As I recently mentioned, the very first AAPI National Presidential Town Hall, presented by APIA Vote, is happening this weekend, May 17 at the University of California at Irvine. It's going to be a historic event, with over 2000 community leaders, elected officials, voters and students representing our diverse community from across the country expected to participate.
They've extended invitations to the three presidential candidates. It's not going to be a debate, but this could be a really interesting opportunity for the candidates to address the APA community, and hear our issues and answer our concerns directly.
I've heard a pretty reliable rumor that the Clinton campaign has confirmed their participation for the event, but the organizers have yet to hear from the Obama and McCain campaigns. Dude, they better be there. Barack, where you at? And McCain, if you are indeed interested in courting the Asian vote, it might be a good idea to show up... this is Orange County, after all.
When is the Town Hall going to get confirmations from the two remaining candidates? Maybe they need a little push. If you or someone you know has been working on the various campaigns supporting Obama and McCain, it might be a good idea to make some calls and write a few emails urging them to participate.
A little grassroots pressure never hurt anyone. This is an important, historic event, and if the APA vote is indeed as important as everyone seems to be indicating, it would be a mistake for these candidates not to participate.
People will be traveling and flying in from all over to attend the Town Hall. It's going to be big. However, if you can't make to Irvine this Saturday, you can watch a live stream from the event on your computer: Electronic Presidential Town Hall. For more information on the National Presidential Town Hall, go here.
I recently heard from Mynette Louie, who producing the feature film The Kids Are Alright, based on Tze Chun's 2007 Sundance short Windowbreaker. I really loved that film, so I'm really happy to hear that Chun and Co. will be expanding and elaborating on that story. Here's the synopsis:
After being evicted from their home, the Cheng family finds that times are tighter than ever. Hardworking single mom and recent Boston transplant ELAINE (35) tries desperately to find the means to support her young children, RAYMOND (10) and TINA (6). They move illegally into a model apartment in an unfinished building, but try to maintain a normal life. While Elaine juggles a number of jobs, Raymond and Tina become latch-key kids, taking care of themselves and finding amusement in building childish inventions. When Elaine is arrested for unwittingly taking part in an illegal pyramid scheme, things take a turn for the worse. Nobody knows the kids are home alone, and they are left to fend for themselves. Without any communication from their mother, little Raymond hatches a plan -- to take the long trek from the suburbs to downtown Boston, withdraw his family's life savings from the bank, start a business selling his inventions, and take care of his sister.
Based on Tze Chun's own award-winning short film, Windowbreaker, which screened the 2007 Sundance Film Festival, The Kids Are Alright is a drama about the influence of an adult world on children, the immigrant mentality, and shortcuts to the American dream.
I normally get a little tired of all the casting stuff that comes my way, but I really like the sound of this project. They're hoping to shoot the film in New York and Boston this summer, and they're looking for fourteen speaking roles for Chinese/Chinese American actors (or actors who can pass as Chinese American). Here are some details from Mynette:
Hey Asian Am film people + people who might know AA/kid actors + people who might have seen a movie lately with good AA actors:
I need your help with casting.
I'm producing a film, Tze Chun's "The Kids Are Alright," based on his Sundance 2007 short "Windowbreaker." We're hoping to shoot the film in NYC (and a little in Boston too) this July and/or August. The film has 14 (yes, FOURTEEN) speaking roles for Chinese / Chinese American actors (or actors who can pass as Chinese American). We're in the process of signing the SAG ultra low budget agreement, meaning all speaking roles (whether or not the actor is SAG) will be paid $100/day as well as additional deferred pay.
If you know any NYC-based folks who would be great for any of the roles (Chinese or not), or can recommend any NYC-based casting directors who could help for a small fee (particularly w/the kid actors), please let me know. (Just so you know, we've also already contacted like every school in NYC with 60% or more Asian kids, so we've been having and will continue to have these open auditions at the schools--but if you can recommend any professional kid actors or any Chinese kids you personally know, lemme know.)
I've attached a character breakdown with actor submission instructions plus an overview of the film. You can also check out www.tkaa-movie.com for more info.
Thanks! Mynette
And here's the character breakdown for the Chinese roles. I imagine the success of this film will be largely dependent on the performances of the two kid actors:
[TINA CHENG] Girl, 5-9, Chinese American: Looks up to her brother. Very talkative around people she knows, shy around people she doesn't. Speaks fluent English.
[ELAINE CHENG] Female, 30-35, Chinese: A determined single mother. Tenacious. Won't take no for an answer. Immigrated 12 years ago from Hong Kong. Speaks with a slight Chinese accent. Speaks fluent Cantonese with no accent. Is hard on her kids at times, but does everything for them. A survivor.
[MICHAEL LEE] Male, 40s-50s, Chinese: A sweet businessman. He's active in the community and always trying to find ways to help people. Probably immigrated from Hong Kong, China, or Taiwan in his twenties. He's the kind of guy who started with nothing and built his business brick-by-brick.
[CHARLES CHENG] Male, 30s, Chinese: Raymond and Tina's absentee father. He lives in Hong Kong, and communicates with the kids long-distance. He's got a temper. Speaks fluent Cantonese with no accent.
