Dear Asian Youth, All of us have a story of America, here’s mine: I grew up proud to be an American. A strange sentiment in this day in age. I seem to stand alone in that—at least with those whom I share my ideals. It’s not that my family is overly nationalistic—or really nationalistic at all. Rather, we chose to be grateful; which to me, is the most patriotic thing you can do. I grew up hearing stories of before. Before the fateful day when American soldiers arrived on Philippine shores. Before a poor Filipino boy with nothing more than $3 to his name was recruited into the U.S. Navy. Before the boy was absent from his own son’s birth, fighting for a country he wasn’t even born into. Before the boy had his U.S. citizenship. This led me to believe that America was Heaven. I was inspired by the chance of opportunity. The circumstances you were born with were not the ones you had to die with. Here you could make a name and a life for yourself. Here an immigrant boy could turn $3 into 3 children, all of whom would graduate from college. And only in America, could that so readily happen. But I grew up, and the stories lost the magic that children hold. I saw America for what it was at the tangible level and the palpable beauty of freedom faded. I saw fellow citizens serving as bulwarks to liberty. I saw the influential turning a blind eye to injustice. I saw neighbors choosing opportunities for some but not for all. And I don’t care who you are, you see it too. Because of this so many of my peers outwardly say, “I hate it here.” But to me, I find that just as ignorant as those who denied my statement previous. The grass is always greener on the other side. But what do I know? I’m the product of the American dream. I’m not the one who worked hard and sacrificed everything. I’m simply the one who eats the fruit. The whole narrative of someone working hard and sacrificing everything so that their children and grandchildren and great grandchildren could have a better life—it’s true. Here I am living the better life. And for that—I am grateful. The American dream is fresh in the minds of my family. I was raised with the mindset to work hard and be thankful for the sacrifices my family made before me. So, it’s easy for me to say I don’t hate it here. In fact, I really like it here. But just like the stories of before lost the magic as I grew up, the feeling my family had when they reached the American dream will die as time goes on. How do I explain to my grandchildren that their great great grandparents once lived halfway across the globe dirt poor? At what point do we simply no longer understand history? How long does a bee sting hurt when you’re not allergic? When history loses its relevance with Americans, America loses its relevance in American lives. As hard as we try, Americans will never understand freedom the way their immigrant and BIPOC brothers and sisters will. It’s why so many of my peers say they hate it here. Explaining freedom to an American feels hopeless. But, that isn’t America. Because the difference between America and Americans is that America has hope—hope that promises liberty and justice for all. And while this certainly isn’t the America I grew up believing in, today we have hope in ways we didn’t yesterday. So I beg of you, don’t give up the fight. It may not be as poetic as what makes the headlines, but remember the power of the mundane. Because your children notice the food on the table and your third job. But if nothing else, may you remember me as a testimony—the American dream has a beating heart. Because here I am, living in the after, writing my own stories and actively calling for change, so to bring back the America I so dearly loved as a child. And I’ve changed my mind. To be grateful is the second most patriotic thing you can do. To create an America your children are proud to grow up in, would be the first. -Joree Hello! So I am terribly nervous to share this because I understand that I come from a place of privilege and hold views very different from my peers. However, I felt that it was important for me to help my peers better understand why it is we call for change. Because despite adversity, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Instagram: @joreecronk Cover Photo Source: Overlook Graphics

a short story by Chris Fong Chew & Yi-Ann Li

march 11, 2020. 2 days before my school was shut down on that fateful friday the 13th. 1 day before it was announced that my extracurricular events were cancelled. and most importantly, the day when the World Health Organization declared that we were in a global pandemic. at the time i’m writing this, it has been about 7 months since the reality we were all accustomed to began to crumble right in front of us 7 months! over 8 million cases in the US over 218,000 deaths and 22 million jobs lost we have lost so much-- loved ones memories, freedoms normality and the consequences we have faced from this pandemic cannot be more obvious, yet this still isn’t enough for people to realize the importance of simply wearing a mask we give scientific proof concrete evidence straight facts and they give us nothing but unmasked noses and stubborn reasoning: “it restricts my breathing!’ “it makes me look like a sheep following the crowd!” “covid-19 isn’t that bad, it’s just the flu!” “i don’t need to wear a mask, just look at our president!” to put it simply, hearing these statements, is infuriating. it shouldn’t feel like an inconvenience, doing what’s best for yourself and others and how is having something to cover your face and save lives a valid reason to cause marches, riots, rallies? is it your selfish mindset and slightest discomfort inhibiting you from helping others? is it because when you think of a mask, you think safety as political? is it because when our own president mocks his opponent for wearing one, you point and laugh, calling out others for simply following the rules? or is it just because you think that you are above science above the masses who are “brainwashed” into thinking this virus is serious because it’s only the flu right? do you know what it’s like to work on the front lines? do you know what it’s like to feel the burdening effects weigh down on you? i’m talking from personal experience: my mom plays a huge part in helping with this pandemic, and i’m not the only one who knows someone working in this field my mom comes home at night later than she ever has before, each night she is more restless than the last she puts her hands on her face as she tiredly says to me that she sees more samples are testing positive and she doesn’t even let me touch her when she comes home, scared that she is still contaminated and while she’s worried about the wellbeing of others i’m engulfed in fear about what might happen to her. seeing the carelessness people have, from crowded beaches to celebrities holding parties it is frustrating maddening blood-boiling. this is the first pandemic our generation has ever seen with our 2020 vision clouded with our concern for the future we can’t even count the days, each hour seems to blend with the rest aren’t you tired of it? aren’t you sick of it? what is there to gain from the loss of others? so please, for the sake of yourself and everyone. WEAR A MASK!

