Where are all the Asian-American activists? They've been here this entire time.



The community, which frequently fends off racist jokes , unfair expectations of being the " model minority ," and accusations that it's made up of lousy allies, is often excluded from national conversations surrounding race and social justice. Yet, history tells a different story about Asian America's rich activism and intercultural solidarity—much of it inspired by the Civil Rights Movement.

From South Asia to California, here are eight Asian Americans who helped change America for the better, and fought the power on their own terms.