This theme explored the impact of COVID-19 on various AAPI owned local businesses. To check out the photos with their respective SHOWeD method, scroll down below!
This photograph is important to me because before the pandemic, it was normal to go out to get a haircut or get your hair done. This is now considered a privilege as in order to get your hair done, both the hairdresser and client must be in close contact with one another in order to be able to get the hair done. Many members in the Vietnamese community are in the hair or nail salons industry and the pandemic has negatively impacted them as they have to find new ways to protect themselves and their customers while still continuing their business since the job requires them to be in close contact. In this photo, we can see that the chairs have been plastic wrapped and that the hairdressers themselves have created handmake plastic barriers that they can move around the stations. They have made their own barriers from plastic, hair clips, and moveable stands in order to create an extra source of protection.
– Ivy Duong
This photograph is meant to depict the somber reality of small businesses having to close due to COVID-19. I was able to relate to this experience as my family also owned a small business and because of COVID-19 circumstances, we had to not only close our restaurant, but we also had to sell our property because of the recent changes in economic security. As a result, being able to capture the story of another small business venture and its closing has been very important to me. This photograph offers the depiction of the rarity of South Asian food trucks. This South Asian food truck in particular had become very popular during pre-COVID circumstances, but business gradually decreased until the food truck was unable to stay open any longer for customer safety since it was considered a small gathering place, but also because of economic insecurity. Most restaurants that have able to stay open during the pandemic, mainly larger chains, are those that have economic means to make the necessary changes that are needed, such as delivery, so smaller businesses may not have that same ability to meet those requirements. Many small restaurants, especially those in AAPI communities, are often not well-known chains, so many opt to support bigger businesses, such as fast food locations or popular sit-down restaurants, instead. The photograph was taken at sunset, around dinner time, which was usually the time that the entire lot would be full and the “dinner rush” was very prominent any time we would drive by. It was evident that this food truck also encouraged a sense of community as many groups of friends and family would meet to support this small business, so it is rather disheartening that this business could not stay open from a communal sense as well. The general theme for this photograph was desertion, so in addition to the empty lot that was shown in the photograph, the photograph also shows that the truck had been parked behind wild growing bushes, suggesting that the truck now has not been in use for many months now.
– Soniya Manju
The Thai and Chinese restaurants that once were located in these commercial buildings were already going through a tough time staying afloat. However, after coming back to this area, it seems that COVID-19 took a big hit on these restaurants. As we discussed in our working groups, there is a sense of a loss of culture. Many Asian Americans find their identities through food. Therefore, the inability of these small business owners to share their passion and love for food seems like a loss to themselves but also the community. The way this photo was taken was meant to show the emptiness and almost an “edge of the world” feeling. You can see how the windows of the building are covered and how almost the entire complex is isolated. The colors in the photo as also relatively dull. It gives the dull feeling many individuals are experiencing during the pandemic.
– Cynthia Fok
Hanboks are traditional Korean clothing worn for birthdays, celebrations, and festivities. With America being a big melting pot of cultures, traditional clothing is one of the few ways the AAPI community can connect with their culture. Furthermore, traditional clothing was often worn for festive times and are related to the feeling of happiness. It is difficult to find shops selling hanboks in Orange County without having to travel far or even to Los Angles. In the photograph, we can see a newspaper clipping in the top left that featured her store showing how deeply connected she is with the community. Kwon alters the hanbok herself and handles everything in the store, making it a one-person show. The shop itself is a hole in the wall and can easily be overlooked as it nestles in between other larger shops.
– Ivy Duong
This photograph is important to me because this was the moment where I first saw the impacts of COVID-19 on AAPI businesses. Also, this place in particular is a very special place for me because it is where I first felt a connection to my cultural roots. I grew up in parts of the country where there were little to no asians and after landing in LAX, this is where my parents took us to eat our first meal in California. I was shocked at the signs written in my language, people who looked like me, and of course, my favorite part, all the food I saw only through a T.V screen was right in front of me. Having not visited LA since the pandemic started, I thought this would be the perfect place to take my photo and also grab a meal while I’m at it, but I was taken back by how much things have changed in just the last 3 months. This food court is one of the main gathering areas for the AAPI community in Koreatown, Los Angeles. You would always see lines of people at each of the food stands waiting to order. There was little to no seating available due to the amount of people everyday. This photograph was taken after the physical distancing guidelines on restaurants and indoor seating, and it depicts the emptiness and physical barriers that are preventing generations of people from congregating and/or having a meal in this space.
– Grace Choe