She Marches in Chinatown
- Description
- Reviews
- Citation
- Cataloging
- Transcript
In 1952, an unlikely group formed in Seattle’s Chinatown. A group of Asian American high school girls wanted to be of service to the community, and approached Ruby Chow, a Chinese American politician and civic activist whose husband was a Cantonese Opera singer who had experience working with elaborate classic Chinese costumes. Ruby was also friends with a Seattle Police officer named Ted Yerabek, who taught the girls American military drills. That’s how the Seattle Chinese Community Girls Drill Team was formed. For 70 years, they have performed at parades all around Washington state, inspiring generations. This history is shared by Ruby Chow and her daughter Cheryl Chow from footage filmed in 2002. Cheryl took over the drill team in the 80s at the peak of their popularity when the drill team had 100 members. The team is about to celebrate their 70th anniversary at a challenging time: in the wake of the pandemic participation has dropped to 30 members, but the spirit of the drill team lives on! SHE MARCHES IN CHINATOWN is an inspiring story about belonging, identity, sisterhood, leadership, and a community that has flourished among a diverse group of women with backgrounds that represent a variety of sexual orientations, races, and ages. It is about a group that thrives despite being in a neighborhood targeted by hate and discrimination. As one superfan puts it, “Please don’t go away – Seattle needs you!”
NBC News | Emi Tuyetnhi Tran
"Chinese female drill team in Seattle challenges image of an 'American girl' “What it is to be a good Chinese girl? What does it mean to be a good American girl? It’s really hard to figure out what that is when you’re growing up,” one member said."
King 5/Evening Magazine | Jim Dever
"A unique Seattle tradition has been lifting up young women for more than 70 years The Seattle Chinese Community Girls Drill Team marches on in this documentary."
Citation
Main credits
Chen, Della (film director)
Benson, Amy (film producer)
Other credits
Cinematography, Philip Townsend; editing, Dina Guttmann, Jason J. Chen; music, Daniel L.K. Caldwell.
Distributor subjects
Chinese American Women's Empowerment; Asian American History; Identity; LGBTQ+; Washington State History; Leadership; Chinatown; Belonging; CommunityKeywords
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(drums banging softly)
00:00:04.750 --> 00:00:07.120
- You hear accent, that means
you're just marching, okay?
00:00:07.120 --> 00:00:09.498
We're not just, you know,
walking or running, okay?
00:00:09.498 --> 00:00:12.165
(drums banging)
00:00:14.485 --> 00:00:17.200
(drums continue banging)
00:00:17.200 --> 00:00:18.760
Double counter by squads.
00:00:18.760 --> 00:00:20.560
I wanna see everybody accenting,
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shoulders back, arms swinging, right?
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(drums banging)
00:00:28.540 --> 00:00:32.230
When you turn them around, you
have to do the column right
00:00:32.230 --> 00:00:33.730
to get them to that wall.
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You don't wanna come down the center.
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Ready?
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(drums banging)
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All right, you guys.
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Do it!
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(drums banging)
00:00:45.850 --> 00:00:47.224
- Forward!
- Forward!
00:00:47.224 --> 00:00:49.150
(drums banging)
00:00:49.150 --> 00:00:52.402
- March!
(drums banging)
00:00:52.402 --> 00:00:54.160
- Two Half left and right.
- Two Half left and right.
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(drums banging)
00:00:56.860 --> 00:00:57.693
- March!
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(drums banging)
00:00:59.474 --> 00:01:01.323
Single file formation!
- Single file formation!
00:01:02.800 --> 00:01:03.633
- March!
00:01:03.633 --> 00:01:05.802
(drums banging)
00:01:05.802 --> 00:01:09.691
Form circle!
- Form circle!
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- [Drill Team Officer] Form circle!
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(drums banging)
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- Form squads!
- Form squads!
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(drums banging)
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- March!
(drums banging)
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Company!
- Company!
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- [Drill Team Member] Company!
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- Halt!
(drums stop banging)
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Gin Lai!
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(chill upbeat music)
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(chill upbeat music continues)
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(chill upbeat music continues)
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(chill upbeat music continues)
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(chill upbeat music stops)
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(calm ethereal music)
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(calm ethereal music continues)
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(calm ethereal music continues)
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(calm ethereal music continues)
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(no audio)
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(pan sizzling)
(drums banging)
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- Smells so good.
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Oh my God.
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- I'm right where the
steam is coming from.
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(teens chattering indistinctly)
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- Thank you.
- You're welcome.
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- You know, I don't really know.
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♪ Happy birthday to you ♪
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- Cha, cha, cha.
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♪ Happy birthday dear Celina ♪
- Woo!
00:03:23.627 --> 00:03:28.627
♪ Happy birthday to you ♪
- Cha, cha, cha, la, la, la
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(drill team members laughing)
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- This is my seventh year.
00:03:33.250 --> 00:03:37.513
I started Drill Team in
2016 and I'm currently 18.
00:03:38.620 --> 00:03:42.620
I practice this question
for college interviews.
00:03:43.595 --> 00:03:45.010
(drill team members speaking indistinctly)
00:03:45.010 --> 00:03:48.100
- I am 17 years old, and
I have been in drill team
00:03:48.100 --> 00:03:49.360
for seven years now.
00:03:49.360 --> 00:03:51.670
I got started in drill
team, my mom actually,
00:03:51.670 --> 00:03:54.220
we always went to the
Chinatown Torchlight parades,
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always see the drill team
marching by and my mom was like,
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"You're gonna be in that
drill team one day."
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So, here I am.
