KAC Media is a nonprofit organization reaching out to the 1.5 and second generation Korean American community which is leaving the church in droves. They call this event the “The Silent Exodus.” They use the forum of media arts to reach this demographic. I found out about this group a couple of months ago and have gone to their website frequently. I’ve been pretty impressed by what I’ve seen so far.
Today is the 16th anniversary of Sa-I-Gu, the LA Riots – April 29, 1992. It’s sad that it is an event that has been forgotten by the national consciousness, in the same way Hurricane Katrina is a distant memory. The month of April is memorable for me because it is the day of my birthday. But my birthday is sandwiched between two events that I will always remember – (April 16th – the Virginia Tech shootings) & (April 29th – Sa-I-Gu – the LA Riots).
I remember being too young to realize the full gravity of the L.A. riots. I remember my parents and the Korean community being so distraught. The effects of the riots were felt throughout the Korean community all over the nation and even back to South Korea. I remember my father being so angry and I didn’t know why. As I’ve gotten older, I realize that my father was swallowing the bitter pill of the false promises of the American Dream.
I remember hearing about the death of Eddie Song Lee. He had heard about the riots on Korean language radio and drove down to Koreatown to help Koreans protect their businesses. But in the confusion of everything that was happening, Eddie Lee was accidentally killed by another Korean storekeeper. An 18 year old Korean American kid who was sacrificing his own dreams and spending most of his time helping his parents with their business had his life taken away so tragically and so unnecessarily.
I look back and remember the stupidity of both conservatives and liberals. Conservatives used the L.A. riots to reinforce Koreans as the model minority who did the right things and didn’t speak out against racism. Koreans were unfairly attacked by African Americans who were bogged down in the victim mentality of past racism. Conservatives also used Koreans as vindication for the Second Amendment as the media focused on Korean shopkeepers protecting their stores with shotguns. Ignorant conservatives were using the riots as a way to pit Koreans against African Americans to prove that affirmative action and government social programs were not needed and actually detrimental. Then there were the arrogant liberals who said the L.A. riots were a grassroots revolt against the system and that the Koreans were expendable collateral damage, especially since they were complicit in exploiting African Americans and Latinos. These latte liberals in academia, politics, and the media living comfortably in Westwood, Beverly Hills, and Santa Monica were silent and indifferent to the plight of Koreans from the riots. The whole event showed that both conservatives and liberals used Koreans as pawns in their cultural wars.
It is up to us not to forget what happened 16 years ago. The first generation have had social amnesia over Sa-I-Gu. It is up to the 1.5 and second generation to take the mantle of leadership and speak out about what has happened since Sa-I-Gu. So many promises were made by politicians to invest in South Central LA. These have never come to pass. It’s just easy for the nation to close its eyes and act like it never happened. But we need to open our eyes and deal with what happened 16 years ago and how far we still have to go today.
BEFORE us is the daunting responsibility to nominate the Democratic candidate for the president of the United States. Korean Americans are playing an unprecedented, deciding role in our nation’s future, but only if we vote.
We are well aware of the enormous challenges that the next president will face: worries about the economy, health care costs, foreign policy, the mortgage crisis and skyrocketing college expenses.
These challenges stress the need for us to take a close look at all the candidates and ask the question: Who will be the best president on day one in the White House? The answer is Hillary Clinton.
From the beginning of this race, Hillary Clinton has powerfully articulated her command and depth of understanding of issues facing Americans, outlining substantive solid solutions to our toughest problems and her experience in driving positive change.
On health care, Hillary made clear that her plan will provide quality, affordable coverage to every American. No exceptions. By capping premiums and lowering costs, she would make sure that 47 million Americans no longer fall through the cracks of our health care system.
On the economy, Hillary detailed her plan to address the housing crisis and help people stay in their homes. By imposing a 90-day moratorium on foreclosures and a freeze of at least five years on adjustable rate subprime mortgages, hundreds of thousands of Americans would have a chance to take on manageable loans and keep their homes.
On Iraq, Hillary talked about her plan to begin bringing our troops home within 60 days of taking office, and do it as quickly and safely as we possibly can.
If you want to know what kind of change Hillary would make in the White House, look at what she’s already accomplished.
From helping create the Children’s Health Insurance Program that now covers 6 million kids, to working across the aisle to extend health care benefits to our National Guardsmen and Reservists, Hillary has a record of delivering real results.
Hillary recently said, “Some people think you make change by demanding it. Some people think you make change by hoping for it. I think you make change by working really, really hard and bringing people together to create the change that we need.”
Hillary is that change. For more than 35 years as a mother, attorney, child rights advocate, First Lady and U.S. senator, she has unwaveringly stood by the side of the less fortunate, women and children, veterans and seniors, who would otherwise not have a voice and would not be heard.
It’s also important to remember Hillary’s longstanding commitment to and connection with our community. Hillary knows and appreciates the dynamic history and contributions of the Korean American and Pacific community and recognizes that we have played an integral part of our American story. Despite our achievements, you and I, our family members and friends, still confront issues like discrimination and language barriers, and still struggle to access affordable health care, senior and child care and a good public education.
As president, Hillary is committed to the needs and interests of the Korean American community. A vote for Hillary means she can continue to: fight against racial discrimination; reform our immigration system and prioritize reuniting families; make college affordable and accessible; provide universal health care; support small businesses; and engage our international partners, especially in Asia, to promote democracy and human rights in the world.
Now is the time to get beyond the rhetoric and talk of great change, and to recognize which candidate can deliver meaningful change to best ensure a better life for our families, communities, environment and world. Hillary is that candidate.
My parents taught me to beware of the “flash in the pan” and to chamma, which means to be vigilant and patient, as actions speak louder than words. Remember all that Hillary has done – and all that she will do – and cast your ballot. America and the world will be watching.
Carrie Hyun is a national co-chair of Korean Americans for Hillary. Hyun was the highest-ranking Korean American woman in the Clinton Administration when she was appointed deputy chief of staff for the U.S. Department of Transportation. She lives in Washington, D.C.
