Dalip Singh Saund Featured in ‘Fighting to Belong’ Graphic Novel Series

India-West Staff Reporter

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — The Asian American Foundation (TAAF) and Third State Books have released Fighting to Belong! Volume II, a graphic novel that introduces young readers to Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) history through the stories of key 20th-century figures — including trailblazing Congressman Dalip Singh Saund, the first Asian American elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.

Targeted for children aged 8 to 13, the graphic novel is available in hardcover, paperback, and digital formats. Co-written by bestselling comics author Amy Chu and Alexander Chang, with illustrations by Louie Chin, the story follows four middle schoolers as they journey through major AANHPI milestones guided by a character named Kenji. Volume II explores events such as the Philippine-American War, Japanese American incarceration during World War II, and civil rights milestones linked to Saund and fellow pioneer Patsy Mink.

The series is supported by a curriculum guide from The Asian American Education Project, providing lesson plans and teaching tools for classrooms. Volume I, released in 2024, focused on the 18th and 19th centuries, while Volume III, slated for 2026, will examine 21st-century issues, including the post-9/11 South Asian American experience and the rise in anti-Asian hate during the COVID-19 pandemic.