Art & Hatsuye 2021, Asian Centennial Edition

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VOLUME 3 | SPRING-SUMMER, 2021

H A T S U Y E THE ANNUAL OF ASIAN & PACIFIC ISLANDER AMERICAN STUDIES AT W&M

Jamelah Jacob Wins Monroe Prize p22

Rolling Against COVID p34

We Are Outraged and Demand Justice p3 Centennial

Edition

TA BLE OF CON TE N TS

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H A T S U Y E

Publisher & Editor-in-Chief: Francis Tanglao Aguas Editor: Hyunkyu Eddie Choi Copy Editor: Rayna Yu Layout Editor: Catie Nguyen, Melissa Payne Writers: Isabella DiFulvio, Zoe Marquez, Mey Seen

Deenesh Sohoni, PhD, Director Francis Tanglao Aguas, MFA Abigail Buffington, PhD Gem Daus, MA R. Benedito Ferrao, PhD Monika Gosin, PhD Tomoko Hamada, PhD Roberto Jamora, MFA Jenny Kahn, PhD Hiroshi Kitamura, PhD

We Demand Justice............. ..................................... 3

Claire Pamment, PhD

Letter from the Director........................................ 4

Stephen Sheehi, PhD

Message from the President.................................... 5

Joanna Schug, PhD Monika Van Tassel, Academic & Fiscal Coordinator

Centennial Celebrations........................................ 6

Chinua Thelwell, PhD

From the Editor................................................... 9

Andrea Wright PhD

Senior Essays..................................................... 10 APIA Alumn...................................................... 15 Why I Majored................................................................ 17 Jin Hyuk Ho: Founder to Fatherhood.................... 18 Professor Sohoni: Dad to Director................................ 20 Jamelah Jacob Wins Monroe Prize......................... 22 Not Your Model Minority.................................... 24 Halfway Back in the Closet.................................. 28 Global Reunification........................................... 30 Rolling Against Covid......................................... 34 The Use of Narrative in Gina Apostol’s Insurrecto... 36 APIA is UP2U.................................................... 40

Lynn Weiss, PhD

We Are Outraged and Demand Justice: We Are Outraged and Demand Justice:

A Statement from the Faculty of Asian & Pacific Is A Statement from the Faculty of Asian & Pacific Islander of AAPI Communi AmericanAmerican Studies on Studies the Safetyon of the AAPISafety Communities

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we grieve with As wes grieve with our community and condole with our community and the families of DAOYOU FENG, condole with theYAUN, families DELAINA ASHLEY JULIE PARK, SOON CHUNG PARK, of DAOYOU FENG, DELAINA SUNCHA KIM, PARK HYEON ASHLEYXIAOJIE YAUN, JULIE JEONG, TAN who were murdered by a white PARK, SOON CHUNG PARK, man in Georgia on March 16, SUNCHA KIM, PARK by HYEON 2021; we are outraged the onslaught of anti-Asian violence, JEONG, XIAOJIE TAN who hatred, and terror spewed were murdered by a white upon our community across man in Georgia the United States. on March

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STOP. WE DEMAND JUSTICE. that emanate from flippant Sinophobic stop these ac have done JUSTICE. anything to stop it. These WE DEMAND references and implications of the current of Asian anti-Asian The violence against women in and anti-Pacific Islander pandemic to sexist locker room talkthat that besiege o For too long, Asian Americans Pacific possible condemnable attacks,and made Atlanta is not an aberration but is the result structural violence has deeps roots in dehumanize and fetishize Asian women.

Islanders have been the targets of state the casual disregard for Asians and Pacific remind every by the rhetoric ofcountry. politicians andof THIS MUST STOP. sanctioned racism in this This Islanders that has the groomed US citizens United States, from the Chinese history and reality of anti-Asian and to dehumanize us. THIS MUST STOP. We We release this statement with utmost are sown from abetted by state inaction, are part of anti-Pacific Islander structural violence Exclusion to theconviction overthrow of our thecommunity demand the dismantling of toxic Act, masculinist to honor has deeps roots in the United States, emanate from a larger pattern of violence against white supremacy that is expressed most senselessly murdered in Atlanta, Hawaiian monarchy,members the annexation from the Chinese Exclusion Act, to the readily toward the most vulnerable in and our siblings and elders who have references an minoritized communities in the the Asian American and Pacific Islander overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy, the been attacked in recent weeks, but also of Hawai’i, and the continued annexation of Hawai’i, and the continued to empower our community, especially current pand United States.ofTHIS MUST STOP. community.

In disenfranchisement the Hawaiian people, disenfranchisement of the the youth,Hawaiian to speak out loudly and boldly To citizens everywhere, we call on you to to the colonization of the Philippines, 3 tha in defense of our community’s safety and talk room expressing our anger and to grief with not only express solidarity onto social Japanese incarceration camps during World people, themedia colonization of the well-being. or in the silence of your hearts, but to be War II, to continued sexual violence against fetishize Asia regard to the vilification and death Philippines, totoJapanese incarceration ready and alert women in Okinawa, and to the Asian-phobic active allies who stand STOP. of Asian ofAmericans, we also stand in discourage, intervene in, and stop these racialization the COVID pandemic. camps during World War II, to acts of racism and violence that besiege our Anti-Asian and anti-Pacific Islander racism solidarity with Black, Native, Muslim, communities. We continued remind everyone that actsviolence against is a part of larger racist structures of white sexual

LGBTQIA2S+, Latinx, and other communities that have been victims of

women in Okinawa, and to the Asianphobic racialization of the COVID

We release utmost convi

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Letter from the Director Reflections and New Beginnings at W&M

By Professor Deenesh Sohoni

It is my great honor to take over as the new director of APIA. I am thankful to Professor Francis Tanglao-Aguas for his vision and leadership in building the thriving program that I am now privileged to lead. Since 2009, when Edward Hong first self-designed his APIA major, we have graduated over 20 students (including our first official cohort —Patrick Canteros, Maggie Chu, David Fernandez, and Emma Shainwald in 2020), and we continue to grow with another 20 students poised to major or minor in APIA in the next three years.

The past year has provided incredible challenges for us all- the COVID-19 pandemic, a national reckoning regarding racial injustice, and a Presidential election that has torn at the fabric of our democracy. Yet, amid these crises, we have seen the continued relevance of programs such as ours in combatting narratives that seek to stigmatize a health epidemic in racialized terms, in educating students and the public about racial disparities in health outcomes, including that for Asian Americans, and in mobilizing Asian American communities into political activism. APIA has contributed directly to these efforts through our classes, our Banh-Mi speaker series, and other programing. Examples of these include Professor Gem Daus’s course Pandemics, Paranoia, and Public Health, Professor Janelle Wong’s (University of Maryland) guest lecture “The Asian American Vote and Election 2020,” and Professor Aguas’s many well-attended virtual events, such as the civil rights concert tribute to the late Rep. John Lewis, and “I Dissent: A Tribute to RGB” celebrating the life of the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

The upcoming year offers us hope and excitement as we continue APIA’s mission of researching, teaching, and learning about Asian Pacific Islander American communities, and educating and empowering our students so they can make their mark in creating a better and more just world. 2021 marks the Centennial of the first Asian students at W&M, and we are thrilled about the many upcoming events we have planned in commemoration (many announcements to follow). I cannot thank enough all my colleagues in APIA whose unsung work and support ensures the continuing success of our program. And finally, to all our students, and in particular our graduating seniors, I cannot wait to see you all in person, but until then a virtual thank you, you make all of this worthwhile.

A Message from The President

Hailing from Canada and then from Ohio, of Scottish-Japanese heritage, Arthur “Art” Matsu ’28 arrived at William & Mary in 1924. Matsu served in student organizations and won widespread acclaim on the gridiron as a star player on offense and defense. After graduation, Matsu blazed trails as the first Asian-American quarterback in the NFL and a long-time coach and recruiter at the college level.

Matsu’s legacy is one of several student pioneers in the 1920s, brought to light by William & Mary students, faculty, and staff, through more than a decade of research.

He holds the distinction as one of the first Asian and Asian-American students to have studied at William & Mary, along with Pu-Kao Chen ’23, believed to be the first international student of color to attend the university, Ming Pan ’25, and Hatsuye Yamasaki ’37. In the decades since, Asian and Asian-American graduates of William & Mary have gone on to become entrepreneurs, scholars, artists, legislators, and numerous other leadership roles in this country and around the world.

In 2021-22 William & Mary will celebrate the Asian Centennial, marking 100 years since Chen arrived at the university.

Our commemoration explores the groundbreaking experiences of Asian and Asian-American students, faculty, and staff – elevating their stories as defining parts of William & Mary’s history. We call ourselves into this year of sustained reflection, asking, “for the sake of what do we commemorate the experiences of those who came before us?”

As an institution of higher education, William & Mary’s vision is “to understand and change the world.” While we celebrate this century of pioneers, the aims of remembering and research should include: to inspire belonging; to create new knowledge; to deepen understanding of our university’s history; and to advance William & Mary’s aspirations as a cosmopolitan, international, and multicultural institution.

The Asian and Pacific Islander American Studies (APIA) program has grounded this celebration in years of primary research.

Established in 2016, the program has accelerated efforts to uncover the hidden stories of the first students of color to attend William & Mary and shape this community. In doing so, APIA advocates for a more inclusive community – for all our alumni and for our current and future students. And it deepens William & Mary’s expansive history as the alma mater of a nation distinguished by our vibrantly diverse, global heritage.

I look forward to celebrating with you the accomplishments of decades of William & Mary students, alumni, faculty, and staff.

– Katherine A. Rowe President

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William & Mary to celebrate 100 years of Asians, Asian-Americans

by Erin Zagursky | W&M News A century ago this fall, Pu-Kao Chen ’23 left Shanghai, China, to enroll at William & Mary, becoming the university’s first Asian student and opening the door for hundreds of Asian and Asian-American students, faculty and staff to follow — and create their own firsts — over the next 100 years.

Pu-Kao Chen ‘23 was W&M’s first Asian student.William & Mary is now preparing to mark that anniversary with a multiyear commemoration, beginning this semester and culminating with the 2022 Commencement ceremony. The Asian Centennial will celebrate all those at W&M, past and present, who identify as Asian or of Asian ancestry, including those from Southwest Asia – often referred to as the Middle East.

Pu-Kao Chen ’23 of Shanghai, China is believed to be the first Asian student on record to have matriculated at W&M since 1693.

“William & Mary prides itself as a leader in faculty/student research collaboration. We seek to enhance this reputation by creating a model for faculty/ student collaboration across the disciplines.”

PROFESSOR DEENESH SOHONI CO-CHAIR, ASIAN CENTENNIAL

“We want to celebrate the centennial of Pu-Kao Chen to give visibility to the Asian, Pacific Islander and Middle Eastern experience and their contributions to William & Mary, the larger WilliamsburgJames City County community and hopefully Virginia, especially at a time when inclusivity, diversity and just pluralism, in general, have been threatened,” said Francis Tanglao Aguas, professor of Asian & Pacific Islander American studies and theatre and coordinator of global studies.

“We believe the Asian Centennial is an opportunity for William & Mary to truly function as the Alma Mater of the Nation.”

Tanglao Aguas is co-chair of a committee of faculty, staff, students and alumni from across the university that is organizing the centennial. They have been charged

by W&M President Katherine A. Rowe to develop and execute the commemoration with three goals in mind: to honor trailblazing leaders at W&M; understand and elevate the impact of Asian and AsianAmerican students, faculty and staff; and advance W&M’s aspirations as a global, cosmopolitan and multicultural institution.

“William & Mary has not always had the greatest history with respect to racial diversity and inclusion,” said Deenesh

Sohoni, co-chair of the committee, professor of sociology and director of the Asian & Pacific Islander American Studies.

