Southern Mix honors the distinctive and powerful stories of Asians and Asian Americans in the US South through building a collection within the Southern Oral History Program.
Asian Americans are one of the most quickly growing populations in the South. Southern Mix documents the distinctive and powerful stories of this community and shares them with the public. Many first-generation immigrants came to the region in the 1970s and carry a wealth of memories, which help define future generations.
Southern Mix was inspired by Asian American alumni, and will focus on collecting oral histories from Asian and Asian American residents of the Triangle, of North Carolina, and of the larger region of the South. The Carolina Asia Center is collaborating with the Southern Oral History Program and the Alumni Committee for Racial and Ethnic Diversity to gather these personal biographies. This project will include a wide range of stories of escape, immigration, cultural assimilation, or even how to cook a grandparent’s favorite meal.
This program is a rare opportunity to study and research Asian American topics. For years, individual faculty at UNC-Chapel Hill have offered courses related to Asian American studies, but the University currently does not offer a major, minor, or certificate in this field.
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