Stay Insta Informed……..…................………….. 1

I came to an understanding from that experience that no matter how much English I can speak, or try to be like my peers, there will always be some who see me as less human.

As I grew older, I realized just how often our narratives are misinterpreted and manipulated. As a self-proclaimed world history buff, international affairs junkie, and women’s rights enthusiast, I could not ignore that my History of the Americas class lacked content about Asian-American history despite that much of the foreign policies are rooted in the dehumanization of Asians and has perpetuated anti-Asian hatred. From the Chinese Exclusion Act and Japanese-American internment to the treatment of South Asians post-9/11, there have been numerous policies targeting Asians. We also cannot ignore the impact that the justification of the use of atomic bombs and napalm has had on millions of innocent Asian civilians, as well as the prevalence of United States military bases which have repeatedly failed to take into consideration environmental damage and violence against women in the Asia-Pacific region. The scapegoating and vilification of Asians by the previous administration, calling COVID19 “China Virus” and lashing out at an Asian-American journalist doing her job of holding the leaders accountable, is just one part of this country’s hurtful legacy of anti-Asian racism.

Let us face the painful truth, that institutional racism thrives in a culture of silence and indifference. As a young Japanese woman, I acknowledge the fact that I am privileged and have benefited from certain oppressive systems such as imperialism. I have often been reluctant to express my own experiences with racism in words, as I know how fragile words can be; they can mend a broken heart or break it even more. I have close friends who have experienced much worse than I have, and I often felt that by sharing my own stories, I would invalidate theirs. All I seemed able to do was share an Instagram post or donate money. It made me feel powerless.

March 29th, 2021 was my breaking point. That moment told me this feeling of invalidity and silence was not protecting me - it was hurting me, my community, and probably, the world.

I can no longer be silent about the fetishization and dehumanization of Asian women.

I can no longer be silent about the invisibility and objectification of the Asian community.

I can no longer be silent about the dangers of whataboutism in our discourse.

I can no longer be silent about how the model minority myth - something I have deeply internalized - is rooted in white supremacy and hatred.

I can no longer remain silent about the importance of solidarity among the BIPOC - as we cannot dismantle white supremacy and establish judicial equality independently of each other.

That is why I decided to write this op-ed.

I know many of you are wondering - so what can we do? Is there really anything we can do? My answer is yes. We must never give in to the black hole of helplessness that people who espouse such hateful views and conspiracy theories want us to fall into - that nothing can be done. We must channel that anger to create real change.

Real change starts from showing respect equally to your peers; Seeing us in our whole humanity and acknowledging the racial microaggressions we subconsciously perpetuate our daily lives. This means remaining consistent with your supposed commitment to social justice, including those close to you. We’ve all been there including me - reposting Instagram posts or attending protests… But if we aren’t standing up to our racist loved ones - whether it’s your parents, siblings, relatives, or other important people in your life - isn’t it just another form of silence?

Standing up to racism is a very long and complex process with a lifelong commitment to learn, grow from past mistakes, and educate our peers. It’s been a tough journey for me - a rollercoaster of emotions and self-reflection. I acknowledge the legacy of anti-Blackness within the Asian community, something I have become very aware of within the last few months. Standing up to racism also means supporting policy changes that will not only benefit you but also will dismantle structural racism - from abolishing the prison-industrial complex and demilitarization of the police to killing the Senate filibuster.

At the same time, this journey has also been a very empowering one. Learning about activists and leaders from various backgrounds who have paved the way for equality, as well as the facts and truth to fight racism and bigotry, has given me a light of hope - although to the world I may just be one person, I have the power to create change.

I may not be American and leave this country in two months, but there is something about this country that gives me hope. It is every single one of you reading this article - especially the youth. The youth population (those under the age of 18) in this country is expected to grow significantly in the coming years. According to the Urban Institute, “the elder population is projected to grow more quickly than the youth population before 2030, but is projected to remain smaller than the youth population in 2030.” This is extraordinary because it means there’s a future. We are one of the most diverse and progressive generations in America’s history, utilizing the power of the First Amendment every day to create a powerful and fundamental change.

We are the future, and the future is in our hands. It is our responsibility to stand together and build a more perfect union as we have never seen before - by staying indifferent no longer.

Because, as Amanda Gorman said in her inaugural poem, “... there is always light, if only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it”.

You are the light.

I am the light.

We are the light.

And our journey has just begun...

-Yu Hijiya, BALI Class of 2020