Letter to a Man at the Airport

Dear man in the Alaska Airlines check-in line,

Yes, my daughter is beautiful, but she is NOT "AmerAsian". You assume because I am white that I am American. You assume because he is Asian that my husband is not American. We are BOTH American. As were our parents, as were their parents.

My ancestry is from Europe, my husband's from Japan. Our daughter is an American university student. Ethnically, she is Eurasian.

You clearly were being friendly, chatting about your own daughter who is adorable and Eurasian herself. As I get to this place in my letter, I realize I am not angry with you. I am angry with the casual attitude out there that "the real American" is a white person who speaks Standard American English as his first language.

I am angry because, in a nation built by immigrants, we still routinely shut out fellow citizens as "not American".

But, most of all, I'm angry at myself. I didn't say anything. But that's the last time. It's not enough to refrain from making the comments that exclude others. I need to put in my perspective. I need to speak out.

And I thank you for that.





Word Count: 198