Blog
"You Have to Speak Up: HerStory of Rage, Power, and Joy"
On August 6, 2025, I co-presented You Have to Speak Up: HerStory of Rage, Power, and Joy at the Asian American Psychological Association (AAPA) annual convention. This session was part of the Digital HerStory Project, a storytelling and archival effort uplifting BIPOC psychologists, educators, and organizers. We explored how reclaiming rage can be a pathway to healing, leadership, and intergenerational advocacy.
Why Rage, Why Now?
We reframed rage not as a destructive force, but as a survival response, a boundary that protects, clarifies, and creates space for healing. We discussed how emotional suppression and systemic oppression take a toll on BIPOC women’s mental and physical health, drawing from research on racial microaggressions, racial battle fatigue, and moral injury.
The Rage Arc
Silencing → Rage → Clarity → Reclamation → Joy.
This framework illustrates how suppressed pain can become a catalyst for transformation, whether through speaking out, building systems, or preserving stories.
Rage Typology
- The Challenger: Confronts harm and interrupts injustice.
- The Architect: Designs new paths and reforms systems.
- The Keeper: Protects stories and uplifts legacy.
Collective Mapping and Reflection
Participants mapped their own rage arcs, identifying moments of silencing, ignition, clarity, reclamation, and joy. The session closed with a collective reflection and an invitation to continue speaking up in their own spaces.
Closing
HerStory is about voice, memory, and action. By naming our rage and celebrating our joy, we reclaim space not only for ourselves, but for the generations who will follow.
Beyond The Session
Later that evening at the AAPA Banquet, I had the chance to share the Rage Cards I designed with Dr. Debra Kawahara, current APA President (2025). Seeing her hold them was an unforgettable reminder that our work resonates beyond the session, honoring AAPA leadership and allies who continue to shape the field.