Week 2 was full of learning about the value and extent of authenticity and validity. Dr. Raphael Sonenshein, long time friend of CAUSE and the former executive director of CSULA's Pat Brown Institute for Public Affairs, shared a presentation that helped us dive deeper into the logic around building and sustaining relationships with other folks–constituents, friends, etc. Solidarity, a concept Raphe dramatically emphasizes in his work, grounds many of these relationships. Within Raphe’s framework of solidarity-based relationship-building, individuals can foster new means of support from those that may not particularly identify with them. For example, imagine you are in the position of a political candidate–someone new. Of course, you can flock to the support systems you already have daily: family, friends, and maybe even some kind neighbors. However, with percentages dictating victory, you cannot win a race based on those numbers alone. In a campaign, it might be easier to attract those with similar identities (e.g., race, queerness, ethnicity). At the same time, it is necessary to consider the extent and feasibility of attracting those not sharing those identities. Raphe’s emphasis on solidarity works well here. Even though I may not identify with you, I care about you. In a twisted way, this relationship reminds me of the growth of Republicanism and pro-Trump rhetoric in the Vietnamese-American community. Even though Trump is neither a Vietnamese individual nor an immigrant, his politics appeal to this community because he presents solidarity. Interestingly, this system works for both parties, at the grand presidential stage, and on small-scale levels. To sustain healthy friendships, you must make your care for others evident. I sincerely appreciated Raphe’s interest in our campaign and push for us to understand how we can engage with our constituents more effectively.
Dr. Raphael Sonenshein with the CLA cohort.
On Friday, we visited the National Center for the Preservation of Democracy (NCPD0 at the Japanese American National Museum (JANM). I enjoyed venturing around the exhibit and learning more about the histories of specific individuals during WWII. I focused on the journey of Hazel Ying Lee, the first Chinese American woman to join the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) during the war. As Asian American individuals, we are often exposed to tragic and complicated Asian American histories enveloped by narratives of exploitation. By solely sharing these stories, there is an inevitable sense of claiming exploitation and inferiority as ingrained–natural. Of course, these stories exhibited in the museum still detailed exploitative behaviors from the U.S. military upon non-white individuals. At the same time, I find it essential to recognize that individuals and stories like Hazel’s can represent roots of empowerment and agency. Hazel’s passion for aeronautics acted as a catalyst for her impressive work with the WASP. It is crucial not to rid Hazel of her agency. Like others, Hazel enjoyed moments of perseverance during hurtful moments of prejudice. There is context around these stories that we should be critical of. However, the sociology around dialectics pushes me to examine the narratives with care. This practice is oftentimes difficult as Asian American stories are often cycled through machines of erasure and manipulation. Each story tells a broader narrative about why it was presented that way. I appreciated the extreme thoughtfulness and critical lenses my peers applied to conversations about the exhibit. During these conversations, I can continually be inspired by and learn from them.
Intern Phong Nguyen at the National Center for the Preservation of Democracy (NCPD0 at the Japanese American National Museum.
After the museum, we were digitally visited by Dr. Sara Sadhwani for a presentation on API civic engagement. Her work was fascinating, diving into the importance of data disaggregation. By doing so, we can acknowledge the truths of certain political beliefs shared (or not) amongst Asian ethnic groups within the United States. One question that still lingers with me post Dr. Sadhwani’s presentation concerns utilizing these data sets. Of course, the data can be interpreted by many Asian American students and scholars. However, how accessible is the data on informing Asian households of their practices and trends in the political realm? For example, how can I make sense of these points to my Vietnamese parents? These datasets are very interesting because they always gauge data from those I am never close to. Of course, data sampling cannot account for everyone. However, I would definitely be interested in diving deeper into the step-by-step process of getting the data.
Interns Phong Nguyen, Olivia Diaz Anderson, and Angel Yuan.
Week 2 was fascinating, and I am excited to continue venturing into our communities and conversing with my peers.
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 Phong Nguyen, 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.