And there you go. That concludes the month of May, and our very special list of the 30 Most of Influential Asian Americans Under 30. It was quite an undertaking, and to be honest, if I knew how difficult it was going to be to put this list together, I might not have done it. But overall, I'm fairly satisfied with how it turned out, and it was a nice little exercise to survey all the young people in the Asian American who are doing cool things. To recap, they are:
Eugene Kang, 25, Special Assistant to the President
Thank you to everyone who submitted nominations. Unfortunately, 30 is 30, and I couldn't fit everyone, even though there were many others I really wanted to include on the list. That said, here are some honorable mentions:
...just to name a few. Like I said, this was a tricky, difficult process. But I was glad to do it, and from what I heard, most people seemed to dig it. Who knows? Maybe we'll do it again next year. After all, that's the cool thing -- there's never a short supply of young, awesome, influential Asian Americans.
Kev Nish, Prohgress, J-Splif and DJ Virman Ages: 27 Far*East Movement
Why they're influential: Because they're gettin' your ass on the dance floor. Already established icons in the Asian American hip hop scene, Far*East Movement -- or simply "FM" -- are now turning heads and bringing fresh music to the masses, with radio-friendly tracks like "You've Got a Frend," "Lowridin" and "Girls On The Dance Floor" off their sophomore album Animal.
Formed in 2003 by friends and emcees Kev Nish (Kevin Nishimura), Prohgress (James Roh), and J-Splif (Jae Choung), the group rapidly gained recognition in the Los Angeles underground for their energetic live shows and strong internet presence. I first saw these guys at a tiny record store show back in 2004, and instantly became a fan. These guys were stars.
Partnered with mastermind manager Carl Choi and Catch Music Group, FM has been working hard and making major moves, each step taking them to bigger and badder things. They were featured in the soundtrack for The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, have performed in shows around the world and are currently getting national major radio play.
Yes, America. You're invited to this Asian party. I can't get enough of "Girls On The Dance Floor." Sure, the song is ridiculous -- like the radio really needs another ditty about girls, drinks and dancing. But the track, powered by the Grammy-nominated Stereotypes, is utterly infectious. I dare you to resist the urge to bob your head to that kickass beat.
Did I also mention that they're just cool, fun guys? Through all their success thus far, they've held it down and represented, maintaining a strong connection to their fans and community. I consider them friends, and it's great to see where their talent (and a lot of hustle) has taken them. Who knows what moves they'll making next? Crank up the radio to find out.
See the rest of the 30 Most Influential Asian Americans Under 30 here.
Why she's influential: Because she writes sharp, clever commentary on racism, sexism and stereotypes... and makes you laugh while doing it. Diana Nguyen is one half of the DISGRASIAN duo, a pair of asskickers in the Asian American blogosphere. To tell you about Diana, I'm handing over the rest of this post to her partner in crime, the awesome (also-influential) Jen Wang:
Let's be very clear about one thing: the only reason I didn't make this list is because I wasn't able to doctor my birth certificate in time the way those adorable little Chinese gymnasts did theirs before the Olympics. But if I can't be on this, there's no one I'd rather see on it more than my partner-in-crime, Diana. (And I mean that...I've already turned the other 29 people's pictures into dartboards.) Because DISGRASIAN wouldn't exist without her. Literally. She invented the word years before we started the blog, to describe a co-worker who wore flip-flops with socks to work, slurped instant noodles at her desk every day at lunch, and committed what can only be described as a cardinal sin in Diana's holy book--the poor girl lacked charisma.
DISGRASIAN also wouldn't exist without Diana because, as we've always said from the beginning, it's a blog that, at its irreverent-and-often-bitchy heart, is an ongoing conversation between two people. I think if we'd set out to write an "Asian-American blog" or a "political blog" or a "feminist blog" or even a blog that we thought people would actually read, we might have gotten overwhelmed and scared and failed miserably, disappointing our Hardass Asian Parents yet again--after we explained to them what a blog was in the first place, that is.
And if I had to carry on this conversation alone, it would be far more brooding and dark (a wonderful byproduct of being over the age of 30, just so you know). But Diana brings the light. If I had to cast us as Beatles, she'd be Paul, writing songs that people belt out joyfully at bars, locked arm-in-arm with strangers, and I'd be John, writing songs designed to make people weep, which probably goes a long way toward explaining why I adore Yoko and Diana simply can't stomach her. But when, on a regular basis, you're writing about racism, sexism, stereotypes, and things that suck in the world, you can't cry all the time, it's too exhausting. Humor is sometimes the only thing that sustains you. And no one has made me laugh more in the last two-and-a-half years--since we've been doing DISGRASIAN--than Diana. I'm sure many of our readers feel the exact same way.
See the rest of the 30 Most Influential Asian Americans Under 30 here.
Why he's influential: Because he's a fashion prodigy. No designer this young should possess this much talent, or a career that has accomplished so much in such a short span of time. But Alexander Wang has done it, basically bringing a hotness that has blown the lid off the fashion industry. So I'm told.
I'm going to take the lazy route now and just post Alexander Wang's official bio in lieu of a proper entry. Because it's been a long week, and to be honest, when it comes to serious conversations about fashion, I'm not going to pretend I know what I'm talking about. That said, it's pretty clear this guy knows what he's doing:
"Anyone can get all dressed up and glamorous, but it is how people dress in their off days, that are the most intriguing. It's during these in between, wayward days when a person's tru style emerges from their everyday life, forming the basis of Alexander Wang's collection where clean, classic, luxurious and refined silhouettes are introduced to an urban street provocative ideal. Like the collection itself, the girls he dresses stand out, but not in the obvious ways. More like the black sheep in a crowd -- inspiring, surprising and slightly mysterious.
The directive in Alex's vision is upholding your own individuality, and breaking the conventional idea of a predictable uniform. A tee shirt and jeans can be just as sexy and stylish as an evening gown. The ways in which his clothes are unabashedly styled and worn are as imperative to him as the clothes themselves. Alex's love for contrasts is reflected throughout the collection with juxtaposing notes of street and luxe, sexy versus androgyny, and where vagabond meets a street-smart modernist.
As a Native Californian, Alex was born and raised in San Francisco and has a Chinese American family heritage. At the age of 18, he moved to New York City where he attended Parsons Design School and partook in a variety of internships. By his sophomore year, Alex was already designing the first collection of his label Alexander Wang, which was predominantly knits. He launched his full women's collection in 2007, selling internationally to over 200 boutique and retail stores, and a full accessories collection followed in 2008.
Now at 25, Alex resides in New York City's Lower East Side, where there is never a shortage of inspiration in music, life, reality and culture. In 2008, Alexander Wang received top honors as the recipient of the Vogue/CFDA Fund; and in 2009, he was recognized by his peers with his second nomination for the CFDA Swarovski Womens Wear Designer of the Year Award."
See the rest of the 30 Most Influential Asian Americans Under 30 here.
This is for all you film fans in Houston... Slant is back! This weekend, Aurora Picture Show presents the Ninth Annual Slant: Bold Asian American Images festival, highlighting the latest in emerging films from Asian American filmmakers. It's happening this Saturday, May 30, 7:00 pm at the Glasell School of Art. The basic info:
WHEN AND WHERE: Slant Film Festival
Screening: 7 p.m., Saturday, May 30
Location for the event: Freed Auditorium, Glassell School of Art, 5101 Montrose.
TICKET INFO: Tickets to the Slant screening are $6 for non- members and free for Aurora Picture Show members. Tickets must be purchased in advance at www.aurorapictureshow.org. There will be no door sales for this event. Aurora members can RSVP in advance by calling 713-868-2101. For more information, visit www.aurorapictureshow.org.
Curated by Hyphen's Melissa Hung, Slant is a showcase of short films that "combats tired stereotypes of Asian Americans with quirky comedies, compelling visions, and fresh perspectives on the Asian American experience." The full list of films includes:
Girl with a Walkman by Melina Leon Five Fingers by Kevin Barker Beijing Haze by J.P. Chan The Postcard by Josh Kim One Night in LA by Jon Maxwell & Ray Huang Survivors by Soham Mehta Alley of Hidden Dangers! by Tim Tsai Waiting for a Train: The Toshio Hirano Story by Oscar Bucher The Pain with Being Thirsty by David Yun Machine with Wishbone by Randall Okita The Others by Aram Siu Wai Collier
As someone who watches a lot of short films, I can attest that this a pretty solid program. My favorite in the bunch is probably Waiting for a Train: The Toshio Hirano Story, a documentary about a Japanese musician and his lifelong love of bluegrass. For more information about Slant, visit the Aurora Picture Show website here.
In Arcadia, California, authorities are offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the murder of Mr. Jason Wei, owner of the Osaka Ya Sushi Restaurant, in November 2007: $20K Reward Offered In Arcadia Chef Murder.
Mr. Wei was shot and killed by an armed robber who entered through rear door of the restaurant. The incident was captured on surveillance video; however, none of the leads has produced a suspect and the case has been cold ever since.
Anyone with information about the crime or whereabouts of the gunman is asked to call the Arcadia Police Department at 1-(626)-574-5160 or the anonymous We Tip Hotline at 1-800-78 CRIME.
Hey, Bay Area friends, looking for something to do this weekend? The annual Asian Rock Fest comes to San Francisco. Founded in New York City in 2004, the concert has been bringing together established Asian American music acts from all over the U.S. This year's lineup includes Burning Tree Project, Johnny Hi-Fi, Festizio and United High.
It's all going down this Saturday, May 30 at Slim's in San Francisco. Doors open at 7:00pm. Get your tickets now and automatically enter to win an iPod shuffle and other cool prizes. Celebrate APA Heritage Month, make your plans and rock to this. For more information about the event, go here.
Ever wonder what happened to Sun Mingming? Recently caught an update on Yahoo's front page... A couple of years ago, the 7-foot-9 Chinese center was being looked at as a possible prospect for the NBA. He would've been the tallest player in the league's history -- even taller than 7-foot-6 Yao Ming (the current tallest) -- but it didn't work out.
These days, he's still playing, having completed the most successful season of his pro carer and helping the Hamamatsu Phoenix to a first-place finish in the Eastern Conference of Japan's professional league: China's Sun shining in Japanese basketball league.
Damn, that is one tall dude. Oh, and let's not forget Sun Mingming's towering appearance in Rush Hour 3. No, wait. On second thought, let's forget that. And anything else having to do with the Rush Hour movies...
Laura Ling and Euna Lee, the American journalists who have been detained by the North Korean government since March 17, will stand trial next week, on June 4th. Up to now, their families have been relatively quiet due to the extreme sensitivity of the situation. But given the trial coming up, and the current nuclear standoff, they're now speaking out. Here's a letter from Laura's sister Lisa, sent over Facebook:
Hi everyone, it's Lisa Ling. Firstly, our families are deeply grateful for your support and efforts to try to secure the release of Laura and Euna. To say that this has been stressful would be to grossly understate how hard this has been. Our families have been very quiet because of the extreme sensitivity of the situation, but given the fact that our girls are in the midst of a global nuclear stand-off, we cannot wait any longer.
We have to speak out!
Our families will be on the Today Show on NBC in the 7AM block on Monday morning --3 days before the June 4 trial (taking the time differnce in consdieration). We will also be on the Larry King show on CNN Monday night as well. Please help us urge both our government and North Korea's to resolve this humanitarian issue. Help us stand up for truth and two girls who just wanted to tell the world a story.
My deepest and most sincere thanks, Lisa
Their families will be appearing on various news shows to bring attention and draw support to Euna and Laura's plight. That's this Monday, June 1, on NBC's Today Show (7:00am block) and CNN's Larry King (9:00pm EST, 6:00pm PST). There will also be vigils held all around the country on June 3:
JUNE 3rd PUBLIC VIGILS June 3rd in the States is June 4th in North Korea, the day the trial starts.
VIGIL LOCATIONS:
Washington, D.C. VIGIL Organizers: Asia Liu, Max Neubauer, Wesley Della Volla, Daniel Beckmann, Joseph Hong http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=81896567681
New York, NY VIGIL Organizers: Danielle Chang, Gwendolyn E. Lindsay-Jackson, Crystal Sun Kim http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=85102251771
Chicago VIGIL Organizers: Rose Tibayan, Nancy Loo http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=206839975710&ref=share
Birmingham, AL VIGIL Organizers: Lisa Anderson, Max Neubauer http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=84322779270
Portland, OR VIGIL Organizers: Meghan Miller Jedrzejczyk, Max Neubauer http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=111689610930
San Francisco, CA VIGIL Organizers: Lynn Perkins, Mike Shen, Gibson Pearl http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=112511386222
Los Angeles, CA VIGIL Organizers: Welly Yang, Kristiana Velasco, Joe Omar Gonzales, Joyce Mar http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=79299243499
National Organizer: Brendan McShane Creamer Email address: blove73@msn.com Phone 215.699.4338
Please bring candles for the vigils. We hope you can make it.
Now more than ever, it's extremely important that people are made aware of Euna Lee and Laura Ling's situation. To learn more, visit this Facebook group, which is being regularly updated with information on what you can do to help. Spread the word. Free Euna and Laura!
Once again, South Asian dominance. Last night, 13-year-old Kavya Shivashankar of Olathe, Kansas outlasted ten other finalists with her mad spelling skillz to become the new national spelling bee champion: Aspiring neurosurgeon from Kansas is top speller.
The winning word: "Laodicean," which means lukewarm or indifferent in religion or politics. Kavya took home more than $40,000 in cash and prizes, a giant trophy, and super spelling awesomeness bragging rights.
If you know anything about the Scripps National Spelling Bee, you know that South Asians have been spelling their asses off and taking the title for the better part of the past decade. This year was no different. Kavya became the seventh Indian American in 11 years to win.
I was really enjoying the spelling bee coverage this week over at Sepia Mutiny, who proudly declared that "Indian Americans own spelling." I guess the question was not whether an Indian American student would win. The real question was which one would win.
Opening in theaters today, Pixar's latest animated feature Up, a movie I've been waiting all year to see. What makes this film particularly special is that one of the story's heroes is a young wilderness scout named Russell... who just happens to be Asian American.
Oh, they don't say Russell is Asian, and it's not really integral to the story. But I guess that's what makes it so cool -- he's just a funny character in a Pixar story. And he's even voiced by an Asian American kid, Jordan Nagai, who was chosen from about 500 kids who auditioned for the role.
Here's a profile on Jordan: Jordan Nagai, 'Up'. Funny thing is, his brother was actually the one who showed up to audition for the role. Jordan just tagged along, and the producers saw something in him and gave him a shot. Now his voice is in one of the biggest movies of the summer.
Also opening in wide release: Drag Me to Hell, director Sam Raimi's return to crazy, freak-you-out horror. It's about a young woman who finds herself on the receiving of a nasty curse. Dileep Rao is in the cast as Rham Jas, who I think tries to help her get rid of the curse. Reggie Lee is also in the movie as Stu.
And opening in limited release, Yojiro Takira's Departures, this year's surprise Academy Award winner for Best Foreign Language Picture. The movie's about an unemployed cellist who reluctantly takes a job doing funeral services, and through death, begins to understand what life is really about. Go here to see where the film is playing. And here's a short interview with the director: Just a Minute With: Japan's Oscar-winning Yojiro Takita.
And finally, opening at the Cinema Village in New York City, Stephane Gauger's crtically acclaimed, award-winning Saigon drama Owl and the Sparrow. The film is being distributed by Wave Releasing, a new distribution company made up of Vietnamese American filmmakers and producers bringing outstanding independent movies to the mainstream. If you're in New York, this is your chance to check out a great indie gem.
Dr. Sammy Lee is something of a legend. He was the first Asian American athlete to win an Olympic gold medal for the United States, and the first man to win back-to-back gold medals in Olympic platform diving.
