The American Success (2022)

CC Yin came to America to get an education while supporting himself as a busboy at a restaurant. After graduating from university, he got a job as an engineer for eight years before he was let go. Later he describes the bamboo ceiling as the reason. It was a turning point when he realized he must take control of his life by making his path, and starting a business was the path for him. When he had a chance to buy a McDonald's and become an owner, he faced more prejudice from the corporation. They will not sell it to him. Not being treated fairly, he took McDonald's to court. A black judge ruled in CC's favor, believing everyone should get a fair chance in this country if they have the capability. Once CC took over the restaurant, he realized it was the most dangerous location in the country at the time. McDonald's people later told him they bet that CC would either be killed or bankrupt in three months. The biggest takeaway from CC's story is that he opened a restaurant in a black American neighborhood, and despite the challenges, he started helping the Oakland black communities and flourished. He currently owns over forty McDonald's in the Bay area. This story needs to be told with many of the current Asian hate cases committed by Black Americans. The story showed that Asians worked and helped the black community and that we must work together to advance racial justice, become allies, and not hate each other. Andrew and Peggy Cherng are the founders of Panda Express, America's most successful Chinese food franchise. Andrew and Peggy's story is like many Asian immigrants who came here and opened a Chinese restaurant. The film takes us to their first restaurant in Pasadena. They weren't successful at first. Quite the opposite. They struggled initially, and that's when they learned how to assimilate to accommodate more Western teste Chinese food. The experience of creating now the famous orange chicken. And how food can bridge the difference between two cultures and bring people closer. Food sharing shows that we have more in common than we think. It is more important now than ever for them to reach out to other races to show that Chinese Americans are part of the American culture and Panda is committed to contributing. Despite their success, Panda struggled during the pandemic, and Asian hate has profoundly affected Andrew and Peggy. It made them realize they must get more involved and engaged with our community and non-Asian communities to build understanding and trust. With understanding comes tolerance. Andrew and Peggy showed that we must demonstrate to others that we are here to serve and we are here to contribute. We belong in America.