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(Colleen chanting rhythmically)
00:04:03.287 --> 00:04:05.590
- I'm sorry.
- It's gonna go really fast.
00:04:05.590 --> 00:04:07.990
You gotta go back to the.
(drum banging)
00:04:07.990 --> 00:04:09.310
Before I joined Drill Team
00:04:09.310 --> 00:04:11.410
I wouldn't self-identify as Chinese,
00:04:11.410 --> 00:04:14.680
besides my mom being like,
"Honey, you are Chinese."
00:04:14.680 --> 00:04:16.060
But it definitely took me a minute,
00:04:16.060 --> 00:04:19.453
and the drill team really helped
ground me in that identity.
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- It's a little pause.
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It's a little pause, so.
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(drum banging)
00:04:24.580 --> 00:04:27.100
This is a place where
girls who look like you
00:04:27.100 --> 00:04:30.640
get to know each other,
it feels like home.
00:04:30.640 --> 00:04:32.879
- Come on, they're fighting for the drum.
00:04:32.879 --> 00:04:33.778
- Ready?
00:04:33.778 --> 00:04:34.729
(drum bangs)
00:04:34.729 --> 00:04:38.020
(Drill team members laughing)
00:04:38.020 --> 00:04:39.310
- So, normally put your hand out.
00:04:39.310 --> 00:04:42.040
Is just so you know arms can't touch.
00:04:42.040 --> 00:04:43.090
- Yeah.
- So that should be
00:04:43.090 --> 00:04:44.050
the distance.
00:04:44.050 --> 00:04:44.883
Ladies.
00:04:44.883 --> 00:04:48.010
So, what's gonna happen is,
this is the reviewing stand.
00:04:48.010 --> 00:04:50.470
So Celina, whoever the
officers are, remember-
00:04:50.470 --> 00:04:52.870
- I always kinda, not grew up around it,
00:04:52.870 --> 00:04:57.250
but knew of it because
my mom was in drill team.
00:04:57.250 --> 00:04:59.560
So, like, I have memories
of, like, me and my dad
00:04:59.560 --> 00:05:02.590
and our family, we'd take
the light rail to Chinatown
00:05:02.590 --> 00:05:04.600
to see, like, the parades and stuff,
00:05:04.600 --> 00:05:05.770
and we would see the drill team,
00:05:05.770 --> 00:05:08.407
and they would look so
intimidating, I was so scared.
00:05:08.407 --> 00:05:11.074
(drums banging)
00:05:12.160 --> 00:05:13.540
When people think of drill team,
00:05:13.540 --> 00:05:16.300
they don't think of our
version of drill team.
00:05:16.300 --> 00:05:18.940
It's very niche, it's different.
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It's like military marching.
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It's exact.
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It's not dancing.
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And our uniforms are
modeled after Cantonese,
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like, opera warriors.
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(drums banging)
00:05:32.860 --> 00:05:35.470
All that history just
makes me feel more proud
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and prideful to wear it.
00:05:36.421 --> 00:05:41.421
(drums banging)
(officer shouts orders)
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(calm inspiring music)
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- A group of high school
girls that banded together
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and want to be of
service to the community.
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And that's when we
started talking about it.
00:06:02.557 --> 00:06:05.390
(inspiring music)
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The uniform came from an idea
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that my husband thought of
because he's in Cantonese opera.
00:06:17.500 --> 00:06:22.480
In Cantonese Opera there's
always a legend of women warriors
00:06:22.480 --> 00:06:27.480
and they were always beautiful,
intelligent, and strong.
00:06:29.105 --> 00:06:32.710
(upbeat marching music)
00:06:32.710 --> 00:06:37.710
I contacted Mr. Ted Yerabek,
the Seattle police officer,
00:06:38.230 --> 00:06:40.245
in the Seattle police Drill Team,
00:06:40.245 --> 00:06:42.940
(upbeat marching music)
00:06:42.940 --> 00:06:47.230
and I'd ask him if he would be kind enough
00:06:47.230 --> 00:06:50.950
to come and help train
them as a drill team,
00:06:50.950 --> 00:06:55.950
and he did so for about,
oh, almost 15 years.
00:06:56.011 --> 00:06:58.960
(drill team members
chattering indistinctly)
00:06:58.960 --> 00:07:01.540
The first time they went to compete
00:07:01.540 --> 00:07:04.600
they came back with first
place and sweepstakes.
00:07:04.600 --> 00:07:09.600
(drill team members
chattering indistinctly)
00:07:09.610 --> 00:07:14.023
The trophy was as high as the
shortest girl on the team.
00:07:16.510 --> 00:07:17.600
- Which one is this one?
00:07:17.600 --> 00:07:18.433
- Whoa.
- What does that-
00:07:18.433 --> 00:07:19.840
- Look at that.
- What does that mean?
00:07:19.840 --> 00:07:22.540
- Look, it's another West Seattle one.
00:07:22.540 --> 00:07:24.850
Those are in a boxes 'cause
those are second place.
00:07:24.850 --> 00:07:27.981
- Oh.
(all laughing)
00:07:27.981 --> 00:07:30.017
- Yeah, you can hear
Auntie Cheryl just going,
00:07:30.017 --> 00:07:32.294
"If we get second place"-
- It goes in the box.
00:07:32.294 --> 00:07:33.978
- "It's not worth it."
00:07:33.978 --> 00:07:35.800
(all laughing)
00:07:35.800 --> 00:07:37.360
- So what generation-
- Who is going for?
00:07:37.360 --> 00:07:39.767
- The 90s.
- And you're the 90s?
