BCNC Portraits: Mandy
/Hi all! My name is Mandy, and I am currently a senior at Boston Latin School. BCNC has always been a part of my life. I grew up in Chinatown and Quincy, and I went to Josiah Quincy Elementary and Upper School. BCNC was the community center I went to as a kid. My brother and I went to the afterschool program. We would do our homework while our parents were at work. My favorite part of those sessions was the Pringles or granola bars that they gave us. This summer, my friend Sarah recruited me to participate in the Youth Center projects.
With other youth from Boston, Quincy, and Malden, we came together to take action against the anti-Asian racism we were experiencing. I never realized the extent of racism and oppression against Asian Americans until COVID-19 brought extreme anti-Chinese and anti-Asian rhetoric. As I watched videos of physical and verbal violence towards Asians, I was scared. My little journey to the CVS store would be a scary trek. My social media was frankly shocking as well as I saw young people defending the use of the phrase “Chinese virus.” Even my parents, who’ve been here for over 20 years, felt rejected by this country and fearful that a stranger would be physically violent towards them.
With the support of BCNC, we wrote an open letter urging our school leaders to address the anti-Asian racism that was prevalent during COVID. I didn’t understand how impactful this whole experience was until the letter which now has over 320 signatures, received press coverage and the attention of school leaders, even my own principal.
“I’m so thankful that BCNC has given me a voice to express my own concerns and worries. They have empowered me to be a leader and activist. Because of this experience, I hope to continue working within my community on these efforts and perhaps create change through my future profession: whether that be in public service, law, or education. BCNC is an amazing organization to support because they, in turn, support people like me. They empower young people and guide them to a clearer vision of their future.”
