ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Black and Asian Studies Association

The Black and Asian Studies Association is a group of people who are interested in learning and understanding more about the histories, cultures, and experiences of Black and Asian people around the world.

Let's start with what "Black" and "Asian" mean. People come in different colors, and we have different features like the shape of our eyes or the texture of our hair. When we talk about Black people, we usually mean people who have dark skin, while Asian people often have lighter skin and different features like almond-shaped eyes or straight hair. These groups include people from many different countries and cultures, like African countries, Jamaica, China, India, Japan, and others.

The Black and Asian Studies Association wants to make sure that we know about the contributions and experiences of Black and Asian people throughout history. Sometimes, in the past, their stories have been forgotten or left out because other people focused more on the history of white people. But the association helps us learn about the incredible things that Black and Asian people have done, like being leaders, inventors, artists, and scientists.

They also help us learn about the struggles and challenges that Black and Asian people have faced because of their skin color or different backgrounds. This is important because it helps us understand how to treat everyone with kindness and respect, no matter what they look like or where they come from.

The association does many things to help people learn. They organize events like talks, workshops, and exhibitions where people can come together and share knowledge about Black and Asian history and culture. They also publish books and articles that we can read to learn even more.

Their goal is to make sure we have a balanced and fair understanding of the world and the people in it. By learning about different cultures, we can appreciate and celebrate our differences, while also recognizing that we are all part of the same big human family.