#aapi month choices

[moominofthevalley]

happy aapi month to alma from mother of the year :)

[choicescommunityevents]

Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Hello! It’s @moominofthevalley and I am thrilled to announce that I am hosting the Choices AAPI Heritage Month Event. Please click the two links to read the event’s rules and the prompts for the month. Thank you!

Rules | Prompts | Event Masterlist

[saibug1022]

Also happy AAPI month to Callum, featuring a realistic version of him I made!

[aces-and-angels]

aapi month is upon us gang- interact if you think all your aapi ocs should sit at a table and eat with one leg up (iykyk)

[aces-and-angels]

i love enid for several reasons- but this one fact about her lives in my head rent free:

asian and pacific islander choices players - rb this with your favorite canon aapi character or mc of yours (and WHY you like them) and i'll have a little art raffle by the end of the week (:

[evilwickedme]

It's very frustrating to talk about fridging bc the original point of it was like a very specific criticism of how minorities are treated in comic books in particular and it's now been universalized so much people think it means "killing a woman off because she's a woman" or "killing any character to motivate another character" (the definition according to tvtropes fyi, kill it with fire kill kill kill kill). Fridging isn't bad because you're killing a character as motivation, and it's not bad because you're killing a minority off, it's bad because it's a pattern of behavior from an industry overrun by white men writing and drawing and editing those stories. You're allowed to kill a woman off if it suits your story, but the issue was that women are constantly getting hurt or depowered or raped or killed off to motivate other, non-coincidentally male characters.

The problem that stood behind the original women in refrigerators website was that the narrative that the comic book industry at large was telling was that the purpose of female characters was to get hurt in order to motivate some other guy. Kyle Rayner's girlfriend gets stuffed in a fridge, we're not sad because her life got taken from her too soon, we're sad because Kyle Rayner just lost his girlfriend. Gwen Stacy gets killed by the Green Goblin, we're not sad because she didn't get to live a full happy life, we're sad because she didn't get to live a full happy life with Peter Parker. That is not to say that the story doesn't still get told. Peter going after the Green Goblin is horrific and terrible and amazing and leads to some great plot and character development. But the choice was not to hurt Peter himself, not even to threaten his loved ones but not actually harm them, the choice - CHOICE! - the writers in the comic book industry consistently made was to hurt a character who was already part of a marginalized group, and to do that for the benefit of a (presumably) white male cishet able bodied main character's narrative.

I speak mostly in past tense because once fridging took hold in the collective popular consciousness it didn't disappear completely, but it did fall out of favor in being used so blatantly. It became isolated cases rather than the main feature of one of the best selling batman books of all time. Characters get killed off occasionally, and those characters are even sometimes members of minority groups, and biases still inform those writing choices, but I'm struggling to remember reading a comic in the last couple of years that specifically fulfills the criteria for fridging.

Anyway if you're reading this in context, you know that at the end of this month (may 2023) Marvel is planning to celebrate the most famous fridging of all time by absolutely not learning their lesson and fridging another character. They're being lazy about it, too - they've decided to do it to Kamala Khan in Peter Parker's book, two characters that mean close to nothing to each other, and being extra awful by making it a Pakistani Muslim woman being killed off during AAPI month, and so far the information we have doesn't even involve Kamala's own friends and family and superhero team mourning her at all. It's supposed to motivate Peter, because it's part of his book, and it's also supposed to parallel Gwen Stacy, and they chose to do... This. Kamala is a wildly popular and beloved character who deserves better, and frankly Peter deserves better too. If you're going to fridge, at least do it well.

But I'm also already seeing white men, who supposedly agree with me and think this is bad, saying, well it's for MCU synergy, not "because she's a female" or "because she's not a white character" (direct quotes don't @ me). And firstly, ok, way to assume the rest of us didn't also catch up to the obvious conclusion that marvel comics is doing MCU synergy, AGAIN. The thing is that those aren't separate concepts at all? Or well, they are, but they don't negate each other. They're trying to do MCU synergy and make Kamala into a mutant, but they could've done that a million other ways, just as cheap and not as offensive - a simple retcon would've sufficed, they just did that a few years ago with Franklin Richards.

