Dear Asian Youth, "You're so pretty! If only you were paler." Sound familiar? One way or another, we’ve all heard our Asian grandmas claim that pale skin is superior. According to our aunties, dark skin is ugly and must be lightened. For centuries, in the eyes of Asians, dark skin has been associated with working in the fields, indicating rural poverty. Contrarily, light skin has been considered sophisticated. It lets the public know that you’re rich enough to work indoors, shielded from the sun. Asia’s introduction to Western society only increased the desire for lighter skin, as European colonizers were viewed as wealthy and high class. For Asian Americans, however, these traditional views are often conflicting. Living in a place so heavily influenced with Western beauty standards, we often struggle balancing our traditional beauty standards with those surrounding us on a daily basis. In America especially, tan skin is a valued symbol of wealth, signifying that you have the money and opportunity to enjoy leisure activities, such as going to the beach. Regardless of the dangers relating tanning to skin cancer, it is still extremely popular among Europeans as well, just as skin lightening is common within the Asian community. In cities all over Asia, it’s completely normal to see people wrapping themselves in clothing, holding their sun umbrellas, and doing anything to stay out of the sun’s rays. And all this suffering for what? To fit into social norms. Not to mention, with the ever-rising presence and heavy influence of social media, pale skin has become increasingly popular within the past few years. It has reached such an extreme point that companies are making billions selling skin whitening products. Sadly, these kinds of products make up a major percentage of the Asian beauty industry. Many of these advertised beauty commodities contain dangerous chemicals. Among these is Admire My Skin’s Ultra-Potent Brightening Serum, which is a #1 Best Seller on Amazon. Regardless of its popularity, this product contains hydroquinone, a dangerous, potentially cancerous chemical. By using these kinds of products, consumers are purposefully sacrificing their health for beauty standards. On YouTube, there are countless videos regarding lightening skin. Wishtrend TV’s video titled “How to Lighten Skin? Korean Skin Brightening Tips” has over 1.5 million views. Eunice, the Korean host, gives tips and tutorials for skin whitening, claiming that in order to achieve perfect, flawless skin, it’s “necessary” to lighten it. Well, this video is actually an advertisement for Wishtrend TV’s Skin Whitening Solution products, acting as an announcement for their Cyber Monday sale. Comments such as, “I wish my skin wasn’t as dark” and “Could you do a body lightening video too?” arose, proving that major companies, such as Wishtrend TV, take advantage of the severe beauty expectations placed on Asians. They imply that Asians must keep up with yet another social norm just to be seen as “regular.” Thankfully, there are people like Nandita Das, an Indian film director and actress, who actively stand up against such expectations. In 2013, Das joined the “Dark is Beautiful” movement, a campaign for more representation of darker Indians in the media. This took off and led to the creation of her popular video “India’s Got Color,” showing Indian celebrities supporting this accepting movement. Please remember, skin color means literally nothing when it comes to social norms. There is no need to alter your skin color to become lighter or darker, especially if you are hurting your body in the process. You don't need to be the fairest of them all to be beautiful :). - Megan

Yesterday, a memory I did not own came back to me. I walked on, skin curled inwards to keep the story inside. When my feet are covered in dust, you scrub me red until I am clean. I show you my dug-up heart, I say Here. Do what you want with this. The heart is naked on the table, God holds His breath. You trace your fingers over my delusions, knead your palms into my sorrows. I think I am close to being saved under your aged hands when you breath out: What is this? What is what? This, on the right ridge of the heart, Why is it swollen with secrets? Prophets that once danced before my eyes, cry out the Heaven that is in them. I cannot scrub you clean anymore, Child. The memory leaves me sick. I try to throw up but find there is no relief for the soul's indigestion. "Clean" explores the innate desire for us to be validated by a culture/religion, and the dissonance we might feel if we were to be judged by someone of our faith because of our flaws. Biography: Kiran Masroor is a sophomore at Yale University where she’s majoring in Neuroscience. On campus, she is in the performance group, TEETH Slam Poets, and she greatly enjoys writing about her Pakistani culture. ​​​​​​​She also runs a poetry account where she explores the intersection of written word, musical, and visual arts (@poemsbykiran).

TW: Sexual Violence Dear Asian Youth, Betsy DeVos: the Secretary of Education notorious for her attempts to remove the rights of disabled students, queer students, and teachers. You may even know her as the lady with the counterintuitive policies, such as decreasing funding for struggling schools in order to fund charter schools. Her newest project, you ask? Attacking the rights of sexual assault survivors and defending the accused. After several meetings with men’s rights organizations, she has completely changed the Title IX amendment, which functions to protect the rights of students against gender discrimination in any publicly funded school or college. Sexual harassment that impedes education is considered discrimination and thus is covered within Title IX. As if Title IX wasn’t already unenforced across the nation, DeVos has taken strides to further reduce schools’ accountability. In a new measure that literally nobody asked for, DeVos has narrowed the definition of sexual harassment. This was done so with the intention to protect against “false allegations”, instead of protecting victims. Little does DeVos know, only 8% of accusations are proven to be false after investigation. You would think that the Secretary of Education would have basic knowledge of sexual harassment statistics, but she was nominated by President Donald J. Trump (the “grab ‘em by the p*ssy” guy)—so no surprise there! Under the Obama administration, sexual harassment was defined as the “unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature.” This included “requests for sexual favors and other verbal, nonverbal, or physical conduct of a sexual nature”. But the new rules introduced by DeVos define it as “unwelcome conduct on the basis of sex that is so severe, pervasive and objectively offensive that it effectively denies a person equal access to the school's education program or activity.” This means that an assault has to strip a student of their right to education and flip their lives upside down for an investigation to even be considered. What DeVos fails to recognize is that rape can be severe and pervasive without being objectively offensive, and vice versa. The narrowed definition would allow schools to sweep sexual allegations under the rug—an option that many schools would gladly accept, as sexual harassment cases cost an average of $350,000 per university. The measure not only defends the accused but reduces the responsibility of schools to protect their students from sexual harassment. Obama-era guidelines required schools to take responsibility if they were aware of or should have reasonably been aware of the harassment. Now, in order to reduce school liability, the school is only required to take action if they had “actual knowledge” of the incident. Under this new rule, schools will not be found in violation of Title IX for their failure to notice sexual harassment. And in universities, this requirement of “actual knowledge” is only fulfilled when a report is made to the Title IX Coordinator or a responsible school official; a mere RA wouldn’t be considered the “right” person to report to, making it far more difficult for survivors to speak up. Furthermore, colleges are only allowed to act upon reports that occur on school property, meaning that most off-campus reports will be promptly ignored by schools. According to Know Your IX, “Only about 8% of all sexual assaults involving middle school, high school and college students occur on school property. That means DeVos’ Title IX rule would require