there’s something I need to tell you it seems you have been slightly misinformed
seems you have been slightly misinformed
seems you have been slightly misinformed because my first name is not actually
because my first name is not actually
because my first name is not actually Ming Lee my name is Marie silly the Los
Ming Lee my name is Marie silly the Los
Ming Lee my name is Marie silly the Los Angeles Ming Lee oh
Angeles Ming Lee oh
Angeles Ming Lee oh levira Lin Melendez and this is the poem
levira Lin Melendez and this is the poem
levira Lin Melendez and this is the poem I do not want to read my name is Maurice
I do not want to read my name is Maurice
I do not want to read my name is Maurice Olivas and he lets me live within
Olivas and he lets me live within
Olivas and he lets me live within minutes it makes people stumble my name
minutes it makes people stumble my name
minutes it makes people stumble my name is the Frankenstein’s monster of
is the Frankenstein’s monster of
is the Frankenstein’s monster of conglomerate culture called Asian
conglomerate culture called Asian
conglomerate culture called Asian Hispanic American I’ve never heard of
Hispanic American I’ve never heard of
Hispanic American I’ve never heard of that before
that before
that before is that a real thing I’m sorry I don’t
is that a real thing I’m sorry I don’t
is that a real thing I’m sorry I don’t know my name is the kind of name that
know my name is the kind of name that
know my name is the kind of name that makes people do a double take when they
makes people do a double take when they
makes people do a double take when they see my name tag makes people apologize
see my name tag makes people apologize
see my name tag makes people apologize in advance for the mispronunciation
in advance for the mispronunciation
in advance for the mispronunciation makes people confused when they ask my
makes people confused when they ask my
makes people confused when they ask my name and I say which one makes people
name and I say which one makes people
name and I say which one makes people furrow their foreheads and squint their
furrow their foreheads and squint their
furrow their foreheads and squint their eyes and go wait where are you really
eyes and go wait where are you really
eyes and go wait where are you really from and I don’t have an answer I’m from
from and I don’t have an answer I’m from
from and I don’t have an answer I’m from Alabama really but that’s not what they
Alabama really but that’s not what they
Alabama really but that’s not what they want to hear I’m from a spot somewhere
want to hear I’m from a spot somewhere
want to hear I’m from a spot somewhere halfway between Taiwan and Puerto Rico
halfway between Taiwan and Puerto Rico
halfway between Taiwan and Puerto Rico so like Hawaii
so like Hawaii
so like Hawaii no stupid somehow it works I don’t deal
no stupid somehow it works I don’t deal
no stupid somehow it works I don’t deal well with embarrassment I’m probably
well with embarrassment I’m probably
well with embarrassment I’m probably somewhere halfway between tears and
somewhere halfway between tears and
somewhere halfway between tears and yelling right now so like silence the
yelling right now so like silence the
yelling right now so like silence the last time I cried I was sitting in an
last time I cried I was sitting in an
last time I cried I was sitting in an auditorium in Boston listening to a
auditorium in Boston listening to a
auditorium in Boston listening to a story North Korean refugees fleeing
story North Korean refugees fleeing
story North Korean refugees fleeing their everything on the life draft of a
their everything on the life draft of a
their everything on the life draft of a dream broken by battle and baby brothers
dream broken by battle and baby brothers
dream broken by battle and baby brothers left behind I was crying because it was
left behind I was crying because it was
left behind I was crying because it was a sad story and I was crying because it
a sad story and I was crying because it
a sad story and I was crying because it was a story and I was crying because
was a story and I was crying because
was a story and I was crying because I didn’t understand how much more
I didn’t understand how much more
I didn’t understand how much more it was intellectually yes but I am
it was intellectually yes but I am
it was intellectually yes but I am haunted by the curse of the third
haunted by the curse of the third
haunted by the curse of the third generation the one that loses its roots
generation the one that loses its roots
generation the one that loses its roots the one that forgets its ancestral
the one that forgets its ancestral
