So since the election is coming up, my parents are trying to get me to vote and while I did, I have told them that I'm not really worrying about this election that much because the last two were exhausting due to all the fighting and division and I don't want to deal with that again. Then they told me that if I didn't get involved in voting, there would be a risk that internment of Asian Americans could happen again under some crazy leader should another major war happen because I did nothing about it. They said that they believe this due to their experiences living under Communist Vietnam and that I wouldn't understand because I'm a young guy who's lived in a somewhat majority Asian American community and has not lived through a war.

Now while I'm aware that it could happen again and have somewhat been afraid of that in the back of my head, I told them that it probably wouldn't happen again due to several factors such as:

*People being taught about the previous interments of Japanese-Americans during WWII (which includes my area of Southern California, even the land on my neighborhood used to be owned by Japanese American farmers before the war) and how it's now seen as unpopular today

*Asian-Americans having power in many municipal, county, state, and federal positions, thus risking serious issues about who would run these parts of the government

*Much larger Asian-American population in parts of California, Washington, Texas, etc. which would result in a waste of resources in a large scale crisis like a war that could instead be used for all hands on deck

*The lack of any internment of Muslims in the US following 9/11

Let me know what you think.

Coronavirus and recent events have led to an increased visibility in attacks against the AAPI community. While we do want to cultivate a positive and uplifting atmosphere first and foremost, we also want to provide a supportive space to discuss, vent, and express outrage about what’s in the news and personal encounters with racism faced by those most vulnerable in the community.

We welcome content in this biweekly recurring thread that highlights:

• News articles featuring victims of AAPI hate or crime, including updates
• Personal stories and venting of encounters with racism
• Social media screenshots, including Reddit, are allowed as long as names are removed

Please note the following rules:

• No direct linking to reddit posts or other social media and no names. Rules against witch-hunting and doxxing still apply.
• No generalizations.
• This is a support space. Any argumentative or dickish comments here will be subject to removal.
• More pointers here on how to support each other without invalidating personal experiences (credit to Dr. Pei-Han Chang @ dr.peihancheng on Instagram).

EDIT: I forgot to specify in my post that I went to CC in the Bay Area region of CA!

Some information about me: I am a first-gen Filipino American college student who grew up in the Midwest and lived in California for less than a year. I am currently back in the Midwest wanting to move out again one day.

My experience growing up Asian-American in the Midwest: I grew up in a predominantly white community and there weren’t that many POC. I dealt with some racism mostly in middle school and it has affected me in many ways. Being surrounded by mostly white people felt so isolating. I didn’t embrace my ethnicity as much back then because I felt like people wouldn’t know what the Philippines is and what my culture is like. I constantly felt like I was whitewashed because I didn’t speak my native language. I felt and sometimes still feel a type of resentment growing up in the Midwest because I felt like I missed out on so much with being one of the few Asian people in my town. After I graduated from high school. I did one year of college in California. Moving to California for a bit made me feel like I had a sense of belonging compared to my hometown in the Midwest. The amount of diversity and seeing more people like me made me fall in love with California. But unfortunately, I had to move out after that one year of college because it was getting too costly for my family. Having to move out of California was one of the hardest moments of my life. I finally felt like I belonged somewhere. I felt comfortable being myself and being surrounded by a majority of POC. I would constantly breakdown because of the moments I have felt living in such a culturally diverse environment. I miss California so much to the point where I would want to move back there one day ASAP. I currently go to CC as a marketing major and work at a local cafe in my hometown.

Advice: Any advice on being able to move out of the Midwest?

The moment in question is when they ask for the check from Shen-shen

I admit, I am working on recognizing microaggression (not even DEALING with it, just RECOGNIZING it to start with). It's easy to tell when something is explicitly racist, but it's much harder when an interaction is subtle. I used to let a lot slide when I was younger, b/c I was non-confrontational and just didn't know what microaggression looked like. And while it's a good thing that I'm more aware now, I'm afraid I've also become too sensitized to it.

