"I owe it to my family to help struggling businesses during this time"
Awkwafina is donating the profits from her music sales to help businesses in New York City’s Chinatown.
On Instagram, the rapper/actress revealed that she donated her music sales from last quarter to Black Lives Matter and pledged to do the same for Chinatown businesses.
Awkwafina AKA Nora Lum explained how her family struggled in the city, with memories of feeling unsafe.
“My great grandma was a seamstress on the lower east side and lived in this apartment on orchard st,” she wrote.
“She was the kind of Asian gma that only used her oven as a storage closet for toilet paper. At 6 i saw someone nodding out on heroin on her block, and asked my dad if he was sleeping.”
“I remember thinking it was weird that my dad felt unsafe there, while my great grandma traipsed around unphased by anything. She was strong.”
Awkwafina went on to say how New York began developing with “hipster invested bars”, Whole Foods and luxury hotels.
“New York is always changing, but never without a constant reminder of its history. My great grandpa opened a restaurant in the Bronx, then the first chinese-American restaurant in Flushing.”
Reflecting on the current Coronavirus pandemic, Awkwafina said it was painful to see how damaging the virus has been on the city.
“To see what the pandemic has done to my city, and especially it’s Chinatowns is devastating,” she said. “With a rising rate of xenophobic hate crimes, and an economic standstill leading to closures of legendary New York staples that I grew up with. I owe it to my family to help struggling businesses during this time.”
The 32-year-old then revealed that she will donate to businesses including Chinatown ones.
“After donating last quarters music sales to the efforts of BLM, I will be donating this quarters to the longevity fund and two other initiatives that aim to provide relief to small businesses across the boroughs. …History matters.”
“Times are hard right now. If you’re in a position to donate to our city, please look into @welcome.to.chinatown and the amazing work they’ve been doing to help these businesses. Also the #theycantburnusall movement helmed by @chinamac – please Add more in the comments!”
In other news, Asian Americans are speaking out after 164 Republican Congress members voted against a resolution that denounces Coronavirus racism.