“People who are driven by their values will overcome hurdles, difficulties, and obstacles in ways that people driven only by profit will never be able to” LoveCharacterInspirationSuccessPassionIntegrityEmpowermentInnovationSocial JusticeImmigrationSocial ChangeSocial Justice Power Author:Simon S. Tam
“I believe that reappropriation can be a powerful tool for creating social change. Sometimes, things like irony, satire, or humor are more effective in getting at difficult truths or concepts like white privilege, orientalism, and the exoticization of culture.” RaceSocial JusticeSocial ChangeAsianAsian AmericanRacial JusticeOrientalismReappropriationThe Slants Author:Simon S. Tam
“We hear things like “we elected a black president,” as if that event was the magic eraser to wipe away all of the racial problems in our country in one fell swoop. But that would be like saying that in 1932, we elected a president with a physical disability, so we should stop building ramps and having reserved handicap spaces because that’s reverse discrimination against the able-bodied” JusticeRacismSocial JusticeEquityObamaFdrReverse Racism Author:Simon S. Tam
“Let's make progress justice a process, not an afterthought” JusticeProgressRacismSocial JusticeTed Talk Author:Simon S. Tam
“The idea of reappropriation isn’t a new one. The process of turning negative words, symbols, or ideas into positive parts of our own identity – was used for social justice movements long before hipsters thought that being ironic was cool. Whether it is repurposing a racial epithet or taking on a stereotype for sociopolitical empowerment, it’s an important process that has been around for thousands of years and continues to change society today.” RaceIdentityRacismTransformationSocial JusticeIronyStereotypesReappropriation Author:Simon S. Tam
“Racism doesn't have to fit our stereotypes for what it is in order for it to hurt - but it also means that tools for dismantling the system don't have it fit our stereotype either.” RaceRacismSocial JusticeReappropriation Author:Simon S. Tam