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1) I spoke to some American university students about The AP today, and they wanted me to talk about my bicultural (Japan and the U.S.) experiences. I told them about how I covered auto workers in Detroit, and they were talking to me about their plight because of the J-word ...
2) ... and how they had no idea they were talking to a J-word person herself. A student asked if I had ever considered talking to that person about the culture (racism), and I realized I had never even thought about that. I was there as an AP reporter ...
3) ... and I knew the worker was sharing his story with me because he trusted me as an AP reporter, and he wasn't thinking that I may be a J-word. I told the students I had found that exhilarating. I also said my job was to be that reporter and listen to his story ...
4) ... not to educate him about race. And I believe that by telling his story for The AP, I would in the long run be contributing toward a better world, including racial equality. The student said she was glad to hear that ....
5) .... She said she was going to be a health care worker and often thought about that question. It was nice of her to say that. Being seen for the work you do, not race, is freeing. And we should first do the work, be that nurse, doctor or reporter ...
6) ... where race has never counted and never should, or will.
1) Going back to speaking to some university students about The AP, one said she had a lot of creative writing she did but she kept it to herself. The way she asked the question I could tell her feelings were mixed about her keeping her writing so private ....
2) .... I suggested she submit to the literary magazine at her university and to other publications. She said she was afraid. So I assured her that her fear was founded. People have been jailed, abused and killed for their writing. I told her a Korean poet whom ...
3) ... I read poetry with at a park was the first person to tell me this. At that time I did not fully understand. He said: Poems are speaking the truth, and poets who speak the truth are going to be in danger. That sort of thing. So it is OK, and ...
4) ... it is reasonable to be afraid. But I also suggested to her that perhaps what she had written deserved to be seen, and to be heard. It is interesting how the students' questions brought to mind my memories and my thoughts. I am grateful to the students. And to writing.
5) Writing is about yourself. It's done when it is done and doesn't need to be read or praised. Lots of great art and writing have gone unrecognized. People have written great poetry in languages understood by a small number of people. That doesn't make it any less great ....
6) .... That said, the work may deserve to be seen, and to be heard.
