// Own the Bowl Haircut β Why should childhood trauma still haunt you? Bring a bowl to the salon and tell them to do it. Bonus points if you are a woman or you do it at home. Post on social media. #iamthebowl
// Eat raw ramen out of the package at a public space like the bus or the park, and stare down anyone who makes eye contact. In fact, just stare down anyone while you break off pieces of ramen to feed your inner hungry ghost. And yes, yes, put the seasoning on it. Youβre not an animal.
// Wear radical t-shirts! For example, Fermented fish is my jam; Made in America; #iamthebowl; Keep away, I have the Chinese disease – dragonass!
// Launch into a soliloquy about Chinese genocide, the Year Zero, or the honorable disembowelment of samurai warriors in dental waiting rooms or elevators.
// Go around telling people what their Asian tattoo means. Itβs good to start gently, with a βThatβs a shameβ said under your breath or a βTsk, tskβ accompanied by a head shake. (Do not point and laugh. We ran for ten blocks to avoid an ass-kicking.)
// Casually interject into conversations a quiet, rational, but fervent downplay of the amount of sugar in bubble tea drinks.
// Demand the repatriation of the U.S Railway system to the Chinese (and Irish, I suppose) who built the damn things. Bonus points for singing John Denverβs βIβve Been Working on the Railroadβ as a protest chant.
// Support local Asian American business by standing in front coaxing customers to come in and have a look. Bonus points for handing out fliers with the ownersβ origin stories. βTheyβre slashing prices on all upright mahogany tables and bookcases by 50%β¦outrageous, right?β
// Learn to say select phrases in your familyβs native tongue and shout them during sporting events, graduations, weddings, and crowded coffee shops. βDonβt cut the line!β βCanβt touch this,β βLight my cigaretteββ¦
// At car washes and in front of window cleaners, mime βwax on, wax offβ from The Karate Kid.
// Handout your Asian American friendsβ resumes at the mall or Trader Joes.
// Enjoy a little wordplay when ordering at Asian restaurants. βYes, Iβll have the chopstick suey,β or βCan I have the roll in the California style, err, no, like a caterpillar,β or try the direct translation of pad Thai, fried Thai. Pad Thai? No, FRIED Thai, F-R-I-E-D Thai, Fry Thai, Fry the Thai! Shout if misunderstood; works for mom.
// Call everyone βlittle sisterβ or βuncleβ.
// Put a sign on your car that says, βAsian driverβ, kick back, relax, and enjoy the wide berth on the highway.








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