[DORIS] Female, 50s, Chinese: Elaine's mother-in-law. Used to a comfortable life. Is protective of her grandchildren, and doesn't think Elaine's a good influence. Speaks fluent Cantonese with no accent.
[GREAT GRANDPA] Male, 70s, Chinese: Raymond and Tina's great-grandpa. He's thin, kind, and has Alzheimer's. He speaks very little English. He spends most of his life in his tiny Chinatown apartment, living in the past. Ability to speak Taishan or Fukian dialect a plus.
[LINDA GAU] Female, 50s, Chinese: Linda is down-to-earth and pragmatic. She wants what's best for her kids, but sometimes has trouble saying no. She's seen a lot in her life, and she always approaches personal and business interactions with a healthy bit of distrust.
[SUSAN GAU] Female, mid-late 20s, Chinese American: Susan and her mother live in Castle Square, the Chinatown projects. She went to local college, got married, and has a young child. She has bills to pay and wants to make money very very quickly. She's a bit more naive about the way the world works.
[NANCY] Female, late 30s-40s, Chinese: One of Elaine's co-workers in the pyramid scheme. High-strung. Competitive.
[ROSEMARY] Female, 40s, Chinese: One of Elaine's co-workers in the pyramid scheme. A smart, savvy, businesswoman. Dresses and acts very Chinese, but able to work with Americans.
[MRS. CHOW] Female, 50s, Chinese: New immigrant to the US. Came over to be with her son, who works in finance. Not happy with the weather and lifestyle in the US. Constantly bickering with her husband. Speaks fluent Mandarin or Cantonese with a Mandarin accent.
[MR. CHOW] Male, 50s, Chinese: New immigrant to the US. More reasonable than his wife. Speaks fluent Mandarin or Cantonese with a Mandarin accent.
[FELICIA] Female, 20s-40s, Chinese: Works as a real estate broker. The kind that is constantly showing houses but never selling or renting anything. We get the feeling she's just trying to get out of the house. (We are looking for a character actor here, someone compelling and quirky, who we can get to know in just one short scene. We are less concerned with a specific physical 'type.')
They've also got roles for non-Asian actors, as well as additional speaking roles and a need for extras. To submit, email your headshot and resume to tkaa.casting@gmail.com. To learn more about the film, visit the website (not much there right now) here. I can't wait to see what happens with this movie.
Whoa. Now this is an interesting development... It looks like they've caught the man who is suspected of attacking a Japanese food deliveryman in Brooklyn earlier this week: Jealous hubby knifed delivery guy - cops.
Turns out, it wasn't a robbery by some random thug, but the jealous husband of a woman Zheng was allegedly having an affair with. Drama! Definitely not your average deliveryman attack.
Zheng Hai Qing confessed to knifing Guant Zheng on Monday after he found out his wife was cheating on him. He lured the the victim to a fake address where he thought he was delivering a $17.90 order of two California rolls and two eel rolls. Instead, he was viciously attacked—stabbed in the back and chest. Damn.
24th los angeles asian pacific film festival: closing night
All right. It's been a good week at the 24th Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival. It's been a whirlwind, but I've seen a lot of great films, and hung out with some very cool people. I got to see stuff like Yung Chang's Up the Yangtze, Ron Morales' Santa Mesa, and Amyn Kaderali's Kissing Cousins, as well as a whole bunch of short films. Wonderful stuff, all around.
Things wrap up tonight with the Closing Night presentation of Tony Ayres' The Home Song Stories, starring Joan Chen (and you know how much I love Joan Chen). The evening's festivities include the film, presentation of the festival's awards, and a big fun party. Come on out, bring your friends, and support Asian American cinema. Well, I guess in this case, it's Asian Australian cinema. Either way, it's Joan Chen, and I can dig it.
In Seattle, a University of Washington senior resident physician suffered life-threatening injuries during a fight, and now Seattle Police are asking the public to help find the man who assaulted him: Doctor injured in Belltown fight.
36-year-old Peter Choi was walking around Third Avenue and Cedar in Belltown with friends when they came across two men who made a racial comment toward the whole group. Choi got upset and started arguing with them, but the attacker punched him, causing him to fall and strike his against the sidewalk. Then the assailant and several witnesses ran away before officers drove up.
According to police, the racial comment that started the fight doesn't automatically make it a hate crime... which is ridiculous to me. Must an assailant be shouting racial slurs while he's throwing the actual punch in order for it to qualify as a hate crime? This is a hate crime. That's racist!
The main assailant is described as a Hispanic male, 5-foot-11, 200 pounds, 22 to 29 years old; he was wearing a red shirt and blue jeans. The second man, a possible witness, is a white male who was wearing a black shirt and blue jeans. Help the police find these suspects!
Asian Behaving Badly... weather man edition. It's not all smiles and sunshine over at the Weather Channel. According to The Smoking Gun, a former anchor, Hillary Andrews, has filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against her colleague, Bob Stokes: Weather Channel In Sex Storm.
