Atlanta
I haven't said much about the anti-Asian attacks in Atlanta. I have been trying to better understand my own privilege, listen to Asian and Asian American voices, and I even wrote about it in a poem. However, I'm not sure that poem was the right direction to take, because it spoke to experiences which are not mine. I still have a lot to learn.
Western society has a deeply problematic relationship with Asian cultures, Asian immigrants, and people of Asian descent, which I realize we all know, but don't always consider. Since the Colonial era, Asia has always been this place where things are ~exotic~, and we still do this by Eat Pray Loving without really understanding the cultures we're borrowing from or visiting or exploring. It gets uglier and uglier the more layers you reveal, to the point where violence against Asian women can be justified by calling it "sex addiction," not racism.
I have a lot more I want to say, but I'm going to let others speak by linking to two videos below. There are many more, and lots of articles as well. Both videos do frankly talk about racism, misogyny and sexual violence, just as a heads up. That may not be something you are up for watching/listening to, and I completely understand.
Western society has a deeply problematic relationship with Asian cultures, Asian immigrants, and people of Asian descent, which I realize we all know, but don't always consider. Since the Colonial era, Asia has always been this place where things are ~exotic~, and we still do this by Eat Pray Loving without really understanding the cultures we're borrowing from or visiting or exploring. It gets uglier and uglier the more layers you reveal, to the point where violence against Asian women can be justified by calling it "sex addiction," not racism.
I have a lot more I want to say, but I'm going to let others speak by linking to two videos below. There are many more, and lots of articles as well. Both videos do frankly talk about racism, misogyny and sexual violence, just as a heads up. That may not be something you are up for watching/listening to, and I completely understand.
Click to view