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One of the first Korean American women elected to Congress paid tribute to her heritage during her swearing-in ceremony on Sunday.
Rep. Marilyn Strickland, D-Wash. – who became one of the first three Korean American women elected to Congress last year, as well as Washington’s first black representative – wore a traditional Korean hanbok when she was sworn in.
Strickland, who was born in South Korea, said that through her clothes, her goal was, in part, to pay tribute to her mother, Inmin Kim, as she stood on the “biggest stage that I know “.
“It’s something you wear for a very special occasion. It’s very traditional and historic,” Strickland said. “I wanted to honor my mom. And because of her age and Covid, she couldn’t travel here. I knew she would watch, so I wanted her to see me wearing this, to honor my story and to honor it. “
Strickland, who made history with Republicans Young Kim and Michelle Steel of California as the first Korean American women in the House, drew an emotional reaction from many Asian descendants on social media, who were moved. by his ostentatious display of pride in his heritage. .
Strickland, whose father, Willie Strickland, a black man who met his mother while stationed in Korea, grew up in Tacoma, Washington. She said that although she went through a complicated journey with her Asian identity – like so many other Asian Americans – she gained a deeper appreciation for her past as she got older, but it was her mother who made sure she never erased it. roots.
Strickland, who described Kim as “resilient” and “young at heart,” said her mother had been a particularly strong influence on her life. She said Kim grew up in Korea under Japanese occupation in the 1900s and was forced to learn Japanese in elementary school as Japan tried to impose its culture on the country.
“And then she married my father, an African-American soldier, and came to a country where she didn’t know anyone, didn’t speak the language,” Strickland said. “And through it all, she had to face prejudice, to be ‘thirsty’, because America has had this habit of treating people of color like ‘the other’, especially when your tongue and accent don’t. not match what they think is the American accent. “
She added, “I think her ability to stay focused and maintain a sense of humor and what she’s been through is very, very inspiring to me.”
Strickland said that in addition to honoring her mother, she wore the hanbok to send a message about the racial climate in the United States as incidents of hate targeted members of the Asian American community during the pandemic. In the space of five months last year, the Stop AAPI Hate Reporting Forum received 2,583 anti-Asian incident reports across the country. She said the stories of those who have been harassed or seen their property vandalized because of their Asian ancestry struck a chord with her.
“You know, we live in a place where bigotry and prejudice have just surfaced,” she said. “I just wanted to send a message that the United States House of Representatives is the home of the people, and that means everyone.”
Strickland is one of 20 Asian-American members of Congress, a record, but the group is still under-represented in politics. Given her historic place in government, she said she does not feel “pressure” to represent Asian Americans but rather a responsibility, and she recognized the diversity of communities she hopes to support.
“When you belong to a community, when that community is your base of support and you get the job done, I would say the pressure is a responsibility, and it’s a responsibility I take very willingly,” she says. “Part of my home base has people who are Samoan, who are Japanese Americans, Chinese Americans, Filipinos, I mean, you name it. And so I certainly wouldn’t call it pressure. I would call it an expectation of representation, because that’s what you’re supposed to do. “
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