Honoring Matri-ICONs Pt. III
Two weeks ago, a white man in Atlanta murdered 8 people on an extended spree. 6 of the people who died were Asian American women.
Everyone was rightly furious at the Atlanta police chief who said the killer had “had a bad day”. There was even more righteous fury when he stated that the murders had nothing to do with race, that the killer was explicitly anti-women, that it was about sex and you’re hysterical for making it about Asians.
Like most other women of color, I’m tired of saying this—sex and race are not distinct identities that can be parsed.
In American eyes, Asian women are Lotus Blossoms, they’re Dragon Ladies, they’re Tiger Moms, they’re Geishas, or they’re the prostitute in Full Metal Jacket.
None of the Asian women I have grown up with and idolized fit these stereotypes. Like everyone else, Asian American women are individuals with our own ambitions, desires, flaws, anxieties, and spirits. We’re not exotic or inscrutable and we’re not for your consumption. We belong to ourselves.
Today, I am honored to share some of the women and groups that have inspired me and The Chapter House.
—Katie Janss
Photo credit: Imogen Cunningham
Ruth Asawa, a fierce Californian artist born in 1926, was a sculptor, who made insanely intricate and beautiful pieces primarily from wire. Asawa’s parents immigrated to the U.S. from Japan and worked as truck farmers. Asawa worked with them on farms before and after school, where she would making drawings of forms in the sand, which she later said would influence the bulk of her work. Both Ruth and her family experienced extreme racism throughout their lifetimes, ranging from detainment and internment in the 1940’s, to being denied a teaching position she studied for, to having people turn her away in the art world when she needed production help. Ruth eventually went on to study at Black Mountain College, where she really dug in to sculpture making. Over the years she made amazing bodies of work, and went on to become one of the most world renowned artists. And, she didn’t stop there, she also fought hard for arts education for young children and those of all age who might not have the opportunity to study art.
Katie and her mom Susan at a bridal shower. Photo from Katie Janss.
Susan Matsutani is a Japanese American licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Los Angeles County, and is my (Katie’s) mother. I could write pages on how my mother has made me the woman I am today, but one piece of her wisdom I return to again and again in my adulthood is patience. Not only with others, but with myself. Susan decided to become an MFT after working for decades in the corporate world. It wasn't easy—especially not with two young children—nor was it quick, but with study, patience, and singular focus, she made a fulfilling second career providing low-cost therapy for her community. I can be impatient with myself when I think I haven't accomplished enough in my life by this point. But then I remember my mother and I know—I have plenty of time if I only have patience.
Yuri Kochiyama was a Japanese American civil rights activist. She was famous for her friendship with Malcolm X, chairing the Day of Remembrance committee, and for her mentorship of the Asian American movement. It should be noted that she made some controversial political statements at the end of her life. But I have drawn a lot of inspiration from Kochiyama since I first learned of her activism. I grew up consciously and unconsciously aware of the "model minority" myth--that Asian Americans are hard-working, uncomplaining, and subservient (in contrast with other "trouble-making" minorities). But here was an Asian woman—and Japanese, too!—who was loudly and unabashedly critical of the American government, empire and racism in society. Kochiyama made space for herself when there wasn't space for women like her.
Tiffany Wong / Photo taken from NDNxAZN’s website.
NDNxAZN is not a one woman show, but a collective of Asian and Indigenous artists, activists and educators. It was formed in 2020, by fierce Indigenous and Asian women who decided to come together in solidarity to create an art project using masks to create conversations about both of our cultural experiences of COVID-19, especially as the world witnessed a rise in violence committed against our communities. As many of us know, Asian and Indigenous communities and our struggles have oftentimes been overlooked and buried in society as we make up some of the smallest populations in the Americas. The mission of this important project is to use mask coverings to represent our ancestral practices and wisdom, but also to demonstrate how Asian and Native women are often silenced. NDNxAZN states, “We, as artists and activists and educators, refuse to be silenced. Pandemics have historically wreaked havoc on Indigenous and Asian communities and we believe intersectional solidarity is the key to our collective liberation.” The Chapter House couldn’t agree more. Please check out their website and Instagram to learn more about the collective and to find out how to participate!
