PANA Institute for Leadership Development

Concurrent Session A3 / Bauer South, Room35 / Friday.2009.Aug.7 / 9:45 AM

Paul Matsushima, San Francisco State University:  paul.matsushima@gmail.com

This article examines how Asian American Christians in Los Angeles County have applied their faith to social justice. Using literature-based research and interviews with 16 Chinese and Japanese American Christians, the author discovers that Asian American Christians pursue social justice on four levels. First, the interviewees are involved in social justice because of their self-identification as racial minorities and because of the teachings of Jesus Christ and the Bible. Second, a Christian love drove many to build relationships with others. Third, the development of relationships led to the increased ability to form solidarity with racially and socioeconomically diverse groups. Finally, some pursue systemic justice through public policy to effect long term change.