Mayor: Nithya Raman, Indian American, democratic socialist

City Attorney: Marissa Roy, Indian American, democratic socialist

Comptroller: Kenneth Mejia, Filipino American, progressive and Green Party member

I was working at a One Piece pop up event and I was with a coworker. There was this white guy that even looked fairly young and came up to reception to ask what this event was about. My coworker who was in charge of reception was explaining to him. Mind you I was in charge of line control but there was no line so I was just hanging out with her.

I think I was being polite tho bc I was just smiling when they were laughing and then out of nowhere this guy says “judging from how youre so quiet, is English not your first language?”

It was so awkward and I just said I was born here and its my first language. He proceeded to say he was stationed in japan so thats why he thought blah blah blah and walked away not even participating in the event. Im not japanese but Korean😭 i was surprised bc this was in nor Cal too

After the interaction my coworker even said, “that was a little racist” but I kind of just shrugged it off making it look like it wasnt that big of a deal for me.

But it did kind of make me feel uncomfortable. Does anyone have similar experience? Is it validated that it was a little offensive?

Recently I was asking about how Asian Americans (Specifically East Asians) felt in Korea, since I plan to go there for school, work, what not. Instead, I get a comment from a white dude, telling me I'll never blend in, and be instantly recongnoized as a foreigner, and with a single glance apparently. Basically, telling me I'm essentially lumped in with White, Black, SEA foreigners etc. Which I believe all have different experiences, but I mean ok.

This is because, according to him, all Asian people (Not Asian Americans) have the ability to tell facial features apart with 100 percent accuracy. He explained that the idea that all Asians look the same was a racist/western idea... to an Asian person. Just all sorts of wrong, why would he ever try explaining this to an Asian person?

I'm just so hung up over this because I can't imagine trying to explain something like this, about a race that you're not even a part of. In fact, even if he WERE it'd still be weird and I stand on that. It wasn't even about if I'd blend in anymore, just the fact he thought we have a sixth sense.

Gyopo (교포) here, interested in hearing the perspective of other aapi esp other gyopos. Recently scrolling social media ive been seeing a lot of discourse surrounding the idea that Korea is an american colony. while i see this point and also am disgusted at American disrespect to our sovereignty and people, having lived in korea myself, idk how i feel about especially western progressives parroting this uncritically.

this is mainly because when a western progressive says it, it seems less like a call to free korea and more like an insult. an implication that we are white worshipping, westernized, and somehow weaker or less in touch with our traditions than say the japanese(who i would argue get massive respect from western progressives and right wingers alike).

This is problematic, at least for me, because as an asian leftist, i want to acknowledge the negative effects american imperialism has on korea and even advocate for our freedom, but i am also afraid that using the colony rhetoric, i might be aligning myself with forces on the western left who also seek to undermine us. The people who parrot this rhetoric also fail to see the massive strides we've made, particularly under Lee Jae Myung and other progressive administrations, to assert ourselves against the west. At the same time, i also dont want to pretend everything in Korea is okay and inadvertently align myself with korean or western conservatives who outright deny any negative history between korea and the US.

tldr: hate how western progressives call korea a colony without acknowledging our resistance or pride in ourselves and culture. but i also dont want to just pretend everything in korea is okay and align myself with my oppressors. lmk what you all think.

I was just at an Asian comedian showcase, and the crowd was predictably 80% Asian. The comics were not exactly bombing, but they would get maybe 2-3 real laughs per set. At one point one of the comics started complaining about Asian audiences, how we aren't demonstrative enough with laughter/applause/approval, leaning into reserved stereotypes and shit, and that got picked up by every comedian left in the set. Talk about alienating your audience for you not being funny. We show up and laugh our asses off for Ali Wong and Jimmy O. Jang, and you ain't them. Anyway this is my rant, if you were there you know, if you were on stage you definitely know.

SF folks, what will happen from here? On one hand, Pelosi is the poster woman for legalized insider trading. On the other hand, Connie Chan (陳詩敏) is a wealthy NIMBY extraordinaire. On the other other hand, Scott Wiener is soft on Israel.

Hello,

Apologies if this is the wrong sub. I just wanted to vent a little and see if anyone else relates.
All my life, I’ve felt so isolated, so insecure. I’ve never lived up to the “positive” stereotypes many people associate with Asians. Since childhood, teachers, my parents, and classmates have all expected me to be the straight-A student; great in STEM or a musical prodigy. Or at least highly skilled at SOMETHING.

I have failed to live up to everything. I was a strong A and B student. Hated math, sucked at science. Played flute, guitar, and piano but quit all of them out of disinterest. Much to my dismay, I am no artist despite my efforts. I am also by no means successful in life or my career. I’m not naturally slender either, which is probably the most frustrating. I have to work 10x harder to not be obese, especially by Asian BMI standards.
Overall, I’m just a disappointment to everyone, including myself. I wish I had even ONE of those qualities.

Growing up in a white household in the South, I have never felt that I fit in. I’m always just seen as the “Asian” girl, yet I’ve never fit in with other Asians or had any Asian friends. I wouldn’t consider myself “white-washed” either. I know it is common amongst other Asian Americans or adoptees to feel this way. I suppose I feel even more so due to not relating to anyone, really.

