week 9 jocelyn centeno A02

Week 9 Jocelyn Centeno A02

In “Why Ferguson Matters to Asian Americans” Soya Jung talks about how society has a dichotomous way of looking at race. It is predominantly a black versus white problem and Asian Americans do not fall on either side. She answers the question many people have wondered “Why should the Black Lives Matter movement  matter to Asian Americans?” She responds with “Why shouldn’t we be alarmed about the death of boys all for the color of their skin?” She understands why the black community has so much rage for the systemic oppression they have received for centuries. Jung also explains that the normalization in black death has lead to ignoring the death of Asians. Asian Americans have been pushed aside from each side: black or white? Which side do we fit into?

In “Building a Culture of Solidarity: Racial Discourse, Black Lives Matter, and Indigenous Social Justice” it explains why appropriating the phrase Black Lives Matter into “Native Lives Matter”, “Asian Lives Matter”, or “Our Lives Matter” causes a racial justice movement that is more inclusive to one’s own race than a solidarity for each others movement. The article emphasizes the need to recognize the similarities and differences of each other’s struggles. I agree with both articles that just because the Black Lives Matter movement does not directly affect you does not mean it is not something that should not concern you. Like in the lecture when Professor Hamamoto spoke he said that it is a “human rights issue” not a Black or White or Asian or Latino issue.

Question: Does the Black Lives Matter have more precedents over the other race movements?

Reference:

Jung, S. (2014). Why ferguson is important to asian americans. Race files, 1-25. Retrieved May 27, 2017.

Ramos, S. F. (2016). Building a Culture of Solidarity: Racial Discourse, Black Lives Matter, and Indigenous Social Justice. Enculturation, 1-6. Retrieved May 28, 2017.

Human rights first [Photograph]. (n.d.).