COMMUNITY BUILDING
December 6th, 2015
Community building isn't easy. It takes a lot of planning and strategic work, with effort needed from all individuals. It's a huge commitment, yet I think it's necessary in building stronger, more effective bonds. People of color need to support one another through times of hardship—or in general, to be honest. It would be great to have a multicultural center as a hub at Pitzer, so community building could become easier and more accessible.
My hopes for the future will be that Pitzer does create that space, and hires coordinators for spaces that are being paid to help build community and guide Pitzer. I've alluded to this before when I discussed the suicide that caused CAPAS to be created, but having a space is crucial for feeling welcomed and accepted on campus—especially a traditionally white campus. If every minority group could have a stable space, with guidance from a paid coordinator, I think it would go far in creating cross-cultural events. I love that I've seen all types of people come to APAC events; we had a cultural showcase with performances and food, and tons of people supported us! It would be amazing if we could collaborate with other groups, even for small, workshop-type events. I'd like to hope that Pitzer will become a safer, more accessible place for all students in the future, and that community building will be prioritized.
-K
Community building isn't easy. It takes a lot of planning and strategic work, with effort needed from all individuals. It's a huge commitment, yet I think it's necessary in building stronger, more effective bonds. People of color need to support one another through times of hardship—or in general, to be honest. It would be great to have a multicultural center as a hub at Pitzer, so community building could become easier and more accessible.
My hopes for the future will be that Pitzer does create that space, and hires coordinators for spaces that are being paid to help build community and guide Pitzer. I've alluded to this before when I discussed the suicide that caused CAPAS to be created, but having a space is crucial for feeling welcomed and accepted on campus—especially a traditionally white campus. If every minority group could have a stable space, with guidance from a paid coordinator, I think it would go far in creating cross-cultural events. I love that I've seen all types of people come to APAC events; we had a cultural showcase with performances and food, and tons of people supported us! It would be amazing if we could collaborate with other groups, even for small, workshop-type events. I'd like to hope that Pitzer will become a safer, more accessible place for all students in the future, and that community building will be prioritized.
-K
No, no where are you actually from?
December 2nd, 2015
I read an article recently about an Asian American girl being arrested and handcuffed and smacked by a police officer. The officer late says "You're not f------ American! ... I'll put you in a UPS box and send you back to wherever the f--- you came from." and this made me think of moments when people ask APIs for their origin.
When I go to the grocery store, an airport, ride a taxi or anywhere there are some times when people ask me "where are you from?". I answer "I'm from LA" because I was born here and LA is the longest city that I've lived in. However, this answer doesn't usually satisfy the person that is asking this question. They next usually say "oh, well where are you from from?" and I assume that they are asking about my ethnicity so I say "well, my parents live in Japan right now" and they go "I knew it! you look Japanese!"
These moments where people ask for my "actual" origin has happened to me numerous times that it does not bother me as it used to, but these are the examples and the causes of making the API community feeling like they don't belong to this country even though they were born and raised in the states. I think that people don't understand how much the question "where are you from from?" affects not only the API community but also the other minority groups as well and how to ask for their ethnicity properly.
I read an article recently about an Asian American girl being arrested and handcuffed and smacked by a police officer. The officer late says "You're not f------ American! ... I'll put you in a UPS box and send you back to wherever the f--- you came from." and this made me think of moments when people ask APIs for their origin.
When I go to the grocery store, an airport, ride a taxi or anywhere there are some times when people ask me "where are you from?". I answer "I'm from LA" because I was born here and LA is the longest city that I've lived in. However, this answer doesn't usually satisfy the person that is asking this question. They next usually say "oh, well where are you from from?" and I assume that they are asking about my ethnicity so I say "well, my parents live in Japan right now" and they go "I knew it! you look Japanese!"
These moments where people ask for my "actual" origin has happened to me numerous times that it does not bother me as it used to, but these are the examples and the causes of making the API community feeling like they don't belong to this country even though they were born and raised in the states. I think that people don't understand how much the question "where are you from from?" affects not only the API community but also the other minority groups as well and how to ask for their ethnicity properly.
