Posted by Communications Staff on 5/2/2023
In recognition of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Melissa Bedford, Executive Director of Spark Central and a member of the Spokane Public Schools Board of Directors, shares barriers and victories she has faced as an Asian American woman.
How has your Asian American heritage shaped your world view?
I have to go backwards a little bit here to where I started growing up and for me, I identify as Chinese, Filipino, and half white. So multiracial Asian American.
It really wasn’t until high school where I had an incident that was the starting point of the shift for my worldview. Sophomore year in high school, the boy down the street and I got into an argument because he was kind of a bully. He insulted me using a racial slur, and I remember I was so in shock, I did not know how to respond. That was one of those moments where I think about how it shaped my worldview. There are people who sadly have hate in their heart and will use your race against you.
I see young folks who are also multiracial, and I think, if they can see me as someone to look up to, as someone who has this multiracial identity, it really is inspiring. I view my identity as a powerful, positive tool of being able to inspire and get into rooms to use my cultural background in a way that promotes good and positive change.
Who are the role models that have helped guide you in your culture?
I would absolutely say my mom and my wawa (which means “grandmother” in Tagalog). Knowing all they have done being Asian and Chinese, and the hurdles they went through to support me to get where I am now. My parents were always hardworking and again, so thankful for Wawa, for helping raise me because that made it possible for my parents to work their jobs.
My wawa raised eight children in a very small apartment. She would go without food sometimes to make sure that the kids ate. If there was anything leftover, that’s what she would have. But it was always putting her children first.
How did you come to appreciate your own culture?
Paying attention to what’s happening in the world around us has helped me appreciate my culture more because I feel like differences shouldn’t pull us apart. It should bring us together, right? When we come together, we can create such a beautiful place. So that has definitely impacted me, just really appreciating and being very proud of who I am.
I see these older Asian Americans, these Asian actors and, politicians and just leaders in our communities and I look up to them, and so I think, “What about these young folks? Who can they look up to?” If I could be that to someone, I feel like I've won. Those are the aspects that just keep me going. I am so proud to be who I am and like I said, it wasn't always that way.
What does Asian American and Pacific Islander Month mean to you?
I’m very thankful that we have these months to celebrate and highlight our Asian Americans in our communities and in our world. One of the things I do always say, especially as I’ve taught future teachers, is always remember, people exist outside these months. It’s very humbling and I just feel very honored that I get to use my voice and hopefully inspire people.
