Confronting Caste
A Dalit American leader offers a profound meditation on the violence of caste apartheid, pathways to abolition, and collective healing.
API Stories
The Burden of Asian and Pacific Islander Month Under the White Gaze
Since the start of the pandemic, the sense of responsibility to educate White people on racism and anti-Asian violence has overshadowed what API Month is really about: celebration and connection.
When Asian Art Meets Elvis Presley
A queer Asian artist’s photo depicting himself as Elvis Presley sparked reactionary racism in Memphis, illustrating the difficult terrain facing artists of color.
Learning to Swim Through My Hybrid Cultures
A poem, “Swimming,” explores themes of crossing borders, survival, and resilience.
How to Celebrate Holi Without Culturally Appropriating It
Each spring, millions of Indians and Hindus celebrate Holi. But as Western forces try to capitalize on the colorful tradition, there are ways to enjoy it without engaging in cultural appropriation.
What I Learned When I Came Out to My Asian Mother
“We all have a story to share, and I believe knowing someone’s story creates connection.”
9 Artists Explore the Pride and Joy of Being Asian American and Pacific Islander
“Leaning more into my heritage keeps me rooted and reminds me that we are all deeply connected, and how we treat each other, and how we show up deeply matters.”
6 Books That Bring the Asian American Experience Out of the Margins
In memoir and nonfiction, these authors navigate big themes and resist stereotypes.
Uncovering the Asian American Old West
Asian Americans were conveniently written out of history about the Old West. But they were present—and prolific.
Pieces: An Exploration of Mixed-Asian Identity
“Within me, I hold two cultures, two ancestries that sometimes feel at odds with each other. But when they exist in me, they create something that is simultaneously both and neither.”
Asian American Sisters in the Movement for Racial Liberation
A look back at inter-racial solidarity between Black Americans and Asian Americans, from Nobuko Miyamoto in “Not Yo’ Butterfly.”
Contextualizing Anti-Asian Violence in Atlanta
A Korean-American organizer in Georgia reflects on the Atlanta spa shootings, and how the shooter was motivated by an American legacy of racialized misogyny and fetishization.
Violence Against Asian Women in the U.S. Has a Long History
Harmful stereotypes and the sexualization of Asian women in this country date back to at least the 19th century.
Addressing Anti-Asian Attacks With Transformative Justice
As attacks on Asian communities rise, so must understanding and solidarity between Asian and Black communities to challenge the real enemy, White supremacy.
Yes, You Can Grow Rice in Appalachia
Meet the farmers growing traditional Laotian foods in the hills of North Carolina.
For Asian Americans, Civic Participation Is Visibility
Organizing around the Census and the election amplified the voice and visibility of Asian Americans in Texas. And visibility is the key to creating belonging in a robust democracy.
It’s Time to Dismantle Caste in the U.S.
Race and caste are not the same system, but they are parallel oppressions that have the same logic.
Anti-Asian Immigration Violence Is Nothing New
Since well before the Vietnam War, Southeast Asian migrants have faced racism, targeted immigration enforcement, and denial of their basic human rights.
How I Found Racial Healing During the Pandemic
There’s no upside to the uptick in anti-Asian violence, but I’m glad to see more of us awakened and speaking out.
Are Asian Americans White? Or People of Color?
Scholar-activists discuss the racialized complexities of being Asian American.
The Trauma of Transracial Adoption
It takes a lot to break through the brainwashing and barriers of Whiteness—even for those raised with racial support.
For Asian Immigrants, Cooperatives Came From the Home Country
For these communities, solidarity economics have been practiced out of necessity. But there are lessons we could all learn.
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