A movement sparked from a movement
November 30th, 2015
Something I've been thinking of lately is how movements manifest, and how movements build off of one another, and how movements all started from something.... More specifically, I've been thinking about the civil rights movement, especially after reading an article entitled "Three Things Asian Americans Owe to the Civil Rights Movement," (I'll link the article into the archive page). It's hard to believe that the Civil Rights Movement wasn't that long ago, but it has impacted all movements from that point on. Even now, when I think about the organization at CMC, I think that these acts have been influenced by the Civil Rights Movement.
I must say, at first, I was in disagreement with the article. Without initially reading into it, or critically thinking, I thought to myself, "Asian Amercians don't owe anybody anything. Period." I think it is easy to get defensive and feel that your own struggles and accomplishments, and the struggles of your parents and their accomplishments, are all accredited to them (or to yourself). It is easy to dismiss others and believe purely in your own abilities—but that's not the point. The point is to recognize history, recognize privilege, and it is from that that we are able to critically think about where we stand and where we can move forward, while thanking the people who have paved the way.
-K
Something I've been thinking of lately is how movements manifest, and how movements build off of one another, and how movements all started from something.... More specifically, I've been thinking about the civil rights movement, especially after reading an article entitled "Three Things Asian Americans Owe to the Civil Rights Movement," (I'll link the article into the archive page). It's hard to believe that the Civil Rights Movement wasn't that long ago, but it has impacted all movements from that point on. Even now, when I think about the organization at CMC, I think that these acts have been influenced by the Civil Rights Movement.
I must say, at first, I was in disagreement with the article. Without initially reading into it, or critically thinking, I thought to myself, "Asian Amercians don't owe anybody anything. Period." I think it is easy to get defensive and feel that your own struggles and accomplishments, and the struggles of your parents and their accomplishments, are all accredited to them (or to yourself). It is easy to dismiss others and believe purely in your own abilities—but that's not the point. The point is to recognize history, recognize privilege, and it is from that that we are able to critically think about where we stand and where we can move forward, while thanking the people who have paved the way.
-K
Thoughts about cmc and safe spaces after the fact
November 24th, 2015
It's been a decent amount of time since my last blog. That, in part, has a lot to do with trying to grapple the situation that's been happening on the Claremonts (and across the nation). I'm still trying to understand how I feel and how to respond appropriately, but I've been very grateful for the support among some faculty and staff that has made me feel safer and listened to during my most vulnerable times. I am especially thankful for CAPAS—the Center for Asian Pacific American Students and the coordinator of CAPAS, Linda Lam. She has been an amazing resource to students and a wonderful person to talk to and bounce ideas off of. She has been available for everyone and has really helped me better understand myself in light of everything. It is so wonderful to have a space, and that is why it is necessary for Pitzer to deliver upon safe spaces for other students, too. BSU, essentially, has a closet for their meeting space. It isn't safe or warm or welcoming, and we need to work on fixing that.
Some history—people are always saying how lucky API students have a space and how it's actually unfair. I agree; it is unfair, and spaces need to be given to all students of color. However, for people who are unaware, CAPAS was created as a reaction to a shocking and saddening event: an API student at Pitzer committed suicide and in her suicide note mentioned not feeling supported. Because of that, CAPAS was formed. A student should never feel they have no where to turn to. The time to act is now.
-K
It's been a decent amount of time since my last blog. That, in part, has a lot to do with trying to grapple the situation that's been happening on the Claremonts (and across the nation). I'm still trying to understand how I feel and how to respond appropriately, but I've been very grateful for the support among some faculty and staff that has made me feel safer and listened to during my most vulnerable times. I am especially thankful for CAPAS—the Center for Asian Pacific American Students and the coordinator of CAPAS, Linda Lam. She has been an amazing resource to students and a wonderful person to talk to and bounce ideas off of. She has been available for everyone and has really helped me better understand myself in light of everything. It is so wonderful to have a space, and that is why it is necessary for Pitzer to deliver upon safe spaces for other students, too. BSU, essentially, has a closet for their meeting space. It isn't safe or warm or welcoming, and we need to work on fixing that.
