Karis Lee

Karis Lee is a recent graduate of William & Mary and an aspiring educator. When she's not researching the stories of the DMV's immigrant communities, she enjoys indulging in hot cheetos, writing mediocre iphone notes poetry, and watching Korean dramas.

Posts by Karis Lee

Before K-Pop there was… the Arirang? The First Korean students at Howard University

2/12/2020

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in DC by Karis Lee

Today, the K-Pop phenomenon has taken the world by storm; but it seems that American fascination with Korean music goes all the way back to the late 1800s, 1896 to be exact. Long before bands like BTS sold out stadiums, there were seven Korean (then called Chosun) students whose singing captured the attention of “dozens of damsels” at Howard University.

A Filipino Literary Landmark: The Manila House in D.C.

1/30/2020

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in DC by Karis Lee

Filipino family in front of a house (Source: University of Maryland Libraries, Special Collections)

2422 K St. NW, nestled in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood just down the street from the George Washington University, looks like any other D.C. row house. But for the Filipino community in D.C. during the 1930s through the 1950s, it was a haven - a source of culture, community, and comfort. As those who remember it fondly today can testify, 2422 K St. NW wasn’t just a row house; it was the Manila House.