Mochi Magazine

02/11/2024

Honoring ancestors, adapting traditions: A Korean American’s journey through jesa.

From childhood fear to adult appreciation, Sarah Jinee Park reflects on the evolving practice of ancestral rituals in her immigrant family. Balancing traditional Korean customs with modern American life, she finds meaning in modified jesa ceremonies — opening windows to welcome spirits, updating loved ones, and serving their favorite foods.

Contemplating carrying on these practices in the future, Sarah imagines them with personal touches: Coors Light for her mom, tacos al pastor for her dad. It’s a poignant exploration of cultural heritage, filial piety, and the power of remembrance in the face of loss and change.

Sarah’s “ghost story” reminds us that honoring our roots doesn’t mean rigid adherence, but thoughtful adaptation that keeps love and memory alive.

30/10/2024

When sat down to write “A Living Remedy: A Memoir,” she had to give herself grace that sometimes she would write one or two sentences a day ✍🏽

Released in April 2023, Nicole Chung’s “A Living Remedy,” is a book about her experience navigating life while grieving the loss of her adoptive parents.

”Resilience is often associated with words like strength, persistence, tenacity,” Mochi writer Arianna Kessler writes, “Most of us believe that resilience is the ability to keep bending, never breaking…”

Nicole’s resilience is not about bending without breaking, but about finding ways to navigate life’s challenges 🍃

🍂 Read all about Arianna’s conversation with Nicole about journeying through grief in Mochi’s Fall issue on Resilience at https://www.mochimag.com/arts-culture/nicole-chung-memoir/

28/10/2024

As South Asian representation rises in American politics, so do anti-South Asian sentiments, hate, and racism. Stop AAPI Hate’s latest report reveals a disturbing trend: online hate against South Asians doubled from Jan 2023 to Aug 2024, the peak of which coincides with VP Kamala Harris’s presidential nomination.
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The report, “Empowered/Imperiled,” exposes how historic moments for Indian Americans like Harris and Usha Vance are shadowed by increased discrimination. From racial slurs to threats of violence, the hate experienced today mirrors historical anti-South Asian sentiment.
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Manjusha Kulkarni, co-founder of Stop AAPI Hate, emphasizes this isn’t new — it’s the same playbook used against many Asian Americans and immigrants. As we approach the election, the intersection of representation and racism presents a complex challenge for South Asian communities.
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The message is clear: greater visibility brings both progress and peril. How do we celebrate our achievements while safeguarding our communities?
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27/10/2024

23/10/2024

China has ended international adoptions after 32 years, closing a chapter that has profoundly impacted countless lives.

For Mochi Magazine guest writer Tayler Raven Hanxi Bunge, a Chinese adoptee, this news hits differently. It’s not just about policy changes; it’s about identity, belonging, and the complex emotions we navigate daily.

Although most headlines frame families seeking to adopt as the subject, this issue isn’t about the American families left in limbo. It’s about us — the adoptees who carry this experience with us every day. We’ve formed bonds, created support networks, and spent years understanding our unique journeys. We’re not an “era” that’s ending; we’re ongoing lives at risk of being forgotten.

The reality of international adoptions is far more nuanced. Adoptees are left grappling with unanswered questions about our origins, medical histories, and the families we’ll never know. As this chapter closes, transracial Asian adoptees left with each other — a community bonded by shared experiences and the ongoing journey of self-discovery. Our stories continue, even as the policies change.

18/10/2024

Swipe to read about the Filipino alliance GABRIELA 🇵🇭➡️

For the women of GABRIELA (), resistance and community are one.

We met members from the Los Angeles Chapter of GABRIELA , who shared about the friendship, activism, and identity they found as GABRIELA members.

Joining GABRIELA empowers Filipino women like Lauren who realized, “We don’t have to wait for a president to make changes. Everyone has a place in the movement.”

Read it all on MochiMag.com or at the link in bio 🔗

15/10/2024

What’s your major? 👩🏻‍🏫🎓

Either you’ve heard it countless times before, or as a college student you hear it often in icebreakers and conversation lulls.

➡️ Swipe to read this narrative on choosing a college major.

🔗 Read Christina’s full narrative at https://www.mochimag.com/lifestyle/choosing-a-college-major/

12/10/2024

Drop a 🔥 to celebrate our Fall issue on Resilience!

➡️ Swipe to read a preview of the articles, where we dive into the strength of individuals and communities and their courage in dismantling systems of injustice.

Our hope is that you will feel the strength pulsing through these stories and that you also are inspired to pair resilience with actions that lead to real, necessary, and revolutionary change.

Check out Mochi Magazine, your go-to source and collective community for solidarity and support, shedding light on the multifaceted identities of the Asian American community.

🔗 Read the articles from the issue at: https://www.mochimag.com/category/issues/fall-2024/

09/10/2024

Singer-songwriter Tara Beier opens up about her journey through grief and the healing power of music in light of the release of her new album, “Mourning Doves of Joshua Tree.” 🌵💖 Drawing inspiration from the tranquil landscapes of Joshua Tree, Tara reflects on how this creative process has allowed her to honor her grandmother’s memory while finding solace in her artistry.

As she beautifully puts it, “Sometimes grief and peace go together, like black and white photography.” How has music helped you cope with difficult times in your life? Share your thoughts below! 👇🎤

22/08/2024

Swipe to read this essay by Rohan Zhou-Lee () ✊🏿✊🏽✊🏼

”I will never know my great-grandfather’s true name.

He came to the United States during a time when anti-Asian hate was rampant. This was the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act era, which banned all Chinese migration...

However, those already in the States sold their papers back to people in China.

The papers were bought by complete strangers who would then change their names and claim to be that person’s child. That was my great-grandfather. On paper, white immigration authorities renamed him Joe Suey, but that was never his real name…

In his honor, I claimed my Asian Power by taking his paper surname, Zhou.

Learning my history has granted me my truth. That is something I urge the Asian Diaspora here in the States and worldwide to claim as well: In order for us to build solidarity, we must know who we are first. What is my story? What is your story? And how do all of our stories join at the intersections of struggle and collective liberation?”

In order to build solidarity side-by-side with Black, Latinx, and Indigenous folks, we must anchor ourselves in our stories, our truths, and our power.⁠

Follow for more history that isn’t taught in our schools.

Read our friend Rohan's full article at MochiMag.com ✊🏿✊🏽✊🏼⁠

20/08/2024

What was your experience like in school? 🏫

Redditor asks “What’s your experience being in a school with little to no Asian American representation?”

Swipe to read the comments ➡️

Source: u/Comfortable-Love-994 on r/AsianAmerican

Follow for more stories about the Asian American experience.

10/08/2024

This morning, Logan “Logistx” Edra and Sunny Choi represented Team USA in the historic debut of breaking at the Paris Olympics! 🌍✨
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Did you catch their incredible performances on TV? 📺The energy, the artistry, and the athleticism were off the charts!
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Breaking has come a long way from its roots in the streets of New York City, and now it’s captivating the world stage. As we reflect on this monumental moment, we want to hear from you!
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What did you think of the competition? Which moves blew you away? Let’s chat in the comments! 💬❤️
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For a deeper dive into the cultural significance of breaking for Asian Americans and more, check out the full article linked in our bio! 📝✨
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08/08/2024

Redditor shares how they feel like an outsider in predominantly white spaces 🏕️ Have you ever felt like this? 🤔

”There’s this subtle but persistent sense of not quite belonging that I can’t shake off, even though nothing overtly unwelcoming happens.”

➡️ Swipe to read the comments.

Source: u/mkymouse73 on Reddit

Follow for more stories about the Asian American experience.

31/07/2024

📣 CALLING ALL BIPOC WRITERS!

In memory of Grace Lee Boggs’ work with Black communities, we are seeking essays from BIPOC writers that answer the question:

✊ In consideration of complex histories and current movements, what can Asian Americans do to be better allies and co-conspirators in the fight for racial justice?

✨ We want to see previously unpublished pieces that blend personal experience with data or interviews from changemakers in a way that educates an Asian American audience of all ages.

💞 All submissions will be reviewed by Mochi Magazine’s editor-in-chief and our guest judges Rohan Zhou-Lee (), a Mochi contributor and the founder of the Blasian March, and Yasna Vismale (), TikTok creator, author, and film composer.

📝 Submissions must be 1,800 words or less.

🎖️ The grand prize is $500 and publication in Mochi Magazine's BA@M column. One to two finalists may also be selected and awarded $100 and publication.

Current Mochi staff and previous contest winners are not eligible to submit.

Writers must be willing to work with our editors to ready their pieces for publication according to Mochi Magazine’s publishing calendar.

Please SHARE this with a BIPOC writer who may be interested in entering 🤎

☞ Submit your piece to [email protected] by September 1, 2024.

29/07/2024

➡️ Swipe to read this essay about how to deconstruct biases by Afro Indigenous writer Haruko Glory.

Haruko encourages readers to challenge their biases by continually exposing themselves to counter-typical examples of sterotypes — like engaging with communities we were not socialized with.

”Take time to learn about the culture(s) of people(s) you hold biases against.

Don’t watch documentaries about Black people, created by and for non-Black audiences. Avoid media that further stereotypes Black people (again, these kinds of media are usually not created by and for Black people). Consume media created by us, for us.”

📣 Mochi is accepting submissions for our 3rd Annual Writing for Change essay contest. Submissions must be 1,800 words or less. Submit your piece to [email protected] by September 1, 2024. More info at https://www.mochimag.com/activism/2024-writing-for-change-essay-contest/ 🔗

Read Haruko’s full winning essay at MochiMag.com ✊🏿✊🏽✊🏼⁠

28/07/2024

➡️ Swipe to read how the model minority myth can impact the disability community 🩼

🦮 61 million people in America live with disabilities — that’s one in every four people.

🦽 While the wheelchair symbol is the most common representation of disability, many disabled people do not utilize a mobility device. (Some even have disabilities that are not visible at all!)

