#while her mom is culturally Asian and native

[eurydice-and-the-off-beats]

Having many family members who are of vastly different cultures and ethnicities is fun and all until they get to you and ask what you are.

[punkeropercyjackson]

I'm pretty sure Atla being Aang's story and never about Zutara is just.......kinda what Atla about instead of making it a bad story lol!Like it's called 'Avatar:The Last Airbender' and the 2nd part refers to Aang being the sole survivor of a genocide which like the characters is based on the real genocide that happens to Tibet,Aang's people,by China.The Water Tribe gang are also genocide survivors because they're native-coded and the Fire Nation is an imperialist empire because it's based on Japan when it was

So Aang's the protagonist because it's about poc trauma and potraying etchnic cleansing survivors as the victims they are but also humanizing them and showing them as heroes and capable of saving the world that tried to wipe them all out!Aang is the good guy because he goes out of way to help everybody,with activism AND direct action and in the comics,he kickstarted decolonization and arguably counts as the inventor of in his world.Atla was created to radicalize the kids watching it and while it's not perfect(see the demonization of Jet and Hama and asskissing of Iroh),Aang is undoubtedly a great role model and relatable to kids of color as well as asian people who come from lesser known asian cultures that're happy to finally get some rep that's not just easian characters

On the topic of Katara,not sorry at all but she's never been meant to be 'the universal female experience' or some other radf.em-adjacent caricature.Yes,she's a girl and it's really important to her she's a girl but she wants to be a girl HER way,not what's expected of her by society.Katara is a brown native american-Inuk girl who was parentified despite having an older brother due to sexism and fell for Aang because he helped her feel like a real kid instead of a mini mom and he fell for her at first sight because he found her indigenous features to be angelic and princess-y and all around perfect and Katara is a punk girl,she refuses to follow the rules or conform to standards or hold herself back for ANYONE and never shuts up about it or refuses to stop acting on it so she's canonically an anarchist,she was Aang's righthand in The Gaang and did her own solo anti-imperalist activity on her own too and provided resources and aid and even emotional comfort for oppressed groups all throught the show so she's canonically an activist and she hates the Fire Nation and ALL bigots and abusers,no expections,so she's canonically anti-authority and anti-establishment too.Katara is a feminist character in the sense she's nothing like women are expected to be and does the heroism and has the personality traits which are said to be reserved for men by the patriachy,ESPECIALLY at the time.And yes,Zutaras,you too to this fuckin' day

Zuko's redemption arc was Zuko's redemption arc.Not an arc about finding a way to make it okay for him to date Katara!ZUKO'S REDEMPTION ARC IS ABOUT ZUKO!Not even Mai had a huge hand in that despite being Zuko's canon girlfriend but that's not because 'she wasn't important to him',it's because he didn't do anything he had to redeem himself for to her except breaking up with her in a petty way so he could work on healing and free himself from Ozai and she understood that by connecting the dots so she forgave him as she gets what it's like to have your parents abuse you because it's 'normal' in their culture-easian culture.Zuko is fundamentally a japanese man,his name,his design,his backstory,his personality,his powers/fighting style,his tastes,his generational trauma.Ozai abused Zuko using techniques created by abusive easian parents specifically since sadly the normalization of child abuse is so wide,different cultures each have their own unique tactics for it and Zuko thought nothing of it until he left the Fire Nation and learned it's not normal at all and that he deserves better.That's how it works for a lot of kids of color,if not most of us

In addition to the giving reperations aspect,Zuko becoming Aang's big brother figure and pseudo-dad is him healing his inner child and breaking the cycle of abuse.Dadko symbolizes peace with their dynamic too,peace for Zuko's lineage because now he gets to be the good dad to Aang Ozai never was to him and grew up to be a good biodad to Izumi largely realistically thanks to Aang giving him experience with raising kids.Zuko's dad friend behavior is a positive trait,'Mom'tara is silencing Katara for your male fave so she can be realize she's not a real kid actually,Aang was wrong and she's not actually beautiful,kind,cool,funny,charming,badass,a hero and deserving of a soft love with someone who's patient with her because he's just happy to her in silence until he thought he'd have to die to save the world and couldn't bear the thought of parting with her because she's his whole world just as he gave her hope she could grow up to save it.And y'all call him a r*pist because they were mutually unspokenly flirting for months and she got angry at him for implying they shouldn't kiss followed up by an implied almost kiss and multiple cheek kisses from her to him so he thought to make up for it out of misreading the room and immediately regretted it and berated himself for making her uncomfortable at the same time an EXPLICITLY non-consensual on her side episode where Zuko kidnaps her,talks badly to/of her,threatens her condesendingly and even steals Kya's necklace is what gave Zutara popularity

Atla is one of the best pg show's of all time because it's not about Zutara but about Aang.Not about cishet romance where the oppressed girl falls for her boy oppressor as it has the 'undesirable' race boy the villain.Then it would've been propaganda and glamorization of Japan's darker history as during Japan's imperialist era,women were treated pretty similarly to black people in the slavery/segregations and i'm making that comparison because as a black woman 1.It's pretty accurate and 2.Zutradras have a misogynoir problem and an antiblackness problem towards black men too by treating black girls as the same white girls like how they do Katara as a brown indigenous girl and moc Atla fans are targeted by the white Z/K suckers on the basis of being 'males' when white women inherently have privilege over moc,black and brown men most of all.They got a transmisogyny problem too since as i stated,their 'feminism' in regards to Katara is ciscentric only and carry r.adfem-like rethoric to how she should be written,plus their hatred of Aang for 'not being a real man' since they see him as amab and he's canonically very feminine and then there's all the anti-trans Zuko headcanons sentiments that only come from them with literally every other Atla ship group being supportive of trans readings of him,as well as for the Avatarverse cast in general.Atla is a love letter to misfits,not a love story for the normies.Aang was right to keep the Air Nomads alive by not killing Ozai because poc shouldn't have to give up our culture to be 'real punks' when punk is black made and whites and westerners are very much the biggest reasons we and other poc we even need revolutions

Kataang is a ship between two punk kids of color and Zutara robs countless abused japanese/asian-american kids of the narrative they needed and still need.The Atla fandom is extremely anti Zutara because it's a papable replacement for a very powerful story that only caters to the very people the series was saying are bad for correct and proven reasons.You can say 'interracial relathionships are so important and that's why should've Zutara happened!!!' but as a black/white biracial woman you're no different than people who only like interracial ships if they have a white person and get mad at poc4poc interracial rep seeing as you whitewash Zuko's writing and you can also say 'No girl would choose Aang over Zuko' but i had a huge crush on Aang and i was told i wasn't a real girl despite being afab because i was an autistic black tomboy and a huge part of his appeal was that he's not the fantasy,he was like me and plenty of girls weren't attracted to Zuko and it's enforcing cisheteronormative to act like we all did just because we're women.Hell,i'm convinced Katara is trans because of her relathionship with girlhood and canon punkhood and bi with a preference for gnc partners because of Kataang and the Katoph subtext and curiously enough NO Zutara shipper who's anti Kataang headcanons her as transfem while most Kataangers nowadays follow the t4t take on it and almost every lesbian i've met in the fandom stans it too and mocks Zutara

Avatar:The Last Airbender is about a tibetan boy who saves himself and everyone else from the system that tried to wipe his people out entierly with the help of a parentified brown native femme punk girl he's in love with and her in love with him back for his own unconventionality and the reason the mc even survived properly was she didn't stand for her older brother's misogyny and the tritagonist is a japanese disabled abuse survivor who's redemptic arc and joining of the good guys is a healing arc that involves holding himself accountable and unlearning propaganda and ACTING on it instead of infantalizing him because he may have been 16 at the the time but literally everyone he'd hurt is younger than him and coddling and refusing to progress isn't actual healing.'Aang is an ugly loser because he shaves his head for cultural reasons and is kind and positive and boys aren't supposed to be if they wanna get girls and Katara should've ended up with Zuko to fix the nation that colonized hers by becoming it's leader and living there and Zuko's arc was ruined because he didn't become a good person for romance but for himself and to make friends' is NOT the hot take you think it is

[onegianthotmess]

Since you write for RE8 can I ask for Donna, Heisenberg and Lady D with an gender neutral S/O thats like asian and gets triggered by like shoes inside the house, unwashed rice, zero cooperation, and basically all the sterotypical asian stuff (bc its true for me😭)

If you make little HCs or fics is fine

Of course I can, sweetie! But, I would like to note that I am American so I may not get a lot of the cultural pet peeves right, but I will try my best! Also I am very sorry if I kept you waiting for long, this is my first ask and I’m not in the habit of checking my ask box, but thank you for being patient with me!

Lady Dimitrescu

Our favorite sugar mommy is first!!!

Pretty much, you worked in the castle when you first met the lovely Lady Alcina Dimitrescu and it took a little while before she basically told you she loved you and that she wanted you to be hers and to be yours in return

And you accepted obviously because, HELLO, IT’S ALCINA FUCKING DIMITRESCU

THE BEST SUGAR MOMMY AROUND!!!

Anyways, she never noticed your cultural pet peeves until you moved in with her and her daughters

You grew up in a very stereotypical Asian home and your mama didn’t raise no doormat bitch

It all started with the shoes

The girls just came back from chasing down a man who was trespassing and they only made it two steps in before they were stopped by you demanding they take their shoes off

Cassandra was the one who argued the most, saying your demand was stupid and pointless while her sisters were grumbling in agreement

And Cassandra, who was talking with her hands, yelped when you pulled a broom from the literal void and whacked her hands with the broomstick

You began scolding her for talking back to an elder, despite her being immortal, and threatening to get the slipper if she kept talking back and didn’t take off her shoes

You were glaring down Bela and Daniela with the same sort of angry mom glare that you were giving Cassandra, which scared them even more than when they’ve seen their mother angry

Needless to say, within five minutes the girls took off their shoes and set them aside neatly before apologizing and going to their rooms to clean up, per your request

And while all of this happened, Alcina was standing off to the side bewildered by your behavior towards shoes on in the house

You turned to see her standing there and asked her to take her outside shoes off if she was wearing any and to put on some slippers

And Alcina did as you said because she did not want to make you angry

And that was just the start

One evening Alcina was annoyed at all of the noise in the kitchen and went to investigate because she was trying to get some reading in before dinner only to find you yelling at the cooking staff as you threw out a batch of cooked rice and began to start a new one

You were yelling in your native tongue angrily, which you’d been teaching Alcina a few basic words in, and she could make out a few words like “rice” and “wash” and “incompetent” directed towards the staff

And so the cooks left you alone as you grumbled and washed the rice before cooking it properly and glaring at the staff before you exited the kitchen

And apparently, from what Alcina heard from the cooks, you did this when you were working as part of the castle staff

When she asked you about it when you cooled off, you just told Alcina that it was the only way to have rice and that if you didn’t wash your rice, you were a fucking heathen

And Alcina just nodded before she went back to her book she was reading because there was no arguing with you on rice, apparently

There was also one more incident that really stuck out to Alcina and that was when you took her to the market as a sort of calm date idea

But it was anything but calm as you were yelling at a vendor at how overpriced their products were

You spent a good hour or two arguing with the salesperson before you left with what you’d wanted at just a quarter of the original price that was set

You did the same with a couple more vendors that had good things to sell at too high of prices in your opinion and it honestly entertained Alcina to no end

She stood there quietly, a fond and amused smile on her face as she watched you argue and negotiate items down to quarter their original price with vendors and salespeople

You were one of, if not the most, unrelenting and stubborn people Alcina had ever met and she found it cute and admirable

And she appreciates you instigating the rule of only wearing slippers while inside because she’d never felt that much comfort while walking around her own home without going barefoot

Donna Beneviento

Our lovely shy lady! I love her!!

Okay, so she hired you as help so you could help her clean her very large house because it was a lot for her to manage on her own, especially when she had so many dolls to make

And it took quite a while, but you managed to catch the shy lady’s heart and she eventually asked you to move in either her so you wouldn’t be far

Well, it was more like Angie was begging you to move your shit into the house while Donna was trying to get her to ask nicely

Anyways, once you were all settled and Donna developed a cuddling habit while you two slept in the same bed together as insisted by Angie, the lovely Lady Beneviento noticed a few things about you

For example, one day when she was coming back in from gardening, you stopped her at the front door and asked her to take off her shoes

When she asked you why, you answered by telling her that it would keep the floors clean and not make them need so much cleaning if she took off her outside shoes and wore indoor only slippers around the house

While it was confusing to Donna, she saw that you were holding back and trying your best to be gentle with her because you knew yelling didn’t go over well with her, so she took off her shoes and laid them neatly by the door and put on some house slippers you gave her

And, if she was being honest, she’d never been more comfortable walking around her own home

Where did you get these amazingly comfortable slippers?

She’ll never know, but she did find you arguing with Angie about the shoe thing as well since she was also out in the garden with Donna

Angie argued with you for about an hour before you pulled out a sandal from the literal fucking void and told the doll to take off her shoes and put on her slippers or you’d use that sandal

Needless to say, Angie quickly did as you were told and you moved onto the other dolls, who occasionally went out with Donna

There was also another incident during dinner one night

Donna was cooking a dish that you taught her to make and just as she was about to start cooking the rice, you walked into the room and screamed

Before Donna could turn to see you, you quickly snatched the rice from her hands and took it to the sink to wash it

Donna was stunned, but let you wash the rice as you seemed to be both annoyed and in a state of internal panic

Once you finished washing the rice and put it on to cook, you took a breath and explained to Donna that washing rice was very important and you asked her to never cook with unwashed rice ever again, especially not in front of you

Wordlessly she nodded, asked if there were any other rules to cooking the meal and listened as you explained some of the instructions she didn’t understand quite well

Eventually, you had to go into town to get some basic food supplies for the week and Donna actually went with you for once

Because one, she wanted to spend more time with you, and two, she’d seen you come back with far too many things for one person to carry themselves and she wanted to help you carry them

And, much to Angie’s displeasure, Angie had to be left at home as to not scare the villagers and cause unnecessary chaos

And Donna was not prepared for the side of you that came out while shopping in the market

Every time you walked over to a vendor or salesperson selling something, you argued that the price was outrageously high and negotiated beyond belief

Donna just stood want watched in shock and slight awe at you as you negotiated items down to a third or even a quarter of their original price

Your skills were impressive, but you also being slightly intimidating while yelling in your native tongue helped as well

The sandal threat was also on the table if you didn’t get your discount

Even when Donna said that you didn’t have to negotiate prices down since it wasn’t like she was hurting for money, you instantly said that the things in the market were always overpriced and you intended to pay a reasonable price for your vegetables without having to sell a kidney

Knowing you were even more stubborn than a bull, Donna let you shop the way you were taught to like nature intended

If Donna was honest, she found the sight of you shopping and yelling at people that their prices were far too high amusing and almost laughed

Almost because she’s still far too shy to make a sound in public, you’re very lucky she even agreed to leave the house past the garden

But that’s okay, you still love her!

Karl Heisenberg

THE CULTURE SECTION OF MY GERMAN CLASS IS COMING IN HANDY, FOLKS-

Well, he’s German, you’re Asian

Needless to say, you’re both damn stubborn

You both grew up in stereotypical and traditional houses of your respective cultures and, like I said in Alcina’s section, your mother didn’t raise no doormat bitch and neither did Karl’s

So, you were originally hired to be his assistant of sorts because he needed a bit more help around his factory

And eventually you both wormed your ways into the other’s heart and you found yourself living with Karl in his factory

And needless to say, you both had habits and cultural customs that you both insisted on carrying out

One of the first ones you showed was the shoes thing

There was a separate section of the factory that was more like a living quarters for you and Karl and you prided yourself on keeping it clean

So when Karl tried to walk in with his regular greasy and dirty boots on, you stopped him in his tracks and ordered him to take his shoes off and put on some slippers instead

And cue the argument you two began to have about shoes in the home area of the factory that lasted about thirty minutes to an hour

Eventually, Karl did agree to your shoes rule only if you wore a scarf every time you felt you were getting ill, as is a common home remedy in Germany

You both were grumbling about the new rules, but you both eventually got used to them and it became habit

And everything became as calm as it could get for a nice while

But that was before the Rice Incident™

You and Karl were making dinner together because you two enjoyed at home cooking dates and you nearly stabbed him with the knife you were holding when you saw him about to put unwashed rice on to cook

But you instead smacked him with a wooden spoon laying nearby and scolded him in your native tongue as you snatched the rice from him and took it to the sink to wash it

And he looked at you like you were fucking insane, but he didn’t want to fight because he was hungry and the food was going to be cooked anyways, so he just rolled his eyes and moved on to another task

The real fight happened when you tried to spice up the food and Karl stopped you

Traditionally, German food is quite bland and salt and pepper are usually the main seasonings

Paprika is a bit of a stretch in German cuisine-

So, needless to say, Karl isn’t a big fan of spice and would rather not have his tongue burnt off tonight

And the two of you were arguing about spices or about ten minutes before you agreed to leave out the spices until you could add them to your own serving

Food arguments were a regular occurrence between you two, especially when you almost had Weißwurst after noon AND with the skin on

Karl was so disgusted that day that he actually spent time with Alcina in her home voluntarily so he could cool off

But, one culture shock/difference between you two that Karl loves is how you shop

The way you yell about prices being too high and negotiating your way to paying only a quarter, maybe even an eighth, of the cost of just some produce makes him laugh

Karl will start laughing out loud when you really get into the argument, yelling in your native tongue and pulling a sandal out from your bag you had with you as a threat

It was hilarious to Karl, but also the tiniest bit terrifying since he knew how you could turn a sandal into a murder weapon if you were pushed hard enough

All in all, Karl does love you and your stubborn self, even if it causes both of your bull headed asses to butt heads sometimes!

So I’d like to ask; how’d I do? And please be honest with me! I hope I got everything right and it was enjoyable for you! Also, you’re welcome for the tiny sprinklings of German culture in Karl’s section, with my knowledge being curtesy of my German class!!

I hope you enjoyed and please do have a peachy day, good hoomans!!!

[er0dedc0pper]

Marinette being French Canadian would actually be so fucking funny. In my head she’s Chinese, indigenous and French. Just like me! And her life is a living hell, like the bullying and straight up hate crimes committed by québécois would be insane. Especially if she’s in rural Canada, like your Asian, NDN and not a supporter of the colonial state? Fasts way to beat up. Like rural Marinette is so important to me, imagine living in the bush you’re whole life than moving to a major city where you’re chosen as it’s protector. Like I literally get sick by how much concrete and asphalt is around me when I go to the city, Mari will literally DIE.

Her parents and aunts would definitely run the local Chinese restaurant back home! I feel like the majority of Maris family would live on reserve, but I do think she wouldn’t. For the record I see both her side’s being Native, their just mixed with different cultures! No because I’ve had moose stir-fry with rice and it’s so fucking good. My mom told us that her struggle food as a child was braised pig feet with Kraft dinner 😭 and that’s the most Chinese NDN thing I ever fucking heard…

And Socqueline is definitely the cousin that actually live in Paris so she helps her baby cousin adjust to city life! And the contrast of bullying techniques would absolutely baffle Marinette. Like wdym you’re not going to drag her through the mud with you’re atv? French society is extremely elitist so the majority of her bullying would be more verbal and socially isolating. Don’t get me wrong, they definitely pull her hair and push her down the stairs! It’s just not at the degree she’s used too…

UGH, also her being more aggressive with her affection is so funny. Like calling Adrien stupid and ugly when she’s absolutely swooning over him… or her hitting the shit out of Nino an Alya when she laughs… Like she’d definitely be more crass, but still respectful! Since she was raised to have respect for everyone, regardless of her stance on their general personhood. And I hate to stereotype Native women, but Marinette definitely knows how to fight! Not that she starts them, more as self defence… her parents definitely celebrate her first day with no fighting at school!

But it would be nice to see her actually appreciate getting a better education, especially with how rough it can be here in Canada. I definitely feel like she would excel academically! It’s just a funny concept I love, she would interact differently with her environment and people around her! All while maintaining that classic Marinette Charm!

[mariacallous]

My #BLEWISH ancestry shows up in different ways. My maternal DNA is Ashkenazi-Russian Jewish. On the paternal side, like many African Americans, my ancestors are a swirl of Black, Native American, and European White — largely German, though I don’t know how much of that was added to the mix consensually.

Rosalyn and Kelly, my parents, were married in Seattle, Washington long before the Supreme Court made unions like theirs fully legal throughout the United States. But unlike many interracial couples, they grew up together during the Depression in North Minneapolis, where Black people and Jewish people were “allowed” to live side by side.

My parents divorced when I was two, just before my younger brother was born. Mom raised us in the very diverse Central Area of Seattle, which (pre-gentrification) was where many Black and Asian people resided.

My mother was proud of her Jewish heritage. While she wasn’t religiously observant, she did send my brother and I to Hebrew school. “I want you to learn about my people’s history, culture, and beliefs,” she explained.

Food was my mother’s love language and a form of spiritual expression. Everything from the simplest dishes to elaborate meals were always cooked to perfection. Most Sundays, she turned out a soul food feast with chicken (baked, not fried), collard greens, candied yams, rice, and often black-eyed peas. Sometimes she even threw in a sweet potato pie. My father had tutored her in creating these delicacies during their years together.

When it came to traditional Jewish dishes, she didn’t cook many, though she’d rhapsodize about her mother’s knishes, rugelach, and schmaltz. But she was serious about her chicken soup. She cooked it old school: a whole chicken, plump chunks of carrots, silvered slices of celery, and plenty of “nature’s antibiotics:” onion and garlic. Sometimes she added noodles; other times, rice. One thing was certain: Mom’s chicken soup was a powerful healing elixir for body, mind, spirit, and soul. And true to form, she whipped some up and administered it at the first sign of any illness.

