Fresh Ink: An Anthology

Jasmine is a Filipino American student attending Stanford University who encounters racist graffiti on her way to class. Although she admits that she feels no physical danger, the racism makes her uncomfortable and like an “imposter,” as though someone is waiting to deport her and her status as a US citizen isn’t guaranteed.

Jasmine reflects on how, upon getting a scholarship to Stanford, she realized that she and her family were undocumented. She then had to fight through court proceedings to gain citizenship and attend school. Her parents, who emigrated to California from the Philippines, had worked hard to enable her to get the best education possible, making her the first in the family to attend college. However, she reflects on how being at college now makes her feel out of place, as though she has become a completely different person and doesn’t fit in with her family anymore.

The next night, Jasmine and her boyfriend, Royce, watch a movie in her dorm room, but she’s unable to focus because of the graffiti. She tries to explain to Royce how it makes her feel, but he argues that they’re “just words.” She stresses that for students of color, they aren’t “just words” and that even words can lead to violence.