Anthro Volume 3 Issue 3

TAKING A STAND pg. 15

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ANTHRO June 2021 Volume 3 Issue 3 Mission Statement The ultimate goal of Anthro Magazine, Paly’s social activism publication, is to create a platform and forum for students to express their opinions and voices. Social activism is bringing issues into the spotlight to spread awareness and create change in society. On this platform, we will promote unity, diversity, and respect. As a publication, we aim to be inclusive but do not tolerate hate speech of the targeting of individuals. We hope to highlight issues that we see in out community, create a safe place to discuss these issues, and to make sure that the student voices are heard.

Staff

Editors-in-Chief Ava Ramsdale Tyler Wang Managing Editors Ash Mehta Arati Periyannan Digital Managing Editor Gwyneth Wong Design Editor Arati Periyannan Features Editor Karrie Huang

From the Editors Dear Readers,

Photo Director Anya Lassila

As we wrap up the school year, Paly campus has come back to life as more and more students return to campus. With vaccines becoming Staff Writers accessible to a wide range of ages, Corie Jiang and Karlene Salas explore Josephine Andersen how heightened vaccine availability affects students.

Juliana Griswold These past months have also shed light on the hate crimes towards Anna Hickey the Asian American community, as highlighted throughout this issue. In a Corie Jiang feature by Michaela Seah, she interviews victims of these hate crimes, who Erin Kim talk about the hate crimes have changed them.

Jacquelyn Lai As the new Editor in Chiefs of Anthro, we are excited to be a part of Owen Longstreth this leadership team and bring new perspectives to the magazine. One Olga Muys aspect that we hope to revise is our focus on ethics,(you can find our new link to the National Scholastic Press Association’s statement of ethics Jonan Pho on our website) as that needs to become a priority for Anthro. In its Vol. Abhinav Ranganathan 3, Issue 2, Anthro Magazine failed to inform a student source about the William Rumelhart shifting focus of a story and failed to honor promises to the same source Karlene Salas to check for accuracy and seek consent before publishing. For this, the staff Michaela Seah apologizes to this student and its readers.

As we say farewell to our outgoing seniors, we want to thank them for Adviser all the work they have done for Anthro, and we wish them well wherever Paul Kandell their next step may be. We hope you enjoy Volume 3 Issue 3 of Anthro, —————————— and we look forward to next year!

Connect

— Ava Ramsdale and Tyler Wang 2

June 2021

@anthro.magazine @anthro_magazine issuu.com/anthro.magazine anthromagazine.org

IN THIS ISSUE 4

Incubator spotlight

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Shots, shots, shots

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Pride after quarantine

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Behind the mask

11 Microaggressions 12

Recall ruminations

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Activist answers

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Asian America 2021

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Fighting for equality

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Baby steps toward progress

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Paint and a problem

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Dancing with the devil

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Being a pundit on campus

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Fairness in fantasy

Activist answers pg. 14

COVID-19 Photos Precautions In all photo shoots, Photo Direction Anya Lassila and other staff writers wore a mask and adhered to all social distancing guidelines.

Letters to the Editors The staff welcomes letters to the editors that reserves the right to edit all submissions for length,, grammar, potential libel, invasion of privacy and obscenity. Send all letters to anthromagazine.paly@gmail.com or to 50 Embarcadero Road Palo Alto, CA 94301.

Printing & Distribution Anthro is printed by Folger Graphics in Hayward, California. The Palo Parent Teacher Association mails Anthro to every student’s home. All Anthro work is available at anthromagazine.org.

Publication Policy Anthro, a social activism magazine published by students in Palo Alto High School Magazine Incubator class, is a designated limited open forum for student expression and discussion of issue of concern to its readership.

Anthro has distributed to its readers and the student body at no cost.

Advertising The staff publishes advertisements with signed contracts providing they are not deemed by the staff inappropriate for the magazine’s audience. For more information about advertising with Anthro, please email us at anthromagazine.paly@gmail.com or through our adviser at 650-329-3837 for more information.

On the Cover

Writer Michaela Seah reports on the experiences of three people who’s lives have been impacted by the increase of Asian hate crimes in her story, “Asian America,” on page 15. Cover by Michaela Seah

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Design by OLGA MUYS and JACQUELYN LAI

INCUBATOR SPOTLIGHT P

alo Alto High School’s Incubator Journalism class currently holds three publications: Anthro Magazine, KPLY and Ink. Anthro Magazine compiled short descriptions of the work that KPLY and Ink. have been working on this quarter, to give a taste of what our class has been doing. You can expect to find all these podcasts up on the KPLY Spotify and Soundcloud by the first week of April.

LISTEN ON SPOTIFY KPLY Paly Radio

KPLY

LISTEN ON SOUNDCLOUD KPLY Paly Radio

Community: The Asian American Experience

by Ash Mehta and Arati Periyannan

Inspired by the recent rise in Asian American hate crimes, and the increase in people speaking out against anti-Asian American racism, Ash and Arati discuss students’ personal experiences as well as talking about how Asian hate is not new.

Intended for anyone who wants to learn more about Asian American students’ experiences, or who wants to feel less alone in their struggles.

“In America there’s this stereotype… that Asian people are always foreign or foreigners, immigrants, et cetera. Which obviously isn’t true, but it then perpetuates this idea that if you’re Asian, you’re not truly American.”

Art: Arati Periyannan

Subculture: Thrifting

by Olga Muys and Michaela Seah

Through the Subculture series, hosts Olga and Michaela dive into the histories, meanings, complexities and issues within Internet niches and aesthetics. In the fourth episode of the series, they turn their focus to the complicated nature of thrifting’s recent rise in popularity.

“It’s great that more people are shopping in a more sustainable way, but the issue comes when that’s at the expense of people who actually need to shop from thrift stores.”

Art: Michaela Seah

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Step Left: #StopAsianHate ... with Cops?

by Michaela Seah

Host Michaela Seah sits down with Victoria Law, Chinese American, prison abolitionist and author to talk about why the police can’t and won’t #StopAsianHate

“We have all been bred and conditioned to think that police are safety...It takes a lot to recondition your mind to say ‘no, actually there are other forms of safety that will make us all more safe’.”

Art: Michaela Seah

Debatable: Cancel Culture

by Ava Ramsdale and Anna Hickey Hosts Ava Ramsdale and Anna Hickey sit down with two Paly sophomores to discuss cancel culture and how it has grown in today’s world. Take an in-depth look at how cancel culture has made its way into the real world and how political opinions factor in to it. Listen in as the interviewees discuss all things cancel culture.

“I think it’s important to recognize that [cancel culture] doesn’t necessarily change their opinion”

Biden’s Foreign Policy

by Olga Muys

Host Olga Muys sits down with two Paly students to debate recent foreign policy developments for the United States, from Biden’s response to the flare in violence between Israel and Palestine to the degradation of the United State’s relations with Russia. After, she speaks with John B. Dunlop, an expert on contemporary Russian politics.

INK.

Editors-in-chief: Abhinav Ranganathan and William Rumelhart The central mission of Ink. is to create a space for emerging student writers at Palo Alto High School to share their work with others. Our expanded second issue includes 14 fantastic contributions from student writers, each accompanied by a student graphic. We hope you enjoy this issue!

“I think that the United States current response is wanting to have it all ways and no ways.

All ways in that they want to be talking with everyone, no ways in that they don’t want to be seen taking sides. ” Art: Palina Kuzmina

EXPANDED SECOND EDITION OUT NOW! Email literarymagazineink@gmail.com for information and to ask about submitting content.

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Shots, shots, shots

Text by KARLENE SALAS and CORIE JIANG Art by ARATI PERIYANNAN

Vaccine distribution and equity in Santa Clara County

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ila Nag remembers bolting upright from her bed the night she found out about the approval of the Pfizer vaccine in a post online.

“I was relieved,” said Nag, a Palo Alto High School junior. “I know it’s obviously hard to create a vaccine for a global pandemic, but I thought it was really exciting.”

The finalization of the COVID vaccines late last year meant that quarantiners like Nag worldwide could breathe a sigh of relief. Although problems have arisen along the way, with companies like Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson supplying hospitals and vaccination centers countrywide, many hope that the vaccine will mean a turn for the better.

“I was thrilled,” said Helen Benedetti, a charge nurse for a Stanford vaccination clinic in Redwood city. “I know some people were hesitant at first. But I volunteered to vaccinate at Stanford even before they had the clinics opened for the public.”

Like many healthcare workers, Benedetti’s days at the vaccination clinic have been busy.

“Originally, we started out about 400 [people] a day. Now we’re up to 1200 a day,” Benedetti said.

The number of people scheduling appointments has risen as vaccine requirements have dropped. Previously limited to healthcare workers and seniors 65 and up, the most recent county update on vaccination eligibility requirements says that anyone over 12 are now eligible for the vaccine.

Senior Sabrina Chan got her first dose as soon as it was available through the Food and Agriculture vaccine allotments, regulations that define who is allowed to get the vaccine as requirements change. She works

at a boba shop, so much of her job means As a frontline worker, she was in the For many in Palo Alto the numbers interacting with customers and fellow group most outraged, which was resolved on the COVID death counts seem to be workers, making immunization a must. by a public apology and a peripheral concern, “Since I’m in contact with so many a change to vaccination but the impact on those people on a day to day basis, I really want- policy from Stanford. “I always tell them numbers in the commued to make sure that I was safe,” Chan However, for Benedetti, that the vaccine nity cannot be undersaid. “I’ve been following the news since she thought that a few stated. the vaccines were introduced in Decem- days’ delay was not a is very important.

“I think people ber, so I wasn’t really scared to take it.” big deal. have gotten numb,” Not every reaction Chan is not alone in her newfound “We know that Benedetti said. “It’s a confidence. Senior Jack Compton feels there’s a lot of us that is going to happen number, it’s not the lady the same way after his own vaccination. work at Stanford,” Ben- to you, and you that has three small kids “I wanted to get the vaccine so I can edetti said. “There’s a and couldn’t survive it.” be safer since I have my parents at that lot of us, and yes, the just have to look at Benedetti’s first age where they have more risk of dying algorithm failed but we what’s going on.” priority is getting the from COVID,” Compton said. Though it will all get our vaccines. vaccine out to as many hasn’t been long since getting his shot, he We just need to be a litpeople as she can. Now — Rosario Andales, nurse has already expressed increased feelings tle bit more patient.” that priority vaccinaof security when going out.

Concerns about the vaccination pro- tions are finished, immunizing the larger While the vaccine comes as a source cess in Santa Clara county have contin- population seems to be a goal that will of relief for many, information on poten- ued to persist on a smaller scale. come sooner rather than later. Her views tial side effects from the COVID vaccine “We do have a Home Health Division are shared by many Palo Alto residents as has struggled to be made that’s going out to deliver well. public knowledge. Alvaccines to people,” Ben“The best way to get out of this panthough medical profes- “I wanted to get edetti said. “I think we demic is to get the vaccine,” Chan said, sionals have done their the vaccine so I can do a lot more going “Vaccine hesitancy is real, and it’s underbest to appropriately inout and about to areas standable. However, this COVID vaccine form their patients, prob- can be safer since where it’s harder to find will truly save your life.” lems still persist. p eople, I have my parents “I have family memwhich is bers that don’t want the at that age where what Stanvaccine because they’re they have more ford’s doafraid of getting side efing now.” fects,” said Rosario An- risk of dying from dales, a vaccinator at COVID.” Bena Stanford vaccination edetti said clinic in San Jose. “I alshe — Jack Compton, senior that ways tell them that the hopes that vaccine is very important. … Not every now that vaccine distribureaction is going to happen to you, and tion is more generalized, you just have to look at what’s going on.” local hospitals can afford Concerns about the vaccines are not to do more for harder hit limited to just long and short term effects. communities.

Since their release in December, multiple More than anyone, protests have occurred across the county healthcare workers can see calling attention to inconsistencies in the the impacts of COVID. vaccine distribution. One protest caught “I’ve had people sit the attention of major media outlets na- in my chair for vaccinationwide, as residents of Stanford staged a tion and I can tell they’re Please wear a mask demonstration over being almost entirely nervous,” Benedetti said. in public area s left out of the first round of vaccinations. “And I’ll ask what’s going “My first thought was that it was un- on? They’ll say, well, I lost fair, because as health care workers we three of my siblings to should be given the vaccine first,” An- COVID and I just want to dales said. get the vaccine.”

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Text by CORIE JIANG and JONAN PHO Art by ARATI PERIYANNAN

Pride after quarantine

How students and teachers celebrate the LGBT+ community this month

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an Francisco’s annual Pride parade is known for drawing large crowds of LGBTQ+ people and allies from all around the world, with an estimated 100,000 attendees in the most recent San Francisco Pride in 2019, according to The Daily Californian. This year, however, these numbers are likely to significantly shrink due to COVID-19 restrictions.

The pandemic last year caused the cancellation of all in-person Pride events, but many anticipate the celebration’s return this year. Historically, the San Francisco Pride parade includes a march followed by two days of further festivities. Several additional marches would be spread throughout the rest of the month representing different parts of the LGBTQ+ community.

This year, the San Francisco Pride organizers have announced

some scattered events throughout the month in place of the typical parades and marches.

In a press release on March 24, Peter-Astrid Kane, communications manager for the San Francisco LGBTQ+ Pride celebration committee, announced that plans for 2021 Pride would be modified to be more of an expo, with more scattered events, including movie nights on June 11 and June 12 in Oracle Park.

“A natural extension of Frameline and SF Pride’s decades-long, mutually advantageous relationship, this socially distanced and ticketed event (subject to state-mandated capacity limits) is further strengthened by a partnership with Giants Enterprises and support from the City and County of San Francisco.”

Kane writes, in the most recent update on May 11.

In the release, the movie shown on June 11 is announced as the film adap-

NEW YORK PRIDE — 2019NewYorkPrideparadeattendeesmarchdownthestreetwavingrainbowflags.PhotobyAshMehta tation of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Tony Award-winning musical, “In the Heights,” directed by Jon M. Chu. The second movie is yet to be decided as of May 11, but ticket prices for “In the Heights” are already out, as well as further details on the event itself.

Even with the reassurance that the events will be socially distanced and in accordance to safety protocols, some students remain cautious.

“For me, it [attending Pride] was an incredible experience to do for free, so it depends on how many people are vaccinated and how safe they can make it,” Palo Alto High School senior Edie Gollub said.

Many students echo Gollub’s thoughts, recalling their enjoyment of past Prides but remaining realistic about their expectations of the coming events.

“I will be vaccinated by then, but COVID concerns and all the people can

be very socially draining,” senior Atticus Scherer said.

When asked about whether they would attend future events when COVID was not such a concern, both seemed to agree on one thing.

“The summer after 2021 I will definitely go to Pride,” Scherer said. “It’s important that we have it and people have a place to feel welcomed in public.”

Of course, showing up in person for Pride celebrations is not an annual ritual for all people. Many choose to stay local during June and party with more personalized celebrations.

“My push during Pride on a personal note is that I blast my social media feed with all kinds of Pride messages and informational things to educate people,” chemistry teacher Aparna Sankararaman said. “You will probably see me wearing my Converse Pride sneakers the entire month of June.”

For some people, expressing themselves through other means, as Sankararaman does, is the preferred way to celebrate themselves rather than showing up at larger scale events like marches.

“I know that not all people like to go out there and do the most at all times,” Scherer said. “If they don’t want to go, you know what, being outside is scary. I think we all learned that.”

For him, even without going to Pride, the little things people do — wearing rainbows, meeting safely with friends and family, posting on social media — are just as valid.

“I mean, I’m not the same as the guy rollerblading down the street [in Pride], butt-naked, but I can see the kind of confidence and self-awareness that those people have,” Scherer said, “I can say those people are happy with who they are, and that reassures me and gives me pride in who I am and who I can turn out to be.”

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*Anthro is publishing this column anonymously at the request of the writer, a student at Palo Alto High School.

Behind the mask

Hiding my true identity as a queer Asian American

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n Asian culture, you’re taught to respect and never disagree with your elders. I respected them, in my own non-traditional way. In conversation-turned-arguments about “controversial” topics with my parents, I always said something, while also trying to be discreet about it and not out myself. However, in the year I’ve spent at home, I’ve learned that it’s better to give in to the argument and let them have their way — for now.

Throughout my life, I have tried to have conversations about difficult topics — Black Lives Matter, misinformation, sexuality, gender, and much more. Even in hypotheticals, my parents were visually uncomfortable with queer people, and the thought that their children wouldn’t be straight was too difficult to even think about.

However, in recent years — as I saw more of the world — I finally felt okay with my sexuality. I am still figuring out my label, or if I even need a label, but I was okay with the fact that I liked both boys and girls.

Today, my parents’ comfort with freely expressing their discomfort for queer people is higher than ever. Every time it comes up, there’s always some passing judgement about queer people being “unnatural.”

I can’t explain to them why I’m crying when I talk about how someone’s sexual orientation shouldn’t matter. I can’t explain to them how much it hurts me to know that they’ll never meet my significant other if I bring home someone of my gender. I can’t explain to them that their open discomfort with queer people prevents me from being my whole self.

So I don’t.

In the past year of being stuck at home, I’ve learned that it’s okay not to educate your family members. It’s okay to put yourself first. It’s okay to not engage with ignorant comments if they hurt you.

As a first-generation Asian American, I know it’s difficult to change the older generation’s views. Instead of trying to change the past, I urge you, my peers, to educate yourselves — not just about queer topics, but all “controversial” topics. The last generation strove for tolerance, let’s strive for acceptance.

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Design by JACQUELYN LAI Art by ESTHER LI

Text by KARLENE SALAS

Faces of Us

My experiences as an Asian American

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xcuse me, can we have some- Asian population—6.5 million of us—acThough many would say that they one help us please?” my tita says cording to the World Population Review. are surprised about the recent Asian hate to a retail associate at a jewelry Unfortunately, I did not completely crimes in areas with large Asian populastore polishing bracelets. The escape the racist treatments by moving. tions, anti-Asian sentiment has existed for worker puts down her tools, looks up at us At a restaurant, a very long time. up and down, and sighs. a waiter was trying to In fact, accord“I’m busy,” she says and goes to the light up birthday can- “Prejudice against ing to a LA times artiback of the store. A few minutes later, a dles for our table. After Asians in California cle, prejudice against mother and a daughter comes into the a few failed attempts, in California dates back more than Asians store. The same worker who claimed to the waiter asks us if dates back more than be busy immediately greets them and any of us had a lighter, 150 years.”

150 years. Thankfully, cheerfully asks them if they needed some which none of us did. the difference between assistance.

He laughs and says that it’s impossible then and now is that people are starting to “Excuse me,” my tita says again after since we’re Asian and all Asian people fight against it. the worker is done helping the other cus- smoke. He waited for us to laugh and joke Scrolling through social media and tomers. However, she isn’t able to finish with him but when we didn’t, he left to ask news outlets, we see many, just like me, her sentence before the worker disappears someone else for a lighter. who are finally sharing their experiences. to the back again. I was confused and When the bill came, the waiter was In a Guardian article, an internationdid not realize until a while later that she starting to explain how the restaurant’s al student from Thailand named Natty had likely ignored us because we weren’t tablets work but then stopped to say Jumreornvuong shared her experience of white.

“You’re Asian—you’re supposed to be being dragged across the ground and spat That was my first encounter with mi- smart. You can figure it out.” on. croaggressions. But not my last.

Needless to say, that waiter did not Since her attack last February, she Having lived in North Dakota from get a very good tip. wrote an op-ed about her experiences and the ages of 12 to 15, I’ve faced my fair Another experience I had recently at rallied other students at her school to shed share of racism. It shocked me as I’d nev- work: I reminded a little boy to wear his light on Asian discrimination. er been treated differmask. He starts to re“It’s still all new to me, activism,” ently for being Asian fuse but his sister whis- Jumreornvuong said in the article, “[Asian before. I used to think “She had likely ignored pers to him, albeit very Americans] are not really taught to speak that I was being treat- us because we weren’t loudly, that he should out.” ed differently by those listen to what I say Seeing people like Jumreornvuong, white.” around me because since he might catch who bravely speak up about their expethey weren’t used to the “Asian virus”. riences despite their upbringing, gives me Asian people as, according to the World Although the experiences that I tell hope that more people will be encouraged Population Review, almost 87% of the now may not seem significant, tolerating to do the same. population in the state are white and a casual racism and microaggressions can Though not everyone has to write measly 1.45% are Asian. and does lead to bigger events. an op-ed or start rallies against Asian disSo, when I heard that we were going It is without doubt that the reports in crimination, simply starting the converto move to California, I was hopeful that anti-Asian hate crimes have gone up, but sation and bringing light into our experithings were going to be different. Califor- these attacks did not start with the pan- ences as Asian Americans is a small yet nia, especially the Bay Area, has a large demic. good way to make a difference.

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Text by ANNA HICKEY and GWYNETH WONG

Recall Ruminations

Students’ opinions on the push to recall Governor Newsom.

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overnor Gavin Newsom is also against the recall.

H. Cox (R), Brian Domingo (R), Kevin has been under fire from “The recall is an effort by the radi- Faulconer (R), and Doug Ose (R). many Californians for his re- cal right wing and extremely conservative Despite the large battleground, none sponse to Covid-19. In fact, a business interests to get rid of a governor of these candidates appeal to Norton, petition was created by some of the public who is sometimes hostile to them, and partly because of their ties to the Repubto recall him from office. Recently, it has sometimes is at least receptive to their op- lican Party. gained enough signatures to put his recall ponents,” Ghosh said.

“From what I know right now, I don’t on the ballot.

Sophomore Rebecca Helft has not think I would support any of them over According to a UC Berkeley Institute developed an opinion on the issue yet.

Newsom,” Norton said. “My political of Governmental “When it comes views are more in line with those of the Studies poll that was “The recall is an effort by to state-mandated Democratic Party than those of the Reco-sponsored by the policies and how publican Party.” the radical right wing L.A. Times in May, the government reGhosh agrees with Norton that New36 percent of those and extremely conservasponded to COVID, som is the most fitting for the position. In surveyed would vote I think California addition, he argues that the other canditive business interests to to recall Newsom did a pretty excellent dates will not act in the best interest for and 52 percent of get rid of a governor who job … so … I think the people of California. those would vote no. the government un“All of these replacement candidates is sometimes hostile to Fifteen percent are der his [Newsom’s] are people who either espouse really far still unsure. leadership did ex- right views or have a track record in govthem.”

These results recellent,” Helft said. ernment of being just run of the mill Reflect the feelings of — Rohin Ghosh, senior “However I think, publicans, and who do not govern in the California voters, but going to the French best interests of marginalized communiwhat do Palo Alto Laundry during one ties, but who govern in the best interests High School students, including some of those weeks where it was really import- of wealthy white residents and big businew voters, think about the upcoming gu- ant that everyone stayed home is ... kind nesses,” Ghosh said. “I think all of them bernatorial election? of ethically wrong. I are bad.” don’t think that nec“From what I know right Support for Newsom essarily means he’s Will Newsom be Considering that the majority of the a bad leader but it’s now, I don’t think I would recalled?

Paly student population is liberal, it is un- definitely something it is support any -of them over not Although surprising that most students oppose the that isn’t okay and clear how all recall effort. he should have to Newsom,” students personally “I do not support this push to recall have some consefeel about the recall him because it’s unnecessary,” Paly senior quences for it.”

— Ben Norton, senior effort, they then preBen Norton said. “He’s done a pretty dicted how the pubgood job of managing an unprecedented The Battleground lic will vote. situation and the reason that many of the A variety of other candidates have “I think that Gavin Newsom will stay people who signed the petition did was thrown their hats into the ring, most of governor,” Helft said. because … people are reacting, instead of whom are affiliated with the Republican Norton agrees, but believes that the thinking and then responding.”

Party. governor needs to be cautious.

Rohin Ghosh, Paly senior and legOne of the more prominent candi“I do not think that he is going to islative director of the California High dates is Caitlyn Jenner, former Olympic get recalled, unless he makes some big School Democrats, the official student runner and reality television star. mistakes between now and the election,” wing of the California Democratic Party, Others in the running include John Norton said.

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Design by JACQUELYN LAI

VAN VIEWPOINT. A bumper sticker that declares “Recall Gavin Newsom” is displayed on the van of a Palo High School student. Photo by Anya Lassila.

Senior Ben Norton ruminates about the upcoming California gubernatorial election. “The mistakes that Gavin Newsom has made were due to a lack of experience handling a pandemic,” Norton said. Photo

by Gray Norton.

Senior Rohin Ghosh stands proudly before his wall of political posters. “I think all of them [all candidates] show the necessity of making sure the governor does not get recalled, even if we think he needed to get a much better job,” Ghosh said. Photo by Rohin Ghosh.

Sophomore Rebecca Helft on the upcoming election to recall California Governor Gavin Newsom. “I think he’s [Newsom’s] done really well in the sense of COVID vaccine distribution,” Helft said. Photo by Andrea Helft.

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Activist AnText by JACQUELYN LAI

Using her voice to dispel anti-Asian hate

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ophomore Johannah Seah, Palo Alto High School incoming student body president for the 2021-2022 school year, is outspoken on racism against Asian Americans. Seah spoke on March 28 at a “Stop AAPI Hate” rally at Palo Alto City Hall and gave a similar speech again on May 2 as a part of City Council member Greg Tanaka’s “8 by 8” campaign. Anthro sat down with Seah to talk about the rallies and her views on hate crimes against Asian Americans.

Can you explain how you got involved in the Stop AAPI Hate rally on March 28? What was your motivation in attending and speaking at this event?

My ASB advisor, Mr. [Greer] Stone told us about a protest that was happening on the weekend. I’ve always wanted to go to an Anti-A.A.P.I. hate protest. I wanted to express my feelings and also express the steps that we need to take.

I also wanted to share a message with people, especially with younger children, that it [racism] is more than just love or hate.

I wish I knew that when I was younger, because my perspective changed so drastically. I wanted to write a speech that would center around moving forward in a way that’s productive instead of just love or hate, or just wishing and being idealistic.

Have you or your family ever faced racism?

I know my parents and sister have because they were out and this man wasn’t wearing a mask and treated my parents and my sister like they had COVID-19 because they were Asian.

While this wasn’t a very specific instance of discrimination, one narrative that I have been told my whole life is to be very quiet or to be not as sensitive, just suck it up, and keep going.

Asian people, especially Asian girls are taught to be very docile or quiet or silent, and not really speak up and make a commotion. But again, I’m a very loud person, I really like to speak up, I’m very confrontational. If there’s a problem, I want to address it right here right now.

Many Asian Americans are taught to

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be quiet and because [of that] especially there aren’t a lot of Asian Americans in politics, or there aren’t a lot of Asians that vote or a lot of Asians that go to political rallies.

What is your message to others who want to speak out about this issue?

Caring is a good first step. It’s sometimes hard to empathize especially if it [the issue] doesn’t specifically affect you.

But, empathizing, understanding and caring about these issues are important steps as well as learning about it because having sufficient information will always be more powerful to you.

You always need an education and information so you know what you’re speaking for and what you’re speaking against. Speaking out can look different in many ways. It can be orally speaking out or on social media, or just with your friends. It’s really just educating, having the passion and commitment to it, and sticking to it.

What do you think people should take away from attending the protests?

What we really need is for people who attend the protest to understand that it isn’t a performative thing, and it isn’t a one time thing where you just go to a protest — good, you’ve done your work.

It’s actually something that continues, onwards, and that has to be done daily. It has to be done effectively.

In that sense, that was my message that people continue to do this in the future, because… individual apathy is also what is important to address. Not saying that racism can be solved by individual action because it [racism] is very systemic,

STOP ASIAN HATE. Megaphone in hand, Johannah Seah, speaks with passion to her fellow protesters while marching towards Palo Alto City Hall during the “8 by 8 Stop Asian Hate” rally on May 2. Photo by Michaela Seah.

but in general, societal apathy is what needs to be addressed.

When laws legislature, governments, people are apathetic towards violence towards Asian Americans or oppression, that leads to a lack of legislation, a lack of effective solutions and a lack of transparency, etc. because it really just takes care of people who are getting hurt and it takes passion and action dismantling systems of oppression, and a lot of it isn’t through police action.

It isn’t through what we think would work, but it’s through community grassroots organizations, rising up together and putting in that type of service to help people and having solutions that are preventative for the future.

Text and design by MICHAELA SEAH Photos by MONTHANUS RATANAPAKDEE, MICHAELA SEAH, EDDIE WONG AND BRIAN YUEN

ASIAN AMERICA:

A GRIEVING DAUGHTER. A VETERAN ACTIVIST. A PHOTOJOURNALIST. A SERIES OF PROFILES FOLLOWING THE INCREASE OF ANTI-ASIAN HATE CRIMES. anthromagazine.org

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MONTHANUS RATANAPAKDEE

I

first met Monthanus Ratanapakdee on a hot afternoon during a Bay Area Stop AAPI Hate protest in March. She carried a poster of a man I’ve seen on countless Instagram infographics: her father, Vicha Ratanapakdee, who was violently pushed onto the concrete and killed in January while on his morning stroll.

Monthanus Ratanapakdee works for the San Francisco Unified School District and is a wife and mother of two sons.

She immigrated from Thailand in the 1990s to finish her masters at UC Berkeley. She came to love America because everyone was supposed to be equal.

That has since changed, she said.

“Every day when I hear the news about Asian hate I drive past the spot where my father [went] down. I feel really sorrowful and my heart is so painful,” Ratanapakdee said. “I still have nightmares. I miss him every day. … My son right now is in 5th grade.

I always thought that he would see my son graduate college. … I always talk to him and say ‘You will stay here 10 more years, you will see my son graduate’. ...

That morning he shouldn’t have seen Mr. Watson. He never came back again.”

Ever since her father passed away, Ratanapakdee has been going to Stop AAPI Hate rallies weekly, telling the story of her father. How the killer pushed him, went back to his car and then took a picture of the dead body.

“I think it was a hate crime,” Ratanapakdee said. “But they did not book him as a hate crime. … The [district attorney], Chesa Boudin, said Mr. Watson had a bad day and a temper tantrum.

Is this [an] acceptable term for any victim and family? [The DA’s] duty is to help the victim to bring fair justice to the victim and their family, not to help the murderer.”

Since January the number of hate crimes has spiked, as reported by CNN. However, racism against Asian Americans predates the former president and Covid-19. This is just the continuation of Asian Americans being scapegoated and

outcast.

“I feel like we are treated differently and the solution has not been solved yet.”

Ratanapakdee said. “Right now no one will help. The governor has not even addressed anything.”

Ratanapakdee feels that by speaking at rallies she will help spread awareness to keep the community safe, emphasizing the need to report incidents to the police, despite cultural and language barriers.

Although Ratanapakdee still carries the weight of losing her father and of the rising attacks against her community, she has hope in the movement.

“I think our Asian community is strong now.

Everyone changed and stood up and spoke up now.

We are united together and we can make a change, I believe that.

We will not be silent any more.”

EDDIE WONG

T

he term “Asian American” was born in 1968 during the height of the civil rights movement and was established through the various publications produced during that time.

One of these publications was called East Wind, a revolutionary magazine that featured writing from all around the nation.

I first heard of Eddie Wong through this magazine, which he decided to revive digitally in 2018 from his Oakland home.

“I was just so frustrated by what was going on.” Wong said. “I was so angry about Trump and now that I’m retired I decided to do something. And for me that’s writing.”

Wong was especially active in the movement for Ethnic Studies at the University of California Los Angeles, establishing non-profits such as the “Center of Asian

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American Media,” making multiple films highlighting the Asian American community, and even campaigning for Jesse Jackson, the first viable African American presidential candidate and a leader during the civil rights movement.

“There has always been this history of Asians being foreigners and not belonging.”

Wong said. “It’s all wrapped in to the fact that we live in a white supremacist culture thats never valued Black lives, Brown lives, Native Americans or Asains. Anyone who is not WASP [White, Anglo-Saxon Protestants].”

While many of the key demands from the Civil Rights Movement, such as racial equality, are still present in today’s Stop Asian Hate movement, Wong says that the movements are different.

“We were fighting for things like ethnic

studies and social programs for the community.” Wong said. “You know back in the 60s and 70s we were like less than 1% of the population. Today we are 22 million nationally. …

The other difference is that many more people are getting involved today because they are horrified by what’s happening because they are targeted,” Wong says that there is an added element in how Americans portray their political enemies and how that affects the Asian Community.

“I feel like this period of hatred is going to last a long time. It partially has to do with the fact that China is perceived as an enemy. … Because people have this knee jerk reaction to China and by extension anyone who

BRIAN CHEUNG

O

n most days, Brain Cheung is consumed by his job at the local CBS station, KPIX5, as a photojournalist. By chance, I caught him on the job filming the “8by8 Stop AAPI Hate” protest in Palo Alto in May. I remember asking him if pursuing journalism was a good idea, and he flatout asked “Well, do you believe in the First Amendment?” Then he proceeded to make a joke about how any prospective journalist better truly believe in the freedom of the press because the pay was terrible.

So when I asked about his philosophy on journalism, I wasn’t surprised when he responded with; “Be fair, be accurate, believe in the Constitution.” Cheung said. “[my parents] loved America and that formed why I do what I do. ...Our job is to stand up for the little guy who doesn’t have a voice ... in this sense for the AAPI community. For the longest time we haven’t had a voice, or at least it gets buried in all these stereotypes.”

A multi-Emmy-award winning photographer, Cheung reflected on how covering this story has impacted him after

looks Chinese. It takes so much education for people to realize that ‘No that’s China doing it.’ ... We don’t think we should be attacked because of what they perceive China to be.”

When asked if he was hopeful for the future of the movement, Wong said that he was feeling hopeful, although “very cautiously.”

“What I’m hopeful about is that there is an upsurge of activity around young people. There is still a gap between the generations; the older activists are not communicating with the younger activists and there are a lot of lessons to be shared and learned.”

And while Wong has faith in the younger generation, real change is an uphill battle that takes time.

a phone conversation with his mom in which she wanted to change her dentist simply because she was now afraid to walk in Oakland Chinatown.

“When you work in the media, you always think you’re kind of invincible,” Cheung said. “You have to do your job, and your job is to be objective and you pull yourself away from the story. But talking to my mom it kind of struck home.” “[When] covering these rallies, there seems to be a lot more bonding going on between the people I interview ...I can reach back and relate to my parents having fear and being able to ask the appropriate questions to relay to the public who may not understand.”

Cheung admits that the media has not been doing a perfect job in covering the anti-Asian hate crimes. For example, how most national news channels hesitated to label the Atlanta shooting, in which six of the eight killed were Asian women, as a hate crime.

“I don’t know if they have enough diversity in management but I know that’s

“A lot of community groups have called for more resources because the source of a lot of the tension is poor communities impacting each other.”

Wong said. “The infrastructure for public and health really needs to be built up in this country to make a dent on that.”

“There’s so many resources in this society, [we] really [are] a wealthy country,” Wong said.

“But that doesn’t get shared equally and that’s the problem. We are always fighting each other for crumbs. That leaves a lot of tension across races and across classes.

Until we provide a society where people feel human we will be plagued with these problems. It begins with asking the questions why we have this system and what we can change about it.”

changing,” Cheung said. “But are we changing fast enough? Time will tell. I remember our station ran some video, and I saw that they were using a video in an insensitive way. They said they would look into it and they did. I think they need diverse staff members that understand what it’s like to be part of a different culture.”

I asked Cheung if he was hopeful in the movement, and he was honest in his doubts.

“I’ve done this for a long, long time and I can sort of see patterns,” Cheung said. “One thing I always ask my interviewees is how to keep the momentum going. Because you have these protests and then they go away. And sometimes you don’t see change. … In our line of work we become very jaded because we see so many negative things, and for our survival we put up a wall. I hope there will be change. I sort of leave it to all the activists to make the change and that’s why I’ll cover what they have to say.”

80S HAIR. Eddie Wong while he was editor at East Wind spor ting long hair.

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FIGHTING FOR Stanford professor, students break down Asian American advocacy

“G

president Donald Trump has helped fuel this bias and incite violence against the Asian American community during his presidency by using derogatory language, according to Gow. “The former president and many Republican leaders kind of began using terms like the “China Virus”... racializing the virus which all kind of increases this animosity towards Asian Americans and leads to a climate in which we have increasing amounts of Asian violence,” Gow said.

Many of these stereotypes originated in the Bay Area and later spread nationwide, Gow said, adding: “The Bay Area was for a long time the center of Asian American communities,” Gow said.

Asian American activists have tried for many decades to combat these stereotypes.

Finally, it seems that their work is being acknowledged.

o back to your country” is a phrase commonly hurled at those in the Asian American community.

It seems that even in 2021, Asian Americans are still struggling to establish themselves as Americans and find acceptance.

American Studies Professor William Gow from Stanford goes more into depth on this issue.

“There’s been this history where despite how long Asian Americans may have been here — they may have been here for Asian American three, four, five generations — they get activism The Asian treated as if they’re not American compart of the United States “A lot of these munity has strugor don’t belong here,” Gow [stereotypes] gled for decades to said. shed light on the Gow traces the foreign- start in the Bay racism they face in er label back to earlier in Area because the the United States. the history of Asian Amer“Since the ican presence in this coun- Bay Area was for 19th century, try. a long time the there has been a “There’s a prominent large contingent 19th century stereotype center of Asian of Asian Amerthat the Chinese immiAmerican commuican activists,” grants ate rats,” Gow said.

Gow said.

“In the “There’s all kinds of refer- nities.”

1960s, the foundences in newspapers with — William Gow, professor of ing of the field of White reporters and artists American Studies at Stanford Asian American kind of drawing pictures studies and ethnic of Chinese eating rats and studies came out of the work of writing about Chinese restaurants serving the Asian American student radrats.” icals at San Francisco State [UniThis stereotype of the perpetual forversity] and UC Berkeley.” eigner is still in existence today. Former

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More recently, there has been a sizable number of young Asian American activists who want to continue this work. Gow has high hopes for the new generation of activists to build off of the work of their predecessors.

“The younger generation is just better poised … to take up this issue,” Gow said.

“I’ve interacted with my students and with younger folks and I definitely feel like… this is a generation that… is more open to embracing activism.”

It is clear that young activists today are determined to make a difference in their community.

The rapidly growing movement called “Stop Asian and Pacific Islander Hate” involves people of all ages who are intolerant of racism towards the Asian American community.

Model minority myth Historically, the work of Asian American activists has been mostly overlooked by the public in part because of the model minority myth, Gow said.

The model minority myth argues that because the Asian American community is among the most successful and prosperous minority groups, the community does not face racism or adversity compared to the other minority groups.

“There’s this long kind of history of Asian American radicalism, but it’s been washed aside or hidden in part because it doesn’t conform to the model minority stereotype,” Gow said.

This myth discounts the challenges Asian Americans have faced to become successful, argues Emily Yun, Palo Alto High School junior and co-president of

EQUALITY

the school’s Asian Student Union.

“The model minority creates a misconception that Asian Americans can’t be victims of racism because many of them achieve great success,” Yun said. “But it isn’t that Asian Americans are successful without having to face racism, it is that Asian Americans are successful despite having to face racism.”

Cody Hmelar, senior and co-president of the Asian Student Union, agrees with Yun. “People outside of our communities are thinking they [Asian Americans] are very smart, very wealthy, very successful,” Hmelar said.

This history of activism goes against the very idea that all Asians are subservient and quiet, Gow said.

“That history pushes back very firmly against this idea that Asian Americans are model minorities who just kind of like to sit quietly and submissively and don’t face racism or when they do face racism don’t say anything,” Gow said.

Text by JACQUELYN LAI and GWYNETH WONG Design by JULIANA GRISWOLD Art by LAUREN YAN

HISTORY OF ANTI-ASIAN SENTIMENT Here is a timeline of major historical events that involve Asian American discrimination.

•

Chinese Exclusion Act enacted in 1882. This law barred Chinese workers from immigrating to the US and is the foundation upon which our modern immigration system is built. Prior to this, the US essentially had no federal immigration statutes, Gow said.

•

1900 San Francisco Plague Outbreak. According to the Washington Post, San Francisco had a bubonic plague outbreak in 1900. The virus was transmitted by a ship from Australia, but the Chinese American community was blamed instead. Chinatown was surrounded by police and only White residents were allowed to pass and leave. Chinese Americans’ houses were subject to searches and destruction.

•

Gentlemen’s Agreement of 1907. This agreement with Japan regulated the entry of Japanese workers into the United States, according to Gow.

•

Asiatic Barred Zone of 1917. According to Immigration to the United States, this act was “the firstfederallawtoimposeageneralrestrictiononimmigrationintheformofali it “broadened restrictions on the immigration of Asians and persons deemed ‘undesirable’ and provided tough enforcement provisions.”

•

1982 Killing of Vincent Chen. Vincent Chen was a Chinese American who was attacked in Detroit by two white men because they thought he was Japanese American, according to Gow. “There was a lot of frustration among white workers against Japanese automakers, so the two men took their frustrations out on Chen and killed him,” Gow said.

•

2020 Coronavirus is labeled the “China Virus.” Gow said,“Many Republican leaders began using terms like the so-called China virus … racializing the virus, which increases this animosity towards Asian Americans and leads to a climate in which we have increasing amounts of Asian violence.”

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Art by ARATI PERIYANNAN

Text by Guest Writer KEN OGATA

Baby steps towards progress

Why defunding is necessary for our communities

D

uring the civil rights cy of police departments, and lead to movement of the 1960s, civ- long-term benefits for the local communiil rights activist Malcolm X ty in the process. once proclaimed: “I will nevNeedless to say, the defunding moveer say that progress is being made. If you ment has received a substantial amount stick a knife in my back nine inches and of criticism from both sides of the politipull it out six inches, there’s no progress. If cal spectrum. While many misunderstand you pull it all the way out that’s not prog- the goals of the defunding movement, ress. Progress is healing the would that the others oppose it on the grounds that it is blow made. And they haven’t even pulled a superficial solution which will end up the knife out, much less making cities less safe. the wound.”

Anxiety surroundAs witnessed by mil- “If you stick a knife ing defunding is unlions of Americans, the in my back nine derstandable.

After police killing of George all, “defunding” is a Floyd last year reveals inches and pull frightening word at first the knife that Malcolm it out six inches, glance.

However, we X mentioned over half a need to consider the century ago still remains there’s no progress.” woeful inadequacies deeply lodged in the present in the cur—­Malcolm X rent form of the back of America.

Although calls for police force. justice among protestors were answered An FBI report from 2017 to a limited extent through the guilty ver- revealed roughly 38% of murdict in the Chauvin trial, it still goes to ders, 66% of rapes, 70% of show how far we still are from a morally robberies and 47% of aggrajust society. Even in 2021, we are only at vated assaults go uncleared the stage of police officers being held par- yearly. Overburdened by tially accountable for their actions. paperwork, documentaIn this moment, we as a nation should tion and other responsirealize that we have the means—and most bilities, police officers are importantly the momentum—to not just often overworked, adding to add footnotes, but radical changes that al- the inefficiency of the police ter the fundamental structure of our trou- force. bled police forces. It’s time for a radical The police are not domakeover of the police, and it starts with ing a fantastic job at keeping defunding. our cities safe.

Defunding the police does not necesFor decades, the nation’s sarily refer to an abolition of the police solution to crime has been to force; instead, the defunding movement annually increase police budfocuses on reallocating a portion of police gets. Despite this, a 60-year funding to other social programs. period analysis by the WashDefunding is not a punitive measure ington Post concluded that with the purpose of punishing police offi- increased funding for a police cers. In fact, defunding is the opposite. If force does not significantly reimplemented correctly, defunding would duce crime in any measure. reduce the various responsibilities of the Another problem arispolice, which would increase the efficien-

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es: police often being first responders to a mental health crisis. Due to insufficient training in mental health, police often find themselves resorting to violence when confronting an individual suffering from mental illness. According to a study by the Treatment Advocacy Center, individuals with untreated mental health issues are 16 times more likely to be killed during a police encounter than ordinary civilians.

By diverting funding to other social programs, the responsibilities of the, allowing the police to focus more on solving violent crimes. In short, police will have more time and energy to keep local communities safe.

The reallocation of funds could also assist the severely underfunded mental health programs in the United States.

Defunding police would not only expand access to health care for millions of Americans, but also pave the way for the creation of specialized mental health crisis response teams composed of specially trained police officers and mental health professionals. The creation of such crisis response teams would reduce the violent interactions between police and those suffering from undiagnosed mental illness.

Although it may seem radical, a healthy amount of experimentation is necessary in order for a society to progress. Defunding and the creation of new crisis response teams are certainly far-reaching reforms, but if we really wish to change the current state of the police force, we cannot shy away from new ideas.

Mural by Teen Arts Council

Text by KARRIE HUANG and ARATI PERIYANNAN Design and photos by ARATI PERIYANNAN

PAINT AND A PROBLEM “Dear admins, we’re done with the tea video.”

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P

ainted hands clutch signs ident said. reading ‘“No” Doesn’t Mean Instead of going for shock value, they Convince Me’ and ‘Stand by Sur- emphasize supporting survivors, said Paly vivors’ on a sexual assault mural junior Kyla Schwarzbach, who helped splashed across the windows of Mitchell plan and paint the mural.

Park Library. Designed by Paly junior Al“I ended up choosing to incorporate ison Xiong, the mural aimed to increase a pair of hands in an uplifting pose as the awareness around sexual violence, and focal point of the mural, and also numersupport survivors. Messages on the signs ous other hands below it holding signs were inspired by the volunteers who in a show of support,” Xiong said. The helped paint. flowers, added for compositional interest, “I wanted to reflect in the mural symbolize growth, she added. ‘bold, calming, present, and a statement’,” Many participants helped paint the Xiong said. mural, not only from Besides those an- “We weren’t really TAC but other orgachoring ideas, the Teen nizations such as Paly Arts Council, which censoring ourselves RISE and Gunn Hands sponsored the mural, when we definitely had Off Title IX. also had to consider the “People would location in the mural’s something to say.” walk by while we were design: a very public painting it, and they — Emma Cudahy, Paly senior, Teen were just so intrigued, location.

Arts Council like what is this thing?

“We wanted to co-president What is going on?,” make sure our message was getting across and senior Jonathan Sneh, that we weren’t really censoring ourselves publicity head for Teen Arts Council said. when we definitely had something to say,” “I could see in people’s eyes and their Paly senior Emma Cudahy, TAC co-pres- words and stuff that like ‘A’ they were hap-

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py that there was art in the community.

And then ‘B’ that not only was this art, it was art with a purpose, with a clear purpose of highlighting the resiliency of survivors of sexual assault and making sure that we spread our message that we don’t — we can’t live in a culture where this stuff continues to happen,” Sneh said.

The mural was also important because even in Palo Alto, there’s still an underlying culture of disrespecting sexual assault survivors and the idea of consent, Cudahy said.

“Working to de-stigmatize the whole topic, especially in schools, is really important,” she said.

Amid recent demands for change, and the sharing of stories on social media, many students have called for their voices to be acted upon.

“It’s all well and good to listen to what we have to say, but people in positions of power have to really be willing to

meet with teens and respect the fact that ations, consent is a life skill you need to they have a better understanding of the have,” Schwarzbach said. “It needs to be situation because a conversation we’re they’re in it,” Schwarz- “It was art with a having with elementabach said. “It’s just ry schoolers just about unacceptable that you purpose, with a clear like ‘Hey, this is your don’t really don’t real- purpose of highlighting body. No one gets to ly understand the contouch it unless you let cept of consent when the resiliency of them.’ I feel like that you’re in high school, survivors of sexual doesn’t need to be an or you only first learn uncomfortable conabout consent when assault and making versation to have. It’s you’re in eighth grade sure that we spread our basic autonomy, and it or seventh grade, beshouldn’t be so politicause it’s considered message.” cized.” taboo or dirty.”

The occasional Consent in sexual — Jonathan Sneh, Paly senior; publicity assembly on the safety head for Teen Arts Council of sending nude phocontexts is taught at the middle school level tos, the importance of at Palo Alto Unified School District, but consent, and other related topics are also parents can choose to opt their children mandatory for middle school and high out of the 12-session program, which has school students at PAUSD. also been criticized both for being age-inHowever, some say these talks are inappropriate and also for being overly shal- effective, or even counterproductive. low. However, only 1 percent of students “Dear administrators, we’re done did opt out in 2017 at middle schools JLS with the tea video,” Schwarzbach said, and Fletcher, the only data available. referencing a video explaining consent “Consent is not only in sexual situ- by comparing it to offering someone tea.

“We don’t need to see it anymore. Don’t talk to us like we’re five years old.”

The tea video is just one of the many examples of the content shown during school assemblies. PAUSD also hires professionals to give one-off talks in middle and high schools.

“I feel like Paly administration really wants to say like ‘Oh, look, we put on this assembly’ that no one took seriously and just kind of led to a lot of offensive comments and things that probably made a lot of sexual assault survivors feel very uncomfortable,” Cudahy said.

What steps should PAUSD take, then? Would they even be allowed to?

Would it even make a difference?

“A big way to start is having students talk to students. Like high schoolers going to middle school to talk about it,” Schwarzbach suggested. “If you were able to get another kid to be talking to you about this, I think that would add a level of seriousness and just like ‘Oh my God, they’re cool. They’re older than me.

And they care about this. Maybe I need to take a second and listen to what they have to say.”

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Text by OWEN LONGSTRETH, Art and design by ARATI PERIYANNAN

Dancing with the devil Lil Nas X’s new song “Montero” sparks controversy.

T

wo minutes into “Montero (Call Me By Your Name),” Lil Nas X slides down a stripper pole into Hell, before giving the devil a lap dance. It is a song and music video that is either a strong example of LGBTQ+ people embracing their identity, or an immoral performance with Satanist undertones — and overtones too.

Either way, in a nation embroiled in culture wars, the release of “Montero” has proven to be the latest in a series of conflicts pitting religious conservatives against the LGBTQ+ community and those with more progressive social views.

Palo Alto High School senior Aaron Villanueva — who identifies as an Apostolic Christian — is not pleased with the new video. “To me, [Montero] is distasteful,” Villanueva said. “I think at the end of the day, it gives the LGBTQ+ community a bad image to a lot of people who hold their Christian faith really close.”

Villanueva also expressed concern about children watching the “Montero” video because of the popularity of “Old Town Road” — Lil Nas X’s claim to fame — but he did note that: “At the end of the day, parents have to monitor what their kids are watching.”

A Paly student who

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spoke with Anthro on the condition of The Global Vision Bible Church in Juanonymity disagrees with the backlash liet, Tennessee, a supporter of former and thinks the song has a positive mes- president Donald Trump, described the sage to LGBTQ+ youth. song as “a bunch of devil-worshipping “The end of the video is him wicked nonsense” to his congregation on saying that he’s here, he’s proud, and that March 28, according to a video posted homophobia will no longer affect him,” on Twitter by Right Wing Watch — a the student stated in group that monitors an email to Anthro on the American far-right.

“He’s here, he’s proud, May 1.

Lil Nas X In particular, has doubled down on and that homophobia his song following its Lil Nas X killing the Devil in the end of the will no longer affect release. On March 25, video is significant, acwhen the song was rehim." cording to the student. leased, he also tweet “It shows ed out a letter to his queer kids that they can reach a point in 14-year-old self where he talked about their lives where they are accepting of keeping his sexuality a secret. “I know themselves and it shows them that they we promised to die with this secret, but are powerful,” the student stated. it [Montero] will open doors for so many This theme of acceptance also other queer people to simply exist” he resonated with the student on a person- stated. al level. “I know that for me personally, While most of the controversy coming to terms with my gender iden- around “Montero” has died down, it has tity took many years, and I can’t imag- proven to be a particularly divisive epine what that must be like if you’re in an isode in the culture wars, and one that unaccepting environment,” the student has led to more digging in on each side. stated.

But for Lil Nas X, the takeaway is clear.

Beyond Paly, the controver- “They will say I’m pushing an agenda,” sy around the song falls along similar he said in the aforementioned letter. “But boundaries to pre- the truth is, I am. The agenda to make vious social issues. people stay the f--- out of other people’s Pastor Greg lives.”

Locke of

Being a pundit on campus

Text by OWEN LONGSTRETH Art and design by ARATI PERIYANNAN

How to argue about politics and how to absolutely nail it

I

t was the day of an important Palo Alto City Council meeting — when the councilors would decide whether Foothills Park should be opened to the public. I spent upwards of an hour waiting for my slot. Two precious minutes to speak my mind. When the opportunity finally arrived, I used all two minutes to bring up the history of redlining and systemic racism before finishing with emphatically saying the park should be opened.

It is a routine I have before and after, speaking at school board and City Council meetings, on top of discussing and arguing about politics in many other settings. Throughout my time here, I have essentially become known as the guy that won’t stop arguing inscessantly.

As I near the end of my days as a Viking, I want to take time to share some of the lessons that I have learned throughout my four years here.

One of my first forays into this field was as a sophomore, when I interviewed Alexandr Ionov from the Anti-Globalisation Movement of Russia as part of an Anthro story I was writing on Calexit — a California secessionist movement that sprung up around the 2016 presidential election.

After emailing with him for a few weeks, we finally set a time and I sat down to interview him. Because of the peculiar nature of the person I was interviewing, a Beginning Journalism class sat in and watch on that interview as well. So not only was I interviewing

someone who would be a key ments to a crowd of source in my story, but a class of largely modermore than 20 people was going to ate parent judges watch me. taught me the im It is here where I want to share portance of positioning my ideas to be my first lesson: the importance of reanything but radical. I devoted a whole maining calm. It takes courage to have paragraph of my speech to essentially a difficult conversation, but over the just explaining the differences in healthyears I’ve found this process gets easier care costs around the world for this sole with research, and just being ready for purpose. I still did not do super well anything. with this speech, — I ad-libbed most of

In the case of my interview it — but at least now I know that it was with Ionov, I spent a lot of time the not because my message was extreme. night before reading up on his organi The final lesson I have to share zation and the work that is the importance he does. I was thinking of having thick It takes courage of him as one of Putin’s skin. Arguing can to have a difficult many henchmen but make people abrawhen I sat down to talk conversation, but over sive, but dealing to him, I felt comfortable with this is part of enough having an honest the years I’ve found the game. I have conversation with a man this process gets easier been called a cockwho — between many roach, told I was with research anti-Western diatribes naive, unpatriotic, — told me that he takes anti-American, or money from the Russian government. best of all, that I am going to hell for

One of the other lessons I have what I think. It stings, but this is part of learned is the importance of taking the experience and what is equally imyour audience into consideration. This portant is to keep going after moments country is pretty moderate and at times like these, or to just laugh it off. it is easy to come across as radical. Be My time as a Viking is coming cause of this, putting the right spin on to a close, but it is my hope that these any discussion is key. lessons will help more people become

Throughout my high school amateur pundits, as I have during my career I was a member of the speech time here. With great power comes team and because one of my topics was great responsibility. Hopefully people , I have learned firsthand how to take use these skills for good. this into account. Speaking at tourna-

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June 2021

Dive into these summer reads that will leave you thinking

Fairness in fantasy

Text by KARRIE HUANG Art by ARATI PERIYANNAN 26

“Legend” by Marie Lu (Trilogy) Rating: 5/5 Maturity: 1/5 Genre: Dystopian fiction Soundtrack: “A World Alone”

by Lorde / “Viva La Vida” by Coldplay / “I Know Places” by Taylor Swift

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een prodigy June, a soldier, hunts wanted criminal Day. “Legend” delivers both perspectives seamlessly. Day’s life on the streets meshes with the perception June brings - ‘The shutters on that building’s third floor window must’ve been scavenged from a rich sector. Solid cherrywood.’ (133).

June leads a cushy life in the upper class, working for the Republic. Day scrounges for food, regularly sabotaging the Republic. Later, they meet a new country, the Colonies. Instead of an authoritarian government, the Colonies are run by corporations. Both sides of these conflicts are supported with logical reasoning. It’s up to the reader to pick a side. Topics of eugenics and LGBT+ also appear.

“The Thousandth Floor” by Katharine McGee (Trilogy) Rating: 5/5 Maturity: 2/5 Genre: Futuristic fiction Soundtrack: “Wake Me Up”

by Avicii / “Sober” by Lorde / “Teenage Dream” by Katy Perry

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ealthy teens live it up in the top levels of the Tower, a thousand-floor high-rise in New York City. Futuristic drug-fueled raves, water from Mars, and smuggled peacock feathers are just a few elements that complement their dazzling lives. One of the few books that does multiple perspectives well, you’ll be biting your nails when their stories finally converge.

Class is explored through multiple major characters. Readers meet lower-floor workers, the formerly wealthy and even swindlers that cling to the edges of the ‘highliers’. Race, religion and LGBT+ are represented, but are not a major focus. One technically legal relationship may rub readers the wrong way.

“The Wrath and The Dawn” by Renee Ahdieh (Duology) Rating: 4/5 Maturity: 2/5 Genre: Historical fiction Soundtrack: “Secrets” by OneRepublic / “Pompeii” by Bastille / “Dancing With Our Hands Tied” by Taylor Swift

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hahrzad seeks vengeance for the murder of her best friend by the Caliph of Khorasan. In this “Arabian Nights” retelling, each night brings a new wedding for the caliph, and each night brings the bride’s death. Shahrzad volunteers to be his next bride, determined to be different. Spinning a captivating tale, she lures the caliph into giving her another day. And another. Before long, Shahrzad’s clear-cut plan to exact vengeance has blurred.

This story is set in a mystical world inspired by the origin of “Arabian Nights”. Elements of Arabian culture weave into the fabric of the tale. Shahrzad herself is a strong female lead with agency, able to wrap the other characters around her finger.

“Throne of Glass” by Sarah J. Maas (Series) Rating: 5/5 Genre: High fantasy Maturity: Starts off at a 1, steadily works its way up to 5 as the series progresses Soundtrack: “you should see me in a crown” by Billie Eilish / “Play with Fire” by Sam Tinnesz / “Castle” by Halsey

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ssassin Celaena Sardothien emerges from harsh imprisonment to compete for the role of royal assassin. Secrets swirl, magic sizzles, and untimely deaths befall the castle. It’s up to Celaena to put the puzzle together before she’s the next.

Celaena’s absolutely lethal.

She’s also absolutely stunning, as are all major characters. Clearly, not much in the way of body representation. Some characters are ‘fae’, but essentially appear human. Hundred year age-gap relationships appear. Celaena, to her credit, breaks the insecure female character trope.

In her world, a taste for the expensive and a talent with knives aren’t mutually exclusive.

“Cherub: The Recruit” by Robert Muchamore (Series) Rating: 4/5 Maturity: 3/5 Crass language.

Genre: Action Soundtrack: “Another One Bites the Dust” by Queen / “Physical” by Dua Lipa / “Radioactive” by Imagine Dragons

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ames Adams enjoys the sweet life afforded by the bounty of the biggest shoplifting ring in London. This luxurious life comes to a halt one day, and he’s sent off to a children’s home where he seems destined to end up in prison. Instead, he’s recruited to CHERUB, a spy organization. Pick up some British slang while following James in his exploits and his (deserved) punishments around the globe.

The male lead, James, is rather bone-headed, but doesn’t get away with it. Supporting female characters are fully fleshed out. Characters are recruited worldwide, representing a variety of races fully realized without being stereotypical. Addresses the moral quandaries that come with espionage.

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Recently business leaders and Republicans are claiming there is a “worker shortage” because not as many people are coming to work as initially thought and people are quitting their jobs. But this isn’t accurate. It’s not that there is a shortage of labor, but a shortage of people who can stand working physically and mentally demanding jobs for less than living wage.

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June 2021

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