"Conclusion: Academics Awaken: Power, Resistance, and
Being Woke." by Kieu Linh Caroline Valverde and Wei Ming Dariotis is a good
conclusion to this ASA2 journey. For the past 10 weeks, we’ve been reading about
the injustice and racial discrimination that Asian Americans face in academia
and have been made aware of the problems and inequality in the institution. It’s
been eye-opening, thought-provoking and shocking, but I rather be shocked into
awareness than kept in darkness.
This week’s reading, the conclusion, is a call to action – now
that we’re aware of the truth, what are we going to do about it? Being aware
has little value if our awareness and knowledge isn’t being put into action. We
have to fight the injustice and discrimination by calling it out, educating
each other and advocating for change. Staying silent cannot change anything.
This doesn’t just apply to academia, it applies everywhere. Racial
discrimination isn’t only in academia, it’s present in other workplaces and in
society. Fighting against discrimination in academia is fighting against
discrimination in society, and vice versa. They can’t be separated, and while
individual actions do have “rippling effects” (Valverde & Dariotis, 434),
so much more can be achieved when we all stand together and let our voices be
heard. Let’s not fight with each other, one group against another, but fight
together against the system that oppresses us in order to achieve the equal rights,
opportunities and recognition that we all deserve.
Question: What will you do to bring change to society?
References:
Valverde, K.-L. C., & Dariotis, W. M. (2020). Fight the tower:
Asian American women scholars resistance and renewal in the academy. New
Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press.
Image: We must stand together. (2011, August 06). Retrieved from
https://westjeffhigh.wordpress.com/2011/08/07/we-must-stand-together/
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