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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 …