Saturday, January 10
4-6 pm
FREE
Part memoir, part history, part investigation, Chinese Couplets spans two centuries, three countries and four generations of women. This intimate story reveals the impact of America’s Chinese Exclusion Acts on filmmaker Felicia Lowe’s family. Lowe offers a nuanced, engaging approach to the debate that details the multi-generational effects of ethnically motivated immigration policies while imparting a cautionary tale of living with cultural pluralism in the 21st century.
After the screening, Lowe will moderate a discussion on inheritance and identity. Panelists will include Alana Lowe, whose discovery and talks with her grandmother inspired the making of the film, Grant Din, historical researcher and genealogist, and Sandy Jiang, 1.5 generation immigrant and community worker. Popcorn and light refreshments will be served.
This event is co-presented by the Angel Island Immigration Station, the Center for Asian American Media (CAAM), and Chinese for Affirmative Action.
ABOUT THE PANELISTS
Felicia Lowe
Felicia Lowe is an award-winning media producer, director and writer with 50 years of production experience. Her documentaries Chinese Couplets, Carved in Silence, Chinatown and China: Land of My Father reveal the unique experiences of Chinese in America while underscoring our common humanity. All have been broadcast on PBS, used in classrooms across the country, and also have been made available for streaming on Kanopy. A past board president of the Angel Island Immigration Foundation and descendant of Angel Island detainees, she is gratified to have played a role in the preservation and restoration of this important National Historic Landmark.
Sandy Jiang
As a first-generation immigrant, Sandy Jiang’s own journey has inspired her passion for storytelling, community engagement and empowerment. She has dedicated more than 15 years to community service and has spent the past six years working as a community organizer supporting immigrant and Asian American communities. Her work centers on community empowerment, civic engagement, and uplifting immigrant voices.
Grant Din
Grant Din has conducted genealogical research for over 35 years. He consults on genealogical and historical research projects and has co-curated a permanent exhibit about Japanese immigrants who were detained on Angel Island as “enemy aliens” during World War II. Grant’s interest in genealogy started when a cousin showed him a family tree showing that he is in the 36th generation of the Gong family (he’s also a 24th generation Owyang).
Alana Lowe
Alana Lowe developed a deep appreciation for oral history while attaining her B.A. in Race & Ethnicity in American Culture from the University of Michigan. Her recorded interviews with her grandmother were later incorporated into Chinese Couplets. For 20+ years, Alana has worked in media production and has offered an oral history workshop to guide friends and community members through the process of preparing for and conducting their own interviews.
