“Love is one of the most powerful forms of resistance.” As Emcee, I was honored to open Cambridge Rindge and Latin’s third annual Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Assembly. Beginning in 2021, every May—AAPI Heritage Month—CRLS’ Pan Asian Club hosts an assembly with guest speakers, show-stopping performances, and a celebration of Asian culture. To uplift the Asian minority that makes up only 12% of the CRLS’ population and 6% of the total American population, the Pan Asian Club’s AAPI Assembly takes the frequently silenced group and dedicates a day to spotlight their culture, contributions, and history.
In response to the rise of Asian hate crimes following the pandemic, the Pan Asian Club has been reorienting their focus towards advocacy. Amy Kim ’24 told the Register Forum, “When I was in 9th grade, Pan Asian Club was just about playing ping pong and hanging out.” Since the pandemic, Pan Asian Club, while retaining a place for ping pong and as an affinity space, has transitioned into a new model that incorporates Asian activism alongside its fun.
This year, Pan Asian Club has taken an intentional step to incorporate various Asian cultures to combat the “Asian monolith” myth. Cultural elevations included collaboration with South Asian Club and performances from Pakistan, the Philippines, Nepal, Taiwan, and more. Shruti Shil ’27, a host of South Asian Club’s portion of the assembly, addressed the monolith myth, pointing out that “South Asians are usually disregarded and not considered Asian, so this was a special moment for us to be recognized.” The partnership between South Asian and Pan Asian Club led to a vibrant celebration exhibiting the richness of the vast Asian community.
The assembly’s need and impact go beyond the theater’s walls. Chanho Lee ’25 expressed to the Register Forum that “A lot of kids of color feel the need to assimilate into a white-dominant culture. Assemblies like these are so important because they encourage students to take pride and tell them they don’t need to assimilate into something they’re not.” Ms. Dongyeon Helen Shin, Pan Asian Club Advisor, agreed, smiling, “I wish I had something like this as an Asian youth growing up.”
When I, alongside fellow Pan Asian Club leaders, created and carried out this assembly for the first time in 2021, I had no idea it would become an annual staple with such a welcoming reception by CRLS. The Asian population continues to be put on the margins, being often told that they are not people of color while experiencing consistent racism. While one day of uplifting Asian culture might not seem like much, encouraging the voices society has deemed as ignorable is an active form of combating systemic racism. Love is one of the most powerful forms of resistance; through displaying community love for all of its members and fostering self love that produces pride, the AAPI Assembly is the microphone amplifying the blooming of a diverse society.
This article also appears in our May 2024 edition.
