2024 Charlotte Dragon Boat & Asian Festival
My specific role involved setting up the stage for cultural performances, helping performers register properly, as well as ensuring that the performances were done in the correct order (while accounting for errors such as missing troupes or unregistered music). The performances did not only include those from China, but also from those of Mongolia, India, Laos, the Philippines, and more! I engaged with individuals at the stands, including the Taiwan and China displays, asking them about their respective country and culture.
For the service component of the Horizon Project, I volunteered at the 2024 Charlotte Dragon Festival. Dragon boat racing itself has a long and rich history, originating in southern China more than 2,000 years ago. The celebration honors poet Qu Yuan, who drowned himself in the Mi Lo river after being wrongfully exiled during the Warring States period. Festivals primarily include dragon boat racing and eating zongzi (rice dumplings).
This event not only celebrates the diverse Asian communities found in Charlotte, but also commemorates a traditional Chinese sport, allowing people of all different backgrounds to enjoy an aspect of Chinese culture in midst of political tensions. As mentioned previously, cultural engagement and people-to-people exchanges will be critical components of sustaining a stable U.S-China relationship. The moment American and Chinese individuals lose the opportunity to engage with one another and their respective cultures is one we should fear, as that will become the root of misunderstanding and loss of perceived humanity in one another.