schools to dismiss around 92% of all reports”. By refusing protection for the victim, the victim is only left with two choices: to continue seeing their harasser in class every single day, or to drop out and give up their education. Neither choice sounds appealing. In addition, under the new rules, there is no recommended maximum time to conclude a case, unlike the previous 60-day timeline. Instead, investigations are recommended to be “reasonably prompt” — a vague rule that allows for schools to delay or extend cases for however long they’d like. Survivors may have to retell and relive their traumatic experience for months. The standard of evidence has also changed. Sexual assaults are notoriously difficult to convict due to the inability to provide sufficient evidence of the crime. Because of this, strides have been made to protect victims and believe accusers. DeVos’ new rules, however, aim to make it even more difficult for victims to prove sexual assault. Her regulations would give schools the option to choose between “preponderance of the evidence” or “clear and convincing evidence”. Previously, the only standard of evidence a school could employ was the “preponderance of the evidence,” which required 50% certainty that an assault occurred to find the accused guilty. But the new “clear and convincing evidence” holds the victim to a higher burden of proof - 85 to 90%. As there are often no witnesses to the crime, this makes it a nearly impossible burden to overcome, dramatically reducing the ability to convict offenders. Schools, with their reputation on the line and their budgets depleted, will more than likely choose the higher standard of evidence and abandon their responsibility to the survivor. The Department of Education, on the other hand, is trying to play it off as if the rule changes aren’t as bad as they seem. They claim that “Secretary DeVos is Taking Historic Action to Strengthen Title IX Protections For All Students.” In reality, DeVos is taking detrimental action to strengthen Title IX protections for harassers and rapists at the cost of victims’ rights. They claim that the new rules will offer an equal right to appeal for both parties. In reality, victims will now be subjected to brutal cross-examinations, in which the examiner can be anyone other than the accused. This means that a victim could be interrogated and humiliated by the harasser's mother or fraternity brother. The entire reason students decide to report to schools instead of law enforcement in the first place is because of the many barriers students may face if they choose the latter: the institutionalized discrimination on the basis of race and sex, the inefficiency, and the terrorizing cross-examinations. Under DeVos, the Title IX process will mimic that of a court, subsequently creating an unsafe space for vulnerable students. DeVos essentially tries to fit every sexual assault case into a cookie-cutter mold, even though no case is exactly the same. These rules will make it extremely difficult, if not impossible, for survivors to speak up. Survivors will question if there is even a point in coming forward. Will school officials listen? Will their traumatic experience be “severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive” enough for the school to protect them? Enough for the school to even acknowledge the report? Survivors may undergo a humiliating trial, be questioned and berated by their peers, provide evidence of the crime, and still see their harasser go on unpunished and unaffected. Personally, I was totally unaware my school district had a Title IX coordinator until this month. My friends weren’t even aware that Title IX rules existed to protect them (or at least, Title IX used to). I have never heard any school counselors even utter the word, “Title IX” or “sexual harassment.” Now, Betsy DeVos is actively working to rob these rights from unknowing students amidst a global pandemic, when students are already facing financial instability and mental health issues. In 2011, the Obama administration worked to enforce Title IX across the nation with the Dear Colleague Letter by setting guidelines for schools to follow. While it was not perfect, it was a step towards a fairer and more forgiving Title IX. The Trump Administration effectively reverses all the progress made. Regardless of this, it is important to realize that you are not alone. There are so many of us fighting for our rights across the nation, and we will do whatever is necessary to prevent these rules from being implemented. Dear Asian Youth will be focusing more heavily on Title IX in the future, and we will stand by you until our voices are heard, loud and clear. In the meantime, we’ve curated a Title IX toolkit that you can use to protect your rights. - Stephanie and Elizabeth

Discrimination and the abuse it entails is not a new issue. It is one that has persisted, not just for years, but for centuries. It is historically ingrained in political institutions and assimilated into attitudes that have been passed down through generations of ignorance. Nobody is born to inherently believe in false notions of superiority and inferiority. It should not take a murder for people to care. Why should oppression only matter to us when others are posting about it or when it feels like we are obligated to act? The Black community has faced recurrent verbal and physical abuse due to our complicity. We live in a world that advocates for equality as a facade to conceal the greater problems that are present. Just because racism is not directly prevalent in your life, it does not mean it is non-existent in someone else’s. There are individuals you know who have stories of marginalisation that haunt them. They are not given the equal choice to feel secure within their bodies. Imagine living in fear as a consequence of lies — ones that have an impact on your opportunities and self-worth. The innocent are being robbed of the futures they will never have. Not only this, but their families are left to deal with the traumatic aftermath. Nobody has the right to decide whether somebody else is deserving of their life or not. To actively fight against this issue, we must do more than just be bystanders. Simply posting a black square and a trending hashtag on platforms without first understanding why these prejudices exist is contradictory. If you are not seeking resources to gain awareness on the Black Lives Matter movement, it is as good as posting nothing. The end goal of this movement is to be self-aware and challenge the stigmatisation that exists, regardless of whether that is online or offline. There is a stark contrast between genuine concern and virtue signalling, as the latter only serves a superficial function. Performative allyship only results in an unhelpful cycle of re-sharing content that ceases importance after time, and this suffering is forgotten as if it never existed. How many bodies, how much blood, and how much trauma is it going to take to acknowledge that this is our collective reality, whether we like it or not. These issues are not something that should be forgotten when they are no longer broadcasted for the wider public. With a wealth of information and resources that are so easily accessible through the internet, there are no excuses for ignorance. This movement is about staying true to the cause in the long-term, as there is no overnight solution to a multifaceted problem, especially when its origins have corrupted the public sphere on both a subconscious and conscious level. Keep in mind that the ongoing racism of our present does not show itself through slavery or segregation in public areas as found in the past; instead, it has renewed itself in other forms. We must adjust our ideas of what racism consists of, as it continues to evolve with us. This includes disrespectful discourse, stereotypes, economic disparities, and police brutality. The Civil Rights Act in 1964 may have legally abolished public discrimination, but it did not eradicate bigotry. It did not erase the racially charged, narrow-minded stereotypes that were believed to be facts. Transformation is first incited by a willingness to learn and erase these biases that have affected the black community for far too long. To name a handful, actions such as signing petitions, having conversations with those around you, and engaging with online resources are some small but fundamental steps that can hinder the spread of misinformed judgments. These acts of solidarity must be