Author: Thamara Subramanian

Unpacking the Conversations that Matter: “That Place Is ‘Dangerous, Shady, Ghetto’ & Paradoxical Perceptions of Our Gentrifying Cities

Unpacking the Conversations that Matter: “That Place Is ‘Dangerous, Shady, Ghetto’ & Paradoxical Perceptions of Our Gentrifying Cities

Posted by | Nov 7, 2019 | , , | 0

I’ll admit it: I love grabbing the occasional $5.00 latte at a super artsy coffee shop—often located in a newly “revived” part of the urban neighborhood I live in. Words on billboards and signs in front of new small businesses advertise the “revival” of a “rough” neighborhood “replenishing” the economy. I pay for my latte, and I turn left toward my apartment. But what happens if I turn right?

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Unpacking Conversations That Matter: “I wish I could be as tan as you” and more: Deconstructing Appropriation and the Quest for Authenticity

Unpacking Conversations That Matter: “I wish I could be as tan as you” and more: Deconstructing Appropriation and the Quest for Authenticity

Posted by | Oct 17, 2019 | , , | 0

When you stand out as being visually “different” in a space, “Where are you from?” “Can I touch your hair?” or (the most interesting,) “I wish I could be as tan as you,” are common questions and comments. Now, disclaimer: I am all for giving genuine compliments; heck, I am more than happy you love my chocolate glow! That being said, there is a fine line between being intentionally curious and celebrating someone’s unique characteristics, and exoticizing these characteristics.

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Unpacking the Conversations that Matter: “They are Taking Our Jobs” and Challenging Anti-Immigrant Rhetoric

Unpacking the Conversations that Matter: “They are Taking Our Jobs” and Challenging Anti-Immigrant Rhetoric

Posted by | Sep 19, 2019 | , , | 0

“They are taking our jobs!”  “How do you stop these people?” “We aren’t those types of immigrants.” Last week, as we found ourselves on the 18th anniversary of 9/11, I couldn’t help but think of that day in 2001, one of the first occurrences in my lifetime that changed how Americans viewed freedom and security. As a child of immigrants, this day was the first time I was told I wasn’t “one of us,” but rather one of ‘them.’ 

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A Point of View: The Power of Inclusion in Children’s Literature and Beyond

Posted by | Aug 22, 2019 | , | 0

I stumbled upon a small independent bookstore, and I noticed something I hadn’t seen before: every book displayed featured racial/ethnic identities often underrepresented in literature: an African-American, Latinx, or Asian-American protagonist. And no, they weren’t labeled “multicultural” or “diverse” children’s books. They were just “Children’s books.” 

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Demystifying Internalized Oppression: Being the “Model Minority” isn’t a compliment: How internalizing the Model Minority Myth does more harm than good

Demystifying Internalized Oppression: Being the “Model Minority” isn’t a compliment: How internalizing the Model Minority Myth does more harm than good

Posted by | Jul 25, 2019 | , , | 0

Last week, when Leigh introduced us to the topic of internalized oppression, I couldn’t help but think of one of the most problematic “compliments” that I have encountered as a member of the Asian American community and how I have internalized it: being the “Model Minority.” This term has been used for decades to describe how the Asian-American population in America is exceptionally high-achieving, highly educated, and thus, a “model” for other minority groups to strive to emulate.

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Racial Justice at Work: Practical Solutions for Systemic Change

Racial Justice at Work book cover

Black Fatigue: How Racism Erodes the Mind, Body, and Spirit

Inclusive Conversations: Fostering Equity, Empathy and Belonging Across Differences

We Can’t Talk About That At Work! (Second Edition)

Cover of the book We Can't Talk about That at Work (Second Edition) by Mary-Frances Winters and Mareisha N Reese

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