Dear Asian Youth, Throughout the 2020 presidential election, candidate Andrew Yang has challenged Americans to consider whether the market is undervaluing human beings. According to Yang, “We need to stop confusing human value with economic value. We don’t exist to serve the market. The market exists to serve us.” The United State’s current form of capitalism prioritizes profit over humanity. Americans follow the “rise and grind” lifestyle despite the exhaustive consequences, and many idolize the same CEOs and entrepreneurs who hoard more money than can be spent by taking advantage of workers. Most recently, Vox has reported that over fifty Amazon warehouse workers at Staten Island were infected with COVID-19. Workers reported dirty air filters, ill colleagues being allowed to work, and workers standing close together. Furthermore, many have complained about the lack of pay and benefits provided to workers during the pandemic. Since March, Amazon workers have already organized two petitions with more than 6,000 signatures and have held at least eight protests. When met with various complaints, the company fired at least six employees involved in these protests and reprimanded six others. Yang pointed out, capitalism has forced people to prioritize money over all morality and ethics. All in all, the health of so many workers are risked to profit corporations, and just like how these Amazon workers were fired upon complaint, many are made to feel replaceable. The only choice for Americans is to work harder throughout these troubling conditions. According to the Economic Policy Institute, the difference between pay and productivity became increasingly problematic after the year 1979. Data surrounding the cumulative percent change since 1948, shows that from 1979-2018, productivity increased 69.3%, while hourly pay only increased 11.6%, meaning that productivity has grown nearly six times as much as pay. These alarming statistics show that“...although Americans are working more productively than ever, the fruits of their labors have primarily accrued to those at the top and to corporate profits, especially in recent years.” Even though hard work is not creating the compensation that laborers deserve, we not only give into these ridiculous demands for productivity, but we romanticize it through hustle culture. In a system that clearly values profit over all else, health and well-being are not factors that we consider important. This is particularly evident in the glamorous dream of being an entrepreneur, that ignores the drawbacks of such a rigorous and exhausting lifestyle. One study by Dr. Michael Freeman, a clinical professor at UCSF found that 49% of the sampled entrepreneurs reported suffering from a mental health condition. Among these conditions, depression was the most common. The study cited that about 30% of the sampled entrepreneurs reported issues with depression (72% of which did not have families with pre-existing mental conditions), which as Business Insider points out, is significantly greater than the total 7% of the US population that report depression. The fear of failure, crushing economic risks, and constant responsibilities that entrepreneurs have to deal with are masked by the idea that hard work will get anyone to the top. Many are so willing to push their mental, emotional, and physical limitations to reach success, not necessarily out of economic necessity (although this is indeed the case for many underprivileged Americans) but because of the mindset that doing something purely for fun is a waste of time. Science Daily posted a survey that reported between 66% and 82% of workers do not always take their breaks out of guilt. Another study by the New York Post shared that about six in ten workers reported feeling guilty taking breaks during work hours. Academically competitive students are also victims of this toxic mentality. The Pew Research Center cites that anxiety and depression are on the rise in the United States. Most notably, 61% of teens claim that they feel a lot of pressure to get good grades. This can likely be attributed to the pressure to get into a good college. The demand for higher education has risen greatly, and NBC News even states that undergraduate enrollment in the United States has doubled from 1970 to 2009 alone. In turn, acceptance rates are constantly dropping. For example, Columbia University’s acceptance rate went from 65% in 1988 to 7% in 2014. This doesn’t even account for extracurricular activities and students that maintain jobs throughout their education. As a result of this competitiveness, students are no longer encouraged to pursue hobbies and interests if they do not add value to college applications. Students are also often victims of burnout. This feeling of obligation to working is a product of capitalism. I think more people, myself included, need to realize that a healthy work-life balance is significantly more admirable than being a workaholic. Of course, maintaining such a mindset requires a level of socioeconomic privilege, considering that certain companies force laborers to work incredibly hard for not nearly enough compensation. However, perhaps an understanding of the toxicity of hustle culture is the first step in feeling less guilty about prioritizing health over productivity. And, I hope that as more people critique the lack of morality within capitalism, that we begin to work towards a society where human value is prioritized over all else.

