Dorothy G. Quock | 86

There is no quick way to summarize Dorothy G. C. Quock, who is also known as Polka Dot. She is an SF native and grew up in Chinatown, a middle child in a family with 9 children, which were young during the Depression. She spent time out of Chinatown as she moved with her husband and young children in other parts of California, but she came back here after divorcing from her husband. Dorothy is both gentle and fierce, and an embodiment, driver, and forger of community. To know her is to know someone who combines all these things: an activist for progressive causes, a walking tour guide, a style icon, a fan of Ralph Nader, a clothes designer, a mother, a champion for women’s reproductive rights, a force. Now 88, Dorothy is the focus of a documentary soon to be released by the series, Chinatown Shorts, “Becoming Polka Dot”. In a recent event in Chinatown, neon was never brighter, the documentary aired and it was followed by a fashion show of the clothes she has made and in which her Supervisor, Aaron Peskin, modeled some of her creations.

Interview dates: 6/23/20 and 8/2/20

Interviewed by: Anna Chodos

Referred by: Carmen

Thanks to: James Q. Chan for many photos and collaboration.

Edited by Calibrate Films and True Medusa Pictures. Music by Soundology.