Everyone has the right to be and feel safe. Safe walking down the street, safe at work, safe at home, safe everywhere. The alarming rise of hate, violence, harassment and discrimination against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic is horrific and a violation of this community's right to be and feel safe. The team here at Social Studies stands in solidarity with all Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Read on to see how five of us supported and celebrated AAPI lives, culture and community this month, and how you can, too!
Courtney's MUST DO
Take a bystander intervention course! If you’re like me, you’ve often thought, “What would I have done if I had been there?”. I now have the tools to feel confident intervening safely and effectively when I see anti-Asian hate online or in person.
Hollaback!, an anti-harassment organization, is offering free one-hour bystander intervention trainings. You can register here.
Lexi's MUST READ
Mihee Kim-Kort’s incredible op-ed in The New York Times. The piece delves into the concept of the personal being political and includes an anecdote about Korean culture that I won’t forget:
“In Korean, we don’t often call each other by given names. As I’m the eldest child in the family, for as long as I can remember, my mother and father have called each other “mi-omma” (“Mihee’s mother”) and “mi-appa” (“Mihee’s father”). As a child I asked my parents why we did this. They explained that who we are is inseparable from who loves us and whom we love.”
Jess' MUST SEE
Minari follows the journey of a Korean American family who moves to an Arkansas farm in pursuit of the American Dream. It’s such a lovely and realistic “slice of life” type of film. There is real depth, truth and warmth to all of the characters and the message that I took away is that everyone, regardless of their race or background, has hopes, dreams and struggles. It’s a beautiful, must-see!
Elise's MUST HAVE
Emily Park and Esther Oh, the dream duo behind Studio Komorebi, launched their event production company at the onset of Covid-19. The timing was anything but ideal, but the way they handled this adversity was with sheer grace, determination and ingenuity—pivoting to producing only small, safe gatherings during this time.
My must have? A Studio Komorebi-produced and designed dinner party using Look 3 (ahem, that stunning tablescape you see here...) from their MICRO WEDDINGS package, in partnership with Monica Wang's The Revery.
Be sure to keep Studio Komorebi in mind for your next gathering or celebration. You will be supporting a Korean American female-owned and operated small business and I can guarantee that Emily and Esther will turn your dream event into a reality.
Andrew's MUST LISTEN
I've been listening to AAPI NARRATIVE, a podcast dedicated to capturing the lived experiences of the Asian and Pacific Islander community.
Hosts Rachelle, Nhi and Zi have been friends for over a decade and discuss their lives, jobs, love, mental health, and everything in between. Highly recommend!
If you are looking for additional ways to show your support for the AAPI community, follow @StopAAPIHate and check out their website for a comprehensive collection of resources and tools.
