Concept and Meaning
What does “The Pursuit of Happiness” mean to you? How can we simply ‘just be happy’ when we are all finding our place in the world, balancing work or school, trying to afford the costs of living, navigating life’s ups and downs, and learning more about our cultural identities in mostly western spaces? ‘The Pursuit of HAAPI-ness’ is an introspective theme told by Hawaiian, Asian, and Pacific Islander voices to explore our inner and outer joy, often in sad times.
Tell us your observations of HAAPI-ness in the world and political sphere, or reflect on what makes you sad and how you have pursued happiness in your own mental health journey. Are you a cycle breaker of generational unhappiness or a trail blazer that makes the pursuit of happiness possible for others? Are you a ‘first’ in your family or community to do something, like attend college? Shoot for the moon and tell us about your pursuit of happiness.
Conversations
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A Conversation with Rita Phetmixay
Written by Sabaitide
Meet the laodest voice of the Lao community! Rita Phetmixay of Healing Out Laod is a Lao activist and community builder, licensed psychotherapist, and a phenomenal retreat host.
World
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The Mango Showers
Written by Srabondeya Haldar
The mango showers are perhaps my most favorite natural phenomenon. The light pre-monsoon rains help in ripening the mango from its raw sourness to its golden sweetness – the very essence of the summer in India.
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Poverty Tourism in the Kingdom of Cambodia
Written by Belle Vang
Reflecting on our experience, I realized the importance of conscientious tourism – an approach that seeks to support local communities rather than exploit them for personal gain.
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A Crash Course on Recent US History
Written by Sabaitide
It’s been over 10 years since I took AP US History, so I curated a brief crash course for anyone else who would like to review with me.
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Stinky Lunch With a Side of Insecurity
Written by Amulya Chintalapati
When someone’s cuisine is picked on, they don’t just stop bringing their ethnic foods, they try to reject their culture and it’s similar to beauty standards.
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Amanda Nguyễn is Making History Again — As the First Vietnamese Woman in Space
Written by Sabaitide
“My mom crossed the ocean so that I could touch the sky,” Amanda says.
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Olivia Rodrigo Supports Reproductive Rights through Fund 4 Good
Written by Madison Foote
Olivia Rodrigo kicked off her GUTS World Tour and is donating a portion of the proceeds to support community based nonprofits that champion girls’ education, reproductive rights, and prevent gender based violence.
Media
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Hanuman, Hijras, and Heart: What Monkey Man Decolonizes
Written by Anusikha Halder
Monkey Man comes at a time when political struggles in India are reaching new heights for the 2024 elections– and is a pretty clear critique of the BJP Party led by Prime Minister Narendra Modhi.
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Listen to Mean Reds, the Dark-Pop Summer Hit We Needed
Written by Overachiever Magazine
“Mean Reds” are anxious thoughts that creep into your mind unexpectedly and don’t leave. Annie Scherer wrote the song about her own experiences with anxiety.
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Being ‘Mean’ Has a Color?
Written By Amulya Chintalapati
The film Mean Girls is the epitome of stereotypical American highschool culture. For an Indian woman to play a character that was previously depicted as white in this movie, it holds significant meaning.
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2023 in AANHPI Film and Television
Written By Sally Fleur Nguyen
To celebrate AANHPI Month and a summer full of exciting new projects, let’s revisit some impactful 2023 movies and television series created by Asian filmmakers.
Yours Truly
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Emily Chau - Creator's Club
Written by Yours Truly
My identity as an Asian American undoubtedly influences my perspective, experiences, and the way I express myself. A majority of the projects, themes, and aesthetics I’m drawn to reflect my desire to reconnect with and explore my heritage.
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Love in Translation - Kelly Lin Poetry
Written by Kelly Lin
This is part of a collection inspired by psychogeography that I’m currently working on in my Creative Writing Masters program. You can view other work by me on my Instagram account @lovebykel.
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Sita Chay - Creator's Club
Written by Yours Truly
Music was my teacher in a spiritual way and around politics or cultural blending… So I got into Indian music, Arabic music, klezmer music, Mexican music, Korean music.
Letters to the Editor
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The Facts are Painted with Blood
Letters to the Editor
Submitted by Keira Morales
The facts are painted with blood as we must not turn a blind eye to the increasingly accumulating death toll, and the causes behind it.
The Pursuit of HAAPI-ness Issue
The Pursuit of HAAPI-ness Issue
Accepting art, poetry, and written submissions through June 23rd, 2024. Learn how you can Submit Your Work.