9

Thursday, May 31, 2018
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com MICHIGAN IN COLOR

Upperclass South Asian activism 

Representation 
in 
the 
media 
is 
fought 
for strongly by many 
Asians 
in 
America, 
especially Asians who 
are among those in the 
upper economic class of 
the country. From one 
perspective, 
it 
makes 
perfect 
sense 
why 
any 
underrepresented 
group would care so 
much about their role 
in media. Media has the 
largest impact on the 
way we think, whether 
we like this fact or not. 
We are constantly con-
suming, no matter what. 
When we take that small 
Instagram break while 
we’re 
studying, 
we’re 
being inundated with 
other people’s represen-
tations of themselves, 
and what people find 
the best. Similar pat-
terns can also be seen 
with even Facebook and 
Twitter.
So, of course, Asians 
care about how they’re 
represented in media. 
They’re not sex dolls, 
not 
fragile, 
not 
per-
fectly smart, not unsexy 
and do not smell bad. 
They’re not a monolith 
or 
a 
model 
minority 
and believe, rightfully 
so, that they have every 
right to be represent-
ed the same way white 

Americans are in West-
ern media.
This is a disclaimer. 
Of course, it is under-
standable 
and 
per-
fectly 
normal 
that 
Asian-Americans 
would like to see bet-
ter representation for 
themselves. 
Especially 
as they are born and 
raised 
as 
Americans, 
and because this is their 
country just as much as 
anyone else’s.
But why is this such a 
high priority in activism 
circles when it comes to 
Asians while there are 
still Asians who suffer 
from economic disem-
powerment, while there 
are still queer Asians?
Yes, 
Indians 
are 
Asians 
and 
have 
an 
incredibly high median 
income level — $100,000 
(according to the Pew 
Research Center). But 
this isn’t indicative of 
the state of all Asians. 
Bangladeshis 
have 
a 
median income of about 
$49,800, and Cambodi-
ans, Laotians, as well 
as Hmong people all 
have 
median 
incomes 
in similar ranges. These 
are two vastly different 
circumstances, and the 
circumstances 
reflect 
the different issues dif-
ferent groups have. It is 
clearly seen that there is 
a level of police violence 
associated with the lat-

ter groups that groups 
like Indians do not have 
to endure. Bangladeshis, 
Cambodians, 
Laotians 
and other Asian groups 
in similar class situa-
tions as Indians are not 
seen as anything close 
to the “model minority” 
by other Americans at 
all. They are demonized 
in America, seen as infe-
rior.
So yes, while I am 
sorry it was brutally 
painful for Indians in 
their 
mid-to-late 
20s 
who came from econom-
ic prosperity to grow up 
with Apu from the Simp-
sons being their biggest 
oppressor, this is not 
the case for many other 
Asians. 
 
Every 
time 
the same old and tired 
model 
minority 
story 
is brought back to the 
forefront in Asian activ-
ism, an erasure of other 
communities within the 
larger Asian race occurs 
and 
thus, 
minimizes 
their struggles.
It is crucial that Asians 
with 
class 
privilege 
interested in activism 
or social justice under-
stand the implications 
their class privilege has, 
as well as strive to bet-
ter not only their status 
in America but also the 
status of others — espe-
cially those who may not 
have the same economic 
power as them.

Why 
does 
the 
TV 
show “The Bold Type” 
mean everything to me? 
Because for once, a Mus-
lim woman is portrayed 
as a fierce, sexual, artis-
tic being. Representation 
matters. 
What do I have in 
common with “The Bold 
Type”?
I, too, am a proud, Mus-
lim woman who refuses to 
be oppressed by the sys-
tem. In “The Bold Type,” 
Adena is a “proud, Muslim 
lesbian” and an artist. She 
breaks every stereotype 
associated with Islam. 
She is open about her 
sexuality, dresses the way 
she wants and falls in love 
with a Black woman.
Adena also wears a 
hijab. When asked why, 
she says choosing to wear 
it makes her feel liberated. 
That’s what I want. I don’t 
wear a hijab or cover my 
hair. I want to, but on my 
own terms. Some people 
think the hijab and other 
modest Islamic clothing 
are oppressive. In some 
nations, there are laws 
that make that true, but 

in reality, the hijab sym-
bolizes different things 
for every woman who 
wears it. For me, it sym-
bolizes the strength and 
beauty of a woman. For 
me, it acknowledges that 
women are so beauti-
ful — so beautiful in fact, 
that not just any ordinary 
eyes are worthy of gazing. 
For me, it is a statement 
of feminism, fashion, and 
freedom. When I decide 
to start covering my hair, I 
want to do it because I feel 
empowered. Not because 
anyone told me I should or 
must. Not because it’s the 
proper thing for a Muslim 
woman to do. But because 
I love Allah and want to 
feel closer to Him.
When Adena is asked 
about why she’s lesbian, 
her answer has nothing 
to do with sexual desires. 
She says that she likes 
what’s in a woman’s heart.
At first, I thought this 
was widely applicable. 
That 
everyone 
should 
fall for what’s in some-
one’s heart. But now I see 
there’s much more to that. 
There’s something par-
ticularly amazing about 
women. We are expected 
to be and have been the 

backbone of society for 
most, if not all of time.
It’s hard to be a strong 
woman. Even harder to 
be a strong Black woman. 
Nearly impossible to be 
a strong Black, Muslim 
woman.
We have to deal with it 
all. Racism. Islamophobia. 
Sexism. It’s a never-end-
ing battle between what 
we want to be and what 
society thinks we are or 
should be.
That’s why “The Bold 
Type” means everything 
to me. Adena is a free spir-
it. She doesn’t care what 
anyone wants her to be or 
do. She follows her heart. 
The best part is that she 
acknowledges how imper-
fect she is. She admits to 
praying only sometimes, 
claiming that some days it 
feels more important than 
others 
and 
sometimes 
she’s just lazy.
I relate to Adena so 
much. She is an honest, 
imperfect portrayal of a 
Muslim woman. I too am 
not perfect, but Adena 
makes me proud to be 
exactly who I am.
Here’s to real represen-
tation.
Ramada Mubarak.

By HALIMAT OLANIYAN

MiC EDITOR 

By SWATHI KOMARIVELLI

MiC Contributor 

PHOTO COURTESY OF AUTHOR

 Here’s to the real representation 

By LARRY DAVIS

MiC EDITOR I Am 

I Am … What I Am … and can become, who I aspire to Be 
I am from an abandoned industrial city, where the smog clogs the lungs of those 
who cannot yet speak. Yet, the city is alive and well, or at least that’s how it appears 
to be …
I am, what I am… made in the image of the original being … I am a Black American, 
with West African and colonial roots. … Two worlds combined but suppressed to 
hide the true beauty and pain of one’s nature and roots …
I am from a community in which society labels me as a thug … but yet, in reality, 
my truth speaks volumes of my purpose, while my character speaks volumes of the 
communities in which I serve.
I am from a city that is similar to the abandoned, left-behind city of Detroit … yet 
my spirit lives on, just as the spirits of the residents of Detroit do.
I am the Change, that I aspire to see … 

