Department of American Ethnic Studies

University of Washington Provost Mark A. Richards today announced Dianne Harris will become dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, beginning Sept. 1.

This week, President Biden signed a law making Juneteenth a national holiday. But there are myths and omissions surrounding the telling of this day and that period in history, according to LaTaSha Levy, an assistant professor of American ethnic studies at the University of Washington, and it’s critical to understand the past and present need to fight for, and celebrate, Black freedom.

Wing Luke Museum’s “Asian American Women Rising: NOT Your Model Minority” was a masterfully crafted webinar on May 22, with the goal of inspiring viewers to participate in our democracy for the purpose of ending hate and violence against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders\, especially women. The UW's Connie So, teaching professor of American ethnic studies, and student Tianna Andresen are quoted.

It is sometimes the first time Asian Americans experience racism: at school and, more specifically, in the school cafeteria. The experience has been dubbed the "lunchbox moment," when a child brings a lunch packed by their parents at home — a dish that may be from their cultural background. The UW's Michael Spencer, professor of social work, and Connie So, teaching professor of American ethnic studies, are interviewed.

This week at the UW, listen to the 2021 Samuel and Alethea Stroum Lectures in Jewish Studies, watch Rage by B. Dance, and more.

A young generation of Asian and Pacific Islanders is leading a new wave of activism. Connie So, teaching professor of American ethnic studies at the UW, is interviewed.

A collection of work by Arts & Sciences faculty, students, alumni and friends related to Asian American and Pacific Islander history, heritage and culture.

This week at the UW, attend a lecture on revolutionary reforms to the metric system, "Asian American Women Rising: NOT the Model Minority," and more.

As a group, Asian Pacific Islander Americans contain multitudes: East Asians, South Asians, Polynesians, Micronesians, Melanesians. We come from wildly different regions and distinct cultural backgrounds. How did we get grouped together in the first place? And will we always remain this way? Rick Bonus, professor of American ethnic studies at the UW, is quoted.

Black and Asian American communities are uniting against racism. However, during this time, there’s also a call to confront divisions between the communities. Vince Schleitwiler, a lecturer in American ethnic studies at the UW, is interviewed.

This week at the UW, attend a book talk for “Empire of Convicts: Indian Penal Labor in Colonial Southeast Asia" and listen to the Jewish Questions podcast.

Since the beginning of the year, Asian Americans have come increasingly under violent attack. Elders have been assaulted in Chinatowns across the country, from Oakland to San Francisco to New York City. In late February, Inglemoor High School Japanese teacher Noriko Nasu and her boyfriend were walking through Seattle’s Chinatown-International District and were attacked without provocation. Reuben Deleon, a lecturer in American ethnic studies at the UW, is quoted.

"The past week carried a heavy tone that continues to add to the incremental accumulation of collective psychological trauma. As news seeped into my digital media feeds, I prepared myself for that cyclical pattern that many of us undergo when we encounter repeated instances of violence. We are made aware of our otherness and, in turn, feel the paranoia that follows," writes Oscar Rosales Castañeda, a lecturer in American ethnic studies at the UW.

"If we can name physical attacks and deaths as racist violence, why can’t we name the system of racial capitalism that produces the economic precarity of living paycheck to paycheck an issue of violence, as well? Much of the mainstream focus on race and racial violence ignores the intersection of class," writes Linh Thủy Nguyễn, assistant professor of American ethnic studies at the UW.

"We are outraged and deeply saddened by the massacre of the eight people in Atlanta. We give our love, support and deep condolences to the victims and their families. We grieve for their loss and for the violence surging against Asian American Pacific Island communities, especially women, who make up 70% of those victimized in the 3,800 hate crimes reported between March 1, 2020, and Feb. 28, 2021," write Connie So, teaching professor of American ethnic studies at the UW; Sutapa Basu of the University of Washington Women’s Center; and Velma Veloria, a former Washington State Representative.