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"I am not a virus. I am a father, a gardener, and a storyteller.”
Hello! My name is Mike Keo and I am the one behind the camera. I began this initiative with my friend Moses Farrow.
A 13-year-old girl on the radio talks about being bullied at school; they mock her and call her Corona. My sister-in-law, an adult, was harassed while buying groceries by someone accusing her of being a carrier of COVID-19.
On a recent morning, before sending our older son off to Pre-K, we reminded him that he was as American as anyone else and that he belongs - just in case. Fortunately, as a photographer, my family and I have interacted personally with people from all different backgrounds, who treat us with love and respect. I truly believe most of us are guided by our better angels. But even so, the Asian American community must be visible and use our voices at this moment in time.
In the wake of the Coronavirus outbreak we are taking portraits of Asian Americans to dispel the racism and ignorance surrounding the virus. The series is titled #IAMNOTAVIRUS. Viruses are not race specific and drawing divisions in a time of crisis is unwise and foolish. This portrait series aims to show that not only do Asian Americans belong but they are deeply rooted into the fabric of America.
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