I came to my political awakening late. Like I mentioned in a previous post, I resisted being labeled an Asian American writer for a long time, and shied away from anything overtly political. 

 

I wrote an essay about my journey towards my political awakening, including my fears and anxieties, in response to a question poised by The James Franco Review on what it means to be an artist in the current climate and how we engage with the notion of safety. It was a hard essay to write. Not just because it was so personal (my relationship features prominently) but also because it required me to admit to the things I worried about and still worry about, my own insecurities, and my own misguided beliefs. But I'm already overwhelmed, touched, and relieved by the responses I've gotten, that tell me that I'm not the only one who has struggled with these thoughts and questions. For that, I'm truly grateful.

 

Thanks to Corinne Manning and The James Franco Review for asking me to contribute to this issue. This was an essay I didn't realize I really wanted to write until I was given the space to.

 

 

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