Before she hosted the Golden Globes and came away with one of the coveted trophies for her role in TV’s Killing Eve, Sandra Oh’s family broadcast their support on Instagram by wearing a t-shirt with Oh’s now-famous statement, “It’s an honor just to be an Asian.”
The actress uttered the line last year at the Emmy’s when she was nominated for that award for the same role. Oh was the first-ever Asian to be nominated for Lead Actress in a Drama Series Emmy.
She didn’t win, but she uttered the statement while sitting in the audience next to her mother wearing traditional Korean garb.
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That phrase has now been immortalized as a fashion statement and a demonstration of Asian pride in a t-shirt – black with white lettering.
The shirts were created as a fundraiser that celebrates Oh, the Asian identity, and supports Los Angeles-based The East West Players, which is the oldest Asian American theater troupe in the U.S.
Established in 1965 by Mako, Rae Creevey, Beulah Quo, Soon-Tek Oh, James Hong, Pat Li, June Kim, Guy Lee, and Yet Lock as a place where Asian American actors could perform roles beyond the stereotypical parts they were being limited to in Hollywood, East West Players continues the movement to develop, foster and expand Asian Pacific performance into a major force on the national arts scene in the 21st century, while working for increased opportunities for Asian and Pacific Islander artists on stage and in other media and introducing audiences to the diverse Asian Pacific experiences.
The fundraising campaign was deliberately timed to be around the Golden Globes because of Oh’s maximum media presence as co-host and her nomination.
And yes, there are still a few available. For a worthwhile cause and for $20, you can purchase the t-shirts on Custom Link.
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