Joanna Gaines speaks out about the racist treatment her younger self saw on her Korean mother in a poignant Instagram message, amid a spate of attacks on the Asian community, including Tuesday’s shooting in Atlanta.
The Fixer Bo star (42) shared her thoughts as she celebrated her latest book, The world needs who you are made of, translated into Korean, her mother Nan’s first language. Gaines’ father is of German and Lebanese descent.
“Translating the words of my book into my native language’s first language is such an honor for me,” the Texan home and lifestyle guru wrote, sharing a photo of her translated book. Gaines also shared a photo of her childhood with Nan.
“I remember as a little girl I was with my mother and saw how a person’s harsh appearance or a sly remark would at one point try to belittle her rich story and her beautiful culture,” she continued.
“We can not take lightly the power that carries our words and deeds. The world needs who we are all made of and all the wonderful and beautiful differences that each of us brings together.
“If we say it enough, it will come true and become the message that softens even the most difficult hearts.”
The mother of five mothers’ raw mail received praise and made calls for solidarity.
“These photos and this message took my breath away,” wrote country music singer and activist Chely Wright.
“I hope parents would talk to their children about the importance of stopping racism and what everyone can do as bystanders if they witness an act of racism,” reads another comment. “We need to stand up for others and learn ways to prevent it.”
“Thank you for using your platform to talk and pay attention to our people!” added another fan. “Enough is enough! People take our passivity for weakness and they can no longer be wrong!”
“Yes and thank you for posting from your fellow Korean sister,” reads another comment.
Gaines opened earlier about her legacy and the conflicting feelings she had as a child with it.
“My mother is full of Korean and my father is Caucasian,” she writes in her book. ‘Kindergarten kids will make fun of me because I’m Asian, and if you’re that age, you do not really know how to process it; the way you take it is, ‘Who I am is not good enough’. Fast forward to today and my Korean heritage is one of the things I am most proud of. I’m trying to make up for lost time – the culture is just as beautiful. I think I discover who you are and what you are made to do is a lifelong journey. ”
Read more from Yahoo Entertainment: