#10 Our Panel on White Fragility

Dec 30

Earlier this month, Asian Persuasion hosted a panel discussion on white fragility at Festival van de Gelijkheid and the response was overwhelming, literally. The room filled up fast. So fast that we had to turn people away. That alone told us something important: this conversation is not only necessary, it’s long overdue.

Naming the dynamic

White fragility is often described as what happens when people of colour speak about racism or micro-aggressions and are met with silence, denial, defensiveness, or discomfort. But as our panel made clear, this isn’t just about awkward conversations. These reactions shape whose stories are believed, whose pain is minimised and who is expected to carry the emotional labour of explaining racism (again and again).

On 12 December 2025, we brought together voices from the Asian diaspora in Belgium and the Netherlands to unpack how these dynamics show up in everyday life: at work, in the media, in social spaces, and even within activist movements that claim to be inclusive.

Voices from the community

We were honoured to be joined by an incredible panel:

Pete Wu: writer & journalist
Fei Lauw: columnist
Hyun Lories: filmmaker
Mamina: Untold Asian Stories
Moderated by Sun Mee Cattrysse

Together, they shared personal reflections on subtle (and not-so-subtle) exclusion, the constant negotiation of identity and belonging, and the toll of having to remain “palatable” in conversations about racism.

What resonated deeply was how often Asian experiences are rendered invisible: dismissed as “not that bad,” misunderstood, or excluded from broader discussions on racism altogether. The panel spoke honestly about how white fragility reinforces that invisibility, turning moments of truth-telling into moments where Asian voices are questioned, softened, or sidelined.

Sitting with discomfort

The energy in the room was intense, thoughtful, and generous. People listened. People nodded. People asked questions that showed a real willingness to reflect and to sit with discomfort rather than rushing to resolve it.

That discomfort matters. For many in the Asian diaspora, it’s not something we dip into for an evening panel; it’s something we carry every day.

We could have talked for hours and honestly, we wanted to. The conversations continued long after the panel ended, and that’s exactly the point. This wasn’t meant to be a one-off moment, but part of a longer process of naming, unlearning and building solidarity.

Why we do this

Thank you to everyone who showed up, listened deeply, and made space for vulnerability, on stage and in the audience. Thank you to Curieus for collaborating with us and helping make this conversation possible.

This is why Asian Persuasion exists: to create spaces where our stories are centred, our experiences are taken seriously and our communities can speak without having to shrink themselves.

And we’re not done.