What is #BeingAsian?
Twitter users are answering that question, first asked by 17-year-old Michael Tarui Tuesday, with a hashtag that has become a window into the diversity of the Asian American experience.
On his Twitter, Tarui said he and his friends, including @shaiIIenes, who came up with the hashtag, started a group chat about “what it’s like #BeingAsian and the racism that comes with it.” He opened up the tag to everyone with roots in Asia, including those from the Middle East.
“The tag was originally meant to discuss simply our experiences with racism, but because the tag was general we (the people in the group chat) decided that it would be okay to also use this tag to simply discuss what it is like being Asian — the racism, the culture, the pride, the shame, etc,” Tarui told NBC News.
As of Thursday, Twitter was still flooded by tweets using the tag to comment on growing up Asian in America:
#BeingAsian I’m always asked if I’m Chinese as if that’s the only type of Asian out there
— Shit Filipinos Do (@filipinoposts) June 30, 2016
#BeingAsian when a white person tries to impress you by saying “ni hao” pic.twitter.com/UVM8fagh7r
— angel (@angel_cui) June 29, 2016
“So, what’s your real name? Like the Asian one.”#BeingAsian
— PeteyKrom (@PKrompicha) June 30, 2016
On culture:
If you’re hoping that there’s still some cookie left, you’re dead wrong. Mama be keepin sewing tools #BeingAsian pic.twitter.com/UI01ZNetF2
— yasmin (@ItsYaaMingg) June 29, 2016
#BeingAsian calling your mom’s friends “aunt” even if you’re not related to her at all
— clay / 49 / 179 (@tsookies) June 29, 2016
asian grading system
A- average
B- bad
C- can’t eat dinner
D- don’t come home
F- find another family #BeingAsian— denise 🙂 (@floofyirwin) June 29, 2016
#beingasian rice is more important than pizza
— human error. (@blxcknicotine) June 29, 2016
And on what others see as being Asian:
Not being considered Asian. #BeingAsian
— HEEMY HEEMY (@HIMANSHU) June 29, 2016
#BeingAsian – Dealing Non-Asians telling you that you’re not Asian. Um…last I checked Philippines is part of Asia…so yeah.
— Vicky Angel (@missvickyangel) June 30, 2016
What’s your #BeingAsian story?
