Your View by Easton high school students: What video project taught us about Asian American cultures

“It’s Asian Heritage Month?”The two of us received that question over a dozen times in the span of a week — mostly from other Asian Americans.May was our month, but it seemed like the majority of our community didn’t know that. Were we surprised? Of course not. Even we didn’t realize the significance of May until this past April.As a kid, you don’t think much of your identity beyond simple things: what you like or dislike, what you do, who you know. It isn’t until those formative teenage years that you realize how your background contributes to who you are.Emily Giang (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/)Victoria Santos (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/)Both of us are 17 now. We’re in the midst of pursuing this curiosity surrounding our heritage; we know our peers are, too. And in discovering the beautiful and unique cultures of our people, we’ve found an overwhelming sense of admiration, appreciation — pride. This became the kindling for our video project; the spark came in February.Our schools at Easton celebrate Black History Month each year. Whether it’s through Martin Luther King Jr. Day or class assemblies, our district finds a way to highlight excellence in our community. It’s a rewarding experience watching people showcase their black heritage. But we found an unexpected question about our school’s Asian representation: Where was it? Around 130 of Easton Area High School’s population, a mere 5%, is Asian. Because of these numbers, the two of us ached to show our community the profound stories and insights of our fellow Asian Americans. We needed a platform, but a schoolwide presentation wasn’t ideal — it had to be intimate.We decided on an interview project, which allowed us to delve into discussions about stereotypes, culture and family. Our participants offered responses that provided powerful commentary about the Asian American experience at Easton.We posted the video online and garnered over 500 views, much to our surprise. Though this is a small number in a world of social media influencers, the impact we saw in our school was the only measurement of success we needed.We wish to reflect on this impact by describing what we learned through the project. Here are our main takeaways:Learning about other cultures is fascinating.Central, Eastern, Western, Southern and Southeast Asian cultures are wildly different. We both knew this already, coming from dissimilar backgrounds. But talking to our peers made this especially evident.Kristy shed light on the Chinese custom of paying your parents once employed, a gesture of gratitude for their selfless efforts.Zafir illustrated the flamboyant nature of Bengali culture, expressed through colorful cuisine and dresses adorned with precious metals.Josh described the importance of proper titles in Filipino culture. “I don’t even call my sister by her name,” he laughed.Some beliefs we found were universal: emphasis on family, respect for elders, the importance of success. This is what unites us. But we realized that “Asian culture” is just an umbrella term. There is no singular set of beliefs, traditions and customs that defines us all.People want to share their stories; we only need to ask.Initially, we felt nervous asking our participants such personal questions. But not only were they willing to divulge their experiences, they felt it was their duty to do so.We pridefully watched Dat, always boisterous and lighthearted, speak sincerely about his mother’s childhood.We found community chatting with Dan and Robbie, bonding over similar customs and learning the differences of others.We sympathized with students, like those who described their families’ mistreatment following 9/11.Countless minutes of film showed us that many people are willing to share their experiences for the sake of educating others.People want to understand; we only need to speak up.The view count on the video climbed fast. Many peers told us how much they loved it. Staff members watched it — some two or three times.We were told, “I showed my co-workers” and “I sent it to my sister.” Teachers stopped us in the hallway, saying, “it made me realize these biases” and “I’ve learned how much I have to work on.” One teacher shared an especially heartwarming remark: “It helped me and my wife initiate discussion with our adopted son.”The video has received so much praise, more than we could ever ask for — but it’s not the film quality, cinematography, or color-grading that so many speak on. It’s the hidden stories, the unspoken perspective they didn’t know they wanted.People are more willing to know each other than we ever thought — as Asians, non-Asians, storytellers, listeners. We should continue to educate others, spread awareness, and indulge in our curiosities for the sake of understanding. Awareness and empathy are powerful forces, ones that could combat so much of the world’s suffering, if we let them.Emily Giang and Victoria Santos are Asian American juniors at Easton Area High School. You can view their video at https://youtu.be/4_lMrS5voSw
Source: Morningcall