Scan barcode
A review by cshan02
I've Been Meaning to Tell You: A Letter to My Daughter by David Chariandy
5.0
I like this book more than Brother: a Novel. This book is more direct and the author addressed his thought on racism in Canada, currently.
People love to ask me that worse question, "what are you?" I remembered three years ago, when I was still lived in Vancouver, at a tailor's store, while I was writing down my phone number on the pick up sheet, this white owner looked me up and down, up and down, and he said, " you know, I am very very good at telling the differents between Asians. But you are a very hard one for me, so, what are you?"
"I am a human being." I stopped writing and looking back to him.
"No," he thought I didn't understand what he said, "I am asking what kind of Asian you are, what are you?"
I did not say anything at the end and left.
I usually don't mind people ask where I came from, it is true that I am yellow, and I am not a Canadian. But I just don't like the commons they give to me after hearing my answers, such as, "China is bad, that's why you are here," or, "do you eat dog? I know you do," or, "Beijing is very dirty."
All of those are insults to me.
Two weeks ago, at a street party on Canada Day, a white lady asked me how come I love both Japanese and Chinese culture after I shared my background with her.
She said, China is sacred in a very bad way.
I told my mom after, my mom responsed me, " that's okay, let her say whatever, what your love and passion of your heritages are all vital to yourself. None of her business. I am sorry that I pushed you to choose one side when you were little, but now, I want to tell you, you are not a half, you are double. So be proud of yourself."
Similarly, in this book, the author shared the message of appreciating one's own heritage and family history.
A great great great read, love it.
People love to ask me that worse question, "what are you?" I remembered three years ago, when I was still lived in Vancouver, at a tailor's store, while I was writing down my phone number on the pick up sheet, this white owner looked me up and down, up and down, and he said, " you know, I am very very good at telling the differents between Asians. But you are a very hard one for me, so, what are you?"
"I am a human being." I stopped writing and looking back to him.
"No," he thought I didn't understand what he said, "I am asking what kind of Asian you are, what are you?"
I did not say anything at the end and left.
I usually don't mind people ask where I came from, it is true that I am yellow, and I am not a Canadian. But I just don't like the commons they give to me after hearing my answers, such as, "China is bad, that's why you are here," or, "do you eat dog? I know you do," or, "Beijing is very dirty."
All of those are insults to me.
Two weeks ago, at a street party on Canada Day, a white lady asked me how come I love both Japanese and Chinese culture after I shared my background with her.
She said, China is sacred in a very bad way.
I told my mom after, my mom responsed me, " that's okay, let her say whatever, what your love and passion of your heritages are all vital to yourself. None of her business. I am sorry that I pushed you to choose one side when you were little, but now, I want to tell you, you are not a half, you are double. So be proud of yourself."
Similarly, in this book, the author shared the message of appreciating one's own heritage and family history.
A great great great read, love it.