the one that forgets its ancestral values the one that dissolves into the
values the one that dissolves into the
values the one that dissolves into the Frankenstein’s monster of conglomerate
Frankenstein’s monster of conglomerate
Frankenstein’s monster of conglomerate culture called American the one that’s
culture called American the one that’s
culture called American the one that’s doomed to be distanced wandering lost I
cry too easily it’s relating a part of
cry too easily it’s relating a part of me I’m good at math Chinese I wear my
me I’m good at math Chinese I wear my
me I’m good at math Chinese I wear my heart on my sleeve latina I’m quiet
heart on my sleeve latina I’m quiet
heart on my sleeve latina I’m quiet Chinese I’m family-oriented latina I
Chinese I’m family-oriented latina I
Chinese I’m family-oriented latina I have black hair Chinese I have wide hips
have black hair Chinese I have wide hips
have black hair Chinese I have wide hips latina I eat weird food I read where
latina I eat weird food I read where
latina I eat weird food I read where poetry I have a weird name Asian
poetry I have a weird name Asian
poetry I have a weird name Asian Hispanic American fragmented but that’s
Hispanic American fragmented but that’s
Hispanic American fragmented but that’s so cool you can be a part of so many
so cool you can be a part of so many
so cool you can be a part of so many different cultures yeah only I am NOT I
different cultures yeah only I am NOT I
different cultures yeah only I am NOT I have been studying a Mandarin and
have been studying a Mandarin and
have been studying a Mandarin and Spanish since I was two days old and my
Spanish since I was two days old and my
Spanish since I was two days old and my grandparents sang me lullabies I live in
grandparents sang me lullabies I live in
grandparents sang me lullabies I live in a tornado of tutors and textbooks and
a tornado of tutors and textbooks and
a tornado of tutors and textbooks and tongue twisters and traveling was sister
tongue twisters and traveling was sister
tongue twisters and traveling was sister dishes bubble is Oh glob Oh glob eat
dishes bubble is Oh glob Oh glob eat
dishes bubble is Oh glob Oh glob eat only I still stumble when I talked to my
only I still stumble when I talked to my
only I still stumble when I talked to my family I still stumble when I talked to
family I still stumble when I talked to
family I still stumble when I talked to my people I still stumble when I say my
my people I still stumble when I say my
my people I still stumble when I say my name the airport security guard frowns
name the airport security guard frowns
name the airport security guard frowns squints
Mary Shelley I shrug nod shuffle forward
Mary Shelley I shrug nod shuffle forward sometimes I think it’s better not to
sometimes I think it’s better not to
sometimes I think it’s better not to speak up this is the poem I didn’t want
speak up this is the poem I didn’t want
speak up this is the poem I didn’t want to write because things are written down
to write because things are written down
to write because things are written down have a terrible tendency of coming true
have a terrible tendency of coming true
have a terrible tendency of coming true and so maybe if I never say my full name
and so maybe if I never say my full name
and so maybe if I never say my full name we’ll never have to stumble trip slip of
we’ll never have to stumble trip slip of
we’ll never have to stumble trip slip of the tongue only it didn’t go away so I
the tongue only it didn’t go away so I
the tongue only it didn’t go away so I wrote the poem I spoke up and now my
wrote the poem I spoke up and now my
wrote the poem I spoke up and now my fears are coalescing into reality the
fears are coalescing into reality the
fears are coalescing into reality the gap is widening between my name and my
gap is widening between my name and my
gap is widening between my name and my past between myself and my forefathers
past between myself and my forefathers
past between myself and my forefathers between Mary Shelley and Ming Lee and
between Mary Shelley and Ming Lee and
between Mary Shelley and Ming Lee and filling the halfway spaces I can find
filling the halfway spaces I can find
filling the halfway spaces I can find only silence thank you
my poetry is a way for me to be
my poetry is a way for me to be authentically vulnerable it can be scary
authentically vulnerable it can be scary
authentically vulnerable it can be scary sometimes but engaging with my identity
sometimes but engaging with my identity
sometimes but engaging with my identity in a way that invites other people in
in a way that invites other people in
