AANHPI Month 2025
As AANHPI Heritage Month begins, I find myself reflecting on a familiar pattern - the instinct to make ourselves small, to apologize for taking up space.
Growing up Asian American, I learned early on to soften my voice, to add "sorry" before speaking up, to minimize my presence to make others comfortable. It was a survival strategy passed down through generations.
Assimilation comes with privilege and a closer proximity to power, but it carries an immense toll. And ironically, it doesn't protect us.
Even as an adult who encourages others to be their most authentic selves and fights daily to legitimize marginalized voices, I sometimes struggle with the simple act of choosing a fast-food restaurant after a long workday. I often imagine how much time and energy I would reclaim if there were fewer barriers to expressing basic preferences.
But what if we stopped apologizing for simply existing? What if we allowed ourselves to be fully seen, heard, and celebrated?
Our heritage isn't something to be whispered about or hidden. It's vibrant stories of resilience, joy, and strength. It's the wisdom of our ancestors, the warmth of our family gatherings, the pride in our traditions.
This month, I'm making a conscious choice to stand tall, speak clearly, and celebrate who I am, unapologetically, because representation matters. Because our stories matter. Because WE matter.
To my fellow AANHPI community: You deserve to take up space. Your voice deserves to be heard. Your presence is a gift, not an inconvenience. Let us model a new way to understand our minority experience.
What parts of yourself have you been making small? How can you begin to reclaim your full presence? 🌸
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This quote comes from Tokyo Ever After by Emiko Jean - a young adult novel about “understanding yourself” — a way to “put your hands down in the earth and pull up roots.”
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