“Acknowledging our past is a necessary part of ensuring that we do better in the present and future.”

Upcoming events, projects The multi-year commemoration will focus on scholarship, events programming and fundraising to make its efforts sustainable.

While it will officially launch in fall 2021, it will begin with a soft rollout this semester starting with a virtual Asian & Middle Eastern Film Festival. That series will begin Feb. 15-19 with streamed showings of the film “Far East Deep South.” After the Feb. 19 showing at 11 a.m., a Zoom Q&A with the director and producers will be available. The event is free to W&M faculty and staff and $7.50 for the general public.

Registration is required.

Aroy has been commissioned to create a documentary film about the history and contributions of Asians and AsianAmericans at W&M.Also this semester, the commemoration will feature Asian, Pacific Islander, Middle Eastern/Muslim (APM) alumni events, the virtual Banh Mi Lecture Series and collaboration with the Lemon Project, which explores the history of African-Americans at W&M. Headlining the centennial’s plans is the commissioning of Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Marissa Aroy to create a documentary film about the history and contributions of Asians and Asian-Americans at W&M. Aroy will be appointed the Asian Centennial Distinguished Film Fellow in residence.

Additionally, the centennial will also include a fine arts project with local artist Roberto Jamora, the university’s inaugural Asian Centennial Art Fellow.

Research and scholarship With still so much unknown about that history, research is also a central goal of the

“We want to celebrate the centennial of Pu-Kao Chen to give visibility to the Asian, Pacific Islander and Middle Eastern experience and their contributions to William & Mary, the larger Williamsburg-James City County community and hopefully Virginia, especially at a time when inclusivity, diversity and just pluralism, in general, have been threatened.”

PROFESSOR FRANCIS TANGLAO AGUAS CO-CHAIR, ASIAN CENTENNIAL

centennial with the establishment of the APM Research Project.

“William & Mary prides itself as a leader in faculty/student research collaboration,” said Sohoni. “We seek to enhance this reputation by creating a model for faculty/student collaboration across the disciplines.”

While the APM Research Project will not be as expansive as the Lemon Project, it seeks to emulate that effort by integrating faculty and staff in research outside of the classroom and the publication of that research, said Tanglao Aguas.

“It was necessary for us to utilize the currency of academia, which is research, to take full advantage to contribute to the conversation at William & Mary, and the community around our history with race, racism, inclusion and exclusion,” he said.

The researchers will be creating a list of early Asian, Pacific Islander and Middle Eastern/Muslim students.Three Asian Centennial faculty research fellows have

been named: Sohoni; Chinua Thelwell, associate professor of Africana studies and history; and R. Benedito Ferrão, assistant professor of English and Asian & Pacific Islander American studies.

sustainable project where students and faculty can research the varied histories of Asian and Asian Americans at W&M, and more broadly race-relations at W&M and in Virginia,” said Sohoni.

Work by them and their student research assistants is already underway. For example, under the direction of Professors Deenesh Sohoni and Chinua Thelwell, two undergraduate researchers, Sumie Yotsukura and Brian Zhao, will conduct archival research to create a list of early APM students and gather information on their experiences at W&M.

Exclusion/inclusion

Additionally, Yusuf Jafri, a fellow with W&M’s Center for Racial and Social Justice — under the directorship of Law Professor Vivian Hamilton, a member of the centennial committee — is researching how national and state level legislation related to immigration and housing segregation impacted international and minority students at W&M, said Sohoni.

“Our long-term goal is to create a

While the centennial will celebrate the achievements of Asian and Asian-American people at W&M, it will also serve to begin a broader dialogue.

“We are also hoping to commemorate and reflect on our institution’s participation in exclusion, specifically about the exclusion if not, oppression of the African-American community,” said Tanglao Aguas, adding that his students requested it.

“They told me, ‘Professor, this would be a good move as long as we make sure that we are not only celebrating Asian and Asian-American excellence, but we are also interested in discussing the ramifications of the various ways in which different minorities were treated.’ So, immediately

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Infographic by Francis Tanglao Aguas

8 they were pointing to the gradations of discrimination perpetrated by historic whiteness. … And so, as a result of that, we hope to form and execute a plan of celebration, commemoration, reflection and discernment, as a community, using the anniversary of the admission of Pu-Kao Chen from Shanghai, China, as a way to discuss how was this made possible.”

While the commemoration will recognize the pioneering efforts of Asians and Asian Americans in diversifying W&M, it will also acknowledge that it took place within the context of African-American exclusion, said Sohoni.

“The Asian Centennial thus creates the opportunity and space for a fuller history of William & Mary, and one that complicates and moves us beyond dichotomous white/ black racial discussions.”

Gathering the family William & Mary recently celebrated two other significant milestone’s the university’s history: the 50th anniversary of AfricanAmerican students in residence and the 100th anniversary of coeducation. The organizers of the Asian Centennial have taken lessons from those commemorations and hope to build on those histories — and that of other marginalized peoples, which are all intertwined.

Marissa Aroy won an Emmy Award for her documentary “Sikhs in America.” As the Asian Centennial Distinguished Film Fellow, she will create a documentary on the history of Asians at W&M.

“Exploring the Asian experience means exploring the African Black, Latinx, Native story,” said Tanglao Aguas. “In the United States, no one lives in a vacuum. Lives intersect. And that’s what we’re counting on in this centennial. As we tackle the Asian story of William & Mary, we will also be having a parallel discussion about all the communities.”

The William & Mary community is often referred to as a family, said Tanglao Aguas, a Filipino-American. And anniversaries are major events in Filipino culture. He hopes this anniversary creates a reason for the W&M community to come together.

“This is an opportunity to build on the William & Mary community as a family, and as families do, we explore not only the joyful parts of our relationship, but even when pain has been inflicted. Doing so — exploring the history of that pain, and even joy — we can move forward.”

Hatsuye Yamasaki ’37 is the first Asian female and woman of color student at W&M so far on record. She was the President of Brown Hall, Secretary of the Spanish Club, and was on the Women’s Judicial Tribunal.

The Fantastic Five Are Ready to Thrive: Presenting the Class of 2021

By Hyunkyu Eddie Choi ’22 APIA Major | Editor It is with utmost pleasure that I introduce the APIA majors of William & Mary’s Class of 2021: Athena Benton, Jamelah Jacob, Luigi Almirante. Marcuz Bengzon, and Zoe Marquez.

Writing about these five students is a rather bittersweet experience for me, as I would have graduated with them had I not taken gap years. Saying goodbye is never an easy task, and this sentiment is particularly amplified when I say it to the very individuals with whom I embarked on my college journey.

Some of them I got to know as a Freshman and kept in contact. Some of them I only met this school year. Some, I even live offcampus with. And as saddening it is to say, some I have yet to meet in person.

But despite the complex and diverse nature of my relation to Athena, Jamelah, Luigi, Marcus, and Zoe, one thing I can say for certain is this: I know they are all going to overcome the strongest of tides, the toughest of winds, and the harshest of weather. Close or not, thank you all for working hard to better the W&M community. I can’t wait to see the magic you guys will bring about to the world.

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Jaime Luis (Luigi) Almirante The How-To-Say-Goodbye List

Dear Freshman year Luigi, It is difficult to say goodbye to the people and places that are precious to you.

Therefore, as I start to say goodbye to my time as a student at William & Mary, I realize that this means I have to wish you farewell as well. In order to prepare myself (and you) for the final goodbyes to college that I will have to face, I have created a list. This idea came from one of my favorite authors, R. Zamora Linmark, who used the concept of lists within his novel The Importance of Being Wilde at Heart.

The How-To-Say-Goodbye List 1. Learn how to say goodbye in ten different languages 2. Distract yourself from the thought of saying goodbye by listening to quirky music on Spotify 3. Create a list 4. Forget everything, it makes the goodbyes easier.

5. Forget those late night hours at Swem library, cranking out essays and finishing assignments as if your life depended on it

BA, Asian & Pacific Islander American Studies Minor in Biochemistry 2019 Freeman Intern Fellow 2021 Tomoko Hamada Prize for Excellence in Applied Scholarship

6. Forget that room in Blair Hall where you first became friends with other FilipinoAmericans

depth of the Asian American community, but it also allowed you to express your identity as a Filipino American.

7. Forget the two or three times you switched majors until you finally found that one major that you knew was perfect for you

It’s okay to say goodbye to all the friends you have made in clubs/organizations (like FASA), in classes, or anywhere else in your journey at William & Mary. Although the physical closeness may not be there anymore, the family you have created will always remain with you.

8. Forget the dorms and apartments and houses and all the spaces where those friends became more than just friends.

They became family.

9. Recognize that you’re being dishonest you don’t actually want to forget these memories. It’s just the thought of leaving all these memories behind when you say goodbye, is painful.

10. Take a deep breath and realize that saying goodbye doesn’t signify the end of all these experiences. Rather, goodbye is an open-ended statement that invites the opportunity to make more new memories and new experiences.

So Luigi, it’s okay to say goodbye.

It’s okay to say goodbye to the APIA department where you found a space that not only taught you about the intricate

Luigi, I know you’ve always hated goodbyes; the thought of leaving a place or a person who you have given a piece of yourself to, seems rather uncomfortable. But the process of goodbyes is a necessary step in moving forward towards the future. After these farewells, what’s waiting for you in the world post-college, is medical school! So after saying goodbye, maybe learn how to say “hello” to the next step of your journey towards becoming a physician.

I am so proud how far you’ve come Luigi, and I know whatever you will do next will be amazing.

Sincerely, Jaime Luis (Luigi) Almirante

BA, Asian & Pacific Islander American Studies BA, Philosophy

“I learned that I should bet on my own will and my community…

Without it, I would just be another intellectual gladiator, imposing my views upon the most marginalized voices, an unfortunate consequence of the philosophy colosseum.”

Marcus Bengzon Not Just Another Intellectual Gladiator When I think about my moments of intense growth at W&M, they are always surrounded by people. My success is the product of people; a supportive yet challenging, ever-inspiring community of Asian American mentors and role models that laid the foundation for me to succeed.

The Filipino American Students Association (FASA) provided the space for me to grow, to evolve my Asian American identity in a school which, frankly, seemed content with ignoring my racial heritage. It was my close friends in FASA who were already majoring in APIA that encouraged me to meet this community of professors and mentors who truly cared about my development. Every class was filled with warmth and passion, even in the face of great adversity and historical horrors.

It’s hard not to imagine the grueling examstudying and paper-writing as the defining chapters of our college story. But, I think, if you were to ask any APIA major to report on the achievements of another student, the story would drastically change. We would recognize our struggle as contributing to our common community, and we would celebrate much more often. So, our story needs to be told not so much by ourselves,

but by the people around us that our achievements have positively impacted.

My time at W&M taught me how to bring out the best parts of myself. I learned that I can be the smartest person in the room and still know nothing. I learned that I should bet on my own will and my community, not my intelligence and my privilege. I learned that taking up space for somebody else can be one of the most important things that I could ever do. Looking back, my role models and mentors gave me something more valuable than I could ever learn in a classroom: community. Without it, I would just be another intellectual gladiator, imposing my views upon the most marginalized voices, an unfortunate consequence of the philosophy colosseum.

My friends gifted me a moral compass to guide my journey, one that I will use for the rest of my life, and I owe it to the APIA community to give the next generation of scholars their own space on campus.

And while I would love to remain in the classroom for decades to learn with the true royalty of W&M, it’s time to step aside and step forward onto a new path. This family of scholars and activists will forever have my admiration and gratitude.

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“I do not have to be good at every lesson I face…

Where can I use my body 12 and mind for something besides producing knowledge?”

