This week’s episode was an emotional one for me. Sammie is one of my close friends even 11 years after she graduated. The papa bear in me used to worry about Sammie and all the Multi-Ethnic Programs and GSA/Haven kids. The shit they had to live with and stand up to every day was mind-numbing. So, editing this conversation and adding the incredible music of Shin Kawasaki and Wingo, made the whole process emotionally draining. Geri walked in while I was editing the ending to find me in tears. And this was the 5th or 6th time I had listened to it.
I won’t spoil it, but I found some footage of Sammie reading her poem at the final chapel of Spring 2010, along with the weak response from a campus pastor. The memories it evokes brings me back to those days of fighting for our place in a culture that did not value us. And thinking about how far we’ve come since then makes me proud to have fought along side those “kids” who are now well into their 30’s.
Sammie is married and has two kids. She has a great life now. But she told me that going back through and processing the APU days has helped her to recognize and process the trauma and pain she endured. She feels she can now let it go.
Episode notes:
*APASO was my most important cause and my biggest heartache. Asian Americans at APU generally do not want to talk about their identities, and they group I helped form ended up growing sick of me constantly reminding them to acknowledge the racism and bigotry around them. After Sammie left, the group was up and down, and there even some great progressive leaders who got involved. But, as far as I know, the group no longer exists.
*Filipinos do not use chopsticks in their culture.
*The references to Joe Snell were especially hard. He was the MEP director for a few years before he died suddenly just days before the 2009 school year began. Joe was one of my best friends at APU and an invaluable supporter of the MEP orgs. I’ll have an episode dedicated to him eventually, so if you want to participate in that, let me know.
I’ve been told by several people that the podcast is not an “easy listen.” So, Episode 5 next week will be a fun one. Ryan and Anthony talked to me about how APU teaches science…or “science.” There will be some laughs.
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