Some history—people are always saying how lucky API students have a space and how it's actually unfair. I agree; it is unfair, and spaces need to be given to all students of color. However, for people who are unaware, CAPAS was created as a reaction to a shocking and saddening event: an API student at Pitzer committed suicide and in her suicide note mentioned not feeling supported. Because of that, CAPAS was formed. A student should never feel they have no where to turn to. The time to act is now.
-K
I am not your model minority
November 15th, 2015
I went to a talk a last week called “I am not your model minority”, which talked about how APIs are thought to be the “model minorities” and how there's an idea that the Asians worked hard and succeeded, why cant you? They mentioned that not only this affect the other minorities but also give the idea that there are no problems within the Asian community. One guy who works at a finance company gave an example that many people come in and say “why do you need to help Asians? They’re perfect aren’t they?” A woman who graduated Stanford says how there is an idea where Asians are hard working and there are not asians “enough” if they are not good at math.
The talk basically explained what the Model minority myth is and how that effects the Asian community and the other minorities, but I wished that they talked about how we can try to fix this stereotypical images and how this stereotypical idea affects the society and what people are doing right now to change this stereo typical idea because the audience that was there, which were mostly from the API community, already knew most of the information that they were giving out.
-A
I went to a talk a last week called “I am not your model minority”, which talked about how APIs are thought to be the “model minorities” and how there's an idea that the Asians worked hard and succeeded, why cant you? They mentioned that not only this affect the other minorities but also give the idea that there are no problems within the Asian community. One guy who works at a finance company gave an example that many people come in and say “why do you need to help Asians? They’re perfect aren’t they?” A woman who graduated Stanford says how there is an idea where Asians are hard working and there are not asians “enough” if they are not good at math.
The talk basically explained what the Model minority myth is and how that effects the Asian community and the other minorities, but I wished that they talked about how we can try to fix this stereotypical images and how this stereotypical idea affects the society and what people are doing right now to change this stereo typical idea because the audience that was there, which were mostly from the API community, already knew most of the information that they were giving out.
-A
Standing up against the mold
November 12th, 2015
It pains me to see my peers standing up to the Dean and President of Claremont McKenna College with tears in their eyes and still feel like their voices and demands aren't being heard, or are merely being brushed off. It pains me that this community we are all apart of still marginalizes and otherizes students. It pains me that the term "mold" could ever come from a person who is hired, who is paid—with tuition from students—to protect students. I mourn for Claremont, but more importantly, I am humbled by my peers who stand tall in the face of injustice and voice their concerns louder. And louder. AND LOUDER. We are living in a movement, and we're either apart of it or complicit in the violence.
-K
It pains me to see my peers standing up to the Dean and President of Claremont McKenna College with tears in their eyes and still feel like their voices and demands aren't being heard, or are merely being brushed off. It pains me that this community we are all apart of still marginalizes and otherizes students. It pains me that the term "mold" could ever come from a person who is hired, who is paid—with tuition from students—to protect students. I mourn for Claremont, but more importantly, I am humbled by my peers who stand tall in the face of injustice and voice their concerns louder. And louder. AND LOUDER. We are living in a movement, and we're either apart of it or complicit in the violence.
-K
aLLY TRAINING
November 9th, 2015
As one of the head sponsors for APAC (Pitzer's Asian Pacific American Coalition), I help organize training for fellow sponsors at the beginning of the semester (technically in the summer, right before first years move in). We work and train to become resources for first year self-identified API students, helping them with the transition to college and adapting a new space. Often times, our sponsees grapple with culture shock, feelings of being overwhelmed, and homesickness. Something new that has been added to the conversation, however, is how to become an ally. We go through so many trainings about the model minority myth, about combatting microaggresions, about relating to our sponsees, but prior to this year we had never thought about doing allyship training. Thankfully, we have CAPAS (Center for Asian Pacific American Students) and the coordinator of CAPAS to help us. She included a Black Lives Matter workshop for our training, and although I don't feel entirely comfortable saying that I know exactly how to be an ally, I do feel it what as amazing place to learn to listen and to hear. In the future, I hope we as a club and organization can conduct more workshops that are open to all of APAC to bridge the gap between cultures. It never hurts to try to learn more and more.