habituated far after the protests and outcries leave the news. Racism is created by a stream of misinformation that cherry-picks its proclaimed 'facts.' Remember that not everything that you come across is going to be reliable, which is why we must continuously question what we see and never settle for what we first read. Allow yourself to create a space that is always open to new ideas. Contextualise where your sources are coming from and examine their reliability, asking yourself if the bigger picture is skewed by an underlying agenda. Be wary that our media can provide us with the information that we need, but can also be a catalyst for further racism. We must also reach out to others who are outside of our own echo chambers of opinion. Moving forward does not mean future apathy, but actions that will continue to make us alert of the external realities we may not directly see. I wrote this piece as I wanted to gauge an understanding of the responsibility that we have as part of a greater movement. Being a History student, the recurrent racial injustice in America has always been a topic of interest for me, especially when linking the disturbing parallels between the past and our present day. I hope that what I’ve said allows readers to reflect on their own role and see that even small changes amass to something much bigger in the long term. Carrying my own personal experiences with racism, I also wanted to show my support and be able to do my part by gaining more knowledge about the situation in future pieces. Above all, I just wish ignorance would stop being the catalyst for other people’s traumas and life-long fears. It hurts to think that some of us want to expend our energy on upholding an idea of ‘superiority’ that doesn’t even exist in the first place. Biography: Su Wen Liew is a History undergraduate who enjoys writing opinion pieces, intending to delve into more journalism accompanied by lifestyle blogging and creative writing. In her spare time, she loves exploring the creative possibilities of makeup and fashion, especially with styling clothes alongside jewellery. Singing is also another pursuit of hers, which she consistently exhibits on Instagram and YouTube. Using this creative medium she aspires to write pieces that resonate with people who share similar feelings and experiences to her own. Her eventual goal is to make those who read or listen to her work more included, heard and feel less alone in their headspace. Instagram: @suwenliew / Youtube: Su Wen Liew

She felt hungry but was too tired to cry out to the nannies. Almond-shaped eyes cracked open, the baby watched the three women tend to the many other babies messily, handing out milk bottles to each child, some eating lustily and others unable to finish on their own. It was feeding time. There were rows and columns of babies, maybe five by nine, located in the “toddlers’ room.” Children breathed in the scent of musty dirt and dirty water, with the unbearable humidity feeding oxygen into their lungs. They each wore similar unisex shorts and shirts, so visitors never knew whether a child was a boy or girl as they also had the same bowl haircut. The sound of crying echoed in the suffocating atmosphere each second, some of them handicapped, and some of them lonely – but those who were already depressed in the mind were silent. And to work here, one had to be used to the sound of silence, the melody of death. It was rumored that this girl was abandoned at a park, barely two months old, shivering not from the cold but from the lack of a mother’s warmth. The mother had already been in tears before leaving her poor newborn alone to face the fears of the real world; she had whispered prayers to the nonexistent stars above in hopes of providing any positive energy left to her daughter before her husband had to pull her away and reluctantly return home. The One-Child policy, which was implemented to save resources for all of China, forced the woman’s daughter further away from her forever. The mother’s yelps of pain were louder than her baby’s cries. The baby was left there for several hours before being brought to the orphanage. The journey was most tough for her as her skin would never come in contact with the familiar scent of a mother’s love again. When she was first found, the baby wailed painfully for her mom’s intimate smell, begging heavily for breast milk, reaching out with her tiny precious fingers, dripping waterfalls of salty tears down her supple cheeks. Her throat contracted with endless screams of distress, pushing whatever sound out that she could so that her parents could find her again. She wanted to somehow say “mama,” but she was still young and unable to speak. Because of her lack of affection, her mental health was impacted in ways no parent would wish to see their child. Her crib was located in the last row, which meant that the darkness was near and the hope for survival was lost. One of the ladies handed a bottle of milk to her, but she lacked enough strength to carry it within her feeble hands and instead laid still. Her breath was slowing, exhales slowly escaping her body. Sometimes, the baby would listen to the unfamiliar noise of a foreigner, looking to adopt a child and bring over to the western world. The giggles from some of the older children were louder during these times, hoping to be swept away into a dream far too good to be a reality. Several of these children would grow up in stable households, speaking perfect English, forgetting their real heritage – but if one was fortunate enough, the western parents would teach their adopted kids the history of their beautiful bloodline. And on special but dire occasions, these people would bring their families to this orphanage, which was the origin of where it all began. It was important to not forget where they came from. Her eyes were open, desperate to grasp a little bit more of the world with the little energy she had left. And, soon enough, the baby took in her last inhale, never knowing how many people were wishing her the longest of lives, the strongest of women. If only she knew. Why I decided to write this piece: I recently learned about the One-Child policy more in-depth in my Chinese class. I think many people, including myself, don’t really understand the tolls this policy took on many Chinese families. I didn’t write this piece to sugarcoat the negative feelings initiated by the one-child policy, but I did write it to raise empathy for these Chinese families back in the late 20th Century, whose perspectives weren’t heard enough. Although the One-Child policy has now been lifted and loosened, China’s traditional cultures about having large families transformed after this government control, and many people don’t often know about this. I am hoping to personalize the act of motherhood, parenthood, and adoption in China in order to grow the understanding of the impacts of the One-Child Policy – by learning more about China’s culture, we can understand the meanings and ways behind their decisions, which can help prevent easy condemnation and judgment. - Hannah

Dear Asian Youth, As a teenager, I get into a lot of arguments. All of the fights that I have gotten into have thankfully resolved themselves, whether it be altercations with close friends or quarrels with family members. Thinking about these fights, I realize that we all have unique perspectives on how we view situations. You might be the protagonist of your story and the antagonist of your enemy’s story. When we start to understand the history of the people around us, we begin to comprehend how each person formulates their opinions. Growing up, I saw that many people bore different beliefs than I. It used to upset me when their beliefs did not agree with mine. However, there is one thing that has enabled me to keep an open mind: while I do not have to agree with other people’s opinions, I should respect them. And with this, I cultivated the art of listening. As activist Bryant McGill once said, "One of the most sincere forms of respect is actually listening to what another has to say." From this, I gain footing for how I approach situations I come across every day. Although I am not a religious person, I do believe in the power of energy; I believe that if you put good energy into the things that you do, you will receive back the same amount. Because of this, I strive to live my life in goodness and by being true to myself. I feel as if a big part of growing up is comprehending who you are, above all