What it is to be Korean...

This topic just stuck with me the other week after watching a youtube clip of the LA Riots on someone's facebook.  It was a video clip of two Korean men shooting their guns, trying to protect their store.  During this time, I was living in South Central at the age of 7.  I remember I was watching the news eating M&M's covered with peanut butter. 

I'm proud to be Korean.  Those people did everything to protect their stores because the cops weren't helping and it took sweat, tears & blood to get to where they were and they weren't going to give it up that easy.  They courageously guarded their stores armed with guns and were determined to do anything if needed.  That's balls man and that's pride.  People volunteered to help as security guards for the sake of protecting their own.  At tough times community became community.

I can imagine our Korean parents and relatives who came here with a couple of hundred dollars trying to make something of their lives by doing what they had to do.  Worked jobs left and right, knowing no English, trying to survive in American culture while missing the motherland.  Can you imagine you moving to a different country with a couple of hundred dollars not knowing their language and trying to survive?  I have respect for that.  Koreans are rising up.  Look at how many Korean businesses are out here now.  In Downtown LA fashion district alone, majority are Korean owners.  That means we must be doing something right.  We don't settle for less.  We strive for more because we know we can do it.  We're survivors.  Not only that.  Our culture is rich and our food is bomb.  Not to mention our dramas are awesome.

I know I haven't even touched base on what it truly is to be Korean, but I'm proud regardless.  I remember arriving in America at the age 4 not knowing a speck of English.  Now English is my primary language and I know nothing, but this country.  I remember when I was younger, my aunt would tell me..."Do you think you're American?  Do you have blonde hair and blue eyes?"  or "You're Korean! Korean people need to know how to speak Korean."  I remember arguing back and forth, but now I see.  I live in America, but I'm Korean.  You can say Korean American.  It doesn't matter to me.  If someone asks you what nationality you are, people don't respond that they're Korean American.  As for the Koreans should know how to speak Korean part, I find this so important.  Too many of us who lived our whole lives our majority here barely know how to speak Korean and this is a big issue.  Later on when you have kids, will your kids know how to speak their own native tongue and how much of the Korean culture will they inherit?  Time to learn and time to improve our Korean foreals.  Let's learn more about our roots and who we are....

I'll leave you with some pictures from '92 LA Riots and a youtube clip.