Woodcut reductive relief, 2021.
My print talks about the experiences I had during my childhood as a Korean American in an all-white community. I have a very distinct memory from kindergarten: grandparents day. Being half-white and half-Korean, I was devastated when my parents told me that my white grandparents would not be able to come. Instead, my Korean grandparents would. I was so embarrassed and terrified that the white children would judge my family. Racism was very prevalent in my childhood, and I knew that there would be comments on how my immigrant grandparents spoke little to no English. They weren’t the typical white grandparents we see in the children’s stories baking cupcakes and sewing, they were Korean.
Being a Korean in white America was traumatizing for me as a kid. Thankfully I have learned to accept this, but I can’t help but feel consumed by guilt for my beliefs. As I have grown older, I learned that this isn’t the right way to think. Unfortunately, my grandparents are gone, so I feel my appreciation for them was discovered too late.
Being a Korean in white America was traumatizing for me as a kid. Thankfully I have learned to accept this, but I can’t help but feel consumed by guilt for my beliefs. As I have grown older, I learned that this isn’t the right way to think. Unfortunately, my grandparents are gone, so I feel my appreciation for them was discovered too late.
