Thread by @reappropriate

Those who would characterize Asian American discussions of intersectionality, anti-blackness, and solidarity work as a pastime of “out-of-touch liberal elites” seem to forget that these discussions emerge out of - and are still led by - community organizers and local residents.

The earliest modern Asian American Movement involved student activists working with other students of color and especially Black students in a collective fight for Black and other ethnic studies.

These students grew up in ethnic enclaves and upon their graduation returned to those neighborhoods to organize around issues of ending racial violence, and addressing poverty, gentrification, and housing insecurity in ways that would engage both Asian and non-Asian stakeholders.

The simple fact is that Chinatown is a community, imperiled by gentrification and wherein residents - both Asian and non-Asian - want to find ways to thrive together. That goal is best achieved by working together as a community, not giving in to divide-and-conquer rhetoric.

This is why solidarity and mutual aid work is so emphasized by community organizers. That emphasis is being informed by the community, and its needs.

A focus on intercommunal organizing and solidarity is also informed by a thoughtful reading of our movement history. Our history is full of examples of how we have worked alongside other communities to advocate for change. Nothing has been achieved in an ethnonationalist vacuum.

It is offensive to dismiss this kind of work and discourse in the modern era as an obsession of Ivory Tower elites. Not only is that a broad side against our movement, our scholars, & those of us who work on movement theory; it’s also erasure of our current grassroots organizers.

Not everyone needs a degree in ethnic studies to participate in our discourse. But it’s valuable to really learn our history before dismissing it while utterly decontextualizing what’s happening now. Also, Google is free.

Like seriously, dismissing these conversations as the purview of “out of touch liberal elites” when those convos are literally being led by grassroots organizers who spend MOST of their time organizing language access & tenants rights for at-risk Chinatown residents. Yeah, ok.

Folks are within their rights to offer an alternative opinion on the importance of solidarity work if they’d like. I don’t have to agree.

But like if you’re going to dismiss the entire project of solidarity, please learn our history first? Read a Wikipedia article or something?