-K
As one of the head sponsors for APAC (Pitzer's Asian Pacific American Coalition), I help organize training for fellow sponsors at the beginning of the semester (technically in the summer, right before first years move in). We work and train to become resources for first year self-identified API students, helping them with the transition to college and adapting a new space. Often times, our sponsees grapple with culture shock, feelings of being overwhelmed, and homesickness. Something new that has been added to the conversation, however, is how to become an ally. We go through so many trainings about the model minority myth, about combatting microaggresions, about relating to our sponsees, but prior to this year we had never thought about doing allyship training. Thankfully, we have CAPAS (Center for Asian Pacific American Students) and the coordinator of CAPAS to help us. She included a Black Lives Matter workshop for our training, and although I don't feel entirely comfortable saying that I know exactly how to be an ally, I do feel it what as amazing place to learn to listen and to hear. In the future, I hope we as a club and organization can conduct more workshops that are open to all of APAC to bridge the gap between cultures. It never hurts to try to learn more and more.
-K
Ideology
November 8th, 2015
I was sitting on my couch with my computer on my lap having an Office marathon and one of the episode, "diversity day" caught my attention. In the episode, Michel (the boss) decides to teach the employees about diversity and about racism. However he decides to do a workshop where the people would put an index card with a name of a race on it and they have to guess what card they have. At first, the employees are being hesitant about it but Michel tells them to go further and makes them say things such as "You're a woman and you're bad at driving", which is a stereotypical image of an Asian women.
When I was watching this, I felt extremely uncomfortable. First because the boss is making them do the exercise that they cannot resist, and there is no one that defends themselves from the racist statements. Second, because I know that being racist is morally wrong from being taught so and from my experiences. This mostly has to do with ideology. According to Vande Berg ideology is "the systematic representation of ideas and beliefs that members of a society learn to regard as the normal or natural way thing are" This includes political ideas, everyday activities, things to eat, and everything. However, once the system reveals, it makes us feel uncomfortable. In the media, there are many cases where they make racist jokes, or a misrepresentation of a race but is silent about it. However in the show, it makes it too obvious that there is racism going on with strong stereotypical opinions and the employees cannot defend themselves, which makes the audience feel uncomfortable. I think Greg Daniels, the producer for Office, did a great job in putting this in a well-known popular show, bringing attention about racism in the media and how the audience tend to accept racism when the system is hidden and is well blended in the social norm, when it should not be acceptable.
-A
I was sitting on my couch with my computer on my lap having an Office marathon and one of the episode, "diversity day" caught my attention. In the episode, Michel (the boss) decides to teach the employees about diversity and about racism. However he decides to do a workshop where the people would put an index card with a name of a race on it and they have to guess what card they have. At first, the employees are being hesitant about it but Michel tells them to go further and makes them say things such as "You're a woman and you're bad at driving", which is a stereotypical image of an Asian women.
When I was watching this, I felt extremely uncomfortable. First because the boss is making them do the exercise that they cannot resist, and there is no one that defends themselves from the racist statements. Second, because I know that being racist is morally wrong from being taught so and from my experiences. This mostly has to do with ideology. According to Vande Berg ideology is "the systematic representation of ideas and beliefs that members of a society learn to regard as the normal or natural way thing are" This includes political ideas, everyday activities, things to eat, and everything. However, once the system reveals, it makes us feel uncomfortable. In the media, there are many cases where they make racist jokes, or a misrepresentation of a race but is silent about it. However in the show, it makes it too obvious that there is racism going on with strong stereotypical opinions and the employees cannot defend themselves, which makes the audience feel uncomfortable. I think Greg Daniels, the producer for Office, did a great job in putting this in a well-known popular show, bringing attention about racism in the media and how the audience tend to accept racism when the system is hidden and is well blended in the social norm, when it should not be acceptable.
