them!! I made OP's life hardㅠㅠ

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ㅇ |2016.12.05 01:03 신고하기

The first best reply is so senseless (T/N: it was deleted)ㅋㅋㅋㅋIf you get stared like that, you will be able to say things like that?

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ㅇㅇ |2016.12.05 00:29 신고하기

I stare at black people because I think they look cool though!!!  I'm sorry if it makes you uncomfortable so please think more positively about it and have more confidenceㅠㅠ? If they intimidate you for your English, just take their Korean grades and laugh back at themㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

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