1996.300.015

Apart of a series of photos from the Asia in Lawrence Exhibit from 1996, curated by Janet H. Howell, and photographed by Loel A. Poor, this image shows the Eh Say/ Soe Family. This photo shows Burmese woman, Jean Eh Say sitting in the chair, next to her son Benedict Bright Soe. The woman gave a statement, printed under the photo, she said, "My son was born in Rangoon, Benedict Bright San Say, but when he came to the United States they changed it to Benedict Say because it is too long. So they call him Ben at school, but we call him Bright. You know, he is a child that is given to us by God, and then he is a blessed child. So that's why I named him Benedict, and Bright because I want him to be bright, not only, you know, with intelligence but also to brighten up the corner where he is." Rangoon, where Benedict Soe was born, is the capital city of Burma (Myanmar), Jean Eh Say and her husband, U Than Soe moved from Burma to Thailand to live, and work in a refugee camp, before moving to Lawrence with their son.