Korean, Black, and Proud | Jacky Lee | Legacy Project New York

Jacky Lee was born in Incheon, South Korea, in 1957. She recounts her early childhood memories living in Korea with her mother and younger sister, recollecting in vivid detail specific moments spent with family while noting that many of those earliest memories are becoming harder and harder to remember. When Jacky was five years old, she and her younger sister were adopted by an American couple who were stationed in Japan while serving in the Air Force. Though living in Japan presented its own set of challenges—she had to learn a new language, for one—Jacky describes feeling a particular bond with her adoptive mother owing to their skin color, and overall recollects her time in Japan fondly. After the family’s period of service was over, they relocated to California where her parents started a church; it was in America that Jacky felt for the first time a conflict in identity, where she was bullied by the other children at church for her appearance. Resentful that her parents were unwilling to talk about her past in Korea and her biracial heritage, Jacky talks about the confusion and shame that accompanied questions she had for herself. In her thirties, however, while visiting a Korean beauty supply store, a worker recognized her as being Korean; for the first time in her life, she felt able to slowly reclaim bits of her Korean identity. In 2014 she visited Korea with a group of other biracial Koreans, where she rediscovered a love for the land of her birth mother. Jacky went back to Korea in 2017 to nurture this connection, and ever since she’s identified herself as Korean, Black, and proud.

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CREDITS
Interviewer: HJ Lee
Videographers: Kimberly Young Sun @kimberlyyoungsun
Production Manager: Kimberly Young Sun
Music Composer: Jang Hyeong Yoon
Executive Producer: HJ Lee

[localblackman]

Blasian in the 1950s korea is not for the weak. God bless this woman!

[sashasvengali]

Asian don’t raisin and black don’t crack. She got the good genes 💅 she’s gorgeous

[MelodyMiranda]

Something about Jacky reminds you of Sade. Not that they look alike but have a majestic-like presence.

[youquizquest]

As a Korean, I feel the Korean spirit in you.
I'm sure your mother must have loved you very much.
Back then, Korea was so poor and the environment was so hard for a mixed-race child to live in, that your mother must have sent you away in tears for her daughter's happiness.
I wish you nothing but happiness now that your pain is behind you.
I will remember your name for a long time.

[francinexoxo]

I’m from an older Blasian generation and I know and can feel your soul. I applaud you for being brave enough to share your story. I hate to make a lot of heartfelt comments because people misinterpret or hate on you for being honest. Knowing my Korean mom, I feel in my heart that your mom gave you up for adoption out of love and did not want you to suffer from discrimination and rascism. I’m glad you made peace with her.

[theninjacat]

Black dont crack. Miss Jackie is gorgeous. Black is beautiful. Glad she honors her Asian heritage too and cherishes memories

[Blessed_Sound]

When I saw her, I said “Wow”. She’s gorgeous ❤.

[TREx]

Black and Chinese here, grew up in the early 90s and late 2000s. My experience is just as identical as yours! You’re so beautiful and I’m glad you found peace to accept your identity! ❤

[eeyeeeyeoh]

Off-topic but Jacky Lee is 65? 😮 SIXTY-FIVE?!?!?! She'd make millions on social media with her skin routine, though it's probably mostly having DNA of the most anti-aging races in the world. 😂 She looks like a 30-year-old who put on a gray wig and wore "old" makeup to cosplay an elder, but *failed* because she still looks too young. 😂 She is BEAUTIFUL for any age, but 65?! Insane! Back to the topic, your perseverance is amazing. Thank you for sharing your story, of identity, acceptance, and connecting with your past. The part when you called your mom "Umma" brought me to tears. I wish you everything you desire. 🤍🖤❤💙🖤🤍

[tangomango]

Legit blown away she’s 65. She’s still beautiful

[hyperiondragon]

She should do 23 and me to find her cousins, nieces, and nephews in Korea. She’s gorgeous. Her story brought a tear to my eye. She handled what life brought her so beautifully.

[aj-ny]

She's a Beautiful woman inside & out❤

[firemal]

Her beauty bought me here, her incredible story is why I stayed ❤

[IZEROxCOOLI]

I know that I probably shouldn't be, but this story makes me so disappointed in us, all of us. I'm so glad that she found some measure of inner peace and acceptance.

[katyarnold-jisv]

You can feel the pain this woman had growing up as a mixed race black and korean child and not being accepted by either asians or black people. I pray that God almighty will heal her pain from growing up.

[foreverlovesophie]

She has a peaceful presence about her, despite her pain. She is absolutely beautiful inside and out ❤

[colemanjr]

This woman is gorgeous, inside and out.

[ms.payton]

I can listen to her talk all day; she has a beautiful speaking voice. She's beautiful over all ❤️

[derekdonnell]

SHE STILL COOKING!!! DAMN!!!! I'M 57 AND FEELING HER. DAMN!!!

[Pamela-zvln]

Any one reading, my uncle lost contact with his kids in Korea. He was in the army, ( Korean war) he died several weeks after he came back to USA, he was denied to to bring his wife. His name was Robert Lee or James Lee, from Alabama