Andrews claims Stokes repeatedly tormented her with crude, sexual come-ons, including once allegedly asking her, "Will you lick my swizzle stick?" She also claims Stokes followed her into the women's dressing room, quizzed her about her sexual relationships, and pleaded with her to say she found him attractive. The guy sounds like a real winner.
I got to catch a screening of Speed Racer last night. On IMAX, no less. Based on the classic Japanese anime series, the live-action Hollywood feature film version is everything the frenetic trailers promise—a crazy visual assault. At times, I felt in danger of suffering from a seizure. They were definitely going for that live-action cartoon aesthetic, where everything and everyone is highly stylized, colorful, and nonstop. Is it a good movie? Hardly. But I had an okay time.
As we all know, everybody's favorite Korean pop star Rain is in the movie as Taejo Togokhan. He actually has a pretty substantial role in the story, and speaks a fair amount of (heavily accented) English. Pretty good performance, but he's definitely not the hero.
Also in the movie with relatively significant parts are Hiroyuki Sanada as Mr. Musha and Chinese actress Yu Nan as Horuko. Also keep a sharp eye out for Joon Park, Karl Yune, Togo Igawa, Ramon Tikaram and Shaft. Oh, and some ninjas.
Roy Pearson, would you please just give it up? Just go away, dude. As you may remember, the former DC administrative judge made headlines last year after suing the Chung family, owners of Custom Cleaners, for $54 million over an alleged missing pair of pants. He lost.
Not too long after that, a city panel decided not to reappoint Pearson after his term expired. My guess, it probably had something to do with the fact that his judgment was now severely under question after filing a ridiculous lawsuit like that. So he go the boot.
However, true to form, last week Pearson filed a lawsuit in federal court accusing city government and others of an "unlawful demotion and subsequent termination": Judge in pants lawsuit sues to get job back. Dude, Roy. You lost your job because you're a fool. Give it the f#@% up.
Been getting a handful of emails about this, but I first spotted it over at Disgrasian... It seems that it's all about the dance battles lately.
Here's the situation, as I understand it. A few weeks back, Step Up 2 the Streets director Jon M. Chu and actor Adam Sevani assembled a crew together, ACDC (Adam/Chu Dance Crew), to challenge Miley [Cyrus] and Mandy [Jiroux] to "The Biggest Online Dance Battle in YouTube history." Impressive.
Shortly thereafter, Miley and Mandy (M&M Cru) responded with a crazy battle video of their own. With even an appearance from Step Up star Channing Tatum. Slick. The video becomes a YouTube sensation of sorts.
Well, last week, ACDC shot back with another video... and it's downright epic, featuring a legion of dancers of all sorts, including the JabbaWockeeZ, Hok Konishi... and, um, Adam Sandler. Wow. Things just got out of hand. Is this what it looks like, to get served?
Clearly, these people all have waaaaay too much extra time on their hands.
What is the most dangerous job in New York City? It sounds ridiculous, but lately, I'd probably put Chinese food delivery near the top of the list. From the New York Post, we get another story of a brutal attack: DELIVERYMAN BRUTALLY STABBED. In Brooklyn, 26-year-old Asian-food deliveryman Quang Zheng is on life support after being stabbed during a robbery attempt on Monday night. He was making a delivery in Sheepshead Bay when he was accosted by a "thug" and stabbed repeated in his stomach with a sharp object. Delivering somebody's freakin' dinner should not be this hazardous to your health.
tcm presents "race and hollywood: asian images in film"
Mark your calendars and set your Tivos for this very cool broadcast event. In June, Turner Classic Movies is devoting the entire month to an extensive, in-depth look at how Asians have been depicted in film with Race and Hollywood: Asian Images in Film. It's part of an ongoing series of such examinations, first with African American images then gay images in film. Now they're looking at Asians, with a month-long marathon looking at everything from racist yellowface Charlie Chan stuff to more contemporary representations like The Joy Luck Club. It's like big, fat classic film festival—the good, the bad and the ugly.
