LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

BY ADRIANNE RAMSEY

Ukiyo is a Japanese term used to describe the urban culture of the Edo period in Japan (16001867); its English translation is “the floating world.” I first heard of ukiyo upon discovering the work of Japanese-American author Cynthia Kadohata. Her first book, The Floating World (1991), tells the story of Olivia, who spends her childhood and adolescence traveling with her family across the United States in the 1950’s. Her father searches for jobs amidst postwar anti-Asian discrimination, and Olivia’s grandmother describes their lives as “the floating world” due to their constant state of movement. The book’s title has always stuck with me, as Kadohata’s works –especially Kira-Kira (2004), which won the Newberry Medal – were some of my first introductions to the lives of Asian immigrants and/or Asian Americans in the U.S. and the rampant discrimination that they have faced in this country, from the U.S. Chinese Exclusion Act (1882), to Executive Order 9066 (1942), to the murder of Vincent Chin (1982), to present day.

In the past couple of years, that has been a disturbing rise of anti-Asian discrimination and hate crimes in the United States, specifically related to the racist, incorrect notion that Chinese people are responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic. Dangerous rhetoric such as “the China virus” or “kung flu” are disgusting beyond reproach, and seeing videos of elderly people getting robbed and/or physically assaulted due to their race is heartbreaking. In the wake of these attacks, the hashtag #StopAsianHate spread like wildfire online. While this hashtag is an important showing of solidarity, we must remember that the fight for stronger diversity and inclusion is a lot bigger than online support.

GIRLS 17: The Floating World features interviews from Asian American womxn in the arts sector.

In the U.S., the month of May is celebrated as Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, and I am so honored to have compiled this issue in celebration of Asian American art workers who have been sadly overlooked. I would like to thank Aleesa, Dawn, JiaJia, Melissa, and Vanessa for participating in this issue and speaking so candidly about their work and their hopes for better inclusion of Asian and Asian American people in the arts.