我所在的小镇瑞吉坞,在新泽西算是相当好的地区。
所谓的好,一是指学区,镇高中在新泽西300多所公立高中里,排名大概在20多名;二是指经济条件,这里中等家庭收入是16万美元,远远高于新泽西的平均水平;三是指宜居程度,小镇环境优美,镇中心集中了一些很有名的餐馆和商店,犯罪率也非常低。
由 wy · 发布日期 · 已更新
我所在的小镇瑞吉坞,在新泽西算是相当好的地区。
所谓的好,一是指学区,镇高中在新泽西300多所公立高中里,排名大概在20多名;二是指经济条件,这里中等家庭收入是16万美元,远远高于新泽西的平均水平;三是指宜居程度,小镇环境优美,镇中心集中了一些很有名的餐馆和商店,犯罪率也非常低。
亚裔,在我们这个镇上,力量是不弱的。根据2010年的人口普查,瑞吉坞有82%的白人和13%的亚裔,其他种族加起来才5%。
当4月10日,我站在集会现场的时候,这些疑问都有了答案。
来参加集会的人真不少,这个小公园几乎站的满满的。
真没想到有这么多人会来。
亚裔占了多数,但是白人和其他族裔的也不少。据我初略的估计,大概亚裔有60%,白人和其他族裔有40%。
所以,我的后两个疑问已经得到了回答:参加集会的人很多,除了亚裔之后,也有不少其他族裔的人。
在筹备这个集会的过程中,我听到一些议论,认为我们这个镇几乎没有什么针对亚裔的歧视行为,人们都非常友好,都能和平相处。集会的目的,主要是发出自己的声音,展示自己的力量,从广义上谴责对亚裔的仇恨。
但是,镇长的讲话,给在场所有华裔,泼了一桶冷水。
镇长Susan说:几年前瑞吉坞华协第一次组织参加七月四日的国庆游行时,她被中国妈妈们的表演惊艳了。中国妈妈们的方队走过主席台时,她拍了很多照片。
第二天,她的办公室接到一个电话,那个打电话的人对于“中国人”参加国庆游行非常生气,要求把“中国人”踢出瑞吉坞今后的国庆游行行列!
瑞吉坞的七月四日国庆游行,有100多年的历史了,是镇上每年最重要、影响最大的活动,在整个新泽西都很有名。瑞吉坞华协成立后的第一项工作,就是策划并参加了2016年的国庆游行。从此之后,连续四年,瑞吉坞华协的花车和妈妈方队,就成为国庆游行中最靓丽的一道风景线。
美妈们一路上都会收到接连不断的喝彩声,顺便收获粉丝。平时走在镇里,还有陌生人过来称赞表演。
谁能想到,竟然有人向镇长提议把我们踢出国庆游行?
Susan的话揭开了盖子。原来宽容、友爱的表象下面,也有我们难以面对的事实——在一些人眼里,我们不属于这里。
这一次集会,请来了不少“重量级”的发言嘉宾。可以说,从Bergen郡,到瑞吉坞镇,差不多所有的头头脑脑都来了,有的还是带来全套班子出席。
教育委员会成员Hyunju Kwak是一名韩裔,从小在纽约市长大, 在学校时就受到到歧视,被人喊“滚回你的国家”。 当她在竞选教育委员会成员的时候, 被人当面嘲讽姓名,说我们Ridgewood不需要再来一个 Quack (KWAK)。
博根郡专员Ramon Hache,他本身就是来自多米尼加的移民,妻子又是亚裔,所以对种族歧视并不陌生。
他曾是瑞吉坞第一个拉丁裔议员,也是上一届镇长。 这次活动,他自始至终积极参与, 从邀请发言人到排定出场顺序,一直与华协的几个组织者联系密切,积极出力。
镇警察局的女警长Jacqueline Luthcke也来了,她对华人非常友好。华协也曾在去年疫情高峰期间,给警察局数次捐赠口罩。这次活动初期,她在组织、规划、参与人数上都帮华协具体出谋划策。
Joanne Van San是一位牧师,她说每一个人,都是我们的邻居,也都是上帝的孩子。她带领大家向所有种族仇恨的受害者默哀。
“我不是病毒”运动的发起人Mike Keo也来了。他去年发起的这个运动已经推及全国。
一位柬埔寨裔的妈妈Van Imm,提到自己一生受到的歧视。她说:“每一个人都要说出自己的故事,不能保持沉默。”
镇学区监导Dr. Thomas Gorman,本身是一名社会科学教师,他承诺要从教育入手消除歧视问题。
Jim Tedesco是博根郡的行政长官,他从会场里找了几个孩子,让他们一个个读出手上的标语。他说:“仇恨和歧视,在博根,在美国,都不应该有任何位置!”
