Racism mid-air
As the spotlight falls once again on racism, with America burning down over a $20 bill, it brings up many different feels for people of all shades. The police brutality, day-to-day marginalization, systemic racism comes from a long history of “us” and “them”. Something that is shared by different minorities across the world in varying ways with varying repercussions. And in the US by many other minorities but not for as long the African Americans have.
My group of Asian-American moms have resolved to speak up and do their part in supporting this fight — speak to their own parents who hold their own biases, talk to their children — again — about how your skin color shouldn’t dictate how you are treated or how you treat someone.
In past conversations with my black friends they have discounted my experiences or the micro-aggression I have faced as a brown immigrant woman. Probably because they have their own big fight ahead and because these instances do not get you killed. They just progressively and continuously “keep you in your place”. They are a constant reminder that you are not at the same level somehow.
With family overseas I have done my fair share of air travel. Sometimes twice a year on a 30-hour end-to-end trip. With and without family. As a society, if we want to hold up the mirror to racism, international travel would be an obvious place to begin. On the outset, travel is a business dealing. You choose a destination, buy a ticket, get packed and go. I have always enjoyed watching families meet each other with unadulterated joy at the arrival area. It is one of my most favorite places to people-watch. It’s where you see people’s true selves. The tears and endless goodbye waves of the departure lounge are just as real. And very heartbreaking.
But it’s the journey in- between.
That is like a card game. You can never be sure what hand you will be dealt. From the airline staff all the way from check-in, security and stewards to the larger decisions by the airline itself. About 12 years ago, we were expecting family to visit. All flights were suspended in Europe due to the unexpected volcanic ash cloud coming from the Eyjafjallajokull volcano in Iceland. Flights were disrupted across Europe. Stories of how passengers were dealt with based on their passports and visas were sad to hear but not surprising.
It is also no surprise when sectors that run from North America to Europe usually have better quality airplanes. You can definitely see the downgrade when you switch to the Asia sector. Whether this is a business decision due to the tie-ups that airlines have, I’m not sure. But as a passenger, I see the difference.
Tolerance by the airport staff varies on the class you are traveling, the language you speak, the passport your hold, if you are dressed well and whether or not you look like a seasoned traveler. Can this be because they are overworked, underpaid, less traveled or all of these factors? Absolutely, but that doesn’t change the fact that I have paid to be there just as much as the other guy. Who, by the way gets a pass for that extra pound in his bag while I get asked to reshuffle my bags for the same one excess pound. I have also had the sweetest staff managing to entertain my toddler as I look for my boarding pass from the previous flight. Again, the card game — hand you are dealt.
I am not sure what customs officers are trained to spot, but I regularly get pulled out to get my bags checked in the agricultural check even when I have declared I have no seeds or fruits or anything I am not supposed to bring in. And not surprisingly, all those lined up in front of me and behind me are people of color coming from overseas. The assumption that I will bring mangoes with me is so strong that I get pulled aside even with a sick child in tow, waiting endlessly without any seating for a good 2 hours.
When I come through immigration, I have seen the change in attitude from when I had a student visa, to a work visa. From when I lined up in a separate channel for green card holders to when I was told “Welcome home” as a citizen. And this is very real. It isn’t exaggerated or cultural over-sensitivity. It is the ground reality of this hot-bed of racism. Over the years, I have assimilated and figured out how to dress, carry myself, the conversations to make etc. But my family that travels less frequently and are less connected to the local culture do not have that luxury.
Post 9/11, I appreciated the extra checks and the vigilance in security checks but the extra layer of attitude is something that needs to be addressed. Cultural empathy training needs to be enforced amongst the entire working force of the airline industry. Not just the flight staff who face the primary brunt of the variations in language, attitude, culture for an extended period of time in an enclosed space. I respect their job, the kinds of things they have to deal with and all with a smile. But an airport is a melting pot of the world. It is a place ruled by judgements for sake of safety. But also a democratic space of business. Everyone that has paid to fly should get served with professionalism. Not with an extra serving of attitude, judgement or arrogance.
Racism can end when there is exposure and acceptance. Exposure to how and why different people live and behave the way they do. An acceptance of that and resisting the urge to make everything and everyone the same as ourselves would be a good start. We can use international air travel as a starting point to that conversation. Cultural education and empathy training is the key to this transition.
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