Corky Lee on My Mind: Antony Wong

Guardian Angels in Chinatown (May 1, 2020, NYC) 

Anti-Asian harassment and attacks have been on the rise even before the first confirmed positive case of COVID-19 in New York City. Because of this, the Guardian Angels, a volunteer group, began making street patrols around Chinatown in early March. 

"This photo is part of my photo essay, 'Fortune on PAUSE,' featured in CUNY FORUM Vol. 8:1 - Corona Conversations. Corky can be seen in the background with his partner Karen Zhou, talking to and taking photos of members before their patrol on May Day."

How did you know Corky?

"I first met Corky on May 3, 2003  when he presented his talk, 'Thirty Years of Asia America,' at the Asian American / Asian Research Institute - CUNY where I began working as a part-time college assistant. Corky's absence creates a void in the pages of American history, as the moments and stories of Asian American life he captured on negatives and SD cards still need to be seen and heard by future generations so that they know we exist in a country that has oftentimes forgotten us."

Bio

Antony Wong is Program Coordinator at the Asian American / Asian Research Institute of The City University of New York, and Assistant Publisher of CUNY FORUM. He received his B.A. from Hunter College/CUNY, and M.B.A. from the Zicklin School of Business at Baruch College/CUNY. Antony is Treasurer of Manhattan Community Board No. 2, and a member of the Traffic & Transportation, and State Liquor Authority committees. He is a former Co-Chair of the Chinatown Working Group. In 2018, he was recognized by the Manhattan Borough President during Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month for his activism and achievements.

Instagram: @mr_antonywong