Week 6 - Chloriza Avila - Section A02

I am always overjoyed when I get to read anything even slightly related to my own Filipino culture.  The curriculum that I grew up with (and i'm pretty sure mine wasn't the only one) had no more than one paragraph that mentioned anything about the Philippines even though we have shared pivotal moments in history.  However, the article Precariously Positioned: Asian American Women Students Negotiating Power in Academia recognizes the need for not only the mentioning of Filipino culture, but for Ethnic Studies as a whole. I am a proud sister of Kappa Psi Epsilon Sorority Inc. myself, and to say that I was able to see one of our sisters discuss her journey as a activist student was inspiring to say the least.

Like many of the experiences that we have been able to read, the journey consisted of many "no's" and expectations for us as Asian Americans to sit down and be silent. However, Shannon Deloso did not let the standards of the institution and expectations of society define her reality. Time and time again, San Francisco State University has always fought for Ethnic Studies. The Third World Liberation Front was a turning point for Ethnic Studies state-wide and was the game-changer for many minority groups across many college campuses. It's one of the prime reasons that we have classes like ASA 2. In that period, students were able to realize that their voices mattered, and that they had the power to stand up and use their voices for something greater, despite the administrations attempts to disempower and depoliticize student activism (Deloso, Pg. 4) 

Although Deloso was able to fight for the continued integration of Ethnic Studies at SFSU, the journey is far from over. In a couple of years, who knows if a situation like this would arise on another campus or even on the same one? From the articles that we have read thus far, I have learned that changing the system and reclaiming our identities is a difficult task, but recognizing that I am here because of my ancestors struggles is what pushes me to continue to create spaces for minority groups to share their experiences and find a community that supports them if the institution will not. 

Although there will be many obstacles along the way, people who tell you you can't, and moments where you feel like you are chasing after the impossible- we should always hold true to our roots and keep hope without certainty. In addition, we should stand in solidarity with other communities, just as Deloso did, and use difference as an organizing principle to bond together as one. 

Question:
In what ways (both large scale and small scale) can we as students encourage others to gain interest in Ethnic Studies beyond simply taking classes in University? How do we encourage students to become more politically active, without pushing that interest upon them?

References:
1.Đỗ, L. L & Deloso, S (n.d. ). Precariously Positioned: Asian American Women Students Negotiating Power in Academic Wonderland. Retrieved from Canvas downloaded pdf. Feb 6, 2019.