other things. And while I cannot say that I am the most open of all books, I attempt to understand myself before I start to understand others. I gain a better knowledge of who I am through the ways that I express my true colours. As I have learned throughout my life, I am painted by the colours of my environment and by the people who surround me. My parents have encouraged me to never stop being curious and to always strive to do better. I best express my curiosity in my writing, and I derive inspiration from the books that I read. As Faber said in the book, Fahrenheit 451, “The things you’re looking for, are in the world, but the only way the average chap will ever see ninety-nine percent of them is in a book.” Humans live for an average of 71 years, and that is not nearly enough time to explore the entirety of the world. However, through reading books, we are enabled to delve into the unexplored, evaluate the unprecedented, and breathe the enlightened air of proficiency. My sentiment for literature is unmatched by any other passion of mine. Through my words, I am able to breathe. When people discriminate against who I am, the only things that save me from drowning are my words. When I am held underwater by my discriminators, fury burns inside of my body, and through adrenaline- I break the surface of the water with my pencil, and I shoot up into the air like a rocket ship traveling at the speed of light- and I keep going; for me, the sky has no limits. I imagine. I think. I write. I say. And what empowers me the most is that I know that I am unstoppable. It is so important to understand what you want to do in life and what you are working with. Then, you can draw your capabilities into achieving your goals and fulfilling your purpose- because you are unstoppable too. When I am writing, I write about the here and the now. Every word that I write down is a product of what my brain feels in the exact moment of writing it. Whenever I set out a plan on what to write, it usually ends in a whole different product than what was originally expected. For example, the topic of this week’s letter was supposed to be about plastic surgery in Asia; however, my mind drifted to writing the letter that you are reading now. There is a sort of spontaneity in my writing, which enables my pieces to have a signature, heartfelt style about them - and this reveals more about myself than just signing my name at the bottom of a document. Whenever I look into other people’s eyes, I see my reflection. And I understand that I am a character in the plots of all the lives that I have touched. I recognize my identity in the actions of those around me - in the bad jokes that my dad tells or the hugs of reassurance from my mom. Whenever I see my parents, I see a warm orange - a soft, sunset orange - that comforts me into believing that everything will be okay. And it also reassures me, because I know that I am capable of loving. I derive my beliefs from the philosophies of my parents, who are the most spiritually grounded people I know. They have taught me to make use of my ears more than of my mouth, and that, when I do decide to use my mouth, I should use it to advocate for myself and what I believe in. My parents had to do this when they arrived as immigrants from India to the United States of America in the 1990s. They immigrated here with the purpose of pursuing careers that they were passionate about. On top of starting a new life in a completely foreign country, they made sure that they were financially stable before having a child so that they could give their child the best life. As their daughter, I am now fifteen years old and I have learned to cherish the opportunities that I have been privileged with. In India, females were expected to be subordinate to their male counterparts. After moving to a more progressive country, they raised their daughter with an education - an uncommon sign for girls in their hometowns. They raised their child with the freedom to speak, express, and live out her beliefs. An easy life is unusual for minorities. My choice of weapon against discrimination will always be in the art that I create. In the words that I write, the words that I speak, the paint that dries on a new mural, or the graphite of a quick sketch. These are the ways that I express myself - and I believe that throughout the course of my life, leading up to the point of writing this letter, I have not unlocked any new part of my story. Rather, I have painted a new picture, deciding my own future as I continue. I disliked using my physical traits to define who I was. I tried not to associate my race, gender, or age on how I acted - and now I disagree with what I had done. Because when I write a new piece, I write with culture at my fingertips and femininity in my mind. I am proud of who I am not just mentally, but also physically, for I have accepted my difference — instead of rejecting it, I celebrate it. I celebrate the darkness of my skin, the broadness of my shoulders, and lean stature of my body. I like my hair, my style, and my brain. My motivation is fueled by what I feel needs attention. And through this, I know that I have a fire burning inside of my body, and flames that run through my veins. I am alight with the passions that I have cultivated over my life, the achievements that I have reached, and the goals that I have set my mind to accomplish. I gain comfort in the knowledge that I am aware of my own strength and capabilities. I pride myself in my ability to formulate thoughts and humble myself to the opinions of others. Notice, I said ‘humble’ instead of ‘submit’. As I have alluded to before, I do not find the need to agree with the opinions of others, rather I should acknowledge them. I understand that although higher mental capacity is required to have a growth mindset, it has the ability to excel farther than that of a fixed mindset. This does not mean that I will change my opinions to that of others, but I will have the ability to discern what I believe is ethical from unethical. I find peace in knowledge. When I start to comprehend, my ignorance dissipates. I know that I will not be able to gain all the knowledge that has been passed through history, and I have given myself years of dissatisfaction with this. However, I believe that I have found a solution to this predicament of mine. I maintain the belief that if you keep a growth mindset, the knowledge that you come across will enter and find a home in your mind. If you keep yourself open to advice, your levels of observation will increase; and therefore, you will become more intelligent and aware. My life is so similar and so different from your life. We might be learning the same subjects, but the way we learn is very different. While I use the letter ‘u’ in “colour”, you may spell colour without a ‘u’. The purpose of this letter is to bring to surface my philosophy on life- and to highlight my differences, which has shaped my identity, and who I am today. However, the goal of this letter is also to enable you to dive deeper into your identity and figure out what makes you YOU. - Prerna

The dust is orange enough to be beautiful. She tells herself she is scrubbing out sunshine when the dust spills out of her hair under shower water. The air holds itself smooth, curves up like a ripe, promising mango. Remarkable- the color of the sky is gentle enough to set even the crows dreaming. When she walks home, she counts the number of people who share features with her. Her grandmother once told her the ocean and the sky were brothers, same disposition, made for the same purpose, God smiled, grabbed the biggest paintbrush he could find, painted BLUE. At night, an orchestra assembles below her bedroom window. In the key of listlessness, the insects play their hearts out. She wanders at night. Lahore looks at her with one heavy-lidded eye, huffs a deep puff of air, rolls over, falls back asleep, snoring giant. "In Lahore, Pakistan" explores the feeling of being enchanted by the beauty of a country around you, but also feeling disconnected from it. I wrote this, thinking about how I felt when I went to Pakistan for the first time. Biography: Kiran Masroor is a sophomore at Yale University where she’s majoring in Neuroscience. On campus, she is in the performance group, TEETH Slam Poets, and she greatly enjoys writing about her Pakistani culture. ​​​​​​​She also runs a poetry account where she explores the intersection of written word, musical, and visual arts (@poemsbykiran).

