Meet the Gen Z activists leading in the AAPI Community
WITH THE RISE OF THE #STOPASIANHATE MOVEMENT, A GROUP OF GEN Z ACTIVISTS ARE COMMITTED TO CONTINUING THE MOVEMENT TO MAKE REAL CHANGE. FEMINIST CAUGHT UP WITH THE ACTIVISTS TO FOLLOW AND SUPPORT FROM THE AAPI COMMUNITY.
Q: How do you use your power to empower your community?
Kim Saira: My activism work is centered around art activism, which means I create infographics, which hopefully helps to educate and inform others! I always tell the people who follow me that my infographics are a starting point, never the end of their education, but I really like infographics because they're able to reach so many people. Besides infographics, I also create content (whether that's reels, my work as an influencer) where I share stories about my experiences growing up in America as a Filipina immigrant, which I think are so important to helping other Asian Americans, who have felt similarly in their own experiences, feel more seen.
Q: What inspired you to become an activist?
Kim Saira: Recently, I actually stopped labeling myself an activist (even though I do activism work) because I think- at least on social media, it seems like the "activist" title prohibits me from making mistakes, or it comes with the expectation that I need to openly talk about all social justice issues on my platform, otherwise, I can be deemed as performative- when in reality, I'm not an expert and am constantly learning every day!
Q: How do you practice self care?
Kim Saira: I practice self care by taking naps and getting my body moving by stepping outside. I think self care is incredibly necessary to recharge!
Q: How can someone continue to sustain the #STOPAAPI movement?
Kim Saira: Everyone should do their part to make sure that we can fight against all forms of systemic racism, including standing up for the Stop AAPI movement. This can include ensuring that you are actively being anti-racist everyday, supporting Asian owned restuarants, brands, and organizations, and finding equity and safe spaces for AAPI in places like workplaces.
Q: What are impactful ways one can take their activism off instagram and into the real world?
Kim Saira: Some of the most simple but most impactful ways that people can take their activism off of social media is by talking to friends and family about what it means to be anti-racist, and how to evaluate your own internal racism to create a more equitable world. It also helps to get involved with organizations in your community, starting your own clubs at school that value topics such as AAPI activism, anti-racism, etc., organizing rallies in your community, and more.
Q: What does feminism mean to you?
Kim Saira: To me, feminism really means fighting for a world where my rights (social, economic, political) as a woman are protected, and that I have full autonomy to my body. Feminism should always be intersectional, because the disparities of how BIPOC women are treated aren't exactly equal to white women, which means that we need to also ensure that BIPOC womens' rights are also protected, and that we are fighting for them.
You can support Kim by following @kimsaira
Q: How do you use your power to empower your community?
Emma Tang: I curate and create content to educate and uplift young people, specifically those that are Asian and people of color.
Q: What inspired you to become an activist?
Emma Tang: I was 14 when President Trump was elected and it motivated me to do something!
Q: How do you practice self care?
Emma Tang: I make sure to spend plenty of time with my cat, Wednesday!
Q: How can someone continue to sustain the #STOPAAPI movement?
Emma Tang: Please continue to support us politically, economically, and socially! This would include supporting AAPI candidates running for office, buying AAPI products (especially if it is an ethnic product, be sure you are supporting the right companies!), and relearning and unlearning sinophobia within yourself and educating others on it.
Q: What are impactful ways one can take their activism off instagram and into the real world?
Emma Tang: Join mutual aid! Protests are still happening around the country, which means that arrests are still happening. Many cities have community based mutual aid and jail support! Even if you can't donate, you can help welcome someone that was arrested back into society with water and snacks, because they are often released early mornings or late at night.
Q: What does feminism mean to you?
Emma Tang: Feminism means equity and feminism without intersectionality only upholds white supremacy. This is why we must fight for all marginalized identities.
