Since 2020, Asian Americans have faced two, intertwining monsters: the COVID-19 pandemic and racism.
The Monsters in Our Midst
Immigration
The Places I Call Home
I put together this collection of photos as a tribute to the places that are part of my life and feel like home. For me, home is both places and emotions. That is why I included photos of the physical places and descriptions of my memories there. Since moving from Peru to the US two years ago, I’ve been reflecting on my sense of identity and what home means to me. I know that many people who immigrate feel this way. This piece sends the message that it’s okay if you feel like you come from more than one place or have more than one home.
A Planted Scar
I dedicate this poem to my mom, Ana Vazquez. She sacrificed so much to help me become the woman I am. Even when we aren’t together, I know she’s giving me strength.
The Journey We Take
All of our stories deserve to be heard, which is why I decided to share mine. This experience has been the motivation that pushes me to demonstrate to others, and myself, what I am capable of.
the brighter sun
This piece unintentionally secured itself a special place in my heart. It reflects my feelings, my aspirations, and my hope that this new country will allow me to embrace my new place in history.
Sapogi
“Sapogi” is a tender yet heart-wrenching examination of a mother-daughter relationship and a testament to the nuance of the cultural divide, or conversation, between immigrant parents and their children with shoes as the centerpiece.
Banana Bread and Lemon Glaze
A short story about code switching and living between two worlds.
Flight 1004
She’s finally ready to explore the physical world for the first time, but something is missing and it’s the final piece to reconcile her two metaphysical worlds.
Melanin Tears
A young girl born to immigrant parents trying to fit into American society. She realizes that she is uncomfortable with herself and the nation.
My Mother’s Allegiance
My Mother’s Allegiance focuses on the essential factors that encouraged my mother to flee to America, and the assimilation and racism often present in the experiences of an immigrant.
Butterfly 蝴蝶
“Butterfly 蝴蝶” is an ode to my great-grandmother, who passed away a few years ago. On occasion, the butterfly of her spirit still flies by.
shadows of the sea
Separated by a century, two paths intersect in a journey of identity, legacy, womanhood, and coming of age in a painful world.
Pozole
A heartwarming moment between a mother and daughter. Cooking pozole, a Mexican meal, and learning about their roots.
Translating
I have experienced translation as a fundamental phenomenon in my communication. I feel colonization living in my words.
We are Girls from the East
The poem speaks to our shared history as Asian-American women, emphasizing a colonial past in China and India, our liberation, and the formation of new rituals between generations all through the lens of tea.