Finding my voice
I have spent my entire career hiding, working desperately hard to ensure no one noticed I was different. And it worked… until it didn’t. Last year with the murder of George Floyd and now with 6 Asian women killed in Atlanta, I am reminded again that in America the color of a person’s skin can be the difference between life or death. I can no longer keep my head down and stay silent. In the past year, I’ve reclaimed my identity as an Asian American woman and have been on a journey to find my voice in this movement for racial justice. It has been empowering, liberating, and often deeply uncomfortable. My journey and reflections so far...
Re-educating myself. I started my racial justice journey in college, and after a too long pause, it was time to get back on track. I read. A lot. From Michelle Alexander to Ibram X. Kendi to Cathy Park Hong, I devoured books about the experiences of communities of color. I watched films and documentaries, from Just Mercy to PBS’ Asian Americans. Most importantly, I listened deeply to my friends and colleagues to try my best to be an informed ally. I will forever be listening and learning.
Processing my own racial trauma. When my therapist suggested we work on “processing my racial trauma”, I cringed. Am I even allowed to have racial trauma? Asians have it so good in this country, don’t we? I’ve spent my whole life taking all of the racist experiences (the explicit racial slurs, slanted eyes, Ching Ching Chong Chongs, go back to your countries, and the more subtle don’t be so sensitives, I don’t see colors, why can't we just all get alongs) and shoving them under the rug. I was not ready to pull them out, take them apart, examine them. Of course, my therapist was right (aren’t they always?). Processing these experiences is allowing me to see how I’ve been shaped by racism and how I have internalized racism. It is allowing me to own what is making me stronger and throw out the rest. It is critical in helping me embrace my racial identity, advocate for others, and own my voice.
Speaking up. Every time I post about racial justice publicly, I have to take a deep breath, close my eyes, and then hit publish. Every. single. time. Speaking up goes against how I was raised and how this world has told me I should behave as a model minority and a woman— work hard, keep my head down, don’t challenge authority, and certainly do not stir up trouble. But silence is complicity. So despite my discomfort, I have leveraged my platform and privilege to speak up against injustice for people of color. I have been most uncomfortable speaking out for my own community, as I don’t want to be seen as selfish or self serving. But when I read about yet another person who looks like me being attacked in broad daylight, I speak out in spite of that insecurity because if I don't, who will?
Helping others feel seen and heard. Along the way, friends and colleagues have reached out to offer their support, to tell me that my stories have validated their experiences and encouraged them to speak out too. This feedback is humbling, nourishing and empowering. To the many AAPI leaders who have pushed beyond their discomfort and spoken out for the first time, thank you. Your voice matters more than know.
Finding my community. I’ve recently joined an inspiring group of Asian American marketing leaders who are leveraging the power of their positions and brands to #StopAsianHate and advance racial justice. Their passion, creativity and sense of urgency inspire me everyday.
Taking action. I'm excited to work with my colleagues at AdAge The List to create a mentorship program for young BIPOC and other underrepresented groups including the LGTBQ+ community. This work fuels me.
A few weeks ago, I had the honor and privilege of hosting Cathy Park Hong, author of Minor Feelings, for an internal event at LinkedIn hosted by our employee resource group LinkedIn Asian Alliance (LIAA). Reading her book was the first time I felt the invisibility cloak of Asian America lift — I felt seen and understood, my experiences and humanity validated. Our conversation inspired this post -- our lives matter, our voices matter, our stories matter. I encourage you to share yours.
Then please join me in the movement to #StopAsianHate, resources below.
Learn: https://lnkd.in/d7j3GR5
Donate: https://lnkd.in/dKgU3YX
Security Officer | Security Operations, Physical Security
3 年Today’s orientals are a scapegoat for bigots and racists who would rather attack whites and Caucasians. But they haven’t figured out how to do that without serious reprisals. As far as, “I didn’t make you sick!”, that’s a futile claim made by patriots that started a year ago when our lives were first taken from us as we were all designated Typhoid Marys.
Making waste disposal less of an impact on our environment and our communities.
3 年Thank you Brian for posting this. I gained a lot more awareness.
Joint Terminal Attack Control Program Manager
3 年Not sure this belongs on LinkedIn, add social justice, presumed discrimination, or assumed hate to the list that doesn't belong here either. Now, if you want to bring up that you didn't get hired by a company because you're East Asian, I'll listen. If you want to talk about the last pay raise you got passed over for because your boss uses your race as a punchline, I'm with you. If you want to mention that the rest of the board (who doesn't look like you) doesn't give you the time of day, lets go there. Otherwise, please put this article somewhere else! BTW, I'm in an interracial marriage to my beautiful Korean immigrant turned American citizen wife. She hasn't had any of the challenges you claim to, nor would I put up with any of it from our fellow American citizens if I ever heard it from them!
Non Executive Director | Chair
3 年Love this, Connie Chan Wang!
Shanah Targets X-ray tube anodes, a replacement material for molybdenum x-ray tube anodes.
3 年YOU are a MAGNIFICENT person!!!!! YOU ALL are.