Hello, good readers of this blog. Here's what's up. Once again, it's time to meet the Angry Reader of the Week, spotlighting you, the very special readers of this website. Over the years, I've been able to connect with a lot of cool folks, and this is a way of showing some appreciation and attention to the people who help make this blog what it is. This week's Angry Reader is Jezzika Chung.
Who are you?
For most of my life, I've been running away from myself. I'd hide my culture, my background, anything that gave away the parts of me that made me different. I'd even hide my middle name because it sounded so "foreign," instead of embracing that it means "wisdom" in Korean. So today, I'd say I'm someone who isn't running away from who I am.
But you can call me Jezz.
What are you?
Like many creatives, I'm a hybrid, multidimensional human being.
I'm a dancer, a lover, an extreme appreciator of Korean food, a closet poet, a seeker of enlightenment, an avid Instagram Story-teller (@jezzbereal), a vintage clothing transformer, a frequent host to anxiety, an advocate for marginalized voices, a clementine addict, an occasional romantic, a student of new experiences, a future CEO.
Where are you?
Sitting on a bed answering these questions, fighting a midnight urge to find a chocolate chip cookie because I'm learning to exercise this thing called self control.
Where are you from?
Georgia birthed me. Texas bred me. My uber-religious Korean immigrant artist mother raised me.
What do you do?
I'm currently a copywriter at an advertising agency called Media Arts Lab. For anyone unfamiliar with the world of advertising, copywriters concept ideas and think of the words behind an ad. I've spent the past four years working on global and national TV, print, outdoor, and digital advertising across all Apple products.
I realize I'm a heavy contributor to the perils of capitalism, but I like to see it as a strategic form of art. And a lot of why I do what I do lies in a desire to change the images that go out into the world to be more diverse and inclusive.
I also publish my thoughts every once in a while as a Huffington Post contributor. Most of my opinions have to do with race, identity, and the political climate.
What are you all about?
People living their truth.
Also, anything with kimchi (kimchi chigae, kimchi fried rice, kimchi pajeon, kimchi fries, kimchi mandu, etc).
What makes you angry?
When people lack empathy.
When people have fragile egos.
When people don't understand the nuances of identity.
When people think there’s a "right" way of being someone.
When people belittle others to feel better about themselves.
When people encourage toxic behavior towards people of color, women, the LGBTQIA community, and people with disabilities.
I'm angry when people eat my food without asking me.
I'm angry when people dismiss struggles with mental health as weakness or delusion.
I'm angry when people are intimidated by women with strong voices.
I'm angry at the ideals of white supremacy that told my best friend in 3rd grade it was okay to tell me "I can't be friends with you anymore because you're 'Chinese'."
I'm angry at conventionally narrow beauty standards that made 11-year-old me think that staring into the sun to "lighten my eyes" was a good idea.
I'm angry about all this, but I'm also hopeful that we can do better.
