For many Americans, belonging is taken for granted. If you have always felt a sense of belonging, it’s not something you have ever had a second thought about, or something you have had to debate over the dinner table. When you have grown up seeing people who look like you in film and television, read about your history in textbooks, or know that you want to be in the Supreme Court or become a CEO because you see others who look like you in those positions, belonging is a reality that becomes expected, not earnestly fought for as is many of our realities.
The fact is there has never been an Asian American, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander on the U.S. Supreme Court and while AANHPIs make up 12% of the workforce only 1.5% of corporate positions are held by someone that looks like us. So, if you grow up never seeing yourself reflected in your environment, you start to believe you don’t belong. I don’t have to imagine the impact that lack of representation can have on a young Asian American growing up in America, I’ve experienced it first hand. And it makes me wonder who’s showing our future generations where they belong; What spaces they can take up, and what rooms were built with them in mind. What steps are we taking to create a true and deep sense of belonging for AANHPI youth? Are we being intentional about the kind of belonging it takes for future generations to truly prosper?
More often than not, we’re pigeon-holed, seen as a monolith, and boiled down to stereotypes that cheapen our deep, unique cultures, and our considerable contributions to the fabric of this country. At my organization, The Asian American Foundation (TAAF), we often grapple with this reality, and genuinely believe a better, more inclusive future is possible but must begin with our youth. For us, the question is almost always how. How do we build a new understanding of our resonant narratives, and ensure AANHPI youth see themselves in their full humanity. How do we ensure they understand the depth of their ancestors’ contributions to American history, and feel empowered in spaces they’ve historically been excluded from? How do we ensure that students who are not AANHPI also understand and build deep appreciation and respect for their fellow classmates?
As part of TAAF’s promise to build belonging through inclusive education, we are deeply intentional about accelerating efforts to bring AAPI education to K-12 classrooms in every state. To that end, we recently launched the first in a three-part series, Fighting to Belong! A History of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, Vol. 1. The graphic novel, written by bestselling comics writers Amy Chu and Alexander Chang, and illustrated by award-winning artist Louie Chin, introduces AANHPI history in a fun and engaging comic book format for young readers. The book explores key events in AANHPI history that are interwoven in the fabric of America as we know it today. It is told from the perspective of five middle school protagonists who time travel through significant moments in American history, focusing on how AANHPI have contributed to shaping it.
Growing up in Maryland, I wasn’t given the proper lens from which I could appreciate the accomplishments and contributions of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders throughout history. And neither were my classmates. So, it was easy for me to dismiss, or rather hide, the importance of my culture: and in doing so, dismiss an integral part of myself. I never learned about my own history in school and rarely saw our stories reflected in books, movies or TV shows. I couldn’t imagine having resources like Fighting to Belong! readily available to me. So, this win for Amy, Alexander, Louie and the TAAF team is also a personal one for me. I’m incredibly grateful that today young people of all backgrounds will have the opportunity to understand that AANHPI history is American history. I applaud the concerted efforts of Third State Books, Leading Asian Americans to Unite for Change (LAAUNCH), and The Asian American Education Project for ensuring that this project came to fruition.
Inspiring our youth through education is a catalyst for creating more role models for the AANHPI community at large. I am fiercely proud of our diverse spectrum of cultures and experiences, and determined to make sure we are no longer invisible in our society. I am certain the launch of Fighting to Belong! is one small but mighty step in that direction.
