Before I start, I hope you’re paying attention to the Senate Judicial hearings for the Supreme Court seat for Judge Ketanji Brown- Jackson. It is worth watching and as Sen. Booker said “No one will steal that joy.“

A few weeks ago, I listened to several amazing Black elders talk about mentoring and mentee relationships and sponsoring others to help their careers. They shared their insights about sponsoring women of color, being mentored, and how it shaped their careers. It was a love fest and I soaked up the conversation.

As elders (or baby elders so I don’t offend them) they get invited to a lot of meetings, commissions, events, etc. and need to balance their personal lives and work. Listening to them, I thought about how important it is to balance and to mentor or support people younger than us to grow into their own potential.

When Saying No, Means Saying Yes

One of the speakers on the panel, the first Black director at a large foundation, shared her journey to taking the job. She also talked about how now at this point in her life she has to be a lot more selective about where she spends her time and energy both professionally and personally. Other panelists also talked about sponsoring other women of color AND how it is important for younger women of color to take these opportunities seriously, be professional, and act with integrity.

As the speaker talked about how important it is to be selective and thoughtful about where to spend time and energy, I had the thought when those of us with access and privilege say no, we can intentionally make room for other Black, Indigenous, and POCs to say yes. We should be thoughtful of including others and passing opportunities to people who don’t have the same access to information, connections to people in power, or circles of influence. Many times we are more effective leaders when we’re focused and when we say no to things outside our scope or missions, or just plain not interested in. Focusing and saying yes strategically, and saying no to things outside our interest, allows us to make room for other POCs to say yes and accept invitations that can propel their careers.

How to Say Yes and No

It is more than just saying no to an invitation. I recently received an invitation to join a committee to think about food justice as it relates to public schools. If you know me, you know I enjoy a good bite of food, if you know me professionally you also know food justice is not one of my organization’s top priorities. There are others who follow the topic more closely and are much wiser about it and tapped into the same networks as we are. When I emailed with the organizer I made sure the other organization was on their radar, they were. I also approached other staff members to see if they are interested in taking part in the meeting, it is a great way for others to grow their networks if they are interested. Today I realized I just started working with a new women of color partner who is well connected to POC farmers and will probably bring a critical lens to their work. I emailed the organizer to see if I could connect them. By my saying no, I hope this allows others to say yes. I also have the win of focusing on topics that are mission aligned.

When I’m passing along opportunities and names for others to consider, I always put forward the names of people of color. As Ruchika Tulshyan calls it in her wonderful book Inclusion on Purpose, Shining the Light. It is important for us to sponsor and shine the light on POC colleagues. Make sure to pick up this book for deeper insights on this topic.

Sponsoring Others to Step Forward – And their responsibilities

Several years ago, I received a request to participate in a press conference at City Hall. It was a generous offer from my colleagues at the City to participate. That day I decided I didn’t have the bandwidth to trek downtown for a 15-min presser. I asked my colleague if she was up for it, she said sure and attended the event. My coworker made it downtown and joined the press conference right as it started. She didn’t even have time to take off her jacket. Her family was very proud of her for being on the news, although they asked why she was wearing a fleece jacket while standing behind the Mayor (a funny moment). She also got to network with several colleagues and widen her professional network.

I’ve also had the opposite happen where I’ve passed along choice opportunities to others and put my reputation on the line for other POCs and they haven’t taken full advantage of it or were not prepared.

While we don’t talk about this often, it is important to talk about the importance of being ready and honest when someone sponsors or pushes open a door for others. Ask questions to prepare for the opportunity, take advantage of people’s offers to help you prep, enjoy the opportunity, believe in yourself because someone else has put their faith in you too.

Thank you to our Patreon subscribers. At this time I don’t offer ‘extras’ or bonuses for Patreons. I blog after working a full-time job, volunteer and family commitments thus it is hard to find time to create more content. Whatever level you are comfortable giving helps to keep the blog ad-free, pay for back-end cost, research costs, supporting other POC efforts, etc. If your financial situation changes please make this one of the first things you turn-off — you can still access the same content and when/if you are able to re-subscribe we’ll appreciate it.

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If you subscribe to the blog, thank you. Please check fakequity.com for the most up-to-date version of the post. We often make grammatical and stylistic corrections after the first publishing which shows up in your inbox. Please subscribe, the sign-up box on the right sidebar (desktop version). To see what Erin is reading and recommended books check out the Fakequity Bookshop.

For a little fun here are questions you could, but maybe shouldn’t, ask a potential date. A friend and I came up with these as a bit of a joke, as always these are just for fun. You really shouldn’t take dating advice from me.

1. What’s your type? Swipe right if they answer with any racist tropes.
2. What does woke mean to you?
3. Tell me about someone in your community that isn’t related to you.
4. What is your favorite non-chain grocery store? Assessing if they know of any ethnic grocery stores (i.e. H Mart, Don Quiote, Mercato, Uwajimaya, etc.).
5. What were your last five Halloween costumes? Run if they say Pocahontas,, Confederate anything, or Ninja if not Asian.
6. Tell me about your home décor? Does any of it involve the word ‘Oriental,’ or ‘tribal’?
7. Do you have any yard signs displayed? Why do you have them up?
8. When presented with an unfamiliar name, do you a) add accents, b) try to make it sound Italian, c) ask the person how to pronounce it?
9. Do you have any tattoos involving images or languages from a culture not your own? Please explain. Not an automatic dismissal, but we need to assess if there is any romanticization of another culture not your own.
10. Dessert for breakfast, yes or no?
11. What was the last book you read by an author of color?
12. How often should we celebrate Black history? Only during Black History Month? Everyday?
13. When was the last time you were in a space where you weren’t in the majority?
14. What do you think of Black Lives Matters?
15. Do you adopt a fake accent when talking to someone of another race?
16. If I Googled your name what would I find?
17. How do you communicate and behave with someone from a different race? How do you feel when you’re interacting with someone of a different race?
18. What is something about your ethnicity or culture you want me to know?
19. Describe yourself without talking about your job.
20. Did you vote in the last election? Did you vote for any candidates of color?
21. Do you believe in an income tax? (Tax policy has a lot of racial justice implications. Maybe save this for date #3.)
22. Build the perfect meal for $25, it has to feed two, what would it be? (This may be a deal breaker meal.)

Thank you to our Patreon subscribers. At this time I don’t offer ‘extras’ or bonuses for Patreons. I blog after working a full-time job, volunteer and family commitments thus it is hard to find time to create more content. Whatever level you are comfortable giving helps to keep the blog ad-free, pay for back-end cost, research costs, supporting other POC efforts, etc. If your financial situation changes please make this one of the first things you turn-off — you can still access the same content and when/if you are able to re-subscribe we’ll appreciate it.

Abby, Adrienne, Agent001, Aimie, Alayna, Alessandra P., Alessandra Z., Alexa, Aline, Alison F.P., Alison P., Allison K., Amanda, Amber, Amira, Amy H., Amy H.N., Amy K., Amy P., Andie, Andrea, Andrea J., Angelica, Angelina, Ann, Ashlee, Ashlie, Avery, Barb, Barbara, Barbara B., Barrett, Becky, Beth, Brad, brian, Bridget, Brooke B., Brooke D.W., Cadence, Caitlin, Calandra, Callista, Cari, Carmen, Carol Ann, Carolyn, Carrie B., Carrie C., Carrie S., Caryn, Catherine L., Catherine S. x2, Cedra, Celicia, Chelsea, Christa, Christina, Christine, Clara, Clark, Claudia, Claudia A., Courtney, Crystal, Dan, Daniel, Danielle, Danya, Darcy, Darcy E., Deb, Denyse, Diana, Diane, E., Ed, Edith B., Edith B. (2), Eileen, Elizabeth, Elizabeth U., Emiko, emily, Erica J., Erica L., Erica R.B., Erin, Erin H., Evan, Francis, Gail, Hannah, Hayden, Heather, Heidi, Heidi H., Heidi N and Laura P, Heidi S., Hilary, Hope, J., Jackie, Jaime, Jake, Jane, JJanet, Jason, Jean, Jeanne, Jelena, Jen, Jena, Jenn, Jennet, Jennifer C., Jennifer M., Jennifer S., Jennifer T., Jennifer W., Jess G., Jessa, Jessica F., Jessica G., Jessica R., Jessie, Jillian, Jody, John, Jon G., Jon P., Jordan, Julia, June, Karen, Kari, Katharine, Kate C., Kate G., Kate T., Kathryn, Katie D., Katie O., Kawai, Keisha, Kelly S, Kelley, Kelli, Kellie H., Kellie M., Kelly, Kim, Kymberli, Kimberly, Krissy, Kirsten, Krista D.B., Krista W., Kristen, Kumar, Kyla, Laura T., Laura G., Laurel, Lauren, Laurie B., Laurie K., Leah, Lindsay, Lisa C., lisa c., Lisa P.W., Lisa S., Liz, Lori, Lori N., Lyn, Lynn, Maggie, Maka, Maki, Marc, Mareeha, Marge, Marilee, Mark, Marki, Mary, Matthew M., matthew w., Maura, McKenzie, Meghan, Melissa, Melody, Meredith, Michael, Michele, Michelle, Mickey, Migee, Mike, Milo, Mindy, Miranda, Misha, Molly, Myrna, Nancy, Nat, Natasha D., Natasha R., Nora, Norah, Norrie, Peggy, PMM, Polly, Porsche, Rachel G., Rachel S.R., Raquel, Raquel S., Rebecca O., Rebecca S., Reiko, Risa, Rise, Ruby, Ruchika, Sandra, Sarah B., Sarah H., Sarah K.B., Sarah K., Sarah L., Sarah O., Sarah O. (2), Sarah R., Sarah S., Sarena, Sarita, Sean, Selma, SEJE Consulting, Shannon, Sharon, Shaun, Shawna, Shelby, Shelley, Skyler, Steph, Stephanie, Stephen, Su, Susan, Susan M., Susan M.x2, Susan U., Tallie, Tana, Tania DSC, Tania T.D., Tara, TerraCorps, Terri, Titilayo, Tracy, Tracy G., Tracy T.G., Tyler, virginia, Vivian, Will, Willow, yoko, Yvette, and Zan