☀️ Missing from society are everyday images of those millions of disabled people living their best lives — and that’s where Alice Wong’s anthology “Disability Visibility: First-Person Stories from the Twenty-First Century” makes its rare and stunning appearance, with 37 essays by authors who are BIPOC, q***r, trans, and/or activists, all with something unique to say about disability.

Thank you to Sandy Ho & Alice Wong () for sharing your experiences with how the model minority myth has reinforced harmful stereotypes 💞

Read more at the link in bio or MochiMag.com 🔗

11/07/2024

Have you ever heard you need to sacrifice for your family?

➡️ Swipe to read the Mochi community’s thoughts and decisions on self-care.

Many Asian cultures are collectivist and emphasize familial responsibility. While this can lead to a strong relationship between yourself and your family, it can also result in a “tough skin” culture that leads to resentment or burnout.

Mochi writer Lily Fuller wrote about Asian Americans exploring the territory of balancing personal needs with our cultural and familial responsibilities and expectations ⚖️

Have you experienced this yourself? We’d love to hear your thoughts and decisions in the comments 💬

🧘🏻 Read more about this new perspective of self-care on MochiMag.com or linkin.bio/mochimagofficial 🔗

10/07/2024

Like this post to support the parents supporting neurodivergent children 💖 Mental health conditions are not a stigma, nor are they a sign you are failing ✨

Mochi’s Melody Ip shared her experience seeing her daughter in different social settings, and learning the importance of validating her daughter’s emotions and equipping her with tools to fight anxiety now and in the future 💞

In 2018, Asian Americans were 60 percent less likely to receive mental health treatment than non-Hispanic Whites. Obstacles include a lack of health insurance, less access to treatment, and stigma.

Read Melody’s full narrative at the linkin.bio/mochimagofficial or MochiMag.com 🔗

📲 SHARE this with a young parent in your life ✨

08/07/2024

Swipe to read about “Unfinished Business” ➡️

As children of immigrants, many of us butt heads with our parents over cultural differences and misunderstandings.

We don’t understand their immigrant narratives and experiences; they don’t understand the dichotomy between being Asian and being American.

🔗 Read an excerpt from Amy Yip's book at https://linkin.bio/mochimagofficial/ or MochiMag.com.

📚 And don’t forget you can click the link in bio to buy this book through Mochi Mag’s Bookshop storefront! A percentage of your purchase goes towards supporting our mission.

06/07/2024

How would you feel if a date didn’t like food from your culture? 🤔

Source: u/Zyphur009 asked r/AsianAmerican on Reddit

Some Asian Americans grow up with the experience of the food they bring to school as weird. Other Asian Americans discover (or re-discover) their culture’s food a way to connect with their culture as adults.

Have you experienced a date or friend disliking food from your culture? What are your thoughts? 💭

24/06/2024

➡️ Swipe to read one of ’s discoveries writing NOT YOUR CHINA DOLL 👀

Upon learning about Anna May Wong, author Katie Gee Salisbury was reminded of her own mother — their families were both from Toisan in southern China.

”I wanted to live vicariously through Anna May Wong’s life and to be like a fly on the wall,” Katie talked about her motivation writing the book.

Her other motivation? To go beyond the tragic narrative of Anna May Wong’s life, the one most often told.

Read more from ’s interview with Katie Gee Salisbury at MochiMag.com 🔗

📚 Support Mochi’s mission of telling Asian American stories & buy the from our BookShop.org storefront — link in bio 💞

18/06/2024

This week we celebrate Juneteenth, which was officially recognized as a US federal holiday in 2021 🤎

✍🏻 From textbook American history, we learned President Abraham Lincoln signed and issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863.

📜 However, it was not until June 19, 1865 — more than two years later — that the executive order was read to Black enslaved people in Texas.

On MochiMag.com, Editor-in-Chief Giannina Ong writes about Juneteenth and other untold histories, including community activists who, even today, fight against voter discrimination and suppression in African American and Asian American communities.

🌊 Giannina writes, “Only when we see the waves of social progress as one ocean of change do we, Asian Americans, realize how our liberation is bound with Black liberation.”

Juneteenth is a part of the USA’s history of freedom — and to add to that, true freedom is collective freedom 🍉

12/06/2024

What movies would you add? 🎞️

Mochi writer Katie Liu shared four movies that were important to her journey as a q***r Chinese American 🏳️‍🌈

While not all four movies had q***rness as a main focus, there were undercurrents that resonated with Katie’s life and experience ✨

Read more about these movies in Katie’s full article at the link in bio or MochiMag.com 🔗

06/06/2024

For q***r couples, “casually trying” to conceive is not an option, and insurance companies may require proof of infertility before covering fertility services, if at all.

”To add another layer of complexity, q***rness remains a taboo in many shame-centered Asian families, which impacts the level of moral support couples may receive from their parents through this process and into parenthood,” writes Mochi’s copy chief Melody Ip.

Melody interviewed two couples who shared their journeys of fertility and creating the family of their dreams 👩‍👩‍👧‍👧

Read it all at 🔗 https://www.mochimag.com/lifestyle/q***r-couples-pursuing-parenthood/

Please SHARE so this resource reaches someone who would find this information valuable 💖🏳️‍🌈