They chose to do it by killing her off, and they chose to kill her off in somebody else's book to motivate him rather than tell a story about her, and they chose to do it while celebrating Gwen's fridging for some fucking reason. This is context that, when removed from the situation, makes the whole thing meaningless. And you can say a lot about Gail Simone, but that she didn't have a Goddamn point is not one of them.

[sheenayapchan]

Meet Vivian Young

Vivian Young is the Global Head Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs at JPMorganChase.  As the Global Head of Asian & Pacific Islander Affairs for JPMorgan Chase, Vivian leads a full-time, dedicated team focused on advancing equity and inclusion for the Asian and Pacific Islander community. The key focus areas include driving opportunity and progress through increased cultural understanding and collaboration, raising awareness about cultural identity and the challenges faced by underserved communities and supporting the API community globally through public advocacy, economic inclusion and community development.  

Vivian shares the importance of celebrating Filipino American History Month and how knowing that she was enough gave her the confidence to be the powerhouse woman that she is today.  Vivian is also part of the USPAACC WISE, a program intended for AAPI Women that would strategically address core issues and create lasting impact in their professional and personal lives, thus empowering and uplifting them in creating and choosing their own personal choices.

Click here to listen to the full episode: 

#TheTaoOfSelfConfidence

#podcast

#TAOQueens

#WomenEmpowerment 

[iamkateygretchen]

Happy AAPI Heritage Month!

Thank you so much for all the love of XO FILMS’ first two stories:

SUMMERSAULTS ~ manga and coming soon, the anime long film (based on the Tetris Beat song by Croatian-Australian DJ/singer/producer Alison Wonderland)

Play With My Heart ~ fashion series (based on the Tetris Beat song by British singer-songwriter/photographer Hannah Diamond)

These stories, which are between the group of Asian campers and the group of Asian models, are marvelously dreamy and fantabulous! SUMMERSAULTS, the tale of sixteen Asian campers (eight boys and eight girls), is filled with adventure and camaraderie as they navigate the wilderness, forming bonds that will last a lifetime. On the other hand, Play With My Heart, the story of five Asian models, is a glamorous and enchanting journey through the world of fashion and beauty, showcasing the allure and elegance of the industry. Both narratives captivate the reader with their unique charm and captivating plot twists, making them truly unforgettable. I will upload some more episodes of Play With My Heart and chapters of SUMMERSAULTS on Facebook and YouTube at some later dates.

I love making stories about Y2K births… Yes, people worldwide were born in the 2000s. It's truly remarkable how each birth story from this era has its own charm and significance. Delving into the details of this time period brings me immense joy and allows me to create narratives that resonate with a wide audience. Unlike other decades, the 2000s were a time of great change and innovation, and capturing the essence of that through storytelling is both fulfilling and exciting. By exploring the music, fashion, and cultural trends of the 2000s, I am able to paint a vivid picture of what life was like for those born during this time. It's a way for me to pay tribute to a generation that has left a lasting impact on the world.

So, what is the difference between the SAULTIES and the HEARTIES? Choicely, I will make the T-shirts go on sale during AAPI Heritage Month on my website and also my Etsy page… also I’m gonna watch some more K-reality shows on YouTube and Netflix with some delicious popcorn, chocolate candy (Cadbury and M&M’s), and Pepsi (which is like a flag of South Korea).

If you’re thinking about Asian stories like XO FILMS’ first two, please let me know in the comments and I will get back to you as soon as possible.

Thank you.

[ecargmura]

A Magic Steeped In Poison - Book Review

AAPI heritage month already passed, but I’ll be reviewing a book written by an Asian author! Well, I chose to read this book not because of the special month, but because I wanted to read more books written by Asian and Asian American authors. I think my fondness for Asian authors stemmed from me liking manga and also Tablo’s Pieces of You.

I found this book when I was book shopping in Walmart. Yes, I shop for books at Walmart. I held off from reading it for a while since I had other books to read. When I finally got to it, I was excited.

Fortunately, the premise of the book is good. Magical tea magic with Chinese mythology? How unique! I am an avid tea drinker, so I was immersed in the world Judy Lin created with tea magic having the power to do anything from discerning truth from lies, peering into the future, etc. It felt like I was a Shennong-shi in this alternate reality of China.