My approach to cooking is more serviceable than spiritual, and I don’t have my mom’s gift for making everything flawless. But I have carried on the traditions of two cherished dishes: collard greens and chicken soup. My now-grown son and daughter request and expect collard greens for every holiday meal, and they grew up eating chicken soup as a cure-all. Their adult palates are more vegetarian–vegan, so the chicken soup tradition might well end with my generation. But the spirit of healing chicken soup lives on in spirit and memory. Who knows, maybe they’ll come up with a non-poultry option.

Every New Year’s Eve, my mother cooked collards and black-eyed peas, and made sure we all ate at least a little before midnight. “The greens are for money, and the peas for good luck,” she’d remind us. I didn’t realize how deeply this was rooted in African American tradition until I moved to the South.

I thought all the mothers of Mixed-Black children were experts at preparing soul food. It wasn’t until I was grown that I realized how extraordinary my mother was. As my brother and I brought people from different places into our multicultural home, I watched in amazement as she mastered their traditional dishes as well from lumpia and adobo for my brother’s Filipina girlfriend to berbere and Doro Wot for my Ethiopian beau.

My mother’s eclectic approach to culinary expression taught me a lot about being from a mixed-race background. Her kitchen was a living laboratory of what we now call diversity. She learned and then produced the dishes from different cultures with reverence and seasoned them with love. They mirrored her approach to people and life: open-minded and open-hearted with a hearty appreciation for the cultural spice of life.

Unlike my late mother, I normally take shortcuts in the kitchen. But chicken soup and collard greens are sacred, and require elaborate rituals, often taking a couple of days. I clear my counters and my schedule, and savor the opportunity to commune with my parents and to reflect on the paths of their ancestors that brought them together in a rule-breaking love with the audacity to produce children who were destined to live outside the lines.

And when I place small amounts of those special dishes upon my ancestral altar, I give special thanks for the vision, heart, and culinary prowess of a mama who spoke — and cooked — Yiddish and jazz.*

Note: Use your favorite seasonings to flavor your greens. Lawry’s Seasoning Salt is popular and Seasonest (sold in Whole Foods and online) is a Black family-owned alternative with all-natural ingredients.

*I borrowed the phrase, “a mother who speaks Yiddish and jazz” from my #BLEWISH sister-author Lisa Jones and her wonderful book “Bulletproof Diva“.  

[150ma-blog]

Internet/Social Media: Linh Truong

Linh Truing is currently a senior at Georgetown University in Washington DC and also a content creator on Instagram, TikTok, and Youtube. Their focus is on fashion, commentary, lifestyle, and travel content. Linh is Asian-American (half Vietnamese, half Chinese) and leans into her Vietnamese heritage in her content and life. They have been creating videos for YouTube since 2018. They have over 1.6 million followers/subscribers across different platforms.

I personally found Linh because of her room tours/organizational videos. Linh is also queer, identifying as non-binary, and uses she/they pronouns. Since 2018, Linh has been focused on graduating high school and going to college. Her goal (at least at this stage in life) is not to become a full-time influencer/YouTuber/content creator after college, but to get a job. She is going to school for sociology.

Linh is very proactive on social media. Since starting college (around 2020ish), they have been including resource links in the description of every video for things such as supporting trans and queer people, supporting black people, AANHPI (Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander), and others. Not only this, but they are also very active on Instagram with more real time events. She is a big advocate for those underrepresented and makes the effort to give them the platform they deserve. Linh also uses her platform/the public eye to get people they help or eyes they may need. She is very outspoken about her views on political and cultural matters.

Something that Linh has really been playing with recently has been fashion. They make a lot of content having to do with fashion and clothing that plays with twisting gender norms, combining uncommon things together, and being authentically themselves. I feel like this is a great relation to class because Linh uses fashion in a way that could be considered art. She combines different cultural clothing to make it into something different.

Linh also makes art, jewelry is one that is the most recent (she has also made art prints, stickers, and others). Her jewelry too is heavily influenced by her cultural upbringing, she even comments that it was “inspired by the jewelry I saw my mom wear growing up.” The initial gold jewelry line with En Route was released in late 2022, but silver versions of the pieces were later released around a year later.

Snakes have significance in Chinese mythology such as the duality of nature in Chinese philosophy, wisdom and knowledge, protection, etc. This directly relates to Linh’s heritage! (Referenced https://ishocalligraphy.com/blog/chinese-snake-symbolism-a-fascinating-journey-into-chinese-culture/)

While there isn’t a direct relation to the readings we’ve had this semester (especially because we only really read the Chinese perspective of emigration to the United States), their ties towards both heritage/cultural identity in relation to the world we know today is one that isn’t as public as what Linh is doing.

[beardedmrbean]

Oh yes the hoteps, how the fuck they got together? And why their main base is in Chicago?! Is there a certain kool aid I don’t know about

Also about my ancestry, the thing is I may visit Nigeria if a close friend from they want to come or like for research.

I mean in my black oriented stories, I was slams a hammer so hard in the audience head pointing out the black Americans would see the native Africans as foreigners

Also make passive aggressive comments on the Dahomey.

Actually…I wonder if I could like every talk to a African and expose how bad our education system is telling the us the whole story about the Africa slave kingdoms

I imagine they would have downright shocked that black Americans of all people never learn about the Dahomey until the first women king trailer

Like to me, sorry not taking away the Jewish people struggles, just showing how bad my community knowledge is to our ancestry. Is like a Jewish person never taught what Emperor Hadrian did to ancient Israel.

Then how just about how people like you reveal we did the genetic history of black Americans ancestors with enslaved ancestry and parts we’re from

Why isn’t taught, a huge identity crisis among my community id that we were taught that our pre American ancestors were only slaves.

Of course we aren’t part of those tribes but give us better state of mind…ish

But one thing

Me: So you bitch about the war on drugs and militarization of police the elites did?

Black activists: yep

Me: Had it ever occurred to you that we are taughted a sanitized version of the African slave trade all the way to college while we get hit with the native atrocities and Japanese interment camps stuff in middle school. And how antagonistic we are on average towards African immigrants because we act like toddlers?

BA: nope

Good why am I doing research about our main ancestors more than you

Oh yeah the root thing

https://x.com/copicsquiddo/status/1392364456127221761?s=46

You know with the whole decolonization talks, I notice that the left intentionally leave out black Americans because at the end of the day we are the irreversible result of colonization…unless the left have this dumbass option that modern Yoruba culture is the same as my ancestors were part of-oh my god

So yeah we’re rootless, to where we only have middle upper class people povs of Africa until the 60’s

Also this idea that black people cant cruel as our white slave owners? Oh yeah that never-

*Phone call from the afterlife*

Hello? Oh it Maya Angelou, pointing out that she was RAPED by her mom’s boyfriend as a child and why she was muted for a few years. OW! Oh it Micheal Jackson hitting that high note point out how much of a pos his father was to him and his siblings

Remember that Jackson 5 mini series where they point out the dad was abusive as hell

Got a feel mj and the others did “uncredited” consultants on that series

I heard that mj dad didn’t even GRIEVE or act sad his fucking son was dead. My god, actually I was checking Paris Jackson, she was on an Amazon show called the Swarm where she said her was culturally black. Swarm centered around a serial killer obsessed with a beyonce stand in.

So have the daughter of a man who finger twitch at concert made people faint. Is a good reference

But I read up that MJ mom tried to funraise a documentary after her son death…holy fuck is the MJ we know is a least terrible result of the household he was in?

Um oh yeah, *phone rings* oh Tyler Perry, orphan (wait she was and tp were basically Judas for their higher ups), children of the welfare queens and abusive inner cities parents pointing out the hell they went through

Okay I’m talking about child abuse, but I notice when white, Asian, and Latinos point out their parents and elders shitty actions they are supported

But when black Americans points out that a lot of our parents beat us harder than overseers did to other field ancestors. We need to treat them with kids gloves

Of course not all and we do point out this shit. We need to treat these abusive tactics with kids gloves

“Slavery, racism, and systematic oppression is why!”

Hmmm, why I don’t see Mexicans, Indians, Argentinians, Chinese, Vietnamese, Native Americans, giving their elders who often went through hell too. The same execuses?

Oh yes the hoteps, how the fuck they got together? And why their main base is in Chicago?! Is there a certain kool aid I don’t know about

Splinter from nation of islam, or something like that is my guess. Nailed it

I mean in my black oriented stories, I was slams a hammer so hard in the audience head pointing out the black Americans would see the native Africans as foreigners Also make passive aggressive comments on the Dahomey.

To them here they would be, just like the other way around would work the same, and far more than passive aggressive, but they earned it.

Prev bit and Like to me, sorry not taking away the Jewish people struggles, just showing how bad my community knowledge is to our ancestry. Is like a Jewish person never taught what Emperor Hadrian did to ancient Israel.

I wonder where "ancient" stops applying, that one happened well after Jesus

an·cient ADJECTIVE

belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence: "the ancient civilizations of the Mediterranean"

Suppose that works, nice and vague too. Granted that one doesn't turn up in Christianity so it's not too well known outside of Jewish circles, but they do their own schooling too, pretty much no matter where they are they have 'Jewish School' identity is important to them and all their holy days are confusing to a outsider.

There's a handy chart for us gentiles

Admittedly black Americans were not given the chance to do the same, there was "africatown" technically Plateau, Alabama where former slaves that still remembered home could go to escape Americans, not just white people.

Prev bit+ Of course we aren’t part of those tribes but give us better state of mind…ish

Absolutly be good to learn, sadly the nature of how so many got here y'all are likely to be in the same boat as so many of the rest of us are there, we're all mutts, I'm a european one they'd be african. Might explain some of the pan african stuff honestly, with DNA tests now you can pinpoint though just make sure the company isn't one that will sell your info to the cops or anyone else.

Me: So you bitch about the war on drugs and militarization of police the elites did? Black activists: yep Cont:

It's gonna start sinking in soon enough I think, the information is there and people know where to look now so there will be some folks that are not in the mood to be berated anymore that will begin the education process.

My guess at least.

This sounds familiar, can't just blame white people for that tho, also lots of the kingdoms and what not that did the selling and being sold don't exist anymore, makes it even harder.

Prev and I heard that mj dad didn’t even GRIEVE or act sad his fucking son was dead. My god, actually I was checking Paris Jackson, she was on an Amazon show called the Swarm where she said her was culturally black. Swarm centered around a serial killer obsessed with a beyonce stand in.

joe jackson that was bad ya, same with mya angelou, Tina Turner, and several other people through history, folks need to give up on the race dynamic parts of abuse and just focus on how to help people heal,

Blaming the actual abuser instead of some nebulous concept would be good too. Nice to give the bad guy a name, even if it's Joseph.

Okay I’m talking about child abuse, but I notice when white, Asian, and Latinos point out their parents and elders shitty actions they are supported But when black Americans points out that a lot of our parents beat us harder than overseers did to other field ancestors. We need to treat them with kids gloves

Overseers knew better than to beat the tractor with a baseball bat, one of those things that changed with slavery being abolished is working conditions could actually get worse.