In many ways, it feels like I have already said goodbye to college. Many of my closest friends graduated last year. I parted ways with my frisbee team this semester. The pandemic has dragged on, preventing me from being in student communities outside of virtual spaces. Most of the things that made college fun and worthwhile have been over for me since March 2020. The reality is that I still have more credits to complete, and the pandemic has made this last year all the more difficult to work through.

Two years into college I did two things: I finally decided to major in APIA Studies, and simultaneously realized going to a four-year undergraduate university may not have been the best path to take right out of high school. Since this realization in junior year, I have been restlessly enduring (?) each moment to finish my degree. Academic life has been stressful and limiting in a way that held me back from working on myself. Ironically, while this pandemic has felt constricting in many ways, during this past year I have had the opportunity and incentive to do more inner self work. This static yet quickly passing time has allowed me to slow down.

During this self-reflective period, I have come to recognize that the projects I engaged in outside of schoolwork and the people I met pushed me to change as a person. This helped me realize that this period where I struggled through academic work was just another thing to work through.

I do not have to be good at every lesson I face.

Of course, my goal in this reflection is not to discredit the value academia brings to so many students. Academia contains a whole world in itself, and so much of it is important. However, academia’s usefulness to me has passed. Where I can use my body and mind for something besides producing knowledge? Figuring this out has been challenging when I am in the space between college and post-college. Still, as I am in the longest goodbye of my life, I am ever the more ready to meet whatever comes next.

Athena Benton A Long Goodbye BA, Asian & Pacific Islander American Studies 2020 Freeman Intern Fellow

Jamelah Jacob

BA High Honors, Asian & Pacific Islander American Studies BA, Public Policy

A Continuing Hello

2020 Freeman Intern Fellow 2021 Art Matsu Prize for Excellence in Asian & Pacific Islander American Studies 2021 James Monroe Prize in Civic Leadership

“Racism, specifically, is the state-sanctioned or extralegal production and exploitation of group-differentiated vulnerability to premature death.” - Ruth Wilson Gilmore, Golden Gulag: Prisons, Surplus, Crisis, and Opposition in Globalizing California (2007) I walked into my first ever college class, Introduction to APIA Studies, with clammy hands. My eyes nervously flitted around the room, seeking an open seat. Projected on the board was the above quote.

As I sat down in the back of the room, Prof.

Ferrao instructed us to explain how we understood this quote to the class. I looked at the board blankly and stared at words I did not understand, like “extralegal” and “group-differentiated vulnerability.” In the next ninety minutes, we began building our understanding of race to set the course for the semester. Our discussion on the quote was a reaction to the Charlottesville white supremacy rally just a couple of weeks before our semester started. It was then that I realized that APIA studies isn’t just about Asian American culture, it’s also a discipline rooted in the study of institutional racism. More importantly, this is a discipline dedicated to social change. That ninety minutes on the second floor of Morton Hall set the trajectory for my next four years in activism, community, and shared learning at William & Mary.

Now that the goodbye is near, I question what awaits me next. Hopefully, it also greets me with open arms. I return to the words of Ruth Wilson Gilmore as a reminder that the work of growing a community never ends. That work is always self-reflective and encompasses all avenues of time - past, present, and future (although even our concept of time should be epistemologically contested). That work is personal. That work is always worth it.

This is what being an APIA student is like - and no goodbye could ever do that experience any justice.

This was what my first day of being an APIA student was like. That day, I said hello to APIA and it welcomed me with open arms, as if it was waiting for me all this time.

From that moment on, my next four years at William & Mary were dedicated to APIA, and empowering communities of color in and outside of the classroom. I continued to learn about race by deeply exploring ideas of imperialism and capitalism. The applications of theory and Asian American scholarship changed the way I thought about my Filipino American identity, ultimately challenging what I knew about it my entire life. Studying APIA has been a humbling and never-ending learning experience.

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Zoe Marquez 14

An Unexpected Home Before I came to William & Mary, I never thought I would consider it as my home. I visited a few times as a child, but I didn’t think that I’d fit in and feel like myself if I came here. Then I got accepted my senior year of high school and it became my only real option.

When I arrived freshman year, I felt all my nerves come in - there weren’t a lot of people here who looked like me. Luckily, I had met another Filipino freshman who lived a few doors down from me in GGV. During our freshman year activities fair, we wandered around overwhelmed by the amount of campus organizations. While we were walking, we noticed a large Philippine flag and a group of excited faces that looked similar to ours. This is where it began.

Joining the Filipino American Student Association (FASA) changed everything.

Here, I was introduced to a driven and compassionate group of people, making friends that I know will stick by my side no matter where we go in life.

FASA is also where I was first introduced to APIA. As a prospective Biology major, who had always thought about becoming

BA, Asian & Pacific Islander American Studies BA, Psychology 2021 Tomoko Hamada Prize for Excellence in Applied Scholarship

a physician, the idea of majoring in something like APIA seemed so foreign and strange. My peers in FASA were constantly trying to convince me to take an APIA class.

They told me that if they couldn’t convince me, Professor Aguas certainly would.

And in the end, they all talked me into it.

I opened myself up to immersing myself in more than just STEM classes and enrolled in my first official APIA class with Professor Aguas, Filipino American Diaspora Studies.

Not only did I learn about my own Filipino history, but I also started to learn what being Asian American meant. One of my biggest takeaways from APIA is that it’s okay to do what makes me happy, even if that disappoints others.

William & Mary has a lot to work on as an institution; however, if someone had told me a few years ago that William & Mary would become a home that’s so hard to say goodbye to, I would have never believed them. I am eternally grateful for this unexpected home, the gift of a community that I never thought I needed, and the lessons that I will carry with me forever.

APIA Alums Out In the World

By Zoe Marquez ‘21 | APIA & Psychology Major

Marie Metzger ‘81, she/her About a month after graduation in 1981, I joined BASF Corporation, a German multinational chemical company and have been there for more than 39 years. More recently, this summer, I invited W&M Business Professor Dr. Inga Carboni to be a guest speaker at BASF’s Women in Business (employee resource group) program. In terms of my personal life, I am now a lola (grandmother in Tagalog), with 3 grandchildren, my newest grandchild being born in September 2020. I have recently started trying to learn new languages: I studied German and French in college and high school and just recently started learning Spanish.

In my free time I like to practice Tai Chi. If I had any advice to share with the APIA community now, it would be this: Fresh out of college, you tend to join a company because it’s a job. But you tend to stay because it becomes a career; you start to feel at home. I have been working with the same company for more than 39 years and have loved every second of it.

Veronica Salcedo ‘02, she/her

Marie Metzger (she/her) as she continues her work with BASF Corporation.

Veronica Salcedo (she/her), receiving an MA degree in Sociology in 2018 with her family.

After graduating in 2002, I started my high school teaching career at Bayside High School in VA Beach where I helped found the Filipino American Cultural Association, which later became the Asian American Association, and the Gay Straight Alliance. In 2004, I proposed to my wife and we crossed the Crim Dell Bridge together. We got married in 2008 during San Francisco Pride. My passion for Filipino American and LGBTQ+ histories motivated me to learn more and do research about the experiences of queer Filipina Americans. In 2015, I left for grad school in Atlanta and earned my MA in sociology at Georgia State University in 2018. Now, I’m currently building on my thesis findings for my dissertation, “Sexually Nonconforming Pinays Negotiate Relationships with Parents, Partners, and Community.

Arya Espahbodi ‘15, he/him Arya Espahbodi (he/ him) ready to teach at Bard High School Early College.

For the last 4 years, I have been a math teacher at Bard High School Early College (BHSEC) in Baltimore, Maryland. This high school is different from most where we allow students to take a two-year college study program after 9th and 10th grade. So, students here are able to graduate with 2 years of college, as if they went to community college. At BHSEC, I teach honors algebra 1, honors geometry, and I am a special educator for the math team. However, my long term goal is to open up my own school, so I have started applying for programs to receive my Doctorate for Education and superintendent certification. I am also in a mentoring program called Dorms and Dreams where we help high school seniors get college items like refrigerators and TVs for free. For less work related updates, I just got my second dog!

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Rechelle Apolonia Ramiro ‘00, she/her & Craig Ramiro ‘00, he/him

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Craig: After graduation, I worked in Washington D.C. for about 12 years, then received an opportunity to move and work in Virginia Beach. I decided to take the offer because Rechelle’s family is in Williamsburg, and we always wanted to make sure that we were near family.

Rechelle: I actually did the ROTC program at William & Mary and went into the army for 8 years as a Lieutenant. This allowed me to travel a lot and see different parts of the world. After the army, I settled in Northern Virginia near Craig and worked there for a bit.

When we started having kids, I stopped working and became a stay at home mom, but I began working again about 3 years ago as a teacher at Walsingham Academy.

After getting married in (year), we moved to Williamsburg where we began our family. We have 4 kids: Christian (12), Carmen (10), Rey (8), and Ben (4).

Rechelle Apolonia Ramiro (she/her) and Craig Ramiro (he/him) with their family.

Pallavi Ruraraju ‘17, they/them Since graduating with a dual degree in APIA Studies and World Performing Arts and Cultures in 2017, I went on to work at Asian American LEAD as their Virginia Middle School Program Coordinator for two years, and have been the Youth Well-Being Coordinator at the Human Rights Campaign for the last one and a half years. Since 2020, I’ve organized the 7th annual Time to THRIVE conference in February, the largest professional development on LGBTQ youth for youth-serving professionals. I have also represented Virginia’s 10th Congressional District as a State Delegate for Bernie Sanders, and led a mindful movement session for NQAPIA where I taught Bharatanatyam basics and choreography. But what I’m most excited about is creating and publishing two Human Rights Campaign Foundation resources for parents of transgender and gender-expansive youth; one is a resource for parents of young gender nonconforming children on how to understand and support their child, and the other is a guide for parents of transgender and non-binary children who are determining the best and safest method for disclosing their child’s transgender or non-binary identity to their school.

Pallavi Ruraraju (they/them) as the Youth Well-Being Coordinator at the Human Rights Campaign.

Emma Shainwald (she/they) shows off her handmade skirt for graduation 2020.

Emma Shainwald ‘20, she/they After graduating this past year, I moved to Arlington, Virginia, where I began working with the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA) as the communications and coalitions associate. Aside from work, I have been trying to explore the diverse range of food that Arlington has to offer; however, COVID has made this a bit difficult.

I have also been trying to reconnect with my creative side and dedicate more time to sewing clothes, trying out new recipes, and reading. If I had any advice to share with the current APIA community, it would be this: Grades are less important than you think they’ll be after graduation, but learning to prioritize mental health is key.

Don’t devalue the work you do during extra curriculars; executive board positions and community/campus organizing experience parallel work experience more than you think. When I was job searching, the times when I thought I needed more work experience, I just needed more confidence in myself and my accomplishments.

I was always the contrarian growing up.

Whenever anyone would tell me what to do or what to agree with, I would always ask them why. I would dodge their commands and ask them, Why not the other way?, Why not that way? Why, in your words and in your logic, should I do this? It wasn’t because I wanted to upset anyone or come off as difficult. I just wanted to know. I wanted to see if their reasons coincide with the things that felt right to me. I wanted to make sure that everything I did was because I believed in it and it would be the kind of thing I would do myself, without anyone’s influence.

When I first came to William and Mary, the first student group that I became a part of was the Filipino American Student Association (FASA). And no, this isn’t an advertisement for you to join FASA. A notable number of people in FASA are APIA majors. People would sometimes kid and say that by joining FASA, you were guaranteed to be talked into taking an APIA class or even becoming a major. And of course, when I joined, it was one of the first things suggested to me. Obviously, it’s not a bad thing to take an APIA class because it was recommended by someone, but I was just extremely set on my decisions not being affected by others.

I stood my ground and was adamant about it. I would not be an APIA major because people told me to. I would not be swayed into it. I would not be pressured into it.

