Last week, my friend and fellow GAPABA board member Justice Carla Wong McMillian, became the first Asian American judge appointed to the Supreme Court of Georgia. She is now the sole justice of Asian American descent sitting on the highest state court in the South. Due to the coronavirus outbreak, her investiture was broadcast live on social media by Gov. Brian Kemp’s Facebook page. One viewer commented during the live feed, “Really, a Chinese lady?” and received many likes from others.

Racist comments such as these are a stark reminder that Asian Americans are still considered by many to be foreign. Justice McMillian’s family has been in the United States since the early 1900s. Most of her family have never been to Asia, and many do not speak Chinese. Justice McMillian was educated and practiced law entirely in the United States. Her heritage, education and background could not be more American, and yet she is referred to as “a Chinese lady.”  How many more generations must her family live, work and contribute to our country to be considered American?

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