I just finished watching the latest TV series American Born Chinese. And without spoiling the show, something happened by the end of the series.
I was reminded to “be me.”
As a Chinese American, a hitherto fore sorely under-represented demographic in Hollywood and the media there is something profound that happens when our stories are told in ways that are uniquely ours, that addresses the nuances in thoughtful ways. Sure, there was some kung-fu in this mini-series, and cringe-worthy moments as people who are trying to be culturally appropriate ironically end up being completely inappropriate. But by and large the show does an excellent job bringing out various nuances that Asian Americans and other people of color wrestle with as we long to be seen and known rather than pigeonholed.
Something profound happens when we are represented well, when cultural nuances are expressed in subtle yet significant ways—not in loud or stereotypical ways (read: either overemphasized or missing altogether) but in mundane ways that normalize bits of ourselves.
I found myself in tears not because of the dialog, but the profundity of simply being represented on screen and the reminder to be myself. Having TV shows and movies that feature stories of people who look like me allows me to see myself represented in all my uniqueness—of being bi-cultural, both Chinese and American, yet never treated fully as either. The emotions reminded me of the deep visceral reaction I had when Everything Everywhere All at Once won a slew of Oscars earlier this year. I had never cried when watching an award show before. But seeing people who looked like me being honored for simply being who they are and telling their stories was so refreshingly cathartic. It’s a reminder to all of us, especially Asian Americans, to unapologetically take up space. Who we are matters. Our stories matter. Representation matters.
And it can start right where we live and work. When we are seen and known personally by those we do life with we begin to experience love in a way that helps us know that our presence makes a difference.
