either side of the room, backed against the wall that had a mismatch of goods to sell. There were Tibetan prayer flags, Buddhist beads and jewelry. Next to it was a man selling toys that seemed to not have any connection to the event except for the fact that he was Asian American. Is it customary to purchase toys for your children at the new year? Maybe. Next to this table was the sponsor’s table, a large national bank with the representatives being Asian American.

We quickly discovered that the event was basically a rotation of dancers and performers representing various Asian countries. We watched a martial arts performance set to music, Indian dancers, and a Filipino performance that was telling a story with drums and ceremonial fighting. I really enjoyed it and our daughter was thrilled to interact with the other babies and children in the space and mimicking the dancers.

The event was free. We could have purchased some crafts but they looked like the same things you can buy in a dollar store. Does that make them less valuable if the money is going to a local family? I was surprised there was no food from the neighborhood restaurants, although that may be a very expensive feat for a small business. I feel like I needed more information about the history of the dances and music. But was this a time to educate me or celebrate among friends and family?

I had hoped that we would learn more about our neighbors and yet I wondered as we stood in line with many Asian Americans if we were invading their celebration. Should we have been there? Some argue that when we collect art from other cultures and display it in our homes, we are co-opting that culture for our own enjoyment. As I looked at the Buddhist beads and decorative fans, I thought this was the case. In particular was the white woman who was selling handmade silk pillows. What was the story behind these pillows? Does she have an authentic connection to the manufacturers of the silk? Does she have an Asian relative who taught her how to make these pillows? Or does she just like the look of the silk and thought they would appeal to the audience at an Asian event? I didn’t ask these questions when I spoke with her. I should have. Instead, I walked away with lots of judgments.

So I left feeling good that we live in such a diverse place. My daughter has engaged with so many different looking people that she shared her smiles equally. I am still thinking about how we can use our privilege and power, in this case, our money to support our neighbors. I’m not sure this event was a traditional celebration of the new year but I’m not sure I should be a part of that anyway.