Lee won a gold medal in diving at the 1948 London Olympic Games and again in 1952 at Helsinki. He also coached the American diving team, and in 1976 he coached Olympian Greg Louganis to a silver medal. Basically, he's awesome.
Now 88 years old, Dr. Lee recently became the eleventh recipient of a star on the Anaheim/OC Walk of Stars: Famed diver Sammy Lee gets a star and, he jokes, a headstone. Not quite the Hollywood Walk of Fame, but still an honor greatly deserved.
On Wednesday, we heard the sad news about the Ronald Takaki's passing. There weren't any initial details given about the cause of his death -- just that he died in his home on Tuesday. But his family has revealed that Professor Takaki committed suicide: Ronald T. Takaki dies at 70; pioneer in the field of ethnic studies.
A prolific and sometimes controversial scholar, he had struggled for nearly 20 years with multiple sclerosis, a potentially debilitating neurological disease for which there is no cure. According to his son, he couldn't deal with it anymore, and took his own life.
This is devastating. Takaki was a profoundly influential activist, thinker and educator that left an indelible impact on a generation of students and researchers everywhere -- both Asian American and otherwise. I can't imagine the kind of suffering he was in, but it's just tragic that we have to lose such important community scholar this way.
A memorial service is planned at UC Berkeley at a later date. The family requests that any memorial donations be sent to the Asian Law Caucus, 55 Columbus Ave., San Francisco, CA 94111.
Just one last reminder about the National AAPI House Party hosted by Asian Pacific Americans for Progress, a nationwide conversation on the state of Asian Pacific America happening this Sunday, May 31 at 4:00pm EST/ 1:00pm PST. Join in on a nationwide conference call with Konrad Ng, the brother-in-law of President Obama. The mister to the sister!
The call will also feature a number of high-profile Asian Americans in the Obama Administration, including Asst. Secretary of Veteran Affairs Tammy Duckworth, Executive Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement Tina Tchen and Director of Social Innovation and Civic Participation Sonal Shah. And maybe a couple of other surprise guests.
They're happening all over, from Los Angeles to Ohio to Wisconsin to D.C. To find out how you can join in, and where a house party is happening in your area, visit the APA for Progress website here.
Since we've been talking a lot about weirdo Asian fetishes, "beautiful Asian bride" ads and Alec Baldwin's idiotic mail-order bride joke, here's a cool poem by spoken word artist Kelly Zen-Yie Tsai with a similar vibe. She tells me she wrote it a while back for a panel on sex trafficking, and I think it's pretty appropriate:
Dear Lonely Heart of the Industrially Advantaged World by Kelly Zen-Yie Tsai
i know it gets hard sometimes being on your own
you saw in the movies that Lucy Liu can be pretty, kick ass, and fuck like a rabbit
and those girls in "The Joy Luck Club" cry their eyes out in shame whenever they denigrate the FAMILY
your college roomie brought over that bright, talented Filipina wife
and for the record: they are very very happy
even that dull, bad hygiene-d co-worker of yours got some internet thing going on with a gorgeous girl from Belarus? Colombia?
the options must feel over-whelming
who knows what to look for clicking through thousands of beautiful young faces
twenty-four seventeen even thirteen year olds for men who are into that sort of thing
all looking for "a lifetime partner aged 25-60" or "friends 30 and above"
and you fit the bill PERFECTLY don't you?
a few Aussies you met online joked that:
"it's cheaper to get an Asian wife than to get an Asian prostitute"
but that's not what you want at all you want the real thing, a proper wife
you'll pay the broker fees, the airplane tickets, the legal costs because you're not like Lester Barney who slit his Ukrainian wife Alla's neck in front of their 4-year old child in the parking lot of a daycare center
you're not like Timothy Blackwell who choked his Filipina wife Susanna on their wedding day and fatally shot her and her two friends while she was pregnant awaiting an annulment
you're not like Indle King who didn't want to waste the money on a divorce from his 18 year old wife, Anastasia, from Kyrgyzstan and strangled her to death with a necktie instead
you both agree that you're no monster so why should you be required to have a criminal and marital background check or be screened on the National Sex Offenders Database?
why these marriages only have a 20% divorce rate and the fact that their domestic violence rates are higher could be total hearsay --
after all, why would the women stay?
i feel you Lonely Heart and i wish you all the best of luck in love
but if you can imagine for a moment if your wife already had citizenship, already had entry into an economically advantaged world
what would she do if she had as many choices, as many ways out of poverty, as many English words as you to express exactly how she feels, and have the world listen to her as it does to you
i understand this may make you feel a little insecure about your relationship
but please do sit with this insecurity
emerge from the fantasy
and i wish you the courage and clarity we all need to listen and to love well
I think she breaks it down quite nicely, don't you think? You can hear audio of Kelly performing this piece here. Listen and learn. And to learn more about Kelly Zen-Yie Tsai (one of the 30 Most Influential Asian Americans Under 30), visit her website here.
Here's the in-depth interview segment she did with Melissa Block for NPR's All Things Considered: Roxana Saberi On Her Imprisonment In Iran. I recommend listening to the audio of the full 25-minute interview.
She explains the events that led to her arrest, her four months in a Tehran prison, why she gave a false confession (under psychological duress), and her take on evidence that was used against her that resulted in a speedy trial on April 13. To this day, she doesn't know why she was arrested -- or why she was freed.
I'm glad she's safely back to tell her story. I hope and pray that we'll eventually -- sooner than later -- see the safe release of Euna Lee and Laura Ling from North Korean prison, and they'll be back home to tell their stories too.
Why he's influential: Because "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is an idiotic policy, and he chose to do something about it. Army First Lieutenant Dan Choi is the voice behind Knights Out, a group of 38 West Point graduates who publicly announced their sexual orientation and offered to serve as liaisons for the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," the U.S. military's ridiculous Clinton-era policy regarding gay soldiers in its ranks.
Shortly after declaring his sexual orientation while appearing on The Rachel Maddow Show, Choi received notification that he would be discharged from the military. Never mind the fact that he's an upstanding, exceptional solder -- an infantry officer, an Iraq combat veteran and a West Point graduate with a degree in Arabic. Apparently, none of these qualifications are relevant.
But when he uttered the words "I am gay," Dan somehow "negatively affected good order and discipline in the New York Army National Guard." I don't know much about the military, but I'm fairly certain that if the soldiers in Dan's infantry unit are worth a damn, they could function perfectly fine before and after his announcement.
Through everything that's unfolded with Knights Out, Dan Choi has emerged as a leader in the gay rights movement. It's obvious that he's a good soldier. But more than that, he's a guy who could not sit quietly while he saw injustice and unfairness perpetuate in the institution he'd put his trust in. Call me crazy, but it seems to me that America could use more guys like Dan Choi.
See the rest of the 30 Most Influential Asian Americans Under 30 here.
Calling all APA artists... Kearny Street Workshop, the oldest Asian Pacific American multidisciplinary arts organization in the United States, is now accepting submissions for the 11th annual APAture festival of emerging Asian American artists, happening September 17-26, 2009.
Each year, APAture showcases about 100 artists at venues throughout San Francisco, making it the Bay Area's biggest platform for Asian American art. I've attended APAture events in the past, and it's just a really cool showcase to get exposed to up-and-coming APA artists and interact with the Bay Area arts community.
APAture's mission is to provide artists with an early experience presenting their work at a large event; to build audiences for emerging APA artists; to strengthen the sense of community among artists; and to raise awareness of the existence of and diversity within the APA arts community.
They're currently accepting submissions in five disciplines: visual arts, film & video, literary arts and performing arts. The deadline to is submit is July 11. For more information, visit the Kearny Street Workshop website here. You can download a PDF of the artist submission form, or submit online here.
John Tran, former mayor and city councilman of Rosemead, California has lost his seat. By one vote. Last week, when the latest recount left him a single vote short of winning one of the three city council seats up for election, Tran officially called it quits: By one vote, an election in lost in Rosemead.
After the March 3 election -- with all the provisional and absentee ballots counted -- Tran found himself in fourth place, behind by 30 votes. A hand recount narrowed the margin to five votes... but still leaving him in in fourth place. A two-month campaign to contest disqualified absentee ballots got him four more votes.
That left him with one vote short. And he couldn't come up with it. So Tran lost his seat. Ouch. So if you're one of those people who thinks that you're vote doesn't count, tell that to John Tran, former Rosemead City Council member.
Speaking of an Asian fetish... Is anyone else seriously angered by idiotic banner ads like this that frequently pop up in the rotation of Google's AdSense network? I'm guessing it's likely you've encountered something like in your blog travels.
Basically, Google uses its magical search technology to serve advertisements based on a website's content. Unfortunately, if you run a blog that has anything remotely to do with Asian content, you're going to get served crappy ads like "Looking for a beautiful Asian bride?" and "Asian Girls For Love & Marriage." You know what I'm talking about.
Is there any wonder why our community is constantly grappling with Asian fetish sex crimes and mail-order bride jokes? Don't tell me ads like this don't feed that impulse. At least they know their target demographic. Could they have found a more sorry-looking loser-ass guy to pose for this ad?
Saw this on the Southern Poverty Law Center blog... Last week, Jeff Schwilk, leader of the San Diego Minutemen, was ordered to pay $135,000 to Joanne Yoon, a Korean American civil rights activist who filed a defamation lawsuit against Schwilk and fellow Minutemen member Ray Carney in 2007: S.D. Minutemen leader loses defamation lawsuit.
Yoon, working as an independent contractor for the American Civil Liberties Union in 2006, monitored the activities of the Minutemen at day-labor sites, where members and their supporters frequently protest. According to the lawsuit, the two defendants referred repeatedly to Yoon in e-mails and on the web in vulgar terms, referring to her as "the Korean anorexic ACLU slut."
They also apparently posted images of Yoon on a Yahoo group called "Korean Kommie Kunt." Later, when female San Diego Minutemen activists objected (thanks, ladies), Schwilk changed the name of the group to "Joanne Yoon ACLU Goon." Clever. And sensitive.
In addition, mass emails to Minutemen members suggested that Yoon was interested in protecting the civil rights of Mexican immigrants because of her fondness for "Brown Schlong." I sense that this guy harbors a great deal of hostility towards immigrants. And anybody who "looks" like an immigrant. Unfortunately for him, that hostility is going to cost a court-ordered $135,000.
Have you heard? Half-Korean heartthrob Daniel Henney, who can be seen as Agent Zero in this summer's X-Men Origins: Wolverine, is in the starring cast of Three Rivers, a new TV drama recently picked up for CBS' prime time fall schedule: Henney's US TV Series to Air in Fall.
The show is "a medical drama that goes inside the emotionally complex lives of organ donors, the recipients and the surgeons at the preeminent transplant hospital in the country where every moment counts. However, dealing with donor families in their darkest hour and managing the fears and concerns of apprehensive recipients takes much more than just a sharp scalpel."
Henney will play Dr. David Lee, "a womanizing surgical resident who's broken as many hearts as he's replaced." Oh my. This should be very interesting. Daniel Henney! On TV! Every week! Believe me, I know more than a few ladies who just read this news and immediately set their DVRs.
This is sickening... In Palo Alto, a man is on trial for the brutal sexual assault of an Asian American high school student in October 2007. The motive? According to prosecutors, a seriously dangerous sexual fetish for underage Asian girls: DA: Sexual fetish was motive in 2007 attack on Palo Alto girl.
In closing arguments this week, the Deputy District Attorney told jurors to treat the evidence against Todd Burpee as they would evidence in a murder trial, where the victim couldn't point to her attacker in the courtroom. In this case, the victim just couldn't face the man who beat her unconscious, kidnapped her and sexually assaulted her.
Directly suggesting a motive for the first time, Leonard beamed onto a projection screen side-by-side a photograph of the victim and an image of a nude young Asian girl found on a computer Burpee allegedly used. The resemblance was clear.
"I don't know if he stalked Jane Doe or attacked her at random," said Leonard, referring to the victim. Regardless, he argued, the pornographic images showed he had a sexual interest in underage Asian girls and intended from the start to sexually assault the victim.
As for the attacker's identity, Leonard said, "Jane Doe did not need to point to the defendant, because a mountain of evidence points to him."
Evidence against Burpee included DNA found in his car that matched the victim's, as well as one of her earrings, and several items she described seeing while playing dead in his back seat that matched what police detectives found when they looked inside the car.
That's just the beginning of a long list of evidence that connects Burpee to the victim, and it sure as hell can't all be a coincidence. Still, the defense argued that no physical evidence linked Burpee's DNA to the girl, leaving room for reasonable doubt.
Burpee is charged with one count of attempted murder, two counts of assault with the intent of rape or sexual penetration, two counts of assault likely to cause great bodily injury, one count of kidnapping for the purpose of sexual assault, and one charge of sexual penetration by force. Each comes with a possible enhancement for causing great bodily injury. If convicted on all counts, Burpee could face 48 years to life in prison. More here: Jury starts deliberation in Palo Alto sex assault trial.
I just received word that activist, scholar and UC Berkeley Ethnic Studies professor Ronald Takaki passed away unexpectedly yesterday at his home in Berkeley. I don't have any more details -- all I've received is one forwarded email and a multiple Facebook messages -- but I'm told he was in poor health for quite some time. I'm sure more information, as well as tributes, will soon emerge... In the meantime, pour one out and crack open your copy of Strangers From a Different Shore in his honor.
My friend Oiyan wrote this nice piece over at the APAP blog on Professor Takaki, and the impact of his work on her own life. I'm cross-posting it here:
Pioneering Ethnic Studies Scholar, Ron Takaki Passes
I got a text message today from a friend that read, "Saw on facebook that Ron Takaki passed away. Did u hear the same?" I checked me email, and indeed, I received an email from another friend who is an alumnus of Cal sending out the notice that one of the most important Ethnic Studies scholars and teachers had passed. Berkeley has also put out an initial public notice of his passing. I knew that Professor Takaki had been ill for a while. He was just awarded with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Association of Asian American Studies conference in Honolulu, and Professor Michael Omi, who accepted the award on his behalf, mentioned that Professor Takaki's health was not well.
His passing has me thinking about how much Professor Takaki's work impacted my trajectory in life. I first encountered his book Strangers from a Different Shore at the local public library in Springfield, Massachusetts. It had just been published, and I was 16. I'm not sure how I came across the book, but I found myself feeling like I needed to hide as I read the book. Each chapter detailed Asian American history, which until that point, I had no idea existed. With each chapter read, I began feeling more and more power. The knowledge the book presented almost felt illicit. Having grown up in a provincial, all-white, lower-middle class, mostly immigrant community, and being told over and over by the society in which I was growing up that my experience did not matter, the book was electrifying. I remember checking the book out, going straight home, and sitting in the corner of my bedroom on the floor, door closed, and the book lit by my desk lamp I had brought with me to the floor. I'm not sure why I read it like that, but I remember shaking as I devoured the book. You have to understand that in my experience, true relevant knowledge was made out to be illicit and dangerous. When I was 13, I wasn't allowed to do a book report on the Autobiography of Malcolm X. Maybe that's why I hid in a corner to read Takaki's book when I was 16. I do remember that the book was critical in helping me make sense of the violently racist experiences I had and the historical contexts for these experiences, and my relationship to the rest of the world around me, as an Asian American. It was the first time I realized I was Asian American, and I began to develop a voice.
Thank you Professor Takaki for significantly contributing toward the movement for Ethnic Studies, for educating so many of us, and for empowering us with a voice.
