Episode #59: Being Asian During the Pandemic Episode
Welcome to another great pandemic episode of the Book Friends Forever podcast. Alvina and Grace check-in on each other and discuss what it’s like being Asian during the coronavirus.
Just a reminder! Once the BFF’s reach 50 reviews or 100 ratings, they are going to have a drawing! The winner will receive a phone call or a chance to be a guest on the podcast. This helps with discoverability so if you find a chance to rate or review us, please do here! We currently have 39 reviews and 93 ratings! Thank you.
“How’ve you been holding up?”
Alvina has been busy editing and trying to get that email inbox to ZERO. Aside from work, she is still busy zoom socializing and just hanging in there.
Alvina’s social computer screen.
Grace has been still struggling with the balance of homeschooling and working. It is a LOT to do in one day. She’s made the decision to slow down some of the online learning projects she’s been hosting and just focus on writing books.
Being Asian American right now
There have been many articles in the news recently about hate crimes in the US due to the coronavirus. Alvina mostly blames Trump for adding fuel to this fire by calling it “The Chinese Virus”. He may have recently stopped using that term as he became aware of Asians being attacked. “Grace, have you experienced ay racism?”
Grace talks about her experience recently at a cross walk where she witnessed a man in his truck glare hatred right at another Asian woman and then right at her while walking across the street. Sometimes these micro-aggressions can add up and be very painful. Some people think it’s not racism until something physically awful is done to you but it can also be these subtle moves.
Alvina discussed mask wearing in America (to not get sick from others) vs. in Asian countries where they have the mask on as to not spread their sickness to others. This kind of selflessness should be adopted here right now.
Grace and Alvina discuss wether or not this will have a long term effect on Anti-Asian sentiment. They both hope not but believe it may be true. Asians have always been an “other” and right now that’s the focus. It was Muslims, and maybe in the future it will be sometimes else Grace thinks. People do forget easily. What they hope will positively come out of this?: People will value teachers and essential workers. Hopefully more Americans will want universal healthcare.
What are we grateful for?
Last year, Alvina donated money to help fund this Taiwanese American filmmaker who was making a movie called “Hello from Taiwan”. One of the awards was a pair of Blue Light Blocking glasses. She never used them. After working from home and being on the computer for 7-10 hours a day, she remembered the glasses! They’ve really helped!
Grace mentioned that pre-pandemic, she was considering not making any more books like her “Where the Mountain Meets the Moon” or “When the Sea Turned to Silver” because she thought perhaps those were contributing to the “otherness” of Asian Americans. Now she has decided to loosen the chains she had put on herself creatively and continue to write those Asian fantasy books. Grace is also grateful for her daughter being able to write an Easter thank you note unprompted!
2-Minute Book Review with Alison Morris
A Map into the World by Kao Kalia Yang Illustrated by Seo Kim
“A powerful book about paying attention to the people on our street or in our building and offering kindness where ever it’s needed.”
Alison Morris is a nationally recognized children's book buyer with an infectious enthusiasm for reading and 20 years' experience matching books to readers. As the Senior Director of Title Selection for nonprofit First Book, she oversees the curation of children’s and young adult books on the First Book Marketplace, hand-selecting a diverse range of titles that speak to and address the needs of kids in underserved communities, with a keen eye to inclusion, authenticity, and kid-appeal. She previously served as Senior Editor at Scholastic Book Clubs, Children's Book Buyer for Wellesley Booksmith and The Dartmouth Bookstore, and was the founding blogger of the ShelfTalker children’s book blog for Publishers Weekly. She'll be joining us from her home near Washington, DC where she spends LOTS of time discussing books with her husband, illustrator and graphic novelist Gareth Hinds.
