moms
i love asian moms.
i had one freak out on me yesterday and it wasn't even my own. it was my friend's mom freaking out with concern over her daughter and i was moved, even if she was taking it out on me. i wasn't offended, i understood and if anything, i respect her more. my asian mom also gets crazy sometimes and takes it out on people who don't deserve it. that used to embarass me. ok, it still does. but really, i understand now.
i remember watching fahrenheit 911 for the second time and taking special notice of the mothers in that film, especially in contrast with the men. the iraqi mother screaming in the street, surrounded by the bombed rubble of her home and slaughtered family, screaming out loud to God for justice... the other iraqi mother comforting her daughter while american soldiers conducted a night raid in their house, the mother assuring her crying daughter that they would not hurt her and that she would protect her.... and of course, lila lipscomb, the american mother who loses her son to the war in iraq and who cries in front of the white house for justice.
i performed a piece on saturday night at the howlin' wolf about my mom, my family, and my name at a college kickoff show sponsored by rock the vote. 400 college students from all over the city came out for the show, which featured a lineup of local musicians, poets, and politicians running for office trying to get out the youth vote. after my bit, two white girls came up to me and one started crying saying how moved they were. then a hapa korean male approached me to thank me and how much he related with it and his own mother. we exchanged info and agreed to get together sometime for soju and kalbi.
it was one of the better nights i've had in a while. it was the recharge i needed.
the battle continues.
i had one freak out on me yesterday and it wasn't even my own. it was my friend's mom freaking out with concern over her daughter and i was moved, even if she was taking it out on me. i wasn't offended, i understood and if anything, i respect her more. my asian mom also gets crazy sometimes and takes it out on people who don't deserve it. that used to embarass me. ok, it still does. but really, i understand now.
i remember watching fahrenheit 911 for the second time and taking special notice of the mothers in that film, especially in contrast with the men. the iraqi mother screaming in the street, surrounded by the bombed rubble of her home and slaughtered family, screaming out loud to God for justice... the other iraqi mother comforting her daughter while american soldiers conducted a night raid in their house, the mother assuring her crying daughter that they would not hurt her and that she would protect her.... and of course, lila lipscomb, the american mother who loses her son to the war in iraq and who cries in front of the white house for justice.
i performed a piece on saturday night at the howlin' wolf about my mom, my family, and my name at a college kickoff show sponsored by rock the vote. 400 college students from all over the city came out for the show, which featured a lineup of local musicians, poets, and politicians running for office trying to get out the youth vote. after my bit, two white girls came up to me and one started crying saying how moved they were. then a hapa korean male approached me to thank me and how much he related with it and his own mother. we exchanged info and agreed to get together sometime for soju and kalbi.
it was one of the better nights i've had in a while. it was the recharge i needed.
the battle continues.