in a way that invites other people in can open up a lot of opportunities for
can open up a lot of opportunities for
can open up a lot of opportunities for connecting for participating in a
connecting for participating in a
connecting for participating in a dialogue about the shared elements and
dialogue about the shared elements and
dialogue about the shared elements and the gray spaces of all of our identities
the gray spaces of all of our identities
the gray spaces of all of our identities for bringing people together on a
for bringing people together on a
for bringing people together on a personal level here’s how I learned that
personal level here’s how I learned that
personal level here’s how I learned that at my first spoken word poetry
at my first spoken word poetry
at my first spoken word poetry performance I recited that poem halfway
performance I recited that poem halfway
performance I recited that poem halfway spaces way too fast into a little crowd
spaces way too fast into a little crowd
spaces way too fast into a little crowd at a coffee shop open mic downtown my
at a coffee shop open mic downtown my
at a coffee shop open mic downtown my knees were shaking the entire time but
knees were shaking the entire time but
knees were shaking the entire time but afterwards
afterwards
afterwards something happened that made me forget
something happened that made me forget
something happened that made me forget how nervous I’d been a stranger came up
how nervous I’d been a stranger came up
how nervous I’d been a stranger came up to me and said me too see she was also
to me and said me too see she was also
to me and said me too see she was also biracial and she could relate to the
biracial and she could relate to the
biracial and she could relate to the feelings I articulated in my poetry
feelings I articulated in my poetry
feelings I articulated in my poetry hearing someone else voiced her feelings
hearing someone else voiced her feelings
hearing someone else voiced her feelings legitimize them and brought us closer
legitimize them and brought us closer
legitimize them and brought us closer together it sparked a connection a
together it sparked a connection a
together it sparked a connection a conversation an exchange of some part of
conversation an exchange of some part of
conversation an exchange of some part of ourselves more recently a Filipino
ourselves more recently a Filipino
ourselves more recently a Filipino American teacher told me something
American teacher told me something
American teacher told me something similar a Chinese Australian American
similar a Chinese Australian American
similar a Chinese Australian American violinist in Carson City
violinist in Carson City
violinist in Carson City – half japanese-american girls in Denver
– half japanese-american girls in Denver
– half japanese-american girls in Denver the list goes on after a while I
the list goes on after a while I
the list goes on after a while I realized that if I hadn’t taken the
realized that if I hadn’t taken the
realized that if I hadn’t taken the first step with my poetry none of those
first step with my poetry none of those
first step with my poetry none of those conversations would have happened for a
conversations would have happened for a
conversations would have happened for a dialogue to take place someone has to be
dialogue to take place someone has to be
dialogue to take place someone has to be the first one to share if I’m just going
the first one to share if I’m just going
the first one to share if I’m just going about my day at school or walking around
about my day at school or walking around
about my day at school or walking around downtown you’re probably not gonna come
downtown you’re probably not gonna come
downtown you’re probably not gonna come to me and say hi I’m multiracial let’s
to me and say hi I’m multiracial let’s
to me and say hi I’m multiracial let’s talk about the illicit nature of the
talk about the illicit nature of the
talk about the illicit nature of the so-called American melting pot
someone has to make the choice to be
someone has to make the choice to be vulnerable and then other people can
vulnerable and then other people can
vulnerable and then other people can respond to that vulnerability by sharing
respond to that vulnerability by sharing
respond to that vulnerability by sharing something in return
something in return
something in return Gloria Anzaldua a mexican-american
Gloria Anzaldua a mexican-american
Gloria Anzaldua a mexican-american cultural theorist and activist writes
cultural theorist and activist writes
cultural theorist and activist writes before the Chicano and the undocumented