Coal miner talking about the boss telling him to be sure and get the mule out if there's a cave in,

'what about me and the men boss'

'I can hire more men, gotta buy the mule'

“Slavery, racism, and systematic oppression is why!” Hmmm, why I don’t see Mexicans, Indians, Argentinians, Chinese, Vietnamese, Native Americans, giving their elders who often went through hell too. The same execuses?

there's a reason it changed to bipoc from just poc while the lgbt alphabet soup keeps getting longer and more inclusive.

[mr-laveau]

Mr. Laveau's Masterlist of Design Ethnicities (headcanons)

I recently had a chat with my friends about the inclusivity of my designs and that reminded me that I have not properly shared what my HC for each design is, so I'm doin that! As well as small headcanons!

*forewarning, I also have alt designs which are different ethnicities but that doesn't overtake from each one as I do switch between their uses. Also this will update as time goes on.

•Sam is Latino in his first design, he's Afro-latino in one of his alternate designs and his newer alternate design is Navajo because I was sent something by @autisticempathydaemon where Sam and Lovely are siblings and I'm committing to it.

•Darlin'/Darren (he/they) is Japanese-American while his first alt design, Daryl, is African-american (of caribbean descent) while a newer design will be Chinese-latino.

•Lasko is a mixed Asian-American (He's Japanese & Desi)

•Gavin is a incubus, yes, but he does present as a dark-skinned desi man in my head

•Avior is Vietnamese

•Milo is afro-italian

•FL/Fern (they/them) is Caribbean afro-hispanic (their dad is black, their mom is from Cuba but immigrated from Venezuela)

•Asher is Latino (C last name is Castillo)

•David is Bedouin Arab (both of his parents are immigrants from Egypt) - Additionally I fucked around in my headcanons and he shifts into a giant jackal instead of a wolf

•Vincent is of Sri-Lankan descent, I die on this hill

•William is a black man - He is from France but immigrated to New Orleans before moving to Dahlia

•Damien is Rroma/Rromani

• Caelum is black

•Sweetheart/Sadhil is desi-american (he/they) - Their parents are immigrants - they're very disconnected from their cultural roots outside of knowing how to cook dishes they picked up from his mom

•Lovely/Logan (they/them) is Navajo/Native American - they're an ex-foster kid who never got adopted fully and they don't know their parents cuz they were put in the system at an early age. Their alt design, Landon Vale (he/they) is mixed (afro-polynesian)

•Huxley is chinese-american

•Angel/Alex (he/she/they) is mixed African-American - I've also headcanoned them as Guy's older sibling!

•Baaabe/Avery(she/he) is Vietnamese-American - She's half-siblings w Ollie and rocks romantic goth fashion.

•Quinn is white - also had a weird situationship with Darren that in their mutually destructive relationship before they cut him off.

•Christian is white

•Bright Eyes/Bea Bright (she/they) is dark-skinned and African-American

•Fred is desi-latino because I say so, that's all I need to say

•Alexis is Persian - oddly enough and I've explained it to my peeps and I'm explaining it now because her being Persian is an active decision to make commentary in the way that I've written her versus how she's generally percieved and how quickly people are willing to throw WOC with flaws into the role of a villain

•Starlight/Sama Latif (they/them) is mixed Assyrian/Iraqi

• Geordi is mixed African-Caribbean and is of Garifuna descent

• Cutie/Cara Teller (she/they) is Afro-korean and that's for a good ass reason, because simply put, Asian dad trauma especially while being raised female

•Morgan is Afro-latino because I simply wanna make a "we don't talk about Bruno reference", I think it could be funny–I think

•Seer/Apollo Sanders (he/him) is mixed (mayan-indigenous/African-american) - Apollo's namesake also has the gift of prophecy and his last name, Sanders, is derivative from Seers's cat, Sandy from @castleaudios which is based on the oracle Cassandra that was cursed not to be believed...by Apollo.

Anyways, that's all for now, byeeeeee

[coreyjaechicken]

I go through an interesting and very uncomfortable process whenever a survey/form asks my race or when I’m reminded of the culture I’m so removed from

My grandmother is Korean, I’ve called her Halmoni since forever, I only call her my grandmother so non-Koreans aren’t confused and it feels so wrong to call her that

I have called my aunt Emo since forever too, I only call her my aunt for non-Koreans

My mother is not White

People sometimes think she is, Mom is more racially ambiguous than Emo

People have thought my mother was Latina, Native American, and, mostly by old Korean ladies, Korean

She grew up in a lot of places, she was a military brat

But she spent a lot of time in Indiana

She has countless stories of being called numerous slurs, no one down there thought she was anything but Asian

My mother is also very removed from her culture, her parents divorced and she stayed with her White father while Emo went with Halmoni

My mother with no hesitation will label herself as Asian and White on forms, she sighs when they only let her choose one race or when they have that all encompassing “mixed” option, I sigh too but it’s not the same

I hesitate

I hem and haw, I just click White unless Mom is there and she chooses what she would choose for herself

I don’t think she understands

I look White, I walk through the world as a White person, any discrimination I face has nothing to do with my race

At some point we got professional family photos done

I don’t hate photos from before I transitioned, except those ones

Both Mom and me are wearing hanboks

My mother is clearly not just Korean, but she looks like she’s Asian

I look like a White tourist

A mockery

Around elementary school I started to realize I didn’t fit in

In desperate attempts to fit in somewhere I clung to whatever scraps of Korean culture I felt was acceptable for me to touch

I tried to learn Korean, I wasn’t medicated for my ADHD yet so that never worked out and I haven’t gotten the courage to try again yet

I got obsessed with K-pop, it was one of the few things I felt I could hold onto as a White person

I remember one time in fourth grade I got so excited when they started talking about Korea that when they asked how you pronounced Halmoni I jumped at the opportunity

I was so embarrassed when I didn’t know how to say grandfather in Korean

There was a Korean girl in class

I wonder to this day what she thought of the obnoxious White girl who didn’t wait for anyone else to talk

Recently I went to a summer camp and I realized when I offhandedly referred to my halmoni and emo that people didn’t understand what I meant

I realized that if I talked about bulgogi or kimchi these people would be thinking of eating at Korean restaurants while I’m thinking of visiting my halmoni and eating her home cooked food and her homemade kimchi

I realized that not everyone has their mom put in their phone as Omma, despite not speaking the language and not referring to her as Omma in day to day life

I am White and I’m not

I am Korean and I’m not

My mother doesn’t understand

To her I am both

To me I am wrong

[mastermojo98]

Zhane & Vitani Chapter 2

Today was August 25th, the first day of school, Zhane was waiting for Vitani to finish making breakfast.

"Come on Vitani is breakfast ready yet? The bus we be here in 20 minutes!", exclaimed Zhane.

Zhane who usually took his bike to go to school and was a stickler for being on time, hated waiting on his sister who would often procrastinate when getting ready.

"Why yes master! Your wish is my command!", yelled Vitani.

Zhane thought to himself. "The female species such an enigma!"

Vitani rushed out with two paper plates in her hands and placed one on the table for Zhane.

"What is up with these pancakes?" asked Zhane.

"What's the problem?", Vitani replied.

"There's still batter coming from them".

"They're buttermilk pancakes."

"Well, there's more milk than butter; and how come you have more bacon?"

"One I'm the one who cooked and two I'm the oldest, so I get more."

The twins mother walked into kitchen preparing to leave for work.

"Now Zhane your sister went through all this trouble to make breakfast the least you can do is give it a chance".

Zhane stared at his sister intensely.

"Trust me Vee, bacon is the last thing you need".

Vitani frowned at Zhane.

"I know you didn't just call me fat! While you're worried about my size you need to eat for someone so small!"

"Oh, ha ha, real funny", said Zhane.

"Hush, both of you!", said Mom. I gotta go to work don't miss the bus okay."

"Yes ma'am", said the twins.

Then both of them heard this bus coming and hurried out the door.

"See ya Mom", both of them exclaimed.

Zhane and Vitani got on the bus and headed off to school.

Vitani was greeted by her best friend Ruby, who was Native American.

"Hey Vitani. Are you ready for 7th grade?", asked Ruby.

"Definitely, I love my brother, but a whole summer with him is like getting gum out of your hair. I cooked breakfast this morning and all he did was make fun of it" replied Vitani.

Ooh, well at least you don't have to deal with him at school too much".

"That's the truth, we're officially out of the newbie stage of middle school so let's make the best of it".

The school bus arrived at Franklin Roosevelt Middle School, and before the kids entered the school Vitani approached Zhane.

"Hey bro I got something to tell you!", yelled Vitani.

Zhane turned and Vitani gave him a big slap.

"OW! What was that for?!", he yelled.

"That's for calling me fat", she replied.

Vitani and Ruby walked into their homeroom class that had three-person seating arranged by her new teacher Mr. Simmons who hadn't shown up yet. The two covered their spot with one seat available.

"Hey, we have homeroom together sweet", said Vitani.

"Well, we're already off to an awesome start", Ruby replied.

Soon a relatively tall Asian girl who was listening to music on her headphones walked in and approached two other girls at one of the tables.

" Kon'nichiwa (Hello), I'm Kimiko mind if I sit here?", she asked.

The two girls glanced at each other confusingly and the brunette spoke.

"Kon'nichiwa? This is America, we speak English here girl. Besides we're saving that seat for a friend, and we don't need a giant taking up all of our space."

"That's not even the worst part Rachel. Her hair and fashion sense need some serious work", said Brianna.

"I know you're not talking with all that nasty weave your hair Brianna!", yelled Vitani.

"They're lame anyway Vee. If they had better jokes, then maybe everyone would laugh", said Ruby.

"OOOOHHHH", yell everyone in class.

Rachel and Serena shamefully sat in silence as the class mocked them.

"How about you mind your own business Pocahontas", said Brianna.

"Kimiko, right? You're good to sit with us", said Vitani.

Kimiko's face lit up with happiness.

"Thanks"

Rachel frowned at the three girls.

"Maybe now she can teach you how to use chop sticks and wear ugly kimanas", mocked Rachel.

Kimiko turned around and glared at Rachel.

"It's called a kimono, and you better watch your mouth about my culture you freaking retard!", yelled Kimiko.

Rachel rose from her seat and spat in Kimiko's face.

"Aaahhh gross", she screamed in disgust.

Ooh, you got her good," shrieked Brianna laughing.

The whole class watched in shock, and Ruby gave some sanitizing wipes to Kimiko clean the spit off her face. Vitani walked up to Rachel.

"That's not cool Rachel, you need to your sor--"

Rachel grabbed Vitani's face shoved her away.

"Shut up", she yelled.

Vitani's face was filled with rage as she gave a strong push to Rachel that caused the brunette to crash into the desks.

Before Rachel could react, the class heard footsteps in the hallway and the disgruntled girls scrambled to their seats to avoid suspicion.

Vitani and Ruby comforted their new friend.

"Are you okay Kimiko?", asked Ruby.

"Yeah, that girl is gonna pay for spitting in my face and calling me a giant", Kimiko replied.

