Korean woman humiliated by anti-Chinese slurs in Vegas

sweetspot · 发表于 2010-12-5 20:49

The following is a letter of complaint we received over the weekend. It reminds us of how racism against the Chinese in North America (especially when at a time so many US politicians are playing the anti-China card in the mid-term election).

I am beginning to think that raenjoyedmontonsed to think we could. I treat others well, I respect others, and living here in Vancouver, I was confident that here we tend to look past the colour of one’s skin.

Now, I am fighting against racism as I experienced it in Vegas. But fighting racism once you experience it so blatantly is more difficult since your sense of objectivism and your ability to identify what is right and wrong and your ability to move past bad experiences become very very limited.

Right now, I can say that if I were to hear Spanish on the street, I will go out of my way not to be able to hear it whether that meant crossing the street or getting out of the skytrain, whatever.

But I know my reaction is not justified. I have always tried to participate towards social justice to achieve a greater common goal for all. But now I am not sure whether I want this common goal to be shared by all. Maybe time will heal this experience and bring me back to who I was before my trip to Vegas. Maybe I was naïve, but I would rather be naïve than racist myself.

Here is my story…

I need to let this story out for the sake of all Vancouverites travelling to Vegas, especially my sister and friends who frequently travel there.

My husband and I have been married for two years, and since we never had the chance to go on a honeymoon, we decided to go to Vegas to watch Le Reve. We were there earlier this year and stayed at the Venetian. We did have a good time and watched an amazing show by Cirque so we wanted to check Le Reve, an anniversary gift from my husband. On our first trip, we noticed people were quite rude and although we decided not to ever go back, the show seem worth a second try.

I am of Korean decent while my husband is Filipino. I speak and understand Spanish fluently and also have a number of friends here in Vancouver with Central and South American decent.

We were in Vegas from October 18 to 21 and stayed at the Riviera, a choice we deeply regret now.

On our second day in Vegas we went to the 711 store next to our hotel on the strip. As we walked in, a customer cried out in Spanish, “fucking chinks everywhere”. One of the cashiers replied also in Spanish, “Yeah, fucking chinks. I would love to take them out and smash their heads”. I was shocked by this reference to hate crime. I had scenes from American Generation X running so fast through my head. The whole time they were laughing and saying horrible things about us, I was staring at them as though telling them I understood everything they were saying. So I spoke out in Spanish too, “I understand everything you said about us just now”. Jaws dropped. The cashier then asks me in Spanish “are you sure?” “where did you learn Spanish?” in an offended manner as though he was testing my Spanish skills. While he is asking me this, he is also taking my husband’s money for the bottle of water. My husband unaware since he does not speak Spanish pays the money. No one apologized. My husband and I walk out quickly since I was scared that he might actually act upon his comments. I was devastated by this public humiliation and violent thoughts from the cashier and the customer. I have never experience this form of racism, this form of loathing that might one day lead to hate crime.

I went to the front desk of the hotel the morning after to request the staff at the Riviera to assist me in documenting this issue and assist me in getting the information of this 711 store as well as the name of the specific people working at the 711 store between 12am and 3am. After a summary of what had happened, the man at the front desk asks, “so this did not happen here at the hotel” and I said “no, but i am afraid of confronting them.” The man replies, “there is nothing I can do about something that happens outside of the hotel”. I replied, I am a guest here, and all I need is your help to figure this information out” to which the man says “i am sorry. but you will have to take care of this on your own. go back to 711 and talk to the manager.” As I go back to the room I am thinking that there is no way I am going back to the store. What if I get attacked? I text my sister in Vancouver to help me getting the store details and the names of the men that worked there. At his point I am thinking, I will wait until I get back home and deal with it from Vancouver where I feel safe.

On our third day, my husband and I decide to go to LA SALSA Mexican restaurant at the food court in the Riviera Hotel. As we walk into the establishment, I hear the man staring at us and speak to his two coworkers (again in Spanish), “fucking chinks. disgusting”. While they laugh and the man closest to the cashier asks “what can get you?”. Again, I confronted them in Spanish and said “I understand everything you said.” The guy replies, “is that so?” and smiled. In English in a higher voice so that people eating at the same establishment could hear I said “I am not even Chinese you racist jerk” to which he replied in English “I wasn’t talking about you”. I cried out, there is no one else here that looks Asian. And the guys just gestured a whatever shoulder movement and we walked out.

