Many San Quentin residents may draw inspiration from role models to stay positive so to achieve their rehabilitation goals. What would help them find a sense of belonging? Celebration of one’s culture would go a long way.
During Asian-American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Month in May, San Quentin residents recognize and celebrate AAPI cultures, which would give their descendants a sense of inclusion.
In 1977, Congress recognized AAPI heritage as a week-long event, which was later extended to a month-long celebration in the 1990s.
Since then, Americans have honored and observed Asian actors, journalists, musicians, and activists as role models. San Quentin residents of the AAPI community talked about the inspiration they had drawn from such personalities and the ways in which they had contributed to their personal growth.
“In prison I had to flow with the prison setting, but I did not change my element,” resident Khiem Tran said.
Tran drew inspiration from actor Bruce Lee’s words, “If you are water you are water, if you are water in a pot you become one with the pot, meaning when you transfer yourself into the environment you can adapt and flow.” Tran said that after many years of incarceration, he accepted himself and stayed focused on everything that he could control, despite tough prison conditions and circumstances.
Resident Daniel Le said Oscar winning actor Michelle Yeoh inspired him to work hard, and allowed him to hope for an Oscar for best editor, a prospective first for a person of Vietnamese descent. He said he presently awaited admission into the audio-visual program run by The Last Mile.
Resident Ricky Kong said he enjoyed watching Jackie Chan movies as a child and from them drew inspiration to study karate. He said he learned the sport for self-defense and not for aggression. Chan’s phrase, “Find that peace within yourself,” resonated most with Kong.
Kong, who has been incarcerated for 14 years, said he used the quotation to live nonviolently. “I know I am the person in control of my peace,” Kong said. “Before, I thought everything around me affected me. Now I live life peacefully and in the moment, embracing life.”
San Quentin resident Kha Sok said Junior Seau, the football star of the former San Diego Chargers, had reached out to provide sports programs and alternatives to violence in his community. “I appreciated Junior Seau and his brother for reaching out to the troubled youth in our neighborhood,” Sok said.
San Quentin residents also found inspiration from writer Celeste Ng, actor Dwayne Johnson, and Emmy award winning CNN chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta
