A Woman's Experience With US Teachers Being Racist Against Her When She Was Only 5 Years Old Is Going Viral

Posted 52 minutes ago

DISCLAIMER: This post includes a story about childhood abuse.

May is AAPI Heritage Month, which is all about celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, cultures, and contributions. Here at BuzzFeed, we are recognizing the impact AAPI people have had on history, art, food, activism, and everyday life.

However, while AAPI Heritage Month is about celebrating culture and community, it's also a reminder of the discrimination many people still face today. That’s why a resurfaced viral TikTok story from an Asian woman sharing the racism and abuse she experienced in US schools is resonating with so many people online.

The story was shared by popular food content creator My Nguyen a few years ago, and it is circulating again with well over 16 million views.

My starts her story, cracking open some tamarinds to eat. If you didn't know, tamarind is a tropical fruit and legume native to Africa and cultivated throughout Asia and Latin America.

"So, when I started school in the US, I didn't actually speak English, and I used to sneak this tamarind fruit," she begins in her TikTok.

"And I remember one of my teachers catching me, and I think I was maybe 4 or 5 years old."

After taking a long pause, she continues, "One time they caught me, and they dug their nails into my skin."

My then reveals, "There's still actually marks on my arm. They used to do it all the time...not just because I snuck tamarinds to school but for any reason whatsoever."

"And I thought it was normal. I didn't tell my parents. That was my first experience with Asian hate was teachers I trusted who used to abuse me."

My then remembers, "This was supposed to be a fun ASMR video, and it turned into something else."

Other people with similar experiences shared how the video made them feel:

And so many could see and feel My's pain as she was talking about what she went through:

Overall, people felt especially upset that this hate came from teachers:

Statistics show that many Asian American students experience racism and bullying in school settings. According to the CDC's 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, nearly 57% of Asian students reported experiencing racism at school, one of the highest rates among all racial groups.

There have also been reports and studies about discrimination from teachers and school systems themselves. Research has found that Asian American students are often stereotyped through the "model minority" myth, which can cause teachers to overlook bullying, dismiss emotional struggles, or make assumptions about students' abilities and behavior. Some studies even found that teachers rated Asian students differently based on racial stereotypes.

These conversations have become part of a larger discussion about how racism against Asian Americans is often overlooked or minimized in school environments. That's why stories like My's are so important in helping create awareness, accountability, and change.

You can support or get involved in organizations like Act To Change and Asian Americans Advancing Justice, which provide resources, support, and anti-bullying programs for AAPI students facing racism in schools.

You can follow My on TikTok here.

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