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There are a lot of terms/words related to race or identity that people use interchangeably but really aren’t synonyms. Race and ethnicity, equity as a catch-all phrase for anything having to do with identity or race, immigrant and refugee. Each of these words has unique means and it is important to know the differences so we are precise with our language. When we use the words interchangeably it changes the meaning and at times can take away the focus from who needs to be seen.

Notes – Language and meanings change all the time. What I am writing today is what I know. In a few months or a year, some of these terms and meanings may change. These are oversimplified definitions to give you a starting idea, but each of these terms and concepts are exceedingly claggy and deserve a lot more time and learning.

Equity / Equality – Equity is about acknowledging different people need different things to achieve justice. Equality says we treat everyone the same regardless of their situation, circumstances, or histories. Note equity is not a synonym for race, people sometimes use the term equity for other social identities gender, income, disability. If you are talking about race, please be clear in saying racial equity.

Race / Ethnicity – Race is the larger categories, e.g. American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Black or African American, Latino/e, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, White. Ethnicity are the sub-categories within a race group (e.g. Chinese, Somali, Vietnamese, Puerto Rican, etc.). Ethnicity is often tied to cultural and ancestorial facets including language, cultural beliefs, food, religion, etc.

Nationality / Citizenship – This one is a little trickier to understand. I had to consult several websites before I felt like I got a grasp of the concept of nationality. Nationality is often tied to a place of birth or naturalization. A person’s nationality is a constitutional relationship between the state and the person. It is often seen as part of their identity. Citizenship is a constitutional status where a person is recognized as a citizen of the country, and afforded the rights of citizenship of a country. Citizenship can change throughout a person’s lifetime.

Interpreter / translator – Translators take a written piece and translate it into another language, such as taking an English newsletter and rewriting it into Spanish. Translators should have fluency in reading and writing in the target languages. Interpreters do in-the-moment, simultaneous, or almost immediately after transposing of speech into another language. Interpreters need to preserve the integrity of the message, communicate meaning and idioms, and do not rely on secondary materials (e.g. reference material, dictionaries, written copies of speeches).  

Immigrant / Refugee – Immigrants leave one country to resettle in another country. Refugees move/leave from their home country often out of fear, persecution, war, natural disasters, increasingly climate change, etc. In many cases refugees often cannot return to their home countries.

Sex assigned at birth / Gender – Sex assigned at birth are female, male, intersex. Gender identity female/woman/girl, male/man/boy, other genders. Gender expression does not always equate to gender identity, see Gender Unicorn image to the right. Learn more at Trans Student Educational Resources (TSER), thanks to R and K for the resource.

Racism / Discrimination – Racism is the belief that one racial group is superior over another. Discrimination is treating people differently based on perceived differences (e.g. skin color, race, religion, disability, etc.). Some literature refers to racism being a subcategory of discrimination. There is no such thing as reverse racism (white people claiming racism), they can claim discrimination but not racism since we live in a society that caters to whiteness.

 Trigger / Offensive / Content Warning – Trigger is a psychology term, sometimes associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). People cannot control what triggers them, often due to past trauma or histories. Offensive is not the same as triggering, it could mean something is annoying, undesirable, angering, or irritating. Content warning lets readers or audience members know a sensitive subject may come up and allows people to opt-out or disengage from the media.

White / Caucasian – White is a race group. Caucasians is referring to anyone from the Caucasus region which spans both Europe and Asia, not a race group. If you are white, say “I’m white,” not “I’m Caucasian.”

Thank you to friends for contributing ideas to this post.

Thank you to our Patreon subscribers. At this time I don’t offer ‘extras’ or bonuses for Patreons. I blog after working a full-time job, volunteer and family commitments thus it is hard to find time to create more content. Whatever level you are comfortable giving helps to keep the blog ad-free, pay for back end cost, research cost, supporting other POC efforts, etc. If your financial situation changes please make this one of the first things you turn-off — you can still access the same content and when/if you are able to re-subscribe we’ll appreciate it.

Abby, Adrienne, Agent001, Aimie, Alayna, Alessandra P., Alessandra Z., Alexa, Aline, Alison F.P., Alison P., Allison K., Amanda, Amber, Amira, Amy H., Amy H.N., Amy K., Amy P., Andie, Andrea, Andrea J., Angelica, Angelina, Ann, Ashlee, Ashlie, Avery, Barb, Barbara, Barbara B., Barrett, Becky, Beth, Brad, brian, Bridget, Brooke B., Brooke D.W., Cadence, Caitlin, Calandra, Callista, Cari, Carmen, Carol Ann, Carolyn, Carrie B., Carrie C., Carrie S., Caryn, Catherine L., Catherine S. x2, Cedra, Celicia, Chelsea, Christa, Christina, Christine, Clara, Clark, Claudia, Claudia A., Courtney, Crystal, Dan, Daniel, Danielle, Danya, Darcy, Darcy E., Deb, Denyse, Diana, Diane, E., Ed, Edith B., Edith B. (2), Eileen, Elizabeth, Elizabeth U., Emiko, emily, Erica J., Erica L., Erica R.B., Erin, Erin H., Evan, Francis, Gail, Hannah, Hayden, Heather, Heidi, Heidi H., Heidi N and Laura P, Heidi S., Hilary, Hope, J., Jackie, Jaime, Jake, Jane, JJanet, Jason, Jean, Jeanne, Jelena, Jen, Jena, Jenn, Jennet, Jennifer C., Jennifer M., Jennifer S., Jennifer T., Jennifer W., Jess G., Jessa, Jessica F., Jessica G., Jessica R., Jessie, Jillian, Jody, John, Jon G., Jon P., Jordan, Julia, June, Karen, Kari, Katharine, Kate C., Kate G., Kate T., Kathryn, Katie D., Katie O., Kawai, Keisha, Kelly S, Kelley, Kelli, Kellie H., Kellie M., Kelly, Kim, Kymberli, Kimberly, Krissy, Kirsten, Krista D.B., Krista W., Kristen, Kumar, Kyla, Laura T., Laura G., Laurel, Lauren, Laurie B., Laurie K., Leah, Lindsay, Lisa C., lisa c., Lisa P.W., Lisa S., Liz, Lori, Lori N., Lyn, Lynn, Maggie, Maka, Maki, Marc, Mareeha, Marge, Marilee, Mark, Marki, Mary, Matthew M., matthew w., Maura, McKenzie, Meghan, Melissa, Melody, Meredith, Michael, Michele, Michelle, Mickey, Migee, Mike, Milo, Mindy, Miranda, Misha, Molly, Myrna, Nancy, Nat, Natasha D., Natasha R., Nora, Norah, Norrie, Peggy, PMM, Polly, Porsche, Rachel G., Rachel S.R., Raquel, Raquel S., Rebecca O., Rebecca S., Reiko, Risa, Rise, Ruby, Ruchika, Sandra, Sarah B., Sarah H., Sarah K.B., Sarah K., Sarah L., Sarah O., Sarah O. (2), Sarah R., Sarah S., Sarena, Sarita, Sean, Selma, SEJE Consulting, Shannon, Sharon, Shaun, Shawna, Shelby, Shelley, Skyler, Steph, Stephanie, Stephen, Su, Susan, Susan M., Susan M.x2, Susan U., Tallie, Tana, Tania DSC, Tania T.D., Tara, TerraCorps, Terri, Titilayo, Tracy, Tracy G., Tracy T.G., Tyler, virginia, Vivian, Will, Willow, yoko, Yvette, and Zan

If you subscribe to the blog, thank you. Please check fakequity.com for the most up-to-date version of the post. We often make grammatical and stylistic corrections after the first publishing which shows up in your inbox. Please subscribe, the sign-up box on the right sidebar (desktop version). To see what Erin is reading and recommended books check out the Fakequity Bookshop.