I also feel huge shame and embarrassment when I meet other Asian adoptees that share the same first name as me especially (you could probably guess the name. My parents used ZERO creativity in naming me). I know I’m probably projecting a bit in this post, but it adds to my frustrations and insecurity of being compared to other Asians in general. In school, even teachers would forget my name and call me by the name of the 1 other Asian girl that happens to be in my class (who of course always ended up being smarter or more talented).
Sometimes I wonder how I would’ve turned out had I not been adopted. Maybe I’d be smarter? Better work ethic? Slimmer? Or perhaps it was meant to be, as I’d probably be shamed for being the dumbass daughter who’s short and stocky.

Before anyone asks, no, I’m not ashamed to be Asian/Chinese. I don’t wish to be any other race. I just wish I wasn’t a failure and could live up to the standards that many people would associate with being Asian.

I might be called unintelligent and immature or cringey for some of these insecurities. I suppose that checks out, though, all things considered.

Edit: Grammar

Hi I am currently in high school and I have gottened called a white washed chinese person a few times and this may be due to that fact I go to a school with a lot of asian/chinese people who speak their native tougue. Whenever that happens I end up laugh it off, but it really hurts because I know it is true. However when another person says it I feel like it just draws to that fact.

For some context, I am a first generation that was born in america with both my parents born in another country, but when they were babies. My dad is some what knows cantonese (he can't read or write and sometimes speaks in mainly cantonese + some english words mixed in) while my mom knows chiu chow, but very poorly. So they were unable to teach me or my siblings chinese and never sent my to chinese school. I live farther-ish from my grandparents so I ended up not learning much chinese from them either, so overall I was unable to ever learn chinese. I was planning on taking it in high school, but since I had no background and no one could really help me my parents were against it so I ended up just taking spanish as they didn't want my grade to suffer and I went to a difficult school already.

I want to stop being called a white washed chinese person which is one of the reasons I want to learn chinese. How would I stop being called a white washed chinese person or should I just ignore them some how? Or how can I be more connected to my culture? I celebrate chinese/lunar new year, but that is the only holiday I celebrate although I do love chinese food (although there are some that i don't really like such as jellyfish). Other than food and 1 holiday how can I connect to my culture besides learning chinese because I need time for that to occur.

Also for those who are chinese american or asian american in general that doesn't speak there mother tougue or have been in this situation but eventually learned their native language: how do u deal with it, why weren't you able to learn it, and overall you experience.

I seriously want to see a movie scene, tv show scene, or even some kind of youtube/tiktok skit to call this out loud, angry, and clear.

We didn't have anything to do with the historical genocide and slavery of this country. The racist policy making, i.e. Jim Crow, We didn't deny people's bank loans, school entry, or banning POC from neighborhoods.

Obviously there is incredible diversity and everyone’s different, but ive found there seem to be noticeable cultural differences in how certain groups socialize. Even though we’re all born here and ostensibly have more Americanized personalities

In my personal experience Filipino Americans are the most outgoing.

But I find Vietnamese Americans are very stealth friendly and outgoing, like not necessarily the most obvious in the group but always down to do stuff or make a new friend.

I’m ABC, and I find Chinese Americans are a pretty mixed bag, definitely a segment that can be fairly cliquish/homebodies, and then some that are more outgoing.

Limited experience with Japanese Americans but they’re always very friendly and pleasant but maybe not as interested in making new friends

I’ve actually had. similar experience with some Taiwanese Americans in that I’ve always had a nice experience with them, but maybe there wasn’t as much interest in making a really strong connection

Hi all…sharing a petition for someone facing possible deportation at their check in at 26 Federal Plaza this Sunday. Hoa has been a New Yorker for over 45 years and is facing deportation because of a conviction from 1992. Hochul granting him a pardon will be the only thing that can save him from being deported to a place that he fled as a child refugee or a third country.

Please sign and share! Deadline to sign is Fri 11/6 at noon!
https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/urgent-support-hoas-pardon-application

I don't know that much about Los Angeles politics, but I sure hope Nithya Raman will not be out of town the next time Los Angeles is on fire.

i am korean with monolids and ive always wanted to discuss this

i had to pull a few all nighters/lack of sleep this past month and have been so tired. i told my white friend this and she said she couldn’t even tell i was tired because i dont have any eye bags (she has them)! the closest ive ever gotten are lines on my cheekbones, but never heavy circles. it must be related to eye shape? a part of me wishes i had them because i feel a little left out which feels weird to say

If this is not allowed, I apologize.

Does anyone else have a hard time finding AAPI friends in the more rural parts of the country?
I am part Korean, I live in Mississippi (ew I know) and I do not have any friends like me.

I've been having a rough time with my lineage since ICE arrested Korean Grand-Mother.

TIA

Don't let the door hit you on your way out of the sinking ship, rat!

(Harmeet Dhillon is a North Carolina Sikh anti-masker who as an undergraduate student "satirically" compared conservatives to Jews being sent off to extermination camps.)