The main character Zhang Ning wants to find a cure for her poisoned sister, so she decides to head to the capital where they are holding a tournament for tea magic apprentices, shennong-tu, in order to become acknowledged by the Princess. However, the catch is that she’s actually not a true apprentice and that she’s only taking her sister’s place because competing is the only choice she has. However, she still has a vast knowledge of tea magic and capable, which is why she’s still able to survive in the tournament.

What I love most about this book other than its premise is Lin’s detailed writing. She is very detailed when describing things and it helps me paint a visual picture of what the world, food, characters, and tea all look like. Her flowery descriptives are amazing to read. Despite her flowery words, I think my favorite portion of the story was when Ning was healing Ruyi, the princess’s handmaiden. Inside Ruyi’s body contained a very grotesque three-headed snake that could be or could not be a spirit. The way Lin described how it looks and its movements really grossed me out. I commend Lin for being able to write beautifully.

While the premise and writing style are strong, it doesn’t mean it’s perfect. There are many flaws in the overall writing execution. The story starts off with Ning on her way to the capital. I sort of wished the story started a bit before her travels, precisely, the moment she had realized she had poisoned her sister Shu. All the moments of Ning mentioning she had poisoned her did not compel me as much since it was more “told” than “shown”.

The tournament was a bit of a miss for me. Tournaments story arcs in general can be a hit or miss. Especially in manga, they’re either a hit or a miss, depending on the execution as they can be a rinse and repeat of the same thing but written by different authors. How was this tournament arc? It was a bit of a slog to read, honestly. I think what it lacked was more distinctive characters? Like, I wanted to see a rival for Ning or someone who’s always one step ahead of her and pushes Ning to her upmost potential. It was interesting, but given that 90% of the story focused on this one tournament felt like a bit of a let down. However, I did like the sudden twist at the end of it.

The characters that aren’t Ning are quite interesting. Lian’s sassy; she’s my favorite. Princess Zhen has something going on with her handmaiden Ruyi and I love it. Kang’s a bit iffy for me. I do like how they’re all essential for Ning to develop and none of them seem out of place or just there for a need of a minor character.

The ending of the story definitely shows the need for a continuation. There is a sequel, A Venom Dark and Sweet. I’ll try to buy it when I can after I take a break. While I want to read it, I’m dreading over the fact that the last few chapters was building up for a revolution arc. In all honesty, I dislike revolution arcs. I just feel like they’re the same thing. MC gets dragged into revolution, teams up with people to stop the big bad, big bad turns out to not be the big bad and there’s an even bigger bad behind the big bad, and biggest bad gets destroyed and everyone lives happily ever after. I think reading Mockingjay made me dislike revolution arcs. I just hope this one won’t be rushed like how that book kind of was.

Overall, I give this book a 4/5. I think it’s a perfect representation of the capabilities of what Asian-American authors can do! The book industry is rough for us Asians and I’ll support them by reading more AAPI books! If possible, give me a recommendation! Also, let me know your thoughts on this book if you have read it!

[masarukt]

TW: Talk of Lived Experience of Racism from Japanese American POV, Stolen Culture, WWII

I really feel like this needs to be said and said more often:

I wish that Asian Americans weren’t left out of the conversation so often when folks, especially when white folks, are having conversations about race and racial inequality throughout history in America. It’s like…for some reason, we’re just forgotten about. At least, until a handful of us end up dead. Or we end up in the news somehow because we got brutalized again. Or because it’s AAPI Heritage Month. Or if someone like me has to become a royal pain in the ass and has to remind folks “hey, remember that we exist and that historically this country has been HORRIBLE to Asians across the board. And remember how historically we literally had a whole ass executive order 9066 to put literally any and all people with Japanese Ancestry on the mainland of the USA (and in some parts of Hawai’i) into, using FDR’s words here, Concentration Camps??? Yeah, that HAPPENED HERE. Not a fantasy.”

Also, before anyone wants to say shit under this post about WWII, and Hiroshima, and about how “the Japanese deserved what they got”, etc, keep in mind that I am Japanese American, fourth generation and my family specifically came from Hiroshima and I personally lost family when Little Boy was dropped on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945 at 8:15am. It is seared into my brain, knowing that time and date.

