Carmen Rita Wong

So to all of a sudden be told that we looked bad, therefore were bad, bad enough to call the police on our own street. That message stuck with me forever.

So to all of a sudden be told that we looked bad, therefore were bad, bad enough to call the police on our own street. That message stuck with me forever.

So to all of a sudden be told that we looked bad, therefore were bad, bad enough to call the police on our own street. That message stuck with me forever.

When I started grade school there, my brother and I were just in for the shock of our lives. We were the only brown, brown, black nation people around there.

When I started grade school there, my brother and I were just in for the shock of our lives. We were the only brown, brown, black nation people around there.

When I started grade school there, my brother and I were just in for the shock of our lives. We were the only brown, brown, black nation people around there.

My mother was constantly drilling into my head. Education was the way to make it in this country. She was a very smart woman who had to leave her country and leave school at the age of 15. So she channeled all of her ambition into me. And I wanted my mother's love, so I had to get those A's because she loved me when I got A's. I just became the model student.

My mother was constantly drilling into my head. Education was the way to make it in this country. She was a very smart woman who had to leave her country and leave school at the age of 15. So she channeled all of her ambition into me. And I wanted my mother's love, so I had to get those A's because she loved me when I got A's. I just became the model student.

My mother was constantly drilling into my head. Education was the way to make it in this country. She was a very smart woman who had to leave her country and leave school at the age of 15. So she channeled all of her ambition into me. And I wanted my mother's love, so I had to get those A's because she loved me when I got A's. I just became the model student.

Carmen's so smart and she's doing so great. It's because she's Chinese. It's the Chinese in her. I was proud for a split second because I was a Wong. So I'm, you know, I was proud of being a Wong for a split second. But then I looked at my mother's face and I realized she was not the Wong.

Carmen's so smart and she's doing so great. It's because she's Chinese. It's the Chinese in her. I was proud for a split second because I was a Wong. So I'm, you know, I was proud of being a Wong for a split second. But then I looked at my mother's face and I realized she was not the Wong.

Carmen's so smart and she's doing so great. It's because she's Chinese. It's the Chinese in her. I was proud for a split second because I was a Wong. So I'm, you know, I was proud of being a Wong for a split second. But then I looked at my mother's face and I realized she was not the Wong.

In the car ride home, I wanted to assess my mother because I felt like she might have been hurt by that comment. And so I said, you know, mommy, Sister Rita said I was smart because I was Chinese. And my mother just did a Mona Lisa smile. And that was it. But I knew she was not only okay, but she somehow had something one up on this nun.

In the car ride home, I wanted to assess my mother because I felt like she might have been hurt by that comment. And so I said, you know, mommy, Sister Rita said I was smart because I was Chinese. And my mother just did a Mona Lisa smile. And that was it. But I knew she was not only okay, but she somehow had something one up on this nun.

In the car ride home, I wanted to assess my mother because I felt like she might have been hurt by that comment. And so I said, you know, mommy, Sister Rita said I was smart because I was Chinese. And my mother just did a Mona Lisa smile. And that was it. But I knew she was not only okay, but she somehow had something one up on this nun.

By the time I was 11 years old, there were four children under the age of six in the house. My sisters, they had a different last name and having a white father, they were treated differently. So I felt like an orbiting moon, right? like I didn't belong. I begged my stepfather to adopt me, for me to change my name. I so wanted to be part of this new family, but they kept telling me no.

By the time I was 11 years old, there were four children under the age of six in the house. My sisters, they had a different last name and having a white father, they were treated differently. So I felt like an orbiting moon, right? like I didn't belong. I begged my stepfather to adopt me, for me to change my name. I so wanted to be part of this new family, but they kept telling me no.

By the time I was 11 years old, there were four children under the age of six in the house. My sisters, they had a different last name and having a white father, they were treated differently. So I felt like an orbiting moon, right? like I didn't belong. I begged my stepfather to adopt me, for me to change my name. I so wanted to be part of this new family, but they kept telling me no.

She explained to me from very young age that anything that was mine and my brother's, whether it was tuition, clothing, expenses, anything was paid for by Papi. And that my stepfather, besides the roof over our head and the food at the dinner table, was not contributing to my brother and I at all.

She explained to me from very young age that anything that was mine and my brother's, whether it was tuition, clothing, expenses, anything was paid for by Papi. And that my stepfather, besides the roof over our head and the food at the dinner table, was not contributing to my brother and I at all.