Week 8: Samantha Nguyen

Samantha Nguyen

ASA 2 A03

Week 8

The article written by Putterman was very relatable and encouraging to read since it talks about activism within my own community. I too have questioned whether Asian American voices count in conversations about racism. I can relate to those who took part in Yale’s Asian American Studies Task Force’s truthful signs that read, “YALE WILL NOT TEACH ME…” It is reported that less than two of the school’s 2000 undergraduate courses offered the past fall were within the field of Asian American studies. An individual cannot understand how the Asian American identity began without the history being there in the first place. Asian American studies programs encourage student activism since it educates Asian American students about their history. Growing up without any knowledge about Asian Americans had me question my identity and my role of importance within an Asian community. After taking a class about the studies of Asian Americans, I found myself to be more “woke” about the issues of not only outside of my community, but within.

When Putterman mentioned the incident on YikYak, I found it to be saddening to read because I have noticed the wall between international students and Asian American peers on our own campus. I can’t seem to wrap my head around the fact that someone would say something so harsh to a fellow Asian. There is really no difference between an Asian American student and an Asian international student aside from the place that he or she was born. Having similar principles and values should be more than enough for both to stand together as one. It’s also important for students to feel like they belong on a campus because the more they feel like they belong in a space, the more they feel empowered to change things if something feels wrong.

Question: A majority of Asian American students seem more interested in graduating and finding a stable job instead of participating in students protests. Others are worried that speaking out would lead to losing their jobs or disappointing their parents. How can we get rid of the difficulty in mobilizing more Asian American students to be a part of student activism?

References:

1.     Putterman, M. T. (2016). What Asian Americans Are Bringing to Campus Movements for Racial Justice. Race Files. Retrieved November 9, 2017.

2.     [Digital image]. (n.d.). Retrieved November 10, 2017, from https://www.youthvoices.live/2017/09/21/37333/