Small town prejudice?

Question

I come from a small town. I am Asian American. In fact, I was the only Asian in my highschool (three years ago) and the only minority in my grade. To make matters worse, I also became very interested in gothic clothing, music, and style. I wore black, fishnets, and so on. I've since gotten out of the goth style, but I still respect it. I've been through many different stages in my life that many people in my town call not normal or even evil. I have five tattoos and eight peircings. None of which (except my ear piercings) are anywhere I can't put a shirt on and cover. What I don't see is why people have to continually put me down. Not only for the things I choose, such as my lifestyle and fashion, but also for things I can never change, such as my heritage. I love who I am. I would never change. I love my tattoos, I love my life, I love my racial background. I don't mind the slurs and dirty looks and comments anymore.

But there was a time when I would come home from school every night crying. Why do people feel the need to put others down just for being different? I will never stereotype a person or put them down for being something I'm not. I am completely open to all people, all colors, all sizes, all varieties of styles and ways of life. I will teach my son to be the same way. This is a new day, people. We aren't cookie cutter people. We are individuals. Let's start living like and and treating each other with some respect.

Answer 1

I'm sorry to hear you had such a hard time in your home town. I too grew up in a small town. We had a couple of kids move in that were from India. I thought they were cool. Still do. But I saw first hand how cruel people can be. There were times I would see some kids being mean to them simply because they were different. I think they handled themselves admirably. Not once did either of these guys throw a punch or even say an unkind word in return. They would simply hold their heads up high and continue on.I couldn't do that. I learned a lot from them and am blessed to know them. It's to bad some people are so afraid of folks who are different from them. Just think of all we miss because of fear and ignorance. Just keep on being proud of who you are and what you accomplish. As you already know, these idiots are missing out on a good person.

Answer 2

Small towns are like that. I know how u feel. I went to a dutchy(mostly everyone had some dutch blood in them or DNA)(Also there were some his panic students from Mexico moved in which was cool but they were Christain too) christian ruled school. As proof they didn't give much home work on Thursdays which were youth group days. I am a athiest slightly gothic person more then anything else so I was a nobody.
As for why they are such snobs I would say it's taught from there parents since the town of Sheldon Iowa mostly consists of snobs.

Answer 3

I hear ya, I was in the same boat in HS (minority in a small town). Chalk a lot of this up to ignorance, many of them really don't know any better since they've never dealt with Asians before. Of course some are malicious, but probably less than you think. I finally moved to a city once I got out of college and life was a lot more fun. Hang in there...

Answer 4

San Francisco is also very prejudice but in the complete opposite. If you are conservative, Christian, hard-working, and don't have piercings or tattoo's; you are then the persecuted. In other words; small towns are NOT the only places that are prejudice.

Answer 5

People pick on other people because they are not confident in themselves. Truely confident people don't hurt, they help. The bullies need to pick on others to give them a false sense of security....to make up for shortcomings they have. Have pity on them because you are not that small minded and miserable and let only true people into your life.

Answer 6

That OK!
You be stronger and think of it this way you are special
;-)