AACRAO's member-led book club meets monthly, choosing a content piece (novel, short story, graphic novel, etc.) to read over the course of the month, culminating in a one-hour-long discussion of thoughts, takeaways, and questions at the end.
May's selection was Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning, by Cathy Park Hong. Our hosts shared a few of their thoughts around the discussion.
Dr. Allan Davis:
One of the chapters on racialized innocence was informed by a book that was important to me when I wrote my dissertation. The chapters about stand-up comedy and using Bad English in poetry highlighted the significance of live performance and art forms that resist the disappearance of minoritized people. And Cathy Park Hong drives home how institutions of education have played a big role in shaping Asian American identity. I could not think of a book that was more important for professionals in Admissions and Registrar officers to tackle. Increasing awareness of hate crimes in the United States directed towards Asian Americans only made the discussion more significant.
Michelle T. Weller:
As an AAPI advocate, I remind others that the term is not meant to conflate or flatten the identity, but to unite the diverse perspectives and to have a common platform for social change. Similarly, while Cathy Park Hong’s experiences did resonate
with some of my own, we do not expect that they represent the entire population.
Read the full discussion recap here.
July’s Book Club | July 27, 2:00 p.m. ET
AACRAO’s Book Club is back in July. Timing of transfer is everything to the context, their pathways, transitions, and supports but so too is the role of leadership, partnership, and teaching and learning.
Join AACRAO hosts Jacquelyn Rogers and Carolyn Gentle-Genitty for the July Book Club as we read " The Transfer Experience: A Handbook for Creating a More Equitable and Successful Postsecondary System" and break down the recommendations and takeaways for you to implement at your institution. Register today.