“We’ve always been a museum of conscience. We are seeking justice and equity in the American narrative.”
2020 is the Year of the Metal Rat on the Chinese zodiac calendar. Already this year, the Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) has faced a five-alarm fire, “Kung-flu” slurs, and intensified racism directed at Asian Americans, all against the backdrop of the Black Lives Matter movement. These triggers have catalyzed a renewed resolve for MOCA as it reflects on 40 years of conscience within its contribution to the American narrative.
Why are Asian-Americans perpetually viewed as perpetual foreigners? Where do people of Asian descent fall in America’s mosaic? What does true allyship look like? How do you tell the stories of a complex history when the American proclivity is to generalize, stereotype, and homogenize?
“This is not just about the past. This is about being a platform, and being a pillar, and being a force for helping ourselves and helping each other have a greater sense of justice and equity.”
In this talk, Nancy Yao Maasbach shares her thoughts on the sustainability of small but vital cultural institutions, and volatility on the road to conscience.