A new documentary looks back on the life and career of a photographer who documented an overlooked community
Vivian Ho
Thu 18 Apr 2024 10.45 EDTShare
Corky Lee spent decades photographing Asian American life, in New York and across the US, capturing the rise of the Asian American movement as well as everyday happenings in immigrant communities often overlooked by the powers that be.
He saw his calling as more than just observing and documenting – he was righting a wrong by immortalizing Asian Americans in the civic makeup of the US.
“In all my photographs, I’m trying to include pages that should be in American history books, that have been omitted,” he said. “I’m practicing photographic justice.”
Photographic Justice: The Corky Lee Story, a documentary opening in New York on Friday, explores the life and photography of Lee, who died in 2021 from Covid-19. Through his own words and through commentary from a number of well-known figures in the Asian American community, the documentary delves into the lasting impact of Lee’s work – and the importance of bearing witness on a community level.