Journal 7 - Aoki and Deporting Cambodians

Before watching the film Aoki, I had never heard of him before because Asian American activists are seldom highlighted in school. They are swept under the rug, and it takes some extra digging in order to learn about them, so I am surprised that I had not heard of Aoki after watching his actions and learning that he is also local! His experience growing up in an internment camp, and then Oakland, definitely shaped his passion as an activist since he suffered many injustices and realized that “he was a member of the oppressed class and did something about it.” His approach was intersectional as well, where he joined the Black Panthers because he understood the black people’s frustrations with their treatment; he also believed in a pan-Asian movement. Aoki’s actions remind me of Grace Lee Boggs, another Asian American activist who fought for alleviating poverty in Detroit’s poor, black neighborhoods.

The activists started from different ages as well, as seen in Soo Ah Kwon’s article where she talked about AYPAL’s efforts in decreasing unfair Cambodian deportation. Just like Aoki, the youth realized how incarcerated Cambodians were treated poorly despite serving their sentences, so they took a stand and managed to win several victories. It is incredible to see that even youth can make an impact, especially since they serve as the connecting piece between the older generations and the American public.