Max

Asian-American History Month

is May
but in China
there is no Asian-American History Month
it is my duty as an Asian-American to let others know
that it is Asian-American History Month

during Asian-American History Month
people eat Asian food and feel good about themselves
I, too, eat Asian food and feel good about myself
I make rice and eat it with chopsticks
as I do most every day
but during Asian-American History Month
I remember to feel good about doing so

during Asian-American History Month,
Asians die and Americans let me know
how hard it is to be Asian
I know, I tell them, I've been Asian
since the day I was born
Trauma.

during Asian-American History Month
I serve up history and food
historical food

steaming hot plates of my family's inter-generational trauma
first, the suffering of famine in The Great Leap Forward
and then the suffering of the Cultural Revolution

would you like that well-done, medium-rare,
or bloody as fuck?

would you like a side of my grandfather's death to go along with that?

                                       (you ask me how I really felt when my grandfather died)

    (you know my skin breeds trauma)

I serve only locally grown organic Chinese humans
straight from impoverished countryside farms
all of their suffering and lack of growth is 100% real and authentic

I let the people of Shanghai know the importance
of Asian-American History Month
many do not know about Asian-American History
much less Asian-Americans
many are surprised to learn I was born in America
this proves the importance of Asian-American History Month

I inform them of the many atrocities in China
Remember when the Japanese committed genocide in Nanjing?
Remember the Great Leap Forward
or the Cultural Revolution?
or right now how you're living in a Communist Dictatorship?
Uyghur Death Camps? Free Hong Kong!

my grandma is unsure of what to say
she just tells me to eat my food
but she doesn't feel the pride I do when I pick up these chopsticks
and scoop rice out from the rice cooker

I tell her, grandma please, you must feel pride at being Asian! at being Chinese!
you have suffered so much
which has led to an emotional distance between us
(isolating me as i know we will never understand each other)
that is also deeply meaningful!
the more you talk about your trauma
the more you will understand my Asian pride

she tells me to stop talking
but as an Asian-American I will not be silenced

May is Asian-American History Month
I must let others know the importance of being Asian-American
so grandma please, tell me more of your trauma
I have people to please
and money to make

I'm proud to be Asian It's an honor just to be Asian

Grandma, I know that some day, you will feel my Asian pride