"Don't worry about Rachel, her ponytail is pulled to tight. Her and Brianna are just a bunch of skanks don't know anything; but we got your back," said Vitani.

Kimiko smiled with gratitude as Mr. Simmons walked into the class and greeted everyone, while Rachel coldly stared a hole in Vitani's head.

"Are you really gonna let her get away with pushing you into the desks Rachel?", Brianna asked.

"Are you kidding? No one embarrasses me like that Bree. I'm gonna make Vitani's life miserable."

[namjoonchronicles]

impression | yg

↳ genre fluff, domestic, established relationship

↳ words 5.5k

↳ summary many forgot that when you marry someone, you marry their family too, at least that’s how Asian family is like

↳ warning that side of adulthood, lockdown because of pandemic, self-worth, over-sensitivity, pisces dude, married life conflicts

↳ song ariana grande ‘pov’ 

Just this morning you woke him up with ‘Daechwita’ blasting on his ear drums, dancing and prancing around the home gym in your spandex bra and sweatpants, rapping to every word he wrote, with more swag than ten Yoongis combined. Forehead glistened with sweat, rosy cheeks and more life in you than he ever had. He leaned by the door sill just watching in utter disbelief and renewed admiration to just how much you loved his music. It never gets old. But how the tables have turned, two minutes before midnight.

You’ve locked yourself in the bathroom, him leaning his back on the wall, speaking through the closed door, calling out for you.

“Talk to me. Please… Say something. Anything,” he puts his lips inches away from the door, covering his hand over his mouth to direct the sound towards you, hoping it would get through. Fat chance, but at least he tried.

Must be something in his drink last night for him to hear his own song even when he is sleeping, Yoongi thought. But he didn't drink last night? Yoongi pulled the duvet down his head, contorting his entire face and the blaring boom bass music, rippling through the miniature figure standees of famous baseball players he had lined up on the TV cabinet. The music was so loud, the pictures hung on the walls began rattling at each beat drop. Where is this music coming from??

Two seconds in, and the empty spot next to him spoke volumes. All answers were as clear as day.

Yoongi sat up on the bed, duvets pooled around his waist as he yawns loudly and his bed hair flopping on either side leans towards, some baby strands standing in all directions. He scratches his arms, neck and belly as he comes awake. Face puffy, eyes barely open, and cheeks as circle as they could be. He gathered the duvet to the side and pushed himself off to the edge of the bed while shoving his feet into his indoor slippers. He tried to fetch his phone from the bedside table and saw it vibrating on its own from the loud music.

"Better stop her before the neighbours come complaining…"

He waddles about the room lazily, dragging his feet, his arm reaching for the switch panel before he even arrives to have the curtain open and let the sun in. The automated curtain aligned and folded creases perfectly as it gathered itself to each designated side. The bed, the bed will be made up later after he advises his wife not to deafen the whole neighborhood with his albums and he could finally think.

The teal-colored walls that extended along the hallway of the house, decorated with wedding pictures, family pictures, his signed baseball jerseys, picture of his basketball days (the one he jumps for a slam dunk and especially proud of, you know the one), your graduation picture (with him professionally photoshopped in) and some lovely polaroids of your first unofficial date that he insists was official. More on that later. Yoongi walks pass this memory lane with a stern face, shooting glares ahead, marching in the direction of the music, which seems to be coming from the gym. What he saw was a petite figure, all hyped up, sweaty, holding up a water bottle to your lips like a microphone, mouthing his rap like it was your own. You saw him in the mirror reflection but instead of coiling away, shy, you spat his rap to his face with flaming confidence. Yoongi looks down with a shy smile, eyes turning small and polite, skin blushing pink with second hand embarrassment. His face is hot and your sweaty skin, hair plastered to your neck and forehead, in revealing spandex was not helping. Neither is your swag. He clamped his lips with his teeth while you pulled his arm so he would join you. He protested lazily but didn't resist as hard. He throws his head back, whining dejections but you couldn't care less.

"Are you making your own concert here? Plagiarising my songs?"

You heard him and grinned widely at the mirror. He folded his arms and watched you dance seductively and just as the rap got to the 'my tongue sends boys and girls to China' part, the music stops and he is no longer next to you but by the stereo and turning it off.

"Yoongi! I was working out!" "People are gonna come and complain…" "They know who you are…" "They know my name from you…"

Screaming underneath him, that's what he meant. You rolled your eyes at him. He passed you a face towel with a sheepish smile. Wiping your face with it, you watched Yoongi unplug your phone from the sockets. It reveals several missed calls from your mother in law, Yoongi's mom.

"Mom called…" "Really?"

You moved closer to him to see. Yoongi reads the message she sent you outloud and the colors drained down your face.

"What do I cook? What do I do? What does she usually have for lunch? OMG, I don’t know. Do we even have kimchis left? I hadn't restocked…" "She likes fried dumplings and soy garlic chicken stew… it'll be okay. She said she is coming around noon. It's just a little over 8 am… Go take a shower."

You scurried to the bathroom and did as told. Yoongi made the bed while he waited. He turns the cordless vacuum cleaner on but it beeped soullessly because it wasn't charged. He sighed. You always forget to charge them after using them. He opted for a broom and dustpan instead. Yoongi disappears into his home studio, to take the shampoo he had been using and after-shower lotion for you to use. He twisted the knob, knowing you wouldn't lock them when you shower. Knock on the glass door of the shower and told you to use them. You nodded, passing him a look over your shoulder but he was out as quickly as he entered. That cold, cold steely husband.

You stepped out of the shower wrapped in towels with your hair dripping wet, hurrying to the hairdryer to dry your hair. Yoongi walks in with nothing but a towel around his waist. He passes you a chaste kiss on the shoulder first, then your cheeks before he continues to unravel his briefs and showered as well. The water trickles down his face, neck and shoulders, cascading down his speckless back, over the bum of his ass and wetting his happy trails at the same time. He aggressively rubs water over his face, the tips of his hair appear darker as it gets wet. You dressed up in your oversized hoodie, a pair of jeans and red converse, hair tied up in a bun, grabbing your purse for a quick run to the store. If your mother in law is coming, the least you could do is cook an all korean cuisine, prep nicely on the table so she knows that her son was taken care of nicely. Giving her a lasting good impression was your core priority as of now. And Yoongi would have been more than happy to do the grocery for you but this time, just this once, you want to show him that you are dependable too.

If there is anything you learned from korean cuisine is that food is prepared meticulously like you would, a form of art. Everything is placed neatly on a plate, and wrapped tightly. Taste and looks must be perfect. Everything had a sequence. Tradition and culture shapes the good people of Korea to what it is today. And for Daegu native, Yoongi's deep accent and habits become one of the most significant traits that flags a Daegu representative. You are obsessed with getting it right. Although you mostly don't understand the heavy accents he tends to let slip out once in a while, you were expecting to guess the words as it comes. His accents are one of the things that you loved about him. Daegu dialects are strong, and oozing masculinity. They are often direct and unapologetic so it might be heard as harsh. You couldn't tell apart if he is cursing or if he is just plainly just talking about his day when his friends stop by. He caught you a few times, staring blankly at him when he blurted out dialects out of frustrations, and he laughed them off when you accuse him of lying to you about what the words actually mean.

With his mom stopping by, the dialects are going to be thick and you would probably stare blankly most of the time. Communications are limited and Yoongi had to come back and forth to translate some of them.

Korean cooking is not your forte. Let's put that out there, in the open for everyone to see and understand. You are not familiar with it, and although you love some of it, some just don't fit your taste buds. But Yoongi is a full blown Korean. You make adjustments here and there, but it's not like he is always around for you to cook them often. That's why your korean cooking skills deteriorated. Even simple things like choosing which mushrooms to cook with takes 10 minutes longer than it probably should. You went with your heart and took the one you saw first.

Yoongi came out from the baths to see an empty room. Your perfume wafts over his nostril and it tattles about your whereabouts. Just as he was about to investigate, his phone shrieked a calling tone. It was Jungkook. Asking for a chord. He sounds desperate and bored to death. Being a good friend, Yoongi speds to his home studio after clumsily putting on some white tee on top of a grey shorts, halfway through and sending him several chords the little guy could work with, then pulling the rest of the shirt down as it loads. He swore he didn't take long but he found you already changing your clothes and starting to chop things on the chopping board, sloppily. He knows that it was not you to do things sloppily so he offered to help sharpen the knives.

"Soy garlic stew?"

You chewed your lips at him as he asked and nodded. Anxiety was written all over you. Your hands were already so shaky, and that's why you couldn't hold the knife properly, aside from it being blunt. You turned to the sink and began chopping the scallions with another knife Yoongi handed you.

“There are some potatoes I bought in the paper bags, I brought the mushroom I am familiar with, I am not sure if it's the one used in the stew. What time is it already? Is this enough time to even cook the stew? The chicken hasn’t thaw has it? I am not going to have enough time… She is going to know that the dumpling is store bought and I am putting my pride on the line…” you spoke nonstop, didn’t even hear Yoongi if he was saying anything, which you assumed he was quiet, so you became annoyed and, “Why aren’t answering any questions I have??”

Yoongi stood there, with a blank expression, “You wouldn’t even let me talk…”

You answered your own questions, and he was here listening to everything, opening his mouth and closing it before any word could come out because you bulldozed him with words, as he dug out the potatoes you were talking about, as well as the mushrooms.

“I’m sorry, I watched the youtube video on making the stew on the way to the mart and it seems pretty complicated, but doable… I think that the ginger and garlic goes in first,” you paused and sighed, “It’s been awhile since I cooked a proper meal for myself. I don’t know if I had it in me to even do this anymore…”

That’s right. While Yoongi was always away from the last two years, his work trips extended from 3 months to a whole year, and while studying for your master’s degree, you opt for simpler food, just enough for you to get by the day with a filled stomach. Most of your time is dedicated to your studies and laundry. Stopping by Daegu was hardly done, and if anything, you would just send some gifts her way. It is pretty awkward between you and his mother; language barriers, interests, and principles. You didn’t notice when Yoongi was standing behind you, his hand was on top of yours, soothing over your knuckles and he hijacked the scissors from your hands gently.

And he whispered softly atop of your head, “I got this.”

Just like that, he took over kitchen duties and let you handle the simpler stuff like, putting the pot on the stove, fill water in it, skin the potatoes, chopped them into large cubes, unstub the capsicum, peel the skin off of the chicken, peel the garlic and ginger. Yoongi’s instructions are clear and easy to follow. After all the things are chopped and prepared, he hands the ladle to you.

Your eyes widen. And you shook your head. Stepping back. Yoongi clicked his tongue and chuckled through his nose. Coax you. But no, you stepped farther back. He then took your wrist gently and placed the ladle handle in your palm.

“Trust me?” “I trust you, it’s me I don’t trust.”

“I’ll help you every step. Let’s go. Have confidence!” “You’re the multi billionaire, I’m just the struggling degree student with a part time job.”