The Kollaboration folks are at it again! If you're in Los Angeles, you want to make it out to their hot summer show, Kollab Hip Hop & Laugh-Off, featuring a cool lineup of up-and-coming hip hop acts and hilarious standup comics. It's all going down on Friday, June 12 at the Ford Amphitheatre in Hollywood. Read on for details:
KOLLAB HIP HOP & LAUGH-OFF Date: Friday, June 12, 2009 Time: 8:30PM Venue: Ford Amphitheatre 2580 Cahuenga Blvd East Hollywood, CA 90068
Line up includes: Dumbfoundead, Verseatile, tier2, 3Strykes Krew, Starstudded, Funky Soul & Asylum! Watch the Bboy Battle & audience members can compete in the Freestyle Dance Contest for cash prizes! Comedians include Gery Bednob, Rajiv Satyal, & Kevin Shea
Looks like it's going to be another great show. Music, comedy, community... what better way to spend a summer evening? To purchase tickets, go here. Students and kids get in for just $5. For more information, including the full lineup, venue and parking information, visit the Kollaboration website here.
I heard about this news several months back, but it sort of got buried in my mailbox... Nevertheless, it's definitely intriguing. According to the website of tit 4 tat Productions, Tiffani Thiessen's production company, the former Saved By the Bell actress will make her full-length directorial debut with Hung, based on an original screenplay by Derek Nguyen:
The coming-of-age 80s teen comedy centers on seventeen year old, Hung Tran, who attends Anaheim High in Orange County. An outcast in every social circle, Hung desperately wants to be cool and to belong. Before the school year is over, he'll expose his name sake, share an unexpected first kiss and realize you"re sometimes better off without the girl. He'll also learn that life can change for the better -- if given time.
Yes, that Tiffani (Amber) Thiessen, who played Kelly Kapowski, the babe of Bayside High. And bad girl Valerie Malone in Beverly Hills 90210. She'll direct as well as produce, along with partner Dean Johnson and Anne Clements.
As of January, casting was underway, and the film was slated film in Los Angeles. I don't have much more information than that, except for this site that lists the cast as Claire Holt, Mason Lee, and "Long Duk Dong." WTF? Can any good come of this? Admit it -- you're extremely curious too.
Why he's influential: Because he's bringing gritty guerilla filmmaking to hip hop. Hailing from New York, Frederic Joseph "Rik" Cordero is an independent film/video director who has quickly established himself as the go-to guy for bringing low-budget innovation and a non-traditional aesthetic to hip hop music videos. Hands down, he's one of the hardest working guys in hip hop.
With his production company, Three/21 Media, he's been downright prolific, directing independent music videos by artists like Jay-Z, Nas, Snoop Dogg, Busta Rhymes, The Roots, Q-Tip, Ghostface Killah, Talib Kweli, Beanie Sigel and John Legend, to name a few. Recently, he was nominated for Video Director of the Year for the 2009 BET Awards.
In July, Rik's second feature film Inside a Change will make its world premiere at the 2009 New York International Latino Film Festival. The film is an urban drama about a prison-bound young man who must re-examine his life and bring his troubled family together for his mother's birthday.
Praise for Rik's work is high, and all over the place. He's been called a visionary, a hustler, a rebel, a craftsman, a tastemaker, and "the only hip hip video director on the planet." He's all or most of these things, but also simply an artist, providing a provocative audio/visual soundtrack for this generation.
See the rest of the 30 Most Influential Asian Americans Under 30 here.
Often photographing from the doorway of his home in Chinatown, Chinn began training his camera on his neighborhood in the late 1930s, but his most productive years were from 1947-1949 while he was studying at what is now the San Francisco Art Institute.
He was considered an accomplished photographer, though his work had comparatively little public exposure during his lifetime. It wasn't until 2003 that Chinn received a major solo exhibition at the Chinese Historical Society of San Francisco. To see some of his photos, go here.
We've lost two significant Asian American scholars in under a week. With the passing of Professor Takaki, I just learned that Chinese American historian Him Mark Lai died last week. The internationally noted scholar and writer was the author of ten books, more than 100 essays, and referred to by many as the "Dean of Chinese American History." He was 83: Him Mark Lai: Dean of Chinese American History, Passes (1925-2009). Learn more about Him Mark Lai's work here: Him Mark Lai Digital Archive Project.
This is one really weird sports story... Over the weekend, former Major League baseball player Jose Canseco faced off in a mixed martial arts match against 7-foot-2, 330-pound Korean kickboxer Hong Man Choi, and pretty much got wiped out. I'm not making this up: Canseco lasts 76 seconds with Korean giant before tapping out.
The fight was part of DREAM's Super Hulk Tournament. The entire event was a farce consisting of four fights that featured an average weight difference of 87.6 pounds. Basically, a freak show. Once upon a time, Canseco was the American League MVP. Has it really come to this, Jose? Going head to head with a giant Korean guy? Watch some video of the fight here.
I don't think anyone's really surprised by this... Last week in Philadelphia, protesters gathered outside the Inquirer offices in opposition to the newspaper's newest regular columnist, now-infamous Bush administration torture memo author John Yoo: Yoo columns spark protest at Inky. I wonder how it feels for your name to be synonymous with "torture"?
Charice Pempengco is the amazing teen singer from the Philippines who started getting crazy attention a few years back when video clips of her performing hit the web. People were stunned that such a powerhouse voice could emerge from such a young girl.
Now 17 years old, she recently appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show for "Oprah's Search for the World's Most Talented Kids," where she debuted her first internationally released single, "Note to God," written by Diane Warren and produced by David Foster. It was available on iTunes the same day.
View the video here. Whether you dig the song or not, you've got to admit, it's pretty stunning performance. She's apparently now working on her U.S. debut album, to be released in fall 2009 from Warner Bros. Records. I think you can expect some pretty big things from this girl with the big voice.
This article, published earlier in the month, comes from the "no duh" file... According to a recent study, fifth graders who feel they've been mistreated because of their skin color are much more likely than classmates without such feelings to have symptoms of mental disorders, especially depression: Racism hurts kids' mental health.
There is evidence that racial discrimination increases the odds that adolescents and adults will develop mental health problems, but this is apparently the first study to examine a possible link in children of varied races.
It doesn't prove that discrimination caused the emotional problems, because unlike studies of older people, these children weren't followed over time. It's possible that prejudice harms children's mental health, but it's also possible that troubled kids prompt more discriminatory remarks from peers or that children with emotional problems perceive more bias.
Yes, the link between perceived racism and mental disorders is strong. But here's what bugs me about this study. There is absolutely no mention of Asians. According to the article, "Prejudice was reported by 20% of blacks, 15% of Hispanics, 16% in the "other" category and 7% of whites."
You've got to be kidding me. Did no one conducting this study bother to ask any Asian kids about perceived racism? Are they part of this nondescript "other" category? Or perhaps someone thinks that Asian kids somehow do not suffer from prejudice. Because I can tell you for a fact that they do. Seriously, what's up with the omission?
My friends at music/culture/lifestyle brand Future Rockstars of America inform me that they've just re-structred and re-launched their blog. Lots of cool content and pretty graphics, with much more to come. Their mission: to document the cultural happenings and changes around us, thus perpetuating "Local talent on a global scale." Check it out here.
Czerina Salud has a piece in the Huffington Post responding to Alec Baldwin's "Filipino mail-order bride" joke on The Late Show a few weeks back, and his subsequent half-hearted apology, adding a much-needed (and absent thus far) Filipina voice to the dialogue about this incident, and addressing the tired issue of jokes about the sexual currency of Asian women. Check it: If Hello Kitty Had A Mouth She'd Be Screaming By Now.
I recently heard from Karen, who has started a new blog project called PostMimi. The idea is for readers to anonymously submit secrets -- the good, the bad, the ugly -- in the form of art. I'm assuming the premise is based on the wildly popular PostSecret blog ("mimi" is the Chinese word for "secret"). The goal is to create a dialogue within the Asian American community about our joys, sorrows, triumphs, and frustrations. To submit:
Two ways to submit your Mimi's:
1. E-mail your lovely, thought-provoking, Asian-American creations to:
postmimi.blogspot@gmail.com.
Postcards should be scanned and attached to the e-mail. All e-mails would be kept anonymous. or...
2. They can be mailed to:
PostMiMi Apt. 206 3215 N. Charles Street Baltimore, MD 21218
All postcards will be kept anonymous.
For more information, visit the blog here. Looks like things are just getting started, so there isn't much there. But it's a pretty intriguing premise, and having seen some really amazing, heartbreaking and hilarious things on PostSecret, this has the potential to be a really brilliant blog. But I guess that depends on you.
Why she's influential: Because she's working to raise awareness about deportation in the Cambodian American community and beyond. A longtime advocate for the Asian American community in Boston, Dimple Rana is the co-founder of Deported Diaspora, an organization raising awareness and challenging the U.S. deportation system through education, organizing, advocacy and art.
A Gujarati Indian American woman, Dimple grew up with the Cambodian American refugee community in Revere, Massachusetts. Over the past 11 years she has been actively involved in community organizing, social justice education, gang violence prevention and social, educational, and economic support within the Cambodian American community.
Since 2002, when the U.S. and Cambodia signed a repatriation agreement ordering the repatriation of over 1,500 Cambodian American refugees convicted of "aggravated felonies," Dimple has been part of a movement to fight deportations of Cambodian Americans. In 2005, she moved to Phnom Penh for two years to help develop social services, entrepeneurial opportunities, substance abuse recovery and advocacy for refugee deportees.
Last year, Dimple returned to Boston to establish Deported Diaspora. With very little funding, she and her co-founders have organized public outreach events, protests/ demonstrations, policy efforts, outreach and counseling to families, and legal assistance to tackle individual deportation cases, as well as the larger issue of deportation.
See the rest of the 30 Most Influential Asian Americans Under 30 here.
In a 6-1 decision, the California Supreme Court today validated Proposition 8, passed by voters in November, which banned same-sex marriage. However, the ruling will not affect 18,000 gay and lesbian couples who got married before the measure went into effect. Here's the press release I received from APALC shortly after the decision was announced:
LEADING ASIAN AMERICAN COALITIONS EXPRESS SEVERE DISAPPOINTMENT OVER SUPREME COURT DECISION TO UPHOLD PROPOSITION 8
Ruling on California Proposition 8 Cases allows a bare majority of voters to enshrine inequality into our constitution and to deprive an entire class of Californians of the fundamental freedom to marry.
Los Angeles, CA - The California Supreme Court today ruled in a 6 to 1 decision that the initiative process in California can be used to strip away fundamental rights from a minority group that has historically been subject to discrimination.
API Equality and API Equality–LA, two organizations that have worked single-mindedly to build public support for same-sex marriage in the Asian and Pacific Islander communities since 2004, are severely disappointed that the Supreme Court will uphold a proposition revoking marriage rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people.
"We are extremely saddened that the Court saw it fit to take away rights from a minority group," said Karin Wang of Asian Pacific American Legal Center. "Essentially, the court has set forth a dangerous precedent where a simple majority vote is able to strip away the fundamental rights of a protected minority group."
"As Asian and Pacific Islanders, we are no strangers to the perils of selective justice," stated Jury Candelario of API Equality-LA. "From bans on immigration and interracial marriage, our community has often been the victim of such discrimination. We cannot stand silent as the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender members of our communities come under fire from the same sort of prejudice that has so often hurt our families."
According to the Williams Institute, an LGBT think tank based at UCLA, there are approximately 66,000 LGBT Asian and Pacific Islanders living in California—the largest in the nation. With the court's decision to uphold Prop 8, the fundamental right to marry is no longer a right afforded to them.
Fortunately, the Court has chosen to maintain the marriage status of the 18,000 couples who married during the short period that same-sex marriage was legal.
"While today's decision is deeply disappointing, we are inspired by the recent victories in Iowa and Vermont and are committed to working together so that marriage equality will become a restored right for all," said HyunJoo Lee from the National Korean American Service and Education Consortium.
Whereas a little over ten years ago, only a handful of API organizations were visibly and vocally supportive of same-sex couples right to marry, among the first was the Japanese American Citizen's League. Today, through API Equality – LA and API Equality's efforts, more than 60 API organizations and our leading API elected officials and community leaders have come on record in support of marriage equality for same-sex couples via an amicus brief supporting last year's In Re Marriage Cases and more recently in public endorsements opposing Proposition 8.
APALC is the nation's largest legal organization serving the Asian and Pacific Islander (API) communities. Founded in 1983, APALC is a unique organization that combines traditional legal services with civil rights advocacy and leadership development. The mission of APALC is to advocate for civil rights, provide legal services and education and build coalitions to positively influence and impact Asian Pacific Americans and to create a more equitable and harmonious society.
API Equality-LA is a coalition of organizations and individuals who are committed to working in the Asian and Pacific Islander (API) communities in Greater Los Angeles for equal marriage rights and fair treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) families through community education and advocacy.
As you might know, my man Paul Dateh, violinist extraordinaire, recently released his self-title debut album. You can get physical copies at CD Baby, and digital copies at the usual online retailers like iTunes. It's a great album, with a little something for everybody. Paul's an awesome musician, and a nice guy too.
Case in point... maybe you want to get your hands on the album, but just don't have the cash. It's all good. Over the next ten weeks, Paul will be giving away the album for free, one song at a time. Watch the video above for details, and download the first song, "Be More," here. And check back on Paul's YouTube channel next week for word on song number two.
Tim Dang, producing artistic director of East West Players, will receive a $125,000 Leadership Award next month from the James Irvine Foundation, which is citing him for making the theater company a source of "understanding and appreciation for California's diversity," along with its mission of creating opportunities for Asian American artists: East West Players' Tim Dang wins $125,000 award.
Also, check out this recent local news segment by David Ono on the groundbreaking Lodestone Theatre Ensemble, which is celebrating its tenth and final year. It features a bunch of actors, including Tamlyn Tomita, Daniel Dae Kim, James Kyson Lee, Camille Mana and Alec Mapa, who performed and honed their craft under the Lodestone banner. To learn more about Lodestone, including its current show Ten to Life, visit the website here.
I know I've previously mentioned the live-action Blood: The Last Vampire adaptation before, but I've neglected to mention the trailer, which has been making the rounds for a while. The movie, based on Hiroyuki Kitakubo 2000 cult hit anime of the same name, marks South Korean actress Jeon Ji-Hyun's English-language debut.
Jeon, who has apparently changed her name to Gianna Jun for the leap over the Hollywood, stars as Saya, a half-human, half-vampire samurai who is part of a covert government agency that hunts and destroys demons. In post-WWII Japan, she is inserted in an American military school to discover which one of her classmates is a demon in disguise.
Yay, for demon-hunting half-vampires. While I was a fan of the original animated movie, and enjoy vampire asskicking as much as the next guy, I am skeptical about whether this can stand out amongst the Buffy/Blade/Underworld narratives out there. And can Ms. Jun prove her chops as an English-speaking star? I guess we're going to find out. The movie is set to open in theaters sometime this summer.
CNN reports on an extortion scheme targeting Asian American business owners over the phone... They've apparently been threatened with death and violence if they don't send money to extortionists phoning from China: Asian-American merchants being targeted by extortionists.
The calls have been made from Skype, which lets users make free calls using computers. The transfers are hard to trace, because the extortionists are likely using fake identification cards to set up accounts with money wire services.
According to authorities, the callers are demanding $20,000 to $30,000 to get a brother out of jail in China. The business owners are threatened with death, harm to their children or bombing of their business.
Victims have reportedly been targeted in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, New Jersey, New York and Canada. While the extortionists have received as much as $100,000 from across the United States, thankfully, no one has been physically harmed.
Over the weekend, at the closing of the 62nd Cannes Film Festival, the internationally acclaimed South Korean director Park Chan-Wook nabbed the Jury Prize (the festival's third place award) for his latest work, the dark vampire thriller Thirst: 'Thirst' Wins Jury Prize.
The tale centers on a priest who is infected by a virus and becomes a vampire. The film shared the award with British director Andrew Arnold's teen drama Fish Tank. Park previously won the festival's Grand Prix in 2004 with the revenge thriller Old Boy.
