Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities have long struggled for visibility and inclusion. Despite nearly two centuries of bringing rich history, culture, and contributions to American society, our narratives are often erased and misrepresented in mainstream media and literature.
Harmful stereotypes and misconceptions about our communities, such as the “model minority” myth and the “perpetual foreigner,” further contribute towards dehumanizing biases that fuel anti-Asian sentiments and discrimination. While we have recently seen an increase of Asian American representation both in front and behind the camera — as well as in literature — our communities remain underrepresented in the media, in our history books, and in literary works.