Asylum, Right of--United States
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2018.034.010 Oral History Interview with Zehao Zhou

This oral history focuses on the Chinese American academic Zehao Zhou, as he reflects on how he came to be a translator for the People of the Golden Vision, the challenges of this advocacy work, and how his relationship with the Golden Venture detainees in York County Prison developed. He reminds us of the full humanity of the detainees and gives insight to life in the prison and how the paper folding projects came about. He reflects on the idea of paying forward good deeds and the importance of recognizing the full humanity of everyone, rather than seeing them through the lens of stereotypes. He hopes that visitors to MOCA FOLD exhibit will be able to see the full humanity and diversity of the Golden Venture refugees, their supporters, the People of the Golden Vision, and even the politicians who supported their cause. He hopes that the exhibit will inspire visitors to pay it forward in their own way. He also reflects on the impact that the activism of the Golden Vision has had on his daughter, her generation, and the residents of York, which is still a very conservative place. Daughter of Zehao Zhou, growing up amidst the advocacy of the Golden Vision, has come to the conclusion that being an American is a privilege, but the nation state is also full of discrimination and injustice. These two narratives are not contradictory.