Dear Asian Youth, Black lives matter. There is no rebuttal. There is no "if" or "but" or "how come?". And today, we must listen to and support protestors like we did for Hong Kong, despite how uncomfortable and difficult it may be. I know how hard it is to admit to the anti-Blackness in our community, but it is undeniable that we have a history of participating in racist ideology against other minority groups. And even when we didn't "directly" participate, we kept our heads down and stayed complicit; we, too, carry the burden of the countless lives lost. Now, it is up to us to decide what side of history we want to stand on. For me, I'm going to choose the side of justice. I'm going to be just as angry and outspoken as I was when fellow Asians were being attacked for COVID-19. I can only urge you to do the same. 黑人的命也是命. - Stephanie Mahal lahat, Kung naisip lamang natin na ang mundo ay hindi mapupuno ng kaguluhan, ang hindi makatarungang pagkamatay ni George Floyd ay naging viral sa buong mundo. Gayunpaman, ito ay bahagi ng kung ano ang nagsimula kung ano ngayon ang pinakamalaking pinakamalaking kilusang sibil sa kasaysayan. Medyo cool, ha? Ang kilusang #BlackLivesMatter ay nasa buong media sa lipunan, na may milyon-milyong mga tao na kumakalat ng salita tungkol sa kung paano kailangan nating kumilos nang mabilis upang mabago ang kurso ng ating bansa. Ako, si Julianne, ay ipinagmamalaki na sabihin na ako ay isang tagataguyod at tagataguyod ng BLM at tatayo sila nang walang pasubali. Ngunit, nais kong tugunan ang kahalagahan ng pakikilahok ng ating henerasyon sa ito. Nakakainis talaga na makita ang ilan sa aking mga kaibigan na nagsasabing hindi kahit isang solong salita tungkol sa kung ano ang nangyayari, at nais ko lang na bigyang-diin na kung nais natin ang pagbabago, LAHAT nating tiyakin na ginagawa natin ang makakaya nating maganap. At kahit na nahahati ang ating mundo, mahalagang tandaan na kahit sino ka, dapat tayong tumayo na magkakaisa laban sa mga kawalang-katarungan na salot sa ating Daigdig. - Julianne Monsieur, Je suis québécoise. Mon cœur pleur noir. Je cœur pleur autochtone, pleure nature. Mon cœur pleur. Tout simplement. Qui que nous soyons, d'où que nous venions, nous ne formions qu'un tendant vers un unique but. La justice doit s'appliquer à tous et pour tous. C'est un fait. Et nous ne la mendions pas, nous l'exigeons. Ce n'est pas un cadeau. C'est un droit absolu. Pour susciter du changement, sensibiliser. Prenons le temps de s'écouter et d'apprendre à mieux se connaître. Il nous faut rester forts, nombreux et unis. Je ne suis pas noir, mais je suis avec toi. #jemesouviens - Emily 한국인 여러분, 한국인, 저는 오늘 모든 한국인들에게 "Black Lives Matter"운동을지지 해달라고 요청하고 있습니다. 미국은 수 세기 동안 우리 시스템에서 제기 된 문제들과 싸우고 있으며, 우리의 메시지는 자국을 포함한 모든 국가의지지를 받아야한다고 생각합니다. 한국인들은 흑인들이 매일 직면하는 끔찍한 불의와 싸워야합니다. 한국인은 인종 차별과 불필요한 죽음과 싸워야합니다. 한국인들은이 운동을 유발하기 위해 고통스러운 죽음으로 죽은 사람들을 기억해야합니다. 한국인은 사랑하는 사람을 다시는 보지 못하는 희생자의 가족과 친구들을 기억해야합니다. 한국인들은 선택적 행동주의의 벽을 산산조각 내고 인종 차별주의에 직면해야한다. - 백시연 सर्वांना प्रिय, अमेरिकेतल्या ब्लॅक लाईव्हस मॅटर चळवळीबद्दल आपण विचार करणे खूप महत्वाचे आहे. जॉर्ज फ्लॉयड नावाचा एक माणूस आहे आणि तो मेला आहे. का? कारण, मिनेसोटा मधील पोलिस वर्णद्वेषी आहेत. उत्तर इतके सोपे नसले तरीही ते अद्याप खूपच समस्याप्रधान आहे आणि आम्हाला कार्य करावे लागेल. आम्हाला हे ओळखले पाहिजे की काळा लोक पांढ white्या लोकांपेक्षा आणि रंगाच्या बाबतीत इतर लोकांपेक्षा भिन्न अनुभव आहेत. मी भारतीय-अमेरिकन आहे, म्हणून मी एक रंगीबेरंगी व्यक्ती आहे. मला समजले आहे की माझा एक विशेषाधिकार आहे जो काळा लोकांना असू शकत नाही आणि ही एक समस्या आहे. काळ्या लोकांना कधीही इतर रंगीत लोकांपेक्षा कमी दिसू नये. परिस्थितीविषयी जागरूकता निर्माण करण्यासाठी आणि अंतिमत: या निराकरणासाठी, सर्व काळ्या लोकांना काळ्या लोकांसाठी आणि त्यांच्याबरोबर काम करावे लागेल. आता बदलण्याची वेळ आली आहे. आपल्याला स्पष्ट डोक्याने पहावे लागेल आणि मग आपण जाऊ शकू. - इशिता 親愛的朋友, 传播爱，而不是暴力. - 周承愛

“If you were a bit skinnier, you could do it.”, my classmate taunted. These words numbed me, told me that I would never be a good dancer. “If you were a bit skinnier, you could do it.” Heat flushed to my face in an instant as I felt shame and insecurity drape over me, smothering my pride. Skinny. I hated that word. I wanted to fit into its standards, but the word’s selectiveness was not generous enough to slip me in. Skinny became a number on the scale. A target goal that, if reached, made my self-worth skyrocket. If not, it made me sink into a lair of self-doubt. Two years ago, I was a freshman in high school who found solace in music, especially K-pop. I idolized the celebrities for more than just their mesmerizing voices and precise movements; I admired their slim frames —from their long, thin legs, to their 23-inch waists, I desperately wanted their physiques. And as I would learn, skinny did not come without a cost. When browsing through K-pop related content on Youtube, I eventually came across diet videos with captivating titles like, “I lost 7 pounds a week doing the IU diet!” and “I followed Kang Sora’s diet and lost 20kg!”. Numbers, numbers, and more numbers. As direct proof of results, numbers represented self-worth. Was my weight all I was worth? Did one number determine my future? My happiness? My obsession to become skinnier left me discouraged when my diet attempts met dead ends. Though I have not succumbed to such strict diets, I have made attempts by counting calories, or exercising excessively if I consumed “too much.” On top of the already strict beauty standards in Asia, the extreme methods K-Pop idols used to transform their bodies also perpetuate eating disorders and self-image issues. Young women feel pressured to pursue societal beauty standards through mirroring actions of their models and utilize unhealthy methods in so doing. In a study designed to identify the prevalence of eating disorders in South Korean students, seven percent were found to have disturbed eating patterns. Participants sampled were in fourth and seventh grade. Of 2,200 adolescents tested, patterns of eating disorders were found in 155, with significantly higher prevalence in fourth graders. Even at such young ages, children feel Korean culture’s emphasis on appearance, thus neglect sustenance to please parents, relatives, and society. In an interview with the Youtube channel Asian Boss, the 2018 Miss Korea, Kim Soo Min, recalls being called “too fat” for the crown and reveals Korean ideals for women (of any height) to weigh 45 to 50 kg. The pageant winner is 5’8 and weighs close to 59 kg, a healthy weight in proportion to her height. The criticism Kim received conveys is only one example of how Korean beauty standards are potentially harmful to young women. As for me, I refuse to sit and let someone judge me or my body. No matter how self conscious I am, I refuse to let someone else’s words hold me hostage and force change in me due to their dissections of my