"Asians Can't Drive"
Hi. My name is Melissa--in school, outside of school, and on social media. Technically, it's only an alias--the name printed on my birth certificate is Chau which means "pearl" in Vietnamese. It's not French, nor is it pronounced like Ciao (when my peers say, "Ciao, Chau" and the two RHYME, oh boy). And it's definitely not Ling-ling or Ching-Chong; it's so irritating when someone says, "Yo, what's up, Ching-Chong?" I'm obviously going to take offense, even if it was only meant as a joke. My name has always been a touchy subject for me; among Jacks and Emilys, Chau sticks out a lot. When teachers do attendance for the first time, I always sigh a little when they hesitate on my name. Over the years, I've gotten used to it and have been able to anticipate their hesitation, saying "here" in time to save them and me the embarrassment. A teacher once called for a "Mr. Nong"--needless to say, it took ...