Christal Yu DB 5

I think this class has exceeded my expectations thus far. It is definitely much more comprehensive, inclusive, and intensive than I originally anticipated, none of which are bad things. I really appreciate Professor Munshi’s level of organization and communication. Her openness toward collective growth and constructive criticism sets a great standard for students and other teachers. I’ve had some difficulty with OpenLab (the discussion boards were a little funky for me at first) and originally preferred BlackBoard over it. However, it’s about the same platform and I think I’m adjusted now. This mostly makes curious as to why OpenLab was chosen, since the two platforms seem somewhat the same on the surface level (maybe the community aspect?) except for the fact that BlackBoard allows for grading and submissions with deadlines as well. Either way, I’m enjoying the class and think the depth of organization and materials make for a really eye opening experience! 

I am not sure I have a change in mind! Some songs that may be applicable to Asian-American history are some songs by the Blue Scholars. While they don’t speak constantly on Asian-American history and issues, their lead voice is a Filipino man, speaking about common issues facing POC and the Filipino community. A rap duo native to Seattle, popular in the 2000’s, the Blue Scholars were more of an underground group, not aiming for widespread popularity but rather to spread a message. The duo is composed of an Iranian musician who creates beats and a Filipino rapper who works on their lyrics. Their song “50 Thousand Deep” recounts the events of the 1999 Seattle Protests, a huge gathering which turned violent against police when protesting a trade agreement. It is a song echoing the protests, speaking of police brutality, globalization, wealth inequality, and racial inequality. 

Verses such as:

“But the body rock stopped, probably got caught by the cops

Nearby, somebody got shot

But parties don’t stop in the south

So take your shoes off when you come into my house

[Verse 2]

I had to duck out cause I knew I stuck out in the crowd

After many years growin’ up brown in this town”

And 

“The body rock stopped, probably got caught by the cops
Nearby, somebody got shot

But parties don’t stop and the parties don’t care

It’s a stick-up, it’s why we got our hands in the air

Still demanding a share, refrigerators bare
Cause they wanna see trade get free and not fair”

Another of their songs, titled “Back Home” focuses on the injustices of war, wealth inequality, and race. Examples of these themes include:

“Had a lot of good brothers either my age or younger

Who copped the 1st album when it dropped now gone under

And they say progress but the fact is

Dr. Martin Luther King’s legacy is lookin’ like the street we named after him”

“So next time you see recruiters in your school or your crib

Tell ’em thank you for the offer but you’d rather you lived

We got more than just our bodies to offer

So fuck a coffin wrapped in red, white, and blue, withdraw passed due

We disgusted with the fact we pay taxes to build tanks

Still dropping one twomp and a half to fill tanks

Got a china-mans chance to fill banks like Phil Banks”

This protest against the violence of war and it’s predatory tactics upon lower income communities is applicable to Asian American history as Geo, Blue Scholars’ lyricist, raps about Filipino people pushed into American issues of war. Asian Americans are also overlooked when addressing inequality due to the model minority status. 

I wonder if there is also a song documenting the 1992 LA Riots as it was a huge event in recent Asian-American history, speaking prominently about a lot of racial tensions between Asian-Americans and Black Americans and the influence of the larger white society and police for further worsening it. Rodney King, Latasha Harlins, and many other people suffered immensely as a result of police brutality and heightened racial tensions. I think this event is extremely historically important to Asian American history because of the racial dynamics presented, which can lead to a lot of conversation about why relationships between Black Americans and Asian Americans are often so strained. It was truly a tragedy with much unnecessary suffering on both sides.