True to form, Hollywood is already talking about the inevitable English-language remake rights: H'wood has 'Thirst' for films by Park. Several of Park's films are already being developed for big studio remakes, including Oldboy, Lady Vengeance and Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance. In the meantime, I can't wait to get a look at Thirst. In Korean.
Just came across this cool motion graphics piece, Soul 2 Sole, a thesis project by David Park, who is graduating from Parsons School of Design. Obviously, it's a about sneaker culture and its larger connections with hip hop, fashion, sports, music, etc. Cool video. Somebody give this guy a job!
Check it out, my fellow comic book geeks. By now, you all know about Secret Identities, the Asian American superhero comic book anthology. This weekend, celebrate the west coast leg of the Secret Identities tour with editors Jeff Yang, Parry Shen, Keith Chow and Jerry Ma. It's this Saturday, May 30 at the Japanese American National Museum. Some details:
Secret Identities: The Asian American Superhero Anthology Saturday, May 30, 2009 6:30 PM
Asian Americans have become a driving force in the contemporary comics renaissance, as artists, writers and fans.
But there's one place where Asians are still underrepresented in comics: Between the four-color covers themselves.
That's why, in Secret Identities, top Asian American writers, artists and comics professionals have come together to create 26 original stories centered around Asian American Superheroes; stories set in a shadow history of our country, from the opening of the West to the election of the first minority president, and exploring ordinary Asian American life from a decidedly extraordinary perspective.
Join the editors: *JEFF YANG, founder of the pioneering Asian American periodical "aMagazine" and author of the biweekly column "Asian Pop" for the San Francisco Chronicle *PARRY SHEN, best known for his lead role in the movie "Better Luck Tomorrow" *KEITH CHOW, freelance writer and comics-in-education specialist. *JERRY MA, the founder of the indie comics studio Epic Proportions
--along with several contributors as they share previews of their respective stories through slide shows and video trailers. Make sure to stay to celebrate the LA premier!
Copies of SECRET IDENTITIES will be on hand for purchase and will be signed by the editors/contributors during the reception afterwards.
Admission is free! Stick around for a light reception. If you haven't picked up our copy of Secret Identities yet, you can pick one up at the event and get it signed, or maybe even get a sketch. For more information, visit the JANM events page here. The SI crew will also be at signing events all over the southland.
Cara, Madelyn, Alexis, Hannah, Aaden, Collin, Leah and Joel Gosselin Ages: 8 and 5 Jon & Kate Plus 8
Why they're influential: Because America can't stop watching. I'll admit it. Long before Jon and Kate Gosselin's alleged marriage troubles were the fodder for every tabloid cover and Hollywood gossip show in America, I was an avid viewer of TLC's Jon & Kate Plus 8. Heck, I'm watching it right now as I write this. And chances are, I'll be tuning in to the season five premiere tonight.
I agonized back and forth over whether or not to include these kids on the list. The truth is, they had made the short list of candidates long before any of this negative media attention started. But for better or for worse, if it weren't for these eight extremely cute Korean American children, nobody would really care about the train-wreck tribulations of Jon and Kate.
Yes, growing up in front reality cameras show has its extreme drawbacks. As America, in all its unabashed voyeurism, fixates on everything that's going wrong between this couple, I wonder if anyone's stopped to ask how the media attention is affecting the kids. It's become clearly evident that their "we're just a normal family" refrain is a myth.
Say what you will about their parenting methods, or sometimes way-too-honest on-camera bickering, or rumored infidelity on both sides, or even Kate's WTF hairstyle. The fact of the matter is, there is a significant television-viewing audience that is fascinated by this very real, very large, biracial family, and has watched these kids grow up, season after season.
See the rest of the 30 Most Influential Asian Americans Under 30 here.
American freelance journalist Roxana Saberi, who was accused of spying for the United States and spent 100 days in prison an Iran, safely returned to the U.S. last week: Journalist who was jailed by Iran returns to U.S.
Last month, she was convicted on espionage charges and sentenced to eight years in prison. But thanks to international pressure and a successful appeal, her sentence was changed to a two-year jail term and suspended for five years.
Meanwhile, American journalists Euna Lee and Laura Ling still remain detained in North Korea, accused of god-knows-what, awaiting trial and facing up to ten years in prison. Tomorrow marks their 11th week in custody. Where is the outcry? They need more support: Free Euna Lee and Laura Ling. Here is a message from their families:
A message from the Ling and Lee Families:
Dear Friends,
The families of Laura and Euna are moved beyond words by your show of support for our girls. The past 10 weeks have been the most stressful of our lives. We believe that the girls are in no physical danger and for that we a grateful. But as their days in detention progress, we have become increasingly concerned about their well-being and state of mind. Though the girls are strong, we know that they are very very scared.
We know that our government is working very hard to secure their release, but given the sensitivity of the situation and the fact that our two countries have no diplomatic relationship, our families are not making any public comments other than to thank you so very much for coming out to support our girls.
Many of you have never met Laura or Euna, but know that you are standing up for truth and justice. We, the families of the girls, deeply thank you for taking the time to be here to support two girls who just wanted to tell the world a story.
Most appreciatively, The Families of Laura Ling and Euna Lee 5/21/09
Last week, there were public vigils held on their behalf all around the country, with more planned in the United States for June 3rd -- the day their trial begins in North Korea. Details are still coming together. Keep checking this Facebook group for more details, and what else you can do to help.
I'm not much of a follower of mixed martial arts, but plenty of people felt compelled to inform me that over the weekend, Japanese-Brazilian fighter Lyoto "The Dragon" Machida triumphed over Rashad Evans to win the UFC light heavyweight championship at UFC 98 in Las Vegas: UFC 98: Lyoto Machida knocks out Rashad Evans.
Machida, a karate specialist, used his kicks to gain the advantage, then landed a series of punches that knocked Evans down three times in the second round, finally flattening him with a devastating left hook. More here: UFC 98: The aftermath.
This is a really touching story about Allen Hoe, a grieving father who traveled to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. to honor his son, Nainoa K. Hoe, an Army first lieutenant infantry officer who died in Iraq, and the fateful encounter he had at the memorial with a trauma nurse: Memorial Day Miracle At 'The Wall'.
Vietnamese American friends in NYC, mark your calendars... "That's Neaat!/Hay Qua!" Mini-Fest, a collaboration between VASCON and NEEATO, presents its imaginative, unconventional, TED-inspired out-of-the-box program on Saturday, June 27 at The Bitter End in New York. According to the press release:
Mini-Fest has at least one goal: to alter the way you think about life, dreams, and everything in between. Already, rabble-rousing publishers, award-winning architects, writers, musicians, film directors, environmentalists, and rising chefs are signing up to present their bite-size talks and performances about what stirs their hearts and opens our eyes.
There's not a lot of information currently on the website, but the event is promising to be one of those cool events you'll regret missing. They've also partnered up with Kollaboration New York 2009 to bring you a discounted 2-in-1 early bird registration package for just $40, now through the end of the month. So be sure to register and get your tickets now.
Check your schedules, make our plans, set your Tivos... Arthur Dong's brilliant showbiz documentary Hollywood Chinese will be airing on public television starting this Wednesday, May 27 as part of PBS' American Masters series. Check your local listings for the exact airdate.
The 90-minute documentary is candid exploration of race issues in Hollywood, with old footage and interviews from the likes of Nancy Kwan, Joan Chen, James Hong, David Henry Hwang and Ang Lee, talking about the long history and future of Chinese talent in the movies.
For film buffs, and folks who are interested in the way Asian are depicted in mainstream media, Hollywood Chinese is both a delight and an important lesson on how far back this tricky game really goes. Here's an interesting article on the documentary from the Washington Post: A Chinese Legacy in Tinseltown.
And for those of you in the Bay Area, you can catch both Hollywood Chinese and Jeff Adachi's Slanted Screen airing on KQED back-to-back on Wednesday night. There will also be repeat airings of both films, so check the schedule carefully.
Some disturbing news out of the Philippines... Los Angeles-based Filipino American activist Melissa Roxas, a member of BAYAN-USA and the cultural group Habi Arts, was abducted in Manila on May 19 -- most likely by the military -- but resurfaced yesterday, nearly a week later: Missing Fil-Am activist surfaces after 7 days.
Roxas was abducted last May 19 at around 1:30 pm in Sitio Bagong Sikat, Bgy. Kapanikian, La Paz, Tarlac. She was with two other volunteers, Juanito Carabeo and John Edward Handoc. Based on reports, she and her companions were taken by at least 8 fully-armed, bonnet-clad men on board two motorcycles and a Besta van without any plate numbers.
Her companions, Juanito Carabeo and John Edward Handoc, still remain unaccounted for. This is apparently the first case of a Filipino American activist to be abducted by suspected state security forces. A detailed account on where she was taken, what happened to her during her abduction, and how she resurfaced are still forthcoming.
JabbaWockeeZ, Super Cr3w, Quest Crew Ages: 22-31 Champions, America's Best Dance Crew
Why they're influential: Because damn, Asian Americans can dance. If you've been reading this blog for any length of time, you know that I'm a huge fan of MTV's America's Best Dance Crew. I became an avid viewer at the beginning of season one, not only because it's an opportunity to see some kickass dancing, but because Asian Americans dancers have been seriously representing since the very first audition episode.
JabbaWockeeZ, whose name is derived from the Lewis Carroll poem "Jabberwocky," took the show's crown in season one, and are known for precise, intricate synchronization and their signature white gloves and masks. Members include Jeff Nguyen, Rynan Shawn Paguio, Ben Chung, Kevin Brewer, Phil Tayag and Chris Gatdula.
Season two winners Super Cr3w are known for their acrobatic power moves and show-stopping theatrics. Members include Mike "Murda" Carrasco, Angelito "Vex" Casal, Jon "Do-Knock" Cruz, Abenamar "Ben" Honrubia, Ronnie "Ronnieboy" Abaldonado and R.J. "Rockadile" Puno.
Season three winners Quest Crew hold the distinction of being the first all-Asian American crew to take the title of America's Best Dance Crew. Founded in 2003, its members, known for their crazy hairstyles, include Ryan Conferido, Hokuto "Hok" Konishi, Brian Hirano, Victor Kim, Stev Terada, Ryan Feng and Dominic "D-Trix" Sandoval.
But it's not just about the champions. This is really about the entire ABDC phenomenon, and how the show has unexpectedly become a showcase for Asian American dancers to shine, front and center, on MTV -- arguably the flagship television network for popular American youth culture.
Much props to crews like Beat Freaks, SoReal Cru, Fanny Pak, Kaba Modern and Fysh N Chicks, among many others -- they all had Asian American dancers within their ranks. Sure, it's just another TV dance show. You can dismiss it all you want. But these guys are changing media perceptions for future generations, literally, with leaps and bounds.
See the rest of the 30 Most Influential Asian Americans Under 30 here.
James Kyson Lee of Heroes invites you to celebrate APA Heritage Month by participating in the National AAPI Week of Service, May 24-31. Watch the video, search through the map at AAPI Momentum, and view the calendar of events for service opportunities happening across the nation.
Jeff Yang's latest "Asian Pop" column takes a look at Afterquake, a music collaboration by electronica artist Dave Liang (Shanghai Restoration Project) and folk musician Abigial Washburn created to fund continuing efforts victims of the Sichuan earthquake: The Sichuan Restoration Project.
Afterquake was also recently profiled in the New York Times Music Popcast: Weekly Popcast: Green Day, Afterquake and More. Kind of funny hearing about this record alongside the likes of Green Day and Mars Volta, but it's cool to hear them talk about the ideas and sounds that went into the project.
If you haven't heard it yet, the seven song EP is a really interesting, haunting work. Learn more (and hear samples) here. It's available at the usual spots like Amazon and iTunes. And remember, proceeds from the project go to Sichuan Quake Relief.
Heard news about this gruesome murder in New York... Last week in Queens, prosecutors announced that 23-year-old Gary McGurk has been charged in the stabbing death of ex-girlfriend Michelle Lee, a forensic investigator for the New York Police Department: Man Is Indicted in Slaying.
McGurk, a student at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, faces one count of second-degree murder, three count of tampering with physical evidence and two counts of weapons possession. He faces up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted. The guy sounds like a sicko.
According to police, Lee was found with a knife in her throat in her apartment in Sunnyside by her roommate on April 27. Prosecutors said she had been tied to a bed, beaten in the head, bound with a cell phone charger cord, seared on the chest with a steam iron, and stabbed repeatedly.
Why he's influential: Because he's bringing a "regular Asian guy" sensibility to Hollywood. In a few short years on the scene, actor Aaron Yoo has built a solid resume of roles, quickly achieving "hey, it's that guy!" status on a number of high-profile, largely youth-oriented Hollywood studio and indie projects.
While he started out with a handful of TV credits, movie audiences first got a glimpse of Aaron as the jokey best friend to Shia LaBeouf in the 2007 hit Disturbia. I swear, the Monday after the movie opened, this blog got a considerable spike of web traffic from people searching for "Aaron Yoo Disturbia." He definitely left an impression.
Since then, you've seen him popping up in independent fare like Rocket Science and The Wackness, but also adding a little color to the whitewashed 21, playing bandmate to Michael Cera in Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist and getting killed by Jason in Friday the 13th. Hopefully, this doesn't mean he's building a career on wisecracking buddy/best friend roles.
If you ask me, I think Aaron's most interesting performance thus far has been as Japanese American ace pitcher Lyle Nomura in Desmond Nakano's historical internment drama American Pastime, where he shows off his chops as a leading man while telling a moving slice of Asian American history.
But Aaron's just getting started. Named one of Entertainment Weekly's "Hardest Working Actors" last fall, you'll next see him in the indie flick The Good Guy, the action flick Gamer, and, believe it or not, as father to Lindsay Lohan's fake baby in Labor Pains. He's bringing a normal, everyday Asian face to Hollywood in a normal, everyday way.
See the rest of the 30 Most Influential Asian Americans Under 30 here.
Roh, who was embroiled in allegations that he had accepted $6 million in bribes from a businessman during his time in office, hurled himself off a 100-foot high cliff early Saturday while hiking near his retirement hom. He died from severe head trauma.
In recent weeks, several of his aides and relatives had been arrested or questioned on charges of taking bribes. Late last month, Roh himself was questioned by state prosecutors, but denied most of the bribery allegations against him.
In a suicide note found on his computer, he wrote that life had become unbearable and "too many people are suffering because of me." More here: South Korean Ex-President Kills Himself.
This is just the latest a series of high-profile suicide deaths in South Korea, as well as a number of reported Korean American suicide/murders here in the United States, raising questions about the the highly volatile issue of shame and judgment in the culture.
Rather than a sensationalist attitude towards such tragedies, I hope that the death of a former president might promote a much-needed dialogue about mental health, shame and suicide within Korean society, the Korean American community and beyond.
This is for you, Midwest. Specifically, Indiana. commUNITY is an Asian American photo exhibition that documents the realities and experiences of Asian Americans who live, work, and go to school in Lafayette, Indiana. In celebration of APA Heritage Month, the exhibition will be displayed May 22 June 20 at the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette.
The exhibition features the photographs and statements of 30 anonymous volunteers whose age ranges from 18 years old to 61 years old. The participants responded to three deceivingly simple yet complex questions addressing issues relevant to Asian American identity: What do you think when someone asks you where you are from? What does Asian American mean to you? Is there anything about being Asian American that annoys you?
"commUNITY" investigates the notion of cultural and geographic communities and explores individual identity by deconstructing social, racial, and cultural constructs. For more information, visit the museum's website here, and the photographer's website here. And watch the video preview above.
I've been following Margaret Cho on Twitter. This article is a couple of weeks old, but it's news about what the Korean American comedienne has been working on lately, a new series for Lifetime called Drop Dead Diva: Margaret Cho geared up for 'Dead'.
