Artist bio

Originally trained in classical music, Jinna Kim was blessed to learn filmmaking through various experiences. She began her professional career in arts administration in 2003 having graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Illinois, where she played in the symphony orchestra and exhibited photography at the Illini Union. From there she moved to New York, attended Redeemer Presbyterian Church, and managed fundraising databases at the Public Theater, also known for Shakespeare in Central Park and Joe’s Pub. Then she went on to manage the fundraising research department at The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) where she exhibited photography behind-the-scenes in the office, at the staff art show. While in New York, Jinna received fellowships from Korea Society and the Association of Professional Researchers for Advancement. After receiving her MBA from the University of Virginia in 2011, she moved to Charlotte, North Carolina to work for a major bank. Still in Charlotte today, Jinna follows Elevation Church and has displayed photography at several local galleries. Additionally she continues to act in many nonprofit, commercial, and Christian productions. In 2019, she was listed as Charlotte’s 40 Under 40 by the Charlotte Business Journal. In 2020, she completed her first film, a documentary short on lesser known Christian suffragist Dr. Mabel Ping-Hua Lee. Jinna Kim is the director, writer, and producer. Tim Jameson edited the docu-film and is a Charlotte-area black filmmaker. The film score was produced by UNC professor Cristina "Trinity" Vélez-Justo. The other original music came from Jinna's high school and college musician friends (as she used to play in an orchestra with them). Jinna's husband, Kirk Halliburton, provided additional editing, and all others who appeared in the film are local friends and community members who volunteered their time and self-tapes / recordings from wherever they were quarantined. Jinna also consulted with additional Asian-Americans behind-the-scenes, including one of the voices in the film, Dr. Min Jiang (another University of North Carolina professor).

Title

Chinese Girl Wants Vote

Medium/Genre

Documentary

Artist Statement

Documentary short film on Christian suffragist Dr. Mabel Ping-Hua Lee, inspired by Ephesians 6:10-20 and related verses.

How it fits into contest

This documentary short film fits into the contest topic, the Spiritual Battle found in Ephesians 6:10-20 and related verses such as 1 Corinthians 16:23 because Chinese suffragist Dr. Mabel Ping-Hua Lee (1896-1966) most certainly suffered unjust rejection galore. It did not matter that Mabel Lee advocated for women's voting rights or that she was the first Chinese woman to get a PhD from Columbia University. While in 1920 the 19th Amendment gave women throughout the country the right to vote - Chinese women, like Mabel Lee, could not vote until 1943. This was because of the Chinese Exclusion Act, a Federal law that in place before she was born. The Chinese Exclusion Act limited Chinese immigration and prevented them from becoming citizens.

However, Dr. Mabel Ping-Hua Lee continued to "watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong" for decades and throughout her life. After her father died in 1924, she took over his role as director of the First Chinese Baptist Church of New York City. She later founded the Chinese Christian Center which served as a community center. It offered vocational and English classes, a health clinic, and a kindergarten. Mabel Lee never married and devoted her life to the Chinese American community.

Today, Dr. Mabel Ping-Hua Lee continues to be an inspiration not only for Asian Americans, but all races, and especially timely since it is the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment and a voting year.

Credits

Jinna Kim - writer, director, producer, photographer
Edited by Tim Jameson
Additional editing by Kirk Halliburton
Original Viola Music by Jessica Arce-Larreta
Original Flute Music by Jennifer Kallend
Additional Original Music by Cristina "Trinity" Vélez-Justo

ACTORS:
(in order of appearance)

Katrin Hilbe (audio only)
Jinna Kim
Rachel Kanakanui
Anna Dorsch
Ella Dorsch
Lorayn DeLuca
Keya Hamilton
Leana Guzman
Dr. Min Jiang (audio only)

Behind-the-scenes thanks to:
Rachel Petsiavas (production assistant)
Taylor Montalto (script assistant)

Transcript / Lyrics

[TEXT ON SCREEN]
“Chinese Girl Wants Vote”

[ANONYMOUS VOICE OVER]
"She most certainly suffered unjust rejection galore..."

"I don't know her at all, she seems really fascinating and I'd like to know more."

[NARRATOR - PROLOGUE]
"Who was the face behind “Chinese Girl Wants Vote?”

Dr. Mabel Ping-Hua Lee was born in China, and lived from 1896 to 1966. When she was just 16 years old, Mabel Lee was a known figure in New York’s suffrage movement. When New York City suffragists held a parade in 1912 to advocate for women’s voting rights – Mabel Lee on horseback, helped lead the parade from its start.

In 1920, the 19th Amendment gave women throughout the country the right to vote. But Chinese women, like Mabel Lee, could not vote until 1943. This was because of the Chinese Exclusion Act, a Federal law that in place before she was born. The Chinese Exclusion Act limited Chinese immigration and prevented them from becoming citizens.

Here are some of her words from “China’s Submerged Half “and “The Meaning of Woman Suffrage:"

[MONOLOGUE read by diverse actresses]

"I plead for a wider sphere of usefulness for the long submerged women of China. I ask for our girls the open
door to the treasury of knowledge, the same opportunities for physical development as boys and the same rights
of participation in all human activities of which they are individually capable.

The neglect and indifference to women’s welfare in the past must be remedied. Prejudice must be removed and a healthy public sentiment created to support the progressive movement. To us girls especially, who are among the 1st to emerge, will fall the duties of pioneers and, if we do our share, ours will be the honor and the glory. For no nation can ever make real and lasting progress in civilization unless its women are following close to its men if not actually abreast with them.

It is a fact that no matter where we go, we cannot escape hearing about woman suffrage. The idea of woman suffrage at first stood for something abnormal, strange, and extraordinary, and so has finally become the word
for anything ridiculous. The idea that women should ever wish to have or be anything more than their primitive mothers appears at 1st thought to be indeed tragic enough to be comic, but if we sit down and really think it over, throwing aside all sentimentalism, we find that it is nothing more than a wider application of our ideas of justice and equality.

We all believe in the idea of democracy; woman suffrage is the application of democracy to women.

The fundamental principle of democracy is equality of opportunity.

I cannot too strongly impress the importance of suffrage, for the requirement of women to be worthy citizens and contribute their share to the steady progress of our country towards prosperity and national greatness.”

[NARRATOR - EPILOGUE]
"After graduating from Barnard College, Mabel Lee got a PhD in economics at Columbia University. She was the first Chinese woman to do so. After her father died in 1924, she took over his role as director of the First Chinese Baptist Church of New York City. She later founded the Chinese Christian Center which served as a community center. It offered vocational and English classes, a health clinic, and a kindergarten. Dr. Mabel Ping Hua Lee never married and devoted her life to the church and Chinese American community."

[TEXT ON SCREEN UNDER PHOTO OF CROSS]
1 Corinthians 16:23
Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.

[MONOLOGUE EXCERPT REPEATS IN TEXT ON SCREEN WITH VOICE-OVER]
"I plead for a wider sphere of usefulness for the long submerged women of China. I ask for our girls the open door to the treasury of knowledge, the same opportunities for physical development as boys and the same rights of participation in all human activities of which they are individually capable.

The fundamental principle of democracy is equality of opportunity. I cannot too strongly impress the importance of suffrage, for the requirement of women to be worthy citizens and contribute their share to the
steady progress of our country towards prosperity and national greatness."

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