“You’re Min Yoongi’s wife.” “I find that hard to believe sometimes…”

With another scolding tut of his tongue, you conceded. With a heavy heart.

The chopped chicken pieces are placed in a boiling water pot, and when its reddish flesh turns white and is cooked, it is drained and washed underneath cold running water to remove impurities. You watched quietly as Yoongi cleans them with his capable hands. His veins protrude, extending well over his forearms. The tip of his fingers were pinker than the rest of his hands, and he smoothes over those nooks and crannies the chicken pieces have. As ridiculous as it may sound, you were quite envious of the fact that those chickens have his full attention now. Next, the carrots.

The carotene source is peeled and chopped in large size. Yoongi helped guide your hands over the handle of the knife, because he is pretty particular on how big he wanted those carrots to be.

“Isn’t that too large?” You asked him in a small voice. They are half the size of your thumb. “No, it’s just nice…” he replied in a low voice, his lips just behind your ear, “It has to be in the same size as the potatoes, so it will cook at the same time.”

Your bottom grazed over his front and he learns to just keep you sandwiched in between the counter and him, so it won’t turn to something else. He is just as anxious as you are with his mom coming. Therefore, the percentage of him turning frisky is zero to none. The onions come next. They are chopped in half and then into fours. Yoongi paused and braced himself for tear gas attacks only there was none. He asks where you bought those onions, and you replied, it was grown in your colleagues garden. They were given for free. And he comments,

“They should sell these, we will be their first loyal customer! It doesn’t sting!”

You laughed as you prepared the fruits you bought. It was rock melon and some papayas. You avoided buying tangerine because you know she will bring some from her hometown, knowing how much Yoongi loves them. Daegu’s tangerines are very sweet and plump. There is nothing like it. Yoongi sliced green onions for the stew and extra hot chili peppers because his mom likes them spicy. Then he prepares the mixture for the broth.

“Now watch,” he instructed you, “Soy sauce, rice wine, red chilli pepper powders, minced garlic, two cups of sugar, red pepper paste, sesame oil, pepper. Mix well.”

Yoongi prepared a pot and placed the cleaned chicken pieces in them, added potatoes, carrots and water with the mixture he made just prior. Then, boil. After the chicken is cooked thoroughly, he adds onions. Then the scallions. Then salt to taste. You prepared the oven and Yoongi carried the pot to it to keep it warm until his mom arrived. Dumplings were pan fried. That one was simple. His mom doesn’t like her beverages too sweet, a simple plain water is enough.

When all the food is done, you turn to him at the same time he did. Sweats rolling down his sideburns and his thin white shirt clinging on his skin like he ran a mile. You approached him with a huge smile, swept his hair back to reveal his forehead and dabbed your inner wrist to wipe away his sweat all around his face. He sniggers through his nose. Adam’s apple bobbing up and down, you can’t help but plant a kiss on them. Nuzzling your face on his neck, you draped your arm around his shoulder and mumbled, “Thank you…”

He leans his cheek on your head and kisses one side of your brain, before exclaiming that you both need another shower after cleaning up the kitchen and turning on the air humidifier to chase away the smell of cooking.

“How was the journey?” you chirped. “The weather is scorching hot, the sun is melting me away before I can meet my son,” Yoongi’s mom complained in a thick Daegu accent, and when she stepped in, she gave you a glance and straight away went looking for her precious son. As expected.

“He was just out of the shower, he will come soon, mother,” you said the last word awkwardly, it doesn’t really roll off your tongue as comfortably as it should. She replied to you with a dejected “Hmm.”

You blinked and cast your eyes downwards, then up again to change the topic, “...Let me take you some cold drink… it must have been a torture, to walk around in such hot weather,” you sped to the kitchen and grabbed her a cold water in a tall glass.

“Hello mom…” Yoongi revealed himself from the hallway, gave his mother a hug that you didn’t receive when she walked in. “It wasn’t torture when I’ve come to see my son!” She suddenly changed her words, now she is all bright and cheerful, and you disappeared from her sight completely unless Yoongi looks over to you and includes you in the conversation. That too, wasn’t permanent. Yoongi learned that his older brother’s wife is carrying a baby and Holly had been snuggling to her tummy at every chance she gets. The sight would have been adorable and they were able to take a picture of it so Yoongi’s mom excitedly showed them to Yoongi. They both are sitting on the sofa while you were in the kitchen scooping up cooked rice into bowls of three.

“This sofa is new isn’t it? I didn’t see it the last time I was here,” his mom asked. “Yes, yes… do you like it?” Yoongi said and said you chose them. Then her enthusiasm dissipates. “I like it better without one. Now it’s too westernized,” his mom’s lips turned lopsided, continuing, “Did you know that hanging your legs down will disrupt the blood flow up to your brain? We better sit down on the floor when we eat, too…”

Yoongi prepared a Japanese folded table and pushed aside the coffee table that was there. Everything you’ve prepared on the dining table was moved to the Japanese one. When everything is set, you and Yoongi wait for his mom to start eating before you both do. It’s tradition. Even between man and wife, the older one begins eating first. Yoongi sips the stew and then you begin scooping the stew into your bowl. You were the only one eating mostly with a spoon instead of chopstick since you aren’t too accustomed to it. Yoongi’s mother said in a joking tone that you should start using the training chopstick used by toddlers.

Why are you extra sensitive today? She was just joking, but smiling is so hard right now. Your cheeks feel heavy and your shoulders stiffened. Yoongi carried the rest of the conversation effortlessly. The deep Daegu accent is already shifting your attention towards the fried dumpling instead. It was just a little over 45 minutes since she arrived, why does it feel like days?

“Dumplings, mother?” You chirped, attempted to use the chopstick and successfully landed them in her bowl.

Then she puts them back where they were, and said, “I don’t eat store-bought dumpling, darling,” before resuming to tell Yoongi the story about her neighbour getting into a real estate feud. You hold your breath in your throat and try not to think about it too much. Although you’ve finished your bowl of rice, Yoongi still hasn’t. He was busy nodding away to what his mother was saying. She barely touched the stew. When she turned to her food, you tapped Yoongi’s knee underneath the table and he looked at you wide eyed, darting at the stew. And Yoongi’s lips turned to the shape of an “O”.

“How do you like the stew, mom?” He asked. “It’s okay…” “My wife made it…” Yoongi said with a smug smile.

You smiled, shyly.

“It tastes exactly how Yoongi would cook it. I thought you cooked it, I know how horrible her korean cooking is, Yoongi… You don’t have to lie to me,” his mom passed.

After bidding her farewell at the door, Yoongi accompanied her to his brother’s incoming vehicle that fetches her. His brother made a promise to stop by when the baby arrives and when the Covid cases reduce a bit. You watched from the window from your bedroom and when the car drove off with Yoongi waving goodbye to his mom, your heart thudded differently.

Your eyes stung, and tears impending to fall as it collected around the brims. As you heard the front door beeping open to Yoongi returning, your feet dashed to the bathroom door, pushing it open as your tears rolled down your face like a dam broke.

Sensitive? Too soft? Was I too emotional? Am I not trying hard enough to be enough?

Yoongi walks in, to an eerily silent house. Ridding his shirt by pulling it over his head as he walks down the dimly lit hallway. His heavy footsteps heard across the floorings and you covered your mouth with your hand to not make any sound. He noticed that the bathroom light was on unlike the rest of the room.

“You’re showering alone? Traitor…” he pouted and wriggled the door knob and noticed it was locked from the inside. “I have a stomach ache,” you hoped you sound convincing. Your voice didn’t sound as shaky and you hope he didn’t catch on. “Okay…” he said, after a long pause. You turned the shower on to reduce the sound of you crying, and went back to sitting on the floor by the door, dug the heels of your palm into your eyes socket, and hugged your knees, sniffling.

“Hey…” his voice muffled through the door. “Hmm?” you replied, through a broken smile.

“Are you okay?”

Another dam broke.

Shit, I’ve started crying again. Why can’t I stop crying?! He is going to find out now… Fuck.

“Talk to me. Please… Say something. Anything,” he puts his lips inches away from the door, covering his hand over his mouth to direct the sound towards you, hoping it would get through.

“Was it mom? She says something you don’t like? You know how mom is, right? She doesn’t mean any of it…” now it’s Yoongi’s turned to bulldoze you with questions he himself answered.

Unable to take it anymore, you had to speak out, even if it means behind closed doors.

“I know she doesn’t like me as a daughter-in-law…” you spoke in broken voices. “Nonsense…” Yoongi passed, nonchalantly.

“No, will you please just listen to me?!” you raised your voice a bit, “I am not like your brother’s wife who cooks great Korean food, who sends her nice homemade desserts to her likings, and now is bearing a grandchild for her. I can’t cook, and had to rely on you a lot. She came over and she didn’t give me a hug like she did you, and the whole she doesn’t even speak to me unless I speak to her first, and even then, she shuts me down so I couldn’t say another word. I can’t even use a damn chopstick or make homemade dumplings she’ll eat!”

It’s Yoongi’s turn to lean his back on the door and hug his knees, then hang his head low.

“Suddenly the sofa is too westernized. And the glass doors letting in too much sunlight when I renovated it the way she wanted. It seems like everything I do is wrong and I just have no place in the Min’s household no matter how hard I try,” you sniffed, and, “To make matters worse she brought up the girlfriends you had in high school and how they cook her favourite food! Girlfriends! Plural! Here I thought you only had one… Jokes on me, I guess… It’s fine, honestly.”

There's nothing more terrifying than the word ‘fine’ you threw when you’re sad and Yoongi knows it. It signifies so many things. It indicates that you’re done, and you’re ready to let go of it, by shoving it under the rug like many other things your mother in law did to you ever since you met her. Yoongi shot his head up when the door opened and his eyes followed you in silence, a little solemn. You dried your hair, sitting on the makeup chair table, running the cool air Dyson hairdryer over the lengths of your hair. Yoongi crawled on all four and knelt behind you to hug your waist, nuzzling his face on your lower back. Then the tears returned, and kept falling.

Your gaze is stuck on the reflection of you in the mirror. What have we become?

It was one of those moments where no words seemed to suffice. Regrets and guilt becomes almost the same thing. Pointing the blame is the last thing on your mind. Choosing sides is difficult when so much is at stake. You may have unclasped his arm from around your waist, heard his wordless gesture and refused to see his face, but so much of him is in you. The fact you held on for so long was because of that man you love and married. Is this going to happen everytime your mother in law stops by?

Even then, you didn't want him to go against his own mother, nor do you want him to side with her… It was such a confusing situation.

Yoongi needs to return to the studio. He packs a few toiletries and clothes for him to wear while he is there. You helped him pack leftover food so you are not burdened to finish everything alone. The conversation shifts to what matters now. You carry your duty as a wife, his partner. You make sure that he is able to provide for this family and even though your emotions are once again neglected for the time being, you were glad that it actually occupied your mind and heart.

