‘Beware of the Chicken Feather Duster’: SF Grandmas Fight Anti-Asian Hate in New Rap

A group of grandmothers in San Francisco Chinatown is bringing awareness to anti-Asian violence through the power of song and dance in a new Cantonese performance called Gai Mou Sou Rap.

Lyrical advocates: The rap translates to “Beware of the Chicken Feather Duster,” in reference to the common household item familiar to the grandmas in the group known as the Grant Avenue Follies.

“When you are naughty and getting out of line, the parents would go after you with that,” group member Emily Chin explained to KPIX 5.
It was written by Clara Hsu, director of Clarion Performing Arts Center where the group rehearses, who said the rap sends the message: “We are the authority. Don’t mess with us.”
“With this rap, I want to show the people ‘Don’t be mean to grandma. If it weren’t for grandma, you wouldn’t be here,’” said the group’s co-founder, Cynthia Yee.
Hsu has started a GoFundMe to cover production costs for the new rap, which the group hopes will be performed at anti-Asian violence rallies. “Clarion and the Follies feel compelled to bring the rap to life, to make a strong statement, to remind others the value and vitality of the seniors, and to beat violence with grace,” the page reads.
The campaign has raised around $3,600 of its $20,000 goal as of this writing.

About the group: The Grant Avenue Follies, a senior dance group formed in 2003, has previously toured in venues across the world, from Las Vegas to China and Cuba.

They mostly put on local performances for the elderly and other fundraising events, which have reportedly raised “millions of dollars for senior citizen groups.”

Featured Image via KPIX 5

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