Ashamed of being Asian and embracing identity

Until a few months ago, Nadya Okamoto was ashamed of being Asian but didn't really realize it. We talk to her about how her upbringing in New York and Portland affected how she viewed herself and how a recent run for city council brought her identity issues to light. We also talk about what it's like for her now as someone who is just starting to embrace their identity. Read Nadya's piece "Until Three Months Ago, I Was Ashamed of Being Asian" on nextshark.com. The Pacific Underground collective also joins in to share their own stories of shame, self-embrace, and the on going journey of feeling comfortable in one's own skin in America.

Nadya Okamoto, who grew up in Portland, OR, is 19-years-old and a Harvard sophomore. She is the Founder and Executive Director of PERIOD (period.org), an organization she founded at the age of 16. She is also the Co-founder and spokesperson of E Pluribus (eplur.org). PERIOD is now the largest youth-run NGO in women’s health, and one of the fastest growing ones here in the United States. In 2017, Nadya ran for office in Cambridge, MA. While she did not win, her campaign team made historic waves in mobilizing young people on the ground and at polls. Nadya recently signed with publisher Simon and Schuster to write a book to mobilize the Menstrual Movement, and is currently writing her manuscript. Nadyaloves to dance, whether that be for fun with friends or on Harvard’s competitive hip hop team.