Meet the U of M professor putting a spotlight on Asian American impact in Memphis
SunAh M. Laybourn spent time last summer compiling a list of events she wanted for the first formal celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in Memphis this year.
The University of Memphis sociology professor’s list was inspired by her reasons for single-handedly creating this year’s festivities and what she envisioned “in her wildest dreams.” That included an art show, book displays, a restaurant tour and movie screenings throughout AAPI Heritage Month in May.
Laybourn is also the host of WYXR’s “Let’s Grab Coffee,” a weekly radio show featuring interviews with experts from across the country discussing social issues and common curiosities. Laybourn’s goal was to allow Asian Americans to celebrate themselves, their history and their impact in Memphis, as well as help other Memphians learn about and appreciate their contributions.
“Asian Americans have been part of our community here in Memphis for over 150 years, and I think having that awareness might shift folks' understanding of our city,” Laybourn said. “To be certain, our city has been much marked by its Black-White relations and that is still true and will continue to be true, that’s the history, the present of our city. Asian folks have been in our city for over 150 years, it makes you think what else might I not know about our city. Or what else I might be able to learn more about or expand my understanding of how I think about Memphis.”
AAPI Heritage Month was first recognized by the U.S. in 1992. The month of May was chosen to commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese people to the United States on May 7, 1843, and mark the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869.
Though it was not until this year that the city of Memphis formally recognized AAPI Heritage Month in Memphis via a proclamation by Memphis City Council earlier this month. Asians represent about 2% of Memphis’ population, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.
Memphis City Council Chairman Martavius Jones sponsored the resolution and said the city's diversity should continue to be celebrated.
"The people of Memphis are its greatest asset and the increasing diversity of the people here is welcomed, it should be celebrated and will only make Memphis and Memphians better," Jones said. "Recognizing AAPI Heritage Month is a step in that direction. We still have a ways to go but we are much more diverse that we were in the late '80s when I brought a college girlfriend to Memphis, who was from Los Angeles, and she remarked that, 'We have nothing but blacks and whites in Memphis.'"
There was a combination of factors that led Laybourn to create AAPI Heritage Month Memphis, including a rise in anti-Asian racism and hate crimes and seeing other cities of similar size like Cincinnati begin holding AAPI Heritage Month events, Laybourn said.
“To see folks’ reactions to Tommy’s piece and to see people calling for its removal really made me upset and sad,” she said. “Just that feeling of anger, of like finally feeling like we’re being seen. Of course, he’s a photographer, and a lot of it is (him taking) self-portraits. To see folks demanding it be taken down is once again that Asian American feeling of both being visible and invisible at the same time. That made me feel like I have to do something. I can’t have next May come by and there’s not an AAPI month-long celebration.”
Some of this year’s events included Asian American book displays at Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library, the Asian American in the South art exhibition presented by Google at the Memphis Museum of Science & History and the Hungry Tiger Food Tour.
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The food tour includes nine stops of AAPI-owned restaurants with the last one scheduled for 12:30 p.m. May 31 at Mosa Asian Bistro, 850 S. White Station Road in East Memphis. Attendees can meet Laybourn, eat and make new friends and learn more about AAPI Heritage Month.
“Asian Americans from across the diaspora have played a vital role in shaping Tennessee’s communities, culture and cuisine, stretching back to the 19th century, and we’re proud to highlight some of those contributions during AAPI Heritage Month,” says Arienne Thompson Plourde, a native Memphian and senior program manager for Google’s Global Social Impact team in a statement. “SunAh’s vision and passion for ensuring that Asian Americans have a voice and are visible in the spaces that they’ve helped shape is both authentic and ambitious. We look forward to growing this important event right alongside her in the coming years and are grateful to call her a dedicated partner in one of our data center states.”
Laybourn wants to incorporate more teachings and lectures into future AAPI Heritage Month events in Memphis. She’s been overwhelmed by the strong support from the community this month.
“I think I will need some time before I really understand what this has meant to me,” she said.
Omer Yusuf covers the Ford project in Haywood County, FedEx, tourism and banking for The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached via email Omer.Yusuf@commercialappeal.com or followed on Twitter @OmerAYusuf.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: AAPI Heritage Month in Memphis: Meet U of M professor behind efforts