Did the Japanese government need to be stopped? Absolutely. Did all of those innocent people that got bombed deserve to die? No. No they did not. They absolutely did not. No one deserved to be bombed in a bombing like that. No one deserved that.

Let me make myself perfectly clear: nothing pisses me off more, nothing angers me more than when I see folks who aren’t Japanese speaking on this particular issue without any kind of nuance. Without understanding the kind of suffering that people like me and my family or other families like mine have had to endure. The racism that we have had to go through our whole lives. The kind of culture erasure that we have had to suffer through because of what happened in WWII. The fact that I don’t have a lot of my knowledge of my culture anymore because of what happened because my grandparents, and as a result, my parents, had to make choices in order to assimilate in order to protect me.

At least, that’s what they thought they were doing.

I don’t know my culture’s language (though, I am doing my best to learn on my own and I did take classes when I was in college). If I do want to learn specific traditional artworks, I need to learn them on my own or in a class - usually being taught by a non-Japanese person, and usually being taught by a white person who can’t even pronounce the names of the things correctly. Usually, they butcher the names horrifically. Honestly, that’s usually why I get very annoyed with people when they mispronounce Japanese words around me, even if they’re my friends. It isn’t anything personal, it’s because of my history with “teachers” that, frankly, should have known better. I mean, seriously, if you’re going to be teaching something to a whole classroom full of people, especially people from that culture, you should at least take the time to make sure that you’re pronouncing the names of the things correctly. It’s beyond disrespectful…honestly, sometimes the mispronunciation is so bad, that it makes me question if the person is mocking the language.

Anyway…I’m just really tired of feeling like I’m fucking invisible when white folks talk about the marginalization of “People of Color” and then proceed to completely overlook Asians of any kind. So I guess this is a huge resounding reminder for all the white folks: News Flash - Asians aren’t just another brand of white person. We are, in fact, People Of Color/People Of The Global Majority. You wanna know how I know that? All the years of my life dealing with racism from white folks.

Being called yellow, flat as a board, flat face, “oh your so exotic”, having people reach out and touch my hair without my consent because it was so very different from theirs, people making fun of and mocking my last name, people doing the “slant eye gesture” at me, saying gibberish that they thought sounded Chinese (even though I’m Japanese and not Chinese) at me, people calling me the R-slur because for some reason, they thought that I had Down Syndrome??? Because of my eye shape??? And because I had slow processing (and I still do because *gasp* I’m autistic…). Being called a “stupid J@p bitch” before, right in front of my Math Teacher and she did absolutely nothing. Being physically assaulted on the playground, having spit-wads shot into my hair, had spit wads made of wax shot into my hair and then had to have my hair cut super short because we couldn’t get them out…

So, if you are a white person and you think that Asians are just another brand of white person? That literally makes you racist, it makes you a part of the problem with perpetuating the “Model Minority Myth” and frankly, that makes me immediately not like you. At all.

Also, keep in mind that this? This is just the racial issues. And that’s all the stuff that I dealt with as a child and some of those things I still deal with TODAY. As an adult. And today? I’m also out openly and I’m identifiable as a trans person, I’m disabled, immune compromised (so I need to wear a mask everywhere) and I’m converting to Judaism (keep in mind that this is by no means bad - none of these things are bad things, including me being Japanese, but people suck and bigots are everywhere so experiencing transphobia, ableism and antisemitism is just all part of the hate package from the bigots)

I’m not sure how to end this venting rant of mine, except that I’ve been sitting on this for a long time. After years of seeing folks talk about these subjects when they have no business talking about them, basically saying that my family “deserved the death that they got” when the bomb dropped. And being literally in the room when conversations about racism issues and being totally overlooked when I’m THE ONLY PERSON OF COLOR in the room and not a single person will think to bring up Asian American issues when it comes to racism…not a single person. And do you know how stressful it is to be the ONE Person of Color in the room and to try to bring up something like that in a group setting? And if you already have an anxiety disorder and you’re autistic? Yeah, that’s next to impossible, folks. And it’s enraging because not only do I end up feeling invisible but I also end up feeling like a total failure. And I end up feeling as if the folks that I’m surrounded by don’t care about me either because, again…I feel invisible. They do not see me, and they do not seem to care.

