Smithsonian APAC book release draws flak amid canceled Asian American lit fest issue
Photo from @smithsonianapa/Instagram
Immigrant media representation, especially one that delves into the immigrant struggle for equal rights, is important. But it seems a number of Asian-American netizens are not ready just yet to celebrate the upcoming release of the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center’s (APAC) book titled, “Smithsonian Asian Pacific American History, Art, and Culture in 101 Objects.”
Slated for a Nov. 7 release, the book invites readers to experience both well-known and untold Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) stories through 101 objects from across the Smithsonian’s vast holdings.
The APAC describes its thematic chapters as explorations of complex history and shared experiences: “navigation, intersections, labor, innovation, belonging, tragedy, resistance and solidarity, community, service, memory and joy.”
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Among objects included that provide insight on the Filipino-American experience are Stella Abrera’s ballet shoes that were pancaked to match her skin color and Ruby Ibarra’s jacket with lyrics from her song “Us” embroidered on it along with her “Circa 91” album.
The book’s editor Theodore Gonzalves says that the book has “great Filipino energy.” Apart from Gonzalves, co-editor Jean Vengua and book designer Christina Newhard are also of Filipino descent.
As exciting as this all sounds, the book’s release is met with unenthusiastic responses from Asian-American netizens who are still demanding accountability for the APAC’s unilateral cancellation of the 2023 Asian American Literature Festival that was supposed to be held last August.
The Asian American LitFest Collective composed of the artists invited to take part in it wrote an open letter addressed to the Smithsonian which says in part, “[Then] Acting Director Yao-Fen You of [of the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center] canceled the event without explanation. We have still not received an actual reason for LitFest’s cancellation.
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In this decision and the way it has been carried out, the Smithsonian has acted with zero care or consideration for the artists and organizers who invested so much into this event. The Smithsonian refuses to acknowledge the immense harm that its decision has caused Asian American artists and the Asian American community as a whole.”
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Comments demanding answers from the Smithsonian continue to fill the comments of the APAC’s recent posts. Will these be addressed before the upcoming book release?
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