Performer in a Headdress

Performer in a Headdress

Often in archival photographs, there are images where the person or event cannot be identified. While there are elements of the photos that are unidentifiable, there is still a lot of information that can be drawn from these sources. Two particular images from CAAAV’s archive are linked together by movement. There is a lot of imagery associated with the word "movement." In one sense, movement can discuss the physical movement of a person's body in space. However, movement can also be used to describe the larger organization of a group to make change. CAAAV has been utilizing “movement” in both senses since the creation of the organization. While these two ideas of movement may seem apart, the physicality of using the body to express oneself is central to CAAAV's history.

This first image showcases CAAAV’s continued celebration of the performing body and the celebration of solidarity within the communities of people of color.[1] An example of how central the performing arts is to CAAAV’s history is the “Our Roots Grow Deep,” 20th Anniversary Celebration, which took place on May 18, 2007.[2] This event brought performers together to fundraise for CAAAV, and the organization received donation pledges of over $25,000. Another fundraiser in CAAAV’s history was “The Rhythm is Ours!” fundraiser that celebrated drumming groups from across New York and the solidarity of people of color on June 16, 1995.[3] Celebrating the craft of movement through the performing arts is central to CAAAV’s history. However, utilizing movement in the form of protest has also been central to the organization's history.

Throughout CAAAV's history, its members have organized protests to better the Asian community and in solidarity with other communities of color. Some of the marching has been in protest against anti-Asian violence and police brutality. The marchers use movement as protest. An example of this type of movement was when CAAAV organized Chinatown residents to march for justice for the Wong and Woo families. These families were beaten and wrongfully arrested in their own homes by police officers from the 5th Precinct.[5] This protest of injustice uses physicality to take a stand against that injustice, which has also become a central tenet in the organization.

CAAAV’s history has showcased how movement has been used in two main ways in its history. Performing artists have been integral to fundraisers and the celebration of communities of people of color throughout CAAAV’s history. This celebration has been mixed with movement used as protest against injustice. While there are other ways that movement can be showcased in CAAAV's past, these two primary forms define CAAAV's history and archival record.

[1] "Performer in a Headdress," CAAAV Organizing Asian Communities Digital Archive, accessed March 17, 2021, http://maggie.hosting.nyu.edu/caaav/admin/items/show/971.

[2] “A Celebration of Roots and Community,” The CAAAV Voice 15, no. 2 (Fall 2007): 15.

[3] “The Rhythm is Ours,” The CAAAV Voice 7, no. 2 (Fall 1995): 8.

[4] “Protestors Marching for Asian Racial Justice and Against Police Brutality,” CAAAV Organizing Asian Communities Digital Archive, accessed March 17, 2021, http://maggie.hosting.nyu.edu/caaav/admin/items/show/953.

[5] CAAAV Organization History Timeline

Undated

Marissa Ajamian Grossman

This post was completed as coursework for HIST-GA 3901 Community Archives, taught by Maggie Schreiner, in the Archives and Public History MA program at New York University.

“Copyright is held by CAAAV Organizing Asian Communities.”

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