The show is about "a brilliant plus-size attorney who finds her body inhabited by the soul of a shallow wannabe model." Margaret plays neither the model nor the attorney -- she's got the sidekick role, Terri. I can guarantee you right now that this is not my kind of show. But you do it, Margaret.
She's also got an album, Guitarded, scheduled to come out next year, which promises a collection of super dirty, super silly and super funny Flight of the Conchords-esque songs -- with Cho flava, of course.
Over the next few months, the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund is giving special presentations of survey findings from AALDEF's national multilingual exit poll conducted during the 2008 Presidential Elections -- the largest nonpartisan survey of its kind, conducted in twelve Asian languages and English across 39 cities in 11 states. Some details:
Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund presents
The Asian American Vote 2008
During the 2008 Presidential Elections, 16,665 Asian American voters were surveyed as part of AALDEF's national multilingual exit poll. The exit poll was the largest nonpartisan survey of its kind in the nation and was conducted in twelve Asian languages and English across 39 cities in 11 states.
At these special presentations across the country, comparative information will be given about the Asian American vote in the Presidential and Congressional elections, concerns about key issues, first-time voters, and profiles of the Asian American vote by ethnicity, party enrollment, nativity, age, and English proficiency. For more information or to attend any of these presentations, contact jyang@aaldef.org or call 800.966.5946, www.aaldef.org.
May 21 – The New York Asian American Vote 12 Noon Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP 666 Fifth Avenue at 53rd St. New York, NY
May 22 – The New Jersey Asian American Vote 11:30 AM Korean American Voters' Council 144 Main Street, Suite 201 Hackensack, NJ
June 8 – The Massachusetts Asian American Vote 12:30 PM at Bingham McCutchen One Federal Street Boston, MA
5:30 PM at ONE Lowell 9 Central Street, Suite 203 Lowell, MA
June 11 – The Maryland Asian American Vote 6:30 PM Montgomery County Council Office Building 100 Maryland Avenue Rockville, MD
June 12 – The Asian American Vote (multistate) 2:00 PM 121 Cannon House Office Building Capitol Hill Washington, DC
June 17 and 18 – The Virginia Asian American Vote June 17at 6:30 PM (location to be confirmed) Richmond, VA
June 18 at 11:30 AM Aladdin Bookstore & Café 4305 Markham Street, 2nd floor Annandale, VA
August 8 - The Chinese American Vote Time TBA OCA National Convention The Westin St. Francis Hotel San Francisco, CA
Unfortunately, I'm a little late in posting this, so if you didn't already know about it, you probably missed this week's presentations. (Sorry.) But there will obviously be other opportunities. For more information, look somewhere on the AALDEF website.
Why he's influential: Because he put a face on Asian American hip hop. Since jumping on the scene in 2001, rapper/songwriter/actor Jin Au-yeung, or just Jin, has been making moves as a pioneer for Asian American emcees in hip hop -- first as a freestyle battler, then as the first Asian American solo rapper to be signed to a major record label, then making music on his terms.
His Freestyle Friday run on BET's 106 & Park is now downright legendary. Proving himself a skilled battle rapper, he took down the competition week after week -- on a nationally televised stage, no less. After winning seven weeks straight, Jin was inducted into the show's Hall of Fame. Long before YouTube, I must have watched the video of his seventh win at least fifty times.
Since then, Jin has sort of been held up and touted -- whether he liked it or not -- as Asian American hip hop's "chosen one," first going down the traditional record label route by signing with Ruff Ryders, and then breaking off and forging his own path and releasing music as an indie artist.
Personally, I think Jin has always been most interesting when he's taken a stand, whether it's biting back at New York's Hot 97 for the infamous "Tsunami Song" parody, or firing words at Rosie O'Donnell for her "ching chong" moment, or rocking the vote as an early supporter of Barack Obama for President.
These days, Jin is splitting time between the U.S. and Hong Kong, having carved out a bi-lingual career that pushes hip hop's transnational boundaries. And he's just making good music, in any language. No doubt, there are plenty of other talented Asian American emcees out there, but no one has really taken on the culture quite like Jin.
See the rest of the 30 Most Influential Asian Americans Under 30 here.
They've done it now. After all the controversy over casting the big-screen live-action Hollywood adaption of Nickelodeon's popular animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender -- before shooting had even started -- the first two production photos have emerged... and as expected, it looks pretty ridiculous.
That's a very Caucasian Noah Ringer as the hero Aang. There's also a photo of Dev Patel as the villinous Prince Zuko. I'm sure these are just the first of many such photos that will emerge before the movie is finally released in 2010. If you thought fans were mad before, this will no doubt throw more gas on the flames.
I just watched Manzanar: "Never Again," a mini-documentary by acclaimed filmmaker Ken Burns. It's one of five short films produced by WETA and Florentine Films as part of The Untold Stories Project, designed to bring to light stories from the national parks focusing on the role of African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans and Native Americans in the creation and protection of individual parks.
"Never Again" looks at the interconnected stories of Japanese American internment during World War II, Sue Kunitomi Embrey's efforts to commemorate Manzanar internment camp, and the ongoing work of Manzanar National Historic Site to educate visitors about civil rights. At the heart of the of the film is the site's annual pilgrimage and the words of Sue Embrey, who speaks movingly about protecting all citizens' rights, especially in times of national crisis.
I visited the Manzanar historic site for the first time last month, during the 40th pilgrimage. It was a powerful, moving experience. Standing there in the windy, dusty desert, it made the history of the internment that much more real to me. I shook my fist at the U.S. government. Anyway, watch the documentary here. And learn more about it at the Manzanar Committee Blog.
Last month, Empire magazine re-assembled the cast and crew of the 1985 movie classic The Goonies, including Josh Brolin, Sean Astin, Corey Feldman, producer Steven Spielberg, director Richard Donner... and Jonathan Ke Quan, who will forever hold a place in our hearts as gadget guy Data: Video Exclusive: Goonies Reunion.
It's kind of funny to see what Jonathan Ke Quan (also Short Round in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom) looks like after all these years. These days, he's mostly working behind the camera. Here's an interesting piece taking a look at what the Goonies cast has been up to since starring in the greatest movie ever: "The Goonies" Cast: Then & Now.
So, with all these fine folks together in one room, any chance of solid news about that Goonies sequel that's been rumored for years? As much as Corey Feldman could really use the work, it doesn't look like it's going to happen. But as we all know, Goonies never say die: The Goonies Talk Sequel.
Uh oh. Congressman Mike Honda, in making a pseudo-endorsement for Boston mayoral candidate Sam Yoon, apparently offended some folks with an Irish joke. Last week at the annual dinner of the Asian American Action Fund in Washington DC, Rep. Honda said Yoon was ready to be mayor, declaring, "Boston has been waiting for a long time, because the Irish have had it": Irish eyes frown at lawmaker's quip.
The article doesn't really indicate who was offended by the joke, if anyone. But Honda apologized this week for his "insensitive remark." In a written statement, he explained, "In the spirit of supporting efforts to help elect Asian American and Pacific Islander candidates to office, I made an attempt at being humorous that unfortunately came out as a statement that was offensive. I did not mean to offend anyone or any community, and I deeply regret my comment."
It's true. It's not a very good joke. I barely even understand it. But it's good to see a man like Mike Honda take full responsibility and apologize for it immediately, however mild or minor it might have been. If only other foot-in-mouth figures -- politicians, celebrities or otherwise -- would act in the same manner...
How does it feel to have an entire nation mad at you? Looks like Alec Baldwin's too-little, too-late apology for his "Filipino mail-order bride" joke on The Late Show last week didn't do much to quell the anger of Filipino officials. They've made it pretty damn clear that all is not forgiven.
I don't know if Alec had plans on going to the Philippines any time soon (Sen. Ramon Revilla's threats to give him an asskicking might be a bit of a deterrent) but he's been officially deemed an "undesirable alien" and is forbidden from entering the country. Moral of the story: don't mess with the Philippines.
Opening in theaters this week... Terminator Salvation, the latest installment in the blockbuster sci-fi action franchise. The movie holds the confusing distinction of simultaneously being both a prequel and a sequel, set 34 years after the events of the first movie, but, chronologically, 11 years before Kyle Reese volunteers to be sent back in time. (If this makes no sense, that's okay.)
Moon Bloodgood, who is both beautiful and has an awesome name, is in the movie's cast as Blair Williams, a badass pilot for the human resistance against the machines. If you didn't know about Moon before this movie, you will soon. She's blowing up! Prepare to see her everywhere very soon, starting with Terminator... and this month's cover of Maxim.
In limited release, but going wide next week, The Brothers Bloom, a clever con man tale from Rian Johnson, director of Brick. I saw it a while back and enjoyed it immensely. Rinko Kikuchi, who plays a wordless, Harpo Marx-like explosives expert named Bang Bang. Unfortunately, she doesn't have a whole lot more to say here than her role in Babel, but she's so charming and funny, it's totally forgivable.
Now playing at the Film Forum in New York City, Anders Ostergaard's Burma VJ. In September 2007, when peaceful Buddhist monks led a massive uprising against Burma's military regime, foreign TV crews were banned from entering the country. This documentary tells the story through footage smuggled out by video journalists during the protest.
And finally, opening at the Quad Cinema in New York, Ghosts of the Heartland, a retro-styled indie drama about a Chinese American reporter who returns to his small hometown during the McCarthy era and runs into some red scare peril. Don't know much about this movie, but the premise is pretty intriguing. The film's cast includes Phil Moon, Rachel Lu, Marcus Ho, Rosanne Ma, James Saito and Tsen Lee. Here's a not-so-good review in the New York Times: Bigotry and Xenophobia in 1950s America.
You thought we were only about the spelling bees? Nope. We run geography bees too. Yesterday in Washington, 13-year-old Eric Yang of Colony, Texas beat out nine other kids in the finals to win the National Geographic Bee: Q: Which state has best geography whiz? A: Texas.
Question: Timis County shares its name with a tributary of the Danube and is located in the western part of which European country? Do you know the answer? Eric did. It's Romania. His opponent, 14-year-old Arjun Kandaswamy of Beaverton, Oregon, incorrectly answered "Hungary." And that's how you win it!
Eric walked away with the top prize of a $25,000 college scholarship. Runner-up Arjun took home a $15,000. My favorite quote from this story actually comes from Arjun, who says he wants to break the stereotype that "geography nerds" only "study all day" -- a common misperception about geography nerds, for sure. You show them, Arjun.
Mai T. Dang Age: 25 Community Organizer, Mary Queen of Viet Nam Community Development Corporation
Why she's influential: Because she's holding it down on the ground as a community organizer. Today's entry is written by Christina Wadhwani, friend and colleague to Mai T. Dang, an organizer for the Vietnamese American community in New Orleans, and soon-to-be graduate student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's School of Urban Planning and Design:
A woman warrior, fearless feminist, amazing community leader, and avid sponge ready to soak up what her surrounding environment has to offer only to squeeze back to the world her uncensored intellect, Mai has been a globe trotter and making ripples wherever her toes touch. She graduated from the George Washington University in 2006, and the day after graduation, moved to New Orleans East, the "backyard" of touristy New Orleans to aid Vietnamese and Vietnamese American Katrina victims.
A community organizer for the Mary Queen of Viet Nam Community Development Corporation (MQVN CDC), Mai organized the community and local neighborhood groups to close a neighborhood landfill which was toxic to the community. Securing relationships with key political figures, city council representatives, district members, and congressional members/staff, Mai helped put the Vietnamese community in New Orleans East on the map.
Her successful track record of community organizing also includes working with the city to rezone the Vietnamese Community on New Orleans' map, forcing the city to invest in the low income, marginalized communities of color in New Orleans East, bridging the racial gaps between different communities of color, and sustaining dialogue with key political figures to ensure that Vietnamese Americans have a voice at the planning, strategizing, rebuilding, redevelopment, and implementing table.
She is a friend, a mentor, an inspiration, a motivator, a roommate, a woman warrior, an Asian sister, a Vietnamese daughter, an adopted granddaughter, the balance between theory and practice, the mold between action and implementation, and the bridge between academia and grassroots. At 25, Mai T. Dang is a fireball under 30.
(Contributed by Christina Wadhwani)
See the rest of the 30 Most Influential Asian Americans Under 30 here.
Comedian Danny Cho is taping a comedy show, and he wants you to be there. If you're in Southern California, come on out to the Colony Theatre in Burbank next Friday, May 29 to see Danny do his thing, along with some special guests. A night of jokes! Laughs! Fun! Advance tickets are 15 bucks, or you can buy a ticket with Danny's DVD for 20 bucks. For more info, go here: A Show in Burbank?! WTF!
The saga of Boston city councilor Sam Yoon's run for mayor continues... In the city of Boston, where Mayor Thomas M. Menino dominates the political establishment, Yoon remains a relatively low-profile figure, unknown to 38 percent of residents, according to a recent Globe poll.
However, Yoon, Boston's first Asian American city councilor, has been working hard to cultivate support outside of Boston, traveling around the country to meet Asian American political activists, who have enthusiastically embraced his campaign with support and campaign donations: Yoon looks beyond Boston to enlist backers.
You can't blame them. Yoon is a promising voice leading the way among a new generation of Asian Americans getting involved in politics, at all levels of government. The trick now, is to translate that to Boston, and get the same kind of support from local donors to keep his campaign competitive.
Some bad news out of buffalo... Six Asian American college students -- members of Lambda Phi Epsilon -- were charged with assault after allegedly taking part in a hazing ritual: Six remain free on bail in fraternity hazing.
Kong M. Siu, 21, of Bayside; Ronald Lin, 21, of Brooklyn; Qiyvan Zhang, 22, of Groton; Brian B. Shim, 22, of Syosett; Andrew Lui, 21, of Brooklyn; and Ho Lee, 22, of Woodbury have all been charged with felony second-degree assault and misdemeanor hazing.
They are accused of paddling three victims and forcing them to drink alcohol until they lost consciousness. The victims were found unconscious in a locked bedroom, hospitalized for two days and treated for "dehydration, alcohol poisoning, blood in urine and severe pain, swelling and severe bruising to buttocks."
All six defendants have been suspended from class until thecase is resolved. Five of the defendants are from the University at Buffalo. The sixth, Shim, is a junior in D'Youville's nursing program.
I've written about hazing incidents among Asian American fraternities before. Again, I have to ask, what compels young Asian American college students to join an organization that would require you to endure such dangerous and/or humiliating rituals? What price must one pay just to "belong"?
For those of you in Philadelphia, mark your schedules for a very interesting, entertaining performance arts experience happening next weekend: Edge of the World, an evening of "speed plays" presented by the Asian Arts Initiative. It's happening Friday and Saturday, May 29-30 at the Asian Arts Initiative in Philadelphia. Here are some specifics:
Asian Arts Initiative presents
EDGE OF THE WORLD A roller coaster of Asian American experience!
Friday & Saturday, May 29 – 30, 2009 7:30 p.m.
$15 general admission, $12 students https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/52877
Asian Arts Initiative, 1219 Vine Street, Philadelphia (215)557-0455
From the diverse and intersecting worlds of spoken word, comedy, writing and performance, a cast from East and West coasts collaborate to create a night of “speed plays” inspired by a range of intensely personal stories and global social conditions. All the plays are short – from a few seconds to as many as 5 minutes. So don’t sit back for long, but do enjoy the ride!
Featuring Regie Cabico, John Castro, Makoto Hirano, Sueyeun Juliette Lee, Traci Kato-Kiriyama, Dan Kim, Michelle Myers, Gary San Angel, Anula Shetty, Ryan Suda, F. Omar Telan, Greg Watanabe, Kristina Wong, and other possible surprises.
Warning: the show may include strong language and sensitive content not intended for anyone who is faint of heart! Viewer discretion is advised!
