21Mil&Rising Season 1, Episode 3: Wrestling with Religion

In this episode, we explore the role of religion in the Asian American experience. Often, learning to juggle and balance two or more cultures means also having to figure out how our family’s religious practices fit in with the social and cultural expectations of American life. On the flip side, what are some of the assumptions people make about our religious beliefs based on perceived appearances? And how do we feel when we see our religious symbols “borrowed” as decorative elements by people who may not understand their significance? Is it okay to wear henna, bindis, Buddhist symbols, or Chinese character tattoos if you aren’t part of those cultures?