Why am I starting to become more prideful in my identity as an Asian, as Chinese?

We take notice of identities only as they begin to become problems for us. For white people, being white is rarely a problem (and even when it is it's certainly not to the same extent that it is for people of color), and so it becomes invisible.

I facilitated a flag-drawing activity for a group of students, some weeks back. The students were asked to make a flag using elements of their identity, whatever that might be - musician, race, whatever. And you know what I noticed? All of the women put down being female as a source of pride, though none of the men put being a male down. All the minorities put their race down, though none of the whites did. And so on and so forth.

It begins to feel like I must take pride in being Asian, lest I be overwhelmed by the relentless tide of whiteness thrown in my face daily. I must take interest and pride in my history, my people, our struggles. If I didn't - if I allowed my worldview to be shaped by mass media and pop culture - I would think that the only thing I can become - the only thing my people can become - is a goofy, accented, nerd, or maybe a strange and mystical martial arts master. Television has only ever told me I can be a goofball nerd or a foreign martial arts master. So fuck a television.

And perhaps it's because of these same reasons that I love hip-hop so much. Because it's a space where people have said, "Enough." A place where people have come together and said, "Fuck your whiteness. I am black, I exist, and here I stand." And, no, I'm certainly not black. But that strength of will - is something I aspire to.