Aoki Journal 5/4 - Leigh Bagood

I had only heard of the name Richard Aoki prior to this film but did not know much about his significant role with the TWLF. I think it’s imperative for us, as Asian Americans at a top public university, to recognize and learn about the leaders whose efforts allow us to be here today, especially since the privilege to take a class about the history of Asian Americans comes from the very struggles we are learning about. What I also found interesting was Aoki’s involvement with not only Asian American activism, but Black activism. Asian American activists’ alliance with other minority groups is especially relevant today as the Black Lives Matter movement pervades our everyday lives. I think it’s important to realize that to fight for Asian American rights is to also fight for the rights of other minority groups as you can’t expect to equal the playing field without including everybody who faces discrimination or oppression. I think learning about Aoki really teaches important ideas about resilience and solidarity in Asian American activism, lessons we can and should apply today as a group that is still marginalized. To act as if racial issues aren’t still extremely prevalent and detrimental is to disregard the efforts of those activists who came before us such as Richard Aoki.

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