Just judging from the lineup of talent involved with this show, I'm pretty certain it's going to be a kickass night. for more information visit the Asian Arts Initiative website here. And buy your tickets here.
This photo, submitted by Ziggy, illustrates a strange flavor situation that I too have encountered and puzzled over in the supermarket aisle. As you may be aware, Hamburger Helper comes in a wide variety of flavors, like hamburger in the original Hamburger Helper, or tuna in Tuna Helper... so the question is, what the hell is in Asian Helper? The package says "Mongolian-Style Beef," but I'll tell you what's really in there: Asians. Asian Helper is made from Asians! Asiaaaaaaaaans! (Thanks, Ziggy.)
Singer Heather Park, who performed last week at the Asian American Heritage Month event at New York City Hall, passed along the text of this inspiring speech by Jennifer Hayashida on the state of Asian American Studies in higher education. Heather was apparently so moved, she asked her for a copy of the speech to share with everyone:
2009 APA Heritage Month Celebration
Wednesday, May 13th, 2009
City Council Chambers, City Hall, New York City
Jennifer Hayashida
I am here as an educator at Hunter College, where I have been the Program Coordinator and Acting Director of Asian American Studies for the past two years. So, here's the good news: about 30% of Hunter's student body self-identifies as Asian or Asian American. And, the entire CUNY system serves more than 40,000 Asian American students - taken together, that's as many students as there are enrolled at most large state schools, like one of the larger Penn State campuses, or UCLA.
But, it's not just about the numbers: Asian American Studies is about more than just serving percentages of Asian American students - it is about how Asian American history is American history, Asian American experience is American experience.
To list just a fraction of what we do in Asian American Studies classes at Hunter, we study the relationships between first generation parents and their second-generation daughters and sons - in other words, we study the lives of you many of you in this room. We look at novels and poetry by Asian American writers; we look at how what happens in Pakistan impacts Asian American communities right here in New York City.
To sum it up, we look at events and experiences from U.S. history that are frequently overlooked or given just one page in the high school history textbook. These big gaps in what students learn lead to gaps in how they experience themselves as Asian Americans - just that term, "Asian American," means that we insist that we can be both Asian AND American, that we do not have to choose between being foreign and being the invisible model minority. We began this struggle 40 years ago at San Francisco State College, and we still have a lot of work ahead of us.
Right now, I frequently have students who enter my classes with no idea about the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act, WWII Internment of Japanese Americans, or hate crimes against Filipino men who wanted to marry white women in the 30s. Students don't know that Chinese Exclusion is a precedent for the Patriot Act, that Japanese Internment predates post-9/11 detention and deportation of South Asians. Students don't know that Depression-era anti-miscegenation legislation against Asian Americans is currently being examined as part of the legal debate around gay marriage.
Asian American history and experience - our "heritage" - is a cornerstone of American history and identity, but right now it is buried and inaccessible to most of the students, Asian American or not, of our city.
This knowledge is especially vital to our young people who are arriving as first- or 1.5- generation immigrants, who find themselves between cultures and identities, and who are struggling to find a place where they don't have to pick between being foreigners or being invisible. Learning about their ancestors' experiences gives them a foothold in America. And, just as importantly, learning about Asian American history can build bridges between Asian Americans and other communities of color.
It is our responsibility to advocate for the rights of our daughters, sons, nieces, nephews, cousins, and, for that matter, fathers and grandmothers, to be able to attend schools in this city and expect to learn about APA heritage, the heritage we are here today to celebrate. That way, we can celebrate the triumphs of people like Fred Korematsu, who ultimately received justice from the Supreme Court, fifty years after he was jailed for refusing to be interned. Or we can celebrate the 1965 Immigration Act, which eliminated the restrictions on immigration from Asia and made it possible for many of us to be here today. Most importantly, we can then truly celebrate the everyday accomplishments of the communities we live in today, because we will have a better understanding of where we come from, the obstacles we have triumphed over, and the work that is left before us.
I got this text from Heather's blog. I have to agree -- it's an inspiring speech that examines the importance of our Asian American history and heritage, and as much as the culture at large might try to deny it, these experiences are an integral part of American history as a whole. We must continue to work towards ensuring that they're not forgotten -- by us or anyone else. (Thanks, Heather.)
He points out that it was a joke (yeah, we figured that one out), but apologizes to anyone who took offense. He also uses the moment to highlight to serious issue of sex trafficking, and the work of the anti-sex trafficking organization Love146.
I wonder if this means he is now welcome in Philippines... or if he'll still be met with that beat down promised by former action star-turned-politician Sen. Ramon Revilla. Somehow, I get the feeling the they won't forget this too easily...
This is for all you filmgoers in San Diego... Our friends at the San Diego Asian Film Foundation invite you to their next quarterly screening of So Yun Kim's Treeless Mountain, next Friday, May 29 at Reading Theaters Gaslamp. They'll be co-presenting two screenings at 7:00pm and 9:00pm. Some details:
TREELESS MOUNTAIN - QUARTERLY SCREENING FRIDAY, MAY 29 | 7PM & | 9PM Reading Theaters Gaslamp 701 5th Street, San Diego, CA 92101
An incredibly moving story, TREELESS MOUNTAIN is inspired by director So Yong Kim's childhood, and tells a story about the betrayal of children when deprived of the warmth and security of a family home. Entirely unsentimental, TREELESS MOUNTAIN uses images rather than words to effectively create a world in which the audience witnesses a crime.
I finally had the chance to catch this film at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, and it's a wonderful, incredibly well-made movie with stunning performances from the two child leads. It left me thinking about it long after it was over. For more information about the screening, go to the SDAFF website here.
Want to win free tickets? For a chance two free tickets to the screening, just e-mail Daniel@sdaff.org and name your favorite Korean Film. And you could win!
The New York Times ran a story today on the origins and increasing popularity of everybody's favorite Asian tabletop hot sauce, Sriracha, affectionately known by many as "rooster sauce" for the illustration of the squeeze-bottle packaging: A Chili Sauce to Crow About .
So where does rooster sauce come from? While many mistakenly assume the sauce originates from Thailand or Vietnam, it turns out the zesty red condiment, manufactured by Huy Fong Foods, is very much an American sauce, "a polygot puree with roots in different places and peoples."
Sriracha was created in Los Angeles in the early 1980s by David Tran, a Chinese immigrant from Vietnam, who developed it as his own take on a traditional Asian chili sauce. The rest is history. Today, it's everywhere, inspiring cooks, copycats and competitors. You won't find a pho shop without it.
Damn, now I'm hungry. Does anyone want to go eat some pho?
News of another police shooting from last week, again involving an Asian American victim... In San Jose, police shot and killed Daniel Pham, who was apparently brandishing a knife and made a move toward them. Two officers first used a Taser to try to subdue him, then shot him with their handguns. He died at the scene: Family says brother begged San Jose police not to shoot man with knife.
Is it me, or does this sound eerily similar to the police shooting of Joseph Han in Folsom? Or the high-profile July 2003 police shooting of Bich Cau Thi Tran, the mentally ill Vietnamese mother who was holding a vegetable peeler, which a San Jose police officer mistook for a cleaver. The incident ignited the Vietnamese community over issues of mental health and cultural sensitivities.
Maybe these issues may have to be revisited. Pham also reportedly suffered from a history of mental illness. Were the officers made aware of this? Was there something they could've done differently that could've resulted in Pham walking away alive? All I know is, another Asian person is dead -- and the police shot him.
I recently heard from Jonathan Park, aka Los Angeles-based emcee Dumbfoundead, who tells me he recently released a new album, Fun with Dumb. You might remember Dumbfoundead from his battle with Tantrum, previously posted here. I haven't actually heard the album yet, but I'm looking forward to giving it a spin.
The guy has proven himself to be a talented, clever battle emcee... now he needs you to listen to his record. He's got a message for you here. The album features the likes of DJ Zo, Aceyalone, Abstract Rude, D-Styles, Nocando, Intuition and more. Get yourself a copy here. And to learn and hear more, go to his MySpace.
Things are looking pretty good for Gene. His previous work, the 2007 National Book Award finalist American Born Chinese, is popping up frequently on school reading lists. And the tale he and Sonny Liew wrote, "The Blue Scorpion" (a spoof of The Green Hornet), is featured in the recently published Secret Identities, the Asian American superhero anthology.
All this acclaim, and Gene continues to hold down his day job as a teacher at Bishop O'Dowd High School in Oakland. How does the man do it?
It's too soon to tell, but it looks like Judy Chu is the front runner to win California 32nd Congressional District. Chu topped a field of twelve candidates in yesterday's election, making her the favorite to claim the seat in a July runoff: Asian-American leads Latino district in Calif..
With all percent of precincts reporting, Chu had 31.9 percent, followed by fellow state senator Gil Cedillo with 23.4 percent. Because no candidate cleared a majority, the top finishers in each party advance to a July 14 runoff. If elected, she would be Southern California's only Asian American in Congress.
Things look good for Chu, who has emerged as the leading contender in an overwhelmingly Hispanic district. Now there's only a slight snag to face in the July runoff... Yesterday's Republican winner is Betty Chu -- no relation to Judy. Another Chu! With two Chus in the race, things could get a little confusing for voters... More here: Judy Chu defeats Gil Cedillo but faces runoff in 32nd Congressional District.
UPDATE: No freaking way. I've been informed that Republican Monterey Park City Councilmember Betty Chu is actually Judy Chu's cousin by marriage. It's the Battle of the Chus! Though I think it's pretty safe to consider Judy Chu the presumptive winner.
Why he's influential: Because he's making media that looks into our community's past, present and future. Tadashi Nakamura is a documentary director whose critically acclaimed films look back at the roots, key figures and forward momentum of the Asian American movement. And he does it in a way that makes this history accessible -- with style, panache and a little bit of hip hop flair.
Perhaps it was Tad's destiny to go down this route. A fourth generation Japanese American, born and raised in Los Angeles, Tad is the son of filmmaking luminaries Karen Ishizuka and Bob Nakamura, who is sometimes referred to as "the Godfather of Asian American media." That's a hell of a legacy to live up to, but Tad is definitely holding his own.
His latest film A Song For Ourselves, looks back and the life and work of late singer/activist Chris Iijima. It's the third installment in Tad's trilogy of documentaries on the Asian American movement. The first, Yellow Brotherhood, is a personal documentary about the meaning of friendship and community through a youth organization formed in the 1960s to help youth get off drugs.
The second film in the trilogy, Pilgrimage, tells the story of how an abandoned World War II concentration camp for Japanese Americans was transformed into a symbol of retrospection and solidarity for people of all nationalities in our post 9/11 world. It was an official selection at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival and won nine awards of excellence during its festival run.
Tad's films look inward -- where we've come from and where we're at -- not simply out of nostalgia or respect, but as a challenge, a call to action, and because we're supposed to finish the work our forefathers started. As a director, and as a descendant of the movement, he gets it, and he's making sure future generations pass on this legacy as well.
See the rest of the 30 Most Influential Asian Americans Under 30 here.
Really couldn't resist posting this. That's voice actor Jordan Nagai with his character Russell at this week's Los Angeles premiere of Pixar's Up. The movie opens in theaters everywhere next week, May 29. Learn more about the movie here.
End of the line for you, Norman Hsu. Yesterday, the former Democratic Party fundraiser was found guilty of breaking federal campaign laws -- specifically, making donations to political campaigns in other people's names: Democrat fundraiser guilty of illegal donations.
Jurors convicted Hsu of violating four counts of federal election law between 2004 and 2007. During the trial, prosecutors said Hsu pressured some of the investors involved in his $60 million Ponzi scheme to make thousands of dollars in contributions to political candidates on his behalf.
Sentencing is set for August 19. Hsu faces more than 30 years in prison for running the Ponzi scheme and an additional maximum of five years for each of the illegal campaign contribution charges. See ya, Norman. If you can't do the time, don't do the crime.
A group of Uighurs, a Chinese Muslim minority, who have been detained for more than six years and counting at the American prison at Guantanamo Bay, are firing back at Newt Gingrich, who has accused them of terrorist ties and says that releasing them into the United States would endanger the country: Uighurs Fire Back At Gingrich From Gitmo: "Why Does He Hate Us So Much?"
The Bush administration has cleared the Uighurs for release; five have already been released to third countries. If returned to China, there's a high probability they'd be tortured. A burgeoning Uighur community in Northern Virginia has offered to take them in, but Gingrich and others are objecting, questioning why the Uighurs are "an American problem."
Hey Newt, they're "an American problem" because we've had them in United States' custody for six years for no real freaking reason. Declassified documents show that government officials concluded as early as 2003 that the Uighurs weren't enemy combatants and had recommended releasing them. And yet they've been stuck in prison limbo with nowhere to go.
So can you blame them for being a little angry back at this assclown? Before his outburst, the Uighurs had no idea who the hell Newt Gingich was. I think it's also rather apparent that Gingrich has no idea who the Uighurs really are either. That, unfortunately, is the real American problem.
I know this is late, because the day is almost over, but I wanted to make sure I mentioned it anyway... Today happens to be National Asian & Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. The Banyan Tree Project is a national campaign to stop HIV/AIDS-related stigma in Asian & Pacific Islander communities, providing information, events and resources in an effort to end the silence.
Like I said, I'm late getting the word out, but that definitely shouldn't matter -- spreading awareness about HIV/AIDS in the API community shouldn't be limited to just one day. To learn more about The Banyan Tree Project, go to the website here.
Yesterday, a coalition of left-wing advocacy groups filed legal ethics complaints against twelve former Bush administration lawyers, including John C. Yoo, accusing them of helping to justify torture: Advocacy Groups Seek Disbarment of Ex-Bush Administration Lawyers.
The coalition, called Velvet Revolution, asked the bar associations in four states and the District of Columbia to disbar the lawyers, saying their actions violated the rules of professional responsibility by approving interrogation methods that constituted illegal torture.
According to advocates, by writing or approving legal opinions justifying such methods, the Bush administration lawyers violated the Geneva Conventions, the Convention Against Torture and American law. I guess it's time to pay the piper.
That means you, John C. Yoo. That's torture! I just wish the action was coming from a group with a less ridiculous name. Velvet Revolution sounds like they're supposed to be the unofficial fan club of a rock band or something.
Sick of the subway fare hike? Tired of biking? Feeling poor? The Asian American Writers' Workshop has your solution. They're raffling off a brand new Vespa LX50. Robin's egg blue. Just picture yourself on this thing, tooling around on the streets of New York. You! On a Vespa!
You have until this Thursday to enter the raffle. Proceeds will go towards supporting AAWW's great workshops and literary events, which has featured authors such as Jhumpa Lahiri, David Henry Hwang, and Michael Ondaatje.
They'll announce the winner at Debut Fiction Night on May 21. (You don't have to be present in order to win.) Go here to buy your ticket (just $10) and stay tuned to AAWW's Twitter to find out the winner at 9:00pm on Thursday night.
If you're planning on watching the American Idol season pre-finale tonight, stick around afterwards for the premiere of the new musical comedy Glee. Tonight's being touted as a "preview event," since the rest of the series doesn't actual air until the fall. Guess they couldn't wait to give viewers a taste.
I got a chance to take a look at the pilot a couple of weeks ago, and I have to admit, it's surprisingly a ton of fun, and -- unlike High School Musical -- totally watchable. Jenna Ushkowitz is in the show's cast as Tina, "an awkward girl who needs to suppress her stutter before she can take center stage."
She doesn't have a huge part in the pilot, but you do get to hear her sing a bit. If you're into musical comedies, or geeky high school underdog misfit stories, or maybe even if you're not, you might enjoy this show. Watch the extended trailer here.
Last month in Congress, the House overwhelmingly passed "The Great Cats and Rare Canids Act," which would authorized $5 million annually from fiscal 2010 to 2014 to help preserve snow leopards, wild African dogs and other endangered species. Yay, I guess: As Obama says to cut millions, House OKs $50 million for animals.
