Interview with Kazi Javed, April 12, 2023

Partial Transcript: Hi, so we are talking today to Professor Kazi Javed, um, as part of the AAPI Lives Project.

Segment Synopsis: Dr. Kazi Javed discusses receiving his Bachelor's degree in chemistry and his Master's and Doctorate's degree in chemical engineering. He recounts moving to Kentucky after pursuing occupations outside of military defense positions while working in Florida, ultimately moving to Hazard, Kentucky.

Keywords: Bachelor's degree -- Chemistry; Chemical engineering; Doctorate's degree--Chemical engineering; Florida; Hazard (Ky.); Kentucky; Master's degree - Chemical engineering

Partial Transcript: So, um, um, just to back up one second, where are you from in Bangladesh?

Segment Synopsis: Javed states that he grew up in Dhaka, Bangladesh, and his father worked as a governmental contractor who pursued his own private business. He discusses his decision to pursue a liberal arts education in the United States, recounting his classmates in high school attending college in the U.S. Javed states he researched liberal arts colleges that would suit him, ultimately deciding to attend Dickinson College, which provided generous scholarships. Javed references one professor, Dr. Wolf, who inspired him to study physics along with chemistry.

Keywords: Bachelor of arts degree; Chemical engineering.; Dhaka (Bangladesh); Dickinson College; Education--Bangladesh.; Education--United States.; Foreign study.; International students; Liberal arts education; Students, Foreign.

Partial Transcript: Yeah, that's a--I completely agree with you about the value of liberal arts education.

Segment Synopsis: Javed discusses his family, beginning with his mother and father. He recounts his mother's visit to Kentucky and his father's enjoyment (prior to his death) at both of his sons living in Kentucky. Javed describes his close-knit relationship with his and his wife's siblings. He discusses his wife's occupation and education in public administration in Frankfort, Kentucky. He also states that he has close familial-like bonds with several families from Bangladesh.

Keywords: Asian American families; Asian Americans--Families; Asian Americans.; Bangladesh; Bangladesh.; Families--Bangladesh; Families.; Frankfort (Ky.); Immigrant families.; Kentucky

Partial Transcript: --actually. So, um, you talked a little bit-it about your life before Kentucky in grad school.

Segment Synopsis: Javed discusses his and others' initial impressions of Kentucky, ranging from Kentucky's ruralness to a lack of indoor plumbing. He references traveling to Hazard, KY, and his difficulties in finding a main highway to interview for a job. However, Javed states that people in Eastern Kentucky were both kind and curious in his family's presence.

Keywords: Asian American families; Asian Americans--Families; Asian Americans.; Bangladesh immigrants; Bangladeshi families in Kentucky; Families.; Hazard (Ky.); Immigrant families.; Immigrants from Bangladesh; Kentucky remoteness; Kentucky rural life; Kentucky ruralness; Rural life

Partial Transcript: So, this is a good transition. What do you remember about your first year in Kentucky?

Segment Synopsis: Javed discusses his first year in Kentucky, referencing his family's friendship with several families from India. Javed discusses connecting with the Bengali community in Lexington, recalling cooking a Thanksgiving turkey to bring to their celebration. He describes the melting pot of American and Bengali cultures and food at the Bengali community's Thanksgiving celebration. Javed later recounts making food from various cultures, both American, Bengali (using spices sold by a local woman), and more.

Keywords: Asian American families; Asian Americans--Families; Asian Americans.; Bangladesh immigrants; Bangladeshi families in Kentucky; Cultural assimilation; Cultural memories; Families.; Immigrant families.; Immigrants from Bangladesh; Kentucky remoteness; Kentucky ruralness; Melting pot

Partial Transcript: Um, what did you most miss about home?

Segment Synopsis: Javed states that his most primary reason to return to his "old country home" in Bangladesh was his parents. Javed expands on what he misses about Bangladesh, explaining that Bengali dishes cooked in America will never taste the same as when its made in Bangladesh. Javed specifically references missing Bengali fish.

