Dear Corky

16m 27s

New Yorker Corky Lee photographed his hometown’s Chinatown and Asian American communities around the country for over 50 years, documenting activists, celebrities and everyday heroes he encountered in over 100,000 photos. While documenting the latest rise of anti-Asian hate crimes, Lee passed away from COVID-19. In his own words and photos, this short documentary reveals the man behind the camera.

Aired: 04/30/24

Support for American Masters is provided by AARP, The Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, Thea Petschek Iervolino Foundation, Burton P. and Judith B. Resnick Foundation, The Philip and Janice Levin Foundation, Jeffrey Katz and Beth Rogers, Kate W. Cassidy Foundation, The Marc Haas Foundation, Lillian Goldman Programming Endowment, Seton J. Melvin, Candace King Weir, Koo and Patricia Yuen, Laura Richards and Jim Naughton, Filomen M. Dagostino Foundation, André and Elizabeth Kertész Foundation, The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation, Ellen and James S. Marcus, Blanche and Hayward Cirker Charitable Lead Annuity Trust, The Charina Endowment Fund, and public television viewers.