Assigning the class to read "Academics Awaken: Power, Resistance, and Being Woke" for the last week of class is very fitting. After weeks of learning about the injustices faced by not just Asian Americans but also other minority groups. It is now partially our responsibility as someone who is privileged enough to attend a university to fight against these injustices, especially the very own institution we participate in. The author warns readers about being strong enough to fight the system that has been socially engineered against minorities. This is not to scare people away from any sort of opposition or activism however. It is critical to act against any instances of injustices, regardless of how little the act might seem. Complacency is the worst thing humans can do for civil rights. Though it might seem as if some of these injustices no longer exists as we personally do not experience them, they very much still exist. Some are too afraid to speak up or are unaware that they are victims, especially those who would have never imagined they would. It also does not help that through this society we are often pitted against each other, making it hard to form alliances with each other to fight the system. Recently, I saw the impact of creating allies with communities outside of your usual community. My friends from my Filipino-American club made it a point to be active in the recent protests regarding the recent ruling on the murder of Stephon Clark. It is easy to stay in your usual community and become complacent. However, in times like this it is important to show power in numbers by uniting the different communities and show solidarity.
Question: What have been you experiences with activism? When did you start? What inspired you to start?
References:
[Photograph of University of California, Davis Students Protesting Over the Tuition Hikes] Retrieved from https://www.davisenterprise.com/local-news/ucd/rally-ties-tuition-fight-to-occupy-movement/.
Dariotis, W. M & Valverde, K. L. (n.d.). "Academics Awaken: Power, Resistance, and Being Woke"
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