When writers of color share their work, their ethnic background is often taken into consideration; however, individuals are complex and contain a myriad of experiences and identities outside of their ethnicity. Chrysanthemum Tran is a Vietnamese American poet and the first trans woman finalist of the Women of the 2016 World Poetry Slam. Tran is a voice for both the trans and Vietnamese American community, and she is a vital representative for Vietnamese American transgender f

The success of blockbuster movies, such as “Black Panther” and “Crazy Rich Asians,” with its accurate and holistic representation of people of color, is inspiring a movement among youths, many of whom are actively voicing their support for representation in all media on all kinds of social media platforms. Poetry, as a medium, may not be at the forefront of this movement; however, readers of poetry also vie for representation, as literature in academia is often curated with w

In 2017, the word of the year was ‘feminism,’ as it was the most searched, particularly following last year’s worldwide Women’s March on January 21st. Described as the one of the largest single political demonstration, those who participated in the march were a part of making history. There were a lot of people, and for San Jose in particular, it was clear that the marchers weren’t just women—there were men, children, non-binary folks, the differentially abled, and more. It s