Becoming Unified

When reading, “In Queens: A melting Pot, and a Closed Book” by Ellick, I felt that I could really connect with some of the things he was feeling while on his journey “to discover these discreet ethnic underworlds.” The struggles he had while trying to become a part of such a diverse and culturally rich community is not uncommon.

For a good part of my life I have always found myself to be that one person in the group thats a different race. I was “that girl” that hung out with all the asians, or “that girl” that just didn’t seem to fit in, in the eyes of others because I was of a different race. I never intentionally stuck myself in those groups so I could be different, it was something that just happened without me realizing it. This all started in junior high school when I became best friends with 2 korean girls, that was my window into a completely different lifestyle and race then my own. Being friends with these two girls let me experience so many new things that I would have never dared to do alone. What I mean by this is, the same thing that happened to Ellick, would have happened to me.

I found the part when he tried walking into the korean karaoke joint, and the woman was yelling “No! Korea! Korea! Korea Only!” to be very funny, only because I can relate so well to that experience. My two friends took me to all different kinds of korean spa’s, restaurants, stores, etc that really only koreans go to. You hardly ever see any non-koreans there, so of course everyone turns and stares, but because I was with them they were never directly rude to me. Still after 8 years, I don’t feel comfortable walking into places like these alone because I know the reaction will be the same, but I can say that now, compared to then, it has gotten slightly better. I don’t feel as out of place as I used to, but at times it still is not easy being the outsider. Even meeting some of my asian friends parents is awkward at times, I feel that older generations have different reactions compared to younger ones. I have been referred to by them as “that foreign girl,” but at this point it really doesn’t bother me because I have gotten to experience so many things that not everyone else has, and to a certain degree many have come to accept me even though we aren’t of the same race.

I really love the end of the article, “Finally, I had infiltrated one of the hidden enclaves of my recently adopted borough.” I can relate to that feeling, because when people finally come to accept you, even though your different, it’s a really great feeling. I am no longer “that girl” that hang out with the asians, I am Roxanna. It is like opening up a new world, and it’s a step towards breaking down that invisible boundary that race has somehow built.