Calling all Asian Americans in all 50 States (we're talking to YOU Wyoming!)

The Kartika Review has initiated The 500 Project--they are looking for 10 APIA (Asian Pacific Islander Americans) to write in about how they feel about APIA literature.

Specifically, here are the questions they're asking:

1. Does APIA literature matter to you?
2. Why does APIA literature matter to you?
3. Cite the last 3 works of APIA literature you read.
4. Who are your favorite APIA writers or poets and why?
5. In your own words, you are:
6. In your own words, APIA literature is:

I'm assuming that they're not going to have any problems finding folks from California, New York, Hawaii, and Washington (for example) but perhaps places that don't have as large of an APIA population (Wyoming, North Dakota, Nebraska) may need more representation, so if you are from one of these states, identify as Asian Pacific American, and like literature, then consider responding to their call.

I did! And to prove it, here are my answers:

1. Does APIA literature matter to you?

YES! Absolutely! Positively! Can I be more affirmative in the way I answer this question???!!!

2. Why does APIA literature matter to you?

Because it speaks of and to me. Because when I first encountered Woman Warrior as a freshman I felt like FINALLY someone was writing about ME and FINALLY someone was telling my story. Because regardless of whether you identify as APIA or not, the stories that the literature tells are ones that touch on the particular humanity of our community—that reminds us and others of our humanity.

3. Cite the last 3 works of APIA literature you read.

The Surrendered – Chang-rae Lee, World and Town – Gish Jen, Bitter in the Mouth – Monique Truong

4. Who are your favorite APIA writers or poets and why?

Mitsuye Yamada (because she is a witness to history and because only the lyrical can capture certain traumas), Chang-rae Lee (because he writes of horror with a sense of beautiful urgency that forces me to act as a witness to history), Lois-Ann Yamanaka (because although I know she’s controversial in certain APIA literary circles, her prose is raw and gut wrenching and visceral—she makes you feel the pain of adolescence in a way that few writers can so vividly capture the angst of that period—she knows the loneliness of being an outsider).

5. In your own words, you are:

…large. I contain multitudes.

6. In your own words, APIA literature is:

Sustenance.