00:07:39.767 --> 00:07:40.680
- Okay.
- Yeah.
00:07:40.680 --> 00:07:44.380
- And you're the 90s?
- We're the 60s.
00:07:44.380 --> 00:07:47.056
We're the more maturest ones.
- Yeah.
00:07:47.056 --> 00:07:51.239
(drill team member speaks indistinctly)
00:07:51.239 --> 00:07:52.072
- I can't say I'm old.
00:07:52.072 --> 00:07:53.890
I mean, I can't say I'm tired,
00:07:53.890 --> 00:07:55.030
because other aunties are showing up.
00:07:55.030 --> 00:07:57.823
I've been telling Amy that I'm done.
00:07:57.823 --> 00:07:59.470
(all laughing)
00:07:59.470 --> 00:08:00.790
- But we feel our heart
00:08:00.790 --> 00:08:01.840
is still in the job.
- Yeah.
00:08:01.840 --> 00:08:02.862
So you guys wanna-
- We have-
00:08:02.862 --> 00:08:05.343
(drill team aunties speaking indistinctly)
00:08:05.343 --> 00:08:06.176
You guys always motivate me.
00:08:06.176 --> 00:08:08.583
I'm, "I better show up, I better show up."
00:08:08.583 --> 00:08:09.490
- The other year I said, "Oh, I don't know
00:08:09.490 --> 00:08:10.810
how many more years we can do this."
00:08:10.810 --> 00:08:12.520
Here we are.
(all laughing)
00:08:12.520 --> 00:08:13.937
- When you were a kid
you never think about,
00:08:13.937 --> 00:08:16.840
"Well, in 60 years I'm
going to be an auntie
00:08:16.840 --> 00:08:19.060
and I'll be doing this."
00:08:19.060 --> 00:08:22.303
You just don't think about
that when you're a teenager.
00:08:23.830 --> 00:08:25.987
- See what you have to
look forward to. (laughs)
00:08:25.987 --> 00:08:27.520
(all laughing)
00:08:27.520 --> 00:08:31.180
- For Asian girls, there
aren't a whole lot of choices,
00:08:31.180 --> 00:08:32.950
especially newer immigrants.
00:08:32.950 --> 00:08:33.783
- Yeah.
00:08:33.783 --> 00:08:37.420
- Because the traditional
society, it's like my father,
00:08:37.420 --> 00:08:39.550
he always thought he was still in China.
00:08:39.550 --> 00:08:43.565
His mantra was "Good
Chinese girls stay home."
00:08:43.565 --> 00:08:44.560
(Auntie chuckles)
00:08:44.560 --> 00:08:47.560
And it was Auntie Ruby
who started the drill team
00:08:47.560 --> 00:08:50.293
who liberated my sisters and I.
00:08:51.160 --> 00:08:53.950
- Well, I think we were really
lucky to have Auntie Ruby-
00:08:53.950 --> 00:08:55.450
- Oh yeah.
- In our lives,
00:08:55.450 --> 00:08:59.257
because she really,
really lit a lot of fires.
00:08:59.257 --> 00:09:02.424
(calm poignant music)
00:09:05.380 --> 00:09:09.730
- It was interesting to have
your mother as the director
00:09:09.730 --> 00:09:14.730
and disciplinarian of the
drill team, and be a member,
00:09:15.730 --> 00:09:20.533
because she always tried to not favor me,
00:09:22.000 --> 00:09:24.460
but she always went
overboard the other way.
00:09:24.460 --> 00:09:27.580
So it was kind of neat
because my group of friends
00:09:27.580 --> 00:09:32.580
became very protective
of me against my mother.
00:09:32.740 --> 00:09:36.253
So, I became very popular. (chuckles)
00:09:37.750 --> 00:09:39.880
I knew because she was my mom
00:09:39.880 --> 00:09:42.460
that she wasn't all that tough,
00:09:42.460 --> 00:09:44.230
but she put on a tough appearance
00:09:44.230 --> 00:09:48.640
so that it would get us
focused and make us tough
00:09:48.640 --> 00:09:51.730
so that we would be
disciplined in the hot sun,
00:09:51.730 --> 00:09:52.810
and it worked.
00:09:52.810 --> 00:09:54.790
- How would I describe Cheryl?
00:09:54.790 --> 00:09:57.520
Well, you know, one of
the virtues of Chinese
00:09:57.520 --> 00:10:01.360
is that we must be modest
about our own people.
00:10:01.360 --> 00:10:03.400
But let me put it this way.
00:10:03.400 --> 00:10:05.380
When I took the care of the drill team,
00:10:05.380 --> 00:10:07.180
there were only 50 girls.
00:10:07.180 --> 00:10:12.100
But now after 50 years,
there are 100 girls.
00:10:12.100 --> 00:10:17.100
And this has happened
since Cheryl has taken over
00:10:17.530 --> 00:10:19.630
for the last 35 years.
00:10:19.630 --> 00:10:22.600
So you could figure out
what I'm trying to say
00:10:22.600 --> 00:10:25.360
without bragging about my daughter.
00:10:25.360 --> 00:10:30.100
Well, after my first year
of college, my mom got busy
00:10:30.100 --> 00:10:33.463
and so I actually took over as director.
00:10:34.690 --> 00:10:39.690
- Well, she's very exacting,
very definite, and very strong
00:10:41.770 --> 00:10:43.393
in everything she does.
00:10:44.260 --> 00:10:48.910
And I would say that she
has all the qualities
00:10:48.910 --> 00:10:51.313
that any mother would want.
