| | I have a lot of commitments this month.
I'm facilitating a discussion at Downetime, GAPIMNY's young adult group (which is this Thursday -- fellow gaysians should come), keynoting at the NYC Asian American Student Conference, presenting at the University of Georgia with Julia, facilitating a workshop at the New School's InterSEXtions Conference, and writing a blog entry for APAP (before they kick me off their blog team).
Why? Why do I do this to myself?
I'm honored, nay FLATTERED, to be asked to share my experiences and to reflect on my learnings. I don't at all consider myself to be a brilliant progressive thinker, nor the best community organizer/advocate. In my opinion, many of my friends and colleagues are operating on a way more advanced level than me. I do think I have a lot of heart and my own perspective to bring to the table. And perhaps because of my age, my views are more accessible to my peers and other young people.
But regardless of my less-than-stellar credentials, it doesn't change the fact that I've been asked to share my thoughts and experiences with others. And I guess the reason why I'm writing here is to give shape and structure to a lot of my thinking that will be the foundation for these events. (And maybe because I want some validation from you folks in the blogosphere that my thinking makes sense!)
So, a theme that runs through all of my commitments this month is this broad idea of activism. I've been wrapping my brain around this idea -- specifically how it relates to young people - queer and/or API. In my experience, the word activism has become increasingly demonized. No longer is this attitude coming from members of the conservative right and by mainstream media, but also from a strong number of young people, regardless of where they are along the political spectrum -- and even more disturbingly, from a substantial number of other young APIs - queer and non-queer.
What's the deal?
Is activism considered too radical? Or worse, have young people become less politically and socially conscious? Has privilege across lines of race, class, gender, sexuality made us complacent? Or has the definition of activism changed in our generation?
I'm not sure what the answer is.
I do think APIs must redefine and reclaim this idea of activism so that we can move forward as a community. Now how the fuck do we do that? I think it starts with examining what it means to be API in this nation today. And I think there are some hard lessons to learn along that path. Traditionally, APIs in America have been defined by racist structures and institutions. The most common example is mainstream media. (Do I even need to explain that?)
I also think that APIs in America have been defined by our educational institutions. The long, rich history of the API experience in America has been effectively silenced in the classroom (or are fighting for survival, as seen by the near-gutting of UPenn's Asian American Studies Program). And THAT is fucked up. To silence this experience is to rob APIs of their own history --- a history that is rooted in struggle and in solidarity with other communities of color. It is THIS history that has led me to self-actualization and has inspired me to become an activist.
To me, activism is redefining and reclaiming our experiences as APIs. To me, it is about exercising one's voice in a society that does not recognize you. And yes, it is sometimes about staging protests, hunger strikes, and demonstrations. But it is also about voting, signing petitions, volunteering for grassroots organizations, talking about issues with friends and family, and so much more. Truth is, we need all of these forms of activism to build a movement for change. And we need to redefine and reclaim our experiences so that this movement is inclusive of APIs.
Thoughts?
|
| | Posted 4/6/2008 1:17 AM - 134 Views - 4 eProps - 2 comments
- recommend
  - recs0
- share
- email
 - sent0
|
