This proposal seeks to understand a Chinese international student’s (Hong’s) encounters with linguistic racism as symbolic violence and why and how he resisted different forms of linguistic racism. Linguistic racism, one form of symbolic violence, is defined as various ideologies and practices employed and applied to confirm or normalize the unequal linguistic power relations between linguistically minoritized individuals or groups and the dominant ones. Narrative analysis was used to analyze the data collected from interviews, classroom observations, and keepsakes. Findings show that Hong encountered overt and covert linguistic racism in formal (classrooms) and informal (Japanese restaurant and Walmart) settings. Linguistic racism was exercised as verbal and nonverbal linguistic discrimination, which caused Hong physical and psychological injuries and mental struggles. However, Hong used various mechanisms to deal with implicit and explicit linguistic racism. For example, Hong intentionally kept silent in a Japanese restaurant when asked if he could speak English. While in Wal-Mart, Hong explicitly resisted the cashier’s demand to speak English through a confrontation. When being labeled as “Chinatown people,” Hong insisted on sitting with his Chinese classmates and remained part of it.

Findings suggest that linguistic racism as symbolic violence takes different forms through verbal and nonverbal language under the scrutiny of white gaze. The triad of linguistic racism, symbolic violence, and white gaze formed an intersection, practiced through visible and hearable linguistic modalities immediately to subordinate and oppress Hong as a victim. The researchers suggest that more research is needed to deconstruct the complexity and subtlety of the intersection. In addition, education about linguistic racism should be embedded into the curriculum and instruction from pre-K to the tertiary level. Educating students of color and minoritized groups must recognize the danger of keeping silent because they can easily become accomplices if they constantly ignore or tolerate linguistic racism.