I would decide.

The first APIA class I ever took was in the spring semester of my freshman year. It was Asian American History with Professor Thelwell. Every Monday and Wednesday, I would waltz into Blair 229 at 3:27 pm and sit in the second row on the first chair closest to the door. I knew no one in that class. No familiar face I recognize. No pact made with a friend. No one.

But I loved it. And to this day, it continues to be my favorite class I’ve ever taken in college.

The first thing Professor Thelwell asked us in that class was “Why are you taking Asian American History?” As answers were being shared one by one across the room, I thought about how to verbalize the feelings that I hadn’t taken the time to define.

I thought about the generations of Asians before me and their kids, some of them my peers. I thought about my own migration.

I thought about how my own kids will have those experiences. What made me take that class could not be summed up in a simple answer. It was me wanting to know what the past generations went through for me to be here. It was me wanting to know what it means to be here. It was me wanting to know what I would be putting my future generations through by being here. What hardships are they going to face? What history that I am passing down to them in America? What is this American fabric that I am sewing them into?

But of course, I didn’t say this.

No, this was too personal to say in front of people who were only going to hear it for only two quick blinks of their eyes and forget the second I finished speaking. All I said was a simple statement, hoping that the implication was enough.

“I’m Asian.”

All throughout the semester, I would stay up until 4 am in Andrews to do the readings after rehearsals for FASA’s culture show. And it wasn’t a mentally agonizing crawl to the end. Not always anyway. It was like taking a walk for miles and miles through a field or a forest. Yes, you’re tired.

Yes, your feet hurt. Yes, your shoulders are just begging for a bed to lie on.

sometimes things can feel exasperating or disheartening, I don’t regret any of it now. I would rather inch forward slowly than stand stagnant and place a wool over my eyes.

I took another class fall semester of my sophomore year, Intro to APIA. Taking that class opened me up to the present, to what was currently happening. Not our collective past. Not my generational future. Now. I saw how it was all around me. The media’s narrative and lack thereof. The discourses about the progression of the field. The community building and outreach efforts.

I was reading papers and articles about current or recent events. This isn’t history, I thought. This is happening here and now.

And I am alive for it.

Why I Majored

By Andrea Dalagan ‘22 APIA and Sociology Major

But the view.

The greens you see and the blues of the sky. The trees look as they always do and the sky looks as it’s always been, permanently there. By no means is any of this extraordinary, but why does it feel like the world is completely different. This has always existed whether I knew about it or not but why does it seem like the inception of a new world.

And it isn’t always pretty. No pastels to soften up any realities. No hazy lines creating a dreamy world. But they are real. You see the darks and the lights. The most beautiful pictures of communities coming together with the ugliest pictures of exploitation tearing people apart.

A battered hand holding another. A beating hand hitting another. While

“I stood my ground and was adamant about it.

I would not be an APIA major because people told me to. I would not be swayed into it. I would not be pressured into it. I would decide.”

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Jin Hyuk Ho,’16: From Student Founder to Real Fatherhood

By Hyunkyu Eddie Choi ‘22 APIA major

Jin Hyuk Ho graduated as a selfdesigned Asian Pacific Islander American Studies major in 2016.

One of the student founders of the program, Jin’s name is often referred to by APIA professors. Art & Hatsuye feature editor Eddie Choi caught up with Jin to give us a closer view of what he has pursued after completing his studies at William & Mary.

If you’re doing anything APIA-related at William & Mary, chances are that you may have heard the name “Jin Hyuk Ho” at some point. I, for one, got my initial glimpse of Jin when I was deciding whether to declare as a major; specifically, I watched his honors documentary film on the necessity of APIA at our university. I remember being taken aback when I learned that the program’s founding cohort included a third culture Korean student like myself. Ever since this discovery, I had always been fascinated by Jin’s story, but he was always an alum I could only admire from afar. This remained the case until recently, when I had the privilege of finally getting to talk to Jin over the phone one-on-one. As it turns out, Jin had gone through a series of major life events such as completing graduate school, getting a non-profit job, and even starting a family.

Firstly, thank you for being so willing to chat with Art & Hatsuye, and congratulations on your marriage last summer! If you don’t mind sharing, how did you two meet, and what are some differences you are noticing in your life post-marriage?

Jin: Of course! I met Elaine through a mutual friend during my time as a graduate student at Penn. She was a Law student at Drexel University, which is literally right next to where I was. From there, everything flowed naturally--and quickly too--and here I am, 26, about to have a baby. He’s actually due really soon on November 6th.

Additional congratulations! You must be really excited to meet him. Besides your married life, what have you been up to lately? Do you have any exciting updates or news you would like to share?

Jin: Thank you. Other than the baby, I really don’t know if there is any bigger life update!

Could you please tell us about your work as Development Manager at Playworks?

Jin: Playworks is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to utilize play and recess to enhance learning in children. Our goal is to give recess an educational purpose rather than treating it like mere playtime where kids waste time, or, in worse cases, develop toxic habits like bullying. The organization’s headquarters are in Oakland, California, and there are smaller offices in just about every major U.S. city. I work at the Philadelphia office, and since the start of the pandemic I have mostly been doing fundraising work.

How did APIA prepare you for your present career?

Jin: When I was at W&M, I was the director of the Asian American Students Initiative and a goal that I had with my colleagues was to make APIA a “thing” at the university, because it was something that just wasn’t there despite its importance.

Unlike the traditional path for many majors, which I am sure also have their share of difficulties, my career trajectory wasn’t predetermined. I had to figure out how to make certain things tangible from the bottom up, and that meant figuring out budgeting and working with administrators like the Provost and the President. Usually, stuff like this happens after college, since you are typically guided and there is an established path for you to follow when you’re still a student.

When you look at how far the program has come over the years, how do you feel?

Jin: Honestly, my very immediate reaction would be that the growth of APIA at William & Mary occurred at a much quicker pace than I had anticipated. Even when just the

minor got voted in at the tail end of 2015, it was a very big deal because that was a result of a three-year process. I remember President Reveley (who was the university’s president at the time) telling me that it would require at least a million dollars to get a tenured professor, and there were other aspects to consider as well, so I would not have imagined such a rapid growth.

You seem to have been keeping in touch with people in the APIA program, such as Professor Francis Tangalao Aguas who connected us for this interview. What was it like to work with him and the other faculty?

Jin: I loved it. This kind of close bond between the students and professors is not something you can typically find in other departments, so that was definitely one of the most beneficial aspects for me. The fact that my professors had the time and space to develop relationships with me was really nice. For instance, Bene (Professor R. Benedito Ferrão) came to my wedding last year, and not many people can say stuff like this about their professors.

Do you think we will risk losing the tight community bonds as our program grows with more and more students?

Jin: Obviously, the bonds that exist in the [program] will most likely not look the same when that growth is achieved. But that would also mean that the [program] would have become its own self-sustaining organism, rather than one that people are constantly fighting to keep alive. I’m pretty sure that there will be ways to maintain the intimacy of the community, just that it will look very different from now.

Now that you shared even more details about your journey, it’s bizarre to think that I may not be where I am--majoring in APIA with the goal of becoming a counselor for minorities seeking a sense of belonging--had you not attended William

& Mary before me. So thank you, really, for everything you’ve done for us.

Jin: Thank you! That really means a lot. But like I said, even I would not have expected this kind of outcome. You know, when you try to start something in college, it starts off as almost a funny idea since you have doubts and think that maybe you’re dreaming. You start to wonder if it’s actually tangible and if you’re really going to end up pursuing it. Even for my colleagues and I, we started off with a big goal, but it stayed that way for the first few years because we’d frequently gather informally or hold meetings where we worked on other projects. That’s not to say we let the goal get out of sight, as you can see with the current program’s state. This experience really taught me that college efforts aren’t nothing, that they actually can make a difference.

I love that. I hope your story inspires many other college students to come. Do you have anything you would like to say to current and future APIA students?

side of this task, meaning I would work for foundations that are in charge of giving out their raised money to help those in need.

But that’s only career-wise, and my main concern would be trying to raise my son right!

UPDATE: In late October of 2020, Jin and Elaine welcomed their son, Liam Ho, into this world. The Art & Hatsuye staff would like to send congratulations and wish nothing but well-being to their family.

ALL ABOUT LIAM - Name: Liam Alexander Ho - Favorite food: Milk only for now!

- Story of his name: My wife, Elaine, wanted something that sounded regal. Also, she’s a big believer that names can change the course of someone’s future, and Liam Alexander sounded like someone handsome and successful to her. All I did was say “ok.”

Jin: I would like to emphasize that learning is a two-step process. It’s obviously important to become aware and learn about different communities and their histories that aren’t commonly taught in mainstream education. But what does this first step mean to you? How are you going to use this knowledge to create something meaningful? APIA is different from other majors because it’s relatively small and new, but that doesn’t mean it’s less important. It just means there are more to be explored and more meaningful creations to be made.

- Weight: currently about 12 pounds.

And speaking of explorations, what do you have in mind for the future? Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

- Favorite toy: too young still!

Jin: That’s a good question actually. For the past three years, I have been helping nonprofits raise money, so either I continue on with this, or I see myself on the other

- Time of birth: 4:25 AM - Does he let his Mom and Dad sleep?

Absolutely not. Fingers crossed we get some in the next few months!

- What’s the most adorable thing about him?

When he’s hungry and asks for food!

- Tips for future dads: If it wasn’t difficult, you wouldn’t love your child as much.

- What device is most helpful to new parents? The Baby Brezza is a lifesaver!

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From Dad to Director: Discovering Dr. Deenesh Sohoni

By Zoe Marquez | ‘21 APIA and Psychology Major

It was freshman year and I was trying to find a community in this foreign world we call “college.” I was enrolled in a million STEM classes, but decided to take something “different” for my COLL 150 class: Race, Rights, and the Law. This is where I met the dad of the Asian & Pacific Islander American studies program, Professor Deenesh Sohoni.

Why is he the dad of APIA, you ask? To begin with, his office is full of his kids’ artworks and pictures of his family. Every conversation with him is filled with knowledge, wisdom, and encouragement to pursue your passions. Not to mention his admitted lack of knowledge with technology and his constant dad jokes in class. Since he began teaching at W&M, Professor Sohoni has always been the “dad of APIA;” now, he takes his new steps as the Director of APIA. Growing up, Professor Sohoni moved from India to Japan and then to the United States, which shaped his interest in the interaction of diverse cultures.

“I think that shaped my interest in how cultures interact with one another. I didn’t know what sociology was what I needed to study because I never took a sociology class in undergrad. One day, my roommate who was the president for an Asian American student organization said, ‘you know what you’re really studying is sociology, you should just be a sociology person.’ So I ended up applying to University of Washington where I got my degree in Sociology with a focus on demography. “ “A lot of my demographic research has started crossing over into legal implications, so I’ve been excited about adding law to my work with teaching students. APIA has allowed me to create an intersection in studying demography, law, and sociology with special emphasis on Asian Americans as a neglected area of study.”

After a few years of teaching, Professor Sohoni began his tenure and his journey with APIA. “When I came here, we were doing a review in the sociology department, and Professor Linneman, the chair of the Sociology department then asked me ‘If there was one class that you think we need, or one class that you want to teach more than anything, what would it be?’ I put down Asian American Studies, so that stayed in the books with my hope that I will one day teach it.”

Then one fateful day in 2007, as APIA’s

founding director, Professor Francis Tanglao Aguas was looking through the course catalog with Edward Hong, the first APIA major, he saw Professor Sohoni’s Asian American Studies class under Sociology.

Meeting for the first time via email, Professor Aguas asked Professor Sohoni if they could incorporate the class as a requirement for the new up and coming APIA major.

Since then, Professor Sohoni has played an integral role in the formation of APIA as one of the few senior faculty members.

