how the Asian “Model Minority” perpetuates Anti-Blackness by OlivSUNia: I’m not Asian as per white supremacist thought, but I do relate to most of the struggles outlined in the video. I pass judging by my looks so I needed to pass when I open my mouth, too. My speech needs to sound the way I look (white Austrian) and to earn my place in society once my name is brought into consciousness, I needed to excel at everything I do.

I needed to be better than the Austrian born children, especially those who are second or third generation Austrians/immigrants. This was never said out loud, but somehow I knew I needed to do that. The fact that Syrians experienced racism was out of the question (because they do), but because I look the way I do, the expectation was that I’d be different.

I always get the comment that “[I] don’t look Syrian” right after answering the question about my origin after stating my name. It’s “exotic” and unlike how people who look like me are usually called (because my name doesn’t sound Eastern European either), so people want to know where I’m from. They say it as if it’s a compliment.

Because of my name, I have to outperform others in order to be considered for jobs, at least that’s the feeling I get from just existing here.