representation

These four words slip past my lips with ease like a reflexive defense mechanism. Attempting to summarize years of anguish to a person I’ve just met meant protecting them as much as myself.

All my life, I’ve attempted to avoid falling into the labels and categories being thrown my way, but stereotypes exist for a reason. Sometimes they can even be true to a certain extent.

We urge students to make your voices heard in this process, and we look forward to incorporating your input in reshaping Berkeley’s City Council districts.

I’ve realized that, as a writer, I can’t completely bridge this gap between you and me, no matter how much I may try or how similar we are. I can only represent myself: weaknesses, strengths and all.

Our culture’s synonymous usage of the ‘Asian American’ and ‘model minority’ labels does not just pose a problem for Asian Americans, but for all Americans. It’s become a natural reflex in America to assign people to stereotypes — a habit that seems to be as old as time itself.

As I was slowly coming to terms with my sexuality as a child, the lack of good representation in the teleseryes made everything more complicated.

Stepping into my local bookstore, breathing in the scent of books, I found myself in a world where BIPOC were featured as protagonists. I finally felt seen.

There was such a lack of queer representation in these superhero franchises that I could only relate to a character’s grief and agony. I was grasping at straws to find the faintest connection between my life and that of a hero.

At that time, being Chinese was just a part of who I was, a culture and language I was proud of. As one of the only Asian kids in my grade, I knew most kids at school didn’t bring sticky rice wrapped in bamboo leaves for lunch or recite Li Bai’s poems at Saturday school. 

During the panel discussion, Blackwell elaborated on his transition, noting his struggles with self-esteem and realizing he had a talent that could be an inspiration to other people.