“It’s so exciting to be a part of a growing program, starting from scratch and building something really fascinating and fun for our community.”

In 2017, Professor Sohoni served as interim director of APIA while Professor Aguas was on sabbatical research leave. This allowed Professor Sohoni to work the ropes and prepare himself for what was soon to come. During this period, Professor Sohoni assessed that while the APIA community has built a great academic program, it still lacks resources.

“One of my goals is to figure out ways to strengthen the program and continue to grow despite the lack of resources. One way to do this is to hire more faculty that will provide sustainment in the long term.

As a cross disciplinary program, this will allow us to build and expand our offerings to students who are also interested in topics such as health, psychology, and medicine.

With the 100 year celebration approaching, we need the help of administrators and community leaders in promoting APIA more broadly to the university.”

One of Professor Sohoni’s favorite parts of being the director is learning more about his colleagues who are affiliated with APIA. As the director, he has been able to learn more about each faculty member’s research and classes, as well as their hobbies and lives outside of academia. For instance, he proudly and enthusiastically shares Professor Chinua Thelwell’s book and Professor Andrea Wright’s research with his students so that they may learn beyond what he teaches.

While APIA has continued to thrive in the age of the pandemic, Professor Sohoni is looking forward to being able to engage with students again. “I miss those social interactions, being able to sit in class, and plan events where I can see students.”

“With the 100 year celebration approaching, we need the help of administrators and When asked about how long he plans to remain as the director of APIA, Profesor community leaders Sohoni stated, “I see myself for sure as always being with APIA.” Although he in promoting APIA has taken over Professor Aguas’ previous position, the job remains a collaborative effect with Professor Aguas and other faculty more broadly to the members supporting him along the way. He states that if there is ever a time that he will university.” need to go on leave for research, APIA is Professor Sohoni also enjoys engaging with students in their work outside of academia.

He greets each of his classes with a big smile and small conversations before teaching his material. Two of his favorite student events are the Filipino American Student Association’s (FASA) annual events Kamayan and Culture Night. Each year, FASA members always have the pleasure of seeing one of their favorite APIA professors in the crowd.

well-positioned for a leadership transition with Professor R. Benedito Ferrao taking on the “crown” as the future leader. Until that day comes, our APIA community will continue to grow with the leadership of Professor Sohoni as he directs the program while continuing with his passion for teaching. “I love teaching and developing new courses to push students and allow them to see the excitement of academic discovery.”

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APIA’s Jamelah Jacob ’21 receives Monroe Prize

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by Dave Johnson | W&M News

When she came to William & Mary in the fall of 2017, Jamelah Jacob knew the demographics. About 8% of the student body’s population was Asian, and less than 1% was Filipino.

nurture your community,” said Jacob, who is set to graduate in the spring. “What this work has largely been is being there for my community. That became more significant to me when I entered college.

Which to Jacob, who would major in Asian & Pacific Islander American studies along with public policy, only meant she had work to do.

“It took me that long to make the connection between my identity and my community and find ways to be involved.

I think that’s a common experience for children of immigrants. We grow up having these different pressures to act a certain way or suppress our cultural identity, and it really took until college to find all these

“Knowing it’s a predominantly white institution comes with the realization that you have to create your community and

places that welcomed it.”

Nearly four years after getting started, Jacob has been awarded the 2021 James Monroe Prize in Civic Leadership.

Since 2005, the honor has gone to “a student who has demonstrated sustained leadership of an unusual quality, leadership combined with initiative, character and an unfailing commitment to leveraging the assets of the William & Mary community to address the needs of our society.”

The award will be acknowledged during the Charter Day ceremony Feb. 11. Because of the pandemic, that will be done virtually.

Jacob is in select company.

“Since meeting Jamelah on her first year at William & Mary, her potential for superior excellence had always been apparent,” a professor wrote in a nomination letter.

“To be clear and emphatic, she belongs to the top 1% of students I have worked with since teaching university level starting in 1998.”

Another professor wrote, “As an educator, I am happy to be able to provide this recommendation for such a deserving student. I have a great amount of respect for her and truly believe that she is a deserving prize recipient.”

Jacob, who graduated from Lake Braddock Secondary School in Northern Virginia, is a firm believer that classroom should meet community. APIA Studies, she said, has taught her about race, justice and systems of oppression and has helped her make that connection.

Among Jacob’s many activities on campus, she’s the APIA studies chair of the Asian American Student Initiative. She’s also a programming assistant with the Center for Student Diversity and editor-in-chief of Art & Hatsuye, the official journal of the Asian and Pacific Islander American Studies program.

Jamelah posing with the James Monroe Prize in Civic Leardership. Photo by Richard Thompson.

What consumes most of Jacob’s time is

Monroe Prize: Among Jamelah Jacob’s many activities on campus, she’s the APIA Studies chair of the Asian American Student Initiative. She’s also a programming assistant with the Center for Student Diversity and Editor-in-Chief of Art & Hatsuye, an APIA Studies/American Studies Department publication. What consumes most of Jacob’s time is her role as president of W&M’s Filipino American Student Association. Photo by Jim Agnew

her role as president of W&M’s Filipino American Student Association. The group’s mission is to promote a greater appreciation of the Filipino-American culture to the student body as well as the Williamsburg community.

“I joined my freshman year, and looking back at it as a senior, it’s exactly what I needed to find people who are like me,” said Jacob, whose parents were born in the Philippines. “William & Mary is a predominantly white institution, and going to college is such a big change. Definitely finding my people and getting acquainted with that community has been such a great experience.

“I never expected to become president because I was really shy and awkward my freshman year. But the people I met in the organization not only became my best friends, I also found some great mentors. … The environment we’ve created for the organization is such a welcoming space.

That’s something I’m really proud of.”

Matter movement and that we’re there for the Black community,” Jacob said. “There is still so much anti-Blackness that needs to be dismantled within the Asian community, and we can start the work on campus.

write poetry, which she calls “a life-long thing.” She took a creative writing class taught by Jon Pineda, a Filipino poet and novelist and assistant professor of English at W&M.

“The Solidarity Series has been in cooperation with the Asian American Student Initiative, the Center for Student Diversity and the South Asian Student Association. We’re hoping to continue into the next semester and have these conversations about standing in solidarity and make sure what we’re doing for our communities is not stagnant.”

“That experience was really great,” Jacob said. “I was able to find my own voice in poetry and connect my identity to writing and art.”

Jacob also carries a 3.62 grade-point average and has made all A’s since the fall of 2019.

“I do like to stay busy,” she said. “I like being productive. And I mean it when I say I’m really passionate about this community and about what I’m studying. I’ve gotten really lucky that my academic passions have aligned my extracurricular activities.

One of her main accomplishments was launching the Solidarity Series, which strives to educate non-Black people of color — primarily Asian and AsianAmerican communities — on the importance of standing in solidarity with Black communities.

“I’ve never seen them as two separate things. When I’m doing schoolwork, I know this will somehow apply to the work I’m doing outside of school. And that brings me back to why I’m working so hard in the first place. When that passion is there, you honestly don’t think too much about everything else you have to sacrifice for it.”

“It’s very important that we make sure we aren’t staying silent during the Black Lives

In what spare time she has, Jacob loves

The Class of 2021 is already being referred to nationally as the COVID Class. The pandemic cost Jacob the opportunity to study in Singapore last summer. And because of the uncertainty that lies ahead, Jacob is planning to take a gap year after graduation.

After that, she hopes to attend graduate school and teach college. All she has accomplished at William & Mary, capped by winning the Monroe Prize, makes for a strong resume.

When the congratulatory email showed up in her inbox, Jacob was in a Zoom meeting.

She wasn’t sure how to react.

“I had to turn off my camera for a little bit because I had this freak-out moment,” she said. “I never expected it. But obviously, taking classes in the Asian & Pacific Islander American studies program and being involved with these different groups on campus helped me grow. I’m just really thankful for all of it.”

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Not your Model Minority Winning Against Yourself: Aidan Cuy ‘23

By Andrea Dalagan ‘22 | APIA Major & Staff Writer At the height of the pandemic, Aidan Cuy ‘23 and the W&M gymnastics team saw their academic and athletic lives in peril with the team among the sports that were canceled and then reinstated (at least until 2021-22) after community protests and advocacy, with athletes like Aidan at the forefront. To illuminate their experience, we are featuring Aidan’s story here.

Mask-cladded on a November night, Aidan took a study break for our quick interview.

While now relieved, this wasn’t how he felt months earlier. Aidan disclosed his feelings about the abrupt news in September.

Arriving at William and Mary from Rhode Island with the expectation of being a student athlete for the next four years, it felt like the rug was pulled from under him.

“I just had that mindset that this is what it’s gonna be, that I’m gonna have a solid foundation to build off of…”

Aidan has been a competitive gymnast since he was six years old. Spirited and a climber, his parents decided to place him in gymnastics as a way to release his energy in a safer way. As the years went by, gymnastics became a mode of bringing himself to another level. He saw himself as the competition and pushed himself to be better. He simply wanted to see how far he can go even without a clear-cut path to walk on in front of him.

“That’s kind of like how it is on a day to day basis too when you first start, you kind of just throw yourself into the fire a bunch of times, and you kind of just hope something comes out of it.”

While it has always been a part of his life, it wasn’t until high school that he saw potential in gymnastics as something beyond an after-school activity. In his first year of qualifying for national championships, Aidan did better than he had anticipated. Even years and years after this, Aidan found himself coming back to these competitions. It was only then that he saw a future in gymnastics.

“You start to see all the pieces that have been building up from the years kinda start to come together and it’s very rewarding at that point…bringing yourself to new heights, like winning against yourself.”

This sense of accomplishment and bringing himself to new heights continues to push Aidan in gymnastics to this day. For a while, however, the combination of the abrupt news in September 2020 and the different structure of life during the pandemic took a toll on him. Aidan sees all of this as an opportunity to involve himself in things beyond school and the gym while staying positive, patient, and resilient--just as he was when his parents first brought him to the gym.

Breaking Blatant Bottlenecks: Aidan Lowe ‘24

By Mey Seen ‘23 | APIA Major & Staff Writer

For many of us, college is an intellectual transitionary period produced by an increased exposure to critical analysis of things that we experience day-to-day.

Concepts like identity become elaborate and complex. We notice that it is muddled by the ideals of strangers, misconceptions that they obtain from pop culture, and centuries of both overt and covert hostility.

Our identity is not to be a product of our own fashioning, but dictated to us and manipulated by the hands of those who have no stake in it. It is often the liberation from our past experiences and reinforced messages through the discovery of knowledge that enables us to take agency in the formation of our identities.

“Model minority” is a modern example of such imposed identity that lines the subconscious of Asian American lives. It is generally understood as the conceptualization of Asian Americans as essentially perfect students and workers, quietly successful members of society, and the best model for immigrant and minority upward mobility. From Aidan Lowe’s understanding, model minority actively streamlines Asian Americans into a particular pathway through life. The myth is not simply representation but a pressuring force.

But it wasn’t until registration freshman year that Aidan became familiar with the model minority stereotype. Like many others, Aidan grew up with the myth embedded into his

self concept and was forced to accept it as fact because, simply, no one showed him otherwise. Isolated throughout childhood as the only or one of few Asian Americans in school, Aidan grew accustomed to being expected to succeed because of his race.

Despite being regularly racially othered, Aidan doesn’t view his Asian American identity as having played a key role in his life until college.

First semester freshman year he stumbled upon Intro to Asian & Pacific Islander Studies (APIA 205). It piqued his interest and he asked his mother, a Pacific Islander American activist in Washington for the APIA community, what APIA studies is about.

It was this conversation that enlightened Aidan to modern Asian discrimination via the model minority myth.

