May 2024: This month, White & Case is celebrating Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month. Two colleagues (partner Claudine Columbres and Cybersecurity Program Manager Valerie Greene) explain their own journeys of identity and the significance of the month for them.
Why is it important for you personally to mark AANHPI Heritage Month?
Claudine Columbres: "There was no such thing as AANHPI Heritage Month when I was growing up, where assimilation of American culture was the norm. It's a nice change seeing my children grow up differently. They openly discuss being half Filipino, and they learn about the Philippines at school."
Valerie Greene: "Growing up in the 80s in the deep south taught me to always educate those around me about who I am and the ancestors who got me to this point. I can see the difference over the decades. When I meet people now, many times I am recognized as Filipino immediately. It is a joy to be seen for who I am."
Tell us about any challenges you've faced related to your heritage, and how you overcame them.
VG: I am a third-generation US citizen, but when I was trying to figure out which box to check, I looked at a map and saw that the Philippines are islands in the Pacific—so I thought Pacific Islander must be me. But these are not things I think about every day—it's about how other people label me. I am American, and an old-school southern girl.
The US Census Bureau defines Pacific Islander as only Polynesia, Micronesia and Melanesia. While the Philippines is not part of any of them geographically, that doesn't mean the designation reflects how people feel or identify. What's your insight on that?
CC: There is still confusion as to whether Filipinos are Pacific Islander because the Philippines are islands in the Pacific Ocean, but I always understood that Filipinos are Asian.
VG: The two identities are always listed together now as the single choice of "Asian/Pacific Islander." But I remember in high school the first question on the SATs asked for my race. But there were only two choices, white or black. I had to raise my hand and ask the test proctor which one I should choose. They chose white for me, but in truth I always felt like the "other." How was I supposed to tell people my heritage when it was not an option on important documents like this?
How does your heritage positively impact your work and your career?
VG: More than any other employer, White & Case made me feel welcome from the start. Not in any one way, but in a million different ways; from celebrating heritage months, to emails celebrating diversity, and our supervisors who encourage global cultural understanding.
How do you celebrate your identity in your day-to-day life?
CC: Filipino food is delicious, and it's amazing to see great Filipino restaurants open up in Manhattan. I cook Filipino food on special occasions like birthdays and holidays. My family loves when I make chicken adobe (a traditional dish in the Philippines) and lumpia shanghai (Filipino egg roll).
