ethics @microsoft • prev @brownuniversity @google @statedept
In our political climate nowadays,
model minority stereotypes are dangerous. Asians are often generalized, but I wanted to build a monthly rotating restaurant experience to dismantle this. From refugees of the Vietnam war to Japanese- Americans immigrating post WWII, all these immigrant paths have their nuances that define our generation. By sharing stories of our unique immigrant journeys, I hope that generalizations will disappear. Or, in other words, “specificity is the killer of ignorance.” The courses of the meal follow the journey of these immigrants. I chose a restaurant to make learning approachable and because of how integral food is to Asian culture.
Arriving
For the first course of the meal, the appetizers tell the story of “arriving” into the United States. This particular example focuses on the Vietnamese-American journey from the boat people to the act passed by President Ford to assist refugees.
Establishing
Entrées tell the story of how immigrants “established” themselves once in the United States. This was the most interesting research I learned in this project; it is a common stereotype that Vietnamese-Americans own nail salons. But this stereotype is actually rooted in actress Tippi Hedren.
After visiting a Vietnamese refugee camp, she wanted the women to be self-sustaining and build businesses of their own. She taught the first class of Vietnamese cosmetologists, and this class of women sparked many generations to come — turning a stereotype into one rooted in female empowerment.