For a long time, I associated the phrase "Asian culture" with the "thank you" take-out bags I received from my favorite Asain restaurants. This limited view of Asian culture was enough for me. However, knowing how to properly use sweet & sour and soy sauce does not make me cultured. After the recent attacks on Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) people I knew I needed to do better, especially since this is not a new phenomenon. Hatred toward AAPI people dates back years.
To right my wrongs I decided to interview Thu Luong (Vietnamese-American) and Kaylee Wray (Filipino-American) members of the Asian American Association (AAA)at Fairfield High School. Although I had many questions for them, I learned more by listening to their stories. I learned that this racism is complex; Asian people especially women are fetishized and many AAPI peopleare teased for not conforming to American standards.
Racism: What does it look like?
A question constantly asked of Thu Luong and Kaylee Wray is "Where are you from?". To which they answer the United States, yet they are questioned again expected to give a different answer. This question is not only annoying but conveys that people believe all Americans are the same when in reality we are multifaceted.
Fetishization: "Is a Bad Thing"
There are three definitions of the word fetishize that can basically be summarized into one definition. Fetishize (.v): the unsound or illogical love or devotion to something. AAPI people are fetishized every day because of their "exotic looks" and are treated as objects and not human beings.
Model Minority: Why this Label is Fatal?
The label Model Minority is given to marginalized people who find a way to succeed among the majority. Any person in the AAPI community falls into this category. This generalization plays into stereotypes like "All Asians are smart" and excludes AAPI people from any racial oppression. The model minority is one of the reasons I and other Americans failed to understand why Asian Americans were being attacked.
AAPI: It is Important to show your support.
Thu Luong said you can not buy boba tea or fried rice, without support AAPI. They receive little to no support from people in their school but their AAA supervisor Kathy Youngkin.
Love: Why I Love Being AAPI!
Though people do not understand their culture or might hate it, they still love being AAPI.
How to Support the AAPI Community:
-Support AAPI Businesses locally and nationally
-Report hate crime toward AAPI people
-Check-in on your AAPI friends and coworkers
-Research the systemic racism placed on AAPI people
All these things will help change the conversation about AAPI people and end AAPI hate.
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