00:10:52.936 --> 00:10:54.150
- That's what you get!
00:10:54.150 --> 00:10:57.670
If you make a mistake, forget it.
00:10:57.670 --> 00:11:01.119
Just concentrate on the next
thing you're supposed to do.
00:11:01.119 --> 00:11:01.952
That's what you do.
00:11:01.952 --> 00:11:04.000
- We don't know as much
about, like, Auntie Ruby,
00:11:04.000 --> 00:11:05.200
'cause you know, Auntie Cheryl-
00:11:05.200 --> 00:11:07.963
- Oh yeah.
- Was really our role model.
00:11:10.300 --> 00:11:12.100
Auntie Cheryl, when she became, right?
00:11:12.100 --> 00:11:13.300
Council woman.
00:11:13.300 --> 00:11:16.120
And that was a big deal too,
that was a huge accomplishment,
00:11:16.120 --> 00:11:18.280
and that was such a cool
thing for girls to see.
00:11:18.280 --> 00:11:21.550
I think that's where we get a
lot of that role model from.
00:11:21.550 --> 00:11:23.633
Like, "Wow, look at her."
00:11:27.850 --> 00:11:31.120
- The amazing thing about
Ruby is her growing up
00:11:31.120 --> 00:11:34.690
in the Depression, she
had to leave high school
00:11:34.690 --> 00:11:38.113
and yet she became a King
County council member.
00:11:39.760 --> 00:11:44.760
Auntie Ruby is still the
only, the first and only Asian
00:11:45.010 --> 00:11:47.050
to serve on the King County Council.
00:11:47.050 --> 00:11:48.200
- [Auntie] King County.
00:11:51.160 --> 00:11:54.370
- [Auntie] And Cheryl Chow
herself has still been
00:11:54.370 --> 00:11:59.370
the only Chinese woman to
be on the city council.
00:12:01.870 --> 00:12:03.980
- Company!
- Company!
00:12:03.980 --> 00:12:05.821
- Attention!
00:12:05.821 --> 00:12:07.329
- Mark time!
- Mark time!
00:12:07.329 --> 00:12:09.131
- Mark time!
00:12:09.131 --> 00:12:11.764
- March!
(drums banging)
00:12:11.764 --> 00:12:13.167
- Forward!
- Forward!
00:12:13.167 --> 00:12:15.615
- Forward!
(drums banging)
00:12:15.615 --> 00:12:16.723
- March!
00:12:16.723 --> 00:12:19.390
(drums banging)
00:12:21.206 --> 00:12:22.039
Bye Auntie Serena!
00:12:24.207 --> 00:12:25.650
- [Drill Team Members] Thank you!
00:12:25.650 --> 00:12:26.975
(drums banging)
00:12:31.339 --> 00:12:32.723
(drums banging)
00:12:35.080 --> 00:12:38.782
(Colleen chuckles)
- Here.
00:12:45.202 --> 00:12:47.532
(drums banging)
00:12:47.532 --> 00:12:50.890
- Forward!
(drums banging)
00:12:50.890 --> 00:12:51.723
March!
00:12:58.711 --> 00:13:01.378
(drums banging)
00:13:53.699 --> 00:13:54.532
Oof.
00:13:58.532 --> 00:14:00.817
(Colleen speaking indistinctly)
00:14:00.817 --> 00:14:02.314
- Okay, thank you.
- You're welcome.
00:14:02.314 --> 00:14:04.731
(calm music)
00:14:43.997 --> 00:14:46.414
(calm music)
00:14:50.443 --> 00:14:53.360
(calm piano music)
00:15:00.250 --> 00:15:03.640
- Cheryl and I met in the early 2000s.
00:15:03.640 --> 00:15:08.640
I was invited to one of her
fundraisers by a mutual friend
00:15:09.130 --> 00:15:10.721
and we just kinda clicked.
00:15:10.721 --> 00:15:13.000
(calm piano music)
00:15:13.000 --> 00:15:17.230
And it certainly was not something I think
00:15:17.230 --> 00:15:19.810
either one of us expected for it to evolve
00:15:19.810 --> 00:15:23.258
into the relationship that it was.
00:15:23.258 --> 00:15:26.650
(calm piano music)
00:15:26.650 --> 00:15:30.376
She had very strong apprehension
00:15:30.376 --> 00:15:33.610
about coming out as a Chinese woman
00:15:33.610 --> 00:15:36.313
and what that would mean for Ruby Chow.
00:15:38.950 --> 00:15:41.803
She stayed quiet for a really long time.
00:15:42.764 --> 00:15:45.366
(calm music fades)
00:15:45.366 --> 00:15:47.020
(no audio)
00:15:47.020 --> 00:15:50.377
- A lot of people ask me,
"When did you come over?"
00:15:51.520 --> 00:15:55.003
Well, I was born here,
that's 82 years ago.
00:15:55.930 --> 00:16:00.043
My birth certificate, it
says I was born on the dock,
00:16:01.150 --> 00:16:02.600
down there in the waterfront.
00:16:05.620 --> 00:16:09.283
Well, Chinatown is now,
is a third Chinatown.
00:16:10.480 --> 00:16:13.783
It was on the waterfront
until they had the uprising.
00:16:14.822 --> 00:16:17.489
(ominous music)
00:16:25.338 --> 00:16:28.838
(ominous music continues)
00:16:35.358 --> 00:16:38.858
(ominous music continues)
00:16:44.710 --> 00:16:47.473
The next Chinatown was
on 3rd and Washington.
