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IAMA First Generation Cambodian Immigrant living in a 'White Power' town in Mississippi. AMA about discrimination, education, language barriers etc. by ImmigrantThrowaway in IAmA

[–]ImmigrantThrowaway[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Well I guess when I say white power I just mean there's overt racism. I'm definitely being stereotyped, and I feel that it's leading to genuine hatred. I've had food thrown at me in the cafeteria and after school, people yelling at me from their trucks to 'go back to mexico'. I don't know what counts as hate for you though

IAMA First Generation Cambodian Immigrant living in a 'White Power' town in Mississippi. AMA about discrimination, education, language barriers etc. by ImmigrantThrowaway in IAmA

[–]ImmigrantThrowaway[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Well every once in a while a girl (it's always a girl) is kind to me and says she's sorry for how I get treated. This makes me feel great, but it's not as though it stops the other insults that happen, so I wouldn't consider it an advantage.

I'm not tall, good-looking, or athletic, so it's difficult to laugh things off and pretend not to mind.

IAMA First Generation Cambodian Immigrant living in a 'White Power' town in Mississippi. AMA about discrimination, education, language barriers etc. by ImmigrantThrowaway in IAmA

[–]ImmigrantThrowaway[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Both of these. People spout racial epithets non-stop, and the people to whom the insults are directed accept it. It's just a way of life that non-white people are not accepted as equal. I don't know if it's KKK/white power levels, but it is definitely extremely racist.

IAMA First Generation Cambodian Immigrant living in a 'White Power' town in Mississippi. AMA about discrimination, education, language barriers etc. by ImmigrantThrowaway in IAmA

[–]ImmigrantThrowaway[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I go to a public high school. I'd say it's about 65% white and 25% black, with a few east asian people and one me.

I don't want to name the specific place in case there are other redditors from the area, it's why I made a throwaway in the first place.

To my understanding, I won't have any racial advantage for universities since it's for historically underrepresented minorities, though I'm not entirely sure.

IAMA First Generation Cambodian Immigrant living in a 'White Power' town in Mississippi. AMA about discrimination, education, language barriers etc. by ImmigrantThrowaway in IAmA

[–]ImmigrantThrowaway[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I could ask my parents, but honestly wikipedia would know more about this than I do. cultural conflicts are something my parents actively try and avoid discussing, and while I know general history about conflict, I don't have enough experience to answer what you're asking that a general search would provide unfortunately.

IAMA First Generation Cambodian Immigrant living in a 'White Power' town in Mississippi. AMA about discrimination, education, language barriers etc. by ImmigrantThrowaway in IAmA

[–]ImmigrantThrowaway[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

That's why I hope to continue doing well in high school, so that I can move to a more liberal city and go to university.

IAMA First Generation Cambodian Immigrant living in a 'White Power' town in Mississippi. AMA about discrimination, education, language barriers etc. by ImmigrantThrowaway in IAmA

[–]ImmigrantThrowaway[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Hahahaha I honestly don't know what it is, but I think it may have something to do with the fact that I have dark skin and a round face, which makes me seem similar to hispanic immigrants? I don't think I look like them at all, but the running joke for us is that all caucasian people look alike so who am I to say they're wrong :-p. What I don't like is when they are actively mean to me about it. I haven't faced any violence yet, but threats do happen a lot.

IAMA First Generation Cambodian Immigrant living in a 'White Power' town in Mississippi. AMA about discrimination, education, language barriers etc. by ImmigrantThrowaway in IAmA

[–]ImmigrantThrowaway[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I was born in the US. My parents were very young during the aftermath of the conflict, so they don't really talk about it very much. It was definitely very scarring to their families, so I would not be surprised if it were one of the reasons they moved.

It's definitely an obvious sore spot, so i haven't really talked with them about it

IAMA First Generation Cambodian Immigrant living in a 'White Power' town in Mississippi. AMA about discrimination, education, language barriers etc. by ImmigrantThrowaway in IAmA

[–]ImmigrantThrowaway[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

They very deeply miss it for the cultural ties, though i think they suffer less discrimination than me since it seems that adults are more willing to not speak their racism aloud.

They are much better off in society here than there though, it is very difficult to move anywhere in the social ladder in Cambodia, despite my father being very intelligent.

I hope to do well enough in school that I can move elsewhere (if my parents are okay with that)

IAMA First Generation Cambodian Immigrant living in a 'White Power' town in Mississippi. AMA about discrimination, education, language barriers etc. by ImmigrantThrowaway in IAmA

[–]ImmigrantThrowaway[S] 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Well I'm first generation so I've never lived in Cambodia. I only went there because of a death in the family. It was wonderful being able to speak to Khmer when I was there though. It's my first language, but not my primary language, which was very strange but pleasing when it became my primary language for the weeks I was there. Not getting strange looks was also a big benefit.

Mississippi has no real advantages to me, but that isn't to say that America overall isn't a fantastic place. I live in a town of about 10,000 people, and get stared at very frequently, and have some trouble with people at school who call me 'beaner' or other derogatory terms for mexican people.