每一个人的发言,都很诚恳,很给力。但是,让我印象最深的,还是几位华人。
两位高中生,是所有发言人中最没有“资历”的人。但是,送给他们的掌声和欢呼声却最大,最热烈。
Christina Huang,回忆起自己7岁时坐校车时的经历,孩子们的哄笑和嘲讽,对她幼小心灵的影响比我们想象得更深。
我看到现场听众有的在擦眼泪。
Anthony Li,专门去亚洲餐馆采访,餐馆老板受到的威胁和谩骂,让他非常震惊和气愤。他还批判了学校里对于亚裔这个“模范少数民族”的刻板印象。
三位华协的组织者,英语流利,演讲铿锵有力,处理突发事件也有理有节。
KFC是第一个发言人,有激情有感染力的发言,让会场的气氛一下子热烈起来。他说:“我今天站在这里,不是仅仅代表华人,也不是仅仅代表亚裔,我是三亿在美国这片土地居住的人民中的一员。”
Jianying Ding是最后一个发言人,向其他支持这个集会的组织和机构表示了感谢。这些组织从策划、宣传、赞助,都给与华协许多的支持。
她最后说:“让我们成为改变的开始。这是一场艰难的战斗,但是我们团结起来,我们就一定能赢。”
之前在准备集会的时候,志愿者们就提到了如何定位这次集会,是搞成诉苦大会?是让人们义愤填膺?是充满悲愤?还是欢乐地展示亚裔文化?
不同的定位,效果也会不同。
如果多年后,我们回忆起曾经参加过的很多次集会的时候,这一次一定不同。
她一步步走到会场中间,我只听到她对Susan说:“我是亚裔,我是仇亚行为的受害者。你是白人,你没有资格来这里讲话……”
现场一片混乱,观众们在大喊“go home”。
其实当时大家都有点懵。Susan镇长的话筒,后来也被抢了去。警长就在那里,还有几名警察。但是,如果警察强行介入,恐怕事态就会朝不好的方向发展。
Susan镇长是自愿来支持我们行动的。仅仅因为她是白人,她就不能来参加这次聚会吗?她就不能支持“停止仇恨亚裔”这个行动吗?用肤色来决定人的归属,这恰恰是一种歧视。
这些人闯入我们的会场,以粗暴的方式来打乱一个和平的集会,他们,其实也是在剥夺我们的权利。
这个集会的插曲,给我们提了醒。面对歧视和不公平,我们要发声,要抗争,要做出改变。
我们要做的,是融合,是展示自己的力量。
插曲的出现,并没有真正影响集会的效果,反而使大家更士气高昂。
集会之后,我看到了希望。我看到了华裔中有Jianying Ding、孙宇、KFC这样的能力出众,英语非常流利,又积极参与社区事务的优秀人才。
我看到了华裔的下一代,也都加入进来了,他们有的走上演讲台,有的创作宣传画,有的分发传单、标语,有的做义工。
两位小画家 Krystal Jiang ( Rock) 和Tiffany Deng (Girl with tape )的创作,非常震撼。
我还看到更小的孩子们,他们也许不是太理解什么是身份认定,不太理解什么种族歧视。但是,他们知道什么是对与错,知道自己有发声的权利。
在会场的一侧,有一个专门的绘画角。孩子们在志愿者的带领下,用画笔创造了一幅又一幅图画。
我看到会场四处的志愿者们。为了这个集会,大家各尽其职,忙了很多天。集会这一天更是早早就来布置会场,结束之后又留下清理场地。
我看到了许多许多乡亲们,有些我认识,有些我不认识。他们有的在本镇已经居住多年,有的是新移民,也有的是从其他镇专门赶来声援。
我还看到各种组织、机构和商家的倾力参与和支持。从事先宣传,大标语牌的制作,到开场小号,一直到结束舞蹈,协助本次活动的各个协会都不遗余力地提供帮助。
Bergen County Asian American Advisory Committee 所有的主要人员都来到现场支持集会,王朝芳还捐赠了很多标语牌支持本次集会。
教育机构Kids2Kids,为集会提供桌子和椅子。
除了华裔之外,我看到了来自其他亚裔的面孔,他们有印度裔、韩裔、日裔、东南亚裔。
这些都是希望。
我看到了华人的力量,我更看到了一个团结的,包容的社区的力量。
当几年前那个人给Susan镇长打电话,让她把华人踢出国庆游行队伍的时候,镇长的回答是:“他们不光会是国庆游行的一部分,他们也是我们生活的一部分。”
来参加集会的每一个人,都接受到了相同的信息:每一个人都不是外来者,都属于这里。
瑞吉坞一直是个美丽的小镇,今后,它会变得更好。因为除了学区之外,除了收入之外,除了美食美景之外,它还有这样的居民,他们能够站在彼此身边,互相支持,共同发展。
他们,是一样的、平等的人。
(文中图片由刘桑田、罗新、Ann等提供)
鸣谢:
Ridgewood Ambassadors for Global Citizenship
Ridgewood Indian Association,
MLK committee of Ridgewood & Glen Rock
Ridgewood Korean Home School Association
Nagoya Enterprise Corp.
