Himalayan Dumplings by Kyikyi, in Beaverton, Ore., recently began selling a line of frozen momo. The founder, Tenzin Yeshi — known as Kyikyi — uses her social media platform to raise awareness about all aspects of Tibet, where her parents were born and which they fled for Nepal. So on her Instagram feed, amid photos of succulent momo with bright red dipping sauce were images of Tibetan flags and calls to boycott the Beijing Olympics. An explanatory cooking video about baking round Amdo Phaleb bread, narrated by Kyikyi, mentioned that Amdo, the region where the bread originates, was the birthplace of the Dalai Lama — and that it had been largely absorbed by China.
“When you are a vocal Tibetan, speaking out about our occupation and the persecution, they will just come to you,” Kyikyi said of online trolls.
Occasionally Kyikyi writes rebuttals. “I take the time and effort to respond, and be respectful about it, and say, ‘Have a good day,’” she said.
The founder of Nguyen Coffee Supply, Sahra Nguyen, has zero tolerance for trolls. Ms. Nguyen sources her beans from Vietnam, where her parents were born. They eventually fled as refugees to the United States after the Vietnam War. Ms. Nguyen roasted more than 80,000 pounds of beans last year in Brooklyn, the company’s home base.
“As a company, our policy is we don’t engage, we don’t respond,” Ms. Nguyen said. “I don’t want my employees to enter a toxic environment.” Antagonistic or demeaning remarks are deleted or hidden on their online channels.
“It’s about really taking and keeping control of the narrative that we want to share,” she said, adding that she’s also mindful of customers. “I don’t want them to experience that type of negativity, either.”
Source: | This article originally belongs to Nytimes.com