Dear Asian Youth, I love Western period dramas. You know, the ones that are normally a Jane Austen or Brontë Sister adaptation full of commentary on social class, social appearances, religion, and of course (the most enticing theme to me anyway)... love. There was always a certain romanticization to these stories told by women of their time. It was as if I had evidence that during one era of the world, romance and happiness in a crowd of faceless tribulations was still possible, even for characters as headstrong and daring as Elizabeth Bennet or as freedom-loving and dignified as Jane Eyre. When I had heard that these novels had already been adapted into films, I couldn’t contain my excitement. It was one thing reading fiction printed on paper, but it was a whole other thing being able to see it play out on screen. There was no need for imagination -- the main female characters that I had always visualised as myself were going to come to life on a thirteen inch laptop that I had named Tilda. I loved it. So I would press play and begin watching, only to find that absolutely no one looked like me. Not the side characters, not the town hall dancers, not even the background barmaids. Now don’t get me wrong, I’d be lying if I wrote that even a little part of me didn’t expect it. I knew that if we were speaking about these dramas in terms of historical accuracy, it made sense to have an all white cast. Right? Like Diep Tran puts it, “Even post-2010, you still can’t cast an actor of color in a period role without someone crying out, “historical inaccuracy!”. Joking aside, although the authors probably wrote their works with accuracy that pertained to their era, it is important to recognise that these novels are fictional. A lot of the stories are written by incredibly progressive women of their time, many of which used pseudonyms due to the attitudes surrounding women who wrote and were published at the time. An example of this, according to Yohana Desta, is Louisa May Alcott, who although published her most famous work ‘Little Women’ under her real name, had been writing with the male pen name ‘A.M. Barnard’ for her smaller pieces of fiction. Another example is Emily Brontë, who published the renowned ‘Wuthering Heights’ under the alias ‘Ellis Bell’. Of course, she would later be exposed as the true writer, which I don’t think she would be too annoyed about if she was still alive today. I don’t believe that she and many other female writers of nineteenth-century fiction would be very bothered by BIPOC being cast as protagonists in adaptations of their work either. Hell, I think they would advocate for it! Why would they be against inclusion when they werekick-ass back in their day and had their works published despite the patriarchy discouraging it? The only reason they had pseudonyms anyway was so men would be tricked and subconsciously encouraged to read fiction written by women. For decades in the film industry (particularly in Hollywood) and even centuries in certain theatre cultures, people have played roles that they shouldn’t have -- roles that they did not identify with. From actors like John Wayne, who would “tape up their eyes and do the role in yellowface” (according to British-born Chinese actress, Gemma Chan), to Al Jolson’s “persistent use of the burnt-cork makeup commonly known as blackface” (written by Ted Gioia), to even renaissance England when male actors would play female roles due to women stepping on stage being illegal, practices that are fundamentally racist and sexist have been everywhere in media and entertainment history. Probably the source of the largest East Asian discourse on media representation in the twenty-first century is Scarlett Johansson, who in 2017 played a robotic Japanese woman in the film ‘Ghost in the Shell’. To this day, these practices are still being used despite the years of progression we as a society have made in attitudes towards representation. Isn’t it time that we took our own roles back? That we decide how we present ourselves and our identity as a unit of race, ethnicity, gender, et cetera? To cast an individual who is not the race of the character that they are playing is, in itself, inaccurate. Verbatim. I believe the “it’s historically inaccurate” point can be put aside given the decades of media and entertainment history that hasn’t been. Despite these seemingly hopeless transgressions, there have been gradual signs of improvement in the media and entertainment industry. One example is Hamilton, a hugely successful musical that has been praised for its inclusive casting of BIPOC. Lin-Manuel Miranda (the musical’s playwright) stated that “this is a story about America then, told by America now, and we want to eliminate any distance- our story should look the way our country looks”, hammering home the thoughts of BIPOC actors and audiences when full white cast TV shows and film are repeatedly used as representation. Additionally, in an interview for Indiewire, David Oyelowo (who starred in the Les Misérables TV mini series) stated that “If you are an actual genuine student of history- and not just coming from an ignorant kind of purely white lens in relation to European history- you’d know that people of color have been in France, in the UK, all over Europe, for centuries, and not just as slaves”. This was in response to criticisms of historical inaccuracy. To not cast any BIPOC in periodic dramas is to, in a sense, deny that they existed in the Western hemisphere when they did. This also disregards the struggles of BIPOC as ‘minorities’ in Western countries and the discrimination they faced as well as the hard work they put into their lives. Furthermore, the majority of BIPOC representation in Hollywood period dramas has been in support of the ‘white saviour’ narrative. A popular example of this is the 2011 film ‘The Help’ which told the story of a white woman (Emma Stone) named Skeeter in the 1960s writing a book on African American maids who work for white families. She meets Aibileen (Viola Davis) and Minny (Octavia Spencer) and they agree to be interviewed by her. Although the premise of the film was to perhaps bring light to injustices in the history of ill treatment towards African Americans, the film/novel still perpetuates the fantasy of a white woman’s actions being the only possible way to overcome African American struggles. Frankie Stein writes that “the problem isn’t that Skeeter is against racism and is willing to support these women, the problem is that the story is told in a way that seems like the reason Aibileen and Minny ever overcome their obstacles is because of Skeeter”. It in essence portrays the white character as the one who should be praised and is a hero, taking away the actual message that the film is trying to get across to the audience. To refuse to cast BIPOC in any Western period dramas is only adding to the lack of representation in an already homogenous genre. To simply put it, “but it’s not historically accurate!” is not an excuse. Sure, if the film is a reenactment of a historical event, then it would be more understandable as the purpose is educational or to raise a message of the past to the audience. For a purely fictional period drama however, the casting of BIPOC is what I believe is needed. The power of representation on screen is widely agreed on by the majority of ‘minorities’ in the West to be hugely impactful in developing your own self image and identity. To imagine a younger version of myself watching more fictional characters who shared the same ethnicity as me feels like something that frustratingly could have happened but didn’t. I know that I would have felt moved and validated, even if I was too young to fully understand why. These are the experiences in your developmental years that stick with you until you’re mature enough to fully grasp the idea of. To even have seen a BIPOC who wasn’t Chinese like myself would have given me hope that maybe looking different was ‘acceptable’ enough to be on screen. We could have saved a lot of wasted years, confusion and perhaps self-hatred if we embraced an inclusive world, including something even as seemingly insignificant as a genre of film/novels like period dramas. To end on a positive note, I would like to recommend a taste of a short period drama set in nineteenth century England by the channel Refinery29, starring Gemma Chan and Sope Dirisu. Writing Sources: https://tokentheatrefriends.com/2020/07/17/putting-the-poc-in-the-period-drama-from-hamilton-to-six/ https://mashable.com/2015/03/01/female-authors-pen-names/?europe=true https://ew.com/movies/2019/03/20/gemma-chan-responds-mary-queen-of-scots-critics/ https://www.ferris.edu/HTMLS/news/jimcrow/links/essays/jolson.htm https://www.indiewire.com/2019/03/tv-unwhitewashing-history-period-dramas-hbo-hulu-pbs-abc-1202049639/ https://filmdaily.co/news/the-help/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WIcqyHDuIg Cover photo source: https://www.primetimer.com/features/hamiltons-streaming-debut-is-an-accidental-gift-to-an-american-uprising

