Celebrating Black History Month and Blasian identity: Stories of culture, creativity, and community

Celebrating Black History Month and mixed-Asian identities

Black History Month is a time to honor the contributions, resilience, and achievements of Black individuals worldwide. For those of Blasian (Black and Asian) heritage, this celebration is a reflection of a unique and dynamic identity that bridges two rich cultures. 

From music to community-building and the arts, these six Blasian individuals share how they embrace their identities, navigate challenges, and inspire future generations.

Thank you to Johnathan Gibbs, Yasna Vismale, Brittany Maylyn Du Bois, Rohan Zhou-Lee, Ashitaka Porter, and Suzen Baraka for sharing your stories, and to Mixed Asian Media for collaborating on this story. 

The importance of representing Blasian experiences during Black History Month

For our contributors, representation is about more than visibility — it’s about building spaces where multifaceted identities are celebrated. Their work reminds us that Blasian stories are vital threads in the larger narrative of Black history and Asian heritage.

Blasian identity represents a convergence of cultures, histories, and traditions, often requiring individuals to navigate unique challenges, embracing multiple identities and forging spaces for belonging. 

See also: Identity through the eyes of a Black Asian – 3 stories by Jasmine Lynch

Celebrating Blasian experiences through music and culture

Music has long been a powerful tool for identity and self-expression. For Johnathan Gibbs and Yasna Vismale, it’s an integral part of how they celebrate their mixed heritage.

Johnathan, founder and artistic director of The Otaku Choir, uses music as a bridge between cultures. “I created a choir in NYC that allows folks to mix and mingle while centering AAPI choral music,” he explains. His work fosters a space where Black and Asian cultural narratives can blend harmoniously, creating a unique artistic community.

For Yasna, a film composer and brand strategist, music is deeply tied to cultural pride. “I grew up in a Japanese household, and being both Black and East Asian allows me to connect with so many cultures worldwide,” she shares. Traveling and experiencing different musical traditions shaped her approach to composing. “My work is a continuation of carrying the joy and tragedy of the human spirit through different lenses.”

See also: Anderson .Paak shares pride in growing up with Black and Korean heritage

Building the Blasian community and advancing representation

Building spaces for Blasian folks to connect and share their experiences is vital in fostering belonging. Brittany Maylyn Du Bois and Rohan Zhou-Lee have dedicated themselves to creating these spaces.

Brittany, a content marketing manager and writer, is a founding member of The Black and Asian Alliance Network (BAAN). “During the pandemic, we needed a place to come together — Black folks, Asian folks, and all of us in between — to share our cultures, discuss matters, and support initiatives,” she explains. The group became a safe space to navigate identity and advocate for Blasian visibility.

Rohan, founder of The Blasian March, turned personal experiences of racism and exclusion into activism. “I started it as a healing process after experiencing anti-Blackness in Asian spaces, but it became more than that,” they share.

The Blasian March is about showcasing Black-Asian solidarity, challenging harmful narratives, and celebrating intersectional identity. “It’s a way to ensure that Blasians who don’t feel seen have a place where they can embrace all of who they are.”

See also: Ryan Alexander Holmes shares Lunar New Year memories and his perception of money

Expressing pride in Blasian identity through the arts

For many Blasians, the arts provide a powerful outlet to explore identity and representation. Ashitaka Porter and Suzen Baraka channel their multicultural experiences into creative work.

Ashitaka, an actor and performer, embraces their identity fully. “I see myself as fully Black, fully Filipino, and the perfect mix of both,” they say. Growing up, they often felt othered but later realized that being mixed was a strength. “In college, I continued the Multicultural Student Creative, a club for mixed people of all backgrounds. Creating that space was a huge moment of pride for me.”

Suzen, an actor and producer, has fought for representation in both Black and Asian spaces. “The world prefers binaries, but I refuse to be erased,” she explains. Performing in Two Stop, a play about the 1992 LA Riots that explored Black and Korean tensions, was a career highlight. “I got to speak Korean on stage and tell a story that reflected both sides of my heritage. It was powerful.”

See also: Hāfu: Being an NBA star between two cultures

Navigating multiracial identity and growing up Blasian

Rohan and Ashitaka have had to navigate the complexities of being both Black and Asian in a world that often tries to box people into singular identities.

“I grew up in unceded Cherokee lands, also known as Georgia, but my parents made sure I was involved in the Chinese community,” says Rohan. “I didn’t face challenges about my identity until college when people refused to accept that I was Asian.”

Similarly, Brittany recalls feeling unseen in Asian spaces and having to prove her identity. “I didn’t speak any Asian languages, and my mother was mixed, too. It made me feel like I wasn’t ‘enough’ for some people.”

For Ashitaka, growing up Black and Filipino in Houston meant constantly being told they were too mixed to belong. “It wasn’t until I got older that I realized my dual identity was a superpower.”

See also: Black and Filipinx solidarity: Lessons from the Buffalo Soldiers in the Philippines

Celebrating and supporting Black and Asian communities

Black History Month is a time to celebrate all facets of Black identity — and the stories of the Blasian experience remind us of the power and beauty in intersectionality. Their journeys highlight the importance of embracing complexity, creating community, and redefining what it means to belong.

Whether through music, activism, or the arts, we must continue to create spaces where mixed identities are fully celebrated.

As Rohan shares, “We are so beautiful as a people, and it’s time the world recognizes us.”

Check out these resources and creators to learn more about, celebrate and connect with the Blasian community:

• The Black and Asian Alliance Network (BAAN): A space for dialogue and connection founded by Johnathan Gibbs and Megan Thomas.
• Blasian March: Created by Rohan Zhou-Lee to celebrate Blasian unity.
• GoldNRush Podcast: Hosted by Isaac Takeu.
• Werk Your Net: Bridging the Gap in Our Networks: Written by Yasna Vismale
• Streets of Melted Gold: Written by Brittany Dubois

Thank you to Mixed Asian Media for collaborating with us to highlight these powerful Blasian experiences and celebrate mixed Asian identities. Mixed Asian Media is a website and community by and for Mixed Asian Pacifics, where we aim to build community, foster discussion, and increase visibility by exploring what it means to be of mixed Asian, Pacific Islander, and Native Hawaiian descent today.