Note: No blog post next week. It is mid-winter break for me.

19 February 2022 will mark the 80^th anniversary of the signing of Executive Order No 9066 (EO 9066). This was the order signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and sent 120,000 West Coast Americans of Japanese descent to internment camps.

The terminology of what we call these prisons changes from person to person. Some people call the camps internment camps, which other people consider marginalization of what they were – they were prisons. They were also called ‘segregation camps’ by the government. Others say concentration camps is more accurate since that is what they were, they held and imprisoned Japanese Americans. The use of the term concentration camp is not meant to be a comparison to the concentration camps in Europe that were used to commit horrendous crimes against Jewish people. The US government ordered its people, its military, to collect people who hadn’t committed any acts of war or crimes against their government to be imprisoned.

This action changed the course of many Japanese American lives. Researcher Mae Ngai said “At the time of the internment, almost nobody opposed it. … There was widespread support for the internment because of racism and because of the government’s claim that Japanese-Americans were a national security threat.”

Japanese Americans lost businesses, homes, financial assets. They lost their freedom, they lost friends, lovers, and communities. While many people today look at Japanese Americans as a model minority, there is a lot to unpack under that label. Japanese Americans who lived through the trauma of being held indefinitely transmitted that trauma to their children – be quiet, study hard, choose ‘safe’ jobs, don’t stand out. Undoubtedly many who lived through the camps experienced post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). There is research showing worse health outcomes for adults who lived in the camps and earlier deaths.

It is clique to say history matters. In order for history to matter, we need to remember and act on what we know. I grew up in Hawaii among a strong Japanese American community. I learned about the internment in school. I heard stories about it, even though in Hawaii Japanese Americans were not interned. I learned about the injustices of these actions through stories and through books. It confuses me when I hear people didn’t learn this part of American history in schools or really anywhere. How could you not know this painful part of American history?

Learning about the history is important because it prevents the same mistakes from happening again. Immediately after the 9/11 bombing then Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta was instrumental in shaping the US’s response, including not targeting Muslims. He recalled his experience of being held in an internment camp (he refers to them as internment camps) and denied his liberties.

Psychotherapist Satsuki Ina has spoken extensively about the harms family separation at the US Mexico border has on young children. Ina was born and lived at Tule Lake prison camp until she was two-and-a-half. Actor and activist George Takei has also spoken out about the eerie parallels between locking up children and families at the border to his five-years in an internment camp. As he wrote in the journal Foreign Policy “At least during the internment, when I was just 5 years old, I was not taken from my parents.”

Being Japanese American today

Being a Japanese American today means I carry this history forward. While my family was sheltered from the internment because they lived in Hawaii, I am not immune from the effects of the internment. I now live a short distance from what used to be a robust Japan Town in Seattle. The Japanese diaspora is more scattered now, the communities that once thrived in places like Seattle’s International District and Bainbridge Island are no longer held in place. We are here in Seattle and the surrounding region but the haunting of the past are still here.

There are many Japanese American contributions to America that came in spite of the incarcerations. Landmark court cases that protect our civil liberties today were birthed out of this tragedy –Hirabayashi v. United States and Korematsu v United States to name two of many.

Our history is deep and continually building upon itself.

To learn more:

• Densho – An important organization preserving the of those who lived through the camps
• They Came For Us
• Smithsonian video – Righting a Wrong
• George Takei’s graphic novel – They Called Us Enemy, available in English and Spanish
• Booklist for youth by Colorin Colorado

Thank you to our Patreon subscribers. At this time I don’t offer ‘extras’ or bonuses for Patreons. I blog after working a full-time job, volunteer and family commitments thus it is hard to find time to create more content. Whatever level you are comfortable giving helps to keep the blog ad-free, pay for back end cost, research cost, supporting other POC efforts, etc. If your financial situation changes please make this one of the first things you turn-off — you can still access the same content and when/if you are able to re-subscribe we’ll appreciate it.

Abby, Adrienne, Agent001, Aimie, Alayna, Alessandra P., Alessandra Z., Alexa, Aline, Alison F.P., Alison P., Allison K., Amanda, Amber, Amira, Amy H., Amy H.N., Amy K., Amy P., Andie, Andrea, Andrea J., Angelica, Angelina, Ann, Ashlee, Ashlie, Avery, Barb, Barbara, Barbara B., Barrett, Becky, Beth, Brad, brian, Bridget, Brooke B., Brooke D.W., Cadence, Caitlin, Calandra, Callista, Cari, Carmen, Carol Ann, Carolyn, Carrie B., Carrie C., Carrie S., Caryn, Catherine L., Catherine S. x2, Cedra, Celicia, Chelsea, Christina, Christine, Clara, Clark, Claudia, Claudia A., Courtney, Crystal, Dan, Daniel, Danielle, Danya, Darcy, Darcy E., Deb, Denyse, Diana, Diane, E., Ed, Edith B., Edith B. (2), Elizabeth, Elizabeth U., Emiko, emily, Erica J., Erica L., Erica R.B., Erin, Erin H., Evan, Francis, Gail, Hannah, Hayden, Heather, Heidi, Heidi H., Heidi N and Laura P, Heidi S., Hilary, Hope, J., Jackie, Jaime, Jake, Jane, JJanet, Jason, Jean, Jeanne, Jelena, Jen, Jena, Jenn, Jennet, Jennifer C., Jennifer M., Jennifer S., Jennifer T., Jennifer W., Jess G., Jessa, Jessica F., Jessica G., Jessica R., Jessie, Jillian, Jody, John, Jon G., Jon P., Jordan, Julia, June, Karen, Kari, Katharine, Kate C., Kate G., Kate T., Kathryn, Katie D., Katie O., Kawai, Keisha, Kelly S, Kelley, Kelli, Kellie H., Kellie M., Kelly, Kim, Kymberli, Kimberly, Krissy, Kirsten, Krista D.B., Krista W., Kristen, Kumar, Kyla, Laura T., Laura G., Laurel, Lauren, Laurie B., Laurie K., Leah, Lindsay, Lisa C., lisa c., Lisa P.W., Lisa S., Liz, Lori, Lori N., Lyn, Lynn, Maggie, Maka, Maki, Marc, Mareeha, Marge, Marilee, Mark, Marki, Mary, Matthew M., matthew w., Maura, McKenzie, Meghan, Melissa, Melody, Meredith, Michael, Michele, Michelle, Mickey, Migee, Mike, Milo, Mindy, Miranda, Misha, Molly, Myrna, Nancy, Nat, Natasha D., Natasha R., Nora, Norah, Norrie, Peggy, PMM, Polly, Porsche, Rachel G., Rachel S.R., Raquel, Raquel S., Rebecca O., Rebecca S., Reiko, Risa, Rise, Ruby, Ruchika, Sarah B., Sarah H., Sarah K.B., Sarah K., Sarah L., Sarah O., Sarah O. (2), Sarah R., Sarah S., Sarena, Sarita, Sean, Selma, SEJE Consulting, Shannon, Sharon, Shaun, Shawna, Shelby, Shelley, Skyler, Steph, Stephanie, Stephen, Su, Susan, Susan M., Susan M.x2, Susan U., Tallie, Tana, Tania DSC, Tania T.D., Tara, TerraCorps, Terri, Titilayo, Tracy, Tracy G., Tracy T.G., Tyler, virginia, Vivian, Will, Willow, yoko, Yvette, and Zan

If you subscribe to the blog, thank you. Please check fakequity.com for the most up-to-date version of the post. We often make grammatical and stylistic corrections after the first publishing which shows up in your inbox. Please subscribe, the sign-up box on the right sidebar (desktop version). To see what Erin is reading and recommended books check out the Fakequity Bookshop.

I am writing from the lands of the 29 federally recognized and non-federally recognized tribes in now Washington State, including the Coast Salish people — Duwamish, Muckleshoot, Suquamish, Snoqualmie, and Native American organizations that have treaty rights and have been here since time immemorial. I give my thanks to the elders, Native and Indigenous colleagues and relations, and the land itself. Fakequity pays “rent” to Native organizations in Washington and Hawaii; a small act to repair and work to be in more justice based relations.