imperfections. I refuse to allow their words to cut me and determine my future. His blatant attack on my body battered my confidence and sank my stomach everytime I replayed them in my head. Even so, I acknowledged that I am better than those words. I define my own worth. I am proud of my body and I do not need to change it. Without hesitating, I blocked him. I blocked his hurtful, twisted words, and I blocked myself from further harm. I fought myself to prove him wrong but I refused to be broken. I refused to prove a great transformation just to concede to his words. Two years have passed since that incident and though I remain insecure about my body at times, I gradually reclaimed my broken pieces by learning to love myself first. Rather than caving into social pressures of meeting beauty standards through extreme methods, I find fulfillment in exercising for the objective of improving my overall mood and energy. My goal is not to lose weight or achieve a certain body type through doing so, but instead to have more energy to complete tasks to the best of my ability and enjoy foods I love without feeling guilty. Cultural beauty standards may serve as a way for us to justify our self-criticism and further the toxic cycle of comparing ourselves to others. Even with these ideals gone, we will continuously seek imperfections within ourselves due to our nature of criticizing and judging. Needless to say, there is no perfect body type since standards are always fluctuating due to each individual’s preference. Leonardo Da Vinci's painting, “The Vitruvian Man,” serves as a representation of what a perfectly proportioned person would look like. “Perfect” means that this perception would hold true to a universal audience. Yet, what may be held as vitruvian to one may be an image another feels repelled by. Though we do not hold power over perspectives of others, as long as we accept ourselves as “vitruvians,” whether immediately or through a natural process of change, we will find satisfaction and worth in ourselves by loving, accepting, and cherishing our own bodies. - Josie

TW: Police Brutality Dear Asian Youth, #BlackLivesMatter. I cannot speak on behalf of the Black community nor do I intend to. Rather, I hope to raise awareness and use this platform to do so. The attention belongs solely to Black people, and we need to listen to what they have to say. As an Asian American, I will not speak for the Black community or dictate how they should feel. I do not want to overstep by any means but hope to educate fellow Asians and to provide perspective. Marginalized groups should stick together and support each other in the fight against oppression, as we are stronger together. For instance, following the coronavirus, the Black community called out the xenophobia and racism towards Asians. The privilege we have and the anti-Blackness that persists within our community must be recognized and addressed. Our privilege allows us to bring awareness to the racism in our society, and as the number of tragedies continues to surface, we cannot enable ourselves to become desensitized. #AllLivesMatter is not something we should be supporting. It is only used to invalidate the #BlackLivesMatter movement and was not born until after #BlackLivesMatter began. Notice how paradoxical it is that #AllLivesMatter is not used as an argument to justify gun control or counter-argue coronavirus protests. Yes, all lives do matter, but currently, Black lives are the ones at stake. As Asians, we cannot simply look away from the injustices Black people face, just because we aren't directly affected. This movement does not discredit our hardships, and we should not silence Black individuals; it is their turn to speak and we must listen. As you may have heard, George Floyd, a Black man, was murdered by white police officer Derek Chauvin. The video of Chauvin kneeling on Floyd’s neck for eight minutes and forty-six seconds, despite Floyd yelling that he could not breathe, quickly surfaced online and gained rapid attention. In the video, the Asian police officer literally turned his back on Floyd, when he could have easily prevented the murder. As allies, we must take action and do better. It is not the Black community’s job to educate us. We are responsible for doing that ourselves. We cannot support cops because they serve and defend a racist institution, instead of the people they swore to protect. When protesters arrived at Chauvin’s house, dozens of cops surrounded his home to shelter him. The arrest was not made until controversy arose, petitions were signed, and his second address was found. The arrest was not made until his safety was compromised. Even then, he was only charged with third-degree murder, which is consistent with accidentally shoving someone to death. Almost nine minutes of intentionally choking a man should be deemed as first-degree murder. Not to mention, the other three officers involved in the murder of Floyd were not initially charged. While they did not physically murder Floyd themselves, they all bear responsibility as they were complicit in the murder. They watched as Chauvin pinned Floyd down. It was only after public outrage that Chauvin’s charge was raised to second-degree murder, and the remaining three cops were convicted of their crime. The system continues to fail Black people, just as it has failed them for the past four hundred years. For instance, institutionalized racism stems far deeper in our nation than most realize. American policing was founded upon anti-Blackness: it originated upon slave patrolling, which remains evident in the similarities between modern police and slave patrol badges. To be proper allies, we must work to actively reform the law enforcement system. Think back to the first time you drove a car. It’s known as a universal teenage experience. Except, Black teens have to be prepared on how to act if they are pulled over, the same way women are told how to act to avoid sexual harassment. For example, Mark Mesle, a parent who inquired Curious City about police brutality, found it necessary to have open conversations on such matters with his Black children. Television host and author Karamo Brown reveals that, in fear of being racially profiled, his son refused to get his license. Whenever I even see a police car on the road, I'm filled with anxiety. I cannot even begin to fathom the fear Black people feel when driving past a police car. On top of worrying that their parents will be angry at them for speeding, they also fear encounters with law enforcement that may end with death. While we worry about running a stop sign, Black men and women worry about not making it out alive and not being able to come home to their families. As Asians, we must recognize that the lack of police brutality we face is a privilege in and of itself. Although it is important