Today, the day before the Lunar New Year of the Rooster, I vacuumed the house to pick up all traces of bad luck in the past year. Tomorrow there will be no cleaning because I don’t want to run the risk of sweeping away whatever blessings I may receive.
When I was growing up in Boston in the 1950s, I was not fond of Chinese New Year. We had to get up early in the morning to eat a cold vegetarian meal that featured something like hair (I think it was seaweed!). With a spiral incense burning, the room would be filled with smoke. Afterward, I would go to school smelling like I’ve been in a Buddhist temple; prepared to be ridiculed by the other kids. I used to love baked barbecue pork buns but I would never take one to school. It was too foreign—a Skippy peanut butter and Welch’s grape jelly sandwich on Wonder Bread would do better. In those days, we wanted to blend in and never be noticed.
Being noticed meant the US passing Chinese Exclusion Acts in the 1850s and Japanese Americans imprisoned in concentration camps during WWII. Being noticed is Steve Harvey’s perception that Asian American men are not handsome enough. Becoming too noticed means being used as a token to diversify a group.
In the past week, presidential executive orders have been signed that threatened the security and livelihood of refugees and immigrants in America. Most of them are being targeted because of the color of their skin. I was informed one time that according to the National Council of Churches of Christ, American Baptists have resettled more refugees and immigrants than any other denominations. My home church, First Baptist, Boston did that for my parents after WWII. There are over 300 US cities that are officially sanctuary cities. There are 5000 ABC churches that have sacred spaces named, the sanctuary. It’s time for all people of faith to provide safe haven for the most endangered.
Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these (those who are hungry and thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick, the prisoner) who are members of my family, you did it to me” (Matthew 25:40).
For the sake of refugees and immigrants today, I don’t want to blend in anymore. As an Asian American, I stand in solidarity with those who are endangered from making their American Dream come true. In this New Year of the Rooster, we all need to cock-a-doodle-doo every morning to welcome each and everyone to this land we call our home.