“All Asians Look the Same” is Anti-Black

Maybelline’s Fit Me® Matte + Poreless Foundation has 70+ shades and only one for 700+ million East Asians. This isn’t the only time you see “All Asians Look the Same.”

This is covertly anti-Black. The portrayal of Asians as homogeneous has been weaponized against Asians AND Black people in the form of the “Model Minority” Fallacy (MMF).

MMF basically says “Asians work hard and succeed. So your struggle is not due to racism.” It systematically perpetuates the hardworking myth which is used to subjugate Asians. It is also used to dismiss the negative impacts of the historical and current practice of institutional, legislated racism against Black and Indigenous peoples.

And it is used to divide and weaken the anti-racism movement.

So, how does it harm Asians? Isn’t it a compliment to be called hardworking and successful? There are some layers. MMF is used to hold Asians to impossible standards. I think it goes without saying that bosses hold us to different productivity expectations. We would get reprimanded for doing the same as everyone else. We would get dismissed for reporting a workplace violence because “it’s not Asian to complain.” It certainly preys on the collectivist culture and the focus on productivity. It also preys on the coping style by silence and submission cultivated during oppressive regimes. But the really evil part of this irony is that they are making us produce the kind of statistics that legitimize the “Model Minority Fallacy” we are trying to dispel. We are forced to give them statistics to justify their expectations of us. And, again, this whole system, just like any other stereotype-based discrimination, relies on “All Asians Look the Same.”

So why is it anti-Black? First, I want to clarify that this isn’t my original thought as it’s been said by many. I want to avoid appearing like I’m trying to lift my cause on the coattail of the current Black liberation movements.

Just the other day I saw an anti-Black tweet in which a guy said “We like our Asians. They work hard for us.” Asians holding down a job is presented by white men as success (even though we don’t get promoted – aka “bamboo ceiling”), and it is used to discredit the impact of racism. “If Asians can succeed despite racism,” they say. Isn’t this convenient: they use racism to force Asians to record high productivity statistics, and then they use it to oppress Black and Indigenous peoples. (This also minimizes the different historical and current contexts of institutional racism, but it’s a whole another post.)

After some research, I wonder if the society has a covert goal of causing a divide between the Asian and other anti-racism movements by pitting the groups against each other. The “Model Minority Fallacy” certainly comes up when it’s most convenient, like the 1960’s. It’s 2020, and we are seeing throughout the world how enduring and powerful Black and Asian uprising are. Can you imagine if they came together to support the Black-led anti-racism movements?

 

 

NB: I specifically use the term “Model Minority Fallacy” instead of “Model Minority Myth” to push back on the use of statistics to legitimize the idea.

 

A lot of my thoughts either came from or were inspired by Kat Chow and others who have come before me. I note that the language in Kat’s title is inappropriate in referring to Black people. https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2017/04/19/524571669/model-minority-myth-again-used-as-a-racial-wedge-between-asians-and-blacks

 

White Curation of Facts

Science and Research are far from being free of racism. The “knowledge” and “facts” are curated is Eurocentric and racist ways for the following reasons.

• The sole focus on peer-reviewed paper as the validator of “facts” when reviewers are white
• The white reviewers with white-centric worldviews have the “majority vote” and the vetoing powers
• The funding agency / agent’s implicit and explicit favoritism of white researchers
• White-laundering (coined by Tyler Reiztner) and revisionist “facts” – e.g. white neurobiological researchers “discovering” that body and mind are one unit, not two separate things, claiming a thousand years of Buddhist practice “didn’t offer proof.”
• This creates an academic field AND the knowledge base dominated by white people who lift white people and actively erase other forms of knowledge.
• Therefore, the current system of knowledge building constitutes a self-fulfilling prophecy of white worshiping.
• The traditional knowing, oral traditions, and body-based knowing are not only invalidated but erased. . . until a white man with a million-dollar brain scan “discovers” it.

 

We practice valuing all facts, truths, knowledge, and science.

 

Free to reproduce with permission at info@experiential.studio

Cite as

Kano, T. (2020, June 25). White curation of facts. The Experiential Studio. http://experiential.studio/2020/06/25/the-facts

Cultural Appropriation as Subjugation

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Cultural appropriation is a form of subjugation.

We are absolutely serious about eradicating cultural appropriation. We believe that cultural appropriation is not only the immediate harm of what a person does in that moment. It includes the great negative upstream impact in co-opting the original cultural significance and erasing the sacred meaning of a particular practice. It includes the perpetuation of white worshiping by destroying the unit of and reason for resistance.

Yes, it is incredibly violating to see someone wearing our sacred, rite-of-passage, or ceremonial regalia outside of its proper use, especially in a degrading, sexualized, or modified way. The harm of this in that instance itself is insurmountable.

And also, there is a much wider and permanent harm.

The appropriated use has a much wider exposure and an allure than the appropriate, culturally-congruent use due to privilege and white worshiping. Cultural appropriation committed by celebrities amplify. So fast. So wide. This has an effect of not only erasing the original meaning by co-opting it but also, in this “majority-vote” culture, it becomes its own justification.

