Identity & Ethnicity Series (Part 1) Through the Lens of Chinese Americans, a Look at Immigrant and Indigenous Identity Journeys By Voices In Between Series Introduction｜Living in the “In-Between” In a country shaped by waves of migration and complex histories, the question “Who am I?” is rarely simple.For immigrants and ethnic minorities in the U.S.,Continue reading “A Map of Belonging: The Identity Struggles Across Ethnic America”
Tag Archives: identity
Our Fourth of July: Finding Identity Between BBQ and Sticky Rice Dumplings
Every July 4th, a strange blend of aromas drifts from our backyard—grilled steak sizzling over charcoal, and the sweet scent of sticky rice dumplings steaming on the stove. This is how my family celebrates Independence Day: half burgers and popcorn, half salted egg yolk and lotus seed paste. As a child, I often wondered whyContinue reading “Our Fourth of July: Finding Identity Between BBQ and Sticky Rice Dumplings”
The Child’s Flag, the Parents’ Silence
My daughter received a small American flag outside the grocery store the weekend before the Fourth of July. “They said I can stick it in the garden or take it to the picnic,” she told me, clutching the little plastic flag like it was something ceremonial. When we got home, she placed it carefully inContinue reading “The Child’s Flag, the Parents’ Silence”
Independence Day Doesn’t Belong to Everyone: A Declaration Still Unfinished
By One Voice Every Fourth of July, fireworks streak across the night sky, the Stars and Stripes flutter in the wind, and the scent of barbecue fills the sidewalks. People raise their glasses to freedom, celebrating the birth of a young nation that, in 1776, declared its break from empire and its belief that “allContinue reading “Independence Day Doesn’t Belong to Everyone: A Declaration Still Unfinished”
Big Fight in Little Chinatown: A Cultural Defense—and a Call to Reimagine Our Role
Reflections from a Community Screening and Dialogue in Las Vegas: Who Defines the Future of Chinatown? On the evening of June 21, 2025, over a hundred community members gathered at the Desert Breeze Community Center in Las Vegas to watch the documentary Big Fight in Little Chinatown and participate in a post-screening roundtable discussion. HostedContinue reading “Big Fight in Little Chinatown: A Cultural Defense—and a Call to Reimagine Our Role”
Big Fight in Little Chinatown: When a Street Becomes a Mirror
By One Voice As I watched “Big Fight in Little Chinatown”, one image stayed with me: a street slowly waking up in the morning sun, paper lanterns swaying gently, elderly neighbors greeting each other in front of their shops. It’s a scene that may feel familiar—or far away—but either way, one that should never quietlyContinue reading “Big Fight in Little Chinatown: When a Street Becomes a Mirror”
Big Fight in Little Chinatown: A Cross-City Battle to Preserve Culture
Have you ever walked through a Chinatown in a North American city—past traditional Chinese archways, the scent of roast duck, and familiar shop signs? Have you ever wondered how these neighborhoods came to be, and how they continue to survive wave after wave of urban development? Directed by Canadian filmmaker Karen Cho, the documentary “BigContinue reading “Big Fight in Little Chinatown: A Cross-City Battle to Preserve Culture”
Teaching Chinese Is More Than Teaching a Language — The Unspoken Legacy of Chinese Parents
By May “Why do you teach your child Chinese?” Every Chinese parent raising a child overseas has likely encountered this question—not always from others, but sometimes in quiet moments, while sorting homework, correcting pronunciation, or patiently explaining a character. Especially when your child frowns and says, ‘I’m not going to live in China. Why doContinue reading “Teaching Chinese Is More Than Teaching a Language — The Unspoken Legacy of Chinese Parents”
Cultural Confidence in the Fragrance of Zongzi and Tea — Upholding and Promoting Chinese Traditions as Chinese Americans
On a sunny afternoon in Las Vegas, the air was filled with a familiar aroma—the scent of bamboo leaves and glutinous rice, evoking the memories and sense of belonging tied to the Dragon Boat Festival. On May 31, I had the pleasure of attending the “Fragrance of Zongzi and Tea – Celebrating the Dragon BoatContinue reading “Cultural Confidence in the Fragrance of Zongzi and Tea — Upholding and Promoting Chinese Traditions as Chinese Americans”
A May of Poetry: Echoes and Progress of AAPI Heritage Month
From Legislation to Legacy; From History Remembered to Futures Imagined The Dawn: When Congress Began to Remember On a quiet morning in 1843, waves from the Pacific gently touched the shores of San Francisco Bay. A lone traveler from Japan stepped onto American soil, unaware that his footsteps would begin a legacy spanning centuries. TwoContinue reading “A May of Poetry: Echoes and Progress of AAPI Heritage Month”