The 35-film retrospective will be co-hosted by Dr. Peter X. Feng, scholar and author of Screening Asian Americans and Identities in Motion: Asian American Film and Video. In addition, a number of notable personalities will take part to provide personal insight into Hollywood's depiction of Asians, including filmmaker Wayne Wang, actress Ming Wen, writer Amy Tan, actress Rosalind Chao, actor George Takei, actress France Nuyen, actress Nancy Kwan, actor James Shigeta, actress Miiko Taka, film scholar Elaine Mae Woo, film producer Janet Yang and actress Lauren Tom. The festival will take place on Tuesday and Thursday nights in June, with each night's collection of films centering on a particular theme. Check out the schedule:
Tuesday, June 3 Silent Films
8 p.m. The Cheat (1915) followed by Filipinos Retreat From Trenches (1899) 9:45 p.m. Broken Blossoms (1919) 11 p.m. The Dragon Painter (1919) 12 a.m. Mr. Wu (1927) 1:45 a.m. The Bitter Tea of General Yen (1932)
Thursday, June 5 Anna May Wong
8 p.m. The Toll of the Sea (1922) 9 p.m. Old San Francisco (1927) 10:45 p.m. Piccadilly (1929) 12:45 a.m. Daughter of the Dragon (1931) 2 a.m. Shanghai Express (1932)
Tuesday, June 10 Asian Crime Fighters & Detectives
8 p.m. Charlie Chan at the Circus (1936) 9:30 p.m. Charlie Chan in Honolulu (1938) 10:45 p.m. The Scarlet Clue (1945) 12 a.m. Thank You, Mr. Moto (1937) 1:15 a.m. Daughter of Shanghai (1937)
Thursday, June 12 Pearl S. Buck
8 p.m. The Good Earth (1937) 10:30 p.m. Dragon Seed (1944) 1 a.m. China Sky (1945) 2:30 a.m. First Yank Into Tokyo (1945)
Tuesday, June 17 The Legacy of World War II
8 p.m. Go for Broke! (1951) 9:45 p.m. Bad Day at Black Rock (1955) 11:15 p.m. The Teahouse of the August Moon (1956) 1:30 a.m. Walk Like a Dragon (1960)
Thursday, June 19 Interracial & Intercultural Romance
8 p.m. Bridge to the Sun (1961) 10 p.m. China Doll (1958) 12 a.m. Sayonara (1957) 2:30 a.m. The World of Suzie Wong (1960)
Tuesday, June 24 Race Consciousness and the Civil Rights Era
8 p.m. The Crimson Kimono (1959) 9:30 p.m. The Mountain Road (1960) 11:30 p.m. Flower Drum Song (1961) 2 a.m. Enter the Dragon (1973)
Thursday, June 26 Contemporary Asian Images
8 p.m. Rush Hour 2 (2001) 10 p.m. The Joy Luck Club (1993) 12:30 a.m. The Killing Fields (1984) 3 a.m. Mr. Baseball (1992)
For a huge film buff like me, this is fantastic news. With appropriate historical context, it provides the opportunity to see a lot of stuff we normally don't get a chance to see, like the early silents and the Anna Mae Wong films. Really could've done without Rush Hour 2 though. But I'm particularly interested in seeing Walk Like a Dragon, Bridge to the Sun and The Crimson Kimono—all starring James Shigeta, and none of which are available on DVD. I'm going to have to free up some room on my DVR. It's all happening next month on TCM. For more information, visit the website here.
asia society: what does being asian american mean to you?
This is pretty cool stuff... To celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, Asia Society has joined with YouTube in a call-out initiative asking people everywhere: "What does being Asian American mean to you?"
The video above features folks like Sandra Oh, Lisa Ling, Hung Huynh, George Takei, Kal Penn, Yul Kwon and even YouTube founder Steve Chen, all asking you to speak out and share your story. You could even win an iPod Nano—the video with the most views by 5PM Eastern Time on Saturday, May 31st wins. To respond, go here. To see more videos, go here.
5th annual asian american association film festival at uc davis
This is for all my people at UC Davis... the 5th annual Asian American Association Film Festival is about to go down, running May 6-16. The event includes six feature films over six nights, as well as shorts, music videos, guest speakers and a student film contest. Things kick off tonight with a screening of Richard Wong and H.P. Mendoza's Colma: The Musical. They've got a kickass lineup of works I really respect and love, including Journey From the Fall, Lead Role: Father, Windowbreaker, Pilgrimage and American Pastime. Here's the full slate:
MAY 6TH - TUE (7:00pm - 9:00pm) - OPENING NIGHT Short Films: SMALL AND SHY; LOST SOLE Feature Film: COLMA: THE MUSICAL
MAY 8TH - THUR (7:00pm - 9:00pm) Short Film: GIRL WITH A WALKMAN Feature Film: DARK MATTER
MAY 9TH - FRI (8:00pm - 10:00pm) Short Film: FORTUNE HUNTERS Feature Film: JOURNEY FROM THE FALL
MAY 13TH - TUE (7:00pm - 9:00pm) Short Films: LEAD ROLE: FATHER; WINDOWBREAKER Feature Film: NEW YEAR BABY
MAY 15TH - THUR (7:00pm - 9:00pm) Short Films: MISS CHINATOWN, USA; UMBILICAL Feature Film: TIE A YELLOW RIBBON
MAY 16TH - FRI (8:00pm - 10:00pm) - FINALE Student Film Contest: TBA Short Film: PILGRIMAGE Feature Film: AMERICAN PASTIME
Best of all, everything is completely free. I attended the festival a while back, during its inaugural year, and was really impressed with whole event. The entire thing is student run, and they managed to put together a really awesome program for the UC Davis community. If you're in the area, I highly recommend checking it out. For more information on the festival, visit the website here and the Facebook group here.
While our nation examines the possibility of its first female or black President, there's also another historic political race going on in Portland. This year, the city will elect its first gay or first Asian American mayor. Whoever gets elected—Sam Adams or Sho Dozono—it's going to be a very big deal: Mayor's race will make history. But while this is historic for the region's Asian American and gay and lesbian communities, as this editorial points out, neither candidate wants to be pigeonholed as "the gay guy or the Asian American guy."
