“Is This Patriot Enough?” A Conversation on Asian Identity and Anti-AAPI Hate 

Join pioneering actor and social justice activist George Takei, and Army veteran and elected official Lee Wong for a conversation on Asian identity and anti-AAPI hate.

Asian-Americans have long been lumped as the eternal foreigner, as never being “American” enough. These notions have come to the fore in the recent waves of anti-AAPI hate. In March, U.S. Army veteran and elected official Lee Wong threw this into dramatic relief when he removed his shirt at a routine town hall meeting in Ohio, revealing the scars he still bears from his time in the Army. Lee’s question — “Is this patriot enough?” — reverberated across national news.

Join pioneering actor and social justice activist George Takei, and Army veteran and elected official Lee Wong for a conversation on Asian identity and anti-AAPI hate this Friday, April 9th, from 5-6pm ET. The two speakers will share their personal stories as Asian-Americans — from George growing up with his family in Japanese-American internment camps during World War II, to Lee’s service in the U.S. Army. We will also examine what it will take for Asian-Americans to finally be considered “American” and “patriotic” enough; the relationship between U.S. foreign policy and recent backlash against the AAPI community; Asian-American contributions to American society; and how we can work together to create lasting social change going forward.

This event is co-sponsored by the Serica Initiative, SupChina, and the Midwest USA Chinese Chamber of Commerce.

 

We are proudly joined by the following organizations and groups to co-host this event:

 

The Interfaith Center

The Jewish Community Relations Council

The Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Cincinnati

 

AJC Cincinnati

 

Cincinnati Chapter Japanese American Citizens League 

 

Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs AssociationOhio Chapter 

Lutheran Church of the Resurrection

EquaSion