At the door, his manager carried his things and instead of leaving along with his manager, Yoongi told him to go first. You already know what comes next. But you aren't sure if you had it in you. One look in your eyes and Yoongi knows that you will rather die than have that conversation all over again. He ran his finger through your hair, lowered his lips to your forehead and stayed like that for awhile, and you said,

“Take care of yourself,” you spoke to his chest, breathing in his musky cologne for the days ahead without him. He stepped back, thumbed your cheek and pinched your chin, tilting your head back. He glanced at your lips while biting his own then backed away, to leave. As the view of his back got smaller and smaller, he exclaimed, “I’m going.” Not once did he turn behind to have one last look. And it was something Yoongi would do. Doesn’t matter if it's at the airport, or at the backstage, he will never look at you after he leaves you, even when he knows you’re right there standing, and looking at him. He says that, if he saw you standing there waiting for him, he will not be able to fight the urge to run to you. So he never looks back. The one thing that he always does before a work trip, is to kiss your forehead. Dr. Laurel Steinberg says, a forehead kiss indicates strong emotional intimacy.

But Yoongi says that a forehead kiss to him signifies a bond that goes beyond lust and love, it was your soul. It is to say, “I might be too far away to hold you, but my soul is yours.” It sends butterflies and confettis your way when he does it. It always feels warm and you always feel protected with a stamp of Yoongi’s lips on your forehead. It feels like a talisman. That no matter what, Yoongi is here.

Recovery. The emotional turmoil, the rollercoaster. You fill your time organizing the photos Yoongi took. With your final exams finished a week ago, you’re given a month off before you begin your final year. Yoongi now lives in his studio office because the album recording session begins and he is in every process. He is in charge of doubling and finalizing the tracks, directing and whatnot. Yoongi sends you a 1 minute 23 seconds video. Scowling at it, your face softened at the sight of him, recording himself in the studio. Dark circles doubled in size and his cheeks sunken. Poor thing hadn't been eating well did he?

“Hey, sweetie…” his familiar guttural voice resonated with your heart strings, “Sorry I haven’t been able to properly give you a call. It’s too late when I’m free, and I’m asleep when you’re awake. So I figured I’ll just send you a damn video, to hell with it.” You chuckled softly as your visions turned blurry.

“I think I will be addressing the recent issue we tucked away for later day. It’s later. You have never been good at fighting for yourself. It was something I don’t really understand because I’ve seen you fight my fight for me,” he glanced to the side and smiled fondly. You were unclear what situation he was talking about but you kept listening.

“You told me that I shouldn’t side with you because that would mean I am against my mother. Here’s what I truly think…” he breathed in and sighed loudly, “I think I should side with you. I spoke to my mom a few days ago, asked her how she is, and I told her several things I don’t like, like bringing up my past ex girlfriend, or how you can’t use the chopstick yet, or how your korean cooking isn’t great yet… how upset it made you and me. She told me that she was just jealous. I left home when I was 16. Come back when I am 20, married at 25. I will always be her son, I let her know that. But I am now someone’s husband, and I happen to cherish this someone, her heart and her wellbeing is my responsibility. I am not stolen from my mom, I consciously chose this person to be with me, to be her husband and built a home with her. And if she can’t respect that, then she cannot return to our house…”

You had to set the phone down and wipe your tears with the back of your hand.

“I’m done being a referee,” Yoongi continued after a long pause, “You’re gonna cry again, and I won’t be able to pass you tissue or give you a hug, I hope you understand what I’m trying to say. I am proud of you and all the little things you do. Daegu dialect is difficult to understand ha? That’s alright. You’re getting your degree, and you help pack my things even though you’re sad as hell the day I left. I couldn’t… I couldn’t ask for a better wife, and I hardly think I deserve you. Until we meet again, soon. Your husband, Min Yoongi.”

The video cuts to him winking.

Another text from him,

[Yoongi, 1.03AM] Impression is never permanent. I hope you give mother another try…

Wife is typing...

[Wife, 1.04AM] Erm. [Wife, 1.04AM] Sends a pic.

[Wife, 1.05AM] How’s this for a lasting impression?

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copyright © 2020 namjoonchronicles do not repost, and thank you for reading

[ebonyslasher]

Hey I was wondering if u could do slashers w/ a blasian (or regular Asian if u want) Japanese traditional dancer s/o that’s just the purest thing in the world?

Absolutely! Definitely learned some stuff researching traditional japanese dances. 

Hopefully I got things right and you like this

Slashers with a super sweet/pure Blasian (black/japanese) s/o that’s a traditional dancer: 

This starts with him taking you to Japan to see your family, who were from a city in the Tohoku Region. He knew that you were feeling a bit homesick and had been wanting to see your parents and cousins

It was around mid august when y’all went. Chromeskull was surprised at how fast your mannerisms change when you two get into town. Then he sees that a lot of ppl act the same way, it’s a bit of a culture shock

As soon as you got there, you remembered about the Bon Festival coming up soon; mostly cause you see the flyers about it come up

Mom wants you to go to festival to perform the Bon Odori, for old times sake. She used to make you do it when you were little. At first it was annoying, not liking being told what to do, but eventually you grew to like it

Thankfully the dance was easy to do, so it didn’t take you long to get the groove back before the three day festival started

Jesse thinks you look incredible in your kimono. Thinks about finding a really nice one for you to take back to the States

He enjoys performance, even tho there's a good bit of people there. He also enjoys the festival. Seeing you feel right at home with such joy in your eyes made him tear up a bit

Likes your pure attitude. Feels like he needs it when he's going through bouts of depression. It always makes him feel hopeful

He sometimes request you to sing to him in Japanese. He thinks your native language is beautiful and it soothes him

You were the odd one out in the town, since not many poc (even mixed) came to live there

It's what attracted him to try to learn about you (not on some fetish shit thankfully)

Figures out he wants to date you when he meets you and has first hand experience of your pure attitude

At first he thought it would annoy him, but you were so chill. You were the coolest person there.

He thought about how ironic it was that you were so nice and pure while he was the town demon 😈😂

Wants to learn more about your time in Japan, so he asks a ton of questions. It’s like he’s interrogating you lol

At one point you two get on the topic of traditional dances at festivals

Show him a video of you participating in a Noh Mai, which is a dance that tells a story. 

He appreciated the performance, thinking it's elegant and could feel the emotions from it. He asks about what the story is, since he doesn't know about Japanese history

Likes learning stuff about both backgrounds and your views about who you are and how you feel about your ethnicity

Wants to plan a trip to Japan one day with you, especially to see the bugs they have over there

The purest couple in the world.

I mean y’all are so sweet that even people thought you two were sweeter than sugar 🥺💞

Fall in love with each other pretty fast

You had transferred from Japan to the school when you decided to live with your mom in the US. 

Her eyes never left from your face when you introduced yourself to the class. You had a beauty no one else around had

She wishes she could show you around town to see the culture there, but she's always cooped up at home by her mom

So she turns to learn about you asking about your African and Japanese heritage, specifically random stories about you growing up 

She will want you to teach her Japanese (since you only knew two languages) so that you two can have conversations without her mom listening in

You also teach her some traditional dances back at your home. Mostly Nihon Buyo, since it was easy for you to teach her.   You dress up for her to give her the feel of what a performance would actually look like.

She's pretty awestruck, mostly by your beauty. But she likes the performance too! 

She learns to dance right along with you, strengthening the bond between you two. You both have so much fun dancing together

[tumblngred]

I watched Turning Red with my family the other day and we're all different ages (late teens, mid 20s, mid 50s) and so obviously had different takeaways

One thing that really got me is that my younger brother just could not believe how Mei didn't speak/know Cantonese. When we got to the part where the aunties start singing, I accepted it- it seemed natural to me, that's my lived experience- but my brother (who is about a decade younger) thought it so unbelievable.

Neither me nor my brother were raised speaking our own heritage language. We were raised in the same household, but with a decade between us.

Lot of disclaimers here because I can't relate exactly: I wasn't raised in Canada, but rather the US. I'm not of Chinese descent, but I am Asian. This isn't super specific in the movie, but presumably Mei is at least 3rd-gen (her grandparents immigrated), while I'm 2nd-gen (my parents immigrated). Mei seems to have grown up surrounded in her culture (she lives in a temple, frequently interacts with members of her own ethnic community), but I did not (my family for the longest time was one of a handful of other.. non-majority group families in the area).

Keeping in mind all that- I'm closer in age to Mei was in that I remember growing up in the early 2000s and the film was very much a nostalgia trip for me. I wasn't aware of all the attitudes around bilingualism, assimilation, and specifically for immigrant families, teaching your kids your native tongue, at least not when I was growing up. It wasn't until I'd entered college that I really started studying and doing research about my own personal heritage and language identity in general.

I read about how 2nd-gen Americans of the time were significantly less likely to speak their parents' native language, but for a lot of us that language was still present in the house. I read about how the general attitude was very much "Don't speak to your kids in multiple languages; it'll hinder them (in learning English)". I read about how language-policing in this way had been, still was, so prevalent in American society, as a way of assimilating into the majority culture.

I remember asking my mom why didn't she teach us Tagalog. She told me she and my dad had been speaking it with us [me and my older brother] but that when my Kuya entered kindergarten, his teacher told my parents that he couldn't speak English right, that you are messing up your child. What were they supposed to do? They were young, in a new country that spoke a different language. No one wants to be told that they're messing up their kid and ruining his chances of success. So they stopped. English only with us from then on.

...

So I get where Mei's coming from I think. We grew up in a time where bilingualism was seen as "a bad thing, actually" and a mark of how unassimilated you were. The prevailing attitude was "ONLY teach your kids English or they'll fail" so if you were able to speak any English at all, that's what you did with your kids, to better their chances. There was still a sense of loss of culture, yes, but a lot of people still thought that at least it was just this one part; we still speak it around home, it's still around, they'll just pick it up naturally. How were most people to know that-No, bilingualism is actually good for young brains, No, kids are capable of readily learning multiple languages at once, No, if you don't explicitly speak with your kids in your language they will not pick it up. How were they supposed to know when educators were telling them otherwise and injecting a good amount of fear into it as they did?

Nowadays, though, there's been such a shift in thinking. Bilingualism IS good for your kids, the younger the better. You're fortunate that you can speak more than one language. How lucky that you could just learn it at home while most people have to learn it in school. The same people that praised me for speaking English so well are the same people that now look at me pityingly for not speaking Tagalog. They're also the same people trying to get their kids into bilingual education programs, get nannies that can teach their kids Spanish for them.

That's the time my brother grew up in. I talk about the time I grew up in a lot, and he gets it, but he doesn't Get It. So for me, that situation with Mei not understanding her aunties singing Cantonese really resonates. But for him, it requires more suspension of disbelief than the fact that Mei has been turning into a red panda for half the movie at that point.