before the Chicano and the undocumented
before the Chicano and the undocumented worker and the Mexican from the other
worker and the Mexican from the other
worker and the Mexican from the other side can come together before the
side can come together before the
side can come together before the Chicano can achieve unity with Native
Chicano can achieve unity with Native
Chicano can achieve unity with Native Americans and other groups we need to
Americans and other groups we need to
Americans and other groups we need to know the history of their struggle and
know the history of their struggle and
know the history of their struggle and they need to know ours spanish-speaking
they need to know ours spanish-speaking
they need to know ours spanish-speaking people working together to combat racial
people working together to combat racial
people working together to combat racial discrimination is good but it is not
discrimination is good but it is not
discrimination is good but it is not enough other than a common culture we
enough other than a common culture we
enough other than a common culture we will have nothing to hold us together we
will have nothing to hold us together we
will have nothing to hold us together we need to meet on a broader communal
need to meet on a broader communal
need to meet on a broader communal ground and so though it is talking
ground and so though it is talking
ground and so though it is talking specifically about Hispanic Americans
specifically about Hispanic Americans
specifically about Hispanic Americans here but her words ring true in many
here but her words ring true in many
here but her words ring true in many situations in this global age we all
situations in this global age we all
situations in this global age we all have the power to foster conversation
have the power to foster conversation
have the power to foster conversation about identity about navigating the
about identity about navigating the
about identity about navigating the world about forming a more empathetic
world about forming a more empathetic
world about forming a more empathetic and aware community it’s true that there
and aware community it’s true that there
and aware community it’s true that there is still always a risk and vulnerability
is still always a risk and vulnerability
is still always a risk and vulnerability sometimes you won’t get the response you
sometimes you won’t get the response you
sometimes you won’t get the response you were hoping for I remember one time I
were hoping for I remember one time I
were hoping for I remember one time I performed a poem about being transgender
performed a poem about being transgender
performed a poem about being transgender at a speech tournament and one of the
at a speech tournament and one of the
at a speech tournament and one of the judges was so not a fan of my topic he
judges was so not a fan of my topic he
judges was so not a fan of my topic he decided to rank me sixth place out of
decided to rank me sixth place out of
decided to rank me sixth place out of four so yeah it happens but one of the
four so yeah it happens but one of the
four so yeah it happens but one of the reasons authentic vulnerability is
reasons authentic vulnerability is
reasons authentic vulnerability is effective is that you’re not asking for
effective is that you’re not asking for
effective is that you’re not asking for something you’re giving something a
something you’re giving something a
something you’re giving something a little piece of yourself and inviting
little piece of yourself and inviting
little piece of yourself and inviting people to give a piece of themselves
people to give a piece of themselves
people to give a piece of themselves back the power of vulnerability is not
back the power of vulnerability is not
back the power of vulnerability is not limited to sin poetry people can
limited to sin poetry people can
limited to sin poetry people can exercise deliberate authentic
exercise deliberate authentic
exercise deliberate authentic vulnerability in all sorts of situations
vulnerability in all sorts of situations
vulnerability in all sorts of situations from acting in a play to giving a TEDx
from acting in a play to giving a TEDx
from acting in a play to giving a TEDx talk to having an everyday conversation
talk to having an everyday conversation
talk to having an everyday conversation so how can we harness that power today I
so how can we harness that power today I
so how can we harness that power today I am challenging you to take initiative
am challenging you to take initiative
am challenging you to take initiative start the conversation be vulnerable
start the conversation be vulnerable