Keywords: Asian American families; Asian Americans--Families; Asian Americans.; Bangladesh immigrants; Bangladesh--food; Bangladeshi families in Kentucky; Bengali food; Families.; Food--Bangladesh; Immigrant families.; Immigrants from Bangladesh

Partial Transcript: So true. So, um, how would you describe your community?

Segment Synopsis: Javed discusses his various areas of community. Javed describes his community of people from Bangladesh. Secondly, he references his community based around his work in grass-roots environmental activity. Thirdly, Javed discusses his interdisciplinary and culturally diverse college community, referencing a reunion Javed is holding in his home. Javed expands on the development and future of the environmental studies program he has been involved in. He also discusses his participation in the Kentucky Conservation Committee. Lastly, Javed discusses his involvement in the Bengali community, referencing cultural celebrations showcasing Bengali and Kentucky culture and creators.

Keywords: Asian American families; Asian Americans--Families; Asian Americans.; Bangladesh immigrants; Bangladeshi families in Kentucky; Bengali Americans; Bengali communities; Bengali language; Cross cultural communication; Culture celebrations; Environmental studies; Families.; Immigrant families.; Immigrants from Bangladesh; Intercultural communication.; Kentucky Conservation Committee; Nature study.

Partial Transcript: So, um, so onto, uh, any l-less happy things, perhaps.

Segment Synopsis: Javed recounts listening to the radio while the terrorist attacks on 9/11 happened. Javed recalls serving on a panel for the Kentucky State University community, citing poverty as one of the root causes of terrorism. Javed describes the "new world" he lived in following the attacks, stating that he sadly felt the need wear a cap to keep a low profile. Javed discusses the cultural tensions in the U.S., and how he is hopeful that they will decrease in the future.

Keywords: 9/11; Asian Americans--Families; Asian Americans.; Bangladesh immigrants; Bengali Americans; Immigrants from Bangladesh; Kentucky State University; Poverty; September 11 Terrorist Attacks, 2001.; Terrorism

Partial Transcript: So, actually, that leads perfectly into this, uh, into our concerns around, um, the COVID pandemic and also, um, sort of, uh, how it affected our lives, but also how, uh, if whether it, uh, whether you felt that it affected you as an Asian-identified person?

Segment Synopsis: Javed states that though he is Asian-American, he is not a Chinese-American and that he did not experience the societal backlash after the COVID-19 backlash, though he has Chinese-American friends who did. Javed discusses the COVID-19 pandemics' few silver linings, referencing spending mornings with his wife on their front porch, waving to neighbors he had not spoken to before. Jazed also recounts speaking with a member of the Lexington Bangladesh community who passed away from COVID-19.

Keywords: Asian Americans--Families; Asian Americans.; Bangladesh immigrants; Bengali Americans; Bengali communities; COVID; COVID-19; COVID-19 (Disease); COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020-; COVID-19--Asian-Americans; COVID-19--Chinese-Americans; COVID-19--Social aspects; Immigrants from Bangladesh; Lexington (Ky.); Pandemics and COVID-19

Partial Transcript: Now, I know we talked about this, but how would you answer the question: how do you identify yourself in this community?

Segment Synopsis: Dr. Kazi Javed states that though he identifies as a person of Bangladeshi origin, he identifies first as a member of the Frankfort community with an obligation to give back. Javed cites his participation in the Commodity Supplemental Food program, in which he serves elderly people under the poverty line in subsidized housing, as a way he gives back to Frankfort and Kentucky. Javed discusses the positives and negatives of living in Kentucky in relation to Bangladesh, referencing housing, poverty, etc.

Keywords: Asian Americans--Families; Asian Americans.; Bangladesh immigrants; Bangladesh.; Bengali Americans; Bengali communities; Commodity Supplemental Food Program (U.S.); Community service; Frankfort (Ky.); Identity; Kentucky