Immigrating to the U.S., Biracial Identity, Patriotism, What Defines Citizenship, Asian American Writers with Nina Li Coomes

POC Podcast - Progressive Opinions of Color

Nina Li Coomes is a writer based in Chicago. Nina grew up in Japan and I grew up in China, so we talk about our experiences immigrating to the U.S. and growing up in the U.S.. We also talk about her writing, language barriers in activism, talking to Asian parents about politics, public school education, patriotism, citizenship, national borders, books recs from Asian American authors, and how hot Gong Li is!
(2:30) - Nina introduces herself and her writing.
(5:00) - Nina's newest essay on Chicago public schools.
(12:00) - Immigrating to the U.S. from Japan, living as a mixed race child in the U.S. and Japan.
(18:00) - The importance of translation and reducing language barriers in activism.
(20:00) - Having political conversations with Asian parents
(23:00) - Patriotism, Imagined Communities
(27:00) - How is citizenship awarded, when is it taken away, how do you prove you're a citizen? Chinese citizenship.
(30:00) - Regional dialects.
(32:00) - Nina's book recs by Asian American authors!
(34:15) - Asian American representation in literature and film. Amy Tan, Crazy Rich Asians, The Half of It, Mulan.
Contact Nancy at:
[e-mail]
Website
POC Podcast has an Instagram now!
And a Twitter!
Nina:
Twitter
Instagram
Ode to a Chicago Public School
Book recs:
If I Had Your Face by Frances Cha
How Much of These Hills is Gold by C Pan Zhang
Minor Feelings by Cathy Park Hong
Harmless Like You by Rowan Hisayo Buchanan
Starling Days by Rowan Hisayo Buchanan
Welcome to Progressive Opinions of Color (POC), a podcast that seeks to create space for more people of color in politics and economics. With the 2020 presidential election coming up and the state of the economy during COVID-19, it is more important than ever to think about who we include in the conversations about politics and economics. I am Nancy Wu, your host. I’m also an Asian American woman, an economist, and a huge politics and policy nerd. I triple majored in Economics, Government (Political Science) and Gender Studies at Dartmouth and have a Master’s in Development Economics from Oxford. I work as an Economist full time and have previously worked in economic policy at the White House (under Obama, of course) and progressive think tanks. The goal of this podcast is to engage the Asian American community and other POC and BIPOC voices in an industry that is so heavily represented by old white men. The POC Podcast will host conversations on the 2020 Presidential Election, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, the coronavirus pandemic, the state of the economy, and other pressing topics in politics, economics, and culture, all through perspectives inclusive of the lived experiences of people of color. Whether you're new to politics or already a huge politics nerd, I hope this podcast inspires community and conversation among us. Join me in reimagining politics and economics with underrepresented voices. The economy is complicated enough. Learn about it through stories from real people.

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