I am of Chinese Ancestry, moved to the US in 85 from Singapore when my step-father retired. He is from AK, i became a citizen in 91. Since 86, i have experienced 2 incidents of overt racism face to face.
First Incident
Mid-90s. After a late lunch, my buddy and i went to a Japanese grocery store in the International District in Seattle to pick up some snacks. Mid afternoon on a weekday. Quiet day mostly housewives and old ladies shopping.
I walk into the produce section and noticed a man in his mid/late 20s walking around, looking angry and mumbling "******* gooks, i hate ******* gooks" to himself, but loud enough for me to hear 10 ft away. There were several old ladies and housewives within earshot as well.
I walk up to him and asked him what he was mumbling, he repeated what he was mumbling *loudly*. I told him, nicely and calmly, that if he did not like Asians he should not be in a J-grocery store or the International district.
He starts yelling at me about Korea, Vietnam, Pearl Harbor and his time in the Army. His home in Montana and how he hates gooks. By now the produce section has cleared and i noticed that my buddy is standing behind me (he is white BTW). I continue to tell him that he should leave the store a let well enough alone, we are all Americans. This guy is now about 3 ft from me a taking a fighting stance. I was preparing for the worst but stood my ground.
Store security shows up behind him and escorts him out with a little scuffle. He yells at me that he will wait for me outside. I continue shopping and left the store after about 15 mins with my snacks, he was not outside. Oh well.
Second Incident
Summer 2005, Kelly Inn pool in West Yellowstone. My family took a road trip to Yellowstone this Summer, 2 boys 5&7 and my wife.
Biggish indoor hotel pool during peak season so it is crowded. We got into the pool and started playing with the kids. 2 teenagers (13 - 15ish) are making a ruckus, screaming, yelling and jumping into the pool. Typical teenager stuff but they were jumping really close to my boys and mumbling illegibly. I ignore them, my wife thought the older kid was mentally retarded and had a speech problem
I advise my kids to keep their distance from the jumping.
10 mins later they get closer, one of them jumps into the water close to my youngest son and i. I looked at him (he was inches from my nose) and said nicely "Please be careful", still thinking he is retarded
. He replies.."you japa nee see nee see" followed by random mock japanese mumbling then "i am not in the mood to play with you". OK, this kid is not retarded.
I looked him in the eye and said firmly "If you want to be an ignorant racist, please go do it away from my family so fuch off" He smiles and wades away. Then his brother/friend comes up to me, 6 inches from my face and splashes water at me and smiles. I tell him the same thing, this time a little bit more sternly and in his face. They go off to the other side of the pool. My wife was in the Jacuzzi and my kids were already off somewhere so they did not see any of this.
10 mins go by, i am playing with my kids and minding my own biz. They start jumping close to my kids again. I shouted to my youngest son who was moving towards them to stay away from those 2 kids. He asks me "Why Daddy?" and i said really loudly so everyone in the pool could hear "BECAUSE THEY ARE BEING RACIST!" Everyone looks, the teenagers make a hasty shameful retreat to the other end of the pool. Then my kid asks "what is racist?", i told him not to worry, just stay away from them.
My wife, oblivious to all that happened came to me and asked if i was trying to pick a fight. I gave her the scoop, she understands, we play in the pool for another 10-15 mins, got cold and left to watch a movie in the room.
Next morning, my wife stands behind one of the teenagers at the coffee line. When he turned around after getting his coffee and saw my wife smiling at him, he puts his cup of coffee down abruptly and scuttles out of the dinning area. She did not say a word to him, but i think my boys waved at him, probably thinking he was funny
I think about these 2 incidents from time to time, wonder if i did the right thing and if i should handle such situations differently in the future.
alf