“It is not our differences that divide us.
It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences.”
-Audre Lorde
My Diversity & Inclusion WorkAs most kids, I grew up noticing differences in the world around me, but as a multiracial (Asian and White) person, some of these differences stood out more profoundly than others. Why was I the only one offended at the hand-clap game in elementary school where kids pulled the edges of the eyes up and down while saying "Chinese, Japanese" - not the mention the next line of "Indian chiefs say 'How'"? My parents could not fully understand my world as a person of mixed race, but taught me how to effectively listen and learn from those around me: my White mother was the one who came into elementary school to teach about Chinese New Year; my Asian dad worked in the Center for Afro and African American Studies.
In high school, I was one of two non-Black students to join our school's Black Student Union where I did a lot of listening and learning while standing in solidarity with my Black peers who speaking truth to power and pointing out clear incidents of racism in our liberal white school. College gave me time to continue learning about my own multiracial identity and the complex of web of discrimination baked into the fabric of American society. Although my initial personal interest is clearly linked to race, I continue to work to grow my knowledge about countless other identities and forms of oppression. I know that I have a lot left to learn and hope that I can both deepen and expand my understanding so that I can better support the diverse and complex people around me while amplifying their voices and work in hope and solidarity. This is an interactive flyer I made in June 2020 to highlight some other collections of resources about race and racism in the U.S. As my school's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Coordinator, students requested sharing something for the school community, and although not exhaustive, this is what I developed at the time. See more like this on my D&I Presentations & Publications page.
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See More of My D&I Work
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