Some wars are fueled by the same fire. As we witness Israeli violence against Palestinians, it is apparent how U.S. imperialism has harmed communities of the past and present.
To mark the start of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, Mattel has decided to model a Barbie doll after the Olympian and her 1992 Winter Games look as a part of their Inspiring Women Collection showcasing Yamaguchi’s inspiring performance to a whole new generation of young girls.
Based on Adrian Tomine’s 2007 graphic novel, Randall Park’s 2023 romantic-comedy Shortcomings succinctly captures the state of Asian-American representation in the film industry today, while also speaking to the issues that our youngest generations face when it comes to race, gender, sexuality and relationships.
In April 2024, Wisconsin passed a bill by Governor Tony Evers that will have K-12 public schools teach Asian American and Hmong history as a part of their required curriculum. Since Illinois set this precedent in 2021, 20 other states have mandated the teaching of AAPI history, according to The Asian American Foundation, with Wisconsin being the 21st. This is huge for the APIDA community as it allows for more representation and compassion within the United States.
If we want to unpack what magic means in the Asian American community, we have to start at the 19th century.