Good morning. My name is Stephanie Drenka, co-founder and executive director of the Dallas Asian American Historical Society. Those of you familiar with the city’s racial equity plan might have seen my name on the “Women influence historical events” timeline on page 21. In this plan, mayor, you said that “our goal…
National Adoption (Adoptee) Awareness Month
Being in Korea on the first day of National Adoption/Adoptee Awareness Month seems painfully apropos. This trip has been incredible. I feel loved beyond comprehension and so connected to my roots here. Blessed is an understatement. And yet… Being an adoptee means perpetually feeling as though my heart is split in two….
Free Palestine
“History is a story not only of the past, but of the future.” – Grace Lee Boggs As historians, it is our responsibility not only to bear witness and document life, but also to ensure that we learn from the past and make decisions for a better, more just future. Our own…
My First Tattoo
content warning: self-harm, suicide —– I have been thinking a lot about adoption lately, as I prepare for my next trip to Korea in October. despite the fortuitous chapters of my story, trauma is present between the lines. I remember getting this tattoo. my Korean name, a reclamation of sorts. and I…
Leftover
On September 19, 2022 (exactly one year ago to the day), Dallas Morning News published a piece by Claire Ballor about the Dallas Asian American Historical Society’s “quest to uncover the history of Dallas’ Asian restaurants, one matchbox at a time.” “Uncovering the history of Asian Americans in North Texas, especially the…
A History of Violence: Shooting in Allen, Texas
On Saturday, May 6, a gunman opened fire at Allen Premium Outlets, killing eight people and wounding at least seven more. According to the Texas Tribune, the shooter wore a patch on his chest that said “RWDS,” which is an acronym for “Right Wing Death Squad,” a popular phrase among right-wing extremists,…