00:16:48.610 --> 00:16:52.120
The property got more
expensive, got more valuable,
00:16:52.120 --> 00:16:55.123
and they moved them out of
there to where they are now.
00:16:57.040 --> 00:17:00.095
The Chinese that came, they
went through a lot of hardship.
00:17:00.095 --> 00:17:02.762
(ominous music)
00:17:10.285 --> 00:17:13.785
(ominous music continues)
00:17:16.780 --> 00:17:18.550
- When the pandemic hit
00:17:18.550 --> 00:17:22.950
and all the anti-Asian hate
also hit,
00:17:22.950 --> 00:17:25.360
Chinatown got closed.
00:17:25.360 --> 00:17:27.442
All my favorite
restaurants got boarded up.
00:17:27.442 --> 00:17:30.109
(ominous music)
00:17:31.150 --> 00:17:33.680
It didn't hit me, initially,
when it first came,
00:17:33.680 --> 00:17:36.757
I was just like, "Okay, this
is gonna pass in a few months."
00:17:37.810 --> 00:17:39.287
Four or five months in it's like,
00:17:39.287 --> 00:17:40.810
"Chinatown is still closed,
00:17:40.810 --> 00:17:42.070
please don't go to Chinatown,
00:17:42.070 --> 00:17:44.047
it's a very dangerous place right now."
00:17:45.220 --> 00:17:47.770
This community, my community specifically,
00:17:47.770 --> 00:17:49.180
was being targeted.
00:17:49.180 --> 00:17:51.816
- Tonight, the pair of
anti-Asian hate messages
00:17:51.816 --> 00:17:53.200
that have shaken up people-
00:17:53.200 --> 00:17:55.123
- I just felt very uneasy.
00:17:56.830 --> 00:18:00.370
Chinatown is my home and a
place where I can be myself.
00:18:00.370 --> 00:18:01.925
It was definitely hard.
00:18:01.925 --> 00:18:05.008
(soft ominous music)
00:18:09.753 --> 00:18:12.211
(no audio)
00:18:12.211 --> 00:18:13.044
- Hi.
00:18:13.044 --> 00:18:13.877
- Hi.
- Hi.
00:18:15.377 --> 00:18:17.037
- Welcome.
00:18:17.037 --> 00:18:20.237
(people speaking indistinctly)
00:18:20.237 --> 00:18:22.120
- I crossed all by myself.
- You did.
00:18:22.120 --> 00:18:24.820
- Carried my own bag.
(customer laughs)
00:18:24.820 --> 00:18:29.820
- Welcome to the 70th
anniversary celebration.
00:18:30.070 --> 00:18:33.970
This 2022 has been kind
of a challenging year.
00:18:33.970 --> 00:18:37.390
We didn't know if the
drill team was coming back.
00:18:37.390 --> 00:18:40.150
We had a really, really
pretty good team this year,
00:18:40.150 --> 00:18:42.520
probably about 30 girls came back.
00:18:42.520 --> 00:18:45.040
So that's awesome.
(all clapping)
00:18:45.040 --> 00:18:46.870
- None of us would be here today
00:18:46.870 --> 00:18:51.460
if it wasn't for our
original team, the 1952 team.
00:18:51.460 --> 00:18:55.240
I would like to ask those in the 1952 team
00:18:55.240 --> 00:18:57.612
to please stand to be acknowledged.
00:18:57.612 --> 00:19:01.279
(all cheering and clapping)
00:19:06.953 --> 00:19:10.203
(calm inspiring music)
00:19:15.200 --> 00:19:17.664
(calm inspiring music continues)
00:19:17.664 --> 00:19:18.819
- This drill team is important
00:19:18.819 --> 00:19:23.140
because they interact among themselves
00:19:23.140 --> 00:19:28.093
to help them establish their
culture, and their heritage,
00:19:29.170 --> 00:19:31.033
and their identity.
00:19:32.530 --> 00:19:35.620
Drill team girls are there
to become role models
00:19:35.620 --> 00:19:38.560
for the rest of the young ladies
00:19:38.560 --> 00:19:42.523
that are standing in the
background, waiting to get in.
00:19:43.510 --> 00:19:47.560
And they will be wonderful role models
00:19:47.560 --> 00:19:49.685
for the future generation.
00:19:49.685 --> 00:19:52.870
(drums banging)
00:19:52.870 --> 00:19:57.870
- The drill team has made the
biggest impact in my life.
00:19:59.320 --> 00:20:03.520
As a teenager growing
up, it helped me become
00:20:03.520 --> 00:20:04.993
who I wanted to become.
00:20:06.940 --> 00:20:10.843
Our society makes girls compete
with each other so much.
00:20:13.000 --> 00:20:15.550
The drill team helped me not to compete
00:20:15.550 --> 00:20:18.587
against women in the real world.
00:20:30.525 --> 00:20:33.525
(clothing rustling)
00:20:40.630 --> 00:20:42.700
- Everyone has matching white shoes.
00:20:42.700 --> 00:20:45.760
So, we just tape our shoes to
make sure it hides the logo.
00:20:45.760 --> 00:20:46.660
They're all taped.
00:20:47.590 --> 00:20:48.520
Yes.
00:20:48.520 --> 00:20:50.230
- The belt and what else?
00:20:50.230 --> 00:20:51.550
- It should be in your bag.
00:20:51.550 --> 00:20:53.020
- Oh, you put it in already?
00:20:53.020 --> 00:20:54.393
- Yes, ma'am.
00:20:54.393 --> 00:20:56.206
(Drill team members speaking indistinctly)
00:20:56.206 --> 00:20:59.860
(Drill team members laughing)
00:20:59.860 --> 00:21:01.658
- Like your buns, like.