So I'm here to ask if this scene was problematic, even if it's only a little bit? I hope not, as I really enjoy this movie, and it's a great, easy, fun movie to put on in the background. What do you think?

As there are more generations down the line, do you see people less constrained by their ethnicity and more in favor of the larger distinctive “Asian” American culture?

Basically, becoming “Black” or “White…. No longer Chinese, Korean, or Indian, and etc.

Stuff from the Falun Gong and other far-right conspiracy YouTube channels are what a lot of elderly Chinese people listen to because they can't understand the news in English.

What I've done is to click on "not interested" and "don't recommend this channel" on the YouTube app on my mom's tablet. But there should be a unified Asian American resistance from this. Can we organize something or something?

I want to visit my mother's final resting place in a Buddhist temple but I don't have child care when the space is open. Is it appropriate to bring a child to such places? I've not many options to ask such questions anymore.
Appreciate it.

The spirit of this question is celebrating our individuality in a country that has an "all yall look alike" view of us. I'll go first:

• I never played an instrument! My sister is somewhat of a piano prodigy and took all the music genes. I tried piano for a few weeks, didn't like it, my parents didn't force it, and that is the full arc of my music career.
• I'm aging terribly, and I feel pretty jipped about that. Where is my eternal Asian youth?! I've always looked older for my age, which was cool as a teenager, but not so much in my thirties. I'm bald, saggy faced with tired looking eyes...an easy "swipe left".
• I was a terrible student. I was a nightmare to teachers, got in a lot of trouble, and barely squeaked into college. My parents were the opposite of tiger parents, if anything they enabled my punk assery. And I love them for it because they gave me space to figure things out for myself.

Enough about me, what about you!

Is an occasional drink going to significantly increase my chance of cancer? How often can I drink without increasing my risk? Please do not tell me to just stop drinking.

Are there an female, Latin Asian YouTubers you would recommend watching? I haven't encountered any before.

the whole drama with the under the influence podcast has me thinking... how were some of the popular asian american tik tokers like in high school? did anyone go to school with them or heard about their reputation back then?

i'd like to hear some stories just to see if they changed due to fame or if they were always like this.

Hi. I have a friend from a very poor socioeconomic background trying to get past the barrier of understanding how to appeal to white people. This is not something done out of anyone's desire — however, it is something they believe they must do in order to get out of their poor situation in life.

As a white person, I don't know how I would go about teaching my AA friend how to do this. I have insights into my community, their standards, what they're "seeking" in racially marginalized groups, and the way they think. But is there a proper way of going about teaching my friend? They want to be taught, and I am willing to help, but maybe there's a way of them maintaining their individuality and some semblance of their personhood rather than having to wholesale themselves to the white person's perception of Asian Americans. How would I do this?

I'm looking for genuine advice. I have no doubt many of you have experience with these kinds of things, so that's why I've turned to this subreddit. I hope by doing this, though, I'm not invading a safe space.

Im a college student now and when my parents call or text or facetime me, they would ask if I have eaten. Sometimes studies get busy and I haven't eaten but I don't want to worry. I feel bad for lying to them that I haven't ate anything yet, so sometimes I am reluctant to call them at all. I also get super pissy whenever they try to do simple chores for me, like offering to take out some trash for me, or offering to slice fruit for me.

I just don't want them to care too much for me, so I just act super pissy and I was wondering if anyone could share anything that has helped them if they experience this

Hi! I'm looking for relaxing long form videos. I watched almost all of Paolo's Tokyo videos and those have been good despite being on the short end (10 minutes) and very to the point (day in the life of...) but really great. Nami's Life is good background noise and a friend suggested Imamu Room but I think that's almost all food videos?

Any suggestions are welcome! Thank you!

Big one for me is how success and happiness are often conflated. The hustle for success can lead to misery.

