Bubble Sisters
I have a similar impulse to collect racist garbage. I haven't got the
money to buy the most offensive stuff, but one of my friends has been
collecting the cheaper stuff. She calls it "chinkware." The biggest
artifact we use as an ashtray in her front porch.
I often go to antique shops and just mentally take note. Although I
haven't got the money to even rent and photograph the stuff right now,
I've found out that I can get the things on loan from some dealers to
photograph...it's a project for later. Anyway, quite possibly the most
hideous representation of Africans I have seen in Minnesota was
actually produced in Japan.
Which brings me to another point: I'm going back to Korea in about 8
weeks to write. And this time, I will bring my camera with me at all
times. Because Korea is filled with racist images of Africans,
African Americans, and American Indians. It is HIDEOUS. Of course,
these images are not native to Korea. They get it from: The U.S.!
And, it's very acceptable to Koreans; they have NO CLUE. (That
cluelessness about race in the U.S. is just part of the messed-up
equation of Koreans sending their kids to the United States.
Here is something for your collection from Korea: The Bubble
Sisters. I made a post about them nearly a year ago.
http://www.languageofblood.com/2004/05/what-we-dont-know-about-each-other.html.
If I were to write on the Bubble Sisters today, it would be much
different. I've grown a lot and learned a lot in the past year. I
hope you'll excuse my rather soft and confused approach to them on
that particular post.
And of course, you already noticed that I am railing against racist
images of Asian-adopted children by their adoptive parents...It is
very hard for parents to see, so insidious, and so hurtful for
children's identities. Gotta love those little coolie outfits!
David, I'd love to stay in touch with you. I am thinking about a lot
of hard stuff lately and would appreciate the company of a like mind
to try out ideas. I will not come back to the United States until I
have a very clear idea of how I can be of service to my country in a
very material, hands-on way -- such as the wonderful way you have
created.
By the way, my friend and I made a trip out to Detroit to sit at the feet of Grace Lee Boggs last summer. It was life-altering!!!!!!!!!!! Go Michigan!
Thank you David. I'll be sending your website address to all my friends.
Yours sincerely,
Jane Jeong Trenka
-- March 11, 2005
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