Isolation to Multiculturalism
Growing up as a Chinese immigrant in Kentucky, I’ve always considered myself an outsider. Unlike me, everyone had silky blonde hair and polished blue eyes and most of the people were politically conservative. There was also a constant prejudice towards minorities, as I was always referred to as "that one Chinese kid.” Therefore, I never looked forward to attending school.
As a young person, I would blindly conform to supporting Republican ideologies to fit in. However, I became ambivalent since the conservative party often disfavored immigrants. I was consistently faced with racist remarks and stares typified by discomfort as if I were a threat. During the 2016 election, I didn’t understand why two children were bullied solely because they supported Hillary Clinton. They were commonly referred to as “baby murderers” or “traitors.”
My political consciousness intensified after moving to New York City. Since I had more Asian classmates, I became more enthusiastic about attending school. I was perplexed because everyone in Kentucky idolized Trump, but the people I was surrounded by in New York despised him extensively. I began by adapting to everyone's beliefs, eventually educating myself in the process. After school, I would research and watch political debates. For example, my interest stemmed from the 2020 Democratic Party presidential debate, which involved several of my favorite politicians: Bernie Sanders, Pete Buttigieg, and Elizabeth Warren. As a result, my political inclinations became more integrated into my identity.
My experience in a southern state compared to a liberal city demonstrated how the environment highly influences political ideologies. Therefore, I believe that we must explore new perspectives regarding politics, despite some being unsettling. We should collectively engage in more cross-partisan conversations, notably in schools, without resorting to emotions and while respecting the other side’s beliefs.
William Chen is high school Junior from New York City.