I was first called a “chink” when I was in 1st grade.
I didn’t know what it meant. I’m not sure the kid that called me that knew what it meant either. But he was taught the word, and taught what the physical attributes were to associate that word to a person. I felt confused.
That moment (brief as it was) became the first entry in what would become a lifelong catalog of moments when I was reminded that to some, I would always be seen as different.