-A
the multi racial miss universe for japan
November 7th, 2015
Ariana Miyamoto, the Miss Universe for Japan 2015, has been facing discrimination for representing Japan because she is half Japanese and half Black. Although the Miss Universe contest took place earlier this year, she has marked a change in race and identity in Japan. People disapprove of Ariana because she is not "fully" Japanese and people in Japan have this idea that the representer of Japan needs to look Japanese, from Japan, and speaks Japanese. Ariana was born and raised in Japan by her Japanese grandmother, speaks Japanese, but she looks different because she is half black. I think this situation can be applied to the mix-raced community in the United States for not being able to belong to either community from not having the full blood and people denying their identity because they are half. I believe that identity belongs to each individuals and other people have no rights to deny it nor approve it. In Ariana's case, she identifies as Japanese, and to back her up, she is from Japan, went to school in Japan, and speaks Japanese. There are no reasons why people can deny her for being Japanese.
-A
Ariana Miyamoto, the Miss Universe for Japan 2015, has been facing discrimination for representing Japan because she is half Japanese and half Black. Although the Miss Universe contest took place earlier this year, she has marked a change in race and identity in Japan. People disapprove of Ariana because she is not "fully" Japanese and people in Japan have this idea that the representer of Japan needs to look Japanese, from Japan, and speaks Japanese. Ariana was born and raised in Japan by her Japanese grandmother, speaks Japanese, but she looks different because she is half black. I think this situation can be applied to the mix-raced community in the United States for not being able to belong to either community from not having the full blood and people denying their identity because they are half. I believe that identity belongs to each individuals and other people have no rights to deny it nor approve it. In Ariana's case, she identifies as Japanese, and to back her up, she is from Japan, went to school in Japan, and speaks Japanese. There are no reasons why people can deny her for being Japanese.
-A
bRIDGING THE GAP ACROSS CULTURES
November 7th, 2015
Something that I think many people have trouble trying to understand is how to bridge the gap across cultures. There are sentiments that are sometimes instilled in us and difficult to shake. I have heard some POC say that Asian/Asian Americans are "just as bad as white people"—that they are inherently racist. Examples that are given range from the murder of Latasha Harlins to fighting Japan in World War II. And that's not to say I haven't heard racism come from Asian/Asian Americans before either. But the problem is that people tend to take a small example and lump a larger group with their one experience. Something I've learned is that, despite your race, you can't be free from prejudice. We are all responsible for our own thoughts and perceptions, and the best way to move forward is by opening our minds and understanding across cultures. I think a good start is listening without judgment, and being vulnerable to share our own experiences. It is only then that we can expand our minds and build relationships to empower one another. Race is a social construct used to categorize—what we really need to do is recognize the different ways we experience privilege and struggles and work together to dismiss prejudice and stereotypes.
-K
Something that I think many people have trouble trying to understand is how to bridge the gap across cultures. There are sentiments that are sometimes instilled in us and difficult to shake. I have heard some POC say that Asian/Asian Americans are "just as bad as white people"—that they are inherently racist. Examples that are given range from the murder of Latasha Harlins to fighting Japan in World War II. And that's not to say I haven't heard racism come from Asian/Asian Americans before either. But the problem is that people tend to take a small example and lump a larger group with their one experience. Something I've learned is that, despite your race, you can't be free from prejudice. We are all responsible for our own thoughts and perceptions, and the best way to move forward is by opening our minds and understanding across cultures. I think a good start is listening without judgment, and being vulnerable to share our own experiences. It is only then that we can expand our minds and build relationships to empower one another. Race is a social construct used to categorize—what we really need to do is recognize the different ways we experience privilege and struggles and work together to dismiss prejudice and stereotypes.
-K