Civil Rights Today

A friend of mine posed the question: "Is the Civil Rights Movement dead?"

In response, I firmly believe that the Civil Rights Movement is far from extinction. Instead, it has evolved into a more complex phenomenon that transcends beyond a black-and-white mentality. We must not forget the historical and heroic efforts of Civil Rights activists, such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks. However, we have a moral obligation to carry on their quest to ensure that ALL Americans (regardless of race, ethnicity, sex, gender, age, sexual orientation, ability or disability, etc) are equal. The Civil Rights Movement has blossomed into a colorful and vibrant mobilization to help America realize its full potential.

Perhaps the next logical question would be: "Can America ever reach equality for all of its citizens?"

As an idealist, I would like to offer hope to those individuals who are dedicated to the ongoing movement to establish and maintain civil rights. We CAN make a difference. Civil Rights activists have sucessfully fought discrimination and inequality in the past, and I am confident that individuals will continue to push for that point of equilibrium in the future. I hope that marginalized groups can join forces and collectively push for civil rights.

I cannot promise that we will ever truly achieve equality; our society is dynamic and fluid. Likewise, the point of equilibrium is elusive and far from static. As we celebrate successes in the fight to reduce discrimination, we must be mindful to keep the Civil Rights Movement in motion. The dream of equality still lives on today.

Me 

Asian American Identity

What does it mean to be Asian American? Crafting a coherent and accurate description of Asian Americans is challenging for many reasons. First, Asian Americans are quite heterogenous. Individuals of Japanese, Pakistani, Indian, and Thai descent could all technically identify themselves as Asian Americans. Is this bad? Personally, I support the inclusive approach to defining Asian Americans, but I am troubled that many people tend to stereotype us as "all the same." We need to recognize the diversity that exists WITHIN a single demographic variable.

Second, I believe Asian Americans are a fascinating group of people, because they represent a cultural fusion of Eastern and Western cultures. As a communication scholar, many theories focus on Eastern OR Western cultures. Asian Americans can demonstrate how Eastern and Western cultures can harmoniously transcend beyond a mutually exclusive approach to cultural studies.

I look forward to sharing my personal exploration of Asian Americans and identity through this blog. Please feel free to post comments or email me at hanasolk@muohio.edu.

Dusty! 

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