As part of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we are proud to feature this thoughtful reflection by NEHS student member Jenny He Wu from the International Christian School, Costa Rica. In her blog, Jenny explores how literature can foster cultural understanding, challenge stereotypes, and create spaces where often marginalized voices are recognized and valued. She demonstrates how diverse stories not only shape perceptions but also empower individuals to embrace their identities with pride.
Literature as a Lens for Asian American Recognition
Throughout history, literature has served as a platform for multilayered perspectives and as a symbol of intellectual development. Given this influence, the representation of marginalized communities in literature inevitably shapes societal perceptions. As a Costa Rican of Asian ancestry, existing in an environment where I was often made to feel inferior as a minority fostered a persistent sense of discouragement, anxiety, and discomfort. It was in this context that I noticed how my school’s literature courses, instead of reinforcing this insecurity, sought to cultivate open-minded, multicultural perspectives.
Engaging with texts from diverse cultural backgrounds gradually made both myself and my peers more aware, more accepting, and less prejudiced. In contrast, a curriculum centered on a single cultural perspective would deepen negative feelings over time, reinforcing a narrower, more exclusionary understanding of identity. The elimination of diverse literature encourages a narrow, singular perspective; moreover, promoting Asian American literature is fundamental to fostering cultural recognition, open-mindedness, and more inclusive societal perceptions.
According to the American Library Association, thousands of books are challenged each year, many of which focus on race, identity, or marginalized communities, reinforcing the notion that literature continues to be perceived as a powerful influence capable of shaping societal narratives. This serves as evidence of how authorities hold the power to determine whether certain populations are recognized, as books are often challenged when perceived as threats to existing social order.
For instance, Teahouse by Lao She, a Chinese play first published in 1957, serves as an introduction to perspectives outside traditional mainstream literature. Set in Beijing, China, the work immerses readers in the cultural values, social transformations, and daily realities of Chinese society. It encourages engagement with experiences, and perceptions beyond dominant Western narratives. In addition, The Joy Luck Club pioneered Asian American representation by exploring cultural identity, and the immigration experience. Through stories of ordinary individuals struggling with identity, and cultural displacement, Amy Tan presents an authentic, non-stereotypical narrative that expands the visibility of Asian American voices in mainstream literature. As a result, this novel lays the foundation for later works such as Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo, which broadens Asian American literary representation through the portrayal of a queer Asian American character, further expanding opportunities for diverse communities to be recognized. Notably, the novel has been challenged, reinforcing the American Library Association statistics demonstrating how books centered on marginalized identities are often subject to censorship for promoting inclusion and diverse perspectives. Collectively, these literary works have contributed to reshaping and impacting social narratives, transitioning literature from simple creative expression into real-life recognition by promoting more inclusive perspectives.
Such recognition can extend beyond representation in the traditional literary world. For example, the TED Talk Redefining Asian American Narratives Through Storytelling explores how Katerina Jeng and Krystie Mak, having experienced discrimination and stereotyping due to their Asian heritage, chose to continue the literary legacy established by the previously mentioned authors through the creation of Slant’d, a platform dedicated to validating, and amplifying Asian American voices. By sharing personal narratives in a published format, the platform encourages individuals to recognize the common threads within their experiences, fostering empathy, and reinforcing the idea that Asian American communities are not alone in their experiences of exclusion, and underrepresentation.
As we celebrate Asian American Heritage Month, it is important to acknowledge how literature serves as a lens for cultural recognition, and as a source that shapes both individual, and collective perceptions. By presenting diverse narratives, Asian American authors foster a deeper understanding of identity, challenging stereotypical representations, and encouraging more inclusive ways of recognizing historically marginalized communities. As someone with an Asian background myself, marginalization, and prejudice have been recurring issues throughout my life. However, through exposure to Asian literature, I have felt connected, and accompanied, shifting from feelings of shame to becoming undeniably proud to represent my cultural heritage.
Jenny He Wu is a Chinese-Costa Rican 16-year-old currently serving as the President of the Camp Half Blood Chapter of the National English Honor Society at the International Christian School of Costa Rica. She is in her final year of the International Baccalaureate and aspires to study International Relations and Data Science. Upon graduating in June 2026, she plans to begin her university studies in Costa Rica before making an informed decision about where she will pursue her education. Jenny is passionate about reading, as she believes it provides a quiet space in which one can connect with oneself, and experience a sense of pause from the fast pace of the exterior world. For her, this reflects the essence of literature: the intimate, and personal connection with the reader.
National English Honor Society
The National English Honor Society (NEHS), founded and sponsored by Sigma Tau Delta, is the only international organization exclusively for secondary students and faculty who, in the field of English, merit special note for past and current accomplishments. Individual secondary schools are invited to petition for a local chapter, through which individuals may be inducted into Society membership. Immediate benefits of affiliation include academic recognition, scholarship and award eligibility, and opportunities for networking with others who share enthusiasm for, and accomplishment in, the language arts.
America’s first honor society was founded in 1776, but high school students didn’t have access to such organizations for another 150 years. Since then, high school honor societies have been developed in leadership, drama, journalism, French, Spanish, mathematics, the sciences, and in various other fields, but not in English. In 2005, National English Honor Society launched and has been growing steadily since, becoming one of the largest academic societies for secondary schools.
As Joyce Carol Oates writes, “This is the time for which we have been waiting.” Or perhaps it was Shakespeare: “Now is the winter of our discontent made glorious summer . . .” we celebrate English studies through NEHS.
National English Honor Society accepts submissions to our blog, NEHS Museletter, from all membership categories (students, Advisors, and alumni). If you are interested in submitting a blog, please read the Suggested Guidelines on our website. Email any questions and all submissions to: submit@nehsmuseletter.us.
