Arriving: Freedom Writings by Asian
and Pacific Islanders
Behind and Beyond Bars
Description
This anthology of writings captures the lived experiences of incarcerated Asian Pacific Islanders in prison in hopes of bringing broader attention to the social injustices faced. It is the intent that their stories shed light on their struggles and experiences. Over 30 courageous voices intimately express the grief, love, and hope that accompany the journey to arriving--in a moment, in memory, in a home, in yourself. A project of the Asian Prisoner Support Committee, ARRIVING builds on APSC's first groundbreaking anthology, Other: an Asian & Pacific Islander Prisoner's Anthology published in 2007.
In the past few decades, there has been a steady rise in the incarceration of Asian and Pacific Islanders (API), specifically Southeast Asians and Pacific Islanders. The general discourse around APIs in prison have been close to nonexistent. APIs are invisibilized in the discussion of mass incarceration and mass deportation. What is commonly understood is that the "school-to-prison pipeline" has been the lexicon to describe the funneling of young people into America's criminal legal system. This pipeline does not include the experiences of APIs. Due to war, U.S. imperialism, and America's deep seated xenophobia, APIs go through a pipeline best described as the migration-to-school-to-prison-to-deportation pipeline with Southeast Asians and Pacific Islanders making up the majority of this pipeline's subjects. This anthology captures the lived experiences of incarcerated Asian Pacific Islanders in prison in hopes of bringing broader attention to this social injustice faced by APIs. We believe that these stories shed light on this pipeline, expose it, and interrupt it.However, shedding light on this issue is not enough. It is crucial that we take action to address the systemic racism and oppression that API communities face in the criminal legal system. We must push for policies and reforms that prioritize rehabilitation and reintegration instead of punishment and exclusion. We must also work to change the narrative around APIs in the media and public discourse, recognizing the unique struggles and experiences they face.We hope this anthology will heal, inspire, and empower readers to take action, make change, and build solidarity with people impacted by the carceral system. From the Introduction by Nathaniel Tan
Contents
Foreword by Thi Bui
Introduction by Nathaniel Tan
Sections with various contributors
War
Haunted. Phoeun You
New. Kamsan Suon
Fish Out of Water. Hieu "Rocky" Nguyen
Video Vault Unlocked. Hung T Ly
Memory
My Name. Kamsan Suon
My His-Story: Growing Up A Half Breed in the USA. lohn V Apollo
American Dream. Remus James Langi
Running. Vu Bui
Resentment & Forgiveness. Si Dang
From Growing Up to Growing Pains. Saiyez Ahmed
White World. Kamsan Suon
Within Prison
Open Eyes. Billy Gumabon
Asian Shame - An American Stain. Franklin Lee
SHU. Tautai Seumanu Jr.
The Non-Designation Paradox. Douglas Yim
Voice of the Voiceless. Ricky May
Organizing for Freedom: An Interview with Charles "Bula"Joseph Outside/Inside Power. Adamu Chan
R.O.O.T.S. Rhummanee Hang
Beyond Prison
Captured Moments. Tautai Seumanu Jr.
Something in Common We Trust. Michael Marqeet Singh
Fighting the Power. Michael Marqeet Singh
From Surviving Systemic Violence to Liberating People from Prisons and ICE Detentions. NyNourn
The Awakening. Bao Vu Nguyen
Spiritual Quest. Nou Phang Thao
Healing
Spinning with the Earth. Kenny Lee
Lost & Found. Kenny Lee
Thou Shall Not Judge. Ricky May
Unveiling the Curtains. Tien N. Nguyen
Lost Dream / “Path of Hope”. Chandra Kishor
The Chronicles of Hung T. Ly. Hung T. Ly
Circles. John Lam
When We Fight, We Win: An Interview With Kanley Souetpich
Bike Work as Self Work: An Interview with Ke Lam
Me & My Brother. Maria Kanaka Luna
Maria “Kanaka” Luna
Home
Longing for Home. . . Ung Bang
Motherland. Bao Vu Nguyen
For My People. Michael Manjeet Singh
Formosa. Tien-Hsiang Mo
Letter to Abuela. Eusebio Gonzalez
Fishing Trip: An Interview With Chanthon Bun and Trung Tong. Hung T. Ly
Afterward by Eddy Zheng
About APSC
The mission of the Asian Prisoner Support Committee (APSC) is to provide direct support to Asian and Pacific Islander (API) prisoners and to raise awareness about the growing number of APIs being imprisoned, detained, and deported. Since 2002, APSC has led programs in prisons, organized anti-deportation campaigns, provided resources to "lifers," and developed culturally relevant reentry programs. APSC grew out of the campaign to support the "San Quentin 3"-Eddy Zheng, Viet Mike Ngo, and Rico Riemedio. The San Quentin 3 advocated for Ethnic Studies at San Quentin and in retaliation by the prison administration-were sent to solitary confinement and transferred to different prisons. After spending months in solitary confinement (up to 11 months), Eddy, Mike, and Rico were released and eventually, all received parole (Eddy 2005, Rico 2007, Mike 2011). For over a decade, APSC operated as an all-volunteer organization. In 2017, APSC hired its first paid staff employees and opened an office space in Oakland Chinatown. Today, APSC facilitates Ethnic Studies programs in prisons, provides community-based reentry services, and organizes deportation defense campaigns.