Celebrating AANHPI Communities in May and Every Month After

I grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan. I currently attend school at Michigan State University in East Lansing.

I’ve known from a young age that gun violence is an issue in the United States. I have memories of participating in lockdown drills all the way back in elementary school—and every year since. 

The 2022 mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, is what started my journey in the gun violence prevention movement. My friend Selene and I organized a walkout in honor of the victims of the shooting in Uvalde. While organizing the walkout, we learned about Everytown for Gun Safety and Students Demand Action. 

Soon after, we started a chapter of Students Demand Action at our then-high school (and it is still going strong). One of the most memorable moments from this time was when I participated in a march calling for an assault weapons ban with the Moms Demand Action chapter in our area. This march was the first time I, and the other high school advocates I was working with, felt like we weren’t alone. I was—and still am—incredibly comforted by the knowledge that there is a large community of people fighting alongside us to achieve the same end goal of gun violence prevention. 

There is so much that motivates me to do this work, but it’s the stories of survivors and those impacted by gun violence that really keep me going. No one should have to fear for their lives when they go to school or the grocery store. Seeing the change that advocacy can make to keep those around me safe inspired me to continue my work in this space after high school.

When I was thinking about where to apply for college, it was during the COVID-19 pandemic—a time when hate crimes against Asian Americans were exponentially increasing. Hate crimes have impacted many historically marginalized groups in recent years, including Black and LGBTQ+ community members. In solidarity with historically marginalized communities that experience the ongoing threat of hate crimes, this work is personal and it is urgent. The increase in hate crimes against Asian Americans influenced both my advocacy and where I considered going to school. 

I ultimately decided to attend Michigan State University (MSU), where I joined its chapter of Students Demand Action when I got to college. I’m currently the chapter’s social media coordinator. I create social media posts with meeting and event reminders. I also attend various events on and off campus, and I help with anything else the group needs. 

At MSU, I decided to add an Asian Pacific American Studies minor. I hope this will help me get more involved in advocating for the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community in the coming years. My Chinese identity is something that is incredibly important to me. I am also an adoptee, which adds a layer to my identity as a Chinese American. Both parts of my identity are important; they allow me to connect with a large community and meet such amazing people who all share something so unique.  

To me, AANHPI Heritage Month is a time to embrace the culture, traditions, and history of the various Asian ethnicities in the United States. Everytown is marking AANHPI Heritage Month this year with the theme “Not a Monolith, Not Silent.” This theme is necessary to reflect on this month because every person in the AANHPI community has a different relationship with their ethnic background. Some people are much more open to sharing their experiences. Those outside of the community need to educate themselves and not expect our community to be solely responsible for teaching others about our history and our culture.

I particularly celebrate my own AANHPI identity during AANHPI Heritage Month. I eat certain foods and surround myself with other members of AANHPI communities. I also share my stories and experiences. I strive to have meaningful, open-ended conversations with others about what it is like to be living in America as an AANHPI individual at this particular time. I wish people would stop making assumptions about our communities based on different biases or stereotypes people have. AANHPI communities have so much to offer, and I want to do my part in celebrating that—both this May and every month after that.