Dear Asian Youth, When was the first time you saw yourself represented in the media? I’m not talking about Mulan or Princess Jasmine. I mean the first time you really felt represented; that magical feeling of watching TV, reading a book, or seeing a movie, and thinking “whoever created this just gets me”. The sad fact of it is, unless you’re a white dude, that feeling is so rare it barely comes around once in a global pandemic. This is why I was so pleasantly surprised when a new stand-up comedian entered the scene, who is not only a badass Asian American woman, but one who centers her content around the very experience of being a badass Asian American woman and the unique struggles and celebrations that come with that intersection of identities. This woman is the one and only Ali Wong. The first time I heard about Ali Wong was when her first stand up comedy special, Baby Cobra, came out on Netflix. I had never been very into watching stand up comedy before, because I’m honestly not a huge fan of watching white guys with dangerously high levels of self-confidence tell racist and misogynistic jokes to an overeager audience. But something was different about Ali’s set. For one, she wasn’t a white guy, so that helped tremendously. But beyond that, all of her jokes just seemed to resonate so deeply with me that it felt like she knew me, and I knew her. I remember one bit she had in that specific special about financial security. She said she strives to be at the financial level where she could afford pre-sliced mango from Whole Foods that was sliced by white people. I couldn’t really pinpoint why that was so funny to me, or why it just felt so accurate and relatable, or why truly all of her silly jokes just made me feel so understood. I realized it was because, unlike the white dudes I referred to earlier, Ali doesn’t need to put others down in order to be funny. Not only is she talented enough to create comedy gold out of simply telling her life experiences, but she also brings these experiences to a platform from which Asian American women have been historically excluded. Ali Wong made me realize that I don’t hate stand-up comedy. On the contrary, I actually love stand-up comedy. This was just the first time I had heard a stand-up set that touched on experiences that I could relate to. One thing that a lot of people don’t know about Ali Wong is something she and I actually have in common. We were both Asian American Studies majors at UCLA. Now, often when I tell people this was my major in college, I get the snarky, “well what are you gonna do with that?” to which I reply, “I’m gonna become the next Ali Wong, what are you gonna do with your economics degree, Chad?” In all seriousness, Ali Wong utilizes her Asian American Studies education in an admirable way that I strive to achieve. Take her guide to Asian American restaurants, for example. She uses comedy to touch on these very real details of life that all Asian Americans can instantly relate to. As a Chinese American myself, I can tell you she’s right when she says a Chinese restaurant isn’t legit unless it has a tank full of live fish in the front. She lists things here that the people of communities know but have never been expressly stated in this way. Reading this guide made me feel refreshingly represented. This wasn’t the same type of feeling I had when watching Lucy Liu in Charlie’s Angels and just feeling happy to see a face that resembled mine. This was the deeper contentment of knowing my experiences are widely shared and validated. This is a key difference between the facade of on-screen representation served to our communities by white people and the real, behind-the-scenes representation coming from voices that truly represent our communities. This is the reason why I firmly believe that all AAPI stories need to come from AAPI voices in order to achieve this type of quality representation (and no it doesn’t matter how many “cultural consultants” you have. I’m looking at you, live-action Mulan). The thing that really turned Ali Wong from an icon to my absolute idol was reading her memoir, Dear Girls, written to her daughters to read when they are twenty-one years old. Not only was this book as funny as her stand-up specials and her movie, Always Be My Maybe, but it touched on less funny and more serious life experiences Ali has gone through as well. From attending college at UCLA, to meeting her husband, to navigating new motherhood and burgeoning fame all at once, this book will make you laugh, cry, and wish you were married to Ali’s amazing husband, Justin Hakuta. In this book, Ali touches on subjects like feeling unsafe riding to and from her late night comedy shows, or not being respected as an Asian woman in her field. Not only did reading this make me feel represented as an Asian woman, but I also felt like I was getting extremely helpful advice from a wise auntie. Ali was very real and vulnerable in her storytelling and covered topics that many women struggle with but often go untalked about, such as suffering a miscarriage. She detailed in her book that miscarriages are so common, yet no one talks about it; and after suffering one it is so important not to feel alone. To me this sentiment extends beyond this one tragic experience. Reading Ali’s entire book made me feel less alone, like there are other women in the world who have experienced everything I have and more; and are now writing books of advice to me personally on all the unique challenges I still have yet to face as an Asian American woman. Ultimately, yes Ali Wong is special, but she is not one of a kind. There are countless other awesome, funny, smart, talented Asian American women out there who have stories to tell and jokes to share, including so many of you reading this. What Ali Wong has graciously done is open the door for us by showing us that yes, we do belong on these platforms and in these spaces. Asian American women should be out there being funny in front of a live audience, writing memoirs, and casting ourselves into rom-coms where we get to kiss Keanu Reeves. Ali Wong is currently living the dream, and Asian Youth, you are up next! Cover Photo Source: Observer

12:00 AM. Another new year, another new 0.13 inches. The ocean Is growing Too Fast. I switched off the lights and got into bed. My body was restless, sinking into the mattress, But maybe I was just drowning because This was our foreseeable future, our nightmare in disguise. As I dreamed about the wildfires at night and the drowning and the tornadoes And the maybe we can and the hopefully we will Mother Earth was preparing for the future, holding her breath dearly To stop choking on the smoke since The carbon is suffocating her, soon to suffocate us, And her tears are the melting polar ice caps. When I woke that morning, my skin felt hot, Sticky, humid. I refused to turn on the air conditioning that morning. Handfuls of ice were on my cheek, arms, thighs, Attempting to cool myself down in a way that wouldn’t Harm me or you or her or him. Mother Earth looked at me, pitiful. For who? Who knows. She gave me a small smile. I couldn’t smile back.

