Stephen Park

And I went to San Francisco at some point that year to do a play. And I was like interviewed up there. I was, um, uh, on the cover of the guardian, you know, wrapped American flag. I was interviewed in the examiner and, um, it all kind of culminated. I mean, I also spent about a year being invited to different colleges to speak about this. And, um,

And I went to San Francisco at some point that year to do a play. And I was like interviewed up there. I was, um, uh, on the cover of the guardian, you know, wrapped American flag. I was interviewed in the examiner and, um, it all kind of culminated. I mean, I also spent about a year being invited to different colleges to speak about this. And, um,

And then I was given this award by an Asian American arts foundation up in San Francisco. And it was handed to me by Jesse Jackson. And so that's kind of how this all played out. And then, you know, soon after it was like, my son was born in 2000. And right before that, I decided to quit acting. Like I was, I was kind of, I had become so race conscious that,

And then I was given this award by an Asian American arts foundation up in San Francisco. And it was handed to me by Jesse Jackson. And so that's kind of how this all played out. And then, you know, soon after it was like, my son was born in 2000. And right before that, I decided to quit acting. Like I was, I was kind of, I had become so race conscious that,

And then I was given this award by an Asian American arts foundation up in San Francisco. And it was handed to me by Jesse Jackson. And so that's kind of how this all played out. And then, you know, soon after it was like, my son was born in 2000. And right before that, I decided to quit acting. Like I was, I was kind of, I had become so race conscious that,

and so angry that I, like I, everything, I was looking at everything through the lens of race and I felt like I couldn't, there, there's like, I was just, there was no freedom. I didn't feel any freedom. So I didn't have any idea what I was going to do, but I just decided to drop out. And I told everybody I'm not acting anymore.

and so angry that I, like I, everything, I was looking at everything through the lens of race and I felt like I couldn't, there, there's like, I was just, there was no freedom. I didn't feel any freedom. So I didn't have any idea what I was going to do, but I just decided to drop out. And I told everybody I'm not acting anymore.

and so angry that I, like I, everything, I was looking at everything through the lens of race and I felt like I couldn't, there, there's like, I was just, there was no freedom. I didn't feel any freedom. So I didn't have any idea what I was going to do, but I just decided to drop out. And I told everybody I'm not acting anymore.

And so about a year went by, I was just being a, you know, stay at home dad. And, maybe about a year later, somebody asked me to audition for something. And I said, okay, because I didn't know what, I wasn't doing anything. And then that was like a slow climb back into the business. And it was very, very gradual. And I think, you know, there wasn't a lot of work anyway for Asian American actors.

And so about a year went by, I was just being a, you know, stay at home dad. And, maybe about a year later, somebody asked me to audition for something. And I said, okay, because I didn't know what, I wasn't doing anything. And then that was like a slow climb back into the business. And it was very, very gradual. And I think, you know, there wasn't a lot of work anyway for Asian American actors.

And so about a year went by, I was just being a, you know, stay at home dad. And, maybe about a year later, somebody asked me to audition for something. And I said, okay, because I didn't know what, I wasn't doing anything. And then that was like a slow climb back into the business. And it was very, very gradual. And I think, you know, there wasn't a lot of work anyway for Asian American actors.

Yeah. But it wasn't until a few years later, I remember I was listening to Bobby Lee's podcast and And he was talking with Margaret Cho and Bobby Lee. Like he mentions my name and he said, Oh, you know, he got blacklisted. And like, I was blacklisted. I had no idea.

Yeah. But it wasn't until a few years later, I remember I was listening to Bobby Lee's podcast and And he was talking with Margaret Cho and Bobby Lee. Like he mentions my name and he said, Oh, you know, he got blacklisted. And like, I was blacklisted. I had no idea.

Yeah. But it wasn't until a few years later, I remember I was listening to Bobby Lee's podcast and And he was talking with Margaret Cho and Bobby Lee. Like he mentions my name and he said, Oh, you know, he got blacklisted. And like, I was blacklisted. I had no idea.

But, but then I realized like, Oh, that is the common kind of like, I think a lot of people thought that, especially in the Asian American community, I think believe that I was blacklisted. And I thought, Oh, wow. And I remember I texted Bobby and said, you know, I wasn't blacklisted. Um, but, uh, But who would have known anyway? Because I wasn't really working much anyway.

But, but then I realized like, Oh, that is the common kind of like, I think a lot of people thought that, especially in the Asian American community, I think believe that I was blacklisted. And I thought, Oh, wow. And I remember I texted Bobby and said, you know, I wasn't blacklisted. Um, but, uh, But who would have known anyway? Because I wasn't really working much anyway.

But, but then I realized like, Oh, that is the common kind of like, I think a lot of people thought that, especially in the Asian American community, I think believe that I was blacklisted. And I thought, Oh, wow. And I remember I texted Bobby and said, you know, I wasn't blacklisted. Um, but, uh, But who would have known anyway? Because I wasn't really working much anyway.

There wasn't a lot of work. But yeah, it took me a while, I think, to not only get back into the business, but to move beyond this race consciousness that had overwhelmed me. And it was a lot of spiritual work. I've been on huge spiritual journeys. I've gone to Machu Picchu with Don Miguel Ruiz who wrote the four agreements, you know, I've done meditation retreats.

There wasn't a lot of work. But yeah, it took me a while, I think, to not only get back into the business, but to move beyond this race consciousness that had overwhelmed me. And it was a lot of spiritual work. I've been on huge spiritual journeys. I've gone to Machu Picchu with Don Miguel Ruiz who wrote the four agreements, you know, I've done meditation retreats.

There wasn't a lot of work. But yeah, it took me a while, I think, to not only get back into the business, but to move beyond this race consciousness that had overwhelmed me. And it was a lot of spiritual work. I've been on huge spiritual journeys. I've gone to Machu Picchu with Don Miguel Ruiz who wrote the four agreements, you know, I've done meditation retreats.