You can support Emma by following @intersectional.abc
ASHLYN SO
Ashlyn So is a 13 year old middle school student, fashion designer and an accidental activist. She has organized a total of two rallies in 3 months. One in February to #standforasians when she first saw the video of an Asian elder senselessly pushed on the sidewalk and other Asians being bullied. Two was in May when she wanted to mend the factions between the black and asian communities to bring the communities together and unite in love. She's been written up on Teen Vogue, named Seventeen Magazine Voice of Change and PopSugar 21 under 21 Unstoppable Women. She is currently working on a fashion show during New York Fashion Week "Beneath the Surface" where she will be combining her activism with fashion.
Q: How do you use your power to empower your community?
Ashlyn: I'd like to think that by example, my community can see that activism has no age or gender barrier. If you see something, say something. I am very proud that there are a lot of youths in the Bay Area who are passionate about righting a wrong and either show up in full support at a rally or even start their own rallies.
Q: What inspired you to become an activist?
Ashlyn: When I first saw news of an asian elder senselessly attacked, I knew I had to do something. So I asked my mom if I can do a rally, she said yes. I didn't really think of myself as an activist. At that moment, I can feel the victims pain and I simply can't stand by and do nothing. So I decided to speak up.
Q: How do you practice self care?
Ashlyn: I like to go outside and ride my scooter, skateboard or bike to decompress and to take some time for myself.
Q: How can someone continue to sustain the #STOPAAPI movement?
Ashlyn: I think it's been an intense few months trying to raise awareness to a national level. Right now, it's all about long term goals and we have to pace ourselves so we don't burn out. We can continue to do small acts of kindness, talk to our school about inclusivity, start a conversation with our friends or family about the systemic issue, get more Asians to go out and vote, get more representation in the arts/culture sectors, and post on social media about important issues regardless of the size of your audience.
Q: What are impactful ways one can take their activism off instagram and into the real world?
Ashlyn: We can start petitions, volunteering to help other AAPI organizations, talking to your classmates and friends and bring up important topics to help educate people. if you are in school, you can start a club in school or participate in writing articles in your school newspapers, etc. Another action is to call someone out if they say something racist. Sometimes, people naively say things they hear other people say and think that it's okay. It's our duty to call it out that it's not okay.
Q: What does feminism mean to you?
Ashlyn: Feminism means to embrace other women and empower them! Bring other women up and support one another. Don't let people bring you down or tell you can't do things because of your gender. Break stereotypes if the traditional definition of what a woman is or what a woman does is not who you are. Be yourself and be true to yourself!
You can support Ashlyn by following @ashlynso_ and shop her goods to benefit the AAPI community at her store.
Dear Asian Youth
We interviewed the Gen Z founding members of Dear Asian Youth, a group of Asian youths striving to uplift marginalized communities through education, activism, and celebration.
Dear Asian Youth was founded in May of 2020 by Stephanie Hu, a 16-year-old who wished to create a platform to publish her poetry. It evolved into a blog dedicated to the Asian narrative, then a literary magazine, then a full-fledged organization with over 100 members on the national team. Functioning remotely, the organization today is the result of passionate volunteers with a shared purpose.
STEPHANIE HU
Founder & Executive Director of Dear Asian Younth
Q: How do you use your power to empower your community?
Stephanie: As the Founder and Executive Director of DAY, I oversee its entire operation, organizing our worldwide family of 200+ students. DAY’s purpose is to be a community: a safe space to learn, unlearn, and create tangible change. Through DAY, I myself have grown confident in my identity as an Asian American, and have healed from years of rejecting my culture. It is only my hope that other Asian students can use this space similarly.
Q: How do you practice self care?
Stephanie: As a high school student managing such a large organization, Dear Asian Youth really can feel like a full time job at times. While I love this work and my team, it’s still so important to take care of yourself. I often find that I can be hard on myself and be overly self critical of my leadership abilities, and I’m still learning to offer myself grace. Practicing mindfulness and honoring my emotions have also been crucial for me. With social media at the tip of our fingers, I often find myself bombarded with traumatic news that affect my mental health. And with Dear Asian Youth’s large social media following, I feel the responsibility to push out informative social media posts that raise awareness before even processing the news myself. In moments like this, I’ve learnt to slow down, breathe, shift my state of mind, and refocus on the task at hand.