So we've been following along with ongoing Rain/Stephen Colbert "feud." The rivalry began a few years back when the Korean pop star defeated Comedy Central's faux news host in TIME's annual online poll of the world's most influential person. In some of his most inspired bits, Colbert shot back with various pokes at Rain, including his own K-pop music video. Recently, Rain talked a little smack back, advising Stephen not to quit his day job. As it happens neither of them actually came out on top in the poll this year: Colbert, Rain Not Most Influential.
Ultimately, Colbert challenged Rain to come on the show for a "dance off," so their struggle for world dominance could finally be settled. Would it happen? There were some rumors rumbling last week that Rain was spotted in and around the Colbert Report studio, getting folks excited about the possibility. Well, the showdown happeend last night, and indeed, it was a true battle for greatness. It didn't happen on the live show, but in the "after-hours," apparently: Rain Dance Off. Hilarious. Colbert, you got served.
With Rain trying to take his mega-pop stardom into the United States, including his upcoming appearance in Speed Racer, this is fantastic exposure. And he seems pretty good-natured to play along. The feud with Colbert might end up being the best thing to happen for Rain's future in America.
A.R. Sakaeda has a really interesting essay over at the Chicago Tribune blog about Asian Americans, the model minority stereotype, and how that perception is a complete load of crap: Rejecting the model in 'model minority'. She touches on a lot of issues that many of us can probably relate to, and a lot of the ideas I grappled with when I created this very website (I should note, I get name-checked near the end of the piece). I liked this part:
When people talk about the model minority, "model" is code for never making other people feel uncomfortable about racism. "Model" means not being like all those other troublesome people of color. It means keeping your mouth shut and your eyes lowered. It means smiling brightly and nodding along. Yes, sir! Whatever you say, sir! It means never complaining.
Members of the model minority often are used to shame other people of color. They can do it, why can't you? If you would only have those same close-knit families. If you only valued education more. If you only worked harder. Racism is a thing of the past.
Holding up Asian Americans as a model divides communities of color, making it difficult for us to see our commonalities.
"Model" too often means you don’t have to ride in the back of the bus. You can ride near the front of the bus, but you have to be very, very careful never to say anything about the people forced to ride in back, as writer David Mura notes. But being silent means being complicit and I can not afford to be either.
Being the model minority means never speaking out against racism. I once launched into a tirade against white co-workers who repeatedly used the N-word. Perhaps the reason they felt free to use it was because they considered me to be more like them. But after my tirade, they probably presumed I was part black. The angry Asian American isn't a stereotype, at least not yet. But we are out there and racism makes us angry.
She hits the nail on the head. Part of the problem with the model minority image is that it paints Asian Americans as a quiet, passive, compliant community. We're supposed to be the good ones, refusing to rock the boat and unwilling to speak out and stand up for social justice. What's worse, there are Asian Americans among us who have bought into this myth. It's this perception—of apathy and complacency, basically—that allows the injustices to occur in the first place. Thankfully, some are willing to get a little dirty, and angry. Model minority, my ass.
One film I'm really looking forward to seeing is Tarsem's (yes, just "Tarsem") The Fall. You may remember his movie The Cell, a really underappreciated serial killer thriller starring Jennifer Lopez, from a few years back. Kind of short on story, but absolutely crazy insane awesome visuals. The Fall looks even more stunning, and I can't wait to see it. Watch the trailer here (make sure you view it in HD format), and check out the official website here. The Fall opens in select theaters this Friday, May 9.
Here's a statement released last week from Senator Barack Obama, commemorating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month:
Dear Friends,
The month of May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month – a time to honor and celebrate the extraordinary contributions of the nearly 13 million Asian and Pacific Americans (APA) who have helped build a strong and vibrant America. The APA community represents many ethnicities and languages that span across generations, and their shared achievements are an important part of the American experience.The APA story and community are also personal to me. Members of my family are of Asian descent and it is a community that I became a part of while growing up in Hawaii and Indonesia and living in Los Angeles, New York and Chicago. APA Heritage Month reminds us of our commonalities in history, the values that bring us together and how Asian Pacific Americans will shape America's future.
Beyond acknowledging the contributions of the APA community, APA Heritage Month is also an opportunity for us to recognize the challenges we still face. Our nation is at war, our planet is in peril, and for increasing numbers of Americans of Asian and Pacific descent, the American dream is in danger of slipping away. As President, I will work with the APA community to ensure that all Americans have access to quality, affordable and portable healthcare that will also reduce the language and cultural barriers that limit access to our medical system. We will make sure the global economy works for APAs by fixing our public education system, making college affordable through an annual $4,000 tax credit, and equipping our workers with the skills and training they need to compete. We will invest in renewable energy, which will ease our rising fuel costs while also saving our planet. We will do more to support small businesses, including strengthening programs that provide capital to minority-owned businesses. We will develop comprehensive immigration reforms that strengthen our security while affirming our heritage as a nation of immigrants, and reach. We will restore our Constitution and the rule of law, including our commitment to human rights abroad and civil liberties at home. Finally, we must forge a more effective regional framework for collective security in Asia and the Pacific to promote political and economic stability, confront transnational threats like terrorism and influenza, and collectively address environmental concerns.