[rockislandadultreads]

AAPI Heritage Month: Cookbooks to Check Out

The Honeysuckle Cookbook: 100 Healthy, Feel-Good Recipes to Live Deliciously by Dzung Lewis

The Honeysuckle Cookbook is stuffed with exciting ideas for easy, approachable, Asian-influenced cooking at home. With 100 recipes, from the breakfast favorites that consistently rate the highest in views on the author's popular YouTube channel (like her Overnight Oats, 6 Ways) to original twists on one-pan and pressure-cooker meals, this book is for those of us who want feel-good meals made healthy, delicious, and quick. Dzung's recipes take the familiar and turns it ever-so-slightly on its head: Marinara sauce gets extra umami with the addition of fish sauce, while mac and cheese becomes more than an out-of-the-box staple when made fresh with kimchi. Lattes get an extra kick from bold Vietnamese coffee and sweet, floral lavender, and quinoa pilaf is mixed with a creamy curry-miso dressing. Dzung also teaches readers how to stretch groceries so they spend a little less money, how to plan meals seasonally, and how to match main courses with sides so plates look impressive and taste great. With quick snack ideas, recipe hacks, foolproof instructions, and genius tips for pretty presentation, The Honeysuckle Cookbook will be the friendly hand busy young cooks need to hold in the kitchen.

Cook Real Hawai'i: A Cookbook by Sheldon Simeon, Garrett Snyder

The story of Hawaiian cooking, by a two-time Top Chef finalist and Fan Favorite, through 100 recipes that embody the beautiful cross-cultural exchange of the islands. Even when he was winning accolades and adulation for his cooking, two-time Top Chef finalist Sheldon Simeon decided to drop what he thought he was supposed to cook as a chef. He dedicated himself instead to the local Hawai‘i food that feeds his ‘ohana—his family and neighbors. With uncomplicated, flavor-forward recipes, he shows us the many cultures that have come to create the cuisine of his beloved home: the native Hawaiian traditions, Japanese influences, Chinese cooking techniques, and dynamic Korean, Portuguese, and Filipino flavors that are closest to his heart. Through stunning photography, poignant stories, and dishes like wok-fried poke, pork dumplings made with biscuit dough, crispy cauliflower katsu, and charred huli-huli chicken slicked with a sweet-savory butter glaze, Cook Real Hawai‘i will bring a true taste of the cookouts, homes, and iconic mom and pop shops of Hawai‘i into your kitchen.

Filipinx: Heritage Recipes from the Diaspora by Angela Dimayuga, Ligaya Mishan, Alex Lau (Photographs)

Filipinx offers 100 deeply personal recipes—many of them dishes that define home for Angela Dimayuga and the more than four million people of Filipino descent in the United States. The book tells the story of how Dimayuga grew up in an immigrant family in northern California, trained in restaurant kitchens in New York City—learning to make everything from bistro fare to Asian-American cuisine—then returned to her roots, discovering in her family’s home cooking the same intense attention to detail and technique she’d found in fine dining. In this book, Dimayuga puts a fresh spin on classics: adobo, perhaps the Filipino dish best known outside the Philippines, is traditionally built on a trinity of soy sauce, vinegar, and garlic—all pantry staples—but add coconut milk, vinegar, and oil, and it turns lush and silky; ribeye steaks bring extra richness to bistek, gilded with butter and a bright splash of lemon and orange juice. These are the punches of flavor and inspired recipes that home cooks have been longing for. A modern, welcoming resource for this essential cuisine, Filipinx shares exciting and approachable recipes everyone will wholeheartedly embrace in their own kitchens.

My Shanghai: Recipes and Stories from a City on the Water by Betty Liu

Filled with galleries, museums, and gleaming skyscrapers, Shanghai is a modern metropolis and the world’s largest city proper, the home to twenty-four million inhabitants and host to eight million visitors a year. “China’s crown jewel” (Vogue), Shanghai is an up-and-coming food destination, filled with restaurants that specialize in international cuisines, fusion dishes, and chefs on the verge of the next big thing. It is also home to some of the oldest and most flavorful cooking on the planet. Betty Liu, whose family has deep roots in Shanghai and grew up eating homestyle Shanghainese food, provides an enchanting and intimate look at this city and its abundant cuisine. In this sumptuous book, part cookbook, part travelogue, part cultural study, she cuts to the heart of what makes Chinese food Chinese—the people, their stories, and their family traditions. Organized by season, My Shanghai takes us through a year in the Shanghai culinary calendar, with flavorful recipes that go beyond the standard, well-known fare, and stories that illuminate diverse communities and their food rituals. Chinese food is rarely associated with seasonality. Yet as Liu reveals, the way the Shanghainese interact with the seasons is the essence of their cooking: what is on a dinner table is dictated by what is available in the surrounding waters and fields. Live seafood, fresh meat, and ripe vegetables and fruits are used in harmony with spices to create a variety of refined dishes all through the year.

[lilabyrne]

so with the last post in mind here’s some in depth stuff about my headcanons for shattered realms characters and their races if they were like. modern day people and not fictional

Jenna Bandelow

I think Jenna is half east asian and half black. all of the magemarked share the same mother, the Nazari line of Northern Island empresses, and if we use my conclusion that the Northern Islands are very very vaguely east asia-inspired, this makes all of them half east asian. i’ve also decided she’s half black because you can’t say she isn’t. below is a picrew rendition of what i think modern Jenna would look like

Adrian (Ash) sul’Han and Alyssa (Lyss) ana’Raisa

Ash and Lyss are full siblings and so share the same racial background. their mother is half native fellsian and half white, their father is part of a vale family (most likely white) that has some wizard lineage, and all the Fellsian wizards came from the Northern Islands, making him at least partially east asian. It’s canon in the books that the Fellsian wizards mostly marry each other and don’t really mix with other groups so I’m going to say their father is around half east asian and half white. if we do some fractions this makes Lyss and Ash both half white, a quarter native fellsian, and a quarter asian-fellsian (i say asian-fellsian as a way to indicate that the population of fellsians with northern island heritage are very removed from that culture and have formed their own in the Fells.) below is their picrew renditions. i believe it’s canon that Lyss is darker skinned and generally more visibly native than Ash, while he’s closer to white passing considering how easily he blends in in Arden.

Halston Matelon

Hal is white boy number one. his family has been in Arden for a long time on both sides. His father is a lord with the Matelon name being recognized across Arden, and there were Matelons for kings in the past. his picrew:

Lila Barrowhill Byrne

It’s explicitly stated in the books that Lila is a mixed kid, half white (Fellsian valefolk) and half black (Southern Islander). In addition to this, she’s also the only character who’s background is really essential to her conflict. she has the very classic, some might say cliché, mixed kid “i don’t know which side of the family i truly belong to” narrative. however it is pretty clear that Lila is closer to the black/southern islander side of her family, and her attachment to her father is more of him being her only surviving parent/the specific weirdness of the Byrne line being bonded to the queen. anyway here she is

Breon d’Tarvos/Breon Alfarsi

Breon, like Jenna, is one of the magemarked and so is half east asian. I’m going to assume based on his real name and the fact that his father gave him an instrument native to Carthis that Breon’s father was meant to be Middle Eastern/Carthian. picrew:

Evan Strangward

I know Evan is half east asian again because all the magemarked are according to my logic. i would also like to put forward the idea that he’s half desi, not for any logical reason but simply because i can

Destin Karn

finally my beloved favorite ever. Destins dad is pretty much indisputably white. he has some sort of wizarding ancestry, probably northern islander. however, while fellsian wizards mostly married other fellsian wizards and would therefore still retain an east asian appearance, there’s no indication that ardenine wizards did the same thing. i would actually say it’s most likely that ardenine wizards intermarried with ardenine people when they could in order to escape the heavy persecution of arden’s church. therefore i think destins dad is mostly white with distant east asian ancestry. his mom is ambiguous, she comes from a trading family so she could easily be any mix of things. my headcanon is she’s part carthian since her family did have land in carthis, so that would make destin part middle eastern and part white. i think he’s pretty much white passing though. his picrew:

link to the picrew i used:

[theblasianwitch]

Being the light skinned one of the family has its perks in society, but it also comes with a lot of anxiety.

Before interacting with me quiet a lot of people mistook me for Spanish. No one thought I was Black until I wore my braids. The only people that know I'm Asian in any way are my family and close friends. Not once growing up did I ever have Asian friends. Not because I didn't want any, but because of the prejudice that exists within the community. Even in my own family. Asians interact, befriend and date other Asians is a thing instilled into our thinking from our parents. The only reason I am mixed and my mom is quick to support this, is because her mother died before even meeting my father and after her mother's death her father went completely silent. My father was Black Jamaican.

Those that stayed in Jamaica have mixed children themselves, but what I've noticed in America is that mixing, while rare in all races and backgrounds, the families never truly recover or accept it. There is still prejudice to fight within your own family. And if you happen to be a single mother now with a mixed baby (my mother and my mother in law) you don't get much support from your family, and if you do you grow up in an environment where it seems a lot of blame and hatred is on you, the mixed child. The product of what they deem shouldn't be. Meaning you shouldn't exist.

How does this tie to my light skin? Well I managed to be able to hide amongst my Hispanic group of friends just by my looks alone and if I grow close to some they eventually find out the truth. Thankfully some stayed my friends but others showed their true colors and those who are the more aggressive type and accepted me tended to stand up for me. I had to battle with myself and my identity my whole life and mask my racial identity amongst people who were suppose to be my friends. Now for the last couple years I have been chipping away at the mask and being more accepting of myself, my culture and the upbringing I have experienced.

Why am I saying all this now? Because since 2020 too many things have been colliding. Especially for my now family. What appeared to be a height in the Black Lives Matter Movement had me fearing for my darker siblings, my son and my spouse. The Asian hate attacks had me fearing for my mom. The presence of both at once had me fearing for my life and even getting victimized myself at my job. I was a teacher. Parents had it out for me and my job and even convinced some of their kids to join the attack. Despite the few kids that stood up for me and I enjoyed teaching, in the end I did have to leave for my own safety and sanity... And now this whole thing with abortion laws possibly being overturned has gotten me. In the midst of a time where we cannot afford to have a child and before the news even happened my spouse and I discusses abortion as an option if I were to get pregnant again. Not only for my health (I lost an ovary with my first pregnancy) and my spouse's health (their mental health has been spiralling down alongside their physical health) but our financial situation as well (we live with my mom and currently still can't find a job in a red state as a Black and Asian and a Black trans person).

I don't know what purpose my story serves but I was compelled to share it. Maybe there's a lesson to be learnt here. Maybe hope to inspire or to show the type of people who are impacted by everything going on. Either way, we are here. We exists. We are human. No one should have a right to our bodies. No human should be treated as less than. This world is more than just cis gendered straight white conservative christian men and it's about time they notice that. I am tired. After everything thats been going on. Everything I've been through. I am tired of not being heard and this mama panda sure as hell will not sit quietly anymore if faced with this shit again. And before anyone dares say "go back to where you came from" unless you are a Native Indigenous person you have no right to say it. Humans are a migratory species. We keep moving and striving for better. And right now "the greatest country on earth" is a fucking joke and could burn for all I care. Sometimes I wonder if thats what the virus was really for. Darwanism trying to take out the old right thinking non progressing ideals of a ruling generation that has accumulated too much power and has overstepped their boundaries. Fuck off.

✨💛 The Blasian Witch 💛✨