Asians Around Appalachia: Isabel Kincaid

Isabel Kincaid is an Asian-American high school senior from Morgantown, West Virginia. She was born in Honolulu, Hawaii and was raised in Seoul, Korea before returning to the United States. Isabel has lived in West Virginia for about two years now.

Interview

1. Have you ever felt out of place due to your identity? If so, where did you find a sense of community?

I experienced racism for the first time upon moving to West Virginia. Being the only Asian student at my school, I was alone in speaking out against the discrimination I experienced. I found a sense of community in the strangers that defended me when I was publicly harassed. My ability to speak out against discrimination is largely because of their actions. 

2. Can you tell us about one of your stories related to being an AppalAsian? (e.g. household traditions, bullying/harassment, family business, etc.) 

For most of my life I lived in diverse cities and was exposed to little to no discrimination, until moving to West Virginia. From my very first day of high school in WV, I experienced severe racism both in and out of school. By the end of my first year, I had learned how to speak out against all forms of discrimination; eventually excelling at my school and replacing my title as “the asian girl” with my achievements.

3. What is one Appalachian / Asian American related policy issue that’s important to you and why? (e.g. lack of representation, barriers to education/healthcare, economic inequality, etc.)

An overall lack of urgency to discrimination against Asians. In both my personal experiences and the accounts of others, there is a recurring lack of action taken by higher-positioned individuals. Support is a factor in creating a safe and welcoming environment and is something lacking in most Appalachian offices/organizations. 

4. What is one piece of advice you would give to AppalAsians struggling to fit in?

Take action, you’re not alone.