I only bring this up because of the comments of Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX), who griped how federal funds going to China for the protection of rare cats and dogs may actually result in "moo goo dog pan or moo goo cat pan." Here's part of the transcript from C-SPAN:
Again I appreciate the sensitivities with regard to rare cats and dogs around the world. With regard to the previous votes on this bill in the House, to be specific, 227 Democrats voted "aye," 67 Republicans voted "aye," which also was about the same numbers, similar numbers, that voted for the bailout back in September, which was also a huge mistake. There was one Democrat that voted "no" and 118 Republicans that voted "no."
But we are even in different times now. We are still borrowing money from the Chinese. And, once again, the irony here is incredible. We are going to borrow more money from the Chinese to possibly give them money back to create habitats for wild dogs and cats that are rare.
There is no assurance that if we did that we wouldn't end up with moo goo dog pan or moo goo cat pan. There is no way to assure that money will not be wasted when it's sent to foreign countries.
And here's last night's Daily Show's Moment of Zen: Moo Goo Dog Pan. Seriously, Congressman? Come on, Gohmert. Did you really have to go there? Say what you will about how the United States spends its money -- that's your job. But did you really have to get cute and go for the "moo goo dog pan" line? Let me break the news to you: you're not that funny. So keep the Chinese dog/cat-eating jokes out of the Congressional Record. That's racist! (Thanks, Meredith.)
Clarence Tong Age: 26 Founder/Executive Director, Asian American Civic Project
Why he's influential: Because he's changing the way Asian Americans exercise their civic duty. Clarence Tong is the founder and executive director of the Asian American Civic Project, a pipeline program that promotes recent Asian American college graduates into electoral politics. In its inaugural year, the organization has successfully placed a handful of young APAs on political campaigns, giving them valuable training and experience.
Building alliances with Asian American politicians, including Congressman Mike Honda, and with the help of API groups throughout the nation, Clarence fundraised over $50,000 to send five recent graduates to work on contested Congressional races for the 2008 campaign cycle.
Before returning to graduate school recently, Clarence excelled rapidly on Capitol Hill, serving in key roles on Joe Sestak's successful 2006 campaign, defeating a ten-term Republican incumbent in the House of Representatives. He then rose from a Legislative Assistant to Communications Director, Press Secretary and Policy Director in Congressman Sestak's office in less than a year and a half.
According to his brother Wilson (who nominated him), Clarence "constantly looks beyond himself and to how he can positively affect and mentor a new generation of APA leaders in politics. His mantra has always been that one should never forget his/her roots and identity, and he certainly has not, making my first generation parents proud even though they didn't know what American politics was before Clarence."
See the rest of the 30 Most Influential Asian Americans Under 30 here.
Just saw this over on the Asian Pacific Americans for Progress blog... The Congressional Black Caucus is lobbying President Obama to consider Congressman Bobby Scott (D-VA) for the Supreme Court nomination to replace Justice Souter. With African American, White and Filipino ancestry, Scott is actually the first Filipino American to serve in Congress.
Now, I don't know much about Bobby Scott, or how hard he reps for the Filipino American community (I'm told he's down)... but if the Obama administration were to nominate him, he would indeed be the first U.S. Supreme Court Justice of Asian American ancestry. But how close are we to this actually happening? Is this a serious possibility... or just a pleasant thought?
I just downloaded the new self-titled debut album from Zee Avi, an up-and-coming singer out of Malaysia whose sweet, smooth sounds were originally discovered on YouTube. The new record (both physical and digital) are in stores today from Brushfire Records. I'm listening to it right now, and it's absolutely wonderful.
You can hear the whole dang album over on MySpace. That's the music video for "Bitter Heart" above. You can also catch Zee performing four songs from album over on YouTube. And if you live in Los Angeles, she'll be featured on KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic tomorrow, May 20. Learn more over at Zee Avi's official website here.
Last week, the Swedish ambassador who represents U.S. interests in North Korea met with American journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee, who have been detained since mid-March. It was the first such contact in six weeks: Swedish envoy meets detained journalists in NKorea: US.
According to the State Department, the Swedish ambassador to North Korea, acting as the United States' protecting power, met with Lee and and Ling on May 15. However, officials did not give any details about their current condition.
The two journalists are scheduled to face trial on June 4, on unspecified charges of "hostile acts" and illegally entering the country. If convicted of "hostile acts," they could face up to ten years of forced labor.
More than likely, Pyongyang is using their detention as a bargaining chip to open direct talks with Washington, which has participated in six-country negotiations aimed at scrapping North Korea's nuclear programs.
Meanwhile, two Americans are stuck in a North Korean prison on trumped up charges as nations posture. This Thursday, May 21, there will be a series of candlelight vigils held across the U.S. in support of the prompt return of Laura and Euna. You can go to this Facebook group for more details.
Wonderful. Idiotic comments out of the mouth of Alec Baldwin, who was guest last week on The Late Show with David Letterman... The actor, who is divorced with a teenage daughter, said that he would love to have more children, joking that he was "thinking about getting a Filipino mail-order bride at this point... or a Russian one."
As you can imagine, once word got around, the remarks did not sit well with folks in the Philippines, including Sen. Ramon Revilla, who said that Baldwin's comment was "insensitive and uncalled for" and an insult to millions of Filipinos: Philippine senator angered by Alec Baldwin's joke.
"Let him try to come here in the Philippines and he'll see mayhem," said Revilla, who is apparently a former action movie star. Hear that, Alec? You've been warned. Come on over to the Philippines and you might just face a beating... personally administered by Senator Revilla himself.
Why do people think that affixing "Asian" (and by extension, Filipino, Chinese, Korean, etc.) to a joke somehow makes it funnier? We see it time and time again. If you're going to use the cheap "mail order bride" quip, is "Filipino mail-order bride" that much funnier? I'm sorry, I guess I have no sense of humor.
My man Raymond informs me that he'll be making his cabaret debut next Monday, May 25 in Here's Where I Stand -- benefiting St. Jude Children's Research Hospital -- one night only! at The Metropolitan Ballroom in New York.
Ray is currently performing the role of Eddie in the Broadway cast of Mamma Mia! and has also performed in Applause, Two Gentlemen of Verona and Victor Woo: The Average Asian American. You might also remember him from several years ago on the NBC talent competition Fame.
The evening will include guest performers, including Erin Quill (Avenue Q), Gerard Salvador (Mamma Mia! and Friends with Benefits), Melissa Menezes (Princesses) and Chris Yonan (The Idiot's Guide to Dating) with musical direction by Nate Buccieri.
Tickets are $15 with a two-drink minimum, but remember, all proceeds go to St. Jude's. Raymond's a good guy, so if you're free on Monday night, make your plans to come out and support the show. For more information, go here.
I watched Star Trek again over the weekend. It's just a really fun, cool summer movie. I did not, however, see it on IMAX. And neither did comedian Aziz Ansari, star of NBC's Parks and Recreation. At least, not the "true" IMAX experience.
Instead of Star Trek projected on a six-story screen, Aziz found himself in a theater with a screen only slightly larger than normal... by most technical definitions, not a true IMAX presentation. He felt wronged, and subsequently turned his rage into an internet sensation: Comedian Aziz Ansari Really Mad About 'Fake' IMAX.
Just read this local story in The Sacramento Bee about 21-year-old Jessica Lum, who, late last year as a senior at UCLA, learned that she had metastatic pheochromocytoma -- a rare and advanced form of cancer with no established cure -- and has since been keeping friends up-to-date about her illness via regular, candid Facebook updates: McClatchy grad's Facebook friends follow her cancer fight.
Here's an amusing video clip from The Daily Show of John Stewart and John Oliver discussing the plight of Lt. Dan Choi, the National Guard platoon leader who is being discharged for being gay, under the military's idiotic "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. I think they firmly establish that Dan Choi is gay.
Choi is an Iraq combat veteran and a West Point graduate with a degree in Arabic, as well as a founding member of Knights Out, an organization of out Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender West Point Alumni. In light of his dismissal from the military, here's Dan Choi's open letter to President Obama and every member of Congress: Gay soldier: Don't fire me.
25-year-old Shin Fujiyama is one of CNN's Heroes: Fighting poverty one campus at a time. His organization, Students Helping Honduras, brings education and community projects to children and families in need through student service trips and fundraisers. He was inspired in college, after an eye-opening volunteer trip to Honduras, to make a different in whatever way he could.
Since 2006, he and his sister's grass-roots campaign to help Honduras has grown to 25 campuses and raised more than $750,000 to fund projects, including the construction of two schools and the establishment of scholarships to help young women attend college. He's 25 years old. What are you doing with your life?
Last week, with the election for California's 32nd Congressional District just days away, candidate Gil Cedillo distributed a vicious, low-down dirty mailer smearing frontrunner Judy Chu, connecting her to a Chinese espionage suspect. Basically, it implies that Dr. Chu isn't American, but a foreigner whose own patriotism and loyalty is suspect. Seriously, Gil? You're really going to go there? Read all about it at the AAA-Fund blog: Un-American.
Why she's influential: Because she rocks your face off. Karen Lee Orzolek, better known by her stage name Karen O, is lead singer of New York-based rock band Yeah Yeah Yeahs. And basically, she's awesomeness personified. In a few short years, this Korean American rocker, with her Hynde-like growl and out-there style, has become an unmistakable icon in music.
Since the Yeah Yeah Yeahs released their self-title debut EP in 2001, and their first full-length album Fever to Tell in 2003, the band's gritty art rock sound has garnered them both strong critical acclaim and legions of fans worldwide. And in 2007, the band became one of the first western rock acts to play in China when they headlined the Modern Sky Festival in Beijing.
They're also known for putting on one hell of a live show, with Karen O's energetic, freak-ass stage antics front and center. She's been noted for her wild sense fashion, wearing over-the-top outfits made by her friend, designer Christian Joy, and apparently inspiring a crazy wave of fashion followers. She's a hot rock goddess, and there's really no one else like her.
See the rest of the 30 Most Influential Asian Americans Under 30 here.
First saw this in Joz's blog last week, and it has since gotten picked up on a bunch of other blogs, including Gizmodo... So, the new Nikon S630 camera, in all its technological awesomeness, has a handy feature that supposedly detects when human subjects "blink." Great, right?
Joz got one for her mom, and discovered one serious flaw... The camera technology appears unable to distinguish between someone who is actually blinking and someone who just has really small, open eyes (i.e. Asians): Racist Camera! No, I did not blink... I'm just Asian!That's racist!
East Coast friends, check it out. Kollaboration New York 2009, the premiere Asian American talent showcase competition happening next month, has announced its final list of competitors. And it looks like the show has really stepped up the level of talent. They are:
That's a serious lineup. The evening will also be headlined by comedian Eliot Chang, with more guest performers to be announced in the coming weeks. So far, so good. New York, I think you want to be there.
It's all going down on June 27 at at the NYU Skirball Center. Tickets are on sale now. Get yours here. For more information, go to the Kollaboration New York website here, as well as the blog, Twitter, MySpace and Facebook. And definitely check out this cool promo video that came out a few weeks ago.
Just caught this documentary special on the History Channel: How Bruce Lee Changed the World. As a huge Bruce Lee fan, you know I had to tune in. This special pieces together rare family archival footage owned by the Bruce Lee Foundation, together with in-depth interviews with individuals who have cited inspiration from Bruce Lee.
Compared to all the Bruce Lee documentaries that are already out there, it's not half bad. I mean, I could care less how Bruce Lee has influenced the likes of LL Cool J, Eddie Griffin and Brett Ratner. But I suppose the point is to illustrate how far and wide Bruce Lee's influence reaches, long after his death.
The documentary does also delve a bit into how Bruce changed perceptions of Asian men in film, subsequently became a hero to minorities everywhere, and sparked a massive kung fu craze -- for better or for worse -- across America. And hey, it's always fun to see old footage of Bruce doing his thing. Fun stuff.
Anyway, I'm not sure the next time it's going to air on History, but it's worth a look. Keep an eye on the schedule and catch it if you get the chance.
Why he's influential: Because he's America's next great golfing hope. Since going pro in 2006, the 23-year-old has built a reputation on his brash attitude, stubbornness... and serious talent on the course. I've lost track of how long they've been calling Anthony Kim the next Tiger Woods. The comparisons seemed endless, particularly last year when Kim became the first American under 25 since Woods in 2000 to win at least twice in one year on the PGA Tour.
In May 2008, he won his first PGA Tour tournament at the Wachovia Championship, defeating former British Open champion Ben Curtis by five shots. Kim's 16-under par 272 total is the lowest score in the tournament's history.
Two months later, Kim won his second PGA Tour tournament at the AT&T National -- hosted by Tiger Woods himself -- defeating Fredrik Jacobson by two shots. And in September, Kim was a critical part of the United States' victory in the Ryder Cup.
There's no denying the guy's talent. The press, however, has had more than a few questions about his dedication, attitude, and alleged partying ways. But like I said, the guy is just 23, and has demonstrated that he can play and hang with the true pros. And he's just getting started. In time, maybe they'll stop calling him the next Tiger Woods, and simply call him Anthony Kim.
See the rest of the 30 Most Influential Asian Americans Under 30 here.
Mindy Kaling Age: 29 Writer/Producer/Actress, The Office
Why she's influential: Because she keeps us laughing. A lot. Actress/comedian Mindy Kaling, aka Vera Mindy Chokalingam, is best known for her role as the idiotic, ultra-chatty Kelly Kapoor, as well as writer and co-executive producer on the hit award-winning NBC sitcom The Office. And thank goodness, Mindy is pretty much nothing like Kelly, in every way that counts.
Since getting hired as a writer/performer on the show in early 2004, she's written a number of key episodes ("The Dundies," "The Injury," "Diwali," to name a few), and has brought her vapid, airhead charm to the ensemble as Kelly, helping the American version of The Office set itself apart from the original British series, and come into its own as a comedy.
Prior to The Office, Mindy first started turning heads co-writing and co-starring as Ben Affleck (yes, you read that correctly) in the hit off-Broadway play Matt & Ben, which won the New York International Fringe Festival's Best Play prize and went on to be a featured selection at the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen. The play was named one of Time Magazine's top ten theatrical events of 2003.
Just recently, she signed a Tina Fey-esque two-year, seven-figure contract with NBC to develop and star in a new comedy while continuing to write, produce, and act in The Office. This, of course, is only Mindy Kaling's first move in her master plan to take over the world. Can't wait to see it.
See the rest of the 30 Most Influential Asian Americans Under 30 here.
At least we now know what happened to Dr. Chang's hand. Who didn't see that one coming? As for everything else, I'm still picking up the pieces of my brain after Wednesday night's finale. I have no idea what's going on anymore, or where they go from here. Another cruel cliffhanger. 2010 is waaay too friggin' far away.
Earlier this week, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham was on CNN talking about what to do with detainees once Guantanamo Bay shuts down: Sen. Graham on Gitmo detainees. So where do you put them? The Senator seems to think it'll be no problem -- hey, we handled the Japanese, right?
He suggests, in vague terms, putting them all in a remote place away from the general population that you can easily defend... But honestly, where? And how?
Believe it or not, he's optimistic, and actually brings up the thousands of Japanese American "internment prisoners" who were housed by the United States during World War II, basically to illustrate how, "as a nation, we can deal with this." You can't be serious, Senator. Damn, some people never learn!
An update on the Fong Lee case in Minneapolis... Last week, a judge threw out most claims in the Lee family's lawsuit, dismissing all claims against the city of Minneapolis and one claim against Officer Jason Anderson. Lee's family claims that Fong was unarmed and that police planted a gun near his body.
