Social Justice

Wing Luke Museum’s “Asian American Women Rising: NOT Your Model Minority” was a masterfully crafted webinar on May 22, with the goal of inspiring viewers to participate in our democracy for the purpose of ending hate and violence against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders\, especially women. The UW's Connie So, teaching professor of American ethnic studies, and student Tianna Andresen are quoted.

It is sometimes the first time Asian Americans experience racism: at school and, more specifically, in the school cafeteria. The experience has been dubbed the "lunchbox moment," when a child brings a lunch packed by their parents at home — a dish that may be from their cultural background. The UW's Michael Spencer, professor of social work, and Connie So, teaching professor of American ethnic studies, are interviewed.

At least 15 states are trying to ban schools from teaching critical race theory and the 1619 Project. Christopher Parker, professor of political science at the UW, is quoted.

Washington has enacted a number of police reforms since George Floyd was murdered one year ago. Among them is a mandatory 8-hour course, broken up into sessions, for police recruits on the history of racism and policing. Alexes Harris, professor of sociology at the UW, is mentioned.

Christopher Sebastian Parker, professor of political science, discusses what sparked the summer of social unrest.

Ana Mari Cauce discusses the one-year anniversary of the murder of George Floyd.

Universal, Sony and Warner have paid out just a portion of the money they promised to give, VICE found — revealing a disconnect between how they’ve publicly characterized their donations and what’s really happening behind the scenes. Megan Ming Francis, associate professor of political science at the UW, is quoted.

One year after the killing of George Floyd and the largely peaceful protests it spawned, the BLM movement has achieved mainstream recognition in the United States and beyond, with protests last summer hitting all seven continents. But the movement now faces the same challenge many grassroots efforts have: how to move beyond the recognition toward concrete solutions. Christopher Parker, professor of political science at the UW, is quoted.

From dragon ladies to geeky sidekicks, being Asian in America comes with complicated and contradictory expectations. Douglass Ishii, assistant professor of English at the UW, is interviewed on "Speakers Forum." [The interview with Ishii begins at 14:00]

A young generation of Asian and Pacific Islanders is leading a new wave of activism. Connie So, teaching professor of American ethnic studies at the UW, is interviewed.

A collection of work by Arts & Sciences faculty, students, alumni and friends related to Asian American and Pacific Islander history, heritage and culture.

Christoph Giebel, associate professor of history and of international studies at the UW, writes of a marker in Seattle's Volunteer Park, "The marker’s words grotesquely falsify a gruesome past ... To call America’s violent conquest of Asia’s first constitutional republic [the Philippines] a 'liberation of oppressed peoples' constitutes an 'alternative fact' so shameless as to render the plaque’s continued display scandalous."

Since 1994, alumni and friends in the Multicultural Alumni Partnership have worked together to promote diversity at the UW and address issues of equity and diversity on our campuses and in our community. This year’s promising scholars range from early undergraduates who are still zeroing in on a major to those pursuing graduate and professional degrees.

In 2019, federal agents took Carlos Rivera away in handcuffs when he strayed across the U.S.-Canada border, even though he says they could see his 7-year-old son waiting for him with a friend on the Canadian side. The UW's Angelina Godoy, professor of law, societies and justice and of international studies, and director of the UW Center for Human Rights, is quoted.

The pandemic saw a spike in xenophobia against Asians. Digital artist Chanee Choi, a doctoral student in digital arts and experimental media at the UW, decided to fight back in a way only she could.