Martin Luther King Jr. Day & “Interweaving Cupcake” - 1st piece of the series "Pioneers in Bettering the World"

Pioneers in Bettering the World (mini-series of three blogs)

Across the world, there are many promising leaders who break the ground and bring transformative changes to society, even if it costs them their lives. I'm putting together this mini blog series to remember several world leaders who made a real impact on society. They were all about standing up for their countries and people and striving for the building of fair and just societies.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day & “Interweaving Cupcake” (first piece of the series)

In the third grade, I came to this after-school facility twice a week, which provided a variety of classes in academics, sports, and arts. It was a new, red brick building with warm sunlight coming in from the beige window panes. It was an enjoyable time where we had snacks and mingled with kids from other schools. I also started to develop my early interest in math and did well in the friendly weekly competitions. The young counselors would host makeshift award ceremonies and give out gold chocolate medals. One day, after another win, the two counselors waved me congratulations on their way out. Before the door shut, I heard their last bit of conversation: Aaron is a smart kid; yes, and what do you expect, he’s an Asian boy. The counselors were always friendly and even these comments were accompanied by friendly chuckles. I didn’t think much at the time until many years later.

It is unthinkable that as recently as 1955, Black Americans in Alabama were still required to ride in the back half of the bus while the front half was reserved for whites. They were being denied basic civil rights and faced discrimination in education, employment, and voting rights. The American society was marked by deeply entrenched racial segregation.

Since then, the Civil Rights Movement has made significant progress in combating racial discrimination. As a key leader, Martin Luther King played a pivotal role in driving for racial equality and justice. Through nonviolent protests, Dr. King demanded an end to systemic racism. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 became a milestone of the era that outlaws discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. The Voting Rights Act followed in 1965 and sought to ensure that all citizens got to exercise their right to vote. These legislations made possible more equal opportunities for marginalized communities.

We celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr., Day every year in January. While his life was taken in the fight against discrimination, we the youth can honor Dr. King’s legacy as we strive to improve and lift the communities.

From affirmative action to Black Lives Matter, the progress continued in addressing historical racial disadvantages. However, challenges remain. Arbery shooting in Georgia, George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis, and the numerous verbal and physical attacks against Asian American during the pandemic. The complicatedness of racial disparities takes forms in ethnic stereotyping, racial profiling, police brutality, and other kinds.

As the nation continues to cope with the ongoing systemic racism, Asian youth has the power to become a proactive and integral part to promote understanding and build a more inclusive society for all.

The biggest challenge for Asian Americans is that we are often invisible in discussions of racial bias. It develops into a downward spiral because the ways of disparities go ignored and overlooked, ultimately causing more suffering. Assumed as being uniformly high achieving, the Asian Americans are termed as “model minority” that underplays the racism facing Asian society. Asian Americans represent a diverse group, comprising over 20 different cultures. We are not all good at math and don’t all practice martial arts, Ping Pong is not the only sport we are good at, and yes, many of us are actually the opposite of being socially awkward.

Now when I think back about that moment in the aftercare, I was praised as being exemplary by people who were friendly. The younger me did not realize even a positive characterization shares the nature of all stereotypes that is to focus on group identity instead of individuality. How do we foster understanding across groups from diverse cultural, social, and political backgrounds? How do we see people as great individuals and listen to their stories rather than using group affiliation?

Asian youth can play a vital role in helping build a more equitable society. We can encourage our peers to make our voices heard, raise awareness through the power of social media, engage in activism, embrace cultural heritage, and foster dialogues. Meanwhile with the numerous baking workshops I have run, I have found that baking serves as an affable social mixer that allows people to befriend each other individually and connect over a common recipe and shared ovens.

Martin Luther King, Jr., Day is not just a holiday for African Americans. It's for all Americans to commemorate the triumphs and barriers in the fight for civil equality.

Adding a tasty baked good to the celebrations would be a fun way to honor Martin Luther King, Jr., and keep the day meaningful. I’m creating an original recipe of “Interweaving Cupcake”, something that symbolizes the sweet taste of togetherness. So come back and check for more!