So I was shopping at Marshalls yesterday and this guy started to make small talk with me. Here is how our conversation continued:
Him (H): Were you born here?
Me (M): Yes.
H: Your English is very good!
M: -_- Thanks.
H: What are your other languages?
M: I don't speak any other languages. (just to f- with him)
H: I've always wanted to learn Chinese or Vietnamese.
M: Me too, me too.
At that point I was like, ugh, do not want to deal, so I walked to the cash registers. But while I was standing in line, I started to think, maybe I should have said something. I'm not really used to telling off someone but I while I was waiting, I grew more and more angry, and then I imagined him saying that stuff to someone else. Plus I really didn't want to forget the interaction and just chalk it up to ignorance, as if it's not worth my breath to say anything, because if everyone reacted to something racist in that manner, then those people would go on thinking that's all ok when it isn't.
So, after I paid, I noticed he was in line to pay. I stood off to the side as I waited for him to finish.
H: Back for more?
(yes, I'm back for more racism)
He was smiling as he said that, but as I started talking, his smile left his face.
M: I just wanted to say that I was offended that you assumed just because I have an Asian face that I would not know English. I think that what you said was racist and I hope you won't make generalizations like that to someone else.
And then I stormed off. And as I was walking away, my whole body was just filled with adrenaline because I had never done something like that so publicly. Hopefully my message got through to him and he'll think twice before saying those things to someone else.
