#NotYourAsianSidekick: an amazing and necessary conversation

Spaces that are powered by Asian women in Western countries have been lacking in the feminist movement, even in an age where the internet has made it easier for this kind of activism to happen.

#NotYourAsianSidekick This is beginning b/c for too long I've complained about not having an AAPI space that represents me.
— Suey Park (@suey_park) December 15, 2013

Asian-American writer and activist Suey Park started a Twitter conversation, #NotYourAsianSidekick, hoping to address Asian-American feminism and social justice. However, thousands of people from all over the world participated in the conversation. It trended for over 13 hours, enough time for it to attract the attention of blogs and major media outlets.

Check out some of my favourite #NotYourAsianSidekick tweets!

I need Asian feminism that confronts, rejects, and dismantles the Model Minority myth as a tool of anti-black racism #NotYourAsianSidekick
— Julia Wong (@juliacarriew) December 15, 2013

Shalwar kameez is oppressive but kaftan and leggings is hippy white middle class #NotYourAsianSidekick
— Sam 'Lestat' Ambreen (@SamAmbreen) December 15, 2013

#NotYourAsianSidekick the US Army rapes more Asian women than any other ethnic group because we are designated Small Brown Fucking Machines
— Rani Desi Nagarvadhu (@nagarvadhu) December 15, 2013

Dead! RT @sandraholla: When you ask me to make Filipino food vegan or vegetarian for your refined colonizer palette #NotYourAsianSidekick
— blackgurltech (@blackgurltech) December 15, 2013

Don't compliment me on my English. It's another reminder of all of the racism that disconnected me from my culture. #NotYourAsianSidekick
— Judy (@volcaniclungs) December 15, 2013

When White feminists rip off hijabs because liberation is real when it matches western ideals #NotYourAsianSidekick
— N'jaila Rhee (@BlasianBytch) December 15, 2013

White people paying six times as much for asian ingredients at Whole Wallet b/c asian stores are "dirty" #NotYourAsianSidekick
— Saira Ali (@sairaforreal) December 15, 2013

The worst thing about all this is an an undergrad, there was the white queer scene and the heteronormative Asian kids. #NotYourAsianSidekick
— Suey Park (@suey_park) December 16, 2013

@suey_park for me it helps to remember my parents w/ their "hetero" &"cisness" have had their desires colonized 2. #NotYourAsianSidekick
— ngọc loan trần (@ntranloan) December 16, 2013

Don't tell me how "backwards" my country is for its homophobic laws when it was white imperialists who created them #NotYourAsianSidekick
— Bhaswati Chattopadhy (@BhaswatiChat) December 16, 2013

After watching the hashtag in real time over breakfast, I briefly joined in the conversation myself.

The erasure of Yuri Kochiyama's and Richard Aoki's contributions to the Black Panthers #NotYourAsianSidekick
— Duckie (@DuckieMcDuck) December 15, 2013

White supremacy lets us believe that only way they'll consider us close to equal is if we perpetuate anti-blackness #NotYourAsianSidekick
— Duckie (@DuckieMcDuck) December 15, 2013

Seeing too many Asian people I went to school with grapple with mental health issues w/ little to no help #NotYourAsianSidekick
— Duckie (@DuckieMcDuck) December 15, 2013

Going to the Food area of a bookstore and see "Easy Thai" or "Easy Indian" with the face of a white chef on the cover #NotYourAsianSidekick
— Duckie (@DuckieMcDuck) December 15, 2013

White people saying "Your parents must be horrified!" when I tell them I'm a politics major #NotYourAsianSidekick
— Duckie (@DuckieMcDuck) December 15, 2013

In high school, ppl keep asking why I "only hang out with Asians", why do you only hang out with other white people? #NotYourAsianSidekick
— Duckie (@DuckieMcDuck) December 15, 2013

We discussed racism in class and I was the only POC, people expected me to be not-so-critical b/c I'm Asian #NotYourAsianSidekick
— Duckie (@DuckieMcDuck) December 15, 2013

#NotYourAsianSidekick was an eye-opening discussion that tackles microaggressions, internalised racism, colonial mentality and invisibility in Asian diaspora communities. It's something that I believe we have felt for a long time, but we just needed that final push to use our solidarity to begin a movement. And we succeeded.

A huge kudos and thanks goes to Suey for launching the conversation, and for all the participants, for sharing their experiences and contributing to the groundswell. This won't be the last they'll hear of us.

You're right. Asian girls aren't angry or outspoken. We're fucking FURIOUS. #NotYourAsianSidekick
— Eshani Dixit (@HindustaniRani) December 15, 2013