With your support, I am confident that we can address these challenges. I am thankful to the many leaders, campaign organizers and grassroots volunteers of Asian and Pacific descent across the country, who have registered thousands of new voters, conducted phone-banking, organized canvassing trips, hosted political events, translated campaign materials into numerous Asian languages, and much more. By reaching out directly to the APA community, we can ensure that APAs are well represented in this national conversation about our future and the movement to write our destiny.
So, as we celebrate APA Heritage Month, let us honor the achievements of Asian Pacific Americans who have contributed so much to the success and prosperity of our nation, and who must be a part of our effort to change America.
The story of the APA community is quintessential American story about drawing strength from our diversity to achieve extraordinary things. With your continued energy, enthusiasm, passion and activism, the change we seek is within reach.
Sincerely, Barack Obama
In case you didn't know, I'm supporting Barack Obama for President of the United States.
Not all nail salons are Vietnamese-owned... but man, there certainly are a lot of them. In California, Vietnamese Americans make up an estimated 80% of nail technicians, according to the industry's trade publication. Nationwide, it's 43%.
Here's a very interesting Los Angeles Times article offering something of an overview of the huge number of Vietnamese manicurists in the United States, and the impact of their massive presence in the industry over the last 30 years: Vietnamese nail down the U.S. manicure business.
In a way, Vietnamese Americans have changed the nature of the manicure industry, transforming it from a luxurious indulgence into an affordable American routine, thanks to all the crazy competition driving prices down. I had no idea it all started with actress Tippi Hedren...
I swear, this news is true. In Vancouver, police arrested a man dressed as a ninja who tried to break into a house: Police bust a wanna be Ninja thief. The man is now being held for a psychiatric assessment before facing weapons charges. Ninja weapons charges.
According to police, the man was wielding a long Samurai sword when he tried to enter the home on Saturday. The frightened owner managed to close the door just as the ninja dude was coming through. The would-be ninja thief then tried to break in through another entrance, but was arrested after police arrived. Not very stealthy, Mr. Ninja.
Somebody has been watching too many Sho Kosugi movies. The funny thing is, there were reports of another ninja costume-clad thief breaking into homes in New York earlier this year. Except he used nunchucks. Something tells me this is not the same guy. (Thanks, Frank.)
former internees to receive honorary degrees at uw
The above photo was taken in the fall of 1941 at the University of Washington before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. At the time, they were UW's single largest ethnic group. But by spring, they were gone, shipped away and incarcerated in internment camps. Now, 66 years later, the University plans to issue honorary degrees to all those Japanese Americans forced to leave campus in the months after Pearl Harbor: For former WWII internees, UW degrees come after 66-year wait. It's an unprecedented move for the UW, which has issued just 11 honorary degrees since 1885.
The ceremony will take place on May 18, with keynote speaker Norm Mineta, former U.S. transportation secretary (who was also an internee). For more information about the event, go here: The Long Journey Home: Honoring UW Nikkei Students of 1941-1942. 66 years is way too long to for such an acknowledgement. But at least it's happening. This sounds like a really great way to draw attention to this part of history and make sure it isn't forgotten.
save east asian languages and korean studies at berkeley
I've heard from several students in East Asian Language programs at UC Berkeley who say their programs are now in danger due to budget cuts. Basically, state-determined budget cuts are reducing the East Asian Language programs (Chinese, Japanese and Korean) to half of what they currently are, resulting in numerous layoffs and huge cuts in the number of students who can take East Asian classes.
What's most disturbing about this development is that Korean Studies, already a small, historically neglected program at Cal, is apparently in danger of being completely eliminated, with a cut of 66%. Here's some information passed along to me from Christine, a member of the ad hoc "Committee to Save Korean Studies at Berkeley":
UC Berkeley Students Protest Cuts to East Asian Languages
Korean Cut 66%, Chinese Cut 54%, Japanese Cut 40%
Thousands of UC students are protesting the drastic cuts made to East Asian language education at UC Berkeley. According to the projected budget figures for the next academic year, 66% of Korean language classes, 54% of Chinese language classes, and 40% of Japanese language classes will be eliminated. As a result of the cuts, more than 1500 students currently taking East Asian language classes will no longer be able to continue their studies.
The cuts will have devastating effects on Chinese and Japanese language studies, but they threaten the very existence of Korean language studies, which were in a precarious state even before the announced cuts.
The negative impact of the budget cuts extends well beyond just the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures (EALC). The department has announced that students from other Colleges and Schools will be barred from taking East Asian language classes (http://ealc.berkeley.edu/message.htm). As a result, hundreds of students in engineering, economics, law, business, history, and political science will be unable to pursue languages critical to their future careers.
