This class is doing to me exactly what I wanted. It is opening my eyes, heart and mind.

My entire life I have turned a cold shoulder to Asian American authors, artists and film makers. For some reason I have watched thousands of movies, read hundreds of books and admired many a paintings (winters in Alaska are very long) but have not given a chance to those whose names I cannot pronounce. It really is a horrible thing to realize about oneself. So why have I turned my back on them?

In my hometown in Alaska, the majority of Asian Americans are seasonal cannery workers who stay in a separate side of town along with other J-1 Visa workers. Their dwellings are subpar and the people hardly interact with our community besides in passing at the grocery store. A couple cruise ships come in every summer full of Japanese travelers but the only time I interacted with them was when as a longshoreman on the docks unloading their luggage or in a restaurant as a busboy giving them water. Everyone in the restaurant industry knew they did not tip well and waiters battled over who would take their table.

When I joined the military at seventeen, I spent four years in service working alongside only one Asian American from Illinois, named Kasey Klein. He was/is a straight up badass; smart as an engineer, tough as a railroad worker and wise as an old sage. He was my team leader for a few months before he left for Special Forces. He still wears a green beret today.

After the military, I traveled to Thailand for a couple of months and fell in love with the people. But when I returned to  Alaska, I quickly realized the majority of Thai people own restaurants and there are not many. Asian Americans are rarely on city council or in political office. I cannot remember a single teacher. About eight years ago a man from Nepal named David Seaward ran for mayor in my town and defeated the long running mayor. Rumors were spread that all of the drunks had been bought drinks to vote for Seaward. After he won, more rumors were spread around those in city hall that he was slow minded and too dumb for office. I was a reporter at the time and interviewed him multiple times and actually became friends with him. I realized very quickly that he was not dumb or slow but slow to speak and wise with his words. I have been to Nepal, to his town actually– and I know that the people are not stupid but incredibly wise. But because he spoke different, looked different and thought different he was eventually run out of office and made out to be a fool. He still owns a house in Seward with a big cross on the front door but has moved to Anchorage to pursue politics.

To make a long story short and go full circle, in my 33 years on this planet my interactions with Asian American and/or Asiatic peoples has been very limited. This class is forcing me to read books and watch films I would have never been exposed to. I now realize that I am why Scarlet Johannson played Major instead of Constance Wu. I vow to follow Asian American intellectuals in the way I do other Americans. To support Asian American musicians, filmmakers, rappers, painters, actors, writers, politicians and artists. Because they are capable of so much more than cannery work.