Dear Asian Youth, The rapid rate of globalization in the past decade has not only worked wonders for business industries and market economies, but it has also paved the way for exchanging ideas, beliefs and cultures. It is truly astounding to see the beautiful eccentricities of our diverse cultures being passed on and made proudly known to the public. Nevertheless, as different heritages are fed into the mouths of the people, the tastes start to turn and the textures start to morph. A keyword that has been floating around across all social media platforms is appropriation. This word has been used as evidence to signify a lack of awareness about or overall disrespect towards a culture. However, I believe cultural appropriation is not equal to simply wearing clothing belonging to another culture; appropriation is nuanced and difficult to objectively identify. So when does showing ‘appreciation’ towards a culture cross over to become ignorant appropriation? Admittedly, the line between cultural appropriation and appreciation has always been blurry, which is why we are often conflicted about our feelings towards the subject - I know I constantly am. Consequently, my intentions with this article is certainly not to provide an exact identification of what appropriation or appreciation is. Instead, I would like to examine multiple perspectives about the subject, and hopefully spur more discussions to educate and inform. To start, let’s take a look at the definition for appropriation. The Cambridge Dictionary defines appropriation as “the act of taking something for your own use, usually without permission.” Then, if we add the term ‘culture’, the definition, as provided by Oxford Dictionary, becomes “the unacknowledged or inappropriate adoption of the customs, practices, ideas, etc. of one people or society by members of another.” What I would like to highlight here are the words “unacknowledged” and “inappropriate”; these adjectives are essentially what angers people about acts of cultural appropriation. Historically, many BIPOCcultures have endured severe prejudice and segregation by more culturally dominant groups. Therefore, when these groups cherry pick cultural aspects of these minorities for enjoyment yet remain discriminatory towards the people and culture itself, it is disrespectful appropriation. If you love and wear the accessories or clothes from a culture, but are prejudiced against the people and the values belonging to that culture, it is completely unacceptable not to mention hypocritical. Culture is multidimensional and its elements cannot be torn and apart from each other and ‘selected’ for the benefit of others. This goes mostly for commercial industries that are profiting off of cultural designs and styles. The fundamental rule about appreciating a culture is showing respect. Once that respect is gone, it is no longer appreciation, no matter how glamorously the culture is depicted. Let’s take a look at an example of when a culture is misused and appropriated: the 2012 Victoria Secret fashion show featuring supermodel Karlie Kloss. During the show, Kloss was seen strutting down the runway with a feathered war bonnet traditionally worn by leaders in various Native American tribes. The initial purpose of the war bonnet, like its name implies, is to be worn during physical battles. However, war bonnets are now mostly used for ceremonial purposes . The war bonnets are symbols of both strength and authority; they are viewed as artifacts of considerable political and spiritual significance, solely to be worn by male leaders who have earned the right and honour through formal recognition by their people. Therefore, the major issue with Kloss wearing such headgear while clothed with a tight-skinned bikini is apparent. The war bonnet is sacred to the Native American people, yet it was used by a luxury lingerie brand to promote underwear. In this case, the runway is disrespectful, the model chosen is disrespectful, and the appropriation of Native American culture is disrespectful. Not to mention the ongoing racism against Native Americans on a day-to-day basis and from authorities imposing legislation is eminent. It is not news that the Native American community has faced long-term oppression from the U.S federal government. Many regulations over the years have hindered the Native Americans’ economic growth, land sovereignty, and asset ownership. Though Native Americans are the original occupants of U.S. soil, imperialism and colonization have stripped them of their homes. Since then, they have been pushed to assimilate to mainstream ‘American culture’, pulling them away from their cultural roots. Oppressing Native American people but using their culture for ‘fashion’ and profit is an inappropriate and inconsiderate business decision backed by hypocritical morals. “Any mockery, whether it's Halloween or Victoria's Secret, they are spitting on us," said Erny Zah, a spokesperson for the Navajo Nation (Native America/American Indian territory). As people who do not belong to this minority group, our appreciation for the Native Americans and their culture is best exemplified when we speak out for their rights and create real change. Though inappropriate acts of appropriation should be condemned and avoided, we should also recognize circumstances where cultures are appreciated and celebrated appropriately. Calling out all actions related to culture as ‘appropriation’ could wrongfully hurt the innocent; not to mention deter people from further understanding and expressing love for cultures out of fear. Sometimes, things aren’t so black and white. Different groups of people may have contrasting perspectives about one subject. I found one specific event regarding ‘cultural appropriation’ to be particularly interesting: the Qipao prom scandal. The incident occured back in 2018, where an American highschooler, Keziah Daum, wore a Chinese-style dress - the Qipao - to her high school prom in Utah. A Qipao is a traditional chinese long dress that gained popularity in the early 1900s. The Qipao usually bears exquisite patterns of flowers or scenery. Tol this day, many Chinese women still choose to wear the Qipao in many situations either for clebratory purposes or simply because they adore the style of this dress. When Keziah, an American girl, wore the Qipao as her gown to prom, she faced immediate backlash from internet users. Many called her out for cultural appropriation and believed that her dress choice was insensitive. However, I noticed that a majority of people calling Keziah out for appropriation were concerned American users. When news of this incident flooded into China, people seemed to be confused about the anger. In fact, the responses from Chinese people were mostly positive. On a Chinese social media platform similar to Tik Tok called Douyin, many Chinese users commented about how happy they were to see Keziah choose the Qipao as her prom dress. These users expressed that Keziah looked beautiful in the dress and that they loved seeing their traditional