Listen to Vivian's This I Believe

Yellow fever is the slang term for when someone's only requirement as a partner is for them to be Asian. I was told by someone that they had yellow fever because Asian are exotic (I didn't get the exotic part because we're literally everywhere) and then later that day someone called me their "little Asian girl". A lot of people wouldn't even blink twice if someone were to say that about them, but it offended me. I'm not an expensive animal you caught in the wild meant to be kept in your home to stare at and I am definitely not someone's little Chinese girl. Yes I am Chinese, yes I am Asian but I'm not someone's bad humor or a fetish.

I believe that people should acknowledge people of color in a positive way. When I say to acknowledge people's races and cultures in a positive way I do not mean to shove it in their faces and say, "Hey you're Asian!" or "Hey you're black!". I mean to realize I am a person of color and that's okay. By doing so it will stem many things like respect, realization, and love.

Acknowledging skin color would make your mind open to reality. Many times I've heard people tell others that when they see them, they don't see color. On numerous occasions, I've even heard teachers say, "I don't care if your black, white, yellow, or green". Although their intentions are completely good, it's seen differently. You don't care that I'm Asian, but I am. You don't see me in color but I am colored. Completely ignoring me as a person of color because you feel more comfortable that way is almost the same is looking at others blindly. In the real world you will not be able to do that. Coming to terms with that fact that there are people of color,and not letting that effect how you handle things nor how you treat others will not only benefit you but it will benefit those around you.

Acknowledgment of skin color in a positive way is showing silent respect. Not like, "I don't care what color your skin is, I will still respect you," because when you are saying that, you’re saying that there is something wrong with me but you’ll will still respect me. Being polite to me, being nice, or showing concern because I do the same for you is enough. You are not ignoring me as a person, but are letting me know that the shade of my skin color will never blind you or give you bias. 

The key to all of this is acceptance, I am a person of color and I don't want anyone to take that away from me. If everyone to recognize each other for who they are as a whole and be okay with that, I think the world would be filled with a lot more love and peace.