Liquor Store Dream Discussion Guide

Two Korean American children of liquor store owners reconcile their own dreams with those of their immigrant parents. They confront the complex legacies of LA's racial landscape, including the 1991 murder of Latasha Harlins and the 1992 uprisings sparked by the police beating of Rodney King, while engaged in current struggles for social and economic justice. Co-presented with The Center for Asian American Media (CAAM).

This guide is an invitation to dialogue. It is based on a belief in the power of human connection and designed for people who want to use Liquor Store Dreams to engage family, friends, classmates, colleagues, and communities. In contrast to initiatives that foster debates in which participants try to convince others that they are right, this document envisions conversations undertaken in a spirit of openness in which people try to understand one another and expand their thinking by sharing viewpoints and listening actively.

 

The discussion prompts are intentionally crafted to help a wide range of audiences think more deeply about the issues in the film. Rather than attempting to address them all, choose one or two that best meet your needs and interests. And be sure to leave time to consider taking action. Planning next steps can help people leave the room feeling energized and optimistic, even in instances when conversations have been difficult.

 

For more detailed event planning and facilitation tips, visit https://communitynetwork.amdoc.org/.

About the Author, Angie Y. Chung

Angie Y. Chung is professor of sociology at the University at Albany, a 2021–2022 U.S. Fulbright Scholar, and former visiting professor at Yonsei and Korea University. She is author of Saving Face: The Emotional Costs of the Asian Immigrant Family Myth and Legacies of Struggle: Conflict and Cooperation in Korean American Politics. She is currently writing a book titled Immigrant Growth Machines: Urban Growth Politics in Koreatown and Monterey Park based on research funded by the National Science Foundation. She has published in numerous journals on race/ ethnicity, immigration, gender and family, ethnic politics, international education, and media.

 

Discussion Guide Producers 

Courtney B. Cook, Phd | Education Manager, POV

Jordan Thomas | Education Assistant, POV

 

Thanks to those who reviewed and contributed to this resource:

Natalie Danford, Copyeditor