Just so you know, I’m on a mission to empower those with dual identities through fashion while supporting underserved communities.
Why am I doing this?
In my 25 years as an educator, it took me 14 years to finally write a curriculum for people who looked like me.
So….why did it take so long?
In my own education, I never studied or read books about my culture. In fact, I was 1000 times more knowledgeable about British literature than any other type of literature throughout my entire life as a student!
Fast forward to the year 2000 when I became a teacher. I was a novice educator just learning the ropes. It didn’t even occur to me that I could make changes in what I thought was a set school curriculum. I followed the lead of others, nodded my head at meetings, and continued to teach all the things that college professors taught me. I didn’t know that I could question people of authority. I never asked any of my professors how they developed their syllabus or why their syllabus didn’t have any works by Asian or Asian American authors. I went through the motions of teaching without reflecting on why I teach what I teach.
Eventually, as I started to get comfortable with the daunting life of a high school English teacher, juggling the paper grading with quizzes, vocabulary work, grammar and the endless class discussions, I started to ease into the reflective process. I noticed that my colleagues were making strides by creating curricula for African American literature and Latin American literature. I certainly admired their ambition and work. Do you know what happened next?
Nothing.
Still, I did nothing. I saw that students of color were taking these courses, but I didn’t have the confidence to believe that students would take an Asian American literature class. I watched year after year as more and more students joined these amazing cultural classes, and I did nothing.
I truly believe that I was still trying to figure out my own identity. What it would mean to be Asian American as I was often pulled into two different directions - Indian at home, American at school. How does one blend the two seamlessly? It took me a long time, too long if you ask me, to build the courage and the confidence to step forward, create the curriculum, and receive approval.
In 2014, I implemented the first Asian American pilot one year core course in Chicago, and the curriculum was the first its kind in the nation. Students who took my course received their English core credit, so this was a huge accomplishment.
In my class, many students wanted to discuss dual and hybrid identities. They wanted to read about themselves or others that were in the same boat. They had similar experiences, and finally, they had a space to share them.
This led me, albeit a decade later (because we’ve established how slow I am) to create a dual identity fashion brand allowing me to combine my love for literature with my passion for fashion. As some of you recall from AP Language and Composition, everything is an argument. I believe in fashion statements, so why not wear your heritage on your sleeve through a seamless blend of traditional South Asian ethnic wear with western sillouettes? It allows us to be confident and progressive while teaching others about our fused culture. It’s a conversation starter, and everyone wears House of Jaya to support our mission and be an ally for their friends and family.
And that is how House of Jaya was born.