A colleague asked me yesterday how I decide what to write about each week. I joked if you were with me earlier in the week there is a good chance you’ll recognize the theme or topic. I’m not a disciplined writer with a slate of topics, researches them, and writes in advance (maybe in another life when I’m not working full time). I sometimes wish for that discipline. I write from the immediacies of the moment, the gut moment, the emotional side. Honestly, I don’t really want to write right now. The past few weeks have been filled with a few deaths, including one this week. The lizard brain side of me doesn’t want to think hard.

As I thought about what to write, I turned on a podcast of a conversation with monk and teacher Thich Nhat Hanh. Listening to his wisdom the lessons of mindfulness and suffering came through. Krista Tippit, the interviewer, asked him about affinity group retreats and trainings he held – such as for law enforcement, congressional members, people of color. The reply was he needed to understand their unique sufferings to prepare for their retreats and to understand how to do the deep listening to communicate and understand.

Softening of the Heart

Last week I attended the homegoing (African American Christian memorial) for a friend. Nicey watched my babies when they were at her childcare center and we stayed connected through the years. The Reverend talked about how we are all connected to Nicey and how we will all need to adjust to life without her in big and small ways. Some lost a close family member, some like the Reverend talked about how he lost a friend and the person who remembered him every father’s day, birthday, and Christmas – she would bring him two-dozen cookies.

I took away from this that when we suffer, we can remember the suffering and pain and harden or we can look for ways to soften the heart and connect differently. When we break, we can repair our wounds in ways that are mindful and present. There is a Japanese art of taking broken pottery and repairing it with gold lines. It is often seen as a metaphor for suffering and recovery. There is a lot of metaphors around this for how we relate to each other around race and conflict.

We are all broken in different ways, and when we listen, communicate, and see the shared suffering we can heal and be joined together in ways that highlight our shared suffering and humanity.

Hallelujah

Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah showed up on my YouTube channel. It is haunting and pure poetry. In looking up the song this interview popped up:

“This world is full of conflicts and full of things that cannot be reconciled. But there are moments when we can… reconcile and embrace the whole mess, and that’s what I mean by ‘Hallelujah’.

The song explains that many kinds of hallelujahs do exist, and all the perfect and broken hallelujahs have equal value.”

I hope you also find some broken hallelujahs and connect with someone who needs to not be alone or feel broken.

Be sure to watch this version of Hallelujah performed by the Soweto Gospel Choir.

Thank you to our Patreon subscribers. At this time I don’t offer ‘extras’ or bonuses for Patreons. I blog after working a full-time job, volunteer and family commitments thus it is hard to find time to create more content. Whatever level you are comfortable giving helps to keep the blog ad-free, pay for back end cost, research cost, supporting other POC efforts, etc. If your financial situation changes please make this one of the first things you turn-off — you can still access the same content and when/if you are able to re-subscribe we’ll appreciate it.

Abby, Adrienne, Agent001, Aimie, Alayna, Alessandra P., Alessandra Z., Alexa, Aline, Alison F.P., Alison P., Allison K., Amanda, Amber, Amira, Amy H., Amy H.N., Amy K., Amy P., Andie, Andrea, Andrea J., Angelica, Angelina, Ann, Ashlee, Ashlie, Avery, Barb, Barbara, Barbara B., Barrett, Becky, Beth, Brad, brian, Bridget, Brooke B., Brooke D.W., Cadence, Caitlin, Calandra, Callista, Cari, Carmen, Carol Ann, Carolyn, Carrie B., Carrie C., Carrie S., Caryn, Catherine L., Catherine S. x2, Cedra, Celicia, Chelsea, Christina, Christine, Clara, Clark, Claudia, Claudia A., Courtney, Crystal, Dan, Daniel, Danielle, Danya, Darcy, Darcy E., Deb, Denyse, Diana, Diane, E., Ed, Edith B., Edith B. (2), Elizabeth, Elizabeth U., Emiko, emily, Erica J., Erica L., Erica R.B., Erin, Erin H., Evan, Francis, Gail, Hannah, Hayden, Heather, Heidi, Heidi H., Heidi N and Laura P, Heidi S., Hilary, Hope, J., Jackie, Jaime, Jake, Jane, JJanet, Jason, Jean, Jeanne, Jelena, Jen, Jena, Jenn, Jennet, Jennifer C., Jennifer M., Jennifer S., Jennifer T., Jennifer W., Jess G., Jessa, Jessica F., Jessica G., Jessica R., Jessie, Jillian, Jody, John, Jon G., Jon P., Jordan, Julia, June, Karen, Kari, Katharine, Kate C., Kate G., Kate T., Kathryn, Katie D., Katie O., Kawai, Keisha, Kelly S, Kelley, Kelli, Kellie H., Kellie M., Kelly, Kim, Kymberli, Kimberly, Krissy, Kirsten, Krista D.B., Krista W., Kristen, Kumar, Kyla, Laura T., Laura G., Laurel, Lauren, Laurie B., Laurie K., Leah, Lindsay, Lisa C., lisa c., Lisa P.W., Lisa S., Liz, Lori, Lori N., Lyn, Lynn, Maggie, Maka, Maki, Marc, Mareeha, Marge, Marilee, Mark, Marki, Mary, Matthew M., matthew w., Maura, McKenzie, Meghan, Melissa, Melody, Meredith, Michael, Michele, Michelle, Mickey, Migee, Mike, Milo, Mindy, Miranda, Misha, Molly, Myrna, Nancy, Nat, Natasha D., Natasha R., Nora, Norah, Norrie, Peggy, PMM, Polly, Porsche, Rachel G., Rachel S.R., Raquel, Raquel S., Rebecca O., Rebecca S., Reiko, Risa, Rise, Ruby, Ruchika, Sarah B., Sarah H., Sarah K.B., Sarah K., Sarah L., Sarah O., Sarah O. (2), Sarah R., Sarah S., Sarena, Sarita, Sean, Selma, SEJE Consulting, Shannon, Sharon, Shaun, Shawna, Shelby, Shelley, Skyler, Steph, Stephanie, Stephen, Su, Susan, Susan M., Susan M.x2, Susan U., Tallie, Tana, Tania DSC, Tania T.D., Tara, TerraCorps, Terri, Titilayo, Tracy, Tracy G., Tracy T.G., Tyler, virginia, Vivian, Will, Willow, yoko, Yvette, and Zan

If you subscribe to the blog, thank you. Please check fakequity.com for the most up-to-date version of the post. We often make grammatical and stylistic corrections after the first publishing which shows up in your inbox. Please subscribe, the sign-up box on the right sidebar (desktop version). To see what Erin is reading and recommended books check out the Fakequity Bookshop.

I am writing from the lands of the 29 federally recognized and non-federally recognized tribes in now Washington State, including the Coast Salish people — Duwamish, Muckleshoot, Suquamish, Snoqualmie, and Native American organizations that have treaty rights and have been here since time immemorial. I give my thanks to the elders, Native and Indigenous colleagues and relations, and the land itself. Fakequity pays “rent” to Native organizations in Washington and Hawaii; a small act to repair and work to be in more justice based relations.

Happy Year of the Water Tiger and Lunar New Year. Lunar New Year (LNY) is a very important day for many Asian communities. Since it past, but we’re still in a celebratory mood from LNY I thought it would be a good time to think about Asian joy.

Why Asian Joy

The words Asian and joy are not often seen together. I did a quick online search to read up on the topic, and the first few results was a cargo ship named Asian Joy and many restaurants with names including Asian and joy. Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram gave me more results – hooray to everyone who is finding and naming #AsianJoy.

As I started to think about what Asian joy means to me and others, it occurred to me that to think about joy, we also have to understand the opposites of joy –marginalization, invisibility, assimilation, historical traumas, otherness, etc. Much of the Asian American experiences have roots and feelings in these areas. These are not unique to just Asians – these are universal emotions, and many POCs across race groups have experienced these feelings as well. For many of us, our Asian joys emerge from these feelings of otherness — we find and hold joy in fighting to hold on to our Asian-identities.

What is Asian Joy

I asked my diverse Asian American friends to share their joys. Our ancestors’ migrations and diaspora stories are vast, but we have common threads that bind the pan-Asian American experience. Our Asian experiences are different and complex. But many of us have shared Asian joy experiences:

• Walking into the house and seeing shoes neatly lined up by the door, or in some cases a giant jumble of slippers, shoes, and footwear.
• Family and friend dinners and meals with foods from our cultures or adaptations and mixing of food.
• Multi-generational gatherings or living. Watching grandparents and great-grandparents sharing cultural and language knowledge. Including documenting and keeping stories shared.
• Recognizing each other as Asians.
• Hearing home languages, dialects, and slang used.
• Representation in arts, media, etc. Representation in movements including the disability rights movement.
• Perfectly cooked rice, boba drinks, hot pot dinners, and hole in the wall restaurants with amazing food. (+1 joy point for supporting Asian businesses.)
• Getting good grades. This is feeding into the stereotypes, but there is a lot of historical baggage to unpack around needing to prove worthiness in America, to provide for family, and coping with and dealing with racism.

