#thisis2016: Friends & Racism

Whenever you hear or read stories about racism in America, the two ethnicities that first come to mind are Blacks and Latinos. But what about all the other ethnicities in America? 

The New York Times recently addressed racism toward Asian Americans in an open letter penned by deputy metro editor, Michael Luo. An Open Letter to the Woman Who Told My Family to Go Back to China sparked the social media campaign #thisis2016. The trending hashtag is filled with stories from Asian Americans who encountered racism from strangers on the streets, co-workers and even church members. 

In the following vlog, two friends reflect when the racists remark "Go back to China" put their friendship at stake. 

Do you have an Asian American friend that you offended? Please share the lesson you learned in the comment box below, or email your views to TCsViews@gmail.com.

Daily Commute: Prayer From a Stranger

As I trekked my way through the ice and snow this morning, I remembered it was time to buy my monthly ticket for NJTransit. Only one of the two machines were working, and there were at least three commuters ahead of me who needed to make their purchase. 

The train was five minutes late and it seemed as though the patrons were taking forever to make their selections. The railroad bells  started to ring. I was next in line for the ticket vending machine and the person in front of me was trying to figure out how it worked. "Any day now, I will hear you say goodbye my love," I sang out loud out of annoyance of his slow paced purchase. 

#Justice4All: Why They Marched

Social injustice continues to disrupt Civil Rights in the United States of America. Black teenage boys like Mike Brown of Ferguson, Mo., are being gunned down by the bullets of local police around the country for reasons that are unjustifiable.

And if it's not a gun then police are using their bare hands to restrain people of color. In Eric Garner's case, the Staten Island, N.Y. resident was apprehended and strangled by local law enforcement over the suspicion of selling loose cigarettes. Garner’s last words caught on camera before he died while in police custody, “I can’t breathe!” The list goes on.

The people of America, of all races, took a nationwide stand on Dec. 13, 2014, and held a peaceful protest against police brutality in hopes that they can convince congress that it's time for a change. The national protest took place in major cities throughout the U.S. and Arts of Cultures headed to Washington, D.C. with a couple of young voices to get a glimpse of people coming together.

Did you take part in the #Justice4All nationwide protest? Share your comments below.

Related stories: 

• Young Voices Discuss Social Injustice of Mike Brown
• Things I Tell My Black Son
• American Civil Rights Ripples Backwards
• Artists Takes a Stand for Mike Brown

What's Your Story: Why She Stayed

The month of October is winding down, which means Domestic Violence Awareness Month is about to wrap up. 

We all know that domestic violence takes place everyday around the world. So it goes without saying that we should always be aware of domestic violence.

The one question people ask a victim of domestic abuse is, 'why did you stay?' This woman's answer in the following video is one I never heard but as a person who grew up in the Caribbean culture I understood exactly where she was coming from.

I named this new segment to Arts of Cultures - What’s Your Story? This is where I ask people to share their story…no matter how big or small. Here's Kay's story of why she stayed in an abusive relationship and when she realized it was time to leave.