In early 2020, my whole family was locked up at home.
It was the early days of the pandemic.
George Floyd had been murdered.
John Cho.Vivien Killilea/Getty Images
There was anti-Asian violence.
And it was really startling.
We were calling the children’s grandparents and discussing safety measures when they take their walks.
The cover of ‘Troublemaker,’ by John Cho.Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
I actually was in college at Berkeley during the riots.
I recall feeling a lot of helplessness and asking myself, “How is this happening?”
The police beatings had been caught on camera it was plain as day and yet the officers were acquitted.
It was such a sense of deflation.
It was such a sense of betrayal by the justice system.
There was no police presence.
It seemed like a bizarre failure on the part of law enforcement all around.
But my focus wasn’t just on social issues.
In our story, the relationships of love are visible and central.
As an immigrant, I thought things were supposed to get better from generation to generation.
But I’ve realized, no, kids do need some education on this.
They need an outlet to discuss this stuff.
And so we have to be sensitive, but also be responsible.
That is to say, be honest.
Kids are smart, and there’s too much going on for them not to have questions about it.
It’s the only way itdoesget better for the next generation.