clothings being represented in foreign countries. “It’s ridiculous to criticize this as cultural appropriation,” Zhou Yijun, a Hong Kong-based cultural commentator, said in a telephone interview. Keziah did not display disrespect to the Chinese culture while wearing the dress, and did not make moderations to the original style of the Qipao. In an interview, Keziah was asked why she chose to wear the Qipao: “I thought it was absolutely beautiful. [The dress] really gave me a sense of appreciation and admiration for other cultures and their beauty.” As a Chinese girl, I can safely say that the Qipao is not some sacred clothing only to be worn during very special occasions. On the contrary, the Qipao has actually been blended into modern fashion, and foreigners in China are encouraged to try out the dress. If we look at the definition for appropriation again, it is the ‘unacknowledged’ adoption of culture in an ‘inappropriate’ manner. However, Keziah shared that she acknowledges the beauty of this Chinese clothing piece, and it was the very reason she chose to wear the Qipao to such an important occasion like prom. Though I cannot and do not wish to invalidate the feelings of anyone, the factors in this situation does make it seem more like appreciation than appropriation. Cultures are very complex, but that’s what makes them so fascinating. As our global society grows and mixes further, we will undoubtedly be faced with more discussions about heritage and respect. While we want all cultures to be celebrated, it is important to remain mindful about how we celebrate them. If you want to appreciate a culture, please do your research beforehand and consider if your actions are appropriate. Numerous current mainstream trends are composed of a mix of many minority cultures, so it is crucial to always give credit where it’s due and always remain grateful. Appreciating a culture is much more than seeing the beauty that fits your taste. More importantly, you should recognize the hardships of each culture, and fight to ensure that their culture is properly respected by all. - Eva Cover photo source: Portia Barrientos https://palyvoice.com/112041/editorspick/treading-the-line-between-cultural-appropriation-and-cultural-exchange/

“Congratulations, Sinoia Wadwhan." Instantly, my face goes scarlet as I read the words sprawled across my 5th -grade graduation certificate, the limp paper threatening to crinkle under the grip of my sweaty palms. “Don’t worry, Siona, we’ll go to the main office tomorrow and ask them to get it changed,” my mother’s voice rings gently in my ear as she brushes a strand of frizzy brown hair away from my face. The rest of my family members burst out into laughter when I show them the jumbled letters that intended to spell out my name. I laugh along with them, but inside, my heart plummets all the way down to the sparkly gold sandals my parents bought me especially for this day. In my 5th grade world, this meant way more than just a simple misspelling or a regular occurrence I would come to expect as I got older. This crumpled piece of paper was the most important thing in my life until then. It meant I had made it, I had finally graduated and was no longer a ‘baby elementary schooler.’ I clenched my fists, five years at this school and they couldn’t even get my name right? The shame from the misspelled words prickled like needles beneath my skin. I watched my classmates thrust their own certificates gleefully in the faces of their parents, and I knew this had never happened to any of them. All of their names had been written perfectly—with familiarity—in just a few elegant strokes of the teacher’s pen. But I was different. My name was different. The truth is that, even now, I can barely pronounce it myself. I didn’t grow up speaking Hindi like my parents, and my last name falls far outside of the familiar patterns of consonants I have been trained to speak in. My colonized tongue is in a constant tug-o-war, struggling to thread basic syllables together despite my mother’s constant reminders. “You’re doing it all wrong,” she explains. “It’s supposed to be a mix of the ‘th’ and ‘dh’ sound… s and make it breathy, ‘Wa-DH-aw-an.’” My mom, on the other hand, can say it effortlessly—and it isn’t even a part of her name! One would think that after all those years of Hindi classes I should at least be able to pronounce my own last name. But alas, the searing flames of shame never cease to erupt across my face whenever someone asks me how to say it. However as I grew up and began to connect more towards my identity, my attitude towards my name changed. I went to India for the first time in two years that summer before my freshman year. The trip reminded be of my Indian heritage and the parts of it that I used to hold so close to my heart. Dancing my heart out to upbeat Hollywood in my grandmother's house, my sister and I eating gulab jamun, a sticky ball shaped desert from the local bakery, giggling hysterically as the sticky syrup dribbles down our chins. Best of all everyone shared the same last name. They announced “Wadhawan” proudly and for the first time in a while I felt proud to carry a name that so many of my cherished relatives had. It made me feel close to my culture and my family. Since that trip, I've slowly been working to embrace my name. I want to embrace it. Embrace its oddity and complexity. Embrace the chaos of oddly strung syllables that can never quite roll off the white tongue. My name is a symbol of my heritage. It is vibrant: a little pocket of individuality that has colored my world with thick, messy paint strokes. Cover Photo Source: Medium

October 21st, 2009. In first grade, Aarti wore a sari to her school’s culture day. She had never felt prettier in her life than when she adorned the colorful bindi on the middle of her forehead along with the ornate gold locket that carried the image of the goddess of strength, Durga, strung across her neck. As Aarti entered her classroom that day, her pillars of self esteem collapsed as she received pointed stares from the rest of her classmates who decided not to participate in culture day. And as Aarti clutched her gold necklace, She summoned all her strength to not cry a seven year old’s tears that usually surface when she had fallen, cut, or bruised herself. But saline tears did fall from her eyes. Because her heart, her sense of identity, her esteem was injured. And stayed hurt when seven year old boys and girls pretended to trip over her sari that she could feel every glittering sequin bite into her coffee skin, scratching the surface of her soon-to-begin journey of finding the cultural pride that she had lost on October 21st, 2009. --- In sixth grade, Aarti’s classmates called her “Coconut.” As a nickname to replace the fact that they Could not pronounce the five letters That made up her name. And it is not because coconuts were Aarti’s favorite fruit. It is because she was told That her dark brown skin covered a porcelain white mind. Just like the coconuts That grew so abundantly on the palm trees