With the surge in hate crimes against Asian Americans, community leaders in the Seattle area found a way to get Asian American and Pacific Islander voices heard. They started a campaign, “Our Stories Are Your Stories,” in partnership with the Wing Luke Museum.
Organizers asked people to share videos on social media, talking about not just their struggles but also their triumphs as Asian Americans to inform and inspire.
Hollis Wong-Wear, artist and advocate: I hadn't really seen an Asian American person deliver their own narrative, their own history, their own perspective, in an artistic way. And it completely awakened me. I was like, 'Oh, I don't have to keep fitting into other people's stories and trying to, like, crane myself to be someone else.' Like I could actually be authentically myself. And that can be art. Like that was just a huge shift for me.
Dr. Vin Gupta, physician and scientist: Whenever I hear “China virus,” it angers me for all those it insults, brothers, sisters of mine or more overall, come from a larger shared diaspora. It's such a dangerous stereotype because people believe it. And especially in this era, we're looking to scapegoat others.
Yuji Okumoto, actor, filmmaker and restaurant owner: But I think it was a life lesson for me because my mom taught me about standing up for yourself and speaking up for yourself. And don't be afraid of these, these particular roadblocks or obstacles.
Their stories, along with many others, can be found at instagram.com/ourstoriesareyourstories and will be cataloged in the Wing Luke Museum.
Reporter Julia Furukawa also spoke with former Washington Gov. Gary Locke about his experience. You can read and listen to that here.
