Marking the Race Box on that Form

This is Ritchiel, the author of our third entry on chapter 5. She said this is the only picture she currently has of herself as a child, as all of her other pictures are back in her home country, the Philippines. She is pictured here with her sisters. Happy reading!


My first confrontation with racial issues was when I was in the first grade. My class was taking a standardized test for the state and one of the items before starting the test required me to state my ethnicity. I remember staring at this question for a long time, even having difficulty answering it. As the teacher proceeded to make her rounds through the classroom she noticed I had paused at a particular question. She proceeded to look over my shoulder to see what I was struggling with, then without hesitation she told me to choose Asian. Later that day I went home and asked my mother what it was that I should have stated on the test. I recall her exact words: “Honey, you have the right to decline that answer.” Being seven years old and having just moved to the United States from the Philippines, I did not fully understand my mother at the time. I never thought it was so important to label yourself by your ethnic background. Now I realize the resentment and tone of voice that accompanied those words. I can not fully relate to my mother’s childhood experiences, but I know that for me this first encounter with ethnicity was only the beginning.

From reading The Faith Club, it is clear that stereotyping can have effects on not only adults but on children as well. Many of the authors’ experiences and encounters with racism involved their children. One child’s reaction to crude behavior toward her race was, “You should have said something, Mommy” (p.71). The mother’s silence and resentment reminded me of my own mother’s reaction when I asked her what race I was. I believe a child’s first confrontation with race sets the stage for him/her later on in life. I remember resenting my race and nationality; growing up I just wanted to be a part of the majority, not be different from everyone else.

I think as adults it is important to keep in mind that children’s minds are developing and absorbing everything in their microsystems. I believe in keeping an open mind and letting children pick their friends. One of the ladies from the story shared that she did not have any friends outside her own culture. It shocked me to realize that I too could also relate to this statement. Most of my high school friends were Filipinos, and it was not until I entered college that my world views on different cultures started to change. Basically I think our parents have the biggest influence on where we stand in acknowledging our own culture.

Reading this chapter has sparked my interest in the development of children of different races. Could it be that other children share a similar story to mine, and do they also experience resentment toward their own race? Or maybe they had a pleasant experience?

What exactly was your first introduction to your ethnic background?