Episode 120: With Curtis Yee: How Not to be a White Tourist this AAPI Month

Obviously one 30-minute podcast episode to commemorate Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month is not sufficient—but I’m hoping you’ll tune in to at least get the month going. On this episode I am joined by my friend and journalist Curtis Yee. Curtis regularly contributes to Christianity Today and Sojourners, as well as other outlets, covering a breadth of topics including Asian American culture, church, and mental health. This conversation is a great introduction to all of that!

Curtis and I talk about:

- The origination of the term Asian American

- The history, distinctiveness, and function of the Asian American church

- What it’s like to move between Asian American church and contexts and the broader American context—burdens, joys, unique experiences.

- How journalism and media affect how we all understand Asian Americans (This is the white tourism part of our convo—so interesting! Don’t be a white tourist this month.)

- The challenges of investigating mental health in Asian American contexts and churches.

Pursue further reading and resources this month! Checkout Curtis Yee’s articles below, as well as a few books and ideas he recommends.

Keep up with Curtis Yee, Journalist here: https://curtisfyee.carrd.co/

Articles by Curtis Yee at Christianity Today:

Asian American Theologian: Our ‘Culture’ Is Not to Blame: https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2023/april-web-only/asian-american-theology-trauma-mental-health-daniel-lee.html

At Gracepoint Ministries, ‘Whole-Life Discipleship’ Took Its Toll: https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2022/september/gracepoint-berkland-asian-american-church-discipleship.html

Cru Divided Over Emphasis on Race: https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2021/june/cru-divided-over-emphasis-on-race.html

Other recommended resources:

The Making of Asian America: A History, by Erika Lee: https://amzn.to/3TJfXLi

Off the Pulpit - A podcast hosted by three Korean American pastors, often about the AA church, but also about the American church in general: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/off-the-pulpit/id1530814844

The Asian American Christian Collaborative (AACC) seeks to encourage, equip, and empower Asian American Christians and friends of our community to follow Christ holistically. We are committed to amplifying the voices, issues, and histories of Asian Americans in the church and society at large. While the Asian American community is extremely diverse and we cannot speak for every individual and perspective, we aim to spotlight and celebrate the Asian American Christian community as inclusively as possible: https://www.asianamericanchristiancollaborative.com/

Stay True: A Memoir, by Hua Hsu: https://amzn.to/3TP9hLR

Crying in H-Mart: A Memoir, by Michelle Zauner: https://amzn.to/3z5olLR