to attack racism within our community, we should not treat it as performative activism. For example, Asian-American Ziad Ahmed was accepted into Stanford after writing #BlackLivesMatter one hundred times for his essay. While it may seem like he is spreading awareness on the surface, the act seems performative. Ahmed publicly endorsed a politician that drafted the 1994 Crime Law and prides himself in encouraging mass incarceration, which specifically targets Black communities.Thus, to be allies we cannot be hypocritical and support cases of anti-Blackness. We cannot be selective in our activism and choose to only bring awareness to issues that affect us. We should not use the movement as a ploy to seem progressive. As Asians, we have been deemed the “model minority” for decades. The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 only allowed Asian immigrants who were skilled and well-educated to enter the country. Therefore, our people were pre-selected to be successful in American society. We were painted by the media to be good, law-abiding citizens and were expected to be an “example” for other minorities. Black people, on the other hand, lived through generations of genocide and were forced to perform back-breaking labor. Ultimately, this created a divide between Asians and Blacks. In addition, we benefit from white privilege because of the model minority myth. Yes, Asians have experienced an enormous amount of racism throughout American history, but it is drastically different than the oppression the Black community has faced and continues to face today. It's the same reason why non-Black POC cannot say the n-word. Black and POC are not synonymous. We simply do not experience the same discrimination. We are not racially profiled to be considered dangerous by society, as evident when comparing how police treat us versus our Black counterparts. When we protest Asian discrimination, we do not have to worry about being tear-gassed; we do not have to worry about being shot by the National Guard; we do not have to worry about hiding the protestors’ identities in fear of everyone “mysteriously dying” the same way the Ferguson protesters did. It is essential that we are aware of our privilege and Black experiences. So how can we be proper allies? If you witness an act of discrimination, intervene instead of just being a bystander filming the hate crime. Do not spread graphic videos of death, even if the intent is to spread awareness, because it can be triggering and insensitive. If you see racist remarks on social media, especially from authoritative figures, call out their actions. If they proceed to choose ignorance, contact their employers or schools. User @killthelove on Twitter articulated that for non-Black POC, our activism must “start at home. It starts with correcting our families and the people around us and calling them out on their bigotry, no matter how uncomfortable it may be or who you make mad in the process.” Confront your friends, family, and favorite celebrities who choose to remain silent. Check up on your Black friends and ask how you can help. Allow Black people to speak on their experiences and boost their platform. Do not post selfies or beach pictures on Instagram during these times. Spread the word. Protest. Sign petitions. Donate to non-profit organizations helping the movement and families affected. Deliver protective gear and spray bottles to protestors. Use your privilege to prevent violence against protestors. Vote, especially in local elections. Contact your mayors, local representatives, state senators. Be actively angry. We have to fix and address the anti-Blackness that plagues our community. Black lives matter every single day, not just when it is trending. We cannot pretend we fully understand their struggle because the reality is, we will never understand even a fraction of their pain. We can only do our best to help fight for justice and let their voices be heard. As Angela Davis, a writer and activist, said, “In a racist society, it is not enough to be non-racist, we must be anti-racist.” Repeat after me: Black Lives Matter. - Tia and Sunna Resources to Donate to: https://twitter.com/bailfundnetwork/status/1266408876838014983?s=12 https://www.northstarhealthcollective.org/donate https://secure.everyaction.com/4omQDAR0oUiUagTu0EG-Ig2 https://secure.everyaction.com/zae4prEeKESHBy0MKXTIcQ2 https://www.gofundme.com/f/georgefloyd https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-family-in-loving-memory-of-eric-hakizamana Petitions to Sign: Text “FLOYD” to 55156 and “JUSTICE” to 668366 https://twitter.com/solaceil/status/1268034886385799168?s=21 https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/justice-george-floyd-0 https://www.justiceforbigfloyd.com/#petition https://www.standwithbre.com/#petition https://www.change.org/p/black-lives-matter-activists-justice-for-tony-mcdade https://www.change.org/p/prefeitura-do-rio-de-janeiro-justice-for-jo%C4%81o-pedro https://www.change.org/p/julius-jones-is-innocent-don-t-let-him-be-executed-by-the-state-of-oklahoma People to Contact: Minneapolis District Attorney, Mike Freeman, demand justice for George Floyd Phone: 612-348-5550 Email: citizeninfo@hennepin.us Jacob Frey, demand justice for George Floyd Phone: 612-673-2100 Text “RESIST” to 50409 https://docs.google.com/document/u/0/d/1-yqKbkh9eF4eZn-Bolz-wXFlSn3BL8Xlukn5cMiIAcI/mobilebasic?usp=gmail_thread

Dear Asian Youth, Birth control. We’ve all heard of it. A tiny, white pill so strong that it can prevent a child from entering this world. But that’s not its only benefit. As a girl, I’ve suffered my fair share of hormonal acne, excruciating cramps, and sudden mood swings during that time of the month (not to mention the many cute pants I’ve ruined!). Not only can birth control help regulate these symptoms, it also has the ability to prevent ovarian cysts, uterine cancer, infections in the uterus, and a number of other health issues. As of today, about 46.9 million women are covered by insurance for contraception. That’s 46.9 million women who rely on free birth control and 46.9 million women who each save around $600 a year. But what happens when you no longer have easy access to birth control? Under President Obama’s Affordable Care Act, employers are required to provide a healthcare plan that completely covers birth control for all female employees. But what about employers who have religious objections? Well, the Obama administration provides a rule that works around this hurdle: organizations with religious objections to birth control can directly notify the government or the insurance company of their objections. In turn, the insurance company will provide individuals with contraception separate from the employer’s healthcare plan, removing the employer from the equation entirely. Now, it’s no secret that President