Also, every instance of cultural appropriation passing by without resistance is reinforcing white worshiping and confirming the society’s attitude that white people can own what they want, including other people’s identity. In history, people in power first attacked culture, the most sacred, purposefully in order to show off their power and subjugate people. As culture is often a unit of shared worldview and therefore resistance, attacking the cultural symbols and sacred items is a way to cut the head off a snake.

One notable form of cultural appropriation is white laundering (as coined by Tyler Reitzner, Sept 5, 2019). That is the theft of the entire concept including ownership using the Eurocentric definition of “proof.” They claim to “discover” the ideas that has existed in Eastern or Indigenous cultures all along. Who knows that Maslow stole the hierarchy of need from the Blackfoot (see Nahanee Creative Inc.)? The wider impact of this is the reinforcement and concretization of white worshiping through formalization of erasure of traditional, cultural knowledge that are not “validated” through Eurocentral definition of “fact.” It’s cultural plagiarism.  It’s cultural terra nullius.

The question I hear often is “How is cultural appropriation different from cultural appreciation?” First, an appreciator would follow the established knowledge-keepers’ direction and leadership. They are keen to learn it, not diminish it into a mere springboard for their own story. Secondly, they put a great effort into mitigating the upstream impact of their perceived “use” of the culture. This may be clarifying that this particular participation is culturally supervised / endorsed by the knowledge holders.

We not only have to do our due diligence to avoid it and to correct it when transgressions occur, but we actively participate in elimination of cultural appropriation through education and advocacy. But combating white worshiping is difficult because white worshiping protects itself; i.e. their default is not listening to people. We can use all your help.

 

 

Free to reproduce with permission. info@experiential.studio

Cite as

Kano, T. (2020, June 20). Our definition of cultural appropriation. The Experiential Studio. https://experiential.studio/cultural-appropriation/

Let’s Rethink the Word “Trauma”

Reproduced with permission. Originally published June 20, 2020.

At The Experiential Studio, we hold a strength-based, anti-oppressive, consensus-based approach. We don’t find that the word “trauma” fits our practice. We don’t find the term “trauma-informed” is trauma-informed.

Yes, trauma is what happened and how it left you. Yes, what happened to you was brutal. We believe though that what you experienced was survival. 

Here is a translation guide.

• “trauma” ⇒ a survival event; an event someone survived / is surviving
• “trauma response” ⇒ acquired survival response (ASR)
• “trauma-informed” ⇒ consensus-focused
• “Safety” ⇒ consensus-focused
• “a trigger” ⇒ an ASR-activating stimulus
• to “trigger” ⇒ to activate ASR

 

 

Author’s note: At The Experiential Studios, we practice decolonizing anti-oppression, which includes questioning the Euro-centric systems of credibility and expertise. We publish our thoughts on this blog instead of other formats such as peer-reviewed journals. The contents are free to reproduce with consent. Contact: info@experiential.studio

APA Citation: Kano, T. (2020, June 20). Let’s rethink the word “trauma.” https://experiential.studio/2020/06/20/lets-rethink-the-word-trauma/

 

Dear Maslow Revisionists: Science says “No.”

When science said “belonging” is a fundamental need just like food and water, they did not mean “belonging” the way you thought it did.

Belonging = Group membership ensures access to big game, 24-hour guarding, breeding, and diversity in gene pool (and therefore survival of the species). Science says this is in many cases a basic need, the bottom two layers. But no need to move “belonging” there – food, safety, protection, breeding are already included in the basic needs.

Belonging = a sense of being surrounded by similarities, having access to supports, sharing common interests, playing together, feeling needed, sense of contribution and worthiness, those are in the belonging category and do belong to the third level, psychological needs.

Please do not listen to any random theories or blog post. People do (without intending malice) interpret things the way they serve them. If belonging was ranked at the bottom level, it legitimizes some of the modalities some people are trying to merchandize. But it’s just a confusion of words, and science does not support putting belonging in the basic needs layers.

Cultural appropriation vs. Cultural appreciation

Ok, so, following my previous post, fair question about cultural appropriation.

Here is how I want to present it.
There is a switch that flips in someone’s mind that goes from “oh this is new and I know nothing” to “oh I totally get it.”
And that switch is flipped way too early and, more importantly, flipped by the person learning. Once this switch is flipped, they start acting and talking like the expert and absolutely stop listening.
I’m sure you see it too in safety training, hockey skills, etc. and know how harmful it is. Now imagine it happening to something that’s a part of your identity, integral to your wellness, protected by blood for a thousand+ years, and something that, once stolen, is impossible to reclaim.

The difference between cultural appropriation and cultural appreciation is that the latter forever deeply accepts that they don’t understand its whole context and importance fully. That switch never flips. So they might try to learn and practice but don’t ever try to steal.

Problem with white people writing “How to talk race to kids” posts

I’m seeing a number of “how to talk race to kids” posts. But

– The society is NOT waiting till age appropriate to brainwash kids with racism.

– Kids are capable of race-based harm at age 2.

Now, my message is not to rush you to talk race to your kids. My message is “Talking race to kids” is NOT where you start.

Check the luxury and athletic brands that contains a name – how much is white?
Check the special-occasion restaurants you go as a family and how you speak of them.
Check your book shelf – how white is it?
Look at your interior decor – how rich is it?
How many TV shows you watch has a black, Indigenous protagonist in a positive light?

Consider checking your bias (E.g. stop saying “American” “Canadian” to mean white, and don’t use that to excuse yourself from your own cultural exploration), checking your language and the subtlest nonverbals to TV contents (what type of thing you point out / compliment for each race?), and check your environment to create an anti-oppressive environment.

If your first reaction was “But POCs don’t make these!” Then consider that the society has made it impossible for POCs to do it. Reverse it by really doing the effort to find them.

An inherent issue with FactBC that white people dont want to hear

Counsellors

I have long ago accepted that having to educate my own counsellors on race and society is inevitable. Of 50-min sessions, at least 15 of each session is spent, at best, educating the person I’m paying and, at worst, having to listen to their shame and entitlement.

So why did I bother going to a white counsellor? Because there are so few BIPOC counsellors, and they have a long wait list. So why so few BIPOC counsellors?

One, the “credential” gatekeeping. I acknowledge the need for gatekeeping. But gatekeeping made up of university degrees that require the privilege of time and money is erasure. It takes the concept of human rapport and healing and makes an industry out of it. The people who can truly help me without my great investment are specifically kept out of the industry. People with the traditional, cultural knowledge of healing are kept out of the industry.

And they are actively kept out of the industry. Because the MSP and extended health will only cover registered counsellors. And because ICBC, WorksafeBC, and VPD victim services will only refer to registered counsellors with a masters degree. That’s gatekeeping levelling up to systemic oppression.

Now that there are so many bad counsellors in BC that they are trying to legislate it. This is like finding the frying pan too hot and cracking the heat up. One of the benefits of legislating is the ability to regulate the quality offered, but tell me any counsellor anywhere in North America who got their license taken away for being an ineffective counsellor. They only have licences revoked for some gross and overt violation like sleeping with a client or not following the duty to report. It does not acknowledge that wasting $120/week of a marginalized person’s money with ineffective counsellors is a direct harm to not only their financial health but also their mental health because it repeats oppression and broken promises (and against the “reasonable care” principle in their code of ethics).

It is neither the logical or practical answer to this problem.

Anti-racism Direct action is not a choice

My heart rate is shooting up to 100+ repeatedly all day while sitting on the couch trying to help with the movement. Do you think I choose this? No way. Neither do the people on the frontline of protest. Solidarity isn’t a choice. It’s a responsibility of the privileged (which I am, and anyone sitting in your home safely today is too).

If you think hearing about someone else’s distress means YOU get to earn some self-care time to soothe your nerves, rather than putting up with a bit of distress and putting that time to help the people whose struggle is so bad that just hearing about it in the safety of your own home is stressing you out… Between the two of you, how is it you who needs your care? (of course, do know your limits and please do not hurt yourself. I’m advocating for a bit of discomfort, not more than your systems can take, especially if you experience racialized marginalization).

Our stressed out state would be someone else’s dream of safety.

“So what exactly do I do?”: Learning from a POC acting in solidarity in the face of racism atrocities

Here is a part of the list I hold for myself as someone acting from solidarity.

• Notice when you’re prioritizing the emotional and social safety of the racist.
• learn to strategically and skillfully intervene in racist moments so that the overall outcome is positive for the targeted people. The moment is not a catharsis for your anger. The future victim of the racist feeling under attack won’t be you.
• look over the authors of your bookshelf and internet history to realize your own implicit racism. You probably read an article about racism written by white and/or privileged people?
• On that note, accept that you don’t get to just jump into “anti-racism actions.” It’s like driving a car – you’ll hurt people unless you learn the skills first. Skills are as follows.
• examine how many things you say out of self-serving interests: to set yourself apart, to get a pat on the back, to avoid shame, or to seek a sense of fulfillment. Not a single moment of solidarity actions is supposed to be for you to benefit from.
• a lot of great, effective actions have invisible, anonymous, immeasurable outcomes that no one praises you for.
• read. Lots.
• Question societally assigned credibility (e.g. Ph.D.). Any title that requires a fee is classist and kyriarchal, and it very specifically excludes an entire group of people (with poverty as intersectionality) you should be listening to.
• accept that your understanding of the world (and the books) is limited. No matter how much you read, don’t waste people’s time by telling them how much you know because you don’t.
• cause people of racial privilege to shut up and listen.
• know that if it’s uncomfortable or scary to you, people with less privilege would lose friends for it. If it is something you’d lose friends for, people with less privilege would lose a job for it.
• donate time and money: racial privileges create more opportunities and higher pay
• Listen to the people actually experiencing the societal injustices, but, ironically, don’t listen to any random POC. A lot of us are just as brainwashed as anyone else, some had class privilege that let them avoid racism, and a LOT are white-wannabes.
• be prepared to be disliked. Be prepared to lose friends. Be prepared to lose party invitations. Accept that social actions always have a personal cost.