I couldn’t fathom it, couldn’t work it out. Why had someone tried to attack us twice in the past week, after six months of peace in the wonderful city of San Francisco. After nosing through the Bay Area news, wondering if there was a batch of zombi- behavior-inducing angel dust doing the rounds, or if everyone simply had lost their fucking minds, I found the answer.
There is a new challenge doing the rounds of social media, it’s called the “Slap an Asian Challenge.” Like the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, except hunting human beings with a racist violent twist. Go google if you don’t believe me. Heck I didn’t believe it either until I read it on the mainstream media, and took in the Bay Area Police comments on the phenomenon.
So the challenge is people are meant to go find themselves an Asian person, and hit them.
Which considering the number of Asian elders, particularly women, who have been the victims of racially motivated attacks that the police are unwilling to call out as racially motivated because of their own racism towards Asians, seems less of a joke, and more a threat.
So yesterday, we were flashed at, my son racially abused verbally then the zombie chased both of us combined with the awful threats to beat my son with a shoe, and push us into the road, followed by chasing us and trying to do just that of just a few days before, we are not feeling safe.. My son is in his very early teens, slightly built and tall for his age, but no match for a grown man. I can’t run. I have a leg which never healed, and having to sprint away from these men who tried to attack us for nothing we did at all is just not something I can do and not pay for it in pain. I am in agony to the point even I am wondering if the ER might consider it an emergency.
We fled violence, extreme violence, the last thing we need is to feel hunted like animals every time we leave the house. We didn’t have interactions with either of these men, we didn’t know either of these men. We didn’t have disagreements. These men approached us and proceeded to try and physically hurt us, and considering the things they said whilst doing so, it appears the motivation is racial and the target is my son. Getting to attack a woman is just gravy to these men.
My son doesn’t want to go outside because of it. My son doesn’t want to go outside in the USA because people are racially attacking Asians, and he looks Asian. Let that sink in. This is not 1962 Alabama. This is 2021 San Francisco, and my son is terrified to leave the house because “ma I can’t change my face.” As a mother I can’t tell you how that makes me feel – him telling me he “cant change his face.” His lovely, handsome, never hurt a fly, sweet self has done nothing to anyone. Anyone think my half Japanese son had anything to do with creating the virus? Anyone? Please go ahead and tell me in the comments below if the Boy is a secret biochemist. I thought he just liked playing keyboards, and drawing.
How dare anyone make my son feel like that. How dare anyone make me feel that way.
I figure there is no answer. Yes, there are good people around, I live in a shelter with good people. Yes, the city is as beautiful and full of possibilities as ever, but how do you live in a place, a place that historically has a large, vibrant and productive Asian community, that is deciding to physically assault people because they are Asian. I don’t want to pepper spray someone. I don’t want to fight. I don’t want violence in my life, but it keeps chasing me. Listen, I am a five foot tall woman, with a traumatized boy, we are not your punchbag for the pandemic. We are not your enemies. We just want to live quietly and try and make a life.
It appears once Trump (damn you for making me mention his fucking name) let the racist genie out the bottle, there is no stuffing it back in.
More than anything I am sad. Devastated. I don’t think me and the Boy can survive much more, I really don’t.
Well, that’s not good!
ps. take care out there x
Hey sweetie! Yeah..not great. First time the kid has been threatened with violence by a man in the street. He did ok, and ran with me. I Im too told to run. At least it makes sense now. Im off out to buy pepper spray and a stun gun – both legal here in the state of California. I dont want to hurt anyone. I don’t want a fucking stun gun. Motherfuckers. How are you?
Hiya! Well, one shouldn’t need to run when out for a wander, that’s for sure. Yes, all good here. Back to work on Monday. It feels like the last weekend of the skool holidays. Cleaned up the shop this afternoon – took down the xmas cards!
ps. set fazers to stun x
https://youtu.be/py4prb2kQ1o
Im too old, sweetie, too old. Back to normality! Cool! Are you excited?
It’s a mixed bag: I like work (as I recall). The punters, the music, the chinwag, the dollar, blahblahblah. But I’ve had a lot of time this past year to remember that I also like NOT working! la di da di da.
ps. by monday noon the cowboy was back in the saddle, heading into the fringes (trans: bangs); the pottering days receded in the rear view… for now 🙂
There is nothing wrong with a good potter! Bangs are another matter. I am currently fighting the tyranny of the Korean Bowly. My pixie keeps trying to turn into one. I took the scissors to those bangs and decimated them. I hope you manage to work out how to potter to your heart’s content soon. The UK sounds so…civilized! Pottering and fringes. We like bangs far too much out in the wild west. Do you have a cowboy hat, dear? I think it would suit you, sir!
Oh, yes. Very civilized 😉
I’ve been sporting a rather battered Homburg of late, actually.
ps. korean bowly. i liked their first e.p. x
Their first EP sold well, but just wasn’t as cool as Keef and the Mullets. I think I’m headed towards the BuzzCuts. A homburg, nice retro feel…Berlin, baby!
That’s really crap Paltry, for you and your son. So sorry sister.
At least I know why men keep trying to hit us in the street. It makes sense now. But yes, it is shit. He called me a “boy”…and then “bitch” …he knew exactly what I was when he waved his tiny little dick at us. Fuckhead. Had enough, babes…had enough…kisses
I’m so very sorry.
I appreciate the sympathy and solidarity. I am sorry too. I am sorry, because I figure the bastards are going to make me fight back, and I really don’t want to. As for this model Minority shit….oh Rebecca! People are so nasty to other people. I feel like they are hunting my son like an animal, and enjoying taking me down too.
🌸🌸🌸🌸🌺🌺🌺🌺