i guess we could have also named our blog . .

"dipped.in.[sriracha]sauce" too . .

but it's interesting. While maybe being mistaken as an "exotic" and imported sauce has helped sriracha sauce become popular upon non-asians . . it's actually a really Asian-American sauce.

Reminds me of a lot of other things/people in our community =)

"How to Get to College" Posters in Hmong and Vietnamese

There have been numerous occasions where I find myself asking why did I go to college at bougie-ass and hella exclusive Berkeley for college.

This is one of those times.

Don’t get me wrong.

I recognize the privilege I had to be able to go to Berkeley
I recognize the privilege I had to be able to afford to apply to the UC system and the time I had to write three essays for the application
I recognize the privilege I had to be able to take the SAT I, ACT, and SAT II
I recognize the privilege I had in being put into Seminar and the “College Track”
I recognize the privilege I had to have two parents who both full-time and oftentimes over time and weekends to make sure I didn’t have to work until my senior year in high school.

I recognize all these privileges and my Berkeley degree definitely has opened several doors for me.

However, there have been many times in which I find myself asking, not only why did I go to a UC Berkeley for college… but more importantly, why are there so few of ME here? Why was it so hard for ME and people like ME to get here? Is this university made for me? Who is this university made for?

When we chant, “Who’s University?” and respond with, “OUR UNIVERSITY”… are they listening?

Is it that we’re not chanting loud enough? Is it because we’re not chanting long enough?

I don’t think that’s the case at all.

Anyway, today, one of my co-workers sent this to me and I found myself asking that question, why did I go to college at bougie-ass and hella exclusive Berkeley for college.

I think this reminds of the Count Me In Campaign and the differences between the CSUs and UCs in California.

While the CSUs already had disaggregated data, it took a coalition of UC students to fight for disaggregated data. While framed as a campaign to create a more inclusive campus by allowing students already admitted to correctly identify themselves, the Count Me In Campaign had many other purposes such as being able to see more clearly who is applying to the UCs and who is GETTING IN to the UCs. This information would definitely be helpful for outreach purposes.

While similar in essence, these posters by the CSU about “How to Get into College” arguably brings this issue of inclusiveness it to the next level. While disaggregating admissions data and having “How to Get into College” posters are important because it recognize our communities and the diversity within the “AAPI” group… but I think these “How to Get into College” posters can also be seen as the CSU system taking an active role in not just counting but RECRUITING students from particular backgrounds too.

While the Count Me In Campaign told us, “Yes, you are a student here” and “Yes, you have the right to be counted”… these posters somewhat say, “Yes, you are a California” and “Yes, you have the right to go to this school too!”

Both are necessary and work hand in hand and it’s nice to see that CSU recognizes the Hmong community.

Now, let’s fight to get these posters in Khmer, Lao, and Mien too!

Then, let’s fight to get these posters for the UC system too!

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If you or someone you know would like to work on the campaign to advocate for these posters in more Southeast Asian languages, please contact us at fishsauce@googlegroups.com

May 2009: A Push for Immigration Reform

The New York Times reported that President Obama will finally make a push for comprehensive immigration reform this upcoming May. During the summer, work-groups comprising of policy-makers and immigration advocates will convene to discuss possible legislation to be introduced as early as this fall. The article mentions that Obama's call for immigration reform is a response to his campaign promise to the greater "Hispanic" community. Unfortunately, similar to most mainstream rhetoric used to describe the immigration "problem," the article fails to highlight national efforts to broaden the immigration debate. A debate that includes other ethnic communities impacted by America's broken immigration system. A debate that expands beyond the usual "he took my job" and "they don't pay taxes" argument. A debate that highlights the human aspect found at the root of all our immigrant and refugee journeys to America.

Congressman Gutierrez, Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Immigration Task Force, has been touring the country since December, visiting Latino-based churches in a strong effort to stir public discussion around the issue. Recently, Congressman Honda, Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, jointly organized an immigration event that brought in underrepresented voices to share their personal experiences with the immigration system.

For the first time ever, members from the Asian American Pacific Islander community walked on stage to tell America... "Yes, this is our issue too." One AAPI student shared a story about his friend who is an undocumented Cambodian student who recently graduated from college. Unfortunately, his friend is unable to use her college degree to further pursue her dreams of graduate school and a professional career.

She is a daughter of refugee parents, born in a Thai camp after the War in Southeast Asia. Her family escaped the Khmer Rouge, fleeing a genocide that killed an estimated 1.5 million people. They arrived here in America, but for some reason, they don't have any legal paperwork proving their status in America.

She grew up having to translate for her parents - not understanding why she had to learn how to navigate the American education system on her own. She grew up disconnected from her Khmer roots, feeling frustrated because her parents couldn't speak English like all the other parents. Despite her obstacles, she persevered and graduated from college with a degree in computer science. But now, too late, she realized that she can't go any further.

Without legal status, she'll face continuing struggles when applying for financial aid or for employment opportunities. But she's not alone.

About 40-44% of undocumented students in California are Asian. (We don't even know the break down of that statistic either.)

But most people are unaware of this fact. Despite the fear that plagues this issue, brave Asian American students have spoken out about their experiences in hopes of grasping attention of policy-makers...and the greater public.

This is why a complete overhaul of the current broken immigration system needs to happen today. Ideally, the DREAM Act would be included as one provision within a larger comprehensive immigration reform package. A package that rids this country of selfishness and resentment, one that opens the door (widely) to all immigrant and refugee peoples.