Someone Has to Stand Up! An Interview with Texas House Democratic Leader Gene Wu
Someone Has to Stand Up
An Interview with Texas House Democratic Leader Gene Wu
By Diana Ding
Some interviews stay with you long after the cameras stop rolling.
My conversation with Gene Wu, Democratic Leader of the Texas House of Representatives, was one of them.
What struck me most wasn’t his political position.
It wasn’t even his discussion about legislation.
It was one simple sentence.
“If no one else is willing to stand up, then you should be the one who stands up.”
Simple.
Powerful.
And deeply personal.
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Gene Wu is a former prosecutor, attorney, and one of the most prominent Chinese American elected officials in Texas.
For years, he has been involved in issues ranging from education and civil rights to public safety and immigrant communities.
Yet throughout our conversation, he rarely spoke about himself.
Instead, he spoke about the future of Chinese Americans.
Not with anger.
But with urgency.
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I asked him whether history could repeat itself.
His answer came without hesitation.
“It’s not that history might repeat itself. In many ways, it already is.”
He explained that recent debates and legislation in Texas concerning restrictions on certain foreign nationals purchasing land have raised broader concerns for many in the Chinese American community. He worries that laws which begin by targeting a narrowly defined group can, over time, expand in scope and normalize broader suspicion. His concern is not only about a single bill, but about the direction these debates can take if communities stop paying attention.
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I asked him what he would say to Chinese Americans who believe these issues don’t affect them.
Perhaps they already have permanent residency.
Perhaps they are U.S. citizens.
Perhaps they think,
“This isn’t about me.”
Gene shook his head.
He said that’s exactly what worries him.
In his view, once society begins judging people primarily by where they were born rather than by who they are as individuals, everyone should pay attention.
His message was not one of panic.
It was one of awareness.
“The greatest danger,” he told me,
“is pretending nothing is happening.”
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We also talked about political participation.
Gene made it clear that, in his view, this is not about Democrats versus Republicans.
He believes people should support leaders based on their values, their commitment to constitutional principles, and whether they are willing to defend the rights of all communities.
He also challenged a mindset he sometimes sees within the Chinese American community—supporting multiple opposing candidates simply to stay connected regardless of the outcome.
For him, civic participation is not about political calculation.
It is about principle.
Voting, he said, is not simply choosing a candidate.
It is choosing what kind of society we want future generations to inherit.
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Toward the end of our conversation, I asked him what advice he would give young Chinese Americans who want to serve their communities.
His answer surprised me.
“Don’t be afraid.”
Then he paused.
And added quietly,
“I’m afraid too.”
He spoke candidly about receiving threats and being labeled in various ways because of his public positions.
Yet he said fear has never been a reason to stop doing what he believes is right.
“If this can happen to someone else today,” he said,
“it could happen to you tomorrow.”
“If someone has to carry that burden, then let it be me.”
Those words revealed something far beyond politics.
They revealed leadership.
Real leadership is not the absence of fear.
It is choosing responsibility despite fear.
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As I left the interview, I kept thinking about one question.
What does it mean to truly belong?
For Gene Wu, the answer is not simply about legal status.
It is about participation.
Learning how government works.
Understanding our constitutional rights.
Voting.
Speaking up.
Encouraging the next generation to lead.
Because a successful community is measured not only by its entrepreneurs, scientists, physicians, or engineers.
It is also measured by how many people are willing to step forward when their community needs them.
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Gene Wu hopes Chinese Americans become more engaged—not because he wants more conflict, but because he believes participation is essential to preserving equal rights and ensuring future generations feel they belong.
His interview left me with one lasting thought.
Rights are never protected by silence alone.
Every generation needs people willing to stand up.
And perhaps that is the real message behind Gene Wu’s words.
Not fear.
Not anger.
But responsibility.
Because history is shaped not only by those who hold power—
but also by those who choose not to remain silent.
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Ding Ding TV