. Posted by Sherrie Thai by Shaireproductions.com .
Fortune Cookie, Made in USA. It’s fascinating that this delicious snack was created in SF by Hagiwara (designer of the Japanese Tea Garden), inspired by the Shinto temple treats overseas. With the invention of the fortune cookie folding machine in Oakland by Asian-American and Berkeley grad, Shuck Yee, in 1973, this yummy treat was mass-marketed and now celebrated globally. Though it has been associated with Asian cultures, it’s purely an Asian-American invention, just like the interesting lamp decor of SF Chinatown.
. Posted by Sherrie Thai by Shaireproductions.com .
This Chinese Takeout container graphic was created to raise awareness about the increased overt racism faced by Asians during these Covid times. Anti-Asian rhetoric from ignorant leadership has created pandemic scapegoating, igniting additional violence, and xenophobia. In Chinatowns within the US, small business owners’ loss of income has sometimes amounted to 90% due to the racism with joblessness at 80% (according to NBC), displacing community members with no where to go, especially with economic and language barriers. For Asian-Americans, the fear and anxiety is three-fold — from obtaining the virus, being targeted and losing their livelihood.
The Model Minority myth created by politicians and media (since the 60s) have hurt the Asian community as social and economic services have passed over community members in poverty, voices are silenced/dismissed, while pitting races against each other. As in the 60s with the civil rights movement, history has taught us that speaking out for our rights is a fundamental need. Promoting multiracial solidarity while building strong dialog/relationships between all communities is important to combat the hate. It is an ongoing work-in-progress, but one which we need to constantly nurture.
While times are tough, please support local businesses and consider the people behind the counter, especially when craving that delicious noodle dish or boba 🙂
Additional resources:
@hateisavirus_ : https://hateisavirus.org/
@advancingjustice_aajc : https://www.advancingjustice-aajc.org/
@stopaapihate : https://stopaapihate.org/
. Posted by Sherrie Thai by Shaireproductions.com .
These “Unity” and “No Room for Racism” signs were created to support the ongoing fight against racism in all forms.
Free Printable File Downloads are available:
No Room for Racism: https://shaireproductions.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/NoRoomforRacism_Shaireproductions.jpg
Unity: https://shaireproductions.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Unity_Shaireproductions.jpg
LEGAL STUFF: These documents are strictly for educational and non-profit purposes only. These images, in its original form, altered or derivative, are not to be sold in any form, including print or digital format.
. Posted by Sherrie Thai by Shaireproductions.com .
Revisiting Bayon, Angkor Wat piece with an uplifting atmosphere, as a tribute to my grandfather, Lawrence, who recently passed at the ripe age of 100. He was a 2nd-generation Chinese born in Cambodia to a family of shipbuilders. In the 1970s, he escaped the Khmer Rouge genocide with nearly 20 other family members. After years in multiple refugee camps across Asia, a US military plane from Thailand brought them to the US. Lawrence then worked humbly as a janitor for the local Hotel Claremont. Following his retirement, Lawrence practiced and taught martial arts for 30 years, freely to anyone who had a desire to learn at the public parks by Lake Merritt Bart / Oakland Chinatown, eventually amassing 100 followers of different nationalities and was recognized by the city for his community service with a Citizen of the Year Award. Years later, when I told him that I was going to visit Cambodia, his eye glimmered with pride and excitement and I knew that his heart always remained there.
![Unity: https://shaireproductions.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Unity_Shaireproductions.jpg](https://shaireproductions.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Unity_Shaireproductions.jpg"){kind=link}
. Posted by Sherrie Thai by Shaireproductions.com .
Unity Hands Mandala was created to represent the journey and hopes of racial connectivity and solidarity. After the surfacing of the horrendous violence against Asian elders, a little positivity which arose are more awareness/ conversation of the Anti-Asian sentiment and a rise in community support.
Printable File Download is available on White Background:
AVAILABLE HERE: https://shaireproductions.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Unity_SiteDownload_Shaireproductions.jpg
LEGAL STUFF: This document is strictly for educational and non-profit purposes only. This document, in its original form, altered or derivative, are not to be sold in any form, including print or digital format. The copyrights are not transferable. Designed by Sherrie Thai of Shaireproductions.com.
. Posted by Sherrie Thai by Shaireproductions.com .
Wounded Dragons artwork was created from the sadness and pain of the Anti-Asian sentiment sweeping the US and worldwide. While racism against Asians in the US have long existed since the 1800s, the Covid epidemic has caused an alarming 1900% uptick in racist attacks, resulting in deaths and injuries, including the most vulnerable (recently, with the death of Vicha Ratanapakdee). Fueled by the ignorant rants of the previous administration which normalized overt racism and xenophobic fears, Asians are unfortunately viewed as the virus and scapegoats during Covid, even though the virus carries no ethnicity. My heart breaks everyday for the pain caused by such ignorance.
Racism sometimes starts out as seemingly “harmless” jokes and become internalized hatred, evolving into aggression and violence. According to @stopaapihate, 2/3rds of Asians in the US experience fear and anxiety from being targeted for attacks–I am one of them. Before Covid, I’ve experienced attacks in both physical and verbal forms, and have seen violence on my loved ones–blood streaming down their faces, bewildered at what happened to them. Now, during Covid, the threat is amplified. Historically, Asian-Americans have been a group of silent survivors, dealing with racism quietly; oftentimes, when it is reported, nothing is done by those in power and dismissed as a novel incident, but everything is at a tipping point and action is needed, not just from a political level, but a social one as well. The dismissiveness and silencing of Asian voices due to the perceived “model minority myth” is contributing to the perpetuation of hate. Solidarity is a community commitment.
For the art, I didn’t want to be too literal with people subjects but more symbolic with Eastern Dragons, exhibiting the emotion and pain.
What can be done:
-Be an Ally. Raise awareness, speak up and condemn the racism. When you see something happening, speak out and help.
-Educate yourself on what’s happening, the histories and why it’s happening.
-Have Interracial/cultural Dialog. We thrive when there’s common understanding.
-Get involved. There are great community organizations and movements.
Resources:
Stop AAPI Hate
Advancing Justice
Hate is a Virus
Act to Change
@stopaapihate @racismisavirus @apilegal @acttochange @aaja_alc @selfhelpelderly @chinatowncdc @caasanfrancisco @asianswithattitudes #endracism #standforasians #stopasianhate #hateisavirus #artactivism #activistart #peacefulprotest #stopracism #asianamerican
Interesting reads:
Upworthy
SF Chronicle
AirBnb
USA Today
Rolling Stone
. Posted by Sherrie Thai by Shaireproductions.com .
Cute cat ghosts sharing a loving moment.
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