Celebrating AAPI Heritage Month: Part 3
IN CONVERSATION WITH ASIAN AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER LEADERS
Community /
May 2021
In recognition of Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage month, we chatted with community leaders, inviting them to share their stories and leave their mark on one of the most American garments out there: the Trucker Jacket. These custom creations will be housed at the Levi’s® Archives, where they’ll act as a reminder of the past, reflection of the present and celebration of the future we hope to build.
Photographs by Justin Chung.
ERIC NAM
Singer, songwriter, television host and entrepreneur
How do you navigate the intersection of being American, Korean American and a K-POP star?
You were born and raised in Atlanta, but moved to South Korea to pursue your music career. Why?
How do you strike a balance between embracing your roots within your art and not letting it define you as an artist?
I don’t think I particularly focus on my roots when I am creating. I create for personal satisfaction, and the process of creating for myself allows me to embrace who I am—not only as a creative, but my core as a person, which by definition naturally includes my roots. This is also the best way for my fans and listeners to see and understand who I am in my purest form. Thus, I am able to define myself on my own terms.
What’s the inspiration behind your custom Trucker Jacket?
In light of increased anti-Asian racism, what words of wisdom would you share with folks who are struggling to get through these times?
No words can make this constant fear and anxiety go away or get any better. However, I’d like to share words of encouragement to remind you that you are strong, you are beautiful and you and I should be proud to be AAPI. We should not live in fear. We should live loud. Never—ever—apologize to anyone for being who you are, the way you are. Fighting hate, discrimination and racism is something that we have always done, and we will continue to do so now, more than ever before.
RUSSELL JEUNG
AAPI is such a broad term that encompasses so many different identities and experiences. What are your roots? What’s your family’s American story?
I’m a fifth-generation Chinese American, so a lot of key incidents in Asian American history—the passage of the Chinese Exclusion Act, Angel Island immigration, Japanese American incarceration, Fall of the I-Hotel, Southeast Asian refugee resettlement—impacted my personal family story. I grew up in San Francisco, in an Asian American subculture. My friends were English-speaking Filipino, Chinese, Korean, and Japanese Americans who played basketball in the Richmond District and listened to KSOL.
Prior to the rise of anti-AAPI hate crimes, a lot of Americans thought AAPI communities no longer experienced racism. How is anti-Asian racism systemic in this country?
History repeats itself. In the past, other Americans blamed Asians for epidemics, attacked us and imposed racist policies such as the Chinese Exclusion Act. COVID-19 brought the same pattern. Politicians blamed the Chinese for the disease, other Americans harassed and assaulted Asians in the U.S., and the administration imposed immigration policies that excluded Asians. Last year, the administration extended the Muslim ban, banned Chinese researchers and students, suspended migration visas, cut refugee resettlement, and cut H1-B visas. Each of these policies sought to exclude Asians as outside threats to America’s national security and health.
Instead of fight or flight, we need to flock. By flocking, we gain solace as we grieve. By flocking, we gain the strength of community. By flocking, we amplify our voice to get the attention of policy-makers.
– RUSSELL JEUNG
What’s the inspiration behind your custom Trucker Jacket?
I’m so honored to design a family Trucker. My theme is “Six Generations for Equity and Justice.” I want to share not only the systemic racism that each generation of my family has faced, but also the legacy of resistance that I see in my family. History repeats itself. Asians have long faced racism, but we have long fought for justice, too.
In light of increased anti-Asian racism, what words of wisdom would you share with folks who are struggling to get through these times?
In response to racism, Asian Americans can go into fight or flight mode. We can arm ourselves and fight back, or we can flee and keep our families inside. I encourage us to deal with fear differently. Instead of fight or flight, we need to flock. By flocking, we gain solace as we grieve. By flocking, we gain the strength of community. By flocking, we amplify our voice to get the attention of policy-makers. By flocking, we gain racial healing, so that we can then heal others.
JUSTIN H. MIN
Actor
How has being Korean American informed how you experience the entertainment industry?
