May 2022 NAAFA Newsletter |
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In Celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Month
by Tegan Lecheler and Marcy Cruz |
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May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. To our Asian and Pacific Islander community members, we honor you and past generations of Asian and Pacific Islanders who have made positive contributions to American history, laying the groundwork for future generations to continue their important work.
For our non-Asian and Pacific Islander community members, here are a few things you can do and/or read to support those who are:
- Recognize that the term "Asian American and Pacific Islander" includes over 50 countries and 100+ languages. Though the term "AAPI" is only four letters, it encompasses a wide variety of cultures, languages, dialects, belief systems, and traditions. From Samoan people to Cambodian folks, there are a vast array of cultures represented during the month of May and it's important to recognize just how diverse these ethnic groups are.
- Since 2020, anti-Asian hate and racism have significantly increased across the United States, reaching all-time highs in 2020, 2021, and 2022. If you are not an Asian person, you play a role in combating the violence this community has faced. Hold your friends and family accountable for any biased rhetoric they might use and encourage your inner circle to support Asian led organizations and mutual aid efforts. A list of memorial funds and organizations to support can be found here.
- Educate yourself on the ways that Asian and Pacific Islander land is still being colonized. The land of Hawaii is a Pacific Islander state that should be a sovereign nation state. Though the United States Congress has acknowledged that the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii was an illegal act, they have yet to give the land back to native Hawaiians. Read more about the Hawaiian Sovereignty Movement here.
- Read stories by Asian and Pacific Islander authors. For a list of books you might consider reading and/or listening to, check out this link.
- Stop using 'tiki culture' as a costume. While American culture has recently taken a moment to interrogate the racism inherent in certain team mascots, logos, statues, and costumes, that reckoning… "certainly hasn't included voices of Pacific Islanders, whose gods have been rendered into cocktail mugs and medallions and ancient design motifs turned into kitschy fabric for muumuus and cabana sets" (John Birdsall, 2019). Read more about why non-Pacific Islander people have to stop using tiki here.
- Follow and support Asian and Pacific Islander creators! There are endless amounts of Asian and Pacific Islander people creating content on social media! Here is a list of 8 plus size Asian and Pacific Islander creators to follow, and here is a list of fat Asian creators who will take your Instagram feed to the next level. It's so important to know the history, know and honor the present, and educate yourself so you can be a part of the change, not just this month but all year round.
The Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center has a virtual care package on their website here, which they describe as "cultural nutrients for times like this". This amazing online curation of poems, films, meditations, and other cultural works of arts are a great way to get started in your journey to educating yourself and honoring AAPI culture. They state on their website:
"At SmithsonianAPA, we think deeply about how to best show up during challenging periods. We always find the answer in our community.
Care Package is a collection of creative offerings by artists, writers, and scholars who we have collaborated with in recent years. Here, you will find a range of approaches to addressing uncertainty, anxiety, and grief through vision, reflection, and healing. Most have been exhibited in past programs, but have never been made widely accessible until now.
While this body of work may not hold the solutions for everything, we hope that it helps you find some calm amidst the chaos."
Stay tuned to our social media (@naafaofficial) this month to see spotlights on AAPI activists and creators, as well as webinars this month and features of those AAPI folks in fat lib whose work we support and who you should be supporting. And it doesn't stop there. Let's show up all year long to continue to honor AAPI voices because as the SmithsonianAPA eloquently stated, we must always find the answer in our community.
Tegan Lecheler is an organizer and policy nerd from Minneapolis, MN. Her work primarily centers around fat and anti-poverty organizing.
Marcy Cruz is an award-winning writer/author, educator and activist with 20 years of experience in the plus size fashion industry. She is also signed to State Management as an extended-sizes (4X+) fit model and is the content creator of the blog
Fearlessly Just Me
.
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Dances of Polynesia
Polynesia is a subregion of Oceania, made up of more than 1,000 islands scattered over the central and southern Pacific Ocean. We are going to enjoy a variety of dances from Polynesia to celebrate AAPI Heritage month. I love that the dances are inclusive. You will see people of all ages and sizes communicating with dance. This compilation was created by Kalani Mai Okalani (KMO), a YouTuber from New Zealand who celebrates "all things Pasifika."
youtube.com/watch?v=sOdM32wLwzQ |
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Health At Every Size and HAES are registered trademarks of the Association for Size Diversity and Health, and are used with permission.
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See you in August for Fat Liberation Month!
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Last year, we launched our first-ever Fat Liberation Month. This year, based on guidance from Board Member-at-large Elaine Lee, as well as suggestions from some of you, we're moving the celebration to August so we can put more focus on Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May. Stay tuned for Fat Liberation Month 2022 details coming soon. In the meantime, check out videos of last year's events on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/naafaofficial |
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Join Us at Fat Fridays Virtual Social Club! Event Is Free!
presented by NAAFA and hosted by Bree (@BreeIsHelpfulAF) |
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The Fat Fridays Social Club is held via Zoom and is an affinity space only for folx who identify as fat. (Ages 16+) Next gathering is 5/27, 5:30 - 7:30 PDT
Each month has a theme. The theme for May is #FatMovies. Here's what you can expect:
1. Introductions - Name, pronouns, location (learn the First Peoples of your location at native-land.ca)
2. Themed discussion about the Fat Movies
3. Themed game - Fat Movie-themed Et Cetera! (Winner will choose next month's theme!)
4. Open social time
Themed dress is totally encouraged! (But not required.)
