tonight at reach's meeting, i really felt the sense of empowerment and love. so many folks came out to learn about the budget cuts, share their personal stories about how they/their families were affected by the economic crisis. so many hearts shared and connected. the way we sat so closely to one another...although it was hot and cramped as hell, i loved it. it felt like a community there, and that we got each others' backs. i was also really glad to see older reach members come out to support. after the meeting ended, some folks stayed to chat and work on the banners for the walkout. we played music and just did art. that was so amazing! i felt the love that everyboday had.
i dont know if i actually got the message out there, but i really wanted folks to critically think about how the budget cuts here on campus are part of the larger shit that's going on in our communities back at home. i really wanted people to think personally about the budget crisis. i wanted folks to feel passion, anger, and hope. and i really hope that people will actually walk out on thursday.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Thursday, September 10, 2009
questioning
just some thoughts about this rush period... i feel that this sorority makes people question who they are, as womyn and as empowered individuals. i think that even if some people can't pledge this semester, we have already exposed them to new perspectives and an experience where they critically think about their own identities...
im just happy because sometimes i seem to take this space for granted, and when different people come into the space, it reminds me the experience...
im just happy because sometimes i seem to take this space for granted, and when different people come into the space, it reminds me the experience...
Friday, August 21, 2009
answer questions sisters?
1) are you an activist by circumstance or choice?
2) are you an activist only in campus issues? do you reach out to other issues beyond those that are convenient to you?
3) what do you mean when you say that you stand in solidarity with something?
4) what drives you to become invested in a campaign?
2) are you an activist only in campus issues? do you reach out to other issues beyond those that are convenient to you?
3) what do you mean when you say that you stand in solidarity with something?
4) what drives you to become invested in a campaign?
Monday, July 20, 2009
Something that inspired me today...
A good friend of mine wrote this as part of her commencement speech at UCLA. I read it today and liked the way she described Asian American Studies and its relevance to society...
"Graduates—as many of you may have experienced as advocates for your degree, it appears that Asian American Studies is one of the most contested majors on this campus. When asked, “What are you studying at UCLA?” I already know what the person is going to think when I respond, “Asian American Studies”. Sometimes I cringe in response because i can feel the oncoming skepticism ready to flood the conversation. “What are you going to do with THAT degree?” “But you’re already Asian American. Isn’t college about studying something you DON'T know?” These two questions challenge the value and relevance of Asian American Studies, two things I will now address in my speech.
What is the value of Asian American Studies? In modern day society, there is a general assumption that college is about spending thousands of dollars every year to invest in post-graduate opportunities for improved living and sustainability. This leads us to wonder: what kind of jobs will we land with a degree in Asian American Studies? Especially during a time like this, with the pending doom of our economy, a financial crisis questions the promise of anything ethnic studies related for the financially secure future. But if there is one positive thing the recession has done, it is make us realize that financial security is never guaranteed. With money evaporating before our eyes, we question the value of the dollar everyday, and return to a core set of values that lie within us—family, community, history. In understanding the history of marginalized people, decentralizing the master narrative and dismantling the power structures that create social hierarchies, Asian American Studies empowers students with the knowledge and critical thinking skills to lead our communities through any crisis to come. The value of Asian American Studies to empower generations of leaders transcends inflation rates.
What is the relevance of Asian American Studies? With Barack Obama as our first black president, are we not in a “post-racial” society? The answer is No, we are not. While we can recognize the great strides we’ve made in our country, race continues to be a reality in our lives, among many other factors, that contribute to social inequality. From the passing of Proposition 8 denying marriage equality to Repatriation Agreements with different Asian countries deporting immigrants and breaking apart families, we as a country still have a long way to go to uphold our creed as the land of equal opportunity. Admittedly, while some people deny race and choose to embrace the passive existence of pure assimilation, we cannot deny the projection of race upon us. We are reminded of this everyday through the media, billboards, television roles, romantic comedies, action films, political figureheads, etc. Let’s admit it, race is a strange thing, and terribly inconsistent; if you look “white”, you will pass with the privileges; if you look Asian, you are Asian. In order to fully realize our potential as individuals in the American system, we must understand ourselves in the context of this socialized, racialized, economy-sized, super-sized, everything-realized country. This is where Asian American Studies proves more relevant than ever. While the classroom serves as a place for personal self-discovery, it is also the intersection of sociology, psychology, political science, public policy, law, history, interracial dynamics and groundbreaking research to uplift entire communities. Let us recall that the birth of Asian American Studies grew out of the fire in students during the ‘60s who demanded an alternative form of truth and knowledge facilitated by the community for the community. Such a grassroots movement was met with much opposition from administrators and elite decision-makers; for even the folks up top recognize the power in personal agency and self-realization to threaten social hierarchies.
Today, we must continue to preserve the existing legacies of our predecessors while creating new ones of our own. However, as the fight continues, new times call for new tools. We are able to take on so many more fronts with advancements in technology as well as the creativity and innovation of our own communities..."
