Dear NCAKE members and friends,
I write this letter with a heavy heart, as the United States continues to mourn over the recent senseless violence, the horrific killings in Atlanta, GA, as well as heightened attacks against our Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander people here in Northern California and around the nation. I pause to acknowledge the suffering, trauma, and fear that many AAPI communities are feeling right now. As an Asian immigrant, mother, daughter, and educator, I struggle myself to make sense of this situation. From racist comments stemming from xenophobia in public and implicit bias/microaggression at work to safety concerns for my own family members - these are my personal experiences of oppression and racism in this society.
However, recent events are only a moment in the centuries of Asian American history in the United States. From the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, the incarceration of Japanese ancestry during WWII, to the Filipino Farm Workers Movement, we are at the heart of the Golden State that connects Asia and the United States. We must not forget the oppression of the AAPI people, but also honor their legacy, culture, excellence, and joy.
Navigating the topic of anti-Asian racism with students and families has created some of the most powerful moments in the past few weeks. At the vigil held at my elementary school, brave students, families, and staff from AAPI communities shared their family history and lived experience as AAPIs. I shared “Tinsagu nu hana - Balsam flower”, the song that is dear to many Okinawan and Okinawan diasporas around the world. The translation of the third verse goes like this: “Just as the boat sailing at night looks up to the north star for guidance, one day my parents will depend upon me” Looking after elders in the community is a virtue of my culture, as well as seeing children as our hope for the future. Our students are “ninufa bushi - the north star”. As Zoltán Kodály said, "Real art is one of the most powerful forces in the rise of mankind, and he who renders it accessible to as many people as possible is a benefactor of humanity." Let us stand together and reach out to humanity through music education.
In solidarity,
Minami Cohen
NCAKE President