My Korean American identity is inextricably tied to the ways in which I experience the entertainment industry. Acting is most often a visual medium, so my racial identity affects the work I do every day. When people see me in front of a camera, they don’t just see a nondescript person; they see an Asian face with Asian eyes and an Asian body. Fortunately, in 2021, I can celebrate and lean into those differences as we progress toward a more inclusive, diverse media landscape that accurately reflects the multicultural world we live in today.
“Asian American is not two halves becoming a whole; it’s two distinct entities forming something entirely new.”
JUSTIN H. MIN
What’s the inspiration behind your custom Trucker Jacket?
With my jacket, I wanted to capture the messiness that often comes with possessing dual identities. The two shades of denim represent the Asian and American parts of myself. The geometric shapes, inspired by traditional Korean prints and fabrics, further elaborate on this theme by depicting how the two identities interact and relate to one another. Asian American is not two halves becoming a whole; it’s two distinct entities forming something entirely new.
In light of increased anti-Asian racism, what words of wisdom would you share with folks who are struggling to get through these times?
What’s your family’s American story?
I was born in the Philippines, in a small city called Cavite, and came to America at the age of eleven. My family and I left the Philippines during the twilight of the Marcos dictatorship to seek opportunities for a better life. We were fortunate to have relatives in America to help us acclimate. My aunt was part of the first wave of trained medical professionals in the Philippines to immigrate to the U.S. in the late 1960s to help fill the shortage of nurses. Growing up in America, I struggled to fit in. Manila, with its constant bustle and noisy streets, had been the only home I ever knew, and I yearned for the warmth and laughter of my grandparents and the friends I left behind. I inhabited this quiet space, constrained by my limited grasp of English. People made fun of my accent, so I worked hard to fix it to be accepted and close the distance of my proximity to whiteness through language. But I quickly realized that the sense of belonging and acceptance I desired was untenable, fragile. As a result, during my first few years in America, years of critical formation, I retreated into myself and my imagination. And retreating resonated within my other identity: being gay and in the closet.
How has this identity shaped you and your career?
As I reflect on the long process of accepting my identity as a first-generation, queer Filipino American, it seems like my whole life has been a constant struggle and journey of coming out. I now don’t take for granted coming out as gay, as an artist, or as an activist—coming out has been a process that enabled me to know myself more deeply. Each stage of acceptance led to another, and ultimately, to where I am today. Full acceptance of my complete self, living my life on my own terms, is the song of myself.
What’s Advancing Justice – Asian Law Caucus’ (ALC) mission and work?
ALC was founded in 1972 on the heels of the Civil Rights Movement as the nation’s first civil rights and legal nonprofit serving the AAPI community. Our mission is to defend, protect and promote the civil rights of this community. And our vision is to create a democratic society where race, class, national origin and immigration status are not barriers to thriving. Through workers rights, housing rights, immigrant rights, criminal justice reform, national security & civil rights, and voting rights programs, we strive to achieve economic security, racial equity, and immigrant justice.
How do you feel about the ‘model minority’ myth?
The ‘model minority’ myth, the pervasive narrative that AAPIs have universally achieved a high level of success through hard work and assimilation compared to other racial and ethnic groups, is a double-edged sword. The key word here is sword—something that divides people. In a good economy, the AAPI community reaps the benefits and the privilege of being portrayed as a successful racial demographic, notwithstanding critical issues like poverty and income inequality within the community. But at the same time, this image is used to cast other racial and ethnic groups in a bad light. This myth also becomes a tool to foment anti-Blackness within the AAPI community. In bad times, like the pandemic, we are scapegoated and seen as “the Other,” the perpetual foreigner. In both cases, we have to see the ‘model minority’ frame for what it is: a pernicious lie told to uphold white supremacy and anti-Black racism.
Aside from the rise in racist attacks, how has the pandemic disproportionately impacted the AAPI community?