Trump’s administration has been fighting against coverage for contraception and access to reproductive healthcare. In 2017, new regulations were proposed to allow any employer to deny access to no-cost contraception on the basis of religious or moral objections. These regulations are so convoluted that it’s hard to tell what excuses are legitimately covered under “moral objections.” Essentially, even non-religious employers will be granted the right to control a woman’s reproductive decisions. Does the Trump administration even have the power to enact such a broad exemption? States like Pennsylvania and New Jersey don’t seem to think so. They’ve halted the new regulation from going into effect by claiming that the Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA) does not have the authority to violate the Affordable Care Act’s current rules. Filed in 2018, the case has reached the Supreme Court, but the conflicted justices have yet to reach an official ruling. However, with the Supreme Court being a Republican-majority, it wouldn’t be surprising if they vote in favor of the Trump administration’s exceptions—especially if this case drags on beyond November and Trump is re-elected into office. But, why is it that female forms of contraception are continually under attack when they have the greatest success rates? I don’t see anybody protesting male condoms. Do you? Condoms are proven to only be 85% effective compared to birth control pills and IUDs, which are both 99% effective when used correctly. The irony here is that men have a history of making decisions for women that tend to end in further oppression, especially when it comes to their bodies. Imagine if the roles were reversed and women tried to take condoms away from men. Now, I may not use birth control myself, but I have witnessed its importance, as many of my friends utilize birth control to treat their health related issues. In the U.S., 58% of women use the pill for reasons other than contraception, such as relieving menstrual disorders and pains, treating acne, and treating endometriosis. This is precisely why birth control is a health care right and not only a means to preventing pregnancies. Birth control costs up to $50 each month and not all women are able to afford the cost, especially women from lower-income brackets. Unplanned pregnancies affect lower-income women the most, as abortions cause a bigger dent in their wallet and raising childen is a huge monetary strain. These women will be unable to break free from the never ending cycle of poverty if they are not provided with effective forms of birth control. Additionally, women with unplanned pregnancies are far more likely to smoke, drink, experience domestic abuse, have depression, and receive little or no prenatal care; this can lead to developmental problems in the child. The government alone spends about $21 billion a year on unplanned pregnancies, and that’s with birth control coverage for most women. Now imagine what the cost would be if birth control was no longer free. This is not only an issue concerning the health care rights of women; if birth control access is denied, our economy will suffer. For decades, women have been fighting and advocating for widespread access to reproductive healthcare. Margaret Sanger, a feminist born in 1879, played a critical role in the production of birth control. She dedicated much of her life to providing women with effective contraception because she believed that controlling family size was crucial in ending women’s poverty. After years of protesting and starting her own organizations (one of which later became Planned Parenthood), the widespread use of contraception became legal in 1936, and the first birth control pill was finally approved by the FDA in 1960. To this day, Sanger’s legacy still reigns as millions continue to fight for greater birth control access. But now, the Trump administration is dishonoring her legacy by proposing new restrictions on contraception. If Trump’s new regulation for birth control goes into effect, it’s estimated that 70,000 to 126,000 women will lose their coverage for contraception—a classic case of the federal government’s never-ending ploy to control women and their bodies. Whether or not a woman chooses to take birth control is ultimately her choice. Unless you experience the daily struggles of being a woman, it’s really not your place to speak for those who do. After years of fighting for gender equality, women are finally getting a say over how they want to dictate their lives, and birth control plays an enormous role in that. As a teenage girl, I sincerely hope that my right to birth control will not be stripped away by the government, so that the generation of young girls after me will not have to write articles fighting for their healthcare. - Sunna Mai

a spoken word poem. watch the full performance here. “Justice For All,” they say. It’s written in ink, etched into the land where we stand. It’s the concrete floors of our nation. It’s the roots that inhabit our soil. It’s why people beg and plead and dream to come to this country. But little do they know, the roots of this nation have rotted. And they still spoon-feed us the pledge, forcing empty phrases down our throats but when we can’t stomach it, digest it, process it, believe it, it gets stuck in our throats. It gets stuck in my throat. Like zombies, we rise up from the dead each morning. Like robots, we’re programmed to say the pledge. But these orders are no more than a false sense of purpose, no more than an illusion of unity. They tell me the story of intertwined hands but I only see fists that kill. America: land of the free, home of the brave. So free, we see innocent Ahmuad and Breonna shot dead. So brave, the words spiced with hate still roll off of their tongue. Because when George Floyd said “I can’t breathe”, the Asian cop turned a blind eye and looked away from “one nation under god”, looked away from “indivisible, with liberty and justice for all”. The Asian cop looked away, even though he knows what it’s like, should know what it’s like to have cried and died and tried for better lives, to have carried metal bars on our backs when they demanded train tracks, to have shoveled and dug when they craved for more gold. But he still stood on the side of the oppressor. And so the reporters broadcast the hate that poisons our nation and announce what our country has vowed to renounce. They give us a sugar-coated, “We’re sorry”, “This won’t happen again” but we know it’s going to happen again because hey, when the looting starts, the shooting starts. Right? We’ve been lied to by this country’s empty promises and right now, “corruption” and “justice” seem synonymous. Will I have to tell my children how they’ve cast us away? Repeating “Justice for All”, or so they say. - Julianne Tenorio