Henry M. Cabri DDS LLC
Goody Star Restaurant INC
Sunny Wok (Boaz 1 LLC)
Mei Hawaii Express Inc
Chong S Chen & Xiu Yi Zhang
附:以下为几位发言人的文字稿。
It is time to speak up!
Good Afternoon,
Thank you to each and every one of you for being here with us today.
Before coming today, I have been thinking about what message I want to deliver during such an important event. Like many of you, I feel concerned about racism and discrimination to minority groups like us. I absolutely share sorrow and anger when hearing about the outrageous attacks against the most vulnerable in our community, the elderly. I found myself speechless learning that a female friend is carrying pepper spray in her pocket for commuting to NYC.
But these are not the only reasons why I am here today. Apart from fear or anger and remembrance of those lost and lives changed by racism, what I believe we truly need is encouragement, the encouragement to speak up.
We are all quite different on the outside, whether it is skin color, language, culture or family traditions. Whether we were born in America or immigrants, we are not separate from each other. We all share dreams, love and humanity. We want the best for this country, our community, our families, ourselves. Embracing our differences is the foundation of the American dream. The beauty of our country is reflected in our cultures, languages and values working and living side by side in harmony. We have ALL gone a long way to pursue the American dream. Now, it is time to defend the American Dream. Now, it is time to promote the American Dream.
The fact that we are all here is a good sign, this gathering is a signal that sheds light for the AAPI community locally. And it is ok to start from bits and pieces.
We are ALL learning. We are all starting from a difference place. BUT!! We are all here TOGETHER. Our kids should never feel embarrassed for bringing dumplings to school for lunch. Our Asian colleagues could be better supported when taking unfair blames at work. And our brothers or sisters should not be the subject of bigoted jokes, feeling ostracized or otherwise targeted for their races.
I am a member of Ridgewood Chinese American Association, one of the several groups that organized today’s event. But I am not just here to represent my Chinese American community. I am not just here to represent Asian Americans. I am here because I am representing one of the 300 million people in this country. I am here because I want to stand in solidarity with all of our brothers and sisters of color.
Join us in this movement to Speak up and let us all be heard!
Ridgewood Rally Closing
I am honored to close this rally on behalf a team of volunteers. A shout out to the members of Ridgewood Chinese American Association, Ridgewood Ambassadors for Global Citizenship, Ridgewood Indian Association, MLK committee of RW/GR and Ridgewood Korean Home School Association. Together, we spent countless hours planning this rally, donate time and money to make this à reality. We brought together groups with different ethnic background in and outside of Asian American community. Amongst us there are Asian immigrants, Asian Americans that were born and raised here, and other racial equality groups. Ridgewood, you are the reason we love America!
Sincere thank you to all the speakers and guests here today, the wonderful Ridgewood Village Hall, and generous donors for the much needed solidarity, for your calls for urgent actions against Asian hate and racism. We can’t do this without your support.
Most importantly, I want to say to my Asian brothers and sisters, that this is our watershed moment, this is the time for us to act forcefully and relentlessly. There is a famous quote: there are decades where nothing happens, and there are weeks when decades happen. First Asian immigrants came 250 years ago, 250 years later, many of us have succeeded, but we still suffer from racism, aggression, xenophobia, and hate, every single day! Don’t let the pain and suffering of our predecessors and fellow Americans go in vain! There is no more time to wait, not even weeks for us to waste, minding our own business is simply no longer acceptable.
Our beautiful children, make us proud, not by stellar grades, music awards, good paying jobs, instead, by embracing and owning your piece of history in America, by claiming your seat at the table!
Parents, don’t hold them back, encourage them, support them. Demand change, BE the change, show them how it is done!
This will be a long and exhausting fight, but with us United, we will win.
3、Christina Huang
4、Anthony Li
And these words have, far too often, boiled over into violence. The Atlanta shootings, the violent assaults in New York – in New York this year alone, there have been 33 cases of anti-Asian hate, and that’s only counting what’s been reported.
And we must band together as a community, because only then can we find our strength. For far too long we have remained silent when we are spit on, harassed, or mistreated because of our race. We must raise our voices and speak out, because we are one Asian community, and because we are as American as anyone else.
In our community we find hope. Our ancestors helped build up this country centuries ago. And though they faced tough challenges, their efforts have not gone unnoticed. And this community still persists today, even now during the pandemic. We help each other out, whether it’s through providing each other with things like hand sanitizer and masks, or for being there when we witness instances of discrimination.
As the young generation, we are an important aspect of this fight. We represent the future, and we must do what we can to support our parents and grandparents, while paving the way for future Asian generations. We must get
We are one Asian community, and though the fight against discrimination is far from over, we must band together, young or old, as Asians, as Americans. Now is
not the time to let differences in race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity divide us. Now is the time to celebrate our differences, and united, as Americans.
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