Celebrating the World Within Our City
Many people believe that the imprisonment of Japanese Americans in detention camps during World War II belongs to a distant past. Yet the Supreme Court case of Korematsu v. United States continues to shape how we understand civil liberties, racial profiling, and government power in times of crisis. What lessons does this landmark decision hold for our present moment?
Continue ReadingThe verdict shouldn't have surprised me, yet my heart aches. Writing this on my phone because the thoughts couldn't wait. How do we raise our children of color in this world? What conversations do we have with them? What do we tell ourselves when the system fails them?
Continue ReadingWhen my children were young, I refused to let them visit homes with firearms. It felt awkward asking, "Do you have guns in the house?" but I did it anyway. I even convinced a relative to remove their weapon before we'd visit for an extended stay. Curious young children, careless adults, deadly weapons—a combination I refused to accept. Now Michigan wants to bring guns into schools?
Continue ReadingImagination knows no boundaries on Halloween. Education has no barriers at the Natural History Museum. (My eight-year-old can only say one word about Chicago: "Sue.") Even weeks later, the memories of this day and the imagination it sparked continue to shield me from the hateful, divisive rhetoric swirling outside my door.
Continue ReadingNaturally, Thanksgiving isn't really about the dishes we prepare. As I shared with children during my recent talk on Asian harvest celebrations, it's truly about the people—all the family members and friends we call home. In this essential way, our diverse cultures share far more similarities than differences.
Continue ReadingI'm genuinely puzzled by cases like Abigail Fisher v. University of Texas currently before the Supreme Court. An average student, the university maintains she simply didn't meet their standards, yet she remains convinced that affirmative action and "less-qualified minorities" stole her spot. This case also draws Asian Americans into the debate. Many have written about the legal complexities, but I'm curious about the sense of entitlement that makes her so certain others are to blame for her rejection.
Continue ReadingAs Halloween approaches and I return home late from teaching, I find a different cast of characters celebrating through my house: Howl's Moving Castle, pirates battling ninjas, kung fu masters, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Steampunk, Gothic Lolitas, and more. A vibrant mix of cosplay and Halloween, the atmosphere is festive, the creativity inspiring, the details impressive. Last week, even my vintage prom and wedding dresses got the Steampunk treatment. "Don't you kids have homework?" And the soundtrack these past weeks? Psy's "Gangnam Style" with its infectious beat in all its many variations.
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