Aidan decided to wait until this fall semester to take the class, but it’s the class that he’s enjoyed most during his time at William & Mary. Unlike any other class he’s thus taken, Intro is truly relevant to his life. It has provided an avenue for not only selfrealization, but a deeper understanding of his Hawaiian heritage. It seems Intro has unlocked a missing part of Aidan; his discussion of APIA history has its own inertia, one thought leaping full-bodied into the next, pushing to let everyone know the history of a silenced people. Pushing to know more.

Though empowered and impassioned by this new connection with a long-neglected part of his identity, Aidan isn’t consumed by it. He continues to pursue his other interests and passions like philanthropy as a member of a W&M fraternity. When Aidan isn’t engulfed in schoolwork or taking a video game break, he’s (now virtually) hanging out with his favorite people on campus - his fraternity brothers. The community that they built one in which all the members are not only accepted but appreciated - has made Aidan feel at home in school.

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Navigating the Boxes and Bubbles: Alex Park ‘24

By Andrea Dalagan ‘22 | APIA Major & Staff Writer With the red string lights glowing faintly in the background and a desk lamp illuminating her, Alex Park ‘24 logged in to our Zoom interview. Gentle voiced and introspective, she began to tell me about her experiences.

Growing up in a small town in Kansas, Alex has felt that her Irish and Korean roots are something uniquely hers. Thinking about her identity and how it affected the way she saw the world, she has learned early on that people cannot be simply categorized.

“I try to think more broadly in that sense for other people too. And it’s not like everybody is going to fit in these boxes and these bubbles,” she said, looking to the side as she gathered her words.

After moving from Kansas to Northern Virginia, Alex recounted a particular moment in which she was confronted with her mixed identity. Her family had just moved to Fairfax, Virginia, and as tourists and newcomers do, they planned to see the sights in Washington DC. However, these plans were cut short when her mother decided to cancel the day trip at the last minute. The reasoning? A white supremacy riot. Having grown up in a white town in Kansas and predominantly around her white relatives, Alex thought that her family would be fine; she was white, she looked white.

No, you don’t. Her mother’s response hit her like a ton of bricks. It was at that moment Alex realized she wasn’t fully white and that others were going to perceive her differently because of it. While other preteens were navigating the different contours of who they are as people, Alex was doing this through her race.

“I don’t know. It’s taken me until now to be fully comfortable in the fact that I don’t belong any less and I can still be very proud of my heritage and my family even if I’m not fully Korean or fully Irish.”

As a freshman in her first semester of college, Alex deliberately enrolled in APIA 205: Introduction to Asian Pacific Islander American Studies. The course has affected how she now sees a lot of the things around her. She became more perceptive to the problems within systems and to the experiences and voices of other minority groups. She explained that while broad topics are tackled in the class, there is a focus on individual stories and events intentionally made by people.

Thoughtful with her words, Alex brought up to me and emphasized that these events involved individual people with their own experiences; that with these experiences, people have mobilized and actively worked against systems that she had not seen before in her life. As she continued with the class, others’ individual stories, such as that of Eddie Kim, in the backdrop of large events like the LA Riots, reflected back to Alex’s family and others in her life. Although Alex’s time with the class is limited to this fall semester, she sees

herself carrying the knowledge she gained beyond.

“The biggest thing for me is taking what I know and using that to inform other people and help create these larger movements...

I think that I do have the opportunity to do so here and I’d like to take advantage of those opportunities to help as much as I can.”

For Grace Liscomb, discovering and embracing her identity is informed by a lifetime of being accepted to a point. As an Asian American transnational adoptee growing up in a predominantly white Virginian town, she lived on a cusp of belonging. “I grew up in white culture so I feel more in alignment with whites, but obviously with ‘American culture’ I don’t look the part. So it’s just walking that line of ‘who are you really? Where do you fit?’

There’s definitely this idea of liminality that’s race based and between who I am supposed to be.”

Like others torn between cultures, Grace sometimes questions authenticity. “It’s never really a perfect balance or equilibrium, and then within that there’s this subculture of being a transnational adoptee. There’s this kind of racial imposter syndrome that everything I do that’s remotely Asian or Chinese makes me feel like a fraud.”

Arriving to William & Mary was jarring.

It awakened Grace to Asian American experiences across the nation and throughout history. “There’s so much that I didn’t know that I found out. I’ve basically relearned twelve years of public education just because there’s a lot of issues that I didn’t know that were plaguing the community — a lot of stereotypes that I myself held and didn’t even realize and internal biases.”

In realizing her own internal biases, Grace also began noticing the prevalence of those same attitudes in others from home. “I couldn’t take a picture of a latte I ordered without it being ‘white.’ But I couldn’t talk about the Harvest Moon Festival and going to Peter Chang’s afterwards without it being ‘so Asian’ of me. It can’t ever just be ‘Grace wanted to get food and get crunk.’”

Arriving to William & Mary was jarring.

It awakened Grace to Asian American experiences across the nation and throughout history by participating in AASI (Asian American Student Initiative) and taking Intro to APIA with Professor Aguas.

When asked about the highlight of this immersion in the program and community, Grace confidently replied: “Decolonizing myself. The public education system sucked in general, but especially when you go to the public education system in a white baptist town. There’s so much that I didn’t know that I found out. I’ve basically relearned twelve years of public education.“

Grace’s increasing awareness arose against a backdrop of reasssurance. As an adoptee, her family made constant efforts to assure Grace she belonged, which, while making for a positive home life, led to unexplored and confusing discomfort outside the home.

“Biology doesn’t make a family, but that kind of rhetoric kind of shielded me from the fact that I was...you can’t sugarcoat that you’re different.” That feeling of difference was bidirectional. “It’s not that I thought I was white — there were times I forgot I was Asian.”

Decolonizing Myself: Grace Liscomb ‘24

By Mey Seen ‘23 | APIA Major & Staff Writer

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Halfway Back in the Closet: Queer APIA Students in Quarantine

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By Rayna Yu ’23 Copy Editor

For most college students, the COVID shutdowns were hard enough. Being torn from campus life and thrust into online classes, with nary a chance to adjust, devastated college communities. But queer APIA students faced an extra set of challenges when they returned home.

Living with family is often complicated for queer people, and the pandemic only made things more difficult. Two queer Asian-American students, who both asked to remain anonymous, spoke with me about their early quarantine experiences.

“Going back home, I had to hide my makeup, I had to hide my nail paint,” Leon* told me. “I was out to my parents, but I guess they didn’t know how gay I was.”

Leon is an Indian-American sophomore who identifies as gay and non-binary.

Though his parents know he’s queer, being out still causes tension at home. “My dad is really cool with it, but sometimes [my mom] is accepting, and sometimes she’s not,” Leon stated. “If I’m sad, she’s very accepting. But if I’m normal or happy she’s like, ‘I don’t really like it.’”

Becoming homebound added another layer to Leon’s stress. “When I get on Zoom, I’ll be like, ‘Hey girly,’ and sort of start being myself again. And my mom will be like, ‘Why are you talking like that? Why are you acting like that?’”

Besides going back to a claustrophobic home situation, Leon also reentered his small town’s regressive environment, a stark contrast to his welcoming college community. “Obviously, I would never paint my nails. I would never go out in a skirt,” he said. “But also, I would sort of feel the need to do … a straight voice when I’m talking to cashiers. So they don’t like spit in my food for being gay.”

In order to cope with this sudden isolation, Leon grew reliant upon digital communication. “I like being social in real life. I barely ever text my friends. But my social media use definitely proliferated in order to maintain sanity.”

Despite facing many hardships during his quarantine experience, the months alone helped Leon uncover new aspects of his identity. “In quarantine, I was having those thoughts that, looking back on them, [are] very enby(nonbinary) behavior. I was like, I’d be fine if I was born into any body. Cis people wouldn’t think that.”

Leon is currently back on campus and enjoying life. His post-COVID semesters haven’t been perfect, but they’re an improvement from his time at home. “I’m a little sad that I can’t go partying every weekend, but at least I can have people around me,” he said.

Annie* is an Arab-American senior who most closely aligns with bisexual. “Most of the time, I don’t even really think about it too much,” she stated.

Annie’s sexuality may not occupy a huge space in her mind, but she’s always appreciated her queer social circle. “I don’t see the [queer] community as like, a group I only talk to about [sexuality] specifically,” she said. “It’s more like they’re my friends, and that’s the secondary thing that will come up every once in a while.”

While Annie missed her school life and queer community during the pandemic, she had old high school friends for support. “I felt detached from the actual community.

But I still felt like I belonged because these friends I was choosing to spend time with are … really good people.”

Still, this acceptance isn’t universal especially when it comes to family. “I haven’t even come out to pretty much anyone in my family, except for my mom,” Annie said. “With my dad, he’s very homophobic. If I end up marrying a man or something, then I’ll just never tell him.”

Annie lives with her mother, but visits her father on occasion. Covid has ratcheted up the tension between them. “He’s kind of caught on that I may be gay, and he flips out about it every time,” she said. “So that’s created a lot of issues because he’ll

“Obviously, I would never paint my nails. I would never go out in a skirt,” he said. “But also, I would sort of feel the need to do … a straight voice when I’m talking to cashiers. So they don’t like spit in my food for being gay.”

“I haven’t even come out to pretty much anyone in my family, except for my mom,” Annie said. “With my dad, he’s very homophobic. If I end up marrying a man or something, then I’ll just never tell him.” reach out to my mom, and they almost never talk.”

“It really stresses me out,” Annie added.

“Because if he’s reacting this way to something I’m saying I’m not, then how would he react if I actually said I was?”

forward to exploring all aspects of herself.

“I’ll always be connected to my family,” Annie said, “but once I graduate school and become completely independent, it will be a good time for me to finally not be concerned about their thoughts.”

Though Annie’s mother accepts her sexuality, she isn’t free from problems.

“When I first came out, she was like, ‘Just because you think a girl is pretty doesn’t mean you’re gay.’ And I was like, you don’t know what I think.”

This home environment has left Annie questioning her preferences. “I’m more interested in men overall,” she said. ”But there’s this dilemma too, because what if I’m repressing more than I think to please my family?”

Annie hopes to live her most authentic life after leaving William and Mary, and looks

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GLOBAL REUNIFICATION DURING A PANDEMIC

International Students’ Virtual Updates on Their COVID-Adjusted Lives

By Hyunkyu Eddie Choi ’22 APIA Major Editor

We’re told to put on our green raincoats, covered in mud and passed down for generations in my base. I am suddenly surrounded by its earthy scent and dampened fabric, and can’t help but look back at life in the swamps of William & Mary.

WAYNE WU: I went to my roommate’s family house in Chesapeake, VA. I could not go home to China because of travel restrictions. Luckily, I have several friends from Chesapeake, and I decided to change places every two weeks because I did not want to cause too much inconvenience to any family. After a while I settled in another friend’s family house.

He and his siblings all moved out, so there was a spare bedroom for me. It was fun to live with my friends’ families but having to pack up so frequently was definitely tiring, so it’s good to finally settle in one place.

Overall, it was a good time.

I wonder how my friends are doing. Has the campus changed at all? Is everyone with whom I worked in the dining hall still there? My two military gap years are coming to an end, and all these questions are about to be answered. I close my eyes and point my nose at the sky, and I start smiling from ear to ear as I am tickled by raindrops. I can’t wait to get back to school and resume my life.

Wayne is technically my first on-campus college friend. He and I moved into our freshman residence hall before everybody else due to the earlier international movein date. As of now, he is living in an oncampus dorm with three of his friends. It was really heartwarming to not only catch up with him, but also to see how optimistic he has remained despite circumstances being confusing and rather burdensome.

Fast forward to half a year later, and I am back in Williamsburg, Virginia. And if you haven’t been living under a rock, you are most likely able to deduce that my excitement was rendered futile. Why? Well, COVID-19.

I also have friends who, for very understandable reasons, decided not to return to campus.

It’s training day and I am sprinting on the top of the mountains. I catch my breath and glance at my comrades, who return eye contact in total exhaustion. We all share a brief moment of solidarity, when it starts pouring out of the blue. It’s almost as though God was listening to us.

Training is to be halted temporarily.

Many of my American friends were able to come back to the area and I was actually able to catch up with some of them safely according to protocols. When it comes to my international student peers, on the other hand, the story is flipped to the opposite direction.

But we are living in 2020 after all. And though not as intimate, I can still utilize technology to catch up with them. So that’s exactly what I did.

I interviewed four different international students who had vastly different stories to share in regards to the coronavirus: Wayne Wu (‘21 Economics and Mathematics major), Abeer Ayoub (‘21 Theatre major), Eddie Kim (‘21 Economics major), and Kyuwon Kang (22’ Music and Psychology major).

The first thing I asked my friends was where they stayed after the school evacuated students, and what that process was like.

ABEER AYOUB: Right now, I am home in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. I decided not to return to campus because I didn’t feel safe going back. I wasn’t sure how well a socially distanced semester would work out. I also felt like it would be better for my mental health to study this semester in a safe space.

Abeer and I had connected GGV halls freshman year, and that allowed for latenight study sessions that would often turn into rants about visas and other problems facing international students. Though we are not in the same region, I am glad to know that she is at a place where she can take care of herself and feel safer.

Granted, most students’ courses are online this term. So it’s extremely easy for one to assume international students’ current lifestyles are more or less the same, but that really is not the case at all. What, then, are some difficulties that are exclusive to international students (who decided to stay home)?

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32 EDDIE KIM: Definitely the time difference. Waking up at 6AM to join a Zoom call for an Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory class was challenging at first, but I learned to balance out my biorhythm to make this feasible.

Eddie is like a celebrity to me. When I first got to W&M, people would tell me about this “other Korean Eddie” who had gone to the army. He returned as soon as I went away to fulfill my service, and now that I am back, this term was supposed to mark our first term together.

Talking to Eddie reminded me of Kyu, who also has a peculiar friendship with me in that we have never been on campus together; whether it be that she would take a gap year while I was here or that I would enlist in the army when she returned, our timing never aligned. Like Eddie, the reason we were able to connect was our status as Korean international students at W&M. Kyu was already taking a gap year to build career experience and has decided to extend it due to the pandemic. According to her, she just feels a lot safer in South Korea.

KYUWON KANG: The Korean government definitely has everything under control. From the moment you arrive in South Korea, you are required to take the COVID test. You are then escorted to your quarantine venue, which could be your home (if you have one), a hotel room, an airbnb, or even an official quarantine center. At the airport, you also have to download a governmentrun quarantine app, on which you would record your temperature and location. If you are caught outside your venue during your 2 week quarantine, you are fined.

Also, if there is a confirmed case near you, the government sends out warning messages including relevant information about the patient.

Abeer had similar things to say about Saudi Arabia.

ABEER AYOUB: The government is doing quite a good job handling the virus.

All schools and colleges are online this semester, and flights for the most part are closed. In the summer, they implemented a policy where everyone who entered the country had to quarantine for two weeks in

a hotel before they went home. They also had complete lockdowns and curfews.

At some point, people were prohibited from leaving their homes without special permission. Right now, we don’t have as many cases and the restrictions are mostly gone. The only rule we have is the mandatory wearing of masks.

For some, the decision to remain in their country of residence extended to factors unrelated to health; namely, COVIDinduced racism and aggression played a significant role.

EDDIE KIM: I’m saddened to say that I’ve seen and heard people blaming the virus on Chinese and other East Asian students. I am not, and will never be, willing to face that kind of treatment.

who graduated in 2020 unable to find a job, and I’ve heard of schools cutting funding to grad school programs. I hope next year things will be better!

Indeed, we cannot be certain about how things will turn out in the near future. What we know for sure, however, is that 2020 has been a rough year to say the least, and the last thing anyone needs right now is negativity.

WAYNE WU: I just hope people can stop pointing fingers, put on masks, and beat this pandemic together.

KYUWON KANG: I think when Trump referred to the virus as the “Chinese virus”, it just created more divisions across the country. Frankly, I was immensely discouraged upon realizing that America still has a long way to go. To be honest, I really don’t think the U.S. is handling the virus seriously. I still can’t believe some people are refusing to wear masks because it’s their “right”. It seems that the idea of individual freedom is blinding certain people from recognizing their priorities and collectively fighting the virus. Wearing a mask is not just for one individual. It’s also for everyone else the person could encounter.

Though my friends have more or less gotten accustomed to their pandemicadjusted way of living, they realize that the coronavirus is far from gone and have multiple concerns when it comes to their future.

EDDIE KIM: My concern is definitely my health, as I have asthma and other respiratory diseases.

ABEER AYOUB: I am very concerned about people’s health and safety, racism and aggression, as well as the climate.

Also, as a theatre major, I can’t help but be concerned about the future of live theatre after the pandemic.

WAYNE WU: Honestly, as of right now I’m most concerned about how the virus will affect employment and graduate school application next year. I’ve seen my friends

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Rolling Against Covid: Professor Aguas Builds ollingAguas Against Arts Ink Covid: 34

Professor Aguas Builds Aguas Arts Ink

by Jennifer L. Williams W&M News Francis Tanglao Aguas had wanted to stage “Rolling the R’s” for years and never could have imagined the circumstances under which he would do so.

Aguas, professor of theatre and founding director of Asian & Pacific Islander American studies at William & Mary, is directing the show in the virtual world forged by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Featuring professional actors and W&M student actors all over the world, the performance will take place online.

Their adaptation of “Rolling the R’s” will air live on May 9 at 8 p.m. on Zoom.

Viewers are asked to make a $5 donation in advance to obtain a link to the performance, which will benefit actors who are currently out of work or their chosen charities.

“Rather than look at the pandemic as a limitation, I’ve chosen to use it to create the R’s: Francis Tanglao Aguas, professor of theatre and founding director of Asian & Pacific an opportunity for professional theatre Rolling the R’s: Francis Tanglao Aguas, professor of theatre and founding director of Asian & Pacific r American studies at William &atMary, directed a virtual performance featuring work where I could also cast our theatre Islander American studies William & Mary, directed a virtual performanceof of “Rolling “Rolling thethe R’s”R’s” featuring onal actors professional and W&Mactors student actors all over world.

Photo

by Shreyas and W&M student actorsthe all over the world.

Photo

by ShreyasKumar Kumar ‘21 ‘21 students,” Aguas said.

uas had Rolling the could have ces under

eatre and n & Pacific es at William how in the he COVID-19 fessional actors all rmance will

“In a major way, this is what the or their chosen charities. world is than facing now “Rather look at the pandemic as a limitation, chosen because weI’veare allto use it to create an opportunity for professional trapped theatre workwith where Ian could also cast our theatre students,” Aguas said. invisible enemy and play out like all The weperformance have is will each a live TV/video broadcast as Zoom other.” intercuts between speakers.

W&M students Quan Chau ’21, Xavier Soto Burgos ’20, Anthony Madalone ’21 and Sumie Yotsukura ’22 join professional actors in Los

The performance will play out like a live TV/video broadcast as Zoom intercuts between speakers.

W&M students Quan Chau ’21, Xavier Soto Burgos ’20, Anthony Madalone ’21 and Sumie Yotsukura ’22 join professional actors “This staged reading gives me in Los Angeles, Manila, Boston, Honolulu and San Francisco to make up the cast. the chance to start, as most of W&M theatre alumna Madison Hauser ’19 the cast is made up of seasoned is serving as stage manager.

professionals,” Yotsukura said.first “I know It’s Yotsukura’s chance to work in a professional capacity, she said.“ I’m also grateful that I get to have Sumie Yotsukura ‘22 (Courtesy photo) this experience with my friends and This staged reading gives me the chance classmates. This experience is really to start, as most of the cast is made up of seasoned professionals,” Yotsukura helping to bring us from William & said. “I know I’m also grateful that I get Mary’s theatre program directly to with my friends to have this experience and classmates. This experience is really practical, professional experience.

helping to bring us from William & Mary’s theatre program directly to practical, professional experience.

“Furthermore, besides the whole Zoom-specific nature of this staging, I haven’t done a play like this before —

pandemic, I think there’s a unique niche filled by live performance that people still have a need for,” Madalone said.

“Furthermore, besides the whole Zoomalways wanted to produce and direct this specific nature of this staging, I haven’t play,” he said. “The one positive outcome done a play like this before — both of the COVID pandemic is that casting is no a I’m medium longer that many involved have in terms of the style and content. bound by location. This realization Japanese-American, but I’ve never gotten came to me when my class on sex and race quickly hadin to familiarize themselves to work on a play about Asian-Americans plays and films read the play via Zoom before, so this is really exciting to get toshe added. the very first week we came back online with, work on.” after students were sent home.”

This new form of theatre is combining live Seeing how much students enjoyed reading theatre and film into a medium that “While many the rolesforms and seeing them performed other of storytelling involved have quickly had to familiarize convinced him that the show worked when such as film and literature are immediately themselves with, she added. performed on Zoom. Aguas brainstormed with Linmark, whose more “While other forms of storytelling such easily accessible during this residency at W&M had been postponed as film and literature are more easily pandemic, I think due to the there’s pandemic.a unique accessible during this pandemic, I think there’s a unique niche filled by live now an opportunity niche filled“But by here livewas performance thatto not performance that people still have a need only reach the local community here; the people stillwhole havetheatre a need for,” Madalone for,” Madalone said. world suddenly opened up to us,” Aguas said. “And as we have Anthony Madalone ‘21 (Courtesysaid. photo) seen online, there have been other Zoom or me, something about sharing a unique productions that have transpired.” experience with a group of people in real time is something unreplicable by other lines will ringabout true at this particular “For me,Plot something sharing forms of art. ‘Rolling the R’s’ presents a time, he added. unique experience with a group unique chance to try and fill thataniche in “The play stands on so many themes and these less communal times, with a fittingly ideas that are forever globally relevant,” refreshing story to tell to boot.”of people in real time is something Aguas said. “But what strikes me most bypoint other forms of art. of the Filipino-American poet, novelistunreplicable and at this is the indefatigability playwright R. Zamora Linmark first characters in creating and sustaining their ‘Rolling thecommunity, R’s’ presents a unique published “Rolling the R’s” in 1995 before their families amidst the pain adapting it for the stage. Aguaschance describes to try and and suffering poverty and racism fillofthat niche in by the play as a coming-of-age and comingunapologetically expressing their identities these less communal times, with a out story of Hawaiians living in the heyday and unrestrained truth with humor. of disco.

“In a major way, thisto is what fittingly refreshing story tell the to world is “There is lots of humor,” Aguas said. “The facing now because we are all trapped boot.” play is based on a novel of the same title, with an invisible enemy and all we have is which is one of the seminal works of Asianeach other. The world of ‘Rolling’ shows us American and queer literature. It is one that we do not have to be so miserable to Filipino-American poet, novelist of the few novels that have had several and with each other even when the world reprintings, including a 20th anniversary around us is so unstable.” and playwright R. Zamora Linmark printing.”

first published Aguas has used both the book and play versions in his teaching of Asian & Pacific in 1995 before Islander American studies and theatre.

“Rolling the R’s” adapting it for the stage. Aguas describes the play as a “Since I watched the original workshop reading directed by Loy Arcenascoming-of-age in San and coming-out story Francisco at Bindlestiff in the mid-90s, I’ve of Hawaiians living in the heyday of disco.

“For me, something about sharing a unique experience with a group of people in real time is something unreplicable by other forms of art.