This is not a new issue. Not by a long shot. This has been an ongoing problem my whole life. And sadly, I do not see it changing any time soon.

[goldiers1]

Union Leaders Rally Behind Su

  Today, Politico highlighted a broad range of voices coming out forcefully in support of Acting Secretary Julie Su’s nomination to be U.S Labor Secretary, including labor unions, business groups, former Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh, and others. “‘Julie Su has been a champion for labor, and labor is mobilizing in the way only we can,’ AFL-CIO spokesperson Ray Zaccaro said. he administration has highlighted her support from groups like the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, Small Business Majority and those representing Asian American and Pacific Islanders. If confirmed, Su would be Biden’s first APPI Cabinet secretary and his fourth AAPI Cabinet member overall.” Walsh has also been actively engaged in the process and advocating for Su with labor and business leaders and senators, according to an administration official.”  

The full story:

Politico: Unions pour on support for Biden’s Labor pick amid confirmation worries Authors: Nick Niedzwiadek and Jennifer Haberkorn. Unions are stepping in to boost President Joe Biden’s pick to lead the Labor Department as Democrats seek to avert an embarrassing defeat that would set back the administration’s agenda for workers. Unified Republican opposition to the nominee, Julie Su, has the unions and the White House focused on a handful of moderate senators who have yet to make their intentions known — Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Angus King (I-Maine) and Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.). The AFL-CIO this week began rolling out a campaign to drum up support for Su, with an emphasis on getting local affiliates to lean on undecided senators and a six-figure ad buy running in Washington, D.C. and Arizona. The “Stand with Su” effort is a direct counterweight to some of the forces that have been lobbying against her — including the name choice, as one of the main anti-confirmation groups is called “Stand Against Su.” “Julie Su has been a champion for labor, and labor is mobilizing in the way only we can,” AFL-CIO spokesperson Ray Zaccaro said. A key part of the pitch is that Su, who faces a committee vote Wednesday, is in the same mold as former Labor Secretary Marty Walsh, a seasoned politician who had fans on both sides of the aisle and who has been directly involved in rounding up support for her, according to an administration official. Su served as Walsh’s deputy secretary beginning in July 2021 and has been acting head of the department for the past month, after Walsh stepped down to run the NHL Players’ Association.   “She has worked hand in hand with Marty Walsh,” American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten told POLITICO. “If you liked the way Marty Walsh operated as the Secretary of Labor, then there’s no reason not to embrace Julie Su.”   But Republicans say Su, who was labor secretary California before coming to Washington, would veer sharply left of Walsh and used a confirmation hearing this week to portray her as anti-business and captive to labor’s priorities. Although all five of the senators in question voted to confirm Su as deputy secretary, Manchin, Tester and Sinema are likely to face tough reelection fights next year. “The more that people learn about her track record and just how bad she was in this role in California, we’re seeing that shifting the debate,” Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-Calif.), a leading critic of Su, told POLITICO prior to her confirmation hearing. “It’s very different when you’re going for the top position than being under Marty Walsh.”   The battle over Su is the Biden administration’s first attempt at replacing a Cabinet secretary, and the latest test of Democratic leadership’s ability to confirm nominees after multiple high-profile misfires. Though Su is already steering the department, administrations are typically wary of issuing major policy decisions without a permanent leader, meaning that a protracted confirmation fight could bog down the agency for months. Administration officials are holding nightly “war room” calls with Su’s backers to discuss the game plan for the following day and to track developments, according to a White House official. The administration also holds 15 to 20 check-in calls per day across labor and business groups. Walsh has also been actively engaged in the process and advocating for Su with labor and business leaders and senators, according to an administration official. Many Democrats on Capitol Hill are hopeful Kelly, Tester and King will support Su. If that is the case, and Sen. Dianne Feinstein remains in San Francisco recovering from shingles, Su and the White House would still need to win over Manchin and Sinema, both of whom have bucked the president in the past. Neither senator is on the committee that will vote Wednesday on whether to advance Su’s nomination to the floor and attention will fully turn to them immediately after the vote. Su has been ramping up her meetings with senators of both parties in recent weeks, though she has yet to meet with several key holdouts. She has spoken to Sinema, according to two sources familiar with the situation, and the White House is in touch with Manchin, an administration official said. Su doesn’t have a traditional “sherpa,” a veteran lawmaker or some other plugged-in operative who typically leads Cabinet officials and other important nominees through the confirmation process on Capitol Hill. The lack of one has raised eyebrows among some of Su’s supporters about the White House’s level of support for the nomination. The term “sherpa” is being phased out at the White House, however. Instead, she has a “navigator” — the senior leader of the Labor Department’s congressional affairs shop. The office has led Su through the process and accompanied her at each of her Senate meetings, according to that official. Su is only the second Cabinet official to go through the confirmation process since the first months of the Biden administration — Office of Science and Technology Policy Director Arati Prabhakar being the other — and the agencies now lead the confirmation process, an administration official said. With an obvious eye toward Manchin, the White House has heavily touted Su’s support from labor unions, including the AFL-CIO, Teamsters and, most significantly, United Mine Workers of America. While a recent letter of support from Mine Workers President Cecil E. Roberts may pull weight with Manchin, Su supporters have been cautious to not be too heavy-handed with either him or Sinema, knowing that an overt lobbying effort may backfire.   “The White House knows what they need to do for the best outcome to get Julie Su confirmed,” said an organized labor official, who requested anonymity to discuss political strategy. “They know the relationship dynamics they have with the senators in question. And they know it’s a complicated circumstance that requires deft and delicate management.”   The White House’s light-touch strategy is not entirely reliant on unions to shoulder the lobbying load and the administration has highlighted her support from groups like the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, Small Business Majority and those representing Asian American and Pacific Islanders. If confirmed, Su would be Biden’s first APPI Cabinet secretary and his fourth AAPI Cabinet member overall. But organized labor is at the center of the pro-Su push. “There’s a world of Julie Su supporters out there, and we’re trying to show that,” the labor official said. “We saw these senators vote for her and there’s no reason to vote against her now. It remains to be seen just how uncertain they actually are.”   Sources: THX News, The White House & Politico. Read the full article

