In Light of Asian / Pacific-American Heritage Month
I’m gonna be honest here as the past several posts have been on racial issues. While it’s important for me, I should say it’s not the only thing I think about. But I’m sure a little book that’s making BIG waves has something to do with it (see previous post). Rah’s book is influential; and people are talking about it everywhere and it’s lighting up the blogosphere. So naturally there’s a lot more chatter about race issues. But a small detail has gone unnoticed – anyone recognize that’s it’s “Asian / Pacific-American Heritage Month”? Holla.
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Found a great article celebrating this month and talking about the myth of a post-racial society: here was my two cents in reply which should be published in the Herald sometime this week. I’m not holding my breath.
Thanks for publishing Leslie Bow’s article on Asian Pacific-American Heritage Month. It’s a blessing to be asian in America.
But she hits on some important issues. The status that asians bear as “model minorities” and “honorary whites” are loaded titles implying a sort of domestication as well as a denigrating of our brothers and sisters of other minority ethnicities. Model in whose eyes? And declared model compared to who?
You see, it is indeed, as Leslie asserts, way too premature to declare that we are in a “post-racial” era.
This one goes out to Bellingham. Thoughts? Is Bellingham post-racial? Or do we have a long way to go? I’ll be the first to confess. I have a long way to go. Privilege exempts none, and it has social dimensions as well as racial. But I think the spirit of Bellingham is a progressive one.
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Good Morning all. I did not know it was Asian-American Heritage month. But I will be more attentive. To celebrate heritage I believe is an honor to those who have come before us to open so many doors. I haven’t received the past few post regarding race, so my statements may not be on target to the conversations.
What is ‘Post Racial?’ I do not want to lose sight of the beauty of colors and various features that God has created. I do not want people to look at me and not see this beautiful brown of my skin, and my well-earned curly grey hair. If ‘Post racial’ is seeing that I am equally human, and entitled to all aspects of the Contitution our country offer to her citizens, then I say “Yea!”
The people in Bellingham do seem to be more progressive in acceptace of people for who they are, and what they offer oppsed to what they look like. Commercial Bellingham though will be post racial for me as a Black woman when I can go into ANY store and find make-up for my skin color and top grade hair products that I need.
Word, let’s hear it for APA month. I remembered, then forgot, but remembered again. Thanks for the reminder!
@Jay – You said it so well.
The myth of the “colorblind” society actually downplays these beautiful features you mentioned – and melts everything into a gray. If we don’t see race, we dismiss human identity and claim heritage – even past injustices – never happened.
@david – May’s almost over, but it aint too late to celebrate! Hope the kiddo’s doin well..