When reading the comic, They Called Us Enemy, I was able to relate to it on a personal level. As someone who is of the racial minority, I’ve learned from personal experience that people will look down upon you for being the “inferior” race. It doesn’t matter if you were born in the US or if you are an immigrant. People will still see you below them.

Reading about innocent Japanese citizens being forced into camps because of the bombing of Pearl Harbor reminded me of when I was treated differently because of my race. Entering pre-school without having English as my mother language was difficult at first, but over time I was able to learn the language like all my other classmates.

It was afternoon in early May. My first grade teacher organized an art project for my class to do for Mother’s Day and all of the students worked one on one with a co-teacher instructing us. When it was my turn, I headed out into the hallway where the co-teacher had all the art supplies for us to use. I carefully listened to her instruct me how to decorate the mini wooden jewelry box. However, it took my brain a little while to process and she took my hesitation as a sign that I didn’t understand what I was supposed to do. So she said to me, “Don’t you understand? Am I speaking Spanish to you?” All I could do was nod my head to let her know I understood and quickly began decorating the box as to not get asked that question again. It made me feel stupid.

Like the comic where the innocent Japanese were discriminated against because of their race, the co-teacher, who was white, had assumed that I didn’t have the ability speak or understand English because of my race. Instead of politely making sure I understood, she belittled me through her tone and choice of question she used. This goes to show that no matter what, we as the minority race will always be judged and have assumptions made about us. What’s important is to treat everyone as humans, instead downgrading people because of their race.