Students at UC Berkeley are using all channels of protest, both traditional andinnovative, to oppose the cuts. In addition to meeting with administrators, circulating petitions, and writing letters to campus officials and state politicians, various student groups have turned to blogs and Facebook to organize protest efforts and disseminate information. These sites and groups include savekoreanstudies@blogspot.com, 'Save Korean Studies at UC Berkeley,' 'Object to East Asian Language and Cultures Budget Cuts' and 'Support East Asian Language Education.'
The cuts to East Asian language education at Berkeley are particularly shocking given UC Berkeley's role as a flagship campus on the Pacific Rim. Nearly 45% of UC Berkeley's students are of Asian descent. For many students, Berkeley is the only place where they can receive formal instruction in their heritage languages. Demand for East Asian languages among both heritage and non-heritage learners has skyrocketed over the past decade, and even before the cuts, hundreds of students were turned away or wait-listed from East Asian language classes.
There's a currently mass email campaign being waged, a press conference happening on Wednesday and a rally on Thursday in Berkeley to address the budget cuts. To learn more about the effort to Save East Asian Languages and Korean Studies at UC Berkeley, including links to the various Facebook groups and online petitions, and—most importantly—what you can do to help, visit the blogs here and here.
On Sunday, Anthony Kim became the youngest winner of the PGA Tour in more than six years when he clinched a five-stroke victory at the Wachovia Championship: Anthony Kim Becomes Youngest PGA Tour Winner In Six Years. He earned $1,134,000, winning in a near-flawless performance.
At 22-years-old (he turns 23 next month) he's been described by fellow players as "Tiger-esque." Though, it should be noted that defending champion Tiger Woods wasn't able to play due to knee surgery. More here on Kim's win: Kim becomes youngest PGA Tour winner in six years with easy Wachovia win. Ah, to be young and awesome at golf.
These crazy, gravity-defying photos are by Chinese artist Li Wei, an attempt to convey "his continual sense of lost gravity." Read all about it here: The amazing pictures of an artist dangling horizontally out of a skyscraper. How does he do it? Sometimes, he apparently puts himself in real danger. Photoshop would probably be a safer option.
"media messengers" panel at the la asian pacific film festival
Had a great time last night at Opening Night of the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival. They know how to throw a party. This is coming together kind of last minute, but I'll be participating in a festival panel discussion on Saturday called Media Messengers: Asian Pacific Americans and Our Political Voice. The seminar was originally supposed to be feature Eric Byler and Annabel Park, but it seems they can't participate due to scheduling conflicts. So I've been asked to take part, alongside some cool other "media messengers." Here's the program description:
Where are Asian Americans in the election process and how will our voices count? Come join filmmakers Eric Byler, Annabelle Park and other special guests for an exciting discussion on how Asian American filmmakers and actors are taking it upon themselves to activate the Asian American voter bloc. Whether its championing a presidential candidate or appearing in a Get Out the Vote campaign, learn how they are embracing media tools and the Internet to level the political playing field and ensure that our voices are being heard.
It's happening on Saturday, May 3, noon at the Directors Guild of America in West Hollywood. If you're in the area, come on out and sit in on the discussion. And if you're hanging around the vicinity tonight, check out some of the screenings and programs like Francis Hsueh and Steven Hahn's Pretty To Think So, Alexi Tan's Blood Brothers, and Gina Kim's Never Forever. For more information about the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, visit the website here.
The photo above was recently snapped by a keen-eyed reader at a McDonald's in Durham, North Carolina. Best way to advertise your totally awesome "Asian Salad"? A stereotypical Asian chef caricature in your window, of course. At least he doesn't have buck-teeth. But dammit, just once, could someone draw an Asian person with some real frickin' eyes? That's racist! (Thanks, Daniel.)
Well, it's May, and we all know what that means. It's Asian Pacific Amercian Heritage Month! Whoo. Well, around here, it's APA Heritage Month every month, but I guess everywhere else it's been relegated to the month of May. So be it.
This year actually marks the 30th anniversary of the first Asian Pacific American Heritage Week. The U.S. first celebrated the occasion in 1978, thanks to the efforts of Representatives Norman Mineta and Frank Horton, and Senators Daniel Inouye and Spark Matsunaga. Now we've got the whole month dedicated to the celebration of our community and heritage.
Here's an informative statement from the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, released yesterday:
CAPAC Celebrates 30th Anniversary of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
Washington, DC – Congressman Michael Honda (CA-15), Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) released the following statement today in celebration of Asian Pacific American (APA) Heritage Month, which takes place May of each year:
"Asian Pacific American Heritage Month is a time for us to take pride in the diversity of our nation, celebrate the contributions of Asian American and Pacific Islanders to this nation, and reaffirm our commit to the promise of America’s future for all Americans.
"This year marks the 30th anniversary of the first Asian Pacific American Heritage Week. Our country first celebrated this opportunity for reflection in 1978, thanks to the efforts of Representatives Norman Mineta and Frank Horton, and Senators Daniel Inouye and Spark Matsunaga. Now an annual event, the month of May gives both Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) and non-Asians around the nation a chance to celebrate the rich heritage of our community, reflect on the challenges overcome in our past, and look forward with hope and optimism toward our future.
