Mom and Dad

Mom and Dad

by Robin Brownfield

Ceramic tiles

Methods: Draw image, glue tiles, grout

Inspiration: The theme is "Heritage." I thought it would be appropriate to do this now because anti-Asian hate is by no means a new thing. My mother was Filipina, and my father Jewish. Each of their families rejected them - hers because he was Jewish, his because she was a "Japanese War Bride." They married at a time when 30 states in the US had anti-miscegenation laws. When traveling, our family occasionally got turned away from hotels that had signs saying "No Jews," and/or "No Japs." We lived in California at a time when their marriage was not recognized. I am white, but I grew up experiencing racism as people targeted my mother and brother for harassment and assault.

About:

Featured in our July 2021 issue, "Heritage"