The Anxiety of Growing Up Asian American
As the child of Indian immigrants, I was never as free as my peers. Photo: Courtesy of Maya Shanbhag Lang Photo: Courtesy of Maya Shanbhag Lang
I come home and take off my shoes. I wash my hands with surgical thoroughness, change into my “inside clothes,” and put my “outside clothes” straight into the hamper. Looking around, I wonder if I am okay, if the world will ever cease to feel perilous.
This is not a description of pandemic life but one of my childhood. As the daughter of South Asian immigrants, this was my daily after-school routine.
UpdatedWed, May 5, 2021 at 4:31 pm ET
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May is Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, which celebrates the inspirational lives and considerable contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. (Shutterstock)
May is Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, which celebrates the inspirational lives and considerable contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Join in the celebration by reading a few of the many writings by and about Asian and Pacific Americans and their heritage and cultures.
The list includes recently published novels, non-fiction memoirs and essay collections that touch on the themes of Asian American identity, immigration and what it means to belong, as well as stories that explore familial bonds and romantic love. All are available to borrow in book or ebook format with your Livingston library card.