‘Rolling the R’s’ presents a unique chance to try and fill that niche in Sumie Yotsukura ’22 (Courtesy photo) these less communal times, with a fittingly refreshing story to tell to boot.”

Filipino-American poet, novelist and playwright R. Zamora Linmark first published “Rolling the R’s” in 1995 before adapting it for the stage. Aguas describes the play as a coming-of-age and coming-out story of Hawaiians living in the heyday of disco.

Sumie Yotsukura ‘22. Photo Courtsey of Sumie Yotsukura.

“There is lots of humor,” Aguas said “The play is based on a novel of the same title, which is one of the semina works of Asian-American and queer literature. It is one of the few novels that have had several reprintings, including a 20th anniversary printing Aguas has used both the book and

Anthony Madalone ’21 (Courtesy photo)

Anthony Madalone ‘21. Photo Courtsey of Anthony Madalone. play versions in his teaching of Asian

35 & Pacific Islander American studies and theatre.

“Since I watched the original workshop reading directed by Loy Arcenas in San Francisco at Bindlestif

Literature Review: Filipino Diaspora Studies 36

hy do

ories e are as mes, as the hem. s es of atives, upon ch wo and sa

Part Memory, Part Script: The Uses of Narrative in Gina Apostol’s Insurrecto

By Kate Avery ’19 Filipino Diaspora Studies, Spring 2019 Phi Beta Kappa, Summa Cum Laude BA, Honors in English 1st Year MA American Studies, University of Iowa, Mixed Race Filipina-American

The United States’ history of imperial violence against the Philippines is an infrequentlymentioned aspect of its national narrative. Insurrecto is notable for the power with which it drives this history – and the brutality of its character – home: “Filipinos will slaughter forty-eight Americans, then Americans will slaughter thirty thousand Filipinos,” Apostol writes, “Tit for tat” (254).

She provides readers with the specifics: which guns were created for what purposes, who was court-martialed and why. Who Jacob “Howling Wilderness” Smith was, and the sheer horror embodied by his command to slaughter “everyone over the age of ten.”

“Language is witchcraft,” writes Gina Apostol, “A transformation.” This certainly is the case in Apostol’s Insurrecto (Soho Press, 2019) a novel concerned – viscerally and fundamentally – with questions of story and storytelling. It is in the telling, Apostol seems to say, that the shaping of the narrative truly lies: the story told is dependent upon the language in which it is told, and the languages she uses to tell this story are manifold: English, Tagalog, and perhaps a smattering of Waray. She offers the written word as well as the spoken word – screenplays, book chapters, music – and does not stop there. Translation.

Photography. Film. Fiction. Fact. All are threads stitched carefully into the fabric of Insurrecto. Finally, Apostol offers that most treacherous and vivid of languages: that of memory. They are, all of them, tangled up in one another, impossible to extricate. The story being told is told – and must be told – through all of them.

The premise of Insurrecto is in many ways terrifying: it suggests that histories are unstable. And indeed, the (hi)stories at the novel’s core are as mutable and, at times, as contradictory as the people who tell them.

Insurrecto is, at its most basic, a series of overlapping narratives, story upon story upon story, most of which revolve around two women: Magsalin and Chiara. Magsalin is a native of the Philippines, a translator and aspiring mystery writer returning home after spending years away from the country of her birth. Her story is tinged with guilt and grief, centered on the deaths of her mother and husband, and marked by a sense of placelessness. Where, Magsalin seems to ask, can she ultimately belong?

Chiara, meanwhile, is the (white) daughter of an American film director, Ludo Brasi. A kind of fictionalized Coppola, Brasi has famously directed The Unintended, a film about the Vietnam war shot largely in the Philippines.

In its mismatched choice of locale, however, the film has inadvertently invoked the reallife tragedy of the Balangiga massacre, an act of imperialist terror that occurred during the Philippine-American War. Chiara decides to follow in her father’s footsteps and make a film about the history hidden beneath celluloid Vietnam, and recruits a (dubious) Magsalin to work for her as a translator and guide. Both women are storytellers, and over the course of the novel, both create their own conflicting versions of Balangiga’s story. This, of course, produces more stories and more storytellers, among which number Cassandra Chase, a (white) American photographer living in the Philippines during the massacre; and Casiana Nacionales, the ‘Geronima of Balangiga,’ who led the uprising that spurred the (vastly disproportionate) American response. Other characters and narrators include Prank – sorry, Frank – Betron, Captain Thomas Connell, Caz (Brasi’s Filipina mistress), and Virginie (Brasi’s white wife, Chiara’s mother).

As the novel progresses, the reader is exposed to many versions and many pieces of multiple stories, of which Insurrecto is the jagged, infinitely complicated result. Along the way, narratives overlap, realities collapse into one another, and Apostol revels in the multiplicity of it all.

The United States’ history of imperial violence against the Philippines is an infrequently-mentioned aspect of its national narrative. Insurrecto is notable

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for the power with which it drives this history – and the brutality of its character – home: “Filipinos will slaughter forty-eight Americans, then Americans will slaughter thirty thousand Filipinos,” Apostol writes, “Tit for tat” (254). She provides readers with the specifics: which guns were created for what purposes, who was court-martialed and why. Who Jacob “Howling Wilderness” Smith was, and the sheer horror embodied by his command to slaughter “everyone over the age of ten.” As the reader, I am made conscious not only of the numbers of this atrocity– thirty thousand Filipino lives – but also of the opacity of the history that swallows up this narrative and continues to digest it: “The extant published records of the Philippine-American war are,” Apostol writes, “as you know, in the words of the colonizer” (48). Insurrecto offers not only the what of history, but the why – and it explains, for good measure, just how that ‘why’ came into being.

I think, also, about taking Japanese as a language elective in the eighth grade. It had been the only non-European option available, and all of my friends had enrolled in it. When one of my Korean friends told her mother, she’d been furious. When I’d told my Lola, the whole family standing around a table piled high with Lechon and Lasagna, Turon and Turkey, Puto and Pumpkin Pie (Happy Thanksgiving!), she’d told me that that she knew a little Japanese herself, from when she’d been a little girl and had to bow to Japanese soldiers at street corners. She remembered the Japanese national anthem in full, from when she’d been taught it in school, and could still sing it perfectly in-key.

history, what does it mean that our biggest and brightest stories – those writ, almost inevitably, in celluloid – are created by one nation?

I think, also, about taking Japanese I think about the time when I’d admitted to my Filipina mother that I hadn’t known as a language elective the eighth about in the Philippine-American war at all until about a year and a half ago, and how she’d admitted to me that she grade. It had been the only nonhadn’t heard of it, either – until I’d asked At one point in the novel, the narrative her about it a minute before. My mother dwells upon the agony of the Philippine- available, moved to Americaand at the age of twelve, European option all of American war. This kind of pain, it says, but she still calls the Philippines home. She leaves a stain, dark and ineradicable – “At remembered, from her childhood, that there myApostol friends enrolled it.heroWhen least,” reflects, “untilhad 1944, and had been a in Filipino named Jose Rizal – all is forgotten… It is easy for a reader to might he, perhaps have been involved? overlay this calamity with others, in which one of my Korean friends toldinvention,” her Apostol “It is a very American the notion of arriving as liberators turns out has one of her characters say, “We have to be a delusion or a lie” (90). manufactured how to see the world” (160). mother, she’d been furious.

When I think, immediately, of So Proudly We How are we taught to see this world?

Hail, a 1943 Hollywood film featuring Through whose lenses do we look? History American nurses stationed at Bataan. Made the product of the stories we tell, and the I’d told my Lola, theisstories whole family during and about World War II, the film is we tell are the product of how we American propaganda, pure and simple, are allowed to see, how we are allowed to and set – notably – in the Philippines. When standing around a table high experiencepiled the world. Who is allowed to tell I later looked up the cast list, I found that the story of the Philippines? the doctor had been played by a white Storytelling, in Insurrecto, becomes a battle withI couldn’t Lechon and onLasagna, Turon and American. find any information in itself.

The pen is mightier than… the the nurse – but I thought she’d looked like sword? Than the Colt .45? Than the Kragmy Auntie Christine. I think about my love Puto andto Pumpkin (Happy Jorgensen rifle? APie cliché, perhaps, but one forTurkey, Old Hollywood, and what it means that is (and maybe must be) allowed to have never seen someone who looked like prevail.

In one of the most memorable meThanksgiving!), – or my mother, or my Aunties, or my she’d told me that lines in the novel, Casiana Nacionales reflects Lola – in the twenty-one years I have loved upon those who must raise the revolution it. I love it – but does it love me back? she has nursed: “And so it herself, is up to them,” – that knew a little Japanese I think about she what it means to the people rebellion, revolt, reclamation – “the women” who watch these movies, and to the world (204). At one level, this is reflective of the in from which these when movies are released – with been a little girl and she’d centrality of women to much of Filipino whose stories they mix, and mingle, and culture: Datus, Baylans, and the Tabon (wo) (eventually) consume. If storytelling is, as man. At another level, however, it speaks to Apostol proposes, the way weto shape our had to bow Japanese soldiers at what Apostol herself is doing: retelling the history, what does it mean that our biggest story of the Philippine-American war, and in and brightest stories – those writ, almost doing so, reclaiming it. street corners. remembered the inevitably, in celluloid – are created byShe one Storytelling is a revolution, and Apostol nation?

Japanese national anthem in full, from

is as much an insurrecto, in her own way, as the characters she creates. Within the pages of her novel, she brings to life a battle that ended long ago, and she fights it on her own terms – translating it into her own language, one that her readers are made to understand. Her words are not those of the colonizer – not, at least, on the colonizer’s own terms – but her own. It is stitched, with all the rest, into the messy, painful tapestry that we call History: a thing that belongs not only to the Philippine-American War and Apostol, but to all of us, everywhere. There is no ‘The End’ to be found to this story, in the form of a title card or otherwise. There is not even a final reel, or a last page – not really. Instead, Insurrecto reminds us that history is alive, in us and around us, and that even as we are created by it, history is also created by us. It is never complete. It is never limited to a single narrative. It is, instead, of us and for us, all of us, and we are left to write and rewrite it as we will.

“It is a very American invention,” Apostol has one of her characters say, “We have manufactured how to see the world” (160). How are we taught to see this world?

Through whose lenses do we look? History is the product of the stories we tell, and the stories we tell are the product of how we are allowed to see, how we are allowed to experience the world. Who is allowed to tell the story of the Philippines?”

Award winning author Gina Apostol GINA APOSTOL grew up in the Philippines and lives in western Massachusetts and New York, where she writes her novels on revolution and language, power and translation, storytelling and history. Her most recent work has focused on the Philippine-American war and acts of narration as forms of invention and liberation. Her fourth novel, Insurrecto, was named by Publishers’ Weekly one of the Ten Best Books of 2018. Her third book, Gun Dealers’ Daughter, won the 2013 PEN/Open Book Award. Her first two novels, Bibliolepsy and The Revolution According to Raymundo Mata, both won the Juan Laya Prize for the Novel (Philippine National Book Award). Her essays and stories have appeared in The New York Times, Los Angeles Review of Books, Foreign Policy, Gettysburg Review, Massachusetts Review, and others. She teaches at the Fieldston School.

we are allowed t experience the w Who is allowed tell the story of Philippines?

Storytelling, i Insurrecto, beco a battle in itself. pen is mightier t the sword? Than Colt .45? Than th Krag-Jorgensen A cliché, perhap but one that is ( maybe must be) allowed to preva In one of the mo memorable line 39 the novel, Casian Nacionales refle upon those who

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Prof. Aguas’ 2019 Fil-Am Diaspora cohort hosted Harvard’s Dr. Genevieve Clutario.

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Heein Choi received the 2018 Matsu Prize. Photo

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