讀後心得

Author Tingson reflects on her study abroad experience in the United States, recounting a shocking incident of racism she faced for the first time. In August 2023, she went to Illinois to begin her master's life alone, but encountered verbal abuse and an attack from a middle-aged white man on the street. While seeking help, she realized the indifference of those around her, ultimately receiving assistance from other Chinese individuals. This experience deepened her awareness of the pervasive racial issues in America, and despite the presence of discrimination in society, she also encountered the warmth of human kindness, encouraging future international students to remain vigilant but not overly fearful.

I can never forget the shock, helplessness, and fear I felt when I first personally experienced blatant racism in the United States. The memories of that moment are still vivid in my mind.
In August 2023, I flew alone from Taiwan to Illinois to begin my master's studies. To handle practical matters such as accommodation and opening a bank account, I arrived on campus a week early. A senior suggested that, due to the crowded banks before the school started, it would be more efficient to go to a nearby town instead. Thus, that morning at eight, I took the bus to downtown. The sun was shining, the breeze was gentle, and the unfamiliar streets of a foreign country filled me with anticipation.
However, at that moment, I inadvertently locked eyes with a middle-aged white woman. She was small in stature, her eyes lifeless, and as we brushed past each other, she suddenly shouted at me: "Hey, kid! Where are you from?" I turned around and politely answered, "I'm from Taiwan." To my surprise, her tone changed abruptly, and she shouted, "You know what? You are a fucking Asian. Get out of my country!" I was stunned. She kept following me, hurling insults, and even charged toward me, pushing and slapping my arm. Despite the many pedestrians on the street, no one stopped to check on me.
I began to realize that this was not just a simple verbal conflict, but a real racial attack. In my anxiety, I looked around, trying to seek help. My gaze fell on a white woman by the roadside. I hurriedly asked her for assistance, but she just quickened her pace and walked away, seemingly afraid of getting involved. At that moment, I felt an unprecedented sense of helplessness. Worried that she might be carrying a weapon, I dared not confront her directly and could only run quickly across the street, hoping to shake her off. However, she was not about to back down, still shouting and cursing.
Being cautious, I finally spotted a Chinese couple who noticed my predicament and immediately pulled me aside, attempting to confront the woman. Seeing this, she not only did not stop but redirected her attack toward them, and both sides immediately engaged in a fierce argument that even escalated into physical confrontation. Witnessing the situation getting out of control, we decided to quickly retreat and ran into a nearby café. The woman continued to yell at the entrance, while the staff, witnessing the situation, immediately came over to check on us. Soon after, the police arrived and arrested her. It was only at this point that my heart rate began to stabilize, but I was still shaken.
This sudden racial attack made me realize that racism is not just headlines in news reports but a brutal reality in everyday life. Afterward, my senior accompanied me to the campus police station to file a report and took me to visit the Yingying Zhang memorial. Standing there, I felt an indescribable heaviness.
Now, I have graduated successfully and have been working in Los Angeles for more than six months. Looking back on this experience, I must admit that the issue of race in the United States does exist and is deeply entrenched. Although the United States is a country of immigrants with a diverse racial culture, this diversity does not equate to harmony; rather, it has created invisible racial boundaries due to cultural and historical factors. The phenomenon of different groups forming their own communities not only affects social circles but also extends to the workplace and resource distribution. In my personal job search experience, Chinese companies tend to prefer hiring Chinese individuals, while white-owned businesses also rarely hire Asian or Latino employees for non-technical positions.
I briefly worked for a Taiwan-backed company and noticed that the upper management was almost entirely Chinese, while labor positions were predominantly held by Latino employees. Although this "ethnic segregation" in the workplace does not constitute obvious discrimination, it is a potential structural issue that keeps different racial groups at a distance from each other. Although American workplaces are attempting to promote diversity, equality, and inclusion, and to bridge the gap between different racial groups by providing equal opportunities, the issues of race remain unavoidable. Not to mention the new president's negative attitude towards diversity policies, which may make the advancement of such issues even more challenging in the future.
This incident helped me deeply understand that racial issues in the United States are not just individual hate crimes but an inevitable product of the entire social structure. However, this does not mean that America is filled with discrimination and danger everywhere. In fact, I have also encountered a couple of Chinese individuals willing to lend a helping hand. While that white woman might have chosen to leave out of fear, at least she helped call the police. These flashes of humanity made me realize that America is not completely indifferent.
For friends who wish to study or work in the United States in the future, my advice is to "stay alert but do not panic excessively." The U.S. is not filled with racial conflicts every day, but you must understand that the issues of race do exist, and you should be prepared. America is not a perfect country; it is a mirror reflecting the realities of the world, allowing us to understand ourselves better.