Fast Company got into hot water Tuesday after they failed to included any African American, Latina, or Asian women in its list of the “25 Smartest Women on Twitter.”
Luckily, Twitter was there to fill in the blanks. The hashtags #SmartBlackWomenofTwitter, #SmartLatinaWomenofTwitter, and #SmartAAPIWomenofTwitter quickly sprang up as users rushed to share their favorite accounts to follow.
Without further ado, we’d like to share some of our favorite AAPI Women of Twitter. Please share the accounts you feel are must-follows in the comments.
Ann Curry (@AnnCurry)
Since her ouster from the Today Show last summer, Curry has focused on her true passion: international affairs. Follow her for the latest on the ongoing situation in Syria.
Sample tweet:
Arrived at Za'atari refugee camp near #Syria/Jordan border, working on report for @nbcnightlynews tonight. http://t.co/DGwUbhWkW6
— Ann Curry (@AnnCurry) August 26, 2013
V.V. Ganeshananthan (@Vasugi)
The novelist (and friend of The Aerogram) frequently shares her thoughts on Sri Lanka, pop culture, and comedy.
Sample tweet:
Until fairly recently, I thought twerking had something to do with Twitter. Put a Tw- on it and I'll get confused, apparently.
— V.V. Ganeshananthan (@V_V_G) August 26, 2013
Rania Khalek (@RaniaKhalek)
The independent journalist covers and tweets about the “underclass and marginalized.”
Sample tweet:
Think of all the POC this nation incarcerates. How many of them are potential Dr. Kings, Malcolms, Fannie Lou Hamers?
— Rania Khalek (@RaniaKhalek) August 27, 2013
Kalsoom Lakhani (@Kalsoom82)
Lakhani is the CEO of Invest2Innovate, an organization that supports early-stage entrepreneurs in Pakistan.
Sample tweet:
I am so angry that Islamabad has been voted one of the most unfriendly cities in the world. EVEN THE ISI MINIONS ARE FRIENDLY.
— Kalsoom Lakhani (@kalsoom82) August 8, 2013
Azmat Khan (@AzmatZahra)
The Al Jazeera digital producer is a must-follow if you are interested in the Middle East or international news in general.
Sample tweet:
Talked to someone on the ground who saw firsthand the sick & dead from this week's attack in Syria. Surreal. How do you recover from that?
— Azmat Khan (@AzmatZahra) August 23, 2013
Samhita Mukhopadhyay (@TheSamhita)
The executive editor of Feministing describes herself as “a professional rage-tweeter.”
Sample tweet:
A stark reminder of how thought leadership and a uniform vision of "women" is codified outside the women's movement: http://t.co/r2BLTACRBT
— Samhita is writing a book! (@TheSamhita) August 27, 2013
Naheed Mustafa (@NaheedMustafa)
The award winning freelance journalist tweets about Pakistan, Afghanistan, and much, much more.
Sample tweet:
https://twitter.com/NaheedMustafa/status/372073666655162368
Freida Pinto (@BecauseImFreida)
The Slumdog Millionaire actress makes no mention of her acting career in her bio, instead focusing on her work “to help bring more awareness to the issues related to the girl child.”
Sample tweet:
I long for the day when our politicians stop this talk abt "strictest punishment" & actually dole it out in its full measure & without delay
— Freida Pinto (@BecauseImFreida) August 23, 2013
Ayesha A. Siddiqui (@pushinghoops)
The prolific tweeter expertly dissects race relations, Islam, and pop culture (and more!) in 140 characters.
Sample tweet:
ethnocentism of white supremacy means nonwhite cultures, despite outnumbering the former, are treated like a fringe novelty #ethnicstudies
— Ayesha A. Siddiqi (@AyeshaASiddiqi) August 28, 2013
Aarti Virani (@aartivirani)
The freelance journalist (and contributor to The Aerogram) covers all things South Asia and celebrity with lots of arts and culture thrown in.
Sample tweet:
"I like that I'm called exotic," admits #PriyankaChopra. Brown girls everywhere cringe. http://t.co/WgG4de1hna | via @chhabs, @NYDailyNews
— Aarti Virani (@aartivirani) August 6, 2013
Alex Wagner (@alexwagner)
The MSNBC host covers all things politics and news of the day.
Why yes, the House GOP's "Jedi Council" DID pose for a photograph wielding toy lightsabers: http://t.co/wpGzLF7APl
— alexwagner (@alexwagner) August 26, 2013
The Aerogram (@theaerogram)
You didn’t think we’d leave ourselves out, did you? Follow us for all things South Asian American.
Sample tweet:
"I believe I’m the first girl from Mumbai’s red-light area to go to university abroad." -Shweta Katti studies at Bard http://t.co/RzdaLMj0Wc
— The Aerogram (@theaerogram) August 25, 2013
Lakshmi Gandhi is a co-founder and editor of The Aerogram. Follow her on Twitter at @LakshmiGandhi or email her at editors@theaerogram.com. Find The Aerogram on Twitter at @theaerogram.
Great list, thanks for compiling it.