Finding Our Voice

The Asian experience in America is pretty diverse, befitting the various countries of origin, socio-economic statuses, and life experiences we all hail from.  My particular slice is fairly well-educated and affluent, so I do not claim to represent the fullness of the Asian-American story.  And of course, even within that thin slice, my observations represent over-generalizations masking over a wide range of perspectives.

All that said, it does seem like many people like me are finding our identity and voice in similar ways here in the year 2021.  How many times this year have I heard someone, who looks like me and whose family upbringing resembles mine, say that through all of the racism they've directly experienced or traumatic imagery they've consumed over the years, they just put their head down and tried to avoid drawing attention to themselves.  

And then this year we decided enough is enough.  

Whether through splashy initiatives or in the grassroots act of speaking up through one's social networks, Asian people are pouring out their grief over past wounds, pushing back against harmful stereotypes, and expressing outrage over unconscionable acts of violence against our elders.  We are breaking through the culturally engrained shells we encased ourselves in.  We are done with turning the volume down; we are demanding to be heard and to be taken seriously.

This Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, I trust that my brethren are finding ways to embrace and celebrate our Asian roots.  May this year be a turning point in what that expression looks like.  We are finding our voice, and along with much to be joyous and grateful about, there is also pain, and we are ready for others to hear that part of our story.