start the conversation be vulnerable tell your stories honestly
tell your stories honestly
tell your stories honestly thoughtfully and was also complexity
thoughtfully and was also complexity
thoughtfully and was also complexity that they deserve my poem halfway spaces
that they deserve my poem halfway spaces
that they deserve my poem halfway spaces is about three years old now which is
is about three years old now which is
is about three years old now which is honestly not very old for a poem but
honestly not very old for a poem but
honestly not very old for a poem but it’s a decent chunk of my life span so
it’s a decent chunk of my life span so
it’s a decent chunk of my life span so far I thought about retiring it from my
far I thought about retiring it from my
far I thought about retiring it from my set list but I’m still performing it
set list but I’m still performing it
set list but I’m still performing it precisely because it resonates so deeply
precisely because it resonates so deeply
precisely because it resonates so deeply with so many people however I’m also
with so many people however I’m also
with so many people however I’m also trying to write new poetry that reflects
trying to write new poetry that reflects
trying to write new poetry that reflects the evolution of my perspective so I’m
the evolution of my perspective so I’m
the evolution of my perspective so I’m gonna close with this next poem which is
gonna close with this next poem which is
gonna close with this next poem which is a sequel of sorts my name is Maurice Le
a sequel of sorts my name is Maurice Le
a sequel of sorts my name is Maurice Le De Los Angeles mean the O’Farrell in
De Los Angeles mean the O’Farrell in
De Los Angeles mean the O’Farrell in Melendez but somehow I have managed to
Melendez but somehow I have managed to
Melendez but somehow I have managed to cut out all the Spanish when introducing
cut out all the Spanish when introducing
cut out all the Spanish when introducing myself
myself
myself hi my name is Ming Lee whoo shorten
hi my name is Ming Lee whoo shorten
hi my name is Ming Lee whoo shorten sweeten culture but no inconvenience
sweeten culture but no inconvenience
sweeten culture but no inconvenience your tongue in coffee shops hi my name
your tongue in coffee shops hi my name
your tongue in coffee shops hi my name is Marcel shorten sweeten whiten no
is Marcel shorten sweeten whiten no
is Marcel shorten sweeten whiten no inconvenience at school hi my name is
inconvenience at school hi my name is
inconvenience at school hi my name is minge mingles ml/min to the Li Ming Leo
minge mingles ml/min to the Li Ming Leo
minge mingles ml/min to the Li Ming Leo for a while I tried to go by Ari short
for a while I tried to go by Ari short
for a while I tried to go by Ari short for money silly but it didn’t work out
for money silly but it didn’t work out
for money silly but it didn’t work out maybe I don’t deserve a boy so he can
maybe I don’t deserve a boy so he can
maybe I don’t deserve a boy so he can nickname when my Spanish consists of
nickname when my Spanish consists of
nickname when my Spanish consists of joking or those taco pop avoid my
joking or those taco pop avoid my
joking or those taco pop avoid my Spanish is no I’ve less than your my
Spanish is no I’ve less than your my
Spanish is no I’ve less than your my Spanish is Telly’s Navidad data that the
Spanish is Telly’s Navidad data that the
Spanish is Telly’s Navidad data that the one other song I remember is about a
one other song I remember is about a
one other song I remember is about a soldier bidding his lover farewell and
soldier bidding his lover farewell and
soldier bidding his lover farewell and treating her to be faithful si fuera
treating her to be faithful si fuera
treating her to be faithful si fuera first oka would amend oh hello mum and
first oka would amend oh hello mum and
first oka would amend oh hello mum and olv that a if your oath is false in a
olv that a if your oath is false in a
olv that a if your oath is false in a moment I will forget you my Spanish has
moment I will forget you my Spanish has
moment I will forget you my Spanish has forgotten me da calamari Tommy petrol
forgotten me da calamari Tommy petrol
forgotten me da calamari Tommy petrol Georgia has yo Senora my Mandarin has
Georgia has yo Senora my Mandarin has
Georgia has yo Senora my Mandarin has grown with me it used to be children
grown with me it used to be children
grown with me it used to be children songs too but now it is impractical
songs too but now it is impractical
songs too but now it is impractical promises
promises
promises soaked Flagstaff’s heartbeats and
soaked Flagstaff’s heartbeats and
