Throughout May, the White Sox celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, recognizing the contributions these communities have brought forth throughout Chicagoland and beyond. Earlier this week, the Sox welcomed Chicago-born photographer Kyle Szeto to capture the energy, excitement and meaning behind AAPI Night at Rate Field on Monday, May 19. A Chinese-American creative raised just blocks from the ballpark, Szeto was the ideal visual storyteller to document an evening rooted in pride, heritage and celebration.
The pregame festivities commenced with a vibrant performance of a traditional Lion Dance, featuring rhythm and movement by the Haines Lion Dance Team from John Charles Haines Elementary School. Fans were then treated to a moving rendition of the National Anthem from musical artist Luna Lee. Born in Seoul, South Korea, Lee is known worldwide for reimagining modern songs using the Gayageum — a centuries-old zither-like string instrument she’s mastered since being introduced to the art at age 12. Lee’s performance captured attention back home in South Korea where she was featured in their local newspaper.
In the middle of the third inning, the White Sox proudly honored Chief Petty Officer Kim Turner of the U.S. Navy as the evening’s Hero of the Game. A Korean-American service member, Turner’s recognition served as a meaningful reminder of the many ways individuals and groups from the AAPI community continue to lead, serve and inspire both on and off the field.
Szeto’s visual perspective is the first of several scheduled photographer visits for this year’s White Sox Game Changers series, presented by Modelo. Now in its ninth season empowering underrepresented communities in sports, the series is one of the many ways the organization continues to elevate multidimensional storytelling and foster a sense of belonging for every fan at the ballpark.
Learn more about upcoming celebrations, including Pride at the Park at whitesox.com/promos, or sign up for the latest Baseball for All Bulletin at whitesox.com.
White Sox AAPI Night Through the Lens of Chinese-American Photographer Kyle Szeto was originally published in Inside the White Sox on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.