Category: Blog

Mitski and the Melancholic Adulthood of Puberty 2

Tommy Chaisuesomboon

Many Asian Americans can find it difficult to talk about their mental states (see Washington Post’s article For many Asian Americans, depression is an unfamiliar word). Mitski Miyawaki, self-described “half Japanese, half American but not fully either”, sings about depression, loneliness, love, and other forms of melancholy in her fourth studio album Puberty 2. At 26 years old, her work reflects that of a young woman still in the throes of uncertainty. Her voice captures the pain, however subdued it may seem, that adulthood depression can bring. Her singing can…

Passing Privilege

Melissa McKinney

Hi, my name is Melissa McKinney.  Based on that single sentence no one would ever guess I’m Asian American. I can see the surprise in their eyes when I catch them off guard as they try to comprehend my Anglo-Sazon name belonging to my Asian appearance. I can’t even remember how many times I’ve been told that my last name doesn’t sound very Asian as if I didn’t know that already. It is my name. Someone once suggested to me that I go by my middle name (my Chinese name) in order…

The Prenatal Nondiscrimination Act Discriminates Against Women of Color

Helen Mun

Criminalizing Women’s Choice Does Not Combat Problems in Our Society On April 14, 2016, the Prenatal Nondiscrimination Act of 2016 was introduced by the House of Representatives, and then referred to the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee. This panel, made up entirely of men, discussed the merits of criminalizing abortions that are based on the sex and race of the fetus. To be clear, such legislature, if passed, would have the greatest impact on women of color and immigrant women, leaving Asian-American women especially vulnerable to scrutiny for sex-selective abortion.…

Our Davidson Asian dad

An Ha

This is Mount Fuji. Besides the name, it’s unrelated to Fuji, our advisor of this independent study class the past semester. The first time I officially met Fuji was at his house. The Asian Culture & Awareness Association had a welcome dinner in the beginning of my freshmen year. His living and dining room were so packed that some people ate their Singapore noodles standing up. He was sitting on his couch, looking completely at ease in his crowded home and poking fun at various students with his boisterous voice. This photo…

If Lin Gets Fouled and Nobody Calls It, Is it A Foul?

Philip Yu

  As the NBA regular season winds down, Charlotte Hornets Jeremy Lin made the news again, and this time, it’s not for his erratic hair style. On April 5, 2016, a member of the Reddit’s NBA sub-reddit community cut together a video titled “Jeremy Lin: Too Flagrant Not to Call.” The video records a play involving Lin and Clipper’s Wesley Johnson, who blocked Lin as he drove up and court and hit him right on the nose, resulting in a nosebleed.  Other examples in the video includes a foul by…

4 Fire Songs by Asian Artists You’ve Probably Never Heard Before

Helen Mun

If you’re like me, music has been with you during some of the most difficult times of your life. Listening to music isn’t just about aesthetics, but a personal connection. Growing up with a hyphenated identity is unique, and consists of a variety of experiences and perspectives. But growing up, the only representation of my identity that I found in music was in k-pop, the occasional Asian-American musician who played a supporting role in a band, and, as I grew older and gained more access to the Internet, YouTube artists. Asian-Americans…

Asian American Body Perceptions

Kaylie Tram

                  Inspired by what went unexplained in this BuzzFeed Video: As an Asian American daughter I have grown up with criticisms towards my body from every one of my 10+ relatives, especially from my parents. The comments mostly involved weight. I was too curvy compared to my cousins who represented the typical Asian American body image. The comments started when I was in elementary school, but grew more critical as I hit puberty. “Kaylie, you’ve gained weight. Why aren’t you exercising more?” “Kaylie, why…

Dreamy and Asian

Melissa McKinney

When ABC announced the cancellation of Selfie after only 13 episodes, I was heartbroken. Okay, maybe not heartbroken, but there was definite disappointment over the decision. As an avid television watcher, I’m constantly on the prowl for new shows. Although network comedies aren’t really my thing (I’m a sucker for pretty much any show on CW though), I was really excited when Selfie began airing. For the first time ever on prime time American television, John Cho, an Asian American male, was cast as the romantic lead. It’s not exactly a secret that Hollywood…

Where did All the Asians Go?: A Future with No Asians in Blade Runner and Her

Evan Yi

“I love Asian fusion!” When Joaquin Pheonix’s character Theodore shouts these words to his date, played by Olivia Wilde, in the critically acclaimed 2015 film Her, they are not meant to be particularly illuminating in any way. Rather, the words are meant to be trivial chatter that Theodore shares with his date as a part of the dating game; he will ultimately betray his fear of commitment to her later that night, and Olivia Wilde’s character leaves him, never appearing again after her ten minute cameo. But whatever Spike Jonze meant…

Reflections of SERCAAL

Iqra Tabassum

Sometimes I just need a space where I can be as Asian as I want to be. So when I had the opportunity to go to the South East Regional Conference for Asian American Leaders in Atlanta, I thought why not? I didn’t expect much (except maybe to find people who love Korean Dramas as much as I do or a really cute desi guy…) I was pleasantly surprised. Not only did I meet tons of other Asian American activists, I had great conversations with people who cared about these…