The complexities of Asian joy are deeper than those bullets above. Such as representation in the arts and media is joyful, because Asians have been absent or tokenized in media for so long. One friend shared how she got teary watching Diana Huey, an Asian, play Ariel in the Little Mermaid at Seattle’s 5^th Avenue Theatre. Seeing an Asian in a role that has traditionally only been played by white people gave many Asians a sense of belonging and breaking an artificial barrier placed by white normative society. Another friend said she cried listening to the Second Wave podcast by host Than Tan exploring the Vietnamese immigrant experience. Hearing stories she could intimately relate to and knowing it was her story was important. As my friend said “When you’ve been ignored or invisible for so long it becomes second nature, so when something disrupts that and you become visible, it feels seismic inside. It’s like you didn’t even know you were hungry for that experience.”

Other friends talked about finding joy in sharing values including Confucian value of honoring and respecting elders, humility, and honoring community needs over self-interest. These are deeply ingrained in many Asian cultures.

Many of us find joy in finding each other and having pan-Asian diaspora experiences. To others we may be labeled as Asian, but within the Asian community, we see each other’s ethnic and cultural differences as joyous ways of sharing. I joked with a friend about having to untangle the different mahjong rules because different cultures play with different variations – Filipino rules, Chinese rules, and the mixed host rules. Same for rice dishes – so many different variations of rice dishes that link our common Asian identities but are unique to cultures, regions, and ethnicities. And many of us find joy when we spot the perfect fusions of our shared identities – the umami of being together that lingers in joy.

As I mentioned earlier some of these joys are found despite and in-spite of being seen as ‘othered’ or invisible. Among my Asian women cohort, we know and we joke about being mistaken for the “wrong Asian.” People see average height, dark haired, Asians and we become interchangeable which erases our individual achievements and contributions. There are times we find humor in this – it makes for easy April fools jokes where we trade nametags or name tents at meetings or in COVID life changing your Zoom name.

Joy All Around

I want to keep writing and sharing the joys we find. There are so many more, I haven’t touched on. I’ll end with a few of my Asian joys. Joy in making my great-aunt’s andagi recipe (Okinawan donuts), I feel like I’m reclaiming a small bit of my Okinawan history and heritage that faded because of assimilation, time, and place. Reading and sharing books by Asian authors with my kids – books they enjoy and can relate to as multigenerational Asian Americans. Walking into an Asian grocery store and knowing the whole store is about the Asian food experience and not being relegated to an aisle or packaged foods. I get excited knowing at H Mart I can easily find purple sweet potatoes. My ears perk up and my brain lights up when I hear people speaking pidgin English and saying “Where you from?” the Hawaii ex-pat code on the mainland.

These are some of the small joys I share with my Asian community. Claiming them is part of my Asianness and my Asian joy.  

A special thank you to my Asian friends who trusted me with their stories and joys for this post.

Thank you to our Patreon subscribers. At this time I don’t offer ‘extras’ or bonuses for Patreons. I blog after working a full-time job, volunteer and family commitments thus it is hard to find time to create more content. Whatever level you are comfortable giving helps to keep the blog ad-free, pay for back end cost, research cost, supporting other POC efforts, etc. If your financial situation changes please make this one of the first things you turn-off — you can still access the same content and when/if you are able to re-subscribe we’ll appreciate it.

Abby, Adrienne, Agent001, Aimie, Alayna, Alessandra P., Alessandra Z., Alexa, Aline, Alison F.P., Alison P., Allison K., Amanda, Amber, Amira, Amy H., Amy H.N., Amy K., Amy P., Andie, Andrea, Angelica, Angelina, Ann, Ashlee, Ashlie, Avery, Barb, Barbara, Barbara B., Barrett, Becky, Beth, Brad, brian, Bridget, Brooke B., Brooke D.W., Cadence, Caitlin, Calandra, Callista, Cari, Carmen, Carol Ann, Carolyn, Carrie B., Carrie C., Carrie S., Caryn, Catherine L., Catherine S. x2, Cedra, Celicia, Chelsea, Christina, Christine, Clara, Clark, Claudia, Claudia A., Courtney, Crystal, Dan, Daniel, Danielle, Danya, Darcy, Darcy E., Deb, Denyse, Diana, Diane, E., Ed, Edith B., Edith B. (2), Elizabeth, Elizabeth U., Emiko, emily, Erica J., Erica L., Erica R.B., Erin, Erin H., Evan, Francis, Gail, Hannah, Hayden, Heather, Heidi, Heidi H., Heidi N and Laura P, Heidi S., Hilary, Hope, J., Jackie, Jaime, Jake, Jane, JJanet, Jason, Jean, Jeanne, Jelena, Jen, Jena, Jenn, Jennet, Jennifer C., Jennifer M., Jennifer S., Jennifer T., Jennifer W., Jess G., Jessa, Jessica F., Jessica G., Jessica R., Jessie, Jillian, Jody, John, Jon G., Jon P., Jordan, Julia, June, Karen, Kari, Katharine, Kate C., Kate G., Kate T., Kathryn, Katie D., Katie O., Kawai, Keisha, Kelly S, Kelley, Kelli, Kellie H., Kellie M., Kelly, Kim, Kymberli, Kimberly, Krissy, Kirsten, Krista D.B., Krista W., Kristen, Kumar, Kyla, Laura T., Laura G., Laurel, Lauren, Laurie B., Laurie K., Leah, Lindsay, Lisa C., lisa c., Lisa P.W., Lisa S., Liz, Lori, Lori N., Lyn, Lynn, Maggie, Maka, Maki, Marc, Mareeha, Marge, Marilee, Mark, Marki, Mary, Matthew M., matthew w., Maura, McKenzie, Meghan, Melissa, Melody, Meredith, Michael, Michele, Michelle, Mickey, Migee, Mike, Milo, Mindy, Miranda, Misha, Molly, Myrna, Nancy, Nat, Natasha D., Natasha R., Nora, Norah, Norrie, Peggy, PMM, Polly, Porsche, Rachel G., Rachel S.R., Raquel, Raquel S., Rebecca O., Rebecca S., Reiko, Risa, Rise, Ruby, Ruchika, Sarah B., Sarah H., Sarah K.B., Sarah K., Sarah L., Sarah O., Sarah O. (2), Sarah R., Sarah S., Sarena, Sarita, Sean, Selma, SEJE Consulting, Shannon, Sharon, Shaun, Shawna, Shelby, Shelley, Skyler, Steph, Stephanie, Stephen, Su, Susan, Susan M., Susan M.x2, Susan U., Tallie, Tana, Tania DSC, Tania T.D., Tara, TerraCorps, Terri, Titilayo, Tracy, Tracy G., Tracy T.G., Tyler, virginia, Vivian, Will, Willow, yoko, Yvette, and Zan

If you subscribe to the blog, thank you. Please check fakequity.com for the most up-to-date version of the post. We often make grammatical and stylistic corrections after the first publishing which shows up in your inbox. Please subscribe, the sign-up box on the right sidebar (desktop version). To see what Erin is reading and recommended books check out the Fakequity Bookshop.

I am writing from the lands of the 29 federally recognized and non-federally recognized tribes in now Washington State, including the Coast Salish people — Duwamish, Muckleshoot, Suquamish, Snoqualmie, and Native American organizations that have treaty rights and have been here since time immemorial. I give my thanks to the elders, Native and Indigenous colleagues and relations, and the land itself. Fakequity pays “rent” to Native organizations in Washington and Hawaii; a small act to repair and work to be in more justice based relations.

First, Happy Almost Lunar New Year! Lunar New Year is 2 February, thus this is the last blog post before Lunar New Year. Make sure to read some of Fakequity’s past Lunar New Year posts, such as last year’s where I just posted pictures of everyone’s delicious LNY foods. Happy Year of the Tiger.

Today’s blog post is a flowchart to help people figure out if they should sign-up for things. I started thinking about this during the release of COVID vaccines, especially the teen and pediatric versions. Those vaccines were released without prioritization on who should get it first. I watched as parents tripped over themselves trying to book, some might say ‘score’ appointments. I also watched as people with privileges would book appointments at POC clinics even though they had never used those clinics before or stopped to think about who those clinics served. This flowchart can also be used for other things like asking yourself if you should sign up for certain programs or benefits. It is most helpful for thinking about limited resources — not as my friend “don’t use it to think ‘should I buy oranges from Safeway or the POC grocery store.”

