Illuminating Time - Four Oceans, One Family: Beatrix Li

I met Beatrix Li as an individual who responded deeply to the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020. As people began to protest police violence after the death of George Floyd, Beatrix was involved in organizing people of Asian decent to unite and speak out in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. They are quoted in a rally saying, “We are here as immigrants because Black freedom fighters in the Civil Rights Movement fought for us to exist in this land.”

Beatrix is currently focused on organizing, data, and advocacy work. Their work is aimed at addressing the problems of policing and mass incarceration. They are also in an Asian-American women and non-binary cohort where they explore their cultural identity. They believe that the city of Portland has a history of cultural erasure and gentrification. This is evident in the way that Chinese culture has been pushed further and further away from the Chinatown area.

One of twenty (20) ink portraits from Four Oceans, One Family with essays achieved after interviews, photo studies and gift exchanges.