“You know, sometimes I feel like Asian kids here get their pick of three survival strategies, B says in Main Character. The first is to assimilate and accept second-class citizenship in exchange for a threadbare mantle of conditional whiteness. The second, to appropriate, hermit crabbing into some more popular minority culture, usually black, sometimes gay or conservative.

And the third to engage in a cosplay of one's own heritage.”

From The Daily: The Sunday Read: ‘An Acerbic Young Writer Takes Aim at the Identity Era’, Oct 20, 2024

My Japanese mother had trouble with the word confortable, she always pronounce it with a S, sounded to me like constable.

The idea of Sonder has been popular recently - realizing that every other individual one sees has a life as full and real as one's own - and it just makes me think of all the potentially unique stories, families, traditions, narratives unheard. I mean we know there are so many backgrounds, but even so many personal experiences out there I'd love to hear.

My partner is concerned that their parents (Chinese) are consuming ultra right wing news sources on Youtube and Chinese apps like WeChat, Red, and TikTok. It's ridiculously one-sided where they show full speeches by Trump (all translated to Chinese) as opposed to a 15 second montage of Harris laughing. Does anyone have recommendations for less obviously biased news sources on these Youtube/WeChat/Red/Tiktok in Mandarin?

Even far east countries can differ quite a bit. For example while many Chinese and Filipino cultures normally removes shoes at home or visiting but socially they overall seem to be more flexible about this “rule.” At least in comparison to some other Asian countries which it’s pretty much zero tolerance and non negotiable. Even if carrying a refrigerator.

https://www.tiktok.com/@decayingmidwest/video/7395681082068323614

Apparently internet journalists and content creators got flamed for not respecting local customs on privacy and that even if the place appears abandoned which they really isn’t since it was an evacuation zone that gradually getting lifted but residents slowly returning. Apparently “gravesite” neighborhoods became a foreign YouTubers and tiktokers playground these days some from as far as Ireland. Showing themselves putting their street shoes on the furniture or office desks including the principal’s desk at schools where street shoes arnt normally allowed past the genkan of the school’s main doors as they can get away with it since no one is there. They sneaked in from the roof. The genkan or hyungang and tatamis still must be respected as shown on this article on protocols being shown abandoned houses which is proliferating in Japan/korea where floors past the genkan or indent foyer may be undesirable to be stepped on with socks or house slippers. Specific more sturdy Indoor footwear still need to be changed into such as Uwabakis past the foyer.

https://www.akiya-mart.com/5-tips-on-house-viewing-in-japan#

There are other things to be aware of when invited or visiting a restaurant for that matter what are those.

I know for some places it’s rude to eat on the streets, talk on the phone during commute, or ask for a table or order before the rest of the party is seated. Stick chopsticks into rice. Not treating the others after being treated meaning paying the check.

Sorry this isn’t really about Asian Americans however I cannot find a better sub to post

What to do or not to do in your country or culture. Probably including when invited socially in a get together in America as well.

Hi, I'm a second-gen Chinese from Germany with EU citizenship.

I really want to leave this country for a place with a big Chinese community of second-gens and immigrants which Germany is not known to have. Turning 31 real soon and realized I can't waste my time any longer.

East Asia is the most obvious choice (despite my lacking Chinese fluency though I'm learning by myself every day) but anywhere else is fine too such as Singapore and certain parts of Canada and Australia.

The problem is, I do not meet the requirements to immigrate to any of those countries as I don't have any relevant skills for a long-term visa which seems to be the most common way for a foreigner to live in those places. Pretty much all job offers are aimed at people with years of senior experience in white-collar fields I have no experience in. Although I graduated with a bachelor's degree in Library Science, it's from 10 years ago and I've never used it.

However, many immigrants (Chinese and non-Chinese alike) I've met in the West work random jobs just like I already do in Germany and some speak the local language even worse than I speak Mandarin Chinese, but they still manage to move here and carve out a life.

Is there any way for me to do the same thing in reverse in Asia/Canada/Australia?

I'm open to any suggestions and advice! Thank you!