My Perception and Experiences With Social Justice

Before I could even put into words, the emotions I felt, and situations I’ve observed, I have always noticed the things that otherwise, would have flown under the radar for most people. The different identities and labels I was born with, others I’ve created, and some I had no control over, had predisposed me to slip through the cracks of a society not made with me in mind. My parents have always encouraged me to speak up for myself and for others, because that is how they were raised and internalized justice to be.

Growing up, adopted from China (as a baby) and raised by an Irish dad and a white mom, put me in an uniquely insightful yet unfortunate situation. As a kid, I could never just walk around with my family in public without getting stared at. Some would simply look away when caught, others would smile, and some looked really confused. When it wasn’t the looking, it was the endless questions; some of which I knew the answer to, and others I did not. I’d have to answer every question ranging from, “Do you like being adopted?” “Do you know your ‘real’ parents?” Or, “are you and your sister blood related” (she is also adopted from China but not from the same place).

Suddenly I had unknowingly become the expert and advocate for every Chinese adoptee within a 7 mile radius. Although I had gotten used to the attention in that aspect, and I typically didn’t mind answering questions; After a certain point, it made me start questioning my own place in the world–where I felt I needed to justify or explain why I don’t match, blend in, or “fit in.” I was put in a

position that forced me to advocate and educate others about being adopted, what that means, and how it affects people. Sharing stories and experiences regarding lesser known topics to educate and inform had become the first form of social justice I took on.

I was fortunate enough to have grown up in an affluent, semi-diverse, left-leaning town in New Jersey. The area I was in and the schools I attended were known to be a welcoming environment to raise kids in. The specific type of school I was in emphasized the arts and creative expression. Little did they know, I would take that lesson to heart and spirit, in ways they never intended or were equipped to handle. 2nd grade is when I started to really understand the flawed nature of both people and the education system. The teachers that were supposed to have my back would instead harass me over every little thing. My dad would bring me gum (because I liked chewing gum) and I’d bring it to school in my backpack. The teachers would go out of their way to search my backpack for any traces of gum (even if I wasn’t chewing any). I wasn’t chewing it in class because I knew they’d give me a hard time, but even that wasn’t enough for them. To them, justice came in the form of control and discipline. I was labeled as a troublemaker, a difficult kid who would talk back to teachers and didn’t respect authority. What I thought was justice in the form of learning and sticking up for myself by asking questions to things I was unsure of, was instead interpreted as disrespect and being “difficult” to the teachers. I’d come home and tell my mom about my teachers and how they didn’t like me and would pick on me. What she told me had stuck with me ever since. She said something along the lines of, “they don’t like you because you are different and you don’t blindly accept orders like the other kids do. I have taught you to speak up for yourself because it’s important and because that’s what you’ve seen me do– but it doesn’t mean that people will like, accept, or understand that.” Between the interactions with teachers at my school–clashing with the characteristics I’ve adopted from my outspoken parents— has taught me that the ways in which social justice is understood and what actions are appropriate is up to interpretation.

In third grade, I started having issues socially and struggled to keep up with the schoolwork. I would spend hours each day crying at the kitchen table, doing homework that should’ve only taken thirty minutes. I loved science, I loved learning and understanding the why behind anything and everything. It killed me to think that no matter how hard I tried, I’d never be able to keep up or be as smart as the other kids that got 100 % ‘s on everything. My teacher noticed me struggling and recommended that I get tested for ADHD. My parents listened and I was officially diagnosed and put on medication. Had my teacher not noticed or advocated for me to get help, I probably would have given up on myself and learning in general. My teacher was just looking out for me but indirectly, his actions taught me that going out of your way to notice and help someone who’s struggling is a justice in itself. He told my mom: “They want all the kids to be the same, Lily is different, don’t let them change her.” In that sense, justice took on the form of protection and support. My interactions with this flawed education system mixed with the few people trying to make it better, have given me many opportunities to see how others view and show their idea of justice.

Social justice comes in many different forms and was never taught in a straightforward way due to the inherent subjective nature of it. There are many other ways I’ve seen and had undertaken my own forms of justice; however justice in the form of advocacy is what influenced and impacted my life the most. These opportunities to see justice and be personally impacted by those actions are what enabled me to do the same for others, as well as my future self. My idea of justice might not be similar to others, and sometimes it might even clash (it very much has). Regardless of that, social justice needs to be interpreted and acted upon differently for different types of change to happen. If everyone was focused on one specific goal or idea then the people that need help in different areas wouldn’t get the help they need. After much reflection, I think it’s safe to say that my understanding of social justice surrounds ideas of recognition, accountability, advocacy, and change. Whether it’s in

the form of challenging assumptions, opinions, educational policies, or simply acknowledging and changing my own behavior– justice has always been present and important in shaping who I am. Who’s to know though? Social justice and ideas surrounding it can change and adapt. Maybe my focus will change based on future experiences or expectations, or maybe it’ll simply expand on what I already know.