00:21:01.658 --> 00:21:04.210
- Well, Cindy already put them on.
00:21:04.210 --> 00:21:06.729
- Okay, we're in the right side.
00:21:06.729 --> 00:21:09.896
- I know.
(Drill team member laughs)
00:21:09.896 --> 00:21:11.470
- Oh, you are not done yet.
00:21:11.470 --> 00:21:12.303
- Am I...
00:21:12.303 --> 00:21:13.546
Oh my gosh.
00:21:15.676 --> 00:21:17.445
- Mm?
- Just do hair spray.
00:21:17.445 --> 00:21:20.410
(spray sizzles)
00:21:20.410 --> 00:21:21.750
- Yeah, use both hands.
00:21:23.017 --> 00:21:26.585
So many flyaways, it's not even funny.
00:21:26.585 --> 00:21:29.170
(inspiring piano music)
00:21:29.170 --> 00:21:30.820
- I hope by the end of today
00:21:30.820 --> 00:21:33.490
this will be your favorite
tradition parade performance.
00:21:33.490 --> 00:21:34.720
- Yeah.
- It's definitely
00:21:34.720 --> 00:21:36.008
our favorite, or my favorite.
00:21:36.008 --> 00:21:39.341
(inspiring piano music)
00:21:42.610 --> 00:21:43.515
- Yes.
00:21:43.515 --> 00:21:46.439
(inspiring piano music)
00:21:46.439 --> 00:21:47.573
- [Drill Team Auntie]
It's a long string, yeah.
00:21:47.573 --> 00:21:50.906
(inspiring piano music)
00:21:53.337 --> 00:21:55.930
- It's a very different
Chinatown this year,
00:21:55.930 --> 00:21:56.860
especially with COVID.
00:21:56.860 --> 00:21:58.480
We don't know how it's gonna go.
00:21:58.480 --> 00:22:02.320
- It's not comfortable at
all with the headdress.
00:22:02.320 --> 00:22:03.910
- Colleen, where's your belt?
00:22:03.910 --> 00:22:05.376
- Colleen has it.
00:22:05.376 --> 00:22:07.300
- Okay.
(inspiring piano music)
00:22:07.300 --> 00:22:08.740
- It's funny, when I was
listening to you, guys,
00:22:08.740 --> 00:22:12.070
talk about Auntie Ruby and,
you know, Auntie Cheryl.
00:22:12.070 --> 00:22:14.620
I'm like, "Hey, I'm in between you guys."
00:22:14.620 --> 00:22:16.600
So when you guys talk about Ruby Chow,
00:22:16.600 --> 00:22:18.970
I'm like, "Yeah, I got a piece of that."
00:22:18.970 --> 00:22:20.417
You guys talk about Cheryl, I'm like,
00:22:20.417 --> 00:22:22.522
"Yeah, I got a whole lot of that."
00:22:22.522 --> 00:22:25.030
(all laughing)
00:22:25.030 --> 00:22:27.040
My grandma on my dad's side's Chinese.
00:22:27.040 --> 00:22:30.370
And my grandpa on my
dad's side is Spanish,
00:22:30.370 --> 00:22:32.110
and my mom's Filipino, right?
00:22:32.110 --> 00:22:37.060
So what's really difficult
is having this sense of place
00:22:37.060 --> 00:22:40.210
where you're not judged for
what else you are, but accepted.
00:22:40.210 --> 00:22:41.860
Like here, that's it.
00:22:41.860 --> 00:22:45.490
Like, a lot of the girls in
the team are in the sisterhood
00:22:45.490 --> 00:22:47.650
that are multi-race and multicultural.
00:22:47.650 --> 00:22:48.730
- Right.
- They're welcome,
00:22:48.730 --> 00:22:50.530
they're embraced.
00:22:50.530 --> 00:22:54.100
I will say this, you guys are
lucky, and all these guys,
00:22:54.100 --> 00:22:55.600
they don't know how lucky they are.
00:22:55.600 --> 00:22:57.280
During my time with Auntie Cheryl,
00:22:57.280 --> 00:22:59.941
you did not eat unless you
knew how to use a chopstick.
00:22:59.941 --> 00:23:02.710
(all laughing)
00:23:02.710 --> 00:23:04.150
- But I think it was very specific
00:23:04.150 --> 00:23:07.390
about what Auntie Cheryl wanted
to keep as Chinese culture
00:23:07.390 --> 00:23:10.150
and what she didn't wanna
keep, and I love that.
00:23:10.150 --> 00:23:12.760
Growing up as a woman, or as a girl,
00:23:12.760 --> 00:23:15.670
trying to figure out what it
is to be a good Chinese girl.
00:23:15.670 --> 00:23:18.460
What does it mean to be
a good American girl?
00:23:18.460 --> 00:23:21.610
It's really hard to
figure out what that is
00:23:21.610 --> 00:23:22.480
when you're growing up
00:23:22.480 --> 00:23:24.730
because you're being told
something by your parents,
00:23:24.730 --> 00:23:27.010
and then you have a lot at school, right?
00:23:27.010 --> 00:23:27.843
Your peers.
00:23:27.843 --> 00:23:29.980
But I think when Auntie
Cheryl came into our lives,
00:23:29.980 --> 00:23:32.320
we understood, like, this is possible
00:23:32.320 --> 00:23:35.170
to be a strong Chinese woman, right?
00:23:35.170 --> 00:23:38.020
And so we saw a role model
that we could look up to,
00:23:38.020 --> 00:23:39.400
and that was really huge.
