Asian American and Pacific Islanders Heritage Month
It’s no easy task to craft a piece celebrating our Asian American and Pacific Islander friends and loved ones. There are thousands of books with hundreds of well-turned pages detailing the innumerable contributions that AAPI people have made to the world that barely even scratch the surface. Nevermind the ways that they change our lives for the better every single day on a personal level, and the vibrance and beauty they bring to our shared American culture.
Instead of attempting the impossible task of trying to encapsulate all our love and admiration for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, we decided it was best to let them speak for themselves! We sent out a few simple questions to anyone interested in participating in an effort to learn more about them and their individual heritage. So let’s hear from Jessica and Shan, two of our Account Coordinators, and Kristina our Director of Account Partnerships. Through their responses, may you learn a little bit that you may not have known before, and we hope you gain a greater appreciation in this Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
Instead of attempting the impossible task of trying to encapsulate all our love and admiration for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, we decided it was best to let them speak for themselves! We sent out a few simple questions to anyone interested in participating in an effort to learn more about them and their individual heritage. So let’s hear from Jessica and Shan, two of our Account Coordinators, and Kristina our Director of Account Partnerships. Through their responses, may you learn a little bit that you may not have known before, and we hope you gain a greater appreciation in this Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
Jessica Tran
Account Coordinator
What does being Asian mean to you?
Being Asian means it’s the first thing people notice about me. The second is being a woman. I think the term “Asian” can’t be generalized in such a way that lumps together a multitude of cultures and identities that makes up almost 60% of the global population. But overall, it’s part of my identity and makes me me.
What is your favorite cultural tradition?
Tết (Lunar New Year) is my favorite Vietnamese celebration that typically occurs at the beginning of the Spring season. It’s a time when our families gather together to enjoy great food, visit the temple to wish for blessings for the new year, and, my most favorite part, receive li xi (lucky money) from our older relatives.
What do you hope to see for the Asian community in coming years?
I hope to see more unity and acceptance on both sides of the aisle. Our older generations are also notoriously unaccepting of other cultures, and play into the idea of colorism. I hope others can see all of the amazing things we have to offer aside from our foods, anime, and K-Pop.
What is one activity or dish from the Asian side of your culture that you think everybody should try?
The first dish people always associate with Vietamese cuisine is pho, but they’re sleeping on the best food (I think) you could ever eat, and that’s Bánh Xèo (pronounced as “ban say-oh”): A savory Vietnamese crêpe made of rice flour and turmeric (which gives it the iconic yellow color), it’s crispy, golden brown crust with a chewy center filled with different meats–usually pork and shrimp. It’s wrapped in a crisp, fresh lettuce leaf, and addicting with each bite.
What is one thing you think everyone should know about being Asian in America?
As an Asian in America, we experience the opposite of what other POC go through and that’s positive stereotypes. Despite the word “positive” tacked on at the beginning, there’s nothing positive about it. These positive stereotypes pit us against other POC when we should all be helping each other, and place higher expectations on our shoulders, causing mental health issues within our community that often gets swept under the rug.
Anything else you’d like to share! Can be about anything!
I may be Vietnamese-American, but I identify as American first and foremost because I was born and raised here as a 2nd generation. I have a collection of cultural outfits from different ethnicities including mines, the ao dai, qipaos (Chinese), and a kimono (Japan), and I hope to add more to it in the future.
Kristina Doan
Director of Account Partnerships
What does being Asian mean to you?
Being Asian American to me meant I could never fit into the right group. I was either too American or too Asian to feel like I belonged. It was difficult for me growing up deciding how I wanted to identify myself. I tended to gravitate towards being more American when I was younger, and now I identify more with my Vietnamese heritage.
What is your favorite cultural tradition?
My favorite cultural tradition is getting to celebrate Chinese/Lunar New Year with my family and enjoying the many delicious Vietnamese cuisines my mother would always make.
What do you hope to see for the Asian community in coming years?
In recent events, the Asian community has been aggressively attacked and I hope to see the violence end, and our community finally get the respect and recognition we deserve in America.
What is one activity or dish from the Asian side of your culture that you think everybody should try?
