Am I invisible? Asian American student activism at the University of Iowa, 1998-2008

Am I Invisible? Asian American Student Activism at the University of Iowa, 1998-2008, focuses on how Asian American students came together to challenge racism and to fight for more resources for them from the University of Iowa. Using archival materials and oral history transcripts, I show how the students created and used the Asian American Coalition. This organization took a broad and inclusive understanding of what it meant to be an Asian American. They welcomed international students and highlighted the Southeast Asian American students in their organization. Using the Asian American Coalition, the students created communities, performed children theatre plays, and fought for resources on campus all with the hopes of improving the lives of Asian and Asian American students at the University of Iowa. The organization also provided a way for students to challenge instances of sexism against Asian and Asian American women. In summary, through understanding the history of the Asian American Coalition, one can learn about how Asian American student activists were a major part of creating resources that improved diversity, equity, and inclusion on the University of Iowa campus.