00:23:39.400 --> 00:23:41.440
And, you know, we thought
it was just drill team
00:23:41.440 --> 00:23:44.590
but I think Auntie Cheryl
made it a lot more.
00:23:44.590 --> 00:23:46.390
- You know, people talk
about women empowerment
00:23:46.390 --> 00:23:47.350
but never really showed you
00:23:47.350 --> 00:23:49.330
what women empowerment looks like.
00:23:49.330 --> 00:23:52.330
Well, this is what women
empowerment looks like,
00:23:52.330 --> 00:23:55.120
to feel included, to be part of the group,
00:23:55.120 --> 00:23:57.340
to know that sense of family,
00:23:57.340 --> 00:23:59.440
'cause you don't gotta
be blood to be family.
00:23:59.440 --> 00:24:00.550
And this is family right here.
00:24:00.550 --> 00:24:01.383
- [Auntie] Yeah.
00:24:02.536 --> 00:24:05.703
(soft poignant music)
00:24:12.790 --> 00:24:16.960
- If there's anything that
moved Cheryl to come out
00:24:16.960 --> 00:24:20.290
so late in the game was because she knew,
00:24:20.290 --> 00:24:23.860
she felt this immense
responsibility to the girls
00:24:23.860 --> 00:24:25.582
to be her whole self.
00:24:25.582 --> 00:24:29.050
(soft poignant music)
00:24:29.050 --> 00:24:31.963
The year that they were honoring Cheryl,
00:24:33.370 --> 00:24:36.610
because she was going to
die, Cheryl was in a car.
00:24:36.610 --> 00:24:39.220
Like, she got to, like, you know
00:24:39.220 --> 00:24:41.530
princess wave in the Chinatown parade,
00:24:41.530 --> 00:24:44.263
and that was about the only
way she was gonna make it.
00:24:46.210 --> 00:24:49.990
Liliana actually wore
Cheryl's pink drill uniform,
00:24:49.990 --> 00:24:54.990
Cheryl's actual uniform
from a very long time ago.
00:24:55.811 --> 00:24:58.978
(soft poignant music)
00:25:00.040 --> 00:25:02.950
There wasn't too terribly much more
00:25:02.950 --> 00:25:05.687
that she cared about
other than the drill team.
00:25:05.687 --> 00:25:08.854
(soft poignant music)
00:25:10.209 --> 00:25:13.878
(drums banging)
(whistle blaring)
00:25:13.878 --> 00:25:16.545
(drums banging)
00:25:21.494 --> 00:25:26.324
(drums banging)
(fireworks crackling)
00:25:26.324 --> 00:25:28.991
(drums banging)
00:25:33.220 --> 00:25:36.040
- This parade is significant
because, historically,
00:25:36.040 --> 00:25:36.873
it's one of the parades
00:25:36.873 --> 00:25:40.305
that the Seattle Chinese
girls drill team hosts,
00:25:40.305 --> 00:25:42.280
you know, it's the home parade.
00:25:42.280 --> 00:25:44.350
And it's where all the different cultures
00:25:44.350 --> 00:25:45.872
that make of the community come together.
00:25:45.872 --> 00:25:49.122
(upbeat parade music)
00:25:55.764 --> 00:25:57.397
- Look at you.
- I see you,
00:25:57.397 --> 00:25:58.634
you and your sticks.
00:25:58.634 --> 00:26:01.217
(drum banging)
00:26:02.140 --> 00:26:05.080
- We usually don't do a single
file into a company front.
00:26:05.080 --> 00:26:07.049
- I know.
00:26:07.049 --> 00:26:07.882
You can,
00:26:07.882 --> 00:26:08.715
you did one yesterday.
- Yeah,
00:26:08.715 --> 00:26:11.050
so you just do right face
or single right face.
00:26:11.050 --> 00:26:12.100
Whichever direction we're going,
00:26:12.100 --> 00:26:13.278
whichever direction we're going.
00:26:13.278 --> 00:26:14.944
Can I take a photo with you?
00:26:14.944 --> 00:26:17.027
- [Colleen] Oh, sure, hi!
00:26:17.904 --> 00:26:19.890
- Thank you.
- Thank you.
00:26:19.890 --> 00:26:24.280
- Hey. (laughs)
00:26:24.280 --> 00:26:25.480
- Okay, Auntie Lorena.
00:26:25.480 --> 00:26:26.630
We got this.
- Got it?
00:26:27.848 --> 00:26:30.013
- [Drill Team] 70th anniversary!
00:26:30.013 --> 00:26:33.596
(drums banging powerfully)
00:26:36.157 --> 00:26:37.333
- Now it's coming.
00:26:38.200 --> 00:26:39.850
Gonna hold, like, someone's hand.
00:26:41.725 --> 00:26:43.009
- [Drill Team Member] Circle.
00:26:43.009 --> 00:26:43.842
Triangle.
00:26:44.717 --> 00:26:46.367
(echo booms)
00:26:46.367 --> 00:26:47.758
(whistle rings)
00:26:47.758 --> 00:26:50.392
- At ease!
00:26:50.392 --> 00:26:52.088
- Mark time!
- Mark time!
00:26:52.088 --> 00:26:53.046
- [Drill Team Officer] Mark time!
00:26:53.046 --> 00:26:56.629
(drums banging powerfully)
00:26:57.999 --> 00:26:58.906
- March!
00:26:58.906 --> 00:27:01.573
(drums banging)
00:27:03.680 --> 00:27:04.513
March!
