Reclamation of an Identity
The words of Jesse Phenow, taken from a recent podcast conversation, encapsulate the profound significance of refugees reclaiming their identity and pride. The story of his friend, who had to assume a Thai identity to fit in and be treated well, highlights the challenges faced by refugees in navigating their sense of self in unfamiliar environments. It speaks to the pressure to conform, to shed their heritage, and to blend in seamlessly with the dominant culture.
Forced to conceal their true identities, these individuals experience a sense of shame and loss, as if their history, culture, and people are somehow diminished or unworthy. It is a struggle that many refugees face, compelled to adopt an easier, more socially acceptable narrative that erases their unique heritage and backgrounds.
However, as Jesse's friend discovered, the power of connection through social media and witnessing the ongoing conflict in their home country can ignite a transformative awakening. It rekindles the flame of belonging, inspiring them to reclaim their land, their people, and their cultural heritage. They realize that they have a rich history worth preserving, and that their identity should be cherished, not hidden away.
The emergence of organizations like 'I Am Knyaw' demonstrates the resilience and determination of these refugees to assert their equal worth. It signifies a collective movement towards reclaiming their true selves, shedding the labels imposed upon them, and demanding recognition for their unique identities. Through this process of reclamation, they aim to reshape societal perceptions, challenging the notion that their culture is lesser or insignificant.
The journey of refugees in reclaiming their identity and pride is a beautiful and transformative process. It reminds us of the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring power of culture and heritage. It also highlights the importance of acknowledging and honoring the stories, struggles, and aspirations of refugees worldwide. Ultimately, this movement serves as an inspiration and a call to action, urging us all to recognize the equal worth and dignity of every individual, regardless of their refugee status.
“Really strengthening this feeling of reclamation, the desire to be valued as Knyaw, not to be called Karen, and to be seen as equal. It’s just beautiful!”
“I want to speak to this reclamation of identity. I won't share this person's name, but I have a beloved friend, a brother, who is Knyaw. He grew up in the refugee camp, and then was able to go to a Thai school that was near the refugee camp. And while he was at Thai school, he had to assume a Thai identity in order to fit in, and to be treated well. Then eventually he resettled in New York.
And when he's in New York, he's one of the first Knyaw people there! He’s going to school and people are asking him, ‘Where are you from?’ And this guy goes on to share that he's from Thailand. I think after the first couple of times, he starts to realize that it's just so much easier, rather than identifying yourself as Karen, where most people will say, ‘Oh, you're Korean?’ he would actually just identify himself as Thai. And I think he kind of went on to share with me that he felt ashamed. He felt ashamed to be identified as a refugee, as someone who is stateless, who didn't have a land.
So really his entire early years and into high school, and then eventually college, just telling people he was Thai! And I think, again, that the proximity that social media has created to the conflict in Myanmar has, in this individual in particular, ignited a sense of like, ‘No, you know, what? I do have a land. I do have a people that are my own; I do have a history and a culture, that's worth reclaiming.’ Because there are people who are fighting and dying to reclaim it, to stake it, to value it as not lesser than but equal to.
They have just completely done a 180°! Now they are co-leading an organization called ‘I Am Knyaw.’ Really strengthening this feeling of reclamation, the desire to be valued as Knyaw, not to be called Karen, but to be referred to as Knyaw, and to be seen as equal. It's just beautiful! It's a special thing, especially here at The Urban Village, to be a part of that movement to help, programmatically and logistically, in that movement. It is a cool thing to witness and to be a part of.”