Narrative Stories
Hyeonju’s Story
Hyeonju shares about the two refrigerators she had growing up and how that influenced the way she saw her cultural identities as a Korean immigrant living in the United States. That experience fractured her sense of self. Today, she speaks out about realizing that her identity is not a contradiction- it is her power. She is proud to be Korean and she is proud to be part of a movement that makes space for all of who we are.
#MNrepresentASIANS is a narrative series highlighting the Asian community in Minnesota. Let us know- do these stories resonate with you? What are other topics or stories you want to hear? Who do you want to hear from? Do you have a story to share? Contact hyeonju@aaopmn.org if your #MNrepresentASIANS story.
Priya’s Story
Priya shares her love of classical dance- her very first Bharatanatyam class. She also remembers being heartbroken for the younger version of herself—someone who felt the need to apologize for her culture, to shrink something so sacred just to be understood because of the assumptions that being a dancer meant taking tap, ballet, or jazz classes instead of her Indian classical dance classes. Today, she speaks out against injustice and inequalities, to make sure no young person ever feels like their identity isn’t “enough because she is enough. She is proud to be a dancer.
#MNrepresentASIANS is a narrative series highlighting the Asian community in Minnesota. Let us know- do these stories resonate with you? What are other topics or stories you want to hear? Who do you want to hear from? Do you have a story to share? Contact hyeonju@aaopmn.org if your #MNrepresentASIANS story.