Safe For All Plurals

Just to cheer me up, I’m including a poll here— nothing bad will happen if you don’t vote on this, it is solely because I found the idea comforting. /very genuine.

Here is our old pinned: https://www.tumblr.com/mylittleplural/814114845096083456/my-little-plural-the-future-is-kind-no

The Yellowhammer and The Ratchaphruek, by Kannika of @/mylittleplural’s system.

Trigger warning, internalized racism.

For my whole life, I have always felt like I am too much and too many. From the moment I was aware of myself, I wanted to become less. Years I denied myself. I looked away from the golden shower tree, and I filled my garden with camellias instead. My fighting fish had become domesticated and eaten by bass. I watched elephants from afar, but I knew that to see them closely, I’d no longer be American— and how could that be possible? All of my friends were American. My family, too. When I looked around me, all I saw was American. Anyone who didn’t want this dream was outcasted, and othered. I didn’t want that for myself. It felt like a betrayal of my family name. What had they given everything up for, if not America? I wanted to be their American dream.

In the winter of my fifteenth year, I held my grandfather’s hands and I said “good morning, dtaa”. I said it in his tongue. He cried. I thought I had disappointed him. This great shame that had always existed within me threatened to swallow me up whole, because all I wanted was to be a good grandson. Then, he told me he was worried his culture would die with him, and I realized he wasn’t sad. He was relieved.

That day I realized I am not American. Not the same way the people around me are. I am a mutt, I am a mixed breed bitch, and I don’t need to chase the firebacks from my porch to do my grandfather right.

There is a Yellowhammer perched in my Ratchaphruek. Outside my salawat, the path is full of blackberry bushes.

—

TW for death under the cut.

Hey all! We’re still on break, but as Asian American plurals, we wanted to share some things about our plurality and culture this AAPI month :)

What is AAPI month?

AAPI month means Asian American & Pacific Islander month. It is also sometimes referred to as AANHPI month, or Asian American, Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander month! This is a month dedicated to celebrating the rich histories and cultures of all Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and YES this does include Native Hawaiians regardless of which acronym you see being used!! In fact, “AAPI” includes over 75 different countries, as well as the pacific islands. During AAPI heritage month, special emphasis is put on AAPI people and their cultures. AAPI month begins May 1st!

Why is AAPI month important?

42% of Americans cannot name even one Asian American historical experience. Very few schools even require our history to be taught. Hate crimes against AAPI populations have spiked in a terrifying and concerning, especially since 2020. Our cultures are constantly overlooked, forgotten, and downplayed. We are seen as “model minorities” by some, and “dirty immigrants” by others. The month of May is significant because it commemorates the first Japanese immigrants and also remembers the Chinese immigrants who poured their blood, sweat, and tears out for this country. This month is a time to platform AAPI people and listen to us tell the stories that people have drowned out for many, many years.

What’s this got to do with plurality?

AAPI month is important to my system specifically because… big shocker… we’re Asian! We’re mixed Thai, Indian & Chinese! And we aren’t the only Asian system, trust us. AAPI systems are very frequently ignored and overlooked in the plural community, not to mention the ways our cultures are used as pawns for disgusting “syscourse” arguments (looking at you, tulpacourse) while our real lived experiences are thrown away if we express differing opinions.

Our system identifies as a traumagenic DID system. We always have. But we also identify as adaptive and, yeah, practicers of Buddhism! This includes tulpamancy for us! Due to this, we’ve scheduled three posts for this month, and while we won’t be active on this account for this month due to life experiences, we will be logging in periodically to make sure no hateful or racist comments are directed to us. So please behave!

dear willogenic systems & plurals, you deserve to smile today. you are a joy to share community with. you are creative, you are talented, and you are enough. no matter your reason for willing your system, you are a valid part of our community. we love you!