One of the most important, funny, and sometimes painfully true trends on Twitter this past week came from the hashtags #growingupblack, #growinguphispanic, #growingupasian, and other variations. Non-white Twitter users shared experiences about being a kid, from favorite foods to traditions, to relationships with parents and dealing with racism.
Some users used #growingupblack to talk about the rituals of dealing with black hair, to awkward moments in class.
Having to get your hair washed in the sink ?? #GrowingUpBlack pic.twitter.com/N2n0fDmlFZ
— blackBird (@OhSoThatsBre) July 15, 2015
#GrowingUpBlack everyone looking at you like this when the class is reading about slavery pic.twitter.com/iSUlde3NP1
— carne aashada (@simpgodshad_) July 15, 2015
Others on #growingupasian mentioned food and the excitement of getting money from relatives.
#GrowingUpAsian measuring how much water to put in the rice by…. pic.twitter.com/uHBXBhVpZG
— mel (@melzzmelz) July 15, 2015
#growingupasian secret handshake with grandma/aunts pic.twitter.com/pTkpzUX1oj
— lan (@Adlaaaann) July 16, 2015
While #growinguphispanic had some mentions of Vapo Rub and managing the responsibility of biligualism in the family.
#GrowingUpHispanic this cured everything pic.twitter.com/T8IXx9gVpr
— The Friendly Asshole (@FriendlyAssh0le) July 15, 2015
#GrowingUpHispanic Translating what ur teacher said to ur mom and u would bs some stuff so u would look like a good student ?
— Hispanic Parents (@HispanlcParents) July 16, 2015
But many tweets, often with a sense of humor, talked about growing up with racism or discrimination in many forms, from classmates to movies.
#GrowingUpAsian having your peers disregard every achievement you make with “it’s just because you’re asian”
— fka caitlyn (@lilacisms) July 15, 2015
#GrowingUpHispanic always getting called a Mexican even if we weren’t
— Ying Ling (@Isaiah_Colon123) July 16, 2015
#GrowingUpBlack (Dies first in a horror film)
— 1994 Subaru Outback (@Sadieisonfire) July 16, 2015
But whatever the experience, these hashtags are a way for non-white users to talk about childhood experiences we don’t hear about often.