Thread by @AndyKimNJ

I cried twice this week. Once when young woman told me “Mom was my sanctuary.” Her mom was among 8 killed in Atlanta. I cried again when I saw video of Filipino mom kicked in face in NYC. Amidst tragedy, let’s pay tribute to AAPI moms who give us strength (THREAD) #StopAsianHate

GRIT: I visited ATL this week to talk with children of victims. They all said their moms were hardworking. Long hours, careful spending to save for family/retirement. One said through tears, “She worked so hard to have it end that way.” Another said “She’s finally resting.” 2/11

ENDURANCE:Their powerful reflections hit me hard. When I was young, my mom worked night shift as hospital nurse so she could take care of sister and me during daytime. I asked her once when she had time to sleep. She said simply, “I don’t know.” Moms have superhuman strength.3/11

CARE: My mom told me about racist patients at the hospital who would yell hurtful words at her like “Go back to where you’re from!” Despite their hate, she would care for them. Bathe them, feed them, give them medicine, watch over them as they recovered. 4/11

RESILIENCE: Daughter of woman attacked in NYC said mom has “always been a resilient role model.” She described the moment she heard her mom was brutally assaulted. She said she is hoping her mother makes full recovery. To support you can chip in here.5/11 gofund.me/b385ce1c

EMPATHY: One AAPI elderly woman attacked a few weeks ago said she worried about well-being of her attacker who she thought might have mental health issues. Even as her face was badly injured she thought of the troubles of others, including the man who inflicted pain upon her.6/11

PROVIDER: Every time my mom comes over she has a large cooler full of food even when I tell her I don’t need anything. Fruits kimchi marinated KoreanBBQ. I thought about this when I saw this sign at shooting site saying one of victims, Hyun Jung Grant, made best kimchi stew. 7/11

DEDICATION: Hyun Jung Grant was single mom survived by two boys who said she “dedicated her whole life to providing” and was the “strongest influence on who we are today.” They buried her where she can “rest basking in a constant warmth of daylight.”8/11 gofundme.com/f/in-memory-of…

COURAGE: My mom told me funny story from when she moved to America. She grew up on a tiny farm in Korea and then found herself staring at NYC skyline. She worried about island sinking from sheer weight of big buildings. That sweet story shows how big of a change she endured. 9/11

DRIVE: I actually cannot fathom what it was like for my mom to leave Korea 50 yrs ago for a continent where she knew not one soul. To go from remote farm to biggest of cities. She said she wanted to come because she dreamed of America. It represented something beautiful. 10/11

ATL murder and NYC attacker targeted AAPI moms thinking they were vulnerable & weak. What they didn’t know is that AAPI moms are the strongest among us. And our moms raised a generation of tough AAPI children to stand up for our families. That is exactly what we are doing.(END)