Photo by Toffy Prakittiphoom ’24/The Choate News
Photo by Toffy Prakittiphoom ’24/The Choate News
To kickstart Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) month, renowned journalist and Emmy Award winner Ms. Juju Chang spoke to the Choate community regarding her Asian-American identity and its impact on her experiences as a news anchor. Following her speech, she attended an affinity lunch with AAPI-identifying Choate students and faculty and later spoke with faculty members on issues related to supporting AAPI members at Choate.
After Audrey Lim ’23 proposed the idea to bring an Asian speaker to Choate, Dean of Equity and Inclusion Dr. Rachel Myers invited Ms. Chang as a speaker to shed light on the AAPI experience, particularly regarding challenges the community has faced since the onset of the pandemic. Ms. Chang’s influence through her role as co-anchor of ABC News’ “Nightline” has made her one of the “most visible AAPI journalists in the country,” according to Dr. Myers. She added, “She was an obvious choice of an incredibly accomplished AAPI professional, and she’s incredibly relevant across multiple generations. She’s interviewed Olivia Rodrigo through Oprah — she truly resonates with everyone!”
In her speech, Ms. Chang touched upon specific issues regarding diversity, such as racially motivated violence and the use of microaggressions. Ms. Chang framed her identity as a source of pride and encouraged Choate students to feel reaffirmed and empowered by their own identities. When describing personal struggles with embracing her culture, Ms. Chang recounted, “I avoided talking about my ethnic identity and even my gender identity because I didn’t want to be different. With the rise of AAPI hate, I was finally able to merge all the things I’ve been doing off-camera, my community work, my work in my synagogue, and let it play a role in my storytelling.” Many students resonated with her experiences, finding comfort in seeing an Asian American figure’s success in an influential position. Lim explained, “Her experience has motivated me not to let my identity hold me back from achieving my goals.”
Many students felt heard and experienced solidarity when Ms. Chang reflected on shared experiences of microaggressions toward the AAPI community. Julia Xu ’23 added, “In terms of East Asia, Chinese people are treated very differently. Knowing that she is a Korean person and hearing her talk about Chinese issues regarding Covid-19 was really special to me.” Ms. Chang touched on issues faced by all members of the AAPI community, expanding past her own Korean culture. English teacher Dr. Amber Hodge said, “A lot of times, certain groups aren’t recognized similarly to how the term ‘people of color’ gets lumped. She acknowledged the huge range of identities under the term AAPI that encompasses dozens of nationalities and backgrounds, and I was really glad to see her do that.”
After her lecture, Ms. Chang participated in a Q&A session led by Lim and Raghav Sharma ’25. When asked about her experience interviewing Ms. Chang, Lim noted, “I really liked how easy she was to talk to. I liked her personal anecdotes, and we related over our favorite Korean foods!” During the Q&A, Ms. Chang shared her personal experiences and how she overcame challenges when faced with microaggressions. Dr. Myers added, “She brought us stories, both professionally and personally, that reinforced the importance of developing empathy and resilience.”
Faculty members also attended a workshop in the afternoon where Ms. Chang spoke about how faculty can better support the AAPI community. Dr. Myers commented that she hoped the workshop would stimulate “reflection among faculty regarding how we support our AAPI community members.” After listening to the workshop, Dr. Hodge mentioned, “Some of my colleagues may not be as acquainted as members of the AAPI community. I think it was really reaffirming to have someone share their experience, especially those who appreciate her sharing about her experiences as a parent.”
Though she is an influential figure in the media, Ms. Chang faced many challenges because of her Asian American identity. From her past experiences and struggles, she strives to balance injustices and bring awareness to those who are underrepresented. “It’s really important to illuminate everybody’s story, and I’m going to do justice to it and just try to really be honest to try to represent it,” she said, regarding creating equality in the media. Being invited to speak with the Choate community was an “honor and a privilege. It makes me feel like I’m doing something constructive in the face of so much darkness, prejudice, misunderstanding, and mistrust.”
In the coming weeks, students can look forward to activities such as club meetings, movie screenings, and game nights as the community continues celebrating AAPI month. Ms. Chang provided Choate with a strong start to the month, as she ignited conversation and reflection among the Choate community about overcoming struggles related to racial identity and using it as a form of empowerment. “It’s when we can start fully understanding each other and seeing our humanity that we can work towards a greater understanding of society. You are the next generation of leaders in this country,” Ms. Chang said. The Choate community’s strength lies in our ability to embrace and acknowledge our differences. Ms. Chang’s words reflect a mission we have long strived for — acceptance and celebration of ourselves and each other.
