Asians Around Appalachia: Luke Huh
- aaajournal25
- Sep 1
- 2 min read
Luke Huh is a Korean-American from Barboursville, West Virginia. He is currently a sophomore attending Yale University in Connecticut.
Interview
Have you ever felt out of place due to your identity? If so, where did you find a sense of community?
Initially, it was pretty apparent that I was different from my peers. My physical features stuck out, but there was also a stark cultural difference as well. Over time, however, I found people that aligned with my interests and also had room to learn and exchange about the intricacies of the differences in our lives and culture.
Can you tell us about one of your stories related to being an AppalAsian? (e.g. household traditions, bullying/harassment, family business, etc.)
Growing up, I used to be heavily disciplined at home. While I believe it was somewhat effective, it still has lasting negative effects on me. It was difficult expressing those experiences with my friends because they never personally encountered those kinds of situations.
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.)
There’s a lot of underlying racism in Appalachia. I was made fun of and called slurs several times growing up, and it’s never a fun experience. The negative impacts this discrimination has on our community is detrimental, and spreading and endorsing our culture to those around us is one of the most important ways to prevent this in the future.
What is one piece of advice you would give to AppalAsians struggling to fit in?
Connect with people through similar interests. Because we differ so much culturally, I really recommend joining sports, clubs, etc. that align with you.