'Beware of the Chicken Feather Duster': SF Grandmas Fight Anti-Asian Hate in New Rap

Grace Kim
·2 min read

A group of grandmothers in San Francisco Chinatown is bringing awareness to anti-Asian violence through the power of song and dance in a new Cantonese performance called Gai Mou Sou Rap.

Lyrical advocates: The rap translates to “Beware of the Chicken Feather Duster,” in reference to the common household item familiar to the grandmas in the group known as the Grant Avenue Follies.

  • “When you are naughty and getting out of line, the parents would go after you with that,” group member Emily Chin explained to KPIX 5.

  • It was written by Clara Hsu, director of Clarion Performing Arts Center where the group rehearses, who said the rap sends the message: “We are the authority. Don’t mess with us.”

  • “With this rap, I want to show the people ‘Don’t be mean to grandma. If it weren’t for grandma, you wouldn’t be here,’” said the group’s co-founder, Cynthia Yee.

  • Hsu has started a GoFundMe to cover production costs for the new rap, which the group hopes will be performed at anti-Asian violence rallies. "Clarion and the Follies feel compelled to bring the rap to life, to make a strong statement, to remind others the value and vitality of the seniors, and to beat violence with grace," the page reads.

  • The campaign has raised around $3,600 of its $20,000 goal as of this writing.


About the group: The Grant Avenue Follies, a senior dance group formed in 2003, has previously toured in venues across the world, from Las Vegas to China and Cuba.

  • They mostly put on local performances for the elderly and other fundraising events, which have reportedly raised "millions of dollars for senior citizen groups."


Featured Image via KPIX 5

Enjoy this content? Read more from NextShark!

Family-Owned Fruit Business in San Jose Has All Their Valuables Taken By Burglars

‘Smile for This Ch*nk!’: Florida Man Hurls Racial Slurs at Asian Woman Who Asked Him to Wear a Mask

Chinese Man Whose Visa Application Was Rejected 8 TIMES is Now a Billionaire America Depends On

Jeremy Lin Makes History as the First Asian American to Get Signature Basketball Shoes