This year, we continue to witness devastating levels of violence – both physical and nonphysical – against our communities of color. Not only our Asian community, but also our Black, Latinx, and so many of our marginalized communities. This film is an effort to overcome that violence, by exposing a common denominator fueling it: the myth of the “model minority”. The “model minority” was first coined in the 1960’s, at the intersection of the Civil Rights movement lead by Black activists, and the reintroduction of Japanese Americans after their forced internment during WWII. The concept of the “model minority” falsely positions the Asian community as successful, while undermining the Black community; effectively pitting the two against each other. Ultimately, it dismisses the oppression of both communities, and frees systems in power from responsibility. Since then, it has grown to become a dangerous weapon used against all communities, and systematically used in such a way that stalls progress at pivotal moments in American history, including the 1992 LA Riots, and most recently, the Black Lives Matter movement. Today, as we hover at another precipice of change, we created this film in an effort to neutralize this weapon. So that it can no longer be used against us. Contrary to what the “model minority” myth would have us believe, we – those of us who were born here, immigrated here, found refuge here, or are just simply here in America – all belong here. Together.