Homework Assignment 1
This assignment is due by January 16.
Based on our class discussion of the many dimensions surrounding
immigrant worker struggles in Asian American and Pacific Islander
communities in this period, select one question to answer and based
on your research write at least two to three pages to serve as the
basis for a class presentation. This assignment can be done individually
or in small groups of two to three students.
Today, when most students think about Asian Pacific immigrant workers’ campaigns
for justice, they conceptualize these campaigns as simply “labor
struggles.” In reality, these campaigns are much more, but
in order for students to gain this expanded understanding, they must
shift their thinking. The following are examples of new questions
that students need to ask in order expand thinking about immigrant
workers’ struggles:
1. What can students and other sectors of Asian American and Pacific
Islander communities learn from immigrant worker struggles such
as the Assi campaign? For example, what can students learn from
immigrant
workers about building interethnic alliances? Transforming gender
relations in our communities? Creating new approaches to leadership
for our communities? Connecting local struggles against corporate
exploitation with global struggles against corporate globalization?
Linking struggles for immigrant rights with global movements
for human rights? Understanding how immigrant workers’ campaigns
expand democracy in our communities?
2. Why is student solidarity for immigrant workers’ struggles
important, and what resources can students provide? At elite institutions
such as UCLA, what resources do students have, and how can these
resources be re-directed to serve the needs of immigrant communities?
How can students at elite institutions such as UCLA overcome arrogance
(promoted by the institution) and develop the qualities of humility
and militancy to serve our communities?
3. How can students from this class educate and mobilize other
UCLA students to support the Assi workers’ campaign and learn
from the immigrant workers? What creative approaches to education
and
mobilization can students develop, especially based on the ideas
of community educators-activists such as Tony Osumi and Alison
Delacruz?
|
