Celeste Ng on giving thanks during challenging times
An editor recently asked Celeste Ng to contribute to a Thanksgiving summary of things she is thankful for. He was specific in saying that he did not want to consider anything political. She wrote an elegant response.
"I love this idea, but honestly, in the current moment, it’s hard for me to think of things that I’m grateful for that are not, in some way, connected to politics. Please understand: I completely get why you’d prefer not to use anything about politics. After such a hard-fought and often toxic election season, I think everyone wishes we could take a break.
"But as a woman and a person of color, my very existence is political through no choice of my own. I don’t get to take a break even if I want to.
"What am I thankful for? I’m thankful for my parents, who immigrated to this country as poor students, worked their way up in a country that wasn’t always welcoming to them, and stayed and put down roots for my sister and me so that we could succeed; who taught us that tolerance and compassion and hard work aren’t simply buzzwords, but human values, and the tenets of the country they chose to make their home; who have shown me through every action of their lives that no one gets anywhere on their own, and that if you’ve had an ounce of success, it’s your duty to recognize those who helped you along the way, and to pay it forward. ... - Celeste Ng
Essay: Giving Thanks is a Political Act