The pandemic exposed the glaring income inequality in the AAPI community, now the most economically divided group in the country. Of the 20 million AAPIs in the U.S., 2 million are essential workers. Unemployment in our communities increased by 450% at the beginning of the pandemic. 75% of Asian-owned businesses had no access to COVID relief. In response to some critical challenges resulting from the pandemic, we quickly secured the release of community members in immigration detention who were vulnerable to COVID-19. As one of the very few organizations providing deportation and detention defense for AAPI immigrants, ALC continues to challenge the deportations of formerly incarcerated Cambodian and Vietnamese refugees. We also assist limited-English-proficient community members apply for unemployment benefits and provide legal assistance and Know Your Rights information to elderly and other vulnerable tenants during the pandemic, and are anticipating a deluge of cases when the eviction moratorium is lifted.
We have to see the ‘model minority’ frame for what it is: a pernicious lie told to uphold white supremacy and anti-Black racism.
– PAUL OCAMPO
What’s the inspiration behind your custom Trucker Jacket?
PREETI MISTRY
ou’re a second-generation Indian, British-born, queer and non-binary immigrant. How do you navigate the intersection of these identities—both as a chef and person?
It’s an interesting and unique space that not a lot of people occupy. I think it’s been challenging and not without its continued hurdles, but that’s also what gives me a different perspective than others. Thus, I feel like in that way it’s an advantage because I just see things in ways other people don’t.
How has your background informed your craft?
Because there’s no box you can put me in…or because I check so many boxes, I’m able to “think outside the box.” I do what feels right and go with my gut, because that’s what’s worked in the past—not living up to someone else’s expectations or validation.
In your opinion, how can people embrace other cuisines without being appropriative and exploitative?
The most important thing is respecting the culture the food is from. Also, acknowledging that you may not be an expert or know everything about another cuisine is a good start.
“Find joy in the solidarity of all BIPOC folks, so we can lift each other up.”
PREETI MISTRY
What’s the inspiration behind your custom Trucker Jacket?
Well, I think the first thing was incorporating some of my favorite colors that really embody an Indian aesthetic. I love how bright pinks and orange are used with no abandon in Indian design and clothing. In India, pink isn’t strictly a feminine color—it’s used everywhere and often in more masculine designs. I wanted some embroidered mirror work, because it’s an extremely old—like centuries old!!—technique and style used throughout India. The tiger represents strength and courage, and has always been one of my favorite animals (I even have a tattoo). Many Hindu goddesses are depicted riding a tiger to symbolize their power. Finally, I wanted to incorporate something that spoke to our food culture. Curry leaves are so beautiful and such an integral part of so many regions of India’s varied cuisines.
In light of increased anti-Asian racism, what words of wisdom would you share with folks who are struggling to get through these times?
Recognize all this hatred comes from white supremacy and don’t let that systemic racism pit us against each other. Find joy in the solidarity of all BIPOC folks, so we can lift each other up.
SEAN LEQUANG
Designer
What’s your family’s American story?
I am a Vietnamese American born in California. Like many other Vietnamese families, my family’s American story is one that is filled with strength, humility and sacrifice. In 1975, the turning point of the Vietnam War, my family had to leave Saigon for a better life, as a result of losing almost everything: friends, family and their homes. My last name comes from my family changing my original last name from “Le” to “LeQuang” to help keep track of our family members in case they got separated after leaving Vietnam. My father’s family was fostered in Honolulu before moving to California. My mother, the strongest person I know, made her way from Vietnam, losing touch with some of her family on the way to America, where she met my father. I can only imagine. Like many other Vietnamese children, I have much love and respect for the parents who came to America because of the war. I will never forget my family’s history—it is the reason I am here today.
What can people do to support their AAPI friends, colleagues, and neighbors in their everyday lives?
Support AAPI micro-communities in your area! Embrace your AAPI connections by being open to their cultures and traditions. I believe one of the best ways to support is by way of food. Sharing a meal of someone’s culture can give you a way to not only enjoy their cuisine but engage in a conversation about their families, history, and memories.
What’s the inspiration behind your custom Trucker Jacket?
To read the stories of AAPI members of the Levi’s® community, check out our interviews (complete with stacks of customized jackets!) with our employees and Design team.
Have your own AAPI story to tell? Customize it yourself or recruit the expertise of a Levi’s® tailor.