#31: The Importance of Ethnic Studies in the United States: A Perspective from Asian American Students #UWAsianAmericanStudy#ConnieSo

Recently, there has been a movement and national debate throughout the United States regarding the merit of Ethnic Studies in K-12 and post-secondary schools. In this episode, we interview three University of Washington students, Iris, Tyler, and Frederick, who have studied Asian American Studies under the supervision of Professor Connie So. They describe the impact and meaning of Ethnic Studies for our country’s history and how learning it has impacted their personal lives by providing a justification and perhaps even a necessity as a part of Asian Americans’ civic understanding and personal development. Iris, Tyler, and Frederick also share their challenges and struggles with school, classmates, and even family members in searching for their individual and community identification. Once you hear their stories, you’ll agree that claiming Asian American identity can’t fully occur without understanding the history that goes with it.