This week, CLA interns visited our Little Tokyo neighbor, The National Center for the Preservation of Democracy at the Japanese American National Museum. From the exhibit, a rich and thought-provoking discussion inspired me to take my new-found knowledge and explore Asian American identity in relation to American democracy.
At the exhibition Fighting for Democracy: Who is the “We” in “We, the People”?, seven trailblazing individuals were highlighted for their efforts during World War Two despite systemic and societal oppressions they faced. Going into the showcase, we were told to keep three things in mind:
We the people can shape democracy
I, too, can shape democracy
Those who struggle to be included in democracy can advocate for all
We followed these individuals through pre-war, mid-war, and post-war anecdotes. I specifically chose Domingo Los Baños, a Filipino veteran from Hawaii who became an educator, and Hazel Ying Lee, a Chinese-American member of the Women Air-force Service Pilots. Reading about both Domingo and Hazel’s life was inspiring and moving, as I could not help but think of the layers of oppression, discrimination, and trauma during their efforts to fight for their country.
CLA Intern Erika Au reading about Domingo Los Baños at the exhibition Fighting for Democracy: Who is the “We” in “We, the People”?.
In Domingo’s case, I was trying to understand the different perspectives and possibilities embroiled in deployment politics. I had the sneaking suspicion that Filipinx troops were excluded in European combat because they were deemed not ‘American’ enough to represent the U.S in the so-called main stage battles. This also, however, contradicted the exploitation and capitalization of black and brown bodies (such as other nations’ colonial subjects) and their involvement in the war. It made me consider what the fine line was between exclusion and inclusion for marginalized, non-white groups.
Hazel’s story was greatly touching because I could never fathom how scared and vulnerable she must have been in her sacrifices. This made me realize that if we think that society today is flawed and we feel as though AAPI mobility and representation are undervalued, then imagine how Domingo and Hazel must have felt during their time serving. To serve a country that does not serve you is a painful, noble, and overall unfortunate concept to grasp.
CLA Intern Erika Au sharing thoughts during the cohort’s visit to The National Center for the Preservation of Democracy.
The freedom to serve and the multiplicity of devotion demonstrate that ‘aliens’ were eager to serve but were initially denied because of their immigration status, signifying a disconnect between white American servitude and the reception of non-white devotion. This alludes to the criticism that Asian Americans were dispensable until bills legitimizing their status were passed out of convenience.
All in all, this exhibit forged harsh realizations and inspired critical thinking in my cohort members and me. The horrors of war layered with the AAPI experience convolute relationships between ‘self’ and ‘other’ even more. War is traumatic as is, but adding lenses of intersectionality in race, class, and gender results in a highly complex sense of identity.
The views and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the author and do not reflect the views or positions of CAUSE or the CAUSE network.
Written by Erika Au, Leadership Academy 2023 Intern.
The CAUSE Leadership Academy (CLA) for students is a nine-week, paid, internship program that prepares college undergraduates to lead and advocate for the Asian Pacific Islander community on their campuses and beyond.