Like many things on Fakequity, the flowchart is meant to be tongue-in-cheek, don’t take it overly seriously. It is meant to be a bit of a joke and to remind ourselves to be human and mindful of each other. The serious version of this post can be found here.

The image is not screen reader-friendly. I promise to get a text version up, just not at this moment (I need to go to bed). Until I can properly format it, here is the text not laid out well:

Should I Sign-Up?

Do you know the organization? Yes / No

Is the resource scarce, limited, etc.?

Learn more about the organization

Do you know someone with the organization

Are you in their target demographic?

Are you displacing or taking resources from someone in the target demographic?

Would they invite you to participate? Yes / No

Do Not Proceed Look for other resources

Proceed thoughtfully and respectfully

Are you geographically close?

Proceed with caution – ask before joining, join waitlist, etc.

Do you have access to the same resource elsewhere?

Special thanks to several friends who suggested the idea of a flowchart; they saw early versions of this scrawled on paper and said it wasn’t totally terrible.

Thank you to our Patreon subscribers. At this time I don’t offer ‘extras’ or bonuses for Patreons. I blog after working a full-time job, volunteer and family commitments thus it is hard to find time to create more content. Whatever level you are comfortable giving helps to keep the blog ad-free, pay for back end cost, research cost, supporting other POC efforts, etc. If your financial situation changes please make this one of the first things you turn-off — you can still access the same content and when/if you are able to re-subscribe we’ll appreciate it.

Abby, Adrienne, Agent001, Aimie, Alayna, Alessandra P., Alessandra Z., Alexa, Aline, Alison F.P., Alison P., Allison K., Amanda, Amber, Amira, Amy H., Amy H.N., Amy K., Amy P., Andie, Andrea, Angelica, Angelina, Ann, Ashlee, Ashlie, Avery, Barb, Barbara, Barrett, Becky, Beth, Brad, brian, Bridget, Brooke B., Brooke D.W., Cadence, Caitlin, Calandra, Callista, Cari, Carmen, Carol Ann, Carolyn, Carrie B., Carrie C., Carrie S., Caryn, Catherine L., Catherine S. x2, Cedra, Celicia, Chelsea, Christina, Christine, Clara, Clark, Claudia, Claudia A., Courtney, Crystal, Dan, Daniel, Danielle, Danya, Darcy, Darcy E., Deb, Denyse, Diana, Diane, E., Ed, Edith B., Edith B. (2), Elizabeth, Elizabeth U., Emiko, emily, Erica J., Erica L., Erica R.B., Erin, Erin H., Evan, Francis, Gail, Hannah, Hayden, Heather, Heidi, Heidi H., Heidi N and Laura P, Heidi S., Hilary, Hope, J., Jackie, Jaime, Jake, Jane, JJanet, Jason, Jean, Jeanne, Jelena, Jen, Jena, Jenn, Jennet, Jennifer C., Jennifer M., Jennifer S., Jennifer T., Jennifer W., Jess G., Jessa, Jessica F., Jessica G., Jessica R., Jessie, Jillian, Jody, John, Jon G., Jon P., Jordan, Julia, June, Karen, Kari, Katharine, Kate C., Kate G., Kate T., Kathryn, Katie D., Katie O., Kawai, Keisha, Kelly S, Kelley, Kelli, Kellie H., Kellie M., Kelly, Kim, Kymberli, Kimberly, Krissy, Kirsten, Krista D.B., Krista W., Kristen, Kumar, Kyla, Laura T., Laura G., Laurel, Lauren, Laurie B., Laurie K., Leah, Lindsay, Lisa C., lisa c., Lisa P.W., Lisa S., Liz, Lori, Lori N., Lyn, Lynn, Maggie, Maka, Maki, Marc, Mareeha, Marge, Marilee, Mark, Marki, Mary, Matthew M., matthew w., Maura, McKenzie, Meghan, Melissa, Melody, Meredith, Michael, Michele, Michelle, Mickey, Migee, Mike, Milo, Mindy, Miranda, Misha, Molly, Myrna, Nancy, Nat, Natasha D., Natasha R., Nora, Norah, Norrie, Peggy, PMM, Polly, Porsche, Rachel G., Rachel S.R., Raquel, Raquel S., Rebecca O., Rebecca S., Reiko, Risa, Rise, Ruby, Ruchika, Sarah B., Sarah H., Sarah K.B., Sarah K., Sarah L., Sarah O., Sarah O. (2), Sarah R., Sarah S., Sarena, Sarita, Sean, SEJE Consulting, Shannon, Sharon, Shaun, Shawna, Shelby, Shelley, Skyler, Steph, Stephanie, Stephen, Su, Susan, Susan M., Susan M.x2, Susan U., Tallie, Tana, Tania DSC, Tania T.D., Tara, TerraCorps, Terri, Titilayo, Tracy, Tracy G., Tracy T.G., Tyler, virginia, Vivian, Will, Willow, yoko, Yvette, and Zan

If you subscribe to the blog, thank you. Please check fakequity.com for the most up-to-date version of the post. We often make grammatical and stylistic corrections after the first publishing which shows up in your inbox. Please subscribe, the sign-up box on the right sidebar (desktop version). To see what Erin is reading and recommended books check out the Fakequity Bookshop.

I am writing from the lands of the 29 federally recognized and non-federally recognized tribes in now Washington State, including the Coast Salish people — Duwamish, Muckleshoot, Suquamish, Snoqualmie, and Native American organizations that have treaty rights and have been here since time immemorial. I give my thanks to the elders, Native and Indigenous colleagues and relations, and the land itself. Fakequity pays “rent” to Native organizations in Washington and Hawaii; a small act to repair and work to be in more justice based relations.

This post is always a joy to write. An annual list of culturally significant dates to think about, pay attention to, and learn more about. Pull out your calendars and make note of these dates.

Notes about the list: This list was originally put together through crowd-sourcing dates from friends, colleagues, and some basic internet research. There are biases in the list since it was put together in this way. There are also local and regional practices, spellings, or observation differences than what is listed — please consult your local communities. As the editor of this list, I do not include US holidays or Western and Christian dates (i.e. Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Labor Day, Christmas, etc.) since those are easily found on Western calendars. The point of this list is to highlight and bring forward dates that may slip through Western calendars. Please email fakequity@gmail.com if you spot errors or omissions.

2022 Culturally Significant Dates

• Martin Luther King, Jr. Day – 1/17/22
• International Holocaust Remembrance Day — 1/27/22  – annual date 1/27
• Lunar New Year (Chinese) – Year of the Tiger/ Tet (Vietnamese) / Seollal (Korean) – 2/1/22
• Setsuban, end of winter start of spring (Japanese) – 2/3/22 [Edit added 1/30/22]
• Maha Shivaratri (Hindu) – 2/28/22
• Mardi Gras – 3/1/22
• Hinamatsuri – Girl’s Day (Japanese) – 3/3/22 – annual date 3/3
• Passover (Jewish) – 4/15 (starts at sundown)- 4/23/22 ends nightfall
• Holi – 3/17/22 sundown, ends 3/18/22 sundown
• Ramadan – 4/3 (sundown) – 5/1/22 (tentative dates, dependent on the sighting of the moon)
• Eretria Easter – 4/24/22
• Baisakhi / Vaisakhi (Sikh New Years) – 4/14/22 – generally celebrated on 13 or 14 of April every year
• Orthodox Easter – 4/24/22
• Ethiopian Orthodox Easter – 4/25/22
• Eid ul-Fitr – 5/2/22 or 5/3/22 depending on local practices, most observe the date on 5/2/22, US date is Monday, 5/2/22, Kenya observes the Eid on 5/4/22
• Children’s / Boy’s Day (Japanese) – 5/5/22 –annual date 5 May
• Vesak / Vesākha / Vaiśākha / Buddha Jayanti / Buddha Purnima / Buddha Day (Buddhist) – 5/16/22
• Kamehameha Day (Hawaii) – 6/11/22 – annual date 6/11
• Juneteenth – 6/19/22 – annual date 6/19
• Summer Solstice (northern hemisphere) – 6/21/22 @ 2.13 a.m. PDT, 9.13 a.m. UTC
• Hajj (Islam) – 7/7/22 (starts evening) – 7/12/22 *some calendars have this date starting 7/8/22
• Eid al-Adha – 7/10/22 or 7/9/22 or 7/11/22 (starts evening) depending on local practices, most observe the date on 7/10/22, US observes the date as 7/10/22
• Liberation Day (Guam) – 7/21/22 – annual date 7/21
• Enkutatash – Ethiopian New Year – 9/11/22, annual date 9/11
• Mid-Autumn Festival / Mooncake Festival – 9/10 – 9/12/22
• Rosh Hashanah – 9/25- 9/27/22 (starts sundown)
• Yom Kippur – 10/4 -10/5/22 (starts sundown)
• United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples – 9/13 – annually recognized
• Lotu Tamaiti – White Sunday (Samoa) – 10/09/22 – Second Sunday of October, public holiday 10/10/22
• Indigenous Peoples’ Day – 10/10/22 – observed the second Monday of October
• All Saints Day – 11/1/22 (annual date 1 Nov)
• Día de los Muertos – 11/1/22 – anual date 1 Nov)
• All Souls Day – 11/2/22 – annual date 2 Nov
• Diwali / Deepavali / Dipavali / Bandi Chhor Divas (Sikh) – 10/24/22
• Transgender Day of Remembrance – 11/20/22 – annual date 20 Nov
• Bodhi Day (Buddhist) – 12/8/22- annual date 8 Dec
• Human Rights Day – 12/10/22 – annual date 10 Dec
• Las Posadas and Noche Buena (Christian Latin American) – 12/16-24/22 – annual dates 16-24 Dec
• Simbang Gabi (Filipino) – 12/16 – 12/24/22
• Winter Equinox (northern hemisphere) 12/21/22, 1.48 p.m. PST
• Hanukkah / Chanukah – 12/18-12/26/22 (starts and ends at nightfall)
• St. Nicholas Feast Day (Orthodox) — 12/6/22, some observe the date as 12/5/22
• Kwanzaa – 12/26-1/1/23 – annual dates 12/26-1/1
• Orthodox / Ethiopian Orthodox Christmas / Eritrean Orthodox Christmas (Note: Not all Orthodox celebrate Christmas on this day, many celebrate Christmas on 12/25, the 1/7/23 date follows the ‘old calendar’) – 1/7/23

