If you’ve been listening to my voice notes that revolve around

topics of being Asian American or Asian in general, you’ve probably noticed a theme. That theme being the importance of valuing yourself.

This is a world where Western culture and its power have been projected on a global scale. It’s the context of our modern international exchanges. So it’s not uncommon to find Asian people who would think Westerners and Western culture are better. And that effectively places people and cultures in a hierarchy — which is dangerous.

People might think there’s nothing wrong with idolizing a certain culture, or having a racial preference, or learning a foreign language. But all of those things can also help perpetuate a hierarchy and some unhealthy intercultural dynamics.

That’s why I think it’s important to understand more of the world while also valuing oneself. It reinforces your dignity and the idea of human equality.

As a person of Asian descent, I don’t think Asian culture or Asians are the best. But neither do I think having blond hair or blue eyes makes a person better. No matter what you are, it’s best to value whom you see in the mirror.

It doesn’t matter if my roots are Japanese, Chinese, or Korean, I share the same dignity as any other Asian person in America and abroad. And I want to help uphold that.