Bao Phi, Activist and Spoken Word Artist
February 7th, 2010 | Published in Interviews | 1 Comment
We have to remember that we’re part of a larger, longer struggle, and that people who have tried to create meaningful change have seldom been popular.”
Last month, activist and slam poet Bao Phi published an amazing article on being a “nerd of color” in a world that is not often friendly to either “identity.”
Mr. Phi has performed at colleges and venues across the country. He is a two-time winner of the Minnesota Grand Poetry Slam and placed sixth out of 250 competitors in the National Poetry Slam Stage.
Currently, Mr. Phi works as an Associate Program Director at The Loft Literary Center, the nation’s largest independent literary center – dedicated “to support the artistic development of writers, to foster a writing community, and to build an audience for literature.”
Racebending.com was lucky enough to have the opportunity to ask Mr. Phi about his work as an advocate and his experiences as a Vietnamese American “nerd of color.”
NOTE: The opinions espoused by the interviewees represent their viewpoints alone, and do not necessarily represent the views held by the staff of racebending.com
RACEBENDING.COM: Can you tell us a bit about your work as a spoken word artist and how you came to become an artist and activist?
PHI: I loved books and stories ever since I was a little kid. I was a Vietnamese refugee nerd from a poor family raised in the ‘hood, and my parents taught me to walk to the nearby library to occupy my time, which meant they didn’t have to buy me toys and I stayed out of gangs and other such activities.
As I got older, I got interested in things like theater and poetry, but felt like there was something vital missing from those experiences. At the same time, I became more aware of my surroundings – crack, police brutality, first Gulf War. All of this, combined with my search for an Asian American voice and community, shaped who I am.
RACEBENDING.COM: Have you ever experienced any pressures, false assumptions, or even discrimination because you are an Asian American performer?
PHI: All the time. It can manifest itself subtly, like someone complementing you on how great your English is, or how you’re an exceptional Asian, you know – a credit to your race. Or it can be blatant: like, your people don’t experience racism, so you have no right to talk. Or, my best friend/partner is Asian, and says that racism doesn’t exist, so you’re playing the race card. Racism takes many different forms, and all of them are harmful.
One particular challenge that Asian Americans face is, it’s widely believed by Asians and non-Asians alike that we’re the most privileged of all people of color in America. That there’s a hierarchy of oppression and we’re at the top. However, most of the people who believe that, Asian or otherwise, don’t know a thing about Asian American history, struggle, or community. Often, non-Asian voices feel that they have the authority to speak for and about us.
RACEBENDING.COM: How do you handle situations like that?
PHI: How I handle it depends on the situation. One constant: I don’t give up. There have been plenty of situations where people try to bully any Asian American who dares try to speak up for her or his own community. Situations where Asians who diss their own people are rewarded by non-Asians. As a community we really have a responsibility to learn about our history of struggle, and stand up for each other. I try to be brave, is what I guess I’m trying to say.
RACEBENDING.COM: One of your most recent columns for the Star Tribune, “NOCs (Nerds of Color)” talks about the challenges and discomforts NOCs may face when interacting in their fandoms. What advice do you have for fans who are eager to challenge racial stereotypes and lack of representation in geek culture?
PHI: Know your stuff, and know that you’re not crazy. Racism works because the vast majority of people in this country are so privileged that they think it doesn’t exist, are in denial, or too apathetic to do anything about it. Which means if you choose to speak, the numbers are against you.
For every voice that speaks up, there will be at least a hundred that say things like
- it’s not racism, it’s economics
- this is a white man’s country, deal with it
- you can’t force politics into art
- you people always play the race card, etc.
But this can be your strength: being on the side that you’re on, means you’re going to hear every excuse for racism there is. It gives you the opportunity to be ready for the arguments and ready your thoughts. We’re always learning: but at the same time, I’ve been writing and thinking on these issues for a good long while, so I feel I can stand toe to toe with anyone in an argument.
And of course, people will try to convince you that it’s not racist, they’ll try to convince you that you’re the one that’s crazy. We have to remember that we’re part of a larger, longer struggle, and that people who have tried to create meaningful change have seldom been popular. Remember that the next time some troll on a message board convinces their self-hating Asian friend to flame you on a message board.
RACEBENDING.COM: Racebending.com supporters often encounter people who are dismissive or even derisive about our protest against discriminatory casting. There are people who do not get why we feel the issue is important, and also people who say that we are the ones being racist. As an experienced activist, what advice do you have for us when we face people who try to shut us down?
PHI: The best thing you can do is to keep going. Keep existing. They want you to be quiet because you speak truth, you complicate things. And they don’t understand that their actions reinforce the racism that they are so quick to dismiss.
You have it harder, because the people who are racist and/or in denial, have the easy soundbites drilled into them. They can’t, or won’t, see that they are actually part of the problem. As long as you exist, and keep arguing your points intelligently and eloquently, eventually they’re going to run out of soundbites and maybe they’ll realize they’re saying the same thing, over and over. And hopefully they’ll realize that they’re part of the problem.
Understand that what y’all are doing, is incredibly important. Often, Asian Americans are forced on the defensive: we’re continually forced to defend our right to organize, build community, speak up. We’re forced to defend why we should call ourselves Asian American. We’re continually forced to defend and explain why we exist. Thank you for creating a visible space for us – if you’re making people angry, then you’re doing a good job.
RACEBENDING.COM: As we head into a new decade, what is your vision for Asian Americans in performing arts and media?
PHI: That there’s greater engagement throughout. Just getting one or two Asians into a sitcom isn’t enough. What about our stories, our communities, our history and issues? Why is it so rare to see an Asian American couple on screen (queer or straight)? Why are talented Asian Americans always pushed into the same demeaning, stereotypical roles?
Racebending.com would like to thank Mr. Phi for this interview!
Bao Phi performing on Def Poetry
You can keep up with Mr. Phi at his column on The Star Tribune.
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