in her home back in Kerala, India. Since Aarti was constantly told that she was whitewashed, she started to believe that her American tongue belonged to only white people. However, reminiscing on the events of culture day in 2009 made her sure that she would rather assimilate than stand out, as she tucked the golden chain of the goddess Durga into her cotton made-in-India tshirt. The necklace almost seemed strangle her as she Heard her mother had not been accepted for a job Because her Malayalam accent was too heavy. --- Aarti always loved to read, and in tenth grade, Aarti started to write, but she soon realized that When she tried to write about her heritage she had little to compose. So she wrote about the gold necklace that had remained tucked into her shirt since culture day of 2009. She wrote about how the pendant was always warm when she touched it, and how the goddess Durga dangled so near her heart that she believed the goddess resided in the organ; providing her the strength to write about how she had suppressed such an integral part of her identity in order to feel welcome in a foreign country. Rereading what she had just printed on paper Aarti suddenly gained a grain of what had been lost throughout the past ten years. Integrity. From listening to herself, to what she had written down, Aarti understood that she was the protagonist of her story, and that nobody was more aware of her existence than herself. Suddenly, Aarti’s ballpoint pen became her weapon against discrimination, her medium of self-expression. --- October 5th, 2018. Aarti’s high school decided to host a culture day. as she stood in a dark red kurti delicately embroidered with gold thread, Aarti never felt more self-conscious in her life. Nevertheless, Aarti entered her school and was met with a great surprise. Every boy and girl was dressed head-to-toe in cultural garments. in pleated skirts, silk shirts and the most wonderful accessories; instead of teasing her patterned kurti, Aarti’s classmates admired her outfit. Their compliments not only made her feel appreciated but also empowered with the knowledge that everyone has rich, cultural roots, And that is not a reason to feel alien, rather to rejoice and celebrate the beauty of diversity. Although Aarti’s birthday was on October 19th, she truly felt reborn on October 5th, 2018. --- As Aarti saw the colorful jewelry that decorated the bodies of students during culture day, she decided to untuck her own gold chain, only to find the picture of the goddess Durga timelessly peering up into her eyes. And immediately she felt strength coursing through her bones, inspiration running through her veins, culture on her fingertips, and divinity in her mind. Cover photo source: https://www.nusu.co.uk/news/article/28049/HOLI-FESTIVAL-2020/

yellow moons over a gridded net of manufactured houses cast on an unwilling girl as she wanders to and fro searching, aimlessly she walks barefoot dances on the midday concrete sprints on the dusk and all the while she is wanting something more searching, aimlessly a different moon in bed blue-light held in front of her face scanning for memes, meaning, memory anything to fill the tumbling hours searching, aimlessly too afraid to live boldly black dog barking yellow cat screaming she wants to run, freely searching, aimlessly be young! they tell her live fully! they tell her searching, aimlessly she’s forgotten how but wants to dance under the crying stars wants to pluck their tears from the sky searching, aimlessly and above all, she wants to be free free to roam with others free to be herself searching, aimlessly one step at a time, she tells herself freedom comes with work she reminds herself one day you will be yourself, completely and you are not alone, like you might think, but there are others who would dance with you if you would just let them. Cover photo source: Federica Dall'Orso http://www.fubiz.net/2015/08/28/black-and-white-dancers-portraits-in-new-york-city/

Dear Asian Youth, As far back as I can remember, I have always believed in feminism and the feminst movement. Even before I truly understood what it was, I always considered it a movement for good—something that everyone believes in. This is why I was really shocked when I first found out that one of my male friends in high school didn’t believe in feminism. This worsened when I got to college and met several people (mostly male) who thought feminism was a ‘bad word,’ and that feminists were “crazy.” This is when I realized how, one, many people don’t understand what the feminist movement is about, and two, as a male, I need other men to understand why we should care. First, I would like to address what the feminist movement is actually about. Contrary to some beliefs, feminism isn't a movement against men. Feminism is a movement against the patriarchy. The patriarchy is the term used to refer to systems within our society that prevent women from being able to attain the same opportunities or achievements as most men. The patriarchy is also used to refer to societal standards and stigmas (often conceived or historically perpetuated by men) that harm or endanger women either exclusively, or to a greater extent than men. The patriarchy is also used to refer to the privileges most men get to enjoy by default of their gender, which is almost never extended to women or is only extended to women in rare circumstances. Feminism is a movement towards equality. Not just for women, but for men as well. While the patriarchy is a concept that historically has been perpetuated and enforced by men, the reason why feminism is a movement against the patriarchy and not against men is because the patriarchy is also incredibly harmful to men as well as to other identities across the gender spectrum. The patriarchy is harmful to men just as it is to women in the same way as it enforces damaging gender stereotypes. These stereotypes build associations of certain character traits or physical traits that are either “masculine” or feminine.” When we associate certain colors with gender, such as pink as “girly” or blue as “boyish” or use terms such as “sissy” or “tom boy,” we imply that there is an issue with those who don’t fit the stereotype associated with their gender or biological sex. When we say, “you run like a girl” or “you dress like a boy” we give a certain message that one sex is inherently weaker or stronger and that a certain physique is considered “ideal” depending on a person's sex or gender. These gender stereotypes extend to reinforcing unhealthy behaviors associated with the gender as well. For example, the phrase, “man up” or “big girls don’t cry,” marks crying or showing emotion as a sign of weakness that is reserved only for little girls. This sends a negative message condemning the expression of emotion, which is inherently mentally and psychologically damaging. A Washington Post article titled Why the Patriarchy is Killing Men by Liz Plank explores how patriarchal standards in society harm men from different angles, focusing on mental health