Although there are lots of great Vietnamese dishes that I think everyone should try, I think a dish that I really enjoy that is not commonly known to many people is called Bánh bèo. It is normally served as an appetizer but can be a full meal if you eat enough of them. It is mainly made for special occasions or celebrations. There is a lovely restaurant in Houston, TX named Nam Giao that makes them very authentic and super delicious! If you are looking to try some without cooking it yourself, I highly recommend making a visit.
Shan Koay
Account Coordinator
What does being Asian mean to you?
This is still a hard one to answer! I had never thought about this prior to coming to America. Having spent the first 17 years of my life in Asia, being ‘Asian’ wasn’t one of my main identifiers – not something you think about when being surrounded by Asians. But here in the U.S, I realized that people saw me first as Asian and that really shifted my perspective of myself. I realized that people held certain assumptions about me and biases against me as well. It’s still difficult for me to fully answer what it means to be Asian, but here are a few things that define that for me: It means upholding cultural and family traditions, being respectful to my elders, showing love through everyday actions like cutting fruit or preparing comforting meals for others, working hard and being driven, making sacrifices for family, obsessing over food, having awesome hair, taking pride in my appearance, owning the ‘Asian squat’, looking younger than most my age, feeling super proud of my rich cultural heritage and ethnicity, learning to be OK with being a bit selfish sometimes, learning to deal with conflict, learning to stand up for myself and others, being resilient and facing struggles head on.
What is your favorite cultural tradition?
One of my favorite things about Malaysian culture is going to mamak. Mamak actually means ‘uncle’ in Tamil as mamaks are of Tamil Muslim origin who migrated from South India. When they migrated, they brought over their culture and food to Malaysia, adding to the melting pot of cultures we already have. There are ‘Mamak Stalls’ all over Malaysia, serving cheap and mouth-watering comfort food in a casual dining atmosphere. Mamak stalls are often the only places open super early and into the wee hours of the night – some even 24 hours. It’s become so popular that the phrase ‘Let’s go mamak’ has become a staple for Malaysians and is simply an invitation to go grab some food outdoors, hang out, and have a great time together. As Malaysians, food is a core part of our culture… So whenever I go home, I look forward to ‘going mamak’ with family and friends.
What do you hope to see for the Asian community in coming years?
Peace, pride, and representation.
Peace: Because of the hate, violence, and racism against AAPIs – our community is hurting.
Pride: Oftentimes as immigrants, we tend to suppress our cultures in order to ‘fit in’ or assimilate to ‘American’ culture so that we don’t stand out or get picked on. So, my wish is for more people of Asian ancestry to bring our rich cultures into the world proudly, adding to American culture.
Representation: Though we are seeing an increase in this, I want to see more! More female leaders in the space for younger generations to look up to, more AAPI representation in widespread mainstream media, and more AAPIs who are crushing it in business/life being showcased and recognized for their work, efforts, and contributions.
Representation: Though we are seeing an increase in this, I want to see more! More female leaders in the space for younger generations to look up to, more AAPI representation in widespread mainstream media, and more AAPIs who are crushing it in business/life being showcased and recognized for their work, efforts, and contributions.
What is one activity or dish from the Asian side of your culture that you think everybody should try?
Ikan Pari Bakar (Grilled Sting Ray) – This is wrapped in a banana leaf, covered in this savory masala of spices and chili sauce, and perfectly grilled. Before eating, quickly squeeze a bit of lime on it and eat it while it’s hot. Super tangy, savory, grilled, and flavorful.
What is one thing you think everyone should know about being Asian in America?
Not all Asians are the same – ask us about our culture/heritage (we’d be thrilled to share!) and don’t assume we know everything about every Asian culture. Also, AAPI’s – be proud of your heritage – don’t be apologetic about it, flaunt it, embrace it!
We hope you enjoyed getting to know our AAPI teammates. Without them, SalesLabX wouldn’t be nearly as far as it is now. Their tireless efforts have shaped our successes, and they inspire us to be our best every single day. Once AAPI month ends, that doesn’t mean the work is done. You should continue to shop Asian-owned businesses, you should continue to fight against the recent swell of violence targeting people of Asian descent, but most of all, you should endeavour to know more about the people you share the world with. Too often, our preconceived notions and prejudices are allowed to separate us from people who would otherwise enrich our everyday lives. Don’t let that happen to you. Reach out. Ask questions. Tell stories. Strive to understand. We all share this world, and the harder we work to live in it together, the brighter tomorrow will be for all of us.