Rick Smolan: A girl, a photograph, a homecoming

[charbuk]

Americans, always thinking they have to "rescue" the rest of the world. All I saw in this video was a very well adapted and happy child, surrounded by family, with talent for leadership who could have grown up to do great things in Korea, seduced by the idea of America, where like anywhere else in the world, the amount of racism you receive is the amount you yourself permit. I personally feel offended by America's attitude and long for the day when they learn to mind their own business.

[fatbusinessman]

Why is it assumed that she could only do "great" things if she was in the US? She is brilliant, and that brilliance and confidence she owes to her grandmother...her korean grandmother. Why would it be assumed that she wouldn't be able to do "great" things in her home vilage? Obviously, she is smart and has an influencial personality. She couldv'e grown up to be someone who CHANGED the way koreans view amerasians.

[fatbusinessman]

That really smart girl could have really contributed to the society that she was from. But we stole her "for her own good". Removing these individuals is a short sighted response to the problems they encounter in that society. In the bigger picture, you should respect the intelligence of a society to find they're own appropriate solution to the issue.

[angieeus]

Amazing Story! \\\\ εïз \\\\

[crudhousefull]

I'm guessing having a mixed child as a charge gives the uncle a tough time with peers and colleagues too since it means that people would think that he's related to a prostitute.

[FREEKALEEK101]

where can I get this book! I looked everywhere

[beautyofdirt]

Obviously, the adoption was a good choice for her. And I admire Rick's loving heart for Natasha and her grandmother.

[futureboy00]

@beautyofdirt why?

[beautyofdirt]

@futureboy00 As a Korean, it is easy to tell you that she is having a better life than she could have in Korea, as a mixed person. That is why most mixed people got emigrated to U.S. The discrimination to those people in Korea is more than you could imagine. I wish my reply helps you.

[futureboy00]

@beautyofdirt yes, thanks

[sparksflyup1223]

Guys, this guy did something awesome and great! Why are you guys all complaining? Natasha is happy now. She has a family, is married and has a family of her own. I just don't get why you guys are being so negative about this.

[romanval69]

Remember Korea during the 1970's is was a totally different country then the Korea of today. It didn't matter how fluent you were in the language or culture, if you didn't look Korean strangers would jeer/harass you and say your mother's a whore. Some tough circumstances when you're already from a poor family.

[sincerelyscarlet]

does anyone know natasha's last name?

[Kobukson17]

@sincerelyscarlet Driscoll was the adopted name I think.

[JesusDiediLOLed]

She's the prettiest girl ever

[fatsotomuscles]

What a great story.

[robertmooregp]

wth... this is so freaking racist. the guy who's talking needs to learn the difference between "American", "western", and "white"... three VERY different concepts.

[vivtokki]

I'm Korean and not at all discomforted. However I don't think Natasha was "rescued" by any means. Rather she was given an opportunity to be happy in a different country with a new family. She looks happy to me and that's all it really matters!

[laviebanale]

@vivtokki

I suggest you do some research on how mixed children, especially the ones born to GI fathers and Korean mothers, are treated in S. Korea. Obviously, things are getting better but in the past, racism was so severe they couldn't go to school.

[zhs2009]

You would be amazed at what you can learn from Stumble Upon!

[RandyOhReilly]

My favorite Korean girl is named Sarah Chang.

[telesyb]

this was during the 70's in korea and korea now is alot more open and tolerating towards amerasians and eurasians than they were back then. there are alot more foreigners in korea now and they are accepted more now. infact 1 in every 8 couples in korea are interracial now and children of mixed races are more common in korea.

[banghiphorray]

beautiful story that goes so well with the beautiful photographs

[IXBhangXI]

Thank you for being a compassionate soul.

[timeOtherwisewasted]

If i were korean watching this I think id feel awfully uncomfortable

[telesyb]

why would koreans feel uncomfortable? she was loved and well taken cared of by her korean relatives and neighbors in her town. in fact, she went back to visit her relatives and neighbors in korea. korea is mostly homogenous and anybody who looks like a foreigner will naturally stand out. even in a country like usa asians are treated with discrimination in many places especially in the south and midwest.

[cobbs]

I'm glad Natasha seems to have a happy life now. But I can't believe the ignorance of some of the people here. Yes, Amerasians have experienced discrimination in Korea. Yes, I'm sure it was pretty bad at times. But do you realize the physical and psychological abuses countless Asian American children have had to endure right here in the U.S.? Especially in the South and Midwest? It never ceases to amaze me how ignorant many White Americans are about the experiences of minorities in this

[cobbs]

country. All I can say is , it's a good thing Natasha looked 100% white living in the South because if she had looked Asian, her life would have been a living hell.

[mleitholt]

Amazing! Love it.

[SoWhatNowWhat]

What a wonderful story !

[shaki57]

Yoon mi rae grew up in Korea and experienced troubles, so did Inssoni and they were both half black! But they did not leave and their lives are pretty damn good now. They didn't need to run to America. Everyone tries to justify something just because a kid was adopted. There is more to life than that.

