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A new hashtag conversation launched on Tuesday is aiming to connect Asian Americans online in an effort to show the similarities and the diversity among the Asian-American experience.

#BeingAsian, which was first tweeted out by 17 year old Michael Tarui on Tuesday afternoon, encourages Twitter users to describe "what it's like #BeingAsian and the racism that comes with it."

I'm in a group chat and we've decided we should start a conversation of what it's like #BeingAsian and the racism that comes with it. — ️ (@AsianAdvocacy) June 28, 2016

You can thank @shaiIIenes for coming up with the hashtag and @WowClouds for starting this conversation in our group message. — ️ (@AsianAdvocacy) June 28, 2016

Tarui told NBC News the hashtag came about during a group chat on Twitter with some of his peers, including Twitter user @shaiIIenes, who he credits with creating the hashtag. "The purpose of the tag was to create solidarity amongst us youth (many of us use Twitter to advocate), form friendships, and learn from one another," Tarui described in an email, adding that the conversation eventually transition into a discussion about the racism each of them had faced in their lives.

#BeingAsian People thinking being Asian only meant that you're possibly only Chinese so strangers approach with the typical "ni hao" — cris rosales nhung (@shaiIIenes) June 28, 2016

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"The tag was originally meant to discuss simply our experiences with racism, but because the tag was general we (the people in the group chat) decided that it would be okay to also use this tag to simply discuss what it is like being Asian - the racism, the culture, the pride, the shame, etc," Tarui said.

He added, "Confronting issues such as the racism we face and the internalized racism it has caused in many of us is important as it helps us move forward ... We also believed it was important we discussed the issues highly prevalent in our communities such as racism against one another, colorism, and anti-blackness."

#beingasian is being considered not Asian enough by your fellow Asians because you're half black. — Rivelino (@TheLinoMarion) June 29, 2016

By Tuesday night, Twitter users were actively sharing their experiences with the hashtag, including rapper Heems (born Himansu Suri) of the hip-hop group Das Racist. "Not being considered Asian," the Indian-American musician tweeted.

Not being considered Asian. #BeingAsian — HEEMY HEEMY (@HIMANSHU) June 29, 2016

Some people used the hashtag to describe the questions they've received related to their ethnicities:

#BeingAsian when people ask "which type of asian" u are — 佳睿 (@behindasea) June 28, 2016

Classmates growing up: "Ching chong ching chong do you understand me?" #BeingAsian — CHEMIE @ HXH HELL (@FIRELORD_chemie) June 28, 2016

#BeingAsian People pointing to random Asian people and asking if I'm related to them — kim (@kixch) June 28, 2016

Others tweeted about their frustrations over assumptions made about them based on appearances:

I was put in ESL in kindergarten as a kid even though I ONLY spoke English and was born in America HAHA wow #BeingAsian — CHEMIE @ HXH HELL (@FIRELORD_chemie) June 28, 2016

#BeingAsian as a multiracial Asian means constantly having to prove I am who I say I am — noahbody knows (@multiahjussi) June 28, 2016

#BeingAsian means being nicknamed Bruce in high school even though you know no martial arts and barely share any resemblance to Bruce Lee. — Jason Y. Lee (@jasonylee_) June 29, 2016

#BeingAsian ARE YOU REALLY ASIAN?! YOU DONT LOOK "ASIAN". FAILING TO REALIZE NOT ALL ASIANS LOOK THE SAME. — Pooja. (@poojaslays) June 28, 2016

Some shared their thoughts about identity and reminded others to not limit their definitions of "Asian American":

#BeingAsian means covering your identity when it might be distractingly alien, and apologizing for it when it's insufficiently authentic — Jeff Yang (@originalspin) June 29, 2016

#beingasian having to always remind people that south Asians are also a part of Asia & it's not just China & Japan. — aeman (@Princxssjaz_) June 28, 2016

Having other Asians tell me I have an Asian Fetish while they obsess over Black culture while rejecting Black people #BeingAsian — N'jaila Rhee (@BlasianBytch) June 29, 2016

#BeingAsian - esp Khmer - means having your community minimized by popular media to violence and genocide, but we are so SO much more. — Vanessa Teck (@VanessaTeck) June 29, 2016

#BeingAsian and Black is having to explain to Asians w/a white parent that NO IT IS ABSOLUTELY NOT THE SAME EXPERIENCE ARE YOU KIDDING ME — Prettiest Asian Boy (@dtwps) June 29, 2016

This is not the first time a hashtag encouraging Asian Americans to share their stories has resonated with Twitter users. In August 2015, then-15-year-old Jason Fong created #MyAsianAmericanStory in response to a remark on the campaign trail about "anchor babies."

In an essay for NBC Asian America in May, Fong said he was motivated to use Twitter to encourage Asian Americans of all ages around the country to speak their minds. "I know that, right now, I'm just a kid with a phone. I hear you," Fong wrote. "But if one of the goals is to strengthen our community by expanding the scope of our messages, why shouldn't we use social media if it helps us reach more of our community?"

Similar to Fong, Tarui said he believes #BeingAsian can help Asian Americans continue to tell their stories and use their voices when "many of us so often feel like we don't have one."

"These are issues that are often uncomfortable to address within ourselves and others," Tarui said. "However, this conversation is a conversation that is necessary to start making progress."

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