Yesterday, the judge ruled that Minneapolis can present evidence at trial next week that Lee was affiliated with a gang: Jurors can hear Fong Lee's alleged gang affiliation, judge rules. For the city, establishing alleged gang membership apparently makes it more probable that Fong or his friends had access to a gun... and thus more likely that gun in question was his.
The judge also granted the city's request to exclude "other bad acts" by Andersen -- specifically that he twice used derogatary remarks, once about Asians. Seriously? None of this, of course, is good news for Fong Lee's family, who just want justice, or the community at large, who suffer in the face of police corruption. The trial is set to start on Monday.
Civil rights activist Helen Zia encourages you to join in on the National AAPI Week of Service from May 24-31. This video comes to you from AAPI Momentum, the online community for progressive AAPI leaders, organizations and volunteers. To learn more, and to see where upcoming service opportunities and events are happening near you, go here.
Heads up. If you're in the San Diego area, here's some information about a young woman of mixed heritage, Stacy Walker (half Korean, half caucasian), who is suffering from myelodysplastic syndrome and desperately needs to find a bone marrow match. There are two drives coming up:
5/19 Tuesday, 5/20 Wednesday, 5/21 Thursday 11-4 UCSD Library Walk 9550 Gilman Dr. San Diego, CA 92093
5/24 Sunday 12-2 Jesus Community Church 10635 Scripps Ranch Blvd. San Diego, CA 92131
Here's the press release that explains Stacy's situation. Doctors say that Stacy will need a bone marrow transplant from a matched donor to save her life:
Stacy Walker needs a marrow donor urgently!
An all American girl of mixed heritage, Korean and Caucasian needs your help.
Stacy was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome in October 2006. In the beginning chemotherapy seemed to keep her disease under control, however, now she needs blood transfusion every week. Doctors say that Stacy will need a bone marrow transplant from a matched donor to save her life. Stacy loves out doors, hiking, going out to dinners and long walks with her family and friends. Born and brought up in Chula Vista, Stacy loves the Torrey Pines trail, but lately she is not able to do anything. Walking just a few steps makes her feel out of breath.
While there are 7 million potential marrow donors in the national database just 450,000 are Asian and only 150,000 are of multiple or mixed-race. Every year more than 10,000 Americans are diagnosed with life-threatening diseases that could only be cured with a transplant from a marrow or stem cell donor. Though 30% of the patients find matches amongst their families, 70% have to depend on the generosity of a stranger. Stacy’s only brother is not a match, and being of mixed ethnicity makes it even harder. In spite of the odds Stacy is facing, her family is very hopeful. Stacy has been trying to do drives to make sure that not only she finds a donor through this effort, but many others like her could also hope for a miracle.
For a successful transplant, the tissue type of a bone marrow donor needs to closely match the patient’s type. Special testing determines whether a patient and a bone marrow or the blood cell donor is a good match. The closer the match, the better it is for the patient.
Because tissue types are inherited, patients are most likely to match someone from their own race or ethnicity. Adding more donors from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds to the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP)’s Be the Match registry increases the likelihood that all patients will find the match they need. Your heritage can make all the difference.
A3M has organized some campus and church drives to recruit donors from the local communities. Please visit A3M’s website to know more about future drives or the donation process at www.AsianMarrow.org or call toll free at (888) 236 4673
Like it says, Stacy's only brother is not a match, and being of mixed ethnicity makes it even harder to find one. If you're inclined to help, and can make it out to any of these drives, please consider registering... and maybe even bring a friend. You could be the match that saves Stacy's life.
Right now, the political race to watch is next week's special election in California 32nd District to replace Rep. Hilda Solis, who stepped down to become secretary of labor. You'd think as an Asian American candidate in a largely Latino district, it would be pretty tough terrain for Judy Chu. But she's actually looking pretty good.
The seat has exclusively sent Hispanic members to Congress for the past two decades and Hispanics make up roughly two-thirds of the population in the East Los Angeles-area district. But in a crowded, 12-candidate field that includes numerous Hispanic candidates, Chu has racked up significant institutional support from the Hispanic community, putting her in a pretty strong position.
Chu has nabbed endorsements from prominent Hispanic officeholders ranging from Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to the two Latino assemblymen who represent seats within the congressional district boundaries. She's also picked up near-unanimous backing from unions. This article breaks it all down pretty nicely: Will Judy Chu change California's 32nd district?
Mia Mingus Age: 28 Co-Executive Director, SPARK Reproductive Justice Now
Why she's influential: Because she's an agent of real-world change in the reproductive justice movement. Mia Mingus is a queer, physically disabled Korean American transracial/ transnational adoptee, living and organizing in the Southeast. She currently serves as one of the Co-Directors of SPARK Reproductive Justice Now in Atlanta and believes that reproductive justice is crucial in the struggle for social change and the fight to end oppression.
Mia is an activist, organizer, thinker, writer, artist and speaker who's not only in the middle of it all, but connecting it all together. Through her work on disability, race, gender, reproductive justice, sexuality, transracial and transnational adoption, and intersectional identities/politics, she recognizes the urgency and barriers for oppressed communities to work together and build alliances for liberation.
If you're at all involved with the queer, API, and/or disability social justice movements, you know that Mia is a transformative figure. Maybe you saw her speak at the US Social Forum Plenary on Gender and Sexuality or attended her workshop on Reproductive Justice at NAASCON 08. Perhaps you heard her speak as the keynote of the Western Regional Queer Conference 09 or receiving the Creating Change Award from the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.
Though her activism changes and evolves, her roots remain firmly planted in ending sexual violence. On top of all that, everyone I spoke to about Mia describes her as a warm, thoughtful, accessible, and incredibly nice.
I'll leave you with a quote from Steph Lee, one of several people who nominated Mia: "The fierce leadership of a young, queer, disabled, transracially/ transnationally adopted Korean woman should be recognized so that we can continue to more lovingly and effectively connect, break shit down, and keep building shit up."
See the rest of the 30 Most Influential Asian Americans Under 30 here.
Did you see Beat Freaks performing on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon the other night? I didn't. That's why YouTube is awesome: Beat Freaks - Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (5/13/09). Go Rino. Man, how many dance crews get to perform to live backing from The Roots? Crazy hot.
Yesterday, North Korea's state-run news agency KCNA announced that American journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee, who have been detained for two months on charges of illegal entry and "hostile acts," will stand trial on June 4: North Korea to Try U.S. Journalists.
Ling and Lee were arrest by the North Korean government on March 17 on the border between China and North Korea. They had been in China reporting on North Korean refugees for Current TV. I'm not sure what constitutes "hostile acts"... but we're talking about North Korea. It could be anything.
Under North Korea's criminal code, a person convicted of hostile acts against the state can face at last five years in labor camps. Illegal entry carries a sentence of up to three years in a labor camp. I don't even want to think about what any amount of time in a North Korean labor camp is like.
Last week, we saw the safe return of American journalist Roxana Saberi from prison in Iran. Let's hope we might be able to see the same for Laura Ling and Euna Lee as soon as possible.
Vindication! Meet Jack Kang. He's the 15-year-old student at Keswick High School who faced expulsion and criminal charges for fighting back against a classmate who was racially abusing him during gym class: Meet Keswick's Karate Kid. Thankfully, this week, the Crown dropped all charges against him: School fight over slur ends quietly.
The kid taunted him ("fucking Chinese") and punched him the mouth, so Jack -- a black belt in tae kwon do -- fought back... and broke the other kid's nose. Considering the circumstances, charges never should have been brought against him in the first place.
In a short few weeks, Jack has gone from facing a criminal record and expulsion, to being hailed as a hero whose mistreatment led 400 of his fellow students to walk out of class in protest, forced a police force to admit it had mishandled his case, and got his suspension revoked.
On Tuesday, the Crown concluded it wasn't in the public interest to prosecute the case, nor was there a reasonable prospect of conviction. Now, with the assault charge dropped and apologies from both sides, the kid can finally put this all behind him and go back to worrying about normal high school stuff.
Many are already aware of this, but I figure I should pass along the news as well... Two weekends ago, we heard the sad news that poet and community activist Al Robles passed away. He was a significant figure in the Filipino community, and particularly known for his role in the eviction protest and rebuilding of the I-Hotel in San Francisco: R.I.P. Al Robles. More here: RIP Manong Al Robles.
I never had the chance to meet, but he was known for his warmth, passion, and dedication to social justice. Curtis Choy's new documentary on Al Robles, Manilatown Is In The Heart, recently screened at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival -- unfortunately, on the same day Mr. Robles died. Watch the trailer for the film here.
If you're in the Bay Area, there will be a memorial for Al Robles this Sunday, April 17 at SomArts Cultural Center in San Francisco. Here's some event info, posted at the Hyphen blog:
The Journey Continues: A life celebration for Al Robles Manong Poet, Muscian, Activist, Father, Son, Brother, Uncle, Friend
Sunday, May 17, 2009, 12 to 5 pm SomArts Cultural Center 934 Brannan St, San Francisco A Potluck Celebration featuring
Poetry Readings, Live Jazz.Musical Performances, Dance, Martial Arts, and you.
You are welcome to bring a poem, sing a song, bring your instrument, share a dish, volunteer, speak a few words, or just listen and enjoy just like Manong Al would have wanted. Manong Al's Spirit is now dancing among the Caribou
If you would like to help with anything, volunteer to setup/ clean up, or give a donation of food or a performance or perhaps just give a kind word or thought, please contact us:
Kimberley Robles Robles_Kim @ hotmail. com
Iraya Robles Irayarobles @ comcast. net
Tony Robles Tonyrobles1964 @ hotmail. com
This is more than a community event. Even if you didn't know poet and lifelong community activist Al Robles, his passing is the end of an era. For more information, go heer: Al Robles Memorial This Sunday
An update on the death of Joseph Han, the young man who was shot and killed last month by Folsom police... Yesterday, family and friends of Joseph staged a large rally outside the Folsom Police Department, demanding accountability for the shooting: Demonstrators protest Folsom Police's fatal shooting of 23-year-old man.
Joseph was killed after his family called police for help dealing with him on Easter morning. He was acting strangely and had locked himself in his bedroom. According to police, after finding Joseph in his bedroom armed with a hunting knife, they tried to use a taser to subdue him with no effect, then shot him twice.
The Sacramento County District Attorney's Office and the Sacramento County Coroner's Office are still investigating the incident. The police's account of the incident seems to be vastly different from what the family has been saying transpired. And they saw the whole thing -- Joseph was shot to death right in front of them. Right now, they just want to know why Joseph had to die.
Chester Poon, actor and former Angry Reader of the Week, informs me that he's in a production of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet that starts tonight, May 14, and runs through the end of the month. Set in the contemporary world of New York City's Lower East Side, it's the classic tale of ill-fated lovers from different worlds, presented in a very unique new way:
"A Plague on both your houses!"
Romeo and Juliet come to life in the contemporary world of the Lower East Side.
The Shakespearean tale of the Montagues and the Capulets and the ill-fated love affair involving their children caught between this bitter family rivalry runs from May 14th to June 1st, 2009
The show will be set in contemporary Lower East Side and will set the rivalry between two merchant families the Montagues as Chinese and Capulets as Latinos. The production will break new ground in its use of Cantonese, Spanish and Russian language translations throughout the presentation while still maintaining classical structure and language.
This Show will be radically different from any other production of "Romeo and Juliet" ever mounted.
Our company will draw the audience into the tragic old tale with a contemporary use of music and dance while still telling the story as Shakespeare wrote it.
The cast will be comprised of approximately 30 actors as diverse as the population of present day New York City and the Lower East Side.
The Lower East Side was the original setting for Westside Story, the most widely recognized contemporary adaptation of Romeo and Juliet. We bring our production back to this setting and set the tension between the populations that are currently most dominant in the area: Asians and Latinos. We keep a touch of the old neighborhood by making the tragic chosen suitor in the story- the noble Paris-of Russian Jewish descent. Unlike most productions of this nature, we preserve the text as it was written.
Show Schedule
May 14th to May 31st Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 8.00pm Sunday at 3.00pm
Tickets:$25.00 available at http://www.smarttix.com/
For more information, please contact: Jose Esquea at 646.209.5375 or Teatro LA TEA at 212.529.1948
Sounds pretty cool, right? So if you're in New York, and interested in seeing a very different take on a classic theater piece (as well as seeing an Asian American male as the romantic-but-tragic lead), check out Romeo and Juliet. For more information, visit the website here. Break a leg, Chester!
This year, New York City could elect its first Korean American to public office: Three Korean Americans To Run For City Office This Year. New York has a population of 132,000 Korean Americans, yet none have ever been elected to the New York City Council, the State Legislature or any statewide office.
But now that Councilman John C. Liu, who represents Flushing, Queens, is running for city comptroller, a number of Korean Americans have announced their intentions to run for the empty seat: Korean New Yorkers Hope for Council Seat in Queens, Their First.
But the field is crowded, and multiple Korean American candidates could edge one another other out -- a victory is far from guaranteed. Still, it should make it a very interesting race, and perhaps at the very least, it means we'll see more Korean Americans register to vote for this election.
Wesley Chan, Ted Fu and Philip Wang Age: 24, 27, 24 Wong Fu Productions
Why they're influential: Because they're making media their own way. Ted Fu, Wesley Chan and Philip Wang started making amateur videos as students at UC San Diego, and have since completed a large resume of music videos, shorts and features under the full-time banner of their independent production company Wong Fu Productions. But more importantly, a lot of people are watching.
It started out like a lot of these things do -- a group of friends messing around, making silly videos and sharing them with friends. But the guys soon found themselves with an online sensation, a massive following, and a calling. Since going online in 2003, Wong Fu has reached millions of viewers -- particularly young people -- around the world, and turned their imprint into a successful brand.
Wong Fu have dedicated themselves to making media and getting it out their on their own terms. They're downright prolific, producing wildly popular content and maintaining a fan-friendly online presence that has earned them a huge following. In addition to college speaking tours and screenings, their films have taken to a variety of venues, including the prestigious Cannes International Film Festival.
They've also committed a large part of their mission to spotlighting and collaborating with other talented Asian American artists, producing music videos for the likes of Far East Movement, Magnetic North and David Choi. Most recently, Wong Fu started producing the International Secret Agents concert series, showcasing rising Asian American talent breaking barriers in mainstream media.
See the rest of the 30 Most Influential Asian Americans Under 30 here.
Yesterday in San Francisco, a jury convicted Joseph Melcher on three counts of first degree murder and two counts of attempted murder for two separate shootings in 2006. However, while all of the victims -- Robert Stanford, Song Sun Lee and Kam Yan Li -- were of Asian descent, Melcher was acquitted on the hate crime charges: Melcher convicted of three murders, acquitted on hate crime charge.
How were these killings not hate crimes? Two fatal shooting incidents, at different times of the year, and all of the victims just happen to be Asian? Yes, San Francisco has a large Asian population, but it seems hard to believe that Melcher, who had no other connection to any of these people, just left it up to coincidence.
Sure, the hate crime enhancement wouldn't do much -- Melcher now faces life in prison without parole -- but isn't it important to acknowledge that there was something even more insidious going on here than just a crazy guy on a shooting spree? That's racist!
Have you heard? Bush administration "torture memo" author John Yoo has a new gig writing a monthly column for the Philadelphia Inquirer. Don't know why anyone would give print space to this guy, or what the Inquirer hopes to gain from Yoo's presence on the op-ed page... but I guess desperate times call for desperate measures: The Philadelphia Inquirer and John Yoo.
Of course, giving an op-ed voice to the guy who gave the legal green light on the abusive interrogation of terror suspects does not sit well with a lot of people out there: Yoo Can't Be Serious. But here's the rationale, according to Philadelphia Inquirer editorial page editor Harold Jackson: Why I Hired John Yoo.
Came across this story from a few weeks back and it just broke my heart... Earlier this month in Washington DC, 37-year-old Hau Nguyen died while trying to