and well being. She discusses this in the following: “... the life expectancy gap is what scientists literally call man-made diseases. These are cultural: men are more likely to smoke, abuse alcohol, engage in high-risk behavior, and have accidents at work. A report from the World Health Organization points to three reasons men don’t live as long: the way men work (they endure greater “exposure to physical and chemical hazards”), their willingness to take risks (thanks to “male norms of risk-taking and adventure”) and their discomfort with doctors (they’re “less likely to visit a doctor when they are ill and, when they see a doctor, are less likely to report on the symptoms of disease or illness”).” Plank states how issues such as these are literally “man made diseases.” By attempting to reach the patriarchal standards within our society, men are destroying themselves in the process. Plank then further discusses the issue of mental health by stating, “Men’s reluctance to care for themselves is especially perturbing when it comes to mental health. Unsurprisingly, the more a man associates with traditional and inflexible ideas about masculinity, the less likely he is to seek counseling. For too many men in America who suffer from mental health issues, it’s easier to get a gun than a therapist, especially in rural areas, where 80 percent of counties don’t have a single psychiatrist.” The stigma against therapy and mental health counseling often associated with masculinity has profound effects on men's well being, so much so that help, even when it can be life saving, is turned down. These patriarchal attitudes place both men and women in molds that create pressure on one another. These pressures can have far-reaching consequences on our society as a whole. Patriarchal standards teach us how to view the opposite gender and often create false generalizations and invalidate many people’s experiences. Often, we can see this if we simply reverse stereotypical gender roles. A case in point would be the stay at home dad. If a man gives up work to take care of his kids while his wife goes out to work, he is often seen as lazy or a failure, rather than nurturing and caring. But on the flip side, when a woman decides to continue her career rather than pause for her family, she is often seen as selfish and uncaring. When we flip the stereotypical gender roles that we have in society, we often expose an implicit bias as well as a double standard within ourselves. Most of us have grown up in a patriarchal society, whether we realize it or not, and have internalized patriarchal and often misogynistic views. Most of us today have passed the point of believing that women and men are inherently superior or inferior in any way (at least explicitly in a physical or intellectual manner), especially as gender roles have blurred and the concept of gender has been viewed on a spectrum rather than a strict dichotomy, which is where feminism comes into play. Feminism is an age-old movement going back hundreds of years. Historically, the movement in the U.S. has been traced back to the Seneca Falls convention in the 1800s when women gathered to organize and protest for the right to vote. Since then the feminist movement has remained, but has also developed over time with each development defined by a wave. The first wave of feminism was concerned about voting rights; the second with social justice and racial issues; the third focused on women's liberation and independence; and the fourth wave, driven by the term intersectional feminism, seeks to address the issue of gender discrimination on all fronts. Men are brought into the image as we start to deconstruct the idea of gender roles and address how men have also been harmed by the patriarchal standards and toxic masculinity within our society. When we acknowledge that we, too, are being harmed by this, we also need to acknowledge and deconstruct the notion that feminism is anti-man. Feminism is against the patriarchy, which is not men, but the rigid views within our society that are traditionally perpetuated by men. We need to address how we have been complicitly or proactively perpetuating these views, as well as how they are damaging to ourselves and especially to our female and non-binary counterparts. By giving up and deconstructing the patriarchy, we can have a more inclusive and equal society, which benefits us by not boxing us into a strict gender role that judges us based on how well we fit an image. We also are able to deconstruct stigmas against both men and women. This brings me back to the question of why men should care. Besides the fact that men are also harmed by the patriarchal standards in our society, we should also understand how gender imbalances within our society also are incredibly damaging to us as a whole. In the article Gender equality is not a ‘women’s issue’—it’s good for men too by Julia Gillard, she discusses the same issue from the perspective of parenting. She states, “women gain from having flexible partners, too. A study of German couples found that having a partner who works flexibly boosted the wages of men and women, with the effect most pronounced for mothers. Conversely, women whose partners work very long hours are significantly more likely to quit the labour force—taking their talent and experience with them.” The study shows how on the issue of childcare, when both men and women were given greater flexibility on the job, it prevented spouses from leaving the workforce altogether. This, in turn, while might be a loss to the company initially, gives long term gains when both remain in the workforce. Feminism is a movement to deconstruct the damaging patriarchal stereotypes and structures that we have within our society. We already see how deconstructing things such as toxic masculinity has a plethora of benefits for both men and women. We can also see how our society as a whole benefits when both men and women are treated equally, and given flexibility within their careers and jobs. Men should care about feminism because we are part of the equation. When we choose to subscribe to toxic masculinity, when we choose to stereotype, we harm ourselves, we harm women, and we invalidate and especially harm everyone along the gender spectrum. When we choose to deconstruct the patriarchy and support feminism, we begin to work towards a more equal and equitable society, by uplifting one another, supporting one another, and allowing ourselves to safely and openly express who we are. So my question is, are you a feminist? Sources: https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/why-the-patriarchy-is-killing-men/2019/09/12/2490fa7e-d3ea-11e9-86ac-0f250cc91758_story.html https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/mar/08/gender-equality-not-womens-issue-good-men-too https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/nov/02/smashing-the-patriarchy-why-theres-nothing-natural-about-male-supremacy https://www.vox.com/2018/3/20/16955588/feminism-waves-explained-first-second-third-fourth