It's Sunday here, too, and Trump is the Racist-in-Chief.
Cecillia Wang
@WangCecillia
Civil rights lawyer. Former public defender. Currently deputy legal director, National ACLU. My views here, not my employer's or anyone else's.
For people of color, “go back where you came from” is a refrain we’ve heard all our lives. We’ve learned to cope and respond. But hearing this vile phrase from our president is a new low. The truth is, wherever we were born, we are here now. No racist words can change that.
And by the way, I’m not going back to Eugene, Oregon. (No offense, Eugene. I’m sure you are lovely.)
One of countless experiences: Vacations were camping in the Sierras. One rest stop at a small diner in a foothills town. I was maybe 5. Every head turned toward the three of us, glaring, signaling unwelcome. I will never forget it. That kid grew up to defend the US Constitution.
How many times have you all heard, “your English is so good?” Finally I figured out my comeback: “Thanks, yours is not bad either!” I was laughing but it still hurt and I was still afraid.
My English is my weapon against racism. Second language, first line of defense. |