"The first AAPI settlement in this country dates to 1763, when Filipinos escaped imprisonment aboard Spanish galleons and established a community near New Orleans. Chinese and Japanese immigrants likewise started communities in Hawai’i and California, where they sought labor and agricultural opportunities.
"From the time of these first settlements, AAPIs have experienced dual currents of discrimination and assimilation. In the difficult times, Asians were singled out for persecution by such acts as the Exclusion Laws of 1882 and 1924, and the Alien Land Act of 1913, which prohibited AAPI property ownership.
"From the legal fight against internment championed by Fred Korematsu, to the efforts in response to the 1982 murder of Vincent Chin in Detroit, to the current fight for full benefits for the thousands of Filipinos who fought for our country during World War II, the national AAPI community has stood ready to rally for justice and equality.
"Rather than withdraw, grow embittered, or be cowed by discrimination, the AAPI community has embraced and actively participated in American society. In addition to the tireless commitment of many AAPI families to raise their children as positive contributors to their various communities – by investing in education, businesses, and opportunities for the future – individual AAPIs have distinguished themselves for their service and vision.
"This list of notables includes Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianole, who in 1903 became the first Native Hawai’ian and Pacific Islander to serve in Congress; Dalip Singh Saund, who in 1956 became the first Asian American elected to Congress; Hiram Leong Fong, who in 1959 became the first AAPI member of the United States Senate; and Patsy Mink, who forty-three years ago became the first Asian American woman elected to the Congress. Congresswoman Mink’s historical efforts for educational gender equity through Title IX continue to make us proud of our history.
"Today this legacy continues. Under the Clinton Administration, Secretary Norman Mineta became the first AAPI appointed to a cabinet-level position and is the first AAPI to be a cabinet member under two different administrations. Congressman Robert Matsui was a member of the Democratic leadership serving as the highest-ranking AAPI in congressional history. Congresswoman Matsui now carries on the great work of her late husband. Congresswoman Mazie Hirono of Hawai’i joined our CAPAC ranks last year. On the gubernatorial front, former governor of Washington State, Gary Locke, the first AAPI elected as governor on the mainland, commands national attention. Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal followed suit last year, when he was elected as the first person of Indian descent to serve as governor of a state, and the first minority governor of Louisiana since Reconstruction.
"Today, we celebrate not only the individuals that have forged milestones throughout our proud history, but we also celebrate our growing community. Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are a critical part of our nation’s growth and success. With more than 15 million Americans identifying themselves as Asian American or Pacific Islander, this community is one of the fastest growing in the United States. The individuals of this American community make up 16 major ethnic groups, speak over nine different languages in the U.S., and belong to a number of different religions and cultures. Their diversity reflects the richness and strength of our country.
"We are thankful to Speaker Nancy Pelosi and our current Democratic leadership, who have been vocal supporters of the AAPI community and recognize the contributions we have made and the struggles that continue.
"With increasing diversity, there are significant challenges due to cultural, linguistic, and socio-economic barriers. As Chair of the Congressional American Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), I am proud of the fierce advocacy of our Caucus members on important issues affecting the AAPI community. Through our CAPAC Task Forces, we have targeted such goals as eliminating racial and ethnic health disparities, protecting voting rights for racial, ethnic, and language minorities, enacting comprehensive immigration reform, fighting to create jobs, providing educational opportunities for the underserved, and ensuring full equity for the Filipino veterans who proudly served under the American flag during World War II. On the issue of the Filipino veterans, we have in the Senate, made great strides in securing the promised benefits for these brave veterans. Now is the time to fully recognize the services of these soldiers who fought for us in the Pacific theatre. I call on my colleagues in the House of Representatives to take urgent action and provide these veterans with the recognition and benefits they deserve.
"CAPAC has had the privilege to work with our colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and the Congressional Native American Caucus to advance the dialogue on these important issues.
"The many AAPI communities participating in this year’s APA Heritage Month should be proud of our diverse heritage. I look forward to continuing our work together as we remember where we have been and celebrate where we are going."
It's official—we're awesome. And we're celebrating it. All month.
This week in Honolulu, a group of Native Hawaiians locked the gates of Iolani Palace, the former home of Hawaiian royalty, and took over the grounds, saying they were reclaiming land of the Hawaiian monarchy that was stolen during the overthrow of the kingdom more than 100 years ago: Hawaiian sovereignty seekers take over palace grounds.
The group, Hawaiian Kingdom Government, said it would occupy the palace grounds—a major tourist attraction—indefinitely and start carrying out the business of what it considers "the legitimate government of the Hawaiian Islands." Unarmed security guards from the group blocked all gates to the palace. The group's leader, Mahealani Kahau, says the group does not recognize Hawaii as an American state, and had no intention of leaving the grounds.
But after more than six hours, the protesters agreed to end the blockade. No arrests were immediately made, but state officials said the protesters could still be charged. Protest leaders had said they were prepared to be arrested and would go peacefully.
I will not pretend to know where these people are coming from, but I understand the situation. And they need to do what they have to do. This is certainly a way of drawing attention to their cause. However, I'm not so sure it's going to be effective in achieving what they ultimately want.
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