04/21/21
YELLOW IS ONLY SKIN DEEP
We invited our marketing and operations associate, Grace Chung, to share her thoughts on the ongoing violence towards Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders; here are her words.
The past several months have certainly been a continual wheel of eye-opening experiences. I don’t feel as if I have to speak more to the violence against AAPI individuals, crimes ruthless, uncaring of their youth or age. The raw nature of hatred is not anything new, nor is it rare.
What I do want to speak on, however, is the passion that I feel in allies to take part in caring for and bringing justice to our community. For far too long Asian Americans have felt what was considered ‘white-adjacent’ or as a ‘model minority,’ where we didn’t speak up because ‘at least we weren’t treated worse’ or because ‘at least we were being left alone.’ This is harmful to any community, especially ours, as it brings erasure and shame to the long and staying roots of our cultures.
In and through recent acts of solidarity and celebration, though, I’ve opened my eyes and arms to those who’ve wanted to learn, engage, and help protect my community. And those people and moments are what I strive to focus on. Hate and discrimination, unfortunately, will not expire anytime soon. What we can look forward to is hope in radical acts of self-love, loving others, and continuing to do the work toward systemic and systematic change.
Grace Chung
Learn more ︎︎︎
How to help ︎︎︎
Grace’s Instagram ︎︎︎
The past several months have certainly been a continual wheel of eye-opening experiences. I don’t feel as if I have to speak more to the violence against AAPI individuals, crimes ruthless, uncaring of their youth or age. The raw nature of hatred is not anything new, nor is it rare.
What I do want to speak on, however, is the passion that I feel in allies to take part in caring for and bringing justice to our community. For far too long Asian Americans have felt what was considered ‘white-adjacent’ or as a ‘model minority,’ where we didn’t speak up because ‘at least we weren’t treated worse’ or because ‘at least we were being left alone.’ This is harmful to any community, especially ours, as it brings erasure and shame to the long and staying roots of our cultures.
In and through recent acts of solidarity and celebration, though, I’ve opened my eyes and arms to those who’ve wanted to learn, engage, and help protect my community. And those people and moments are what I strive to focus on. Hate and discrimination, unfortunately, will not expire anytime soon. What we can look forward to is hope in radical acts of self-love, loving others, and continuing to do the work toward systemic and systematic change.
Grace Chung
Learn more ︎︎︎
How to help ︎︎︎
Grace’s Instagram ︎︎︎