soaked Flagstaff’s heartbeats and heartbreaking kisses in the rain my
heartbreaking kisses in the rain my
heartbreaking kisses in the rain my favorite song is Wong soup I made a
favorite song is Wong soup I made a
favorite song is Wong soup I made a commonly translated ass forgotten words
commonly translated ass forgotten words
commonly translated ass forgotten words I am still processing the irony I once
I am still processing the irony I once
I am still processing the irony I once decorated my nametag with the Chinese
decorated my nametag with the Chinese
decorated my nametag with the Chinese characters for oming Lee ran around
characters for oming Lee ran around
characters for oming Lee ran around showing it to all my friends so proud of
showing it to all my friends so proud of
showing it to all my friends so proud of my heritage my mother asked me if I
my heritage my mother asked me if I
my heritage my mother asked me if I would honor my Puerto Rican name too I
would honor my Puerto Rican name too I
would honor my Puerto Rican name too I wrote it down but it didn’t feel special
wrote it down but it didn’t feel special
wrote it down but it didn’t feel special no one ever said wow you can speak
no one ever said wow you can speak
no one ever said wow you can speak Spanish that’s so interesting my aunt
Spanish that’s so interesting my aunt
Spanish that’s so interesting my aunt used to sing me songs in Spanish
used to sing me songs in Spanish
used to sing me songs in Spanish apparently it’s hard to notice how
apparently it’s hard to notice how
apparently it’s hard to notice how interesting familiarity is until it
interesting familiarity is until it
interesting familiarity is until it marches away into the sunset leaving you
marches away into the sunset leaving you
marches away into the sunset leaving you with a classical guitar and a broken
with a classical guitar and a broken
with a classical guitar and a broken nose you didn’t know you’d made I’m
nose you didn’t know you’d made I’m
nose you didn’t know you’d made I’m learning guitar now but all I can play
learning guitar now but all I can play
learning guitar now but all I can play is pop punk even though my strings were
is pop punk even though my strings were
is pop punk even though my strings were made for finger picking and arpeggios
made for finger picking and arpeggios
made for finger picking and arpeggios even though I can still roll my arse and
even though I can still roll my arse and
even though I can still roll my arse and swallow my aces I told my mom I would
swallow my aces I told my mom I would
swallow my aces I told my mom I would take Spanish next year but then I saw
take Spanish next year but then I saw
take Spanish next year but then I saw this really cool American history course
this really cool American history course
this really cool American history course and I don’t want to overload my schedule
and I don’t want to overload my schedule
and I don’t want to overload my schedule with unnecessary classes so sorry I
with unnecessary classes so sorry I
with unnecessary classes so sorry I don’t know when my family became an
don’t know when my family became an
don’t know when my family became an unnecessary class I keep forgetting what
unnecessary class I keep forgetting what
unnecessary class I keep forgetting what the heck oh is part of America I keep
the heck oh is part of America I keep
the heck oh is part of America I keep forgetting what the heck oh is part of
forgetting what the heck oh is part of
forgetting what the heck oh is part of ming-lee
ming-lee
ming-lee but these days being able to forget I am
but these days being able to forget I am
but these days being able to forget I am Hispanic is feeling more and more like a
Hispanic is feeling more and more like a
Hispanic is feeling more and more like a privilege and that scares me more than
privilege and that scares me more than
privilege and that scares me more than the forgetting ever could so today I am
the forgetting ever could so today I am
the forgetting ever could so today I am swearing a new os– I will stand up and
swearing a new os– I will stand up and
swearing a new os– I will stand up and remember and say to the world my name
remember and say to the world my name
remember and say to the world my name is money silly the Los Angeles mean Leo
is money silly the Los Angeles mean Leo
is money silly the Los Angeles mean Leo de Vera Lynn Melendez and that is
de Vera Lynn Melendez and that is
de Vera Lynn Melendez and that is something special
something special
something special thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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