History. 🕰📰
Learning about our heritage and our Asian American history lately has made me reflect on the sacrifice and hardships it took for my family to be here in the United States of America. 🇺🇸
So much rich family history is imbedded in the story of how my paternal Grandma and Grandpa and my Mom and Dad got to the States, and how they came here for better opportunities and landed in the restaurant business. Their restaurants became our second home. 🍽
I didn’t grow up knowing much about Asian American history — only remembering the USA part of History.
Until now.
David and I recently watched PBS’s Asian American documentary and were so moved. It is so well done, and too good not to share. It has helped me learn more about my story, it’s beauty and equally its struggles. ☺️
“Asian Americans is a five-hour film series that delivers a bold, fresh perspective on a history that matters today, more than ever. As America becomes more diverse, and more divided while facing unimaginable challenges, how do we move forward together? Told through intimate personal stories, the series will cast a new lens on U.S. history and the ongoing role that Asian Americans have played in it.” – PBS AA website
“As much as tragedy is part of our heritage here, so is possibility.” – A woman in the AA documentary.
While watching, I found out that the year I was born the first hate crime prosecution happened, involving an Asian American. Vincent Chin’s case. My heart broke. 😔
The climate of xenophobia is now heightened with the COVID-19 outbreak. Asian Americans are now being attacked in hate crimes, victimized, assaulted, experiencing micro-aggressions, discriminated against all due to the COVID-19 outbreak. In the US, there have been over 1,700 attacks since mid-March till now. That is more than the whole 2019 year. 😢
While most Americans are staying home, trying to navigate virtual work and worrying about paying bills, Asian Americans are doing all of that while also fearing for our safety. Asian Americans should be able to do this without the fear of being bullied, harassed or assaulted. History has a way of re-surfacing itself, but we can CHOOSE whether to make a positive change and make a difference for the next generation. 💞
We don’t want to be associated with the Coronavirus, but somehow it has happened. Before, I knew that I could walk into the store, gas station, gym, etc. without worrying about what people are thinking, or living in fear. Now, before going out, I think “ok, what IF someone verbally attacks me? What IF they physically assault me? What IF, what IF…” 🙎🏻♀️
BUT, with all these “what IF’s,” I have to remember who I am in Christ, who HE has made me to be …. and rather ask, “How do I show Christ in these situations? What should I say to extend grace? Or not say to extend mercy?” 🤷🏻♀️
This can make one stressed and anxious even before going out, but instead I have to CHOOSE kindness, CHOOSE love, CHOOSE peace, CHOOSE Christ. ❤️👆🏼
Can we make this historical time be one that will shape history for the good? Can we be the game-changers? Can we show the next generation to rise up and make the change that needs to happen? Can we take this time as parents to help our children seek to understand and love others well when they go back out into the real world? How do we prepare them to be the most impactful citizens in their community?
How do we start? Where do we begin to learn?
Here are some resources for Asian American Heritage Month: 🎏🏮🎎
1. PBS Documentary Series on Asian American History: 📺
https://www.kcts9.org/show/asian-americans/schedule
2. United Against Hate: Asian American legislators and activists discuss what the rise in anti-Asian racism means to the community. 👥👥👥
3. Kids Guide to Asian American History (has different crafts and recipes to learn as well): 👦🏻👧🏻🖍🖌🎨🍽🥟
4. My uncle wrote a book, THEO, about accepting one another’s differences, which my 2nd graders love reading over and over. I am so proud of him! 🤗He’s been writing since I was a little girl and this is his dream come true. He’s a 5th grade teacher in the Bay Area. 👨🏻🏫
Here is his audio reading: https://youtu.be/yGb58dJtbKk
You can purchase here on Amazon: (makes a great gift)
Thanks for listening to me share. I hope and pray that we can all work together to make the world a better place one day — one voice, one heart at a time. Let’s try to be a little kinder to one another. ❤️
“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” – Ephesians 4:32 ESV
“That there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.” – 1 Corinthians 12:25-26 ESV
“for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” – 2 Timothy 1:7 ESV
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