New Years Dates

Many different cultures and religions follow different calendars which has their year starting at different times of the year. I enjoy breaking from the Western calendar thinking of January through December. I’ve been known to make a new year resolution on Jan 1, then say “Lunar New Year is coming up, I can start again!”  

• Orthodox New Year – 1/14/22 (including even though it passed)
• Losar / Tibetan New Year – 2/1/22
• Lunar New Year (Chinese) / Tet (Vietnamese) / Seollal (Korean) – 2/1/22
• Tsagaan Sar/ White Moon (Mongolian) – 2/2/22
• Persian Nowruz / Iranian New Year – 3/21 – 3/22 – starts at 4.15 p.m. PDT, ends 4.24 p.m. PDT
• Naw-Rúz / first day of the Baháʼí calendar – 3/20-21/22
• Nyepi Bali Hindu New Year – 3/14/22
• Ugaadhi / Telegu and Kannada New Year – 4/13/22
• Baisakhi / Vaisakhi (Sikh) – 4/14/22
• Thingyan (water festival) / Burmese New Year Festival – 4/13-16/21
• Aluth Avurudda (Sinhalese New Year, Sri Lanka) – 4/13-16/22
• Songkran (Thailand) – 4/13-15/22
• Khmer New Year – 4/14-16/22
• Bun Pi Mai (Lao) – 4/13 or 4/14/22 or 4/13 – 4/16/22 *please check with the local Lao community on when they observe Bun Pi Mai
• Bengali New Year, Pohela Boishakh – 4/15/22
• Matariki, Maori New Year (New Zealand) – 6/24/22
• Al-Hijra / Muharram (Islamic / Muslim) – 7/29 – 7/30/22 *check with your local Muslim community on when they observe Al-Hijra
• Enkutatash / Ethiopian New Year – 9/11/22
• Rosh Hashanah – 9/25- 9/27/22 (starts sundown)
• Diwali / Deepavali / Dipavali / Bandi Chhor Divas (Sikh) – 10/24/22
• Guru Nanak Jayanti (Sikh) – 11/8/22

Monthly Recognitions

• January – none
• February –African American History Month, Black History Month
• March – Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, Deaf History Month (March 13-April 15)
• April – Arab American Heritage Month
• May – Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, Jewish American Heritage Month
• June – LGBT Pride Month
• July – Disability Pride Month
• August – Black Business Month
• September – Hispanic Heritage Month (15 Sept – 15 Oct)
• October – Disability Employment Awareness Month, Filipino American History Month, LGBT History Month
• November – Native American Indian/Alaska Native Heritage Month
• December – Universal Human Rights Month

Thank you to our Patreon subscribers. At this time I don’t offer ‘extras’ or bonuses for Patreons. I blog after working a full-time job, volunteer and family commitments thus it is hard to find time to create more content. Whatever level you are comfortable giving helps to keep the blog ad-free, pay for back end cost, research cost, supporting other POC efforts, etc. If your financial situation changes please make this one of the first things you turn-off — you can still access the same content and when/if you are able to re-subscribe we’ll appreciate it.

Abby, Adrienne, Agent001, Aimie, Alayna, Alessandra P., Alessandra Z., Alexa, Aline, Alison F.P., Alison P., Allison K., Amanda, Amber, Amira, Amy H., Amy H.N., Amy K., Amy P., Andie, Andrea, Angelica, Angelina, Ann, Ashlee, Ashlie, Avery, Barb, Barbara, Barrett, Becky, Beth, Brad, brian, Bridget, Brooke B., Brooke D.W., Cadence, Caitlin, Calandra, Callista, Cari, Carmen, Carol Ann, Carolyn, Carrie B., Carrie C., Carrie S., Caryn, Catherine L., Catherine S. x2, Cedra, Celicia, Chelsea, Christina, Christine, Clara, Clark, Claudia, Claudia A., Courtney, Crystal, Dan, Daniel, Danielle, Danya, Darcy, Darcy E., Deb, Denyse, Diana, Diane, E., Ed, Edith B., Edith B. (2), Elizabeth, Elizabeth U., Emiko, emily, Erica J., Erica L., Erica R.B., Erin, Erin H., Evan, Francis, Hannah, Hayden, Heather, Heidi, Heidi H., Heidi N and Laura P, Heidi S., Hilary, Hope, J., Jackie, Jaime, Jake, Jane, JJanet, Jason, Jean, Jeanne, Jelena, Jen, Jena, Jenn, Jennet, Jennifer C., Jennifer M., Jennifer S., Jennifer T., Jennifer W., Jess G., Jessa, Jessica F., Jessica G., Jessica R., Jessie, Jillian, Jody, John, Jon G., Jon P., Jordan, Julia, June, Karen, Kari, Katharine, Kate C., Kate G., Kate T., Kathryn, Katie D., Katie O., Kawai, Keisha, Kelly S, Kelley, Kelli, Kellie H., Kellie M., Kelly, Kim, Kymberli, Kimberly, Krissy, Kirsten, Krista D.B., Krista W., Kristen, Kumar, Kyla, Laura T., Laura G., Laurel, Lauren, Laurie B., Laurie K., Leah, Lindsay, Lisa C., lisa c., Lisa P.W., Lisa S., Liz, Lori, Lori N., Lyn, Lynn, Maggie, Maka, Maki, Marc, Mareeha, Marge, Marilee, Mark, Marki, Mary, Matthew M., matthew w., Maura, McKenzie, Meghan, Melissa, Melody, Meredith, Michael, Michele, Michelle, Mickey, Migee, Mike, Milo, Mindy, Miranda, Misha, Molly, Myrna, Nancy, Nat, Natasha D., Natasha R., Nora, Norah, Norrie, Peggy, PMM, Polly, Porsche, Rachel G., Rachel S.R., Raquel, Raquel S., Rebecca O., Rebecca S., Reiko, Risa, Rise, Ruby, Ruchika, Sarah B., Sarah H., Sarah K.B., Sarah K., Sarah L., Sarah O., Sarah O. (2), Sarah R., Sarah S., Sarena, Sarita, Sean, SEJE Consulting, Shannon, Sharon, Shaun, Shawna, Shelby, Shelley, Skyler, Steph, Stephanie, Stephen, Su, Susan, Susan M., Susan M.x2, Susan U., Tallie, Tana, Tania DSC, Tania T.D., Tara, TerraCorps, Terri, Titilayo, Tracy, Tracy G., Tracy T.G., Tyler, virginia, Vivian, Will, Willow, yoko, Yvette, and Zan

If you subscribe to the blog, thank you. Please check fakequity.com for the most up-to-date version of the post. We often make grammatical and stylistic corrections after the first publishing which shows up in your inbox. Please subscribe, the sign-up box on the right sidebar (desktop version). To see what Erin is reading and recommended books check out the Fakequity Bookshop.

I am writing from the lands of the 29 federally recognized and non-federally recognized tribes in now Washington State, including the Coast Salish people — Duwamish, Muckleshoot, Suquamish, Snoqualmie, and Native American organizations that have treaty rights and have been here since time immemorial. I give my thanks to the elders, Native and Indigenous colleagues and relations, and the land itself. Fakequity pays “rent” to Native organizations in Washington and Hawaii; a small act to repair and work to be in more justice based relations.

