Maybe I haven’t liked this color because “it’s not a flattering color for my Asian skin.” and well, it is associated with jaundice, being cowardly, the uneasiness of caution, and the “Yellow Peril.” FTS. Still, yellow also symbolizes happiness, the sun, and the third chakra of power. I’m going to rewrite my personal relationship narrative to YELLOW and see more of the latter.
I just finished watching season 2 of Cinemax: Warrior. It is totally full of swagger and Asian anti-hero bad-assery. I LOVE it. #brucelee #ah-toy. If you don’t know about the Chinese in San Francisco in the late 1800’s, read up: PBS American Experience: Chinese Exclusion Act. Turns out, this week in 1882, also marks the signing of this law into history, “that made it illegal for Chinese workers to come to America and for Chinese nationals already here ever to become U.S. citizens. The first in a long line of acts targeting the Chinese for exclusion, it remained in force for more than 60 years.”
Damn. That is a long time. As I watched the dramatized version of history, and compared the story to the last few months, it seemed like that animosity has not really changed in more than 100 years. Perhaps you’ve seen the reports of recent anti-AAPI hate crimes increase in the US. While the players and the reasons are different, the feelings of fear, anger, and hatred are still a threat to people just walking down the street or waiting for a bus. WTF.
If you are feeling even a bit of discomfort around this, imagine what it might be like to feel fear to just step outside or make a public post. You can download my recent print to create a discussion about this. I’m gonna say, “I can’t be yellow about being yellow.” Or, maybe check in on your Asian friends and neighbors. There’s a lot of fear and hostility out there, but I ask you to find it within yourself and others to reach out beyond a performative gesture, and #standwithasians.
