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America, A Mosaic of Diversity

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By: Lourdes G. Mon

 

Diversity in America is an art. It is a mosaic of people from all over the world; literally a country of immigrants. Every skin color, culture, background, beliefs, politics meshed into one people called Americans.

Fifty-fi ve years ago, I started life in the Midwest as a young professional, and settled here for good. I love the liberty, the freedom that this country stands for. It is a very welcoming country, though nowadays, it’s easy to claim racism across the board.

From my own perspectives, America is NOT systemically racist. Let me make that clear right at the outset. However, it’s also a fact that there are people in this country, who are innately racists or bigots and they come in all colors. I love this country. Beyond all my expectations, opportunities aff orded me happened in this country.

In 1967, I came to this country as a sixth preference immigrant, with a teaching job waiting for me. In those days, foreign professionals other than doctors and nurses, coming to the USA were unheard of. It was my Dad’s dream for me to reach America. I made it as a teacher, and when I landed at O’Hare International Airport, the fi rst thing I did was look up to the high heavens and muttered, “Dad, I made it to America.” My dad was deceased before his dream for me was realized. He carved my future for me. For a quick bird’s eye view of my experiences: professionally, I was a school principal for 31 years; politically, this brown-skinned Filipino American has run for county offi ces though unsuccessfully; has met George H. W. Bush and son George W. Bush, and has attended a White House party with all the trimmings, where I met the Filipino chef Cristeta Pasia Comerford. For civic involvements, I have attended Conferences for Minorities and Women Organizations at the U.S. Department of State during President Ronald Reagan’s administration. All of these transpired in between my life from the small college town of Beloit, Wisconsin to the hustle-and-bustle of Chicago, I now enjoy the gift of retirement.

Back to my initial focus that America is not a racist country but there are racist people living here. They are not of any particular ethnic group. Racist people come in all sizes, color, in the work place, and institutions of learning.

Have I experienced bigotry? Yes, indeed, but it was covertly done, because the person who said something to my face was one of my kindergarten students. He said, “My mom said that only monkeys live in the Philippines.” No need to respond. He did not know or understand what he expressed to me. He was the mouth-piece of an ignorant, racist, misogynistic parent. I felt so bad for this little, innocent child indoctrinated with racism by his parent at such an early age. It’s probably not too far from the truth, this sweet little darling might very likely grow up to be a bigot like his parent.

Back in the 1980s, there was a prominent Filipino doctor in Chicago, who wanted to purchase a house in suburban Lincolnwood, with mostly Caucasian residents. When the word of a non-Caucasian buying a property spread around the neighborhood, the residents rallied against the purchase. Oh, boy, have a family of color will signal the deterioration of the community, and the real estate prices will spiral downwards. Did the village of Lincolnwood interfere with the case? No! It therefore demonstrates once again Lincolnwood as a community was not racist, but it welcomed residents of all colors.

Bigotry also happens within ethnic groups, to include Filipinos. This does not only happen here in America. Jojo, (not his real name) a Chicagoan, is a jolly half- Black American and half-Filipino. I believe he was born in the Philippines because he speaks fl uent Tagalog. He used to frequent the Rizal Center during its heydays, when many of us looked forward to Friday evenings for the “kamayan,” dancing, karaoke, or just plain socializing. Those were the happy days of the Rizal Center. Filipino organizations held their meetings there, and parties were pretty frequent.

Jojo related his experience on a balikbayan trip in the Philippines. Being familiar of moving around metro Manila, he hopped on a standing room only bus, which frequently is the case. All public transportation in Metro Manila, be it a jeepney, a bus, and even tricycles are always over-loaded. Jojo standing in the middle aisle of the bus, with one arm grabbing to the high bar moved back to make room for two women, who just got on the bus. Seeing Jojo, they commented, “Eto namang itim, uungoyungoy dito.” Jojo did not say a thing. At the next stop, a guy hopped on the bus, and saw Jojo. He kinda yelled to Jojo with excitement, “O Jojo kailan ka dumating?. Anong ginagawa mo dito? (O Jojo, when did you arrive? What are you doing here?) Popoy with a smirk responded, “Eto, uunggoyungoy lang.” ( Here, just monkeying around.) Ha, ha, ha, the women did not know what to do from embarrassment. Was this racism? Yes, absolutely. It happened in the Philippines. But is the Philippines a racist country? Absolutely not. This example illustrates two ignorant, ugly women. They did not represent the entire country.

When I was a young girl, there was one Black American in my hometown. He was in military service in the Philippines, married a Filipina, raised his family and lived in our small town of Bangar, La Union for the rest of his life. His color was not an issue. Everybody treated him like any other town folk. Matter of fact, he was sort of a novelty, Uncle Ely to everyone. He was tall like a Harlem Globetrotter basketball player; a very pleasant guy. He was accepted for what he was, not discriminated upon due to the color of his skin. This speaks well of the town where I grew up.

Racist and bigots can be found the world over. Finally, I say again, America is not systemically racist. One of my most favorite patriotic song is “God Bless the USA” (I’m Proud to be an American) by Lee Greenwood. Listen to it sometime on YouTube. It will absolutely melt your heart.

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