"Graduates—as many of you may have experienced as advocates for your degree, it appears that Asian American Studies is one of the most contested majors on this campus. When asked, “What are you studying at UCLA?” I already know what the person is going to think when I respond, “Asian American Studies”. Sometimes I cringe in response because i can feel the oncoming skepticism ready to flood the conversation. “What are you going to do with THAT degree?” “But you’re already Asian American. Isn’t college about studying something you DON'T know?” These two questions challenge the value and relevance of Asian American Studies, two things I will now address in my speech.
What is the value of Asian American Studies? In modern day society, there is a general assumption that college is about spending thousands of dollars every year to invest in post-graduate opportunities for improved living and sustainability. This leads us to wonder: what kind of jobs will we land with a degree in Asian American Studies? Especially during a time like this, with the pending doom of our economy, a financial crisis questions the promise of anything ethnic studies related for the financially secure future. But if there is one positive thing the recession has done, it is make us realize that financial security is never guaranteed. With money evaporating before our eyes, we question the value of the dollar everyday, and return to a core set of values that lie within us—family, community, history. In understanding the history of marginalized people, decentralizing the master narrative and dismantling the power structures that create social hierarchies, Asian American Studies empowers students with the knowledge and critical thinking skills to lead our communities through any crisis to come. The value of Asian American Studies to empower generations of leaders transcends inflation rates.
What is the relevance of Asian American Studies? With Barack Obama as our first black president, are we not in a “post-racial” society? The answer is No, we are not. While we can recognize the great strides we’ve made in our country, race continues to be a reality in our lives, among many other factors, that contribute to social inequality. From the passing of Proposition 8 denying marriage equality to Repatriation Agreements with different Asian countries deporting immigrants and breaking apart families, we as a country still have a long way to go to uphold our creed as the land of equal opportunity. Admittedly, while some people deny race and choose to embrace the passive existence of pure assimilation, we cannot deny the projection of race upon us. We are reminded of this everyday through the media, billboards, television roles, romantic comedies, action films, political figureheads, etc. Let’s admit it, race is a strange thing, and terribly inconsistent; if you look “white”, you will pass with the privileges; if you look Asian, you are Asian. In order to fully realize our potential as individuals in the American system, we must understand ourselves in the context of this socialized, racialized, economy-sized, super-sized, everything-realized country. This is where Asian American Studies proves more relevant than ever. While the classroom serves as a place for personal self-discovery, it is also the intersection of sociology, psychology, political science, public policy, law, history, interracial dynamics and groundbreaking research to uplift entire communities. Let us recall that the birth of Asian American Studies grew out of the fire in students during the ‘60s who demanded an alternative form of truth and knowledge facilitated by the community for the community. Such a grassroots movement was met with much opposition from administrators and elite decision-makers; for even the folks up top recognize the power in personal agency and self-realization to threaten social hierarchies.
Today, we must continue to preserve the existing legacies of our predecessors while creating new ones of our own. However, as the fight continues, new times call for new tools. We are able to take on so many more fronts with advancements in technology as well as the creativity and innovation of our own communities..."
Sunday, June 14, 2009
The "American Experience" -WTF?! Creepy taxi driver.
So at Kuala Lumpur, this taxi driver took me and this other person so we could split the car. He was already trying to persuade me to go to Kuala Lumpur and check out the city center. I said no, just drop me off at the airport. That was normal. Taxi drivers get commission for bringing people to hotels. Then after he dropped her off, he started asking me stuff about America being open. "I heard America is really open. Is it true that people can have babies without being married?" I was like "yea, doesn't that happen everywhere?" He said it couldn't happen in Malaysia. A child of unwed parents won't be able to register and receive the benefits of a citizen. Then he asked me about the average age of the first time people start having sex in America. Then he asked me if I wanted to come over to his place, just shower off, and he'll drive me back in the morning. Are you f'n crazy? He said he wanted the "American experience." I'm sure the mother of his 4 kids would appreciate that. Then we were pretty close to the airport terminal and he was asking me if I was scared. Of course, I'm f'n scared. You could have driven me anywhere! I said no, and I just wanna get to the airport. I initially was gonna bargain with him for 15 ringets, but F that...you can have my 20 ringets...I just wanna get the hell outta your car. The perks of traveling alone as a woman. I have come to the conclusion that people around the world assume American women are easy sluts. I still remember when I went to Vietnam and we had a white woman on our program and they treated her like she was gonna sleep with them or something, but we, looking Asian and all, never got that treatment. Anyway...my final reaction is WTF?!
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Post Secret for Asian Americans
I saw this featured on a friend's page from facebook.
http://postmimi.blogspot.com/
http://postmimi.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
J.Pham Travels
I'm in Penang, Malaysia right now and will be in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam soon. Ive been updating on http://jphamtravels.blogspot.com. Check it out. :)
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