We went out to the strip to cool down. As I can’t really translate the feeling of humiliation and worthlessness to my husband I cried during our long walk up and down. My husband was trying really hard to understand but I guess I failed to communicate accurately the way and things they said, the look we got and the agonizing feeling I was going through.

On our way back, we dropped by 711 again to get the information of the people who were there the night before. The lady that worked there was friendly and provided the information.

As we got back to the Riviera Hotel I approached the front desk one more time. I assertively said, I need to speak to the manager on duty. The lady at the desk said there was no manager present at the moment and asked what the issue was while she is helping two guests check in. I firmly stated, “regarding a racist incident at your hotel”. She didn’t even look at me and she asked “what was that?” to which i replied in a louder and firmer voice “about racism at this hotel”. All the guests turned and looked at me while avoiding eye contact.

The lady at the front desk goes to back and brings the manager who heard the whole ordeal from the beginning. The manager takes me to the side and I explain what had happened. She make me fill out a comment form which she promised to forward to the VP in charge of vendors and retail at the hotel.

In the letter I have requested for a formal letter of apology and admittance of guilt from the men working at LA SALSA restaurant and an explanation why they were apologizing. I further wrote in the form that I will have these letters published in the local media in Vancouver because no one needs to go through what I did. I gave them one week to get back to me and mail the letters to our home address.The same night I emailed corporate 711 requesting them to rectify the issue.

I am not saying that everyone working in Vegas was rude and mean. Our waitress at Denny’s next to our hotel was great. Her name is Brenda. Although she started a bit cold, she warmed up to us and we had the best service ever! What bothers me is the bitter after-taste this has left in me. After these two incidents, while our walk through the Forum Shops at Ceasar’s a caucasian man said something resembling a Chinese phrase towards us while we walked passed him. I could not stand it anymore. It was too much. So I stopped, turned, and in an angry voice full of hate I loudly asked “What???” “What did you say???”. The man then asked in English, “are you lost?” to which I yelled with hate, “just because we look Asian doesn’t mean we are Chinese!!!!” I turned and quickly started walking down the escalator. I heard in the background a soft voice saying, “sorry, have a good day”. I never had a chance to apologize to this man because I was so angry that apologizing would mean that I had to explain why I yelled at him and I knew I was going to break down and cry right there and then. If I had a chance, I would go back and look for the same man in a suit with a name tag I never bother to read, and genuinely apologize.

My husband and I are now dealing with all this on our own but it feels like i am doing this alone because he will never understand this feeling of worthlessness and humiliation, belittling experience that cannot be translated in English nor words ugly and descriptive enough.

I hope you publish this story for the sake of all people who travel to Vegas. To empower them while they are strangers in cities with no contacts nor familiarity with local culture, no one willing to really listen to them or provide a helping hand.

I do not mean to spread more racism or hatred but if my story can help someone and maybe make a small difference, perhaps then I can understand this devastating experience as a valuable social lesson.

There is definitely racism in Vegas. It is blatant yet subtle. It is in your face but you will never know. As people in hotels and in position of authority are uncomfortable speaking of racism and hate crime, the issue becomes more than just isolated incidents.

Thank you and best regards,

Min

Tamon · 发表于 2010-12-5 21:59

Spent a long time to read this. Racism is a stereotype issue here. I think we should be solidified and be kind to help others. Especially for Asians, it is critical to speak out a voice in political standing.

serche · 发表于 2010-12-24 09:42

其實美國國情就是如此,美國滿地都是不同人,說自己的母語,因為他們要加入主流文化,比在加拿困難許多,所以許多人只好退回自己的母語文化中,形成許多小的次文化團體,所以造成如此情況,這情形也有一點相似,一年前的校園公車案例,一個教授搭校內公車,因小問題跟公車司機口角,二人大吵,結果公車司機把他請下車,真是一個屈辱,但教授上書到校務會,也没方法,因公車司機說因行車安全問題,所以很多問題看你如何看待,但如果像在雜誌上大大方方說不好的言論,你當然可以去靣對它們的不公,但這只好你大人大量了.

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