we confront the same paternalism

“A lesson in how to practice recognizing the fundamental truth that every inch of the Americas is Indigenous territory” —Robert Warrior

which goes even further to fill a deep cultural and linguistic void

but Mia can't help but feel like she's missing a part of herself without him in her life

her kookum

The Rock in My Throat language reference we confront the same paternalismAt first, no one noticed when I stopped talking at school. In this moving true story, Kao Kalia Yang shares her experiences as a young Hmong refugee navigating life at home and at school. Having seen the poor treatment her parents received when making their best efforts at speaking English, she no longer speaks at school. Kalia feels as though a rock has become lodged in her throat, and it grows heavier each day. Although the narrative is somber, it