Thread by @JoshuaChunWahK

Hey friends and comrades! Quick updates on going public about Anti-Asian racism experienced at @iiumich, @umichLSA, at @UMCSEAS, primarily but not exclusively from @umichsph Prof @laurarozek. This actually blew up: I'm humbled and thankful.

We've over 33k views on IG, and aren't too far behind on Twitter. The petition has nearly 1800 signatures; I didn't expect 100 on Friday. We're expecting news coverage in Ann Arbor. Also Dr. Rozek has acknowledged the letter @geo3550 sent on my behalf.
chng.it/cFPgJDW6BD

But still, no news from @iiumich. Not a word to me directly from @UMCSEAS even as scholars from their sister schools internationally call them out. No contact on twitter as both @MaryGao and @laurarozek have blocked me. Not even a word.

My thanks to my ferocious union, @geo3550, to the thousands of students, PhD candidates, faculty, at UMich and other schools in *merika that have voiced their outrage.

But above all, my thanks to the outpouring of solidarity from folks who share #Malaysia with me. Truly, I've felt the love, from friends old and new. In a time when we're battling a third lockdown and a backdoor gomen, Msian (and SEA) academics and friends have been a rock.

If you're a new follow in IG or Twitter, you might find my politics a bit confusing. Another angry commie Msian yelling at a screen. I realize we *may* have lots to disagree on, in the realms of queerness, faith, or what Malaysia means.

And that's okay! Thank you for the solidarity. My politics are dialectic--it's a back and forth, a conversation, a chance to build alliances wherever we can, especially against the Jajahs who rule these schools and the corporations that mine our land and labor.

I'm thinking of the racism from a prof from @umichsph, of the @iiumich director, @MaryGao, who'd rather block me than even discuss racism in their backyards. And each passing day I understand just how much love I have that colonizers will never know.

sph.umich.edu/faculty-profil…

For all the wealth and their power to threaten my job and family's livelihood, for all their positions and the great pile of our ancestors' bodies buried under their schools (see link to UM Alumnus!)--these white people do not know the love I know.

(globalnation.inquirer.net/113072/chicago…)

But I think of how my family, peers, & friends, sent food and solidarity in a pandemic (distanced). Who let me feed and comfort them in turn. I think of the anger and the fire and the peace. I would not trade this for empires. I'm ready for what's next.

@nkjemisin did say that "Conquerors live in dread of the day when they are shown to be, not superior, but simply lucky."
I'm a privileged Msian. I got the scholarships to study in powerful schools run by the descendants of imperialists.

And each day reminds me how little I envy them. I don't envy their fear. I don't want that blood on me.

But TL;DR, y'all astound me. My thanks and solidarity. <3 Petition still going. Hopefully good news soon.