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Discover the curated images, videos, and primary sources featured throughout Foundations and Futures

History is more than just text on a page; it is the photographs, voices, and artifacts of the people who lived it. The images and recordings featured across Foundations and Futures are part of a meticulously curated media repository. Whether you are building a lesson plan or investigating an artifact, you can use this database to trace the provenance of our media: discover who created an asset, the historical context behind it, and how it can be used to bring Asian American and Pacific Islander experiences into your classroom.

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  • An outdoor bronze plaque describes significance of Asponsi statues, a gift from the Royal Thai Government.
    Image
    Gateway to Thai Town Plaque

    A half-woman half-lion, Aponsi, guards the entry of Thai Town in Los Angeles, California while a half-human half-bird, Kinnari, lights the way. These mythical creatures were installed in 2008 to clearly delineate and guard Thai Town.

    Featured in:
    Thai Americans, Module 5
    View multimedia
  • Side angle of golden Kinnari statue, a half-human, half-bird figure, standing atop post. Signs for businesses in English and Thai line street behind.
    Image
    Kinnari Statue in Thai Town

    A half-woman half-lion, Aponsi, guards the entry of Thai Town in Los Angeles, California while a half-human half-bird, Kinnari, lights the way. These mythical creatures were installed in 2008 to clearly delineate and guard Thai Town.

    Featured in:
    Thai Americans, Module 5
    View multimedia
  • Golden statue of mythical half-woman, half-lion figure with hands clasped in prayer, a long tail, a tall pointed hat, and jewelry.
    Image
    Apsonsi Statue

    A half-woman half-lion, Aponsi, guards the entry of Thai Town in Los Angeles, California while a half-human half-bird, Kinnari, lights the way. These mythical creatures were installed in 2008 to clearly delineate and guard Thai Town.

    Featured in:
    Thai Americans, Module 5
    View multimedia
  • Masked group of Thai Americans holds protest signs during outdoor Black Lives Matter rally. Other rally attendees gather behind them.
    Image
    Thai Americans At Black Lives Matter Rally

    Thai Americans were among the many groups who participated in Black Lives Matter rallies. US-born Thais are more likely to participate in political protests and events than Thais that emigrated to the US whose political involvement and philanthropic work are focused on Thailand.

    Featured in:
    Thai Americans, Module 4
    View multimedia
  • Hanging sign with reflective lettering. Text in English reads "Mon Template of Los Angeles" with address below. Mon and Thai script appear above.
    Image
    Mon Temple of Los Angeles

    A sign at Mon Temple of Los Angeles in Thai, English, and Mon.

    Featured in:
    Thai Americans, Module 4
    View multimedia
  • Painted portrait of Asian woman with "I Am Not A Virus" painted in red across her face. Anti-Asian newspaper clippings line bottom of frame.
    Image
    I Am Not A Virus

    Thai American artist Tarina Amaralikit created this artwork during the #stopasianhate movement. The piece won the top prize for Mixed Media at the 2020 Maryland’s 6th District Congressional Art Competition.

    Featured in:
    Thai Americans, Module 4
    View multimedia
  • Woman in pink pulls blue sheet off of white street sign with text reading "Vicha Ratanapakdee Way" in black. Sign post is anchored in green hedge.
    Image
    Vicha Ratanapakdee Way

    The newly renamed Vicha Ratanapakdee Way in San Francisco being unveiled by Vicha’s daughter Montanus.

    Featured in:
    Thai Americans, Module 4
    View multimedia
  • Crowd of people, most of whom wear face masks, gathers outside with signs reading "Justice for Vicha" alongside digital portrait of Ratanapakdee.
    Image
    2022 Asian Justice Rally

    At a 2022 Asian Justice Rally in San Francisco, California, a crowd holds up signs prominently featuring Chang’s portrait of Vicha, alongside bold text calling for “JUSTICE FOR VICHA.”

    Featured in:
    Thai Americans, Module 4
    View multimedia
  • Digital illustration of Vicha Ratanapakdee, older Thai man with gray hair, a mustache, and black rimmed glasses, set against light blue background.
    Image
    Vicha Ratanapakdee Illustration

    A widely circulated illustration of Vicha Ratanapakdee by Los Angeles-based artist Jonathan Chang.