00:27:04.513 --> 00:27:07.180
(drums banging)
00:27:15.636 --> 00:27:16.469
March!
00:27:16.469 --> 00:27:21.469
(audience cheering)
(drums banging)
00:27:24.956 --> 00:27:29.787
Turn both left and right!
(drums banging)
00:27:29.787 --> 00:27:30.620
March!
00:27:30.620 --> 00:27:33.287
(drums banging)
00:27:35.774 --> 00:27:36.732
March!
00:27:36.732 --> 00:27:39.399
(drums banging)
00:27:43.805 --> 00:27:47.222
(drums continue banging)
00:27:50.278 --> 00:27:51.111
March!
00:27:55.117 --> 00:27:55.950
Halt!
00:27:57.192 --> 00:27:58.025
(Celina shouts) Yut Gok Gin Lai
00:28:05.922 --> 00:28:08.365
Fours right!
- Fours right!
00:28:08.365 --> 00:28:09.198
- [Drill Team Officer] Fours right!
00:28:09.198 --> 00:28:10.031
- March!
00:28:10.031 --> 00:28:12.698
(drums banging)
00:28:13.667 --> 00:28:15.123
- [Observer] Woo-hoo!
00:28:15.123 --> 00:28:18.373
(soft inspiring music)
00:28:25.363 --> 00:28:30.170
(soft inspiring music continues)
00:28:30.170 --> 00:28:33.430
- They have to work very
hard to be something
00:28:33.430 --> 00:28:34.870
that we would be very proud of,
00:28:34.870 --> 00:28:37.220
and something that they
could be very proud of.
00:28:38.290 --> 00:28:43.290
Public relation with
the mainstream community
00:28:43.480 --> 00:28:45.729
is very valuable to our people.
00:28:45.729 --> 00:28:49.062
(inspiring piano music)
00:28:50.560 --> 00:28:53.830
- In every parade I always look forward
00:28:53.830 --> 00:28:56.681
to seeing the Chinese drill team.
00:28:56.681 --> 00:29:00.014
(inspiring piano music)
00:29:00.970 --> 00:29:02.327
- I was just telling her, I was like,
00:29:02.327 --> 00:29:04.000
"I think you'll really like them."
00:29:04.000 --> 00:29:07.717
Their outfits, how sharp
they are, it's so cool.
00:29:07.717 --> 00:29:09.400
(inspiring piano music)
00:29:09.400 --> 00:29:10.233
I love it.
00:29:10.233 --> 00:29:13.512
(inspiring piano music)
00:29:15.100 --> 00:29:17.440
- Every year I've been
able to be out here,
00:29:17.440 --> 00:29:18.700
and see 'em, and march.
00:29:18.700 --> 00:29:20.770
They're so disciplined,
they're so dedicated
00:29:20.770 --> 00:29:22.418
to the artwork that they're doing.
00:29:22.418 --> 00:29:25.751
(inspiring piano music)
00:29:28.540 --> 00:29:30.220
- My favorite part is their salute.
00:29:30.220 --> 00:29:31.829
- Yes.
- I think it's just amazing.
00:29:31.829 --> 00:29:35.020
(inspiring piano music)
00:29:35.020 --> 00:29:36.700
And it's an honor to be
able to march with them
00:29:36.700 --> 00:29:37.533
for these years.
00:29:37.533 --> 00:29:40.450
- They're the most
professional, the most crisp,
00:29:40.450 --> 00:29:44.140
and the most downright
respectful group I've ever seen.
00:29:44.140 --> 00:29:46.990
We actually take extra
time to bow for them
00:29:46.990 --> 00:29:48.219
because they bow for us.
00:29:48.219 --> 00:29:51.052
(inspiring music)
00:29:52.570 --> 00:29:53.950
- Okay, it was so fun.
00:29:53.950 --> 00:29:55.120
I messed it up a few times
00:29:55.120 --> 00:29:56.860
but I think it overall went well.
00:29:56.860 --> 00:29:58.780
I felt good after, at that very end,
00:29:58.780 --> 00:30:00.850
when we were cheering
for all the drill teams.
00:30:00.850 --> 00:30:02.080
It always makes my night.
00:30:02.080 --> 00:30:03.670
I love seeing them, I
love cheering them on,
00:30:03.670 --> 00:30:04.750
because they deserve it.
00:30:04.750 --> 00:30:07.030
They are incredible, powerful women,
00:30:07.030 --> 00:30:09.280
and men, which was incredible to see.
00:30:09.280 --> 00:30:13.060
So, overall amazing night,
always is, always expected.
00:30:13.060 --> 00:30:14.080
Yeah.
00:30:14.080 --> 00:30:17.260
- They're the Chinese drill
team, I think of Miss Chow.
00:30:17.260 --> 00:30:19.390
So we have a lot of history here.
00:30:19.390 --> 00:30:22.480
- Please don't go away, Seattle needs you.
00:30:22.480 --> 00:30:24.730
- Absolutely, absolutely.
00:30:24.730 --> 00:30:28.750
- The drill team has
become an institution,
00:30:28.750 --> 00:30:30.460
not only in the Chinese community,
00:30:30.460 --> 00:30:33.670
but the greater Seattle community.
00:30:33.670 --> 00:30:38.670
And the way we have it set up
now is no one person runs it.
00:30:39.640 --> 00:30:43.420
It doesn't have to have a
Ruby Chow or Cheryl Chow.
00:30:43.420 --> 00:30:46.147
It's the Chinese Community
Girls Drill Team.
00:30:46.147 --> 00:30:49.278
And it's all of our girls.
