Not seen as American

I decided to go grocery shopping early in the morning on a rainy Monday, hoping to avoid a crowd. I did my shopping faster than usual, in an unusually empty store. Still, I wanted to be in and out to minimize my exposure to anyone. As I was finishing up in self check out, a young staff member was watching me check out. He turned to his co worker and said “I’m going to throw all my shit from China in the garbage. F*** China.” He then looked right at me at said “F****Chinks”.

I could have punched him in the face. I could have confronted him. I could have called a manager. But I just wanted to get out of the store. Getting him fired wouldn’t change his attitude or hate. It would make it worse. This is a store in my neighborhood that I go to all the time. I fear for my kids who I often take shopping with me all the time. This isn’t the first time I’ve experienced racial epithets in my lifetime. But it’s been a while. People used to think these thoughts but realize saying them out loud wasn’t socially acceptable. Now, people feel they can say what they’re thinking, out loud. I’m 100% Japanese, but was born, raised, and educated in New York. I‘m American. But all that guy sees is a “f**** Chink.”