Greetings, good people of the internet! It is time, once again, to meet 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 Hana Lee.
Who are you?
I am hana, the 'only one' if you translate my name into Korean. I am a proud Korean American, a daughter of two hard working immigrant parents who came to the United States so that their daughters can dream bigger and have more opportunity. I am also the proud sister of an intelligent and talented young Korean woman who will fight against any injustices. And I am one of the core Dream Riders on the Journey to Justice advocating for Citizenship for all 11 million undocumented immigrants and 35,000 intercountry adoptees without citizenship (visit godreamriders.org for more info!!). I am a NCAA Student Athlete trying to live life and exist. Lost soul trying to seek answers for life. There are so many ways to describe and say who I am, but I am just me, Hana. Angry Asian woman who does not want to live in fear anymore and wants to do everything I can for my immigrant community.
What are you?
A child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars. A human being who deserves to live anywhere and educate oneself.
Where are you?
I am physically in many places. I am currently at my school pursuing higher education, but have been in so many different places as I was on Journey to Justice. I biked from Seattle, Washington to San Francisco, California. My team will continue to bike until San Diego, California. Where I am in life is very complicated, but I sought clarity and affirmation through Journey to Justice. I am still trying to figure out where I want to end up, and how I am going to get there. But as of right now, I am in an interesting place full of new experiences, learning and unlearning. My heart is in Korea.
Where are you from?
I'm from many different places. I'm from New Jersey and California, but most importantly, I am from the great peninsula of Korea.
What do you do?
I am a NCAA student athlete double majoring in Criminology and Sociology. I am planning to play golf at a professional level after college. However, life is unexpected and full of surprises so I am never quite sure. I was an intern at KRC (Korean Resource Center) for Leaders of New School program and my experiences with them have changed my worldview and how I go about life. It made me realize that the privileges I have -- being impacted or not -- are the result of my community's hard work. Now, I am fully determined and dedicated to do the same for my community, and fight with my community because there is a limit when I fight alone. I also represent Soju Speakwear! It is a clothing project to make activism as part of our daily lives and share our massages (because we are tired of talking all the time!). Go checkout Instagram: @soju.speakwear and tune-in sojuspeakwear.bigcartel.com. Other than that, I play golf, chill, advocate for immigrant rights, and ponder about too many things regarding the current climate of this country. I guess you can say I am a 'thinker' right now.
What are you all about?
As of right now, I am all about living my life and bringing justice and humanity back to this country. No human beings deserve less than others, and my parents do not deserve less than me. There are no "good" immigrants or "bad" immigrants, and I am willing to do anything to fight against anti-immigration policies and laws that impact my community. I am all about this because I believe NO HUMAN BEING IS ILLEGAL. I am also all about working with adolescents and at-risk youth so they can reach their potential and live their lives to the fullest. Even though students live as citizens, they are not granted with the same basic necessities as others to live in this country. I am all about believing in citizenship for all non-citizens so every human in this country can have the rights they deserve simply for being human. I am also all about my family which is the reason why I am embedded in social justice work. Besides all these, I am all about animals, nature, music, beach and exploring!
What makes you angry?
The current political climate that is dividing my community and this country, family separation as a result of discriminating policies and laws, children suffering from trauma because of separation, and my friends and community members living in fear of deportation. People are forgetting that we are all HUMAN BEINGS and act like they are better or more superior than others. Why do I deserve less than any of YOU when I am same as YOU but from a different background? America says it's all about equality and humanity, but its immigration policies act like child abuse by separating families. It hurts and angers me to see this country I call home not be a safe place for me and my immigrant community. It also pisses me off whenever I think about the HYPOCRISY of folks getting to decide who deserves to stay in this country that they think belongs to them even though settlers and colonizers STOLE this land from indigenous people and killed them in the process. You cannot be an immigrant on stolen land, so people can also stop saying how we're "all immigrants" too. Out of everything, seeing teenagers and students not granted with even basic necessities they need, such as education, housing, and healthcare, makes me the angriest! Youth are the future of this country and seeing them not being able to reach their full potential due to limited access to resources just makes me feel hopeless for the future of United States. It hurts me to see the 'United' States of America slowly going through division and separation. I pray for the day that I don't need to live in fear for myself, my family, or my community. But until that day comes, I'm going to keep fighting and stay angry.