This week’s post isn’t the blog’s normal deeper dive into race or social justice issues. Like many others, I’m feeling the feels of 2022 COVID and omicron life. So instead of feeling sad let’s be honest about where we’re at and maybe poke a little fun at life too.

Give yourself one point for every item on the list you feel pertains to you.

1. Frantically look up omicron symptoms on the internet. Wonder what alphabet officials will use next after they exhaust Greek letters. Better start learning the different alphabets and tones in Asian languages.
2. Overbuying N95/KN95/KF94 facemasks. Is this the new toilet paper hoarding?
3. The COVID19 rapid test you placed in your online cart are sold out when you’re ready to pay
4. Barter for a COVID19 rapid test
5. Your school pivots to remote learning. Bonus point if you discover your kid didn’t bring home a charger.
6. Employers mandate travel with no disability accommodations
7. Your phone app notifies you of a COVID exposure
8. Says “This is crazy!” *Crazy should not be used as a synonym for dysfunctional (see ableism BINGO board)
9. Someone you know whines about canceling their cruise or vacation to Mexico
10. Someone talks about their temporary disability from working from home and too much screen time
11. Sidewalk curb cuts are blocked by snow, rain, debris, unpicked up trash or recycling (postponed due to the weather), etc.
12. You know someone who signed up to temporarily sub in a school – Hooray! Minus 1 point, Minus 10 if it is you doing the subbing.
13. Ask on Facebook where to get a COVID booster. If you’re not on Facebook, you wonder if now is the time to reopen that dormant account to crowdsource an answer.
14. FDA approves fourth or fifth or sixth booster
15. Sees the headlines asking for blood donations and make an appointment – thank you
16. Supply chain disrupts your order of books to prepare for MLK day, better order now before Juneteenth
17. Watch TikTok vids and feel afraid for the next generation but you stay stuck watching TikTok for five minutes straight.
18. Blindingly bright virtue signals by white folx who yielded a vaccine dose for gasp a POC
19. Columbusing/discovering ethnic grocery stores because the local whole foods is out of stock
20. Question if the amount of rain/snow/sun right now is related to climate change. Bonus point if you’re in the Pacific Northwest and experiencing the atmospheric river.
21. Watched Encanto for the fourth time. Bonus if you have the We Don’t Talk About Bruno song now stuck in your head.
22. Check COVID dashboards and marvel at the upward trajectory of the lines
23. Ignore a school robocall, ignore a work email asking for something immediately since it is 2022 and everything is immediate but not really
24. Deliver treats to your local school, they need a pick-me-up, minus 2
25. Reschedule travel plans
26. Reschedule a mahjong gathering (or other gathering)
27. Walk the pandemic puppy, pet your pandemic cat, or feed your pandemic sourdough starter
28. Wonder when Girl Scout cookies will be on sale again. Soon very soon! Find your favorite POC Girl Scout to place an order. If you don’t eat cookies, order them for a local school, they will appreciate the treats.
29. Watch dog/cat/panda videos or this video of ostriches running on a city street (I’ve watched it multiple times)
30. Register to Vote, update your voter registration address, or get someone registered. Minus five points if you do this. Seattle voters – be ready for the upcoming February ballot with two school levies on it.

1-10 points: You’re doing all right.

11-22 (22 because it is 2022) points: Hang in there. 2022 can only get better, right?

23+ points: Virtual hug to you. Go watch Encanto and look forward to eating Girl Scout cookies from the POC Girl Scout troop.

Special thanks to my almost twin Bao and KY for their help. Bao inspired this by creating a 2022 Blissful Pandemonium BINGO board that made many of us laugh and cry. Thank you to many others who inspired lines, including Carrie Basas who wrote the original Abelism BINGO where I stole and borrowed points from.

In 2022 I hope all of us find and keep friends as special as they are. We need each other and need to protect, care for, and love each other hard to come out of this pandemic together. This is the real lesson of this blog post, thanks for making it to the end of the post.

Thank you to our Patreon subscribers. At this time I don’t offer ‘extras’ or bonuses for Patreons. I blog after working a full-time job, volunteer and family commitments thus it is hard to find time to create more content. Whatever level you are comfortable giving helps to keep the blog ad-free, pay for back end cost, research cost, supporting other POC efforts, etc. If your financial situation changes please make this one of the first things you turn-off — you can still access the same content and when/if you are able to re-subscribe we’ll appreciate it.

Abby, Adrienne, Agent001, Aimie, Alayna, Alessandra P., Alessandra Z., Alexa, Aline, Alison F.P., Alison P., Allison K., Amanda, Amber, Amira, Amy H., Amy H.N., Amy K., Amy P., Andie, Andrea, Angelica, Angelina, Ann, Ashlee, Ashlie, Avery, Barb, Barbara, Barrett, Becky, Beth, Brad, brian, Bridget, Brooke B., Brooke D.W., Cadence, Caitlin, Calandra, Callista, Cari, Carmen, Carol Ann, Carolyn, Carrie B., Carrie C., Carrie S., Caryn, Catherine L., Catherine S. x2, Cedra, Celicia, Chelsea, Christina, Christine, Clara, Clark, Claudia, Claudia A., Courtney, Crystal, Dan, Daniel, Danielle, Danya, Darcy, Darcy E., Deb, Denyse, Diana, Diane, E., Ed, Edith B., Edith B. (2), Elizabeth, Elizabeth U., Emiko, emily, Erica J., Erica L., Erica R.B., Erin, Erin H., Evan, Francis, Hannah, Hayden, Heather, Heidi, Heidi H., Heidi N and Laura P, Heidi S., Hilary, Hope, J., Jackie, Jaime, Jake, Jane, JJanet, Jason, Jean, Jeanne, Jelena, Jen, Jena, Jenn, Jennet, Jennifer C., Jennifer M., Jennifer S., Jennifer T., Jennifer W., Jess G., Jessa, Jessica F., Jessica G., Jessica R., Jessie, Jillian, Jody, John, Jon G., Jon P., Jordan, Julia, June, Karen, Kari, Katharine, Kate C., Kate G., Kate T., Kathryn, Katie D., Katie O., Kawai, Keisha, Kelly S, Kelley, Kelli, Kellie H., Kellie M., Kelly, Kim, Kymberli, Kimberly, Krissy, Kirsten, Krista D.B., Krista W., Kristen, Kumar, Kyla, Laura T., Laura G., Laurel, Lauren, Laurie B., Laurie K., Leah, Lindsay, Lisa C., lisa c., Lisa P.W., Lisa S., Liz, Lori, Lori N., Lyn, Lynn, Maggie, Maka, Maki, Marc, Mareeha, Marge, Marilee, Mark, Marki, Mary, Matthew M., matthew w., Maura, McKenzie, Meghan, Melissa, Melody, Meredith, Michael, Michele, Michelle, Mickey, Migee, Mike, Milo, Mindy, Miranda, Misha, Molly, Myrna, Nancy, Nat, Natasha D., Natasha R., Nora, Norah, Norrie, Peggy, PMM, Polly, Porsche, Rachel G., Rachel S.R., Raquel, Raquel S., Rebecca O., Rebecca S., Reiko, Risa, Rise, Ruby, Ruchika, Sarah B., Sarah H., Sarah K.B., Sarah K., Sarah L., Sarah O., Sarah O. (2), Sarah R., Sarah S., Sarena, Sarita, Sean, SEJE Consulting, Shannon, Sharon, Shaun, Shawna, Shelby, Shelley, Skyler, Steph, Stephanie, Stephen, Su, Susan, Susan M., Susan M.x2, Susan U., Tallie, Tana, Tania DSC, Tania T.D., Tara, TerraCorps, Terri, Titilayo, Tracy, Tracy G., Tracy T.G., Tyler, virginia, Vivian, Will, Willow, yoko, Yvette, and Zan

If you subscribe to the blog, thank you. Please check fakequity.com for the most up-to-date version of the post. We often make grammatical and stylistic corrections after the first publishing which shows up in your inbox. Please subscribe, the sign-up box on the right sidebar (desktop version). To see what Erin is reading and recommended books check out the Fakequity Bookshop.

I am writing from the lands of the 29 federally recognized and non-federally recognized tribes in now Washington State, including the Coast Salish people — Duwamish, Muckleshoot, Suquamish, Snoqualmie, and Native American organizations that have treaty rights and have been here since time immemorial. I give my thanks to the elders, Native and Indigenous colleagues and relations, and the land itself. Fakequity pays “rent” to Native organizations in Washington and Hawaii; a small act to repair and work to be in more justice based relations.