Parveen Mundi
Co-Director of Projects and Northeast Chapters Regional Lead
Q: What are impactful ways one can take their activism off instagram and into the real world?
Parveen: There are so many ways to take activism beyond Instagram! Attend rallies in support of causes that matter to you, send letters, sign and share petitions, host fundraisers, call your local officials, and support organizations that are already doing the work. A huge part of avoiding performative allyship is making an effort to inform yourself, and doing so without expecting people who are directly affected by an issue to do it for you. There are so many resources available these days— read books, watch documentaries, use Google! Established grassroots and nonprofit organizations often have plenty of ways for you to get both educated and involved, so try to connect with those groups in your area. Funds are also incredibly helpful in supporting causes, and making an effort to continuously donate to charities and mutual aid funds created by and for the communities you want to support can really go a long way.
David Cho
Co-Director of PRISM at Dear Asian Youth
Q: How can someone continue to sustain the #STOPAAPI movement?
DAVID: You can sustain the Stop Asian Hate movement by being committed to long-term activism and preventing burnout– both in yourself and in others. Unfortunately, burnout is really common among activists and is one of the largest obstacles in the way of change. Burnout often happens because activists may feel that they must individually bear the burden of fighting for social issues, leading to activists feeling overwhelmed and overworking themselves. This then causes many passionate activists to become disengaged because of exhaustion and feelings of discouragement.
In order to sustain the Stop Asian Hate movement, it’s important that you remember that unfortunately, change often happens gradually and one way to achieve it is through long-term activism. This means continuing to speak up for change even after mainstream media has moved on to a different movement as well as taking activism work off of social media and out into the world. Also, prioritize your mental health by practicing self-care and taking breaks when you need to! Check in and connect with others who support the same issues you do. There are countless other people who support the Stop Asian Hate Movement that would love to connect and work with you in the fight for change. Connecting with others sustains the movement because it creates a support system for you and your fellow activists – not to mention that it’s much more fun to collaborate with others. Start by joining communities such as DAY whose purpose is to connect and unify people fighting for change!
Sunal Fernando
Co-Director of Dear Asian Youth Prism
Sunal: By leading DAY Prism, Dear Asian Youth’s newest department that’s dedicated to LGBTQ+ activism, I’m able to advocate and showcase LGBTQ+ figures, collectives and communities through the many platforms of Dear Asian Youth.
Discovering a vast amount of youth organizations last year, I began to follow them, using their resources and news agencies to increase my knowledge regarding events and movements across the world. After a couple of months of expanding my knowledge, I decided to apply to Dear Asian Youth as a team member and now I’m here as a Director!
Sahil Jaiswal
Co-Director of Finance at Dear Asian Youth
Q: What are impactful ways one can take their activism off instagram and into the real world?
Sahil: If you have money, donate. If you have time, volunteer. Nonprofits have no shortage of funds and workers, and many of them offer a direct pipeline from their Instagram pages to legitimate action. Campaign offices too, are a good place to start. Just reach out, and on the other end, there’s always someone that’s happy to help.
Mya Sato
Co-Director of Social Media at Dear Asian Youth
Q: HOW DO YOU PRACTICE SELF CARE?
MYA: One way that I practice self-care is to read up on good news and development in the world! Being part of the activism scene is to also realize that progress is being made and to celebrate, as well as learn from every event.
There may be solutions in those communities that you wouldn’t know about if you don’t read up on them. Additionally, being able to connect with your loved ones and be reminded of your own emotional well-being is crucial to maintaining individual and community-based momentum and avoiding burnout.
Taking some time to reflect, exercise, engage in one of your hobbies, etc., is an effective way to destress and freshen up. It’s always good to pull back once in a while to take a good look at what you’re doing. A new angle is perhaps needed to solve or improve a certain aspect of your activism and work. Participating in someone else’s protest or event is also a way to show up and demonstrate solidarity as well as reconnecting with other people. Not everything has to be done by yourself, sometimes showing up and lending your energy is just as effective.
You can support Dear Asian Youth by following the latest on instagram or joining one of the events
➡️ The Dear Asian Youth Leadership Conference