[moominofthevalley]

happy aapi month to emily 💗 i can’t wait to write more of her this year. i’ve just realized almost every character/oc i make is filipino lol. that will never go away!

[choicescommunityevents]

Prompts

Have fun! 💗

For AAPI Creators

Create a post highlighting your culture and link any art you’d like to promote! CCE will happily reblog and add you to the event masterlist.

For OCs

Where is your OC from?

What is your OC’s favorite thing about their culture?

Who is an AAPI figure your OC looks up to? It could be a parent, a relative, or someone well-known.

How do they celebrate AAPI Heritage Month?

Prompts

Cooking their favorite dish

Attending an AAPI Heritage Month Festival

Visiting their motherland

Visiting an Asian & Pacific Islander Art Museum

Getting to know more about their identity

Karaoke Night

Tea tasting

Food Truck/Street Food Date

Botanical Garden Date

Volunteering at an elderly home

Visiting cultural landmarks

Family Storytelling

Origami making

Teaching or learning a language

AAPI Film Festival

One-Word Prompts

Food

Clothes

Myths

Beliefs

Language

Children

Elders

Nature

Dance

Country

Animals

Music

Ancestors

Tradition

Family

[saibug1022]

Happy AAPI month to Cas and Eros <3

oh right and gabe is there too i guess

[aces-and-angels]

nangan kan? // กินข้าวหรือยัง // have you eaten yet?

"food is the asian love language. it’s the cut fruit, sharing dishes, and sending you off with containers of leftovers. it’s making you your favorite dish, stuffing you and offering you seconds and thirds and fourths, and asking whether you've eaten yet or worrying if you’re not eating well." -ivy kwong, lmft

texts from enid's parents for aapi heritage month- prompt "food" @choicescommunityevents

i imagine enid being someone who didn't call home often while attending college- esp. after she made the decision to switch over to law. but once in a while, her parents would check in like this.

[aces-and-angels]

YES TO ALL OF THIS

(also taking this time to signal boost le commissions- go get some art gang)

jaxxie