A Take on Lunar New Year and Some Thoughts I had Photographing Chinatown

Words and Photos are by Siena Christopherson,

All photos are at the bottom in a gallery

The streets of Chinatown are covered in red torn up paper, in fact, by the time I get to my car my shoes have red mushy paper stuck on the bottom of them. I looked it up and red is thought to bring luck to those wearing it on Lunar New Year. Lunar New Year is celebrated by people from China, Korea, Vietnam and many other Eastern communities who follow this specific Calendar. This brought another question to my mind- why do we call it Chinese New Year if its celebrated by a whole bunch of different people? Is it because white people have a history of mixing up different communities of Asian people? Vietnam, China and Korea all have vastly different cultures, foods and even speak different languages. It’s not that hard to mix these people up. That is unless you are deeply uneducated.

While I walked down the packed streets I see families grocery shopping, and getting baked goods for the upcoming holiday. Moms pull up their child’s mask when they try to pull it off their small faces. I think back to times where Asian culture was famously appropriated. Remember when Katy Perry performed a song while dressed like a Geisha? I remember so many people thinking that it was okay and that she was just paying tribute to the culture. Another thought comes to mind. Is there a line between cultural appreciation and appropriation? What differentiates these two theories? When it is okay? When it is offensive? Why does it piss so many people off? Why is it beginning to piss me off.

I was raised by my parents and grandmother, my mom and grandmother having moved to the States when my mom was just 17. They were both born in Iran and left during the revolution in the 70s. I have had two vastly different interactions with white people. Some say to me, “Oh you’re Persian! That’s so cool.” like I am a new doll that a child can collect. I have also had people say to me, “Should you be saying the Pledge of Allegiance? Didn’t your people do 9/11?”. One of these reactions is deeply and outwardly offensive, the other is a micro-aggression. What is a micro-aggression? It is the subconscious racist things that happen that might not come off as racist. Like a white woman clutching her purse when a black person enters an elevator with her. Although that white woman isn’t saying the N-word, she is still acting on the stereotype that black people are inherently dangerous and thugs.

So back to that first reaction I was talking about, the “Oh you’re Persian! That’s so cool.” reaction. Why is this offensive? Not only is it belittling to an entire race of people, but it’s fetishizing a group of people. I know, another word to learn, can you keep up with all this racism and levels of prejudice?

There is a long history of white people having fetishizes for different cultures. Famously, the Asian community is a victim of this. In this Vox article, the author interviews an Asian scholar and talks about her experience of men fetishizing her for her race. She has had white men say things like, “Cure my yellow fever” or “I’ve never been with an Asian before”. Showing how white people can collect races like prizes or unique collectables. And remember that this is only ONE example. There are probably millions of examples just like this.

Why is this harmful. Well, I am sure you have heard of white people erasing BIPOC from history. Famously, when Europeans came to the new world they wiped out the entire Native American population. Hitler wiped out the Jewish population in Europe. Catholics spread Christianity throughout Africa, Haiti and Mexico and STILL TO THIS DAY spread misinformation about medical practices to push a white Christian agenda. (If you didn’t know Catholics gave bibles to combat the Aids crisis in Africa but that is another worm hole that I will not get into right now.) And although all these example are quite obviously wrong, it’s also important to know that Katy Perry can wipe off the Geisha make up and be white again. She doesn’t live in Asian skin, but Asian people cannot be un-Asian. So before having an opinion on cultural appropriation and siding for Katy Perry, you should know the baggage that comes along with doing that.

Someone out there needs to hear this: You are not helping anyone by adopting other cultural practices that do not align with your white ideology.

It seems to be a common trait in white people to believe they can fix others, especially minorities. But alas, there was nothing to be ‘fixed’ in the first place. I am Persian. And every time I go into an airport I get pulled aside to get patted down and bomb swabbed. If you think being Persian is cool and you want to celebrate my holidays and eat my food, remember that you can be white again. You don’t have to go to the airport and worry because your mom has an Iranian passport and name and she may be harassed for that. You get to be white everyday.

So how did my walk through Chinatown make me process all of these emotions about cultural appropriation? I do not know.

To answer that first question: Is there a line between cultural appreciation and appropriation? I don’t believe so. You can enjoy a cultures food, and appreciate a holiday from a distance. But, finding yourself adopting certain holidays, traditions, language etc. this is when it becomes harmful. Becoming and adopting different characteristics of a race is inherently racist and it will always be. To avoid appropriation it’s important to educate yourself properly, read as much as you can, talk to people that aren’t white about this, and be open to listen.