You must RSVP at bit.ly/ff-may22 |
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Anti-Racism Resources - AAPI
compiled by Darliene Howell
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May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. In this edition of NAAFA's anti-racism resources, we focus on Asian American and Pacific Islanders: history of Asian Americans; contributions made; what each of us can do to break the cycle of racism and violence against our AAPI family, friends and neighbors.
History of Asian Americans
The First Asian American Settlement Was Established by Filipino Fishermen - History.com
The fishing village in marshlands of present-day Louisiana was settled by the so-called Manilamen as early as 1763.
Building the Transcontinental Railroad: How 20,000 Chinese Immigrants Made It Happen - History.com
At first railroad companies were reluctant to hire Chinese workers, but the immigrants soon proved to be vital.
Chinese Exclusion Act (1882) - National Archives
The Chinese Exclusion Act was approved on May 6, 1882. It was the first significant law restricting immigration into the United States.
What Was Life Like in Japanese American Internment Camps? - Britannica.com
Overview of the implementation of Executive Order 9066 ordering that all people of Japanese descent be taken into custody, surround them with troops, prevent them from buying land, and return them at the close of World War II.
Reflecting on the Japanese American internment 80 years after Executive Order 9066 - wbur.org
Here & Now; a short audio interview with the daughter of Fred Korematsu, the one man that chose to defy Executive Order 9066.
Contributions of Asian Americans
The Asian American Women Who Fought to Make Their Mark in WWII - History.com
They worked as pilots, translators, guerrilla fighters and more.
When 20,000 Asian Americans Demanded Garment Workers' Rights--And Won - History.com
The 1982 strike led by immigrant women earned better workplace conditions and benefits for New York City's garment workers.
8 Groundbreaking Contributions by Asian Americans Through History - History.com
From disease cures to influential tech to workers' rights, Asian American innovators have made huge impacts on people's lives.
What can I do?
Asian Americans Advancing Justice is tracking incidents and crimes, such as harassment and violence, to help educate us all about racism and xenophobia directed toward Asian Americans. Read the stories.
If you see something, say something! Report a hate incident - stopaapihate.org
Anti-racism resources to support Asian American, Pacific Islander community - nbcnews.com
Experts share resources, guidance, tools and more. |
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For historical perspective, here is NAAFA's 76th newsletter, from December 1986, presented here as part of the NAAFA Chronicles.
For more, check out the "Chronicles" page of NAAFA's website, https://naafa.org/chronicles
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Media and Research Roundup
by Bill and Terri Weitze
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April 2022: Various people chime in on body positivity and why it is beneficial and important. One obesity specialist is included to tell us "we all know" how dangerous being fat is.
https://abcnews.go.com/Lifestyle/video/benefits-criticism-body-positivity-movement-84346827
April 19, 2022: State troopers in Texas must achieve a certain waist circumference or face disciplinary action. The Texas Department of Public Safety claims this is for health and physical fitness; however, troopers who pass all the physical fitness tests but have too large of a waistline still face discipline.
https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/texas/texas-state-troopers-must-slim-down/285-8e65a9f1-35e2-45ef-a600-c197c23cda0e
April 20, 2022: A new study finds that there is no benefit to restricting eating to certain hours of the day.
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/20/health/time-restricted-diets.html
https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2114833
April 20, 2022: This CNN article explains why complimenting someone on weight loss isn't always welcome, and includes ways to handle receiving such "compliments".
https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/20/health/weight-loss-compliment-harm-wellness/index.html
April 20, 2022: Confirming that no food is junk food, this article discusses how creating food hierarchies is a way to categorize the people who eat by class, race and size.
https://www.bonappetit.com/story/stop-saying-junk
May 2022: The most recent issue of
Fat Studies is now available, focusing on Jews, Race and Fatness.
https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/ufts20/11/2?nav=tocList
May 2022: If you think that weighing children at school is not appropriate, please consider signing Miriam Nelson's petition to State policymakers.
https://chng.it/ShjgXnyCtq
May 1, 2022: Size inclusivity is coming to rings. A
New York Times article discusses sources for fashionable rings that come in larger sizes.
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/27/style/rings-fit-for-all-fingers.html
May 9, 2022: Lizzo's shapewear brand, Yitty, is not an unqualified success. The size 6X translates to a size 28 (instead of the usual size 32) excluding everyone over that size. Others say that the idea of shapewear is the antithesis of the body acceptance Lizzo expounds.
https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/lizzo-yitty-shapewear-body-positive-200637109.html
May 13, 2022: Zeke Sanchez has been diving since he was 8 years old. Now 14 years old, he is taking his skills to competitions and posting his videos online and he is doing it all in a fat body. Way to go Zeke!
https://local21news.com/news/offbeat/14-year-old-diver-redefining-body-image-on-social-media-tiktok-instagram-water-polo-diving-east-valley-dive-club-mesa-airzona-phoenix |
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Founded in 1969, NAAFA, the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance, is a non-profit human rights organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for fat people. NAAFA works to eliminate discrimination based on body size and provide fat people with the tools for self-empowerment through public education, advocacy, and member support.
Any products or services mentioned in articles in this newsletter are for information only and should not be considered endorsements by NAAFA.
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