Post Project: Reflections by Derek Oye
Group: Marathon Sprint, facilitated by Karen Young
Los Angeles, CA, USA
Step one was learning,
Step two, what are the answers?
Keep pushing forward.
I was thankful that Michelle Fujii and Karen Young had reached out to pull the group together and continue the conversation on how to re-imagine our taiko community when they did. My heart has been heavy from the massive fires on the West Coast, COVID-19 ravaging our communities, and the continued horrific murders of and violences against black lives.
Since the Re-Imagining event, I have continued to educate myself on diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion (DEAI) principles, as well as taking a deeper dive into the political and governmental systems that perpetuate inequities. Within my taiko group, we have been remembering and sharing our 50 years of history; within my day job, I have been investigating the origins of philanthropy and critically thinking about the cause and effects of nonprofits; and within the Taiko Community Alliance, I have been working with the newly formed HEART Committee (Humility, Empathy, Anti-Racism, Resourcefulness, and Transparency) whose purpose is to build inclusive, diverse, equitable, and accessible spaces.
At this point, I have more questions than answers. Top of mind is how to incorporate DEAI “best practices” into our taiko community when we know these concepts are meant to help diversify a majority space i.e. opening space for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) in corporations. However, this is the reality: according to Fortune 500, “the ranks of African-American chief executives running a Fortune 500 company remain maddeningly very slim: There are only five black CEOs on the 2020 list....” (1) 0.1% of Fortune 500 CEOs are Black, while they make up 13.4% of the total U.S. population (2). America has a DEAI problem. I am open to receiving alternate options and practices. What are our resources and are there any models for the taiko community in this work?
Taiko in the United States is an artform (folk art, cultural artform, and music) that was founded by Japanese-Americans and Japanese immigrants, greatly influenced by the internment of 120,000 Japanese-Americans during World War II. We must also acknowledge the taiko community’s evolution, including its current racial make-up, the growing and diverse range of narratives, and the powers, privileges, and disadvantages Asian Americans face from the model minority label. Are we forging our own path, or are there other communities in which we can partner with to strengthen our work?
There are more questions than answers as I stumble through continued self discovery, learning, and doing the work. I’ve been thinking deeply about leadership and power dynamics. I’ve had conversations about cultural appropriation - both when our cultures are appropriated and when we appropriate other cultures. Are there other elephants in the room and are we brave enough to address them?
Despite all these questions, I have been inspired by the multitude of passionate conversations and work that people are willing to put in. The taiko community really knows how to get things done! On top of that, we are empathetic, compassionate, smart, resourceful, and joyful. I’ve been surrounded by so many who care about each other and this work. As we move to this next phase, let’s remember to keep an open line of communication and lean on one another. I know we have each others’ back, which allows me to be more brave through the most trying times. Thank you Re-Imaginig and taiko community. Let’s keep pushing!
(1) “The number of black CEOs in the Fortune 500 remains very low” by Phil Wahba. June 1, 2020.
(2) U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts. July 1, 2019.