Corky Lee was a Chinese American photographer, journalist, and activist who dedicated his life to documenting and honoring Asian American life and contributions. His photographs captured the diversity and nuance of Asia Pacific American communities that were often ignored or misrepresented in mainstream media; his camera became his tool to fight for justice and representation of this population; many consider him unofficial Asian American Photographer Laureate. We will look back at Corky’s life and work, documenting Asian American history.

Early Life and Inspiration

Corky Lee was born September 5, 1947 in Queens, New York City to Chinese immigrant parents who owned a laundry business. He attended Jamaica High School and Queens College for American history studies before teaching himself photography with borrowed cameras from friends and relatives; due to financial restraints he could not purchase his own.

Lee was inspired to become a photographer after viewing a social studies textbook during school years. This particular photo depicted the completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1869 – constructed by thousands of Chinese laborers but depicted only depicting white workers; Lee felt this injustice was misrepresented history and resolved to correct it, saying “I have spent 40 years trying to change that one picture”.

Photographic Work and Activism

Lee began his photographic career in the late 1960s, documenting events and issues surrounding Asian American life in New York City and beyond. His images included protests, rallies, parades, festivals, cultural performances and everyday scenes of life among the Asian American population. Lee traveled both domestically and abroad in order to document stories and struggles of Asian Americans from diverse contexts and settings.

Lee’s work was both artistic and political and social. His goal was to challenge stereotypes and prejudices faced by Asian Americans, and showcase their achievements and contributions to American society. Additionally, his goal was to capture the diversity and complexity of the Asian American identity which encompasses multiple ethnicities, cultures, languages and histories – in his words “each time I take out my camera it’s like drawing out a sword to combat indifference, injustice and discrimination; I strive to dispel stereotypes.”

Lee’s work had an immeasurable effect on the Asian American movement that emerged in the 1960s and 70s in response to racism, discrimination, and exclusion. Lee’s photographs helped raise awareness and mobilize support for various causes and campaigns such as anti-Vietnam War sentiments, Chinatown garment workers’ strikes, Peter Yew police brutality case, Vincent Chin murder trial case, Japanese American Redress Movement etc. Additionally they preserved and celebrated Asian heritage and culture such as Chinese New Year celebrations at internment camps or celebrations such as Chinese New Year or Golden Spike ceremonies etc.

Legacy and Recognition

Lee was widely published and exhibited, both within mainstream and ethnic media outlets and venues. He worked for publications like the New York Post, Village Voice, Time Newsweek Associated Press Getty Images as well as books such as Asian Americans: An Encyclopedia of Social, Cultural Economic Political History Who Killed Vincent Chin?, Chinese American Exclusion/Inclusion to name just a few.

Lee received many honors and awards for his work, such as the Asian American Journalists Association Lifetime Achievement Award, New York Press Association Photographer of the Year Award and Organization of Chinese Americans Pioneer Award. On May 5, 1988 – as recognition for his service and contributions to New York’s communities – May 5 was officially dubbed Corky Lee Day by New York City Council.

Corky Lee died due to complications associated with COVID-19 at age 73 on January 27, 2021 and was mourned and celebrated by family, friends, colleagues, and admirers as a legend and hero who inspired many photographers around the world. A tribute exhibition dedicated to his memory entitled Photographic Justice: A Tribute to Corky Lee displayed his photographs alongside those taken by other photographers who were inspired by him.

Conclusion

Corky Lee was an Asian American historian whose photography captured its history through its lens. He celebrated and documented Asian American experiences and contributions while advocating for their justice and representation. Corky’s photography also helped shape Asian identity, culture and movement with its vision and voice; making Corky an unofficial Asian American Photographer Laureate who helped make Asian American history part of American history.

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Olivia Dunne is not only an exceptional gymnast but also a social media influencer and trailblazer in women’s sports. At just 20 years old, this LSU star made history when she became the highest-paid female college athlete thanks to the new Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) policy that allows student-athletes to earn money through endorsement deals.

Gymnast and Social Media Influencer

Dunne began her gymnastics journey at three and soon proved her potential, quickly becoming one of the youngest USA International Elite gymnasts at eleven years old and earning gold with the USA Junior National Team in 2017. At Louisiana State University she is an All-American gymnast cherished by fans – she earned full scholarships to attend each semester as an All-American gymnast!

But Dunne has become more than just a gym superstar; she has also amassed a significant following online, especially on TikTok and Instagram where she posts videos of her flips, routines, and lifestyle – currently boasting 7.2 million followers on TikTok and another 3.7 million on Instagram – making her one of the most beloved NCAA athletes online.

Women’s Sports A Game-Chaser

Dunne’s fame and influence drew the interest of many brands looking to tap into her fan base and partner with her, but until July 2021 NCAA rules prohibited student-athletes from accepting sponsorship deals or monetising their name, image or likeness in any way.

At that point, however, things changed with the implementation of NCAA’s New Incentivized Learning (NIL) Policy which gave student-athletes freedom to sign marketing contracts and make income from their personal brands. Dunne was among those to take full advantage of this opportunity and became one of the highest-paid NCAA female athletes with an estimated valuation of around 3.5 Million each year.

Dunne has entered into partnerships with various brands such as Vuori, Gopuff and Raising Cane’s. She made history when she appeared in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue as the first active NCAA gymnast ever! Additionally, she revealed she made over half a million dollars through paid promotions on social media alone!

Dunne is grateful to have been given this opportunity, but hopes to use her success to motivate and uphold other female athletes, who often face less opportunities and lower pay than male counterparts. She strives to see greater gender equity within women’s sports, showing young girls they too can pursue their goals and reach for their dreams.

“My dream for NIL would be that it can generate significant profits,” Dunne stated on a recent podcast. “When I began growing my social media, this rule wasn’t something I knew would change; rather I started expanding it because it’s what I like doing since being 10 years old.

“Opportunities should be equal for men and women in NCAA sports,” she stated in another interview. “I can pave the way and be an inspiration to young girls that look up to me.”

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Student debt can be an immense source of distress for millions of Americans, particularly lower and middle income borrowers who struggle to repay their loans and reach financial stability. According to the Federal Reserve, outstanding student loan debt totaled an astounding $1.73 trillion as of June 2022 affecting roughly 45 million borrowers nationwide.

President Joe Biden recently announced a plan to provide relief to student loan borrowers by canceling up to $10,000 of federal student loan debt per person or up to $20,000 for recipients of Pell Grants awarded to low-income students. His proposal also calls for postponing student loan payments and interest until January 2023 in order to allow time for them to recover from the economic effects of COVID-19 pandemic.

Biden’s student debt relief plan will not only bring much-needed relief to millions of Americans but is also an incredibly savvy economic move that will strengthen both the economy and middle class over time. Here are some benefits associated with his plan:

Increased disposable income and consumer spending.

Student debt relief will have one of the most immediate effects: it will increase borrowers’ disposable income and consumer spending, especially those with lower incomes and greater debt burdens. According to research conducted by Roosevelt Institute, canceling $10,000 of student debt per borrower would result in an average increase of annual income by $1800 to $2800 and consumption increases of between $108 billion and $151 billion over 10 years.

Income and spending increases would stimulate the economy, creating new jobs in sectors most affected by pandemic such as retail, hospitality and entertainment. According to one study, canceling $10,000 of student debt per borrower could create up to 1.5 million new jobs over 10 years and lower unemployment by 0.22 to 0.36 percentage points.

Improve Credit Scores and Access to Loans

Student debt relief also can improve credit scores and access to credit of borrowers who have delinquent or defaulted loans, according to the Department of Education’s estimates of 18% federal student loan borrowers in default as of September 2022 – having failed to make payments in over 270 days and incurring serious consequences such as damaging one’s credit score, garnisheeing wages or seizing tax refunds.

By canceling some or all of their debt, Biden’s plan would enable these borrowers to restore their credit standing and avoid penalties, giving them access to mortgages, car loans and credit cards with lower interest rates and better terms – helping them build wealth while meeting financial goals such as buying a home, starting a business or saving for retirement.

Reducing Racial and Gender Inequality

Student debt relief also serves to diminish racial and gender inequities, since student loan debt disproportionately impacts people of color and women. According to the Center for American Progress, black and Latino borrowers on average owe more on average than white borrowers and are more likely to default. Black borrowers also face greater wealth gaps as their families often lack sufficient assets and income support their education and loan repayment needs.

According to the American Association of University Women, women account for almost two-thirds of student debt and tend to take longer repaying it than men. Furthermore, they face a larger gender pay gap as women typically earn less for equal work done and are more likely to work low wage part time jobs than their male counterparts.

Biden’s plan would help these borrowers reduce their debt load and close wealth and income gaps while having positive ripple effects throughout their families and communities. More resources would then be available for education, health care, and social services investments.

Conclusion

Biden’s student debt relief plan is an innovative and far-reaching effort that will bring relief to millions of Americans, especially those most in need and most deserving. Not only will the plan ease financial strain for borrowers, but it will also boost the economy, middle class, reduce racial disparity, gender discrimination and racial and gender inequality – ultimately benefitting both borrowers and society – creating a fairer, prosperous future for everyone involved.

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