[shaki57]

This is hilarious. Everyone is agreeing with him. Have all of you even been to Korea. Well Miopic has but has everyone else. How do you know all know how bad it would be for her. There is racism in the U.S.A and especially in the 70's Kimora lee simmons experienced bullying and racism and wasnt ripped from her home, and you know what she took that hard childhood and made something of herself I am pretty sure that kids in america were teased for being mixed as well so how is it better

[ilovefreedom80]

13:32 breaks my heart.

[Miopic]

Very moving, I spent five years in Korea (1970-1975) and loved the Korean people.

There were many orphanages with Amerasian kids, and it was tough for them, because it was generally assumed their mothers were prostitutes.

[chetansingh2006]

fundamental problem with yankees are they cant put the pants tight, the zip keeps coming down. weather whitey or niggers situation is the same more sexs alcohol war and imperialism that the American way oh dont forget slavery lol thats the last laugh

[melonbarmonster]

The US should've had a special immigration program for these poor kids.

[edmame]

is this book still in print? i could not find it on amazon.

[liyujie63]

luckily this story wasn't told by Michael Jackson...jk

[bagapoopoo]

The uncle was angry because Rick was wanting to take her away by assuming that she was being mistreated. I bet her family treated her fine. Why else did she go back to see them? I do think that bringing Natascha to America would give her a better life because of the racism toward mixed people over there in Korea. And it was the grandmother's dying wish to send her granddaughter to America.

[BoozyBeggar]

You have no clue about other cultures.

[bagapoopoo]

What did I say wrong?

[melonbarmonster]

I think you're the one who is clueless.

[Shademp]

This makes me think of all the times I wished I had the power to change things around me... Awful to think what would have happened had she stayed in Korea.

[Anhelain]

Although this is a beautiful adoption story, it seems almost racist to me. The only thing that makes it a very special adoption story is the colour of her skin. It's like everyone is thinking, "Wow, she's an American girl who was living in misery! We can't have that! She has to come home!" but the fact is she was Korean, not American- no ifs, ands or buts. We don't know who her biological father was. We don't even know for sure that she was particularly miserable in Korea. She was just white.

[flyingdrake]

what you're missing is the discrimination in korean society he mentions.

[melonbarmonster]

... which alone doesn't justify ripping a child from her family unless there was obvious abuse or neglect, etc., which you don't see or hear about. That is a bit of kink in this otherwise wonderful story.

[ilovefreedom80]

Well...I guess you could call removing a child from it's natural extended family a life altering experience for the better in this case. How much you want to make a bet Natasha has helped her other family in her birth country.

[melonbarmonster]

It's not a matter of 'better'. Rich people don't get to take children from poorer homes because it's "better". That's why only provable abuse or neglect justifies taking a child from their home. This is a touching story but the lack of concern about taking a child from her home without good cause is disturbing.

[ilovefreedom80]

I hear you what you are saying but we will never have a utopian world. It seems the good out ways the bad in this case...and the photographer admitted to his playing God with peoples lives. We can learn from this. I hope.

[edmame]

actually her caucasian appearance won't be as a big an obstacle had she remained in korea, than if her GI father was afro-american. this video doesn't clarify if her withdrawn, unhappy personality change was due to mistreatment by uncle's family, or grief over grandma's death & a difficult transition period in living with other relatives. her bringing out food at a male elder's command is typical gender dynamics in korea. uncle may bark not at her, but at smolan's "intrusion".

[purecork]

he loves kids waaaaaaaay too much

[ishaan55]

That was touching. Beautiful story.

[conceitedREALITY]

That was such a beautiful story.

[McWalker25]

This is just amazing, I don't know why but its just amazing to me.

[menkaur]

whatever ....

[Jettie12]

What a story. He may've exaggerated certain bits (the uncle), but Wow.  That evoked a genuine "Wow" from me.

[PugDiary]

beautiful story

[berntaxl]

This is really a great story. The ones not feeling anything from this one, must perhaps go see a doctor or something.

[SobaniForce]

that was awesome

[dforero5]

Increible. como la vida de cualquier persona puede cambiar en un instante.

[c6gunner]

It's funny, even though she looks like a westerner, and she's been living in the US for a few decades, she SOUNDS Korean. Her voice has the distinct inflections of someone who learned Korean before English.

[Vermea]

I almost cried, I don't know how he didn't.

[miwco]

:')

[hocDirtyD]

+ ;)

[bobosyd]

What a wonderful and inspiring story.

[melonbarmonster]

woa natasha has a pretty fob accent. amazing story and amazing people.

[harryogre]

wow

what a story.

I was seriously moved by this.

Thanks for posting it.

[dorotwhy]

Very moving and amazing how fate brings people together. This man's purpose in life was not only to be a photographer... there are angels at work... all over the world.

[thevigiles]

What an inspirational person.

[IChoseTheRedPill]

beautiful

[eflores48]

Wow, I was actually moved by his story. TED talks are awesome...

[BuelahMan]

Very cool story.

[SilveradoDudeDk]

just amazing :)