My friend wished me “Happy Election-versary” earlier this week, a joking reminder of how mentally draining Elections 2020 was and how we both shared our fear and anxiousness during the impasse that followed the voting.
Both of us, though physically miles away from home still somehow managed to be affected by the chaos and tension that ensued. I had developed a simple sentence to respond to commentary and remarks, “I am trying my best not to play into narratives”. It felt like the best thing to say to guard my mental health and to not get overwhelmed by the negative stereotypes that came attached to many of these remarks.
Growing up as what many would call a “dougla” you are always somehow expected to choose a side and chime in with the ugliest stereotypes to beat the other side in order to prove your loyalty to the race group. During the election period this intensifies tenfold.
