All right, folks. Gather 'round, because I've got someone you should meet. It's the Angry Reader of the Week, spotlighting you, the very special readers of this website. Over the years, I've been able to connect with a lot of cool folks, and this is a way of showing some appreciation and attention to the people who help make this blog what it is. This week's Angry Reader is Young Laura Kwon.
Who are you?
I have two official names. In Korea, I go by "HeeJung," a name given by my grandfather. I go by "Young Laura Kwon" in America. "Young" is not a typical American name but I love the uniqueness. My mom wanted to name me "Young Long," which means "bright" in Korean. Realizing that this name may look like two random adjectives combined together, my parents altered my middle name to "Laura." Having two names, I'm not sure which name I should use if I were to move to different countries.
I am a student at the University of Missouri. It's my second year studying international convergence journalism and international peace studies. I am hoping to use all the skill I gain as advocacy tools. Hopefully when it's time for me to graduate, I will have a full toolbox.
What are you?
I am a laugher.
I am a traveler.
I am a dreamer.
I am a feminist.
I am an advocate for justice.
I am an activist for equity.
Where are you?
Physically, I'm in Columbia, Missouri. Midwest.
Mentally, I am in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I was born and raised up for five nonconsecutive years. I haven't been there for 9 years. Planning to go back to visit for the summer really gets me thinking about my hometown and what the place meant to me.
Emotionally, I am in South Korea, where my family currently lives.
Where are you from?
My mother's womb.
What do you do?
I educate myself on diverse issues and show support for diverse communities on my campus. I advocate for Asian Americans and voice out about my feminist perspective on my campus.
What are you all about?
Coffee in the morning. Grumpy cats. Listening to spoken word artists thread their words together. Smiling. MIZZOU.
Social Justice. Getting into a deep conversation about identities, intersectionality, cross-cultural experience, and what-not. Trying to figure out ways to make the world a little better than yesterday.
Living with purpose and intention.
Equity! Justice! Peace! Solidarity.
What makes you angry?
Racialized catcalling, or catcalling in general. It's not okay to yell "Nihaoma" or "Gonichiwa" out your cars. If you want to order General Tso's chicken, please go to a Chinese restaurant. Yelling at me to take an order is not going to get you anywhere.
Complying to racism, sexism, classism, rape culture and all the other -isms. Injustice in general fires me up. Not even attempting to be compassionate. I try to be patient with ignorance. Everyone is ignorant in one aspect or another and I definitely am ignorant in many ways. That's why we educate ourselves. But if I share my feelings that certain words are offensive and hurtful, please listen and at least try to change. Your stubborn nature may make me blow up.