Melting Pot | Teen Ink

Melting Pot MAG

July 12, 2013
By EthicalDilemma SILVER, San Luis Obispo, California
EthicalDilemma SILVER, San Luis Obispo, California
8 articles 0 photos 2 comments

America is not a melting pot
Individual colors shine through
Black and white
brown and yellow
racism and discrimination
condensed to terms a four-year-old could understand
if we were melted together
we wouldn’t even have labels

we’re more of a salad
parts of different wholes
divided and torn from each other
side by side
vaguely aware of others
slathered over with a dressing
of artificial Americanism
to make us seem like a more perfect union

Can we make the deep hues of bellow?
Or the beauty of blite?
These are colors you’ve never heard of
because you’re too used to the words
that your parents taught you to refer to people –
but not even that
in reality you speak of the melanin contents of their skin
like it’s the contents of their hearts
and you affirm your personal prejudices
based on if I’m
black or white
brown or yellow
or any other color in the rainbow of the population
like the rainbow salad you ordered from the American restaurant down the street


The author's comments:

Racism is ubiquitous. As an Asian, I see a lot of judgement, stereotyping, and blatantly offensive remarks. Even when I visit my place of origin (even though I was born in America), I’m still discriminated against for speaking with an American accent. Racism stirs a wholly separate group of feelings in me, which is why I think it makes such excellent fodder for the emotional strength that poetry encompasses.


Similar Articles

JOIN THE DISCUSSION

This article has 10 comments.


on Aug. 1 2015 at 8:29 pm
SomeoneMagical PLATINUM, Durham, New Hampshire
22 articles 1 photo 259 comments
I agree with this:) like the poem:) great job!

Hypnos BRONZE said...
on Jul. 27 2015 at 7:18 pm
Hypnos BRONZE, Santa Fe, New Mexico
3 articles 0 photos 5 comments

Favorite Quote:
Ships are but boards, sailors but men.

This is so true.

on Feb. 1 2015 at 10:53 am
ScienceSpirit GOLD, Newtown, Pennsylvania
14 articles 1 photo 14 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Be not afraid of life. Believe that life is worth living, and your belief will help create the fact." ~William James

I understand. I am sorry if I insulted you. I had not realized how race could be an identity and a heritage, and I too being an Asian, I think I'll practice respect for my own heritage and learn to be more attentive on the matter of race.

on Jan. 31 2015 at 8:23 pm
EthicalDilemma SILVER, San Luis Obispo, California
8 articles 0 photos 2 comments
Race is incredibly important. To pretend that race doesn't matter would be to efface my heritage and the profound influence it has had on my development as a human being.

on Jan. 30 2015 at 8:56 pm
ScienceSpirit GOLD, Newtown, Pennsylvania
14 articles 1 photo 14 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Be not afraid of life. Believe that life is worth living, and your belief will help create the fact." ~William James

They tell us early in elementary school about discrimination against "blacks" and about the civil rights movement, and instruct us to respect every individual no matter his or her race or skin color, but in pointing out skin color and mentioning people's races society implies it does matter. Why not banish the concept instead? Why must we try so hard with putting positive, "respectful" associations with race when it could just be some neutral concept, just like how Aristotle's climate theory of personality makes no sense nowadays? Why can't we be a melting pot and be sharing and honest?

on Jan. 20 2015 at 8:09 am
ISeetheStars SILVER, Minerva, Ohio
6 articles 0 photos 12 comments

Favorite Quote:
"The marks Humans leave are too often scars." -John Green, the Fault in our Stars.

Stay strong. This article is amazing and it is beautiful all wrapped up in one.

SCSKATE SILVER said...
on Jan. 11 2015 at 8:07 pm
SCSKATE SILVER, Austin, Texas
9 articles 5 photos 23 comments
Love the part about dressings.

on Jan. 5 2015 at 10:02 pm
ScreenName098 GOLD, New York City, New York
10 articles 0 photos 17 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened." -Dr. Seuss

Your vocabulary is simply remarkable! I really like the message you were trying to portray in this poem here- I think it was executed perfectly. Lovely poem. It deserved to be published!

on Jan. 5 2015 at 7:49 pm
I really like the metaphor (salad and people) Words such as "parts of different wholes" and "slathered over with a dressing" describe the topic perfectly. You can literally imagine it in your head. Awesome writing.

on Oct. 12 2013 at 12:54 am
SpidersAcrossStars PLATINUM, Hayward, California
36 articles 0 photos 160 comments

Favorite Quote:
For you, a thousand times over.

No wonder you have all those editors choice....