    Featured in:
    Thai Americans, Module 4
    View multimedia
  • Vicha Ratanapakdee, an older Thai man with a mustache and rimmed glasses, sits indoors with arms resting on table and fingers interlocked.
    Image
    Vicha Ratanapakdee

    This portrait of Vicha Ratanapakdee served as a reference photo for several illustrations, posters, and murals created and circulated throughout the Justice for Vicha and #stopasianhate movements following his death in 2021.

    Featured in:
    Thai Americans, Module 4
    View multimedia
  • Video
    Masjid Al-Fatiha

    This video highlights Masjid Al-Fatiha’s role as a gathering place for Thai Muslims in the US. While it is the first and only masjid established by Thais outside of Thailand, they emphasize the importance of serving all communities regardless of background.

    Featured in:
    Thai Americans, Module 3
    View multimedia
  • Flier, written in English and Thai, shares information on Thai Baptist Church. An aerial photo of the church exterior is shown between text.
    Text
    Thai Baptist Church Invitation

    This invitation from a Thai Baptist church located in Houston, Texas, includes text in both English and Thai. Christians are religious minorities in Thailand. The last Thai census shows that approximately 1 percent of Thais are Christians.

    Featured in:
    Thai Americans, Module 4
    View multimedia
  • Two women, back to back, perform with arms outstretched on church stage. In foreground, churchgoers in pews watch them dance.
    Image
    Dance Performance at Thai Christian Church

    Congregants perform a Thai style dance to a Thai hymn during Sunday worship at the Thai Christian Church in California.

    Featured in:
    Thai Americans, Module 3
    View multimedia
  • Video
    Music Battle Between Thai and Thai American Students

    This group of Thai American students traveled from Chicago to Thailand for a hammered dulcimer ‘music battle’ against a group of Thai students. Activities like this are often supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as ‘return to Thailand’ cultural exchange trips.

    Featured in:
    Thai Americans, Module 3
    View multimedia
  • Three people in professional attire stand on steps outside of wat facade. Between them they carry a light gray banner reading "'Save the Thai Temple."
    Image
    Wat Thai Berkeley

    Thais gather to support Wat Mongkolratanaram when neighbors sought to limit the weekly public brunch.

    Featured in:
    Thai Americans, Module 3
    View multimedia
  • Overhead shot of Thai dishes prepared and wrapped in aluminum ramekins and plastic to-go containers, atop table at outdoor market.
    Image
    Thai Street Market Prepared Food

    Various prepared foods on sale at the Sunday Thai Street Food Market.

    Featured in:
    Thai Americans, Module 3
    View multimedia
  • People gather in groups around wooden deck and water feature at outdoor food market. Some sit with food while others walk around landscaped perimeter.
    Image
    Thai Street Food Market Crowd

    Community members at the Sunday Thai Street Food Market gather throughout the Buddhist Center of Dallas to eat and relax.

    Featured in:
    Thai Americans, Module 3
    View multimedia
  • Two food service workers, masked and with hair coverings, prepare skewered meat on grill in outdoor tent. Beside them are more food vendors in tents.
    Image
    Thai Street Food Vendor

    Every Sunday, the Buddhist Center of Dallas hosts a Thai Street Food Market featuring various vendors preparing Thai cuisine.

    Featured in:
    Thai Americans, Module 3
    View multimedia
  • Colorfully dressed Thai dancers with tall, pointed gold headpieces lead outdoor procession, followed by men carrying Thai and US flags.
    Image
    Minnesota’s Songkran Festival

    At the Minnesota Songkran Festival, Thai dancers perform as flags for both the United States and Thailand are marched behind them.

    Featured in:
    Thai Americans, Module 3
    View multimedia
  • Two robed monks sit cross-legged next to each other on the carpeted floor next to a large gilded altar decorated with flowers, candles, and offerings.
    Image
    Wat Denver

    After the dedication of the new wat in Denver, Colorado in 1976, named Wat Buddhawararam, Phramahasobhin Sopako and Phramahachuan Charitdhammamo were the first two monks assigned to serve religious duties there.

    Featured in:
    Thai Americans, Module 3
    View multimedia
Foundations and Futures Logo

The Asian American Studies Center acknowledges the Gabrielino/Tongva peoples as the traditional land caretakers of Tovaangar (Los Angeles basin, So. Channel Islands) and pay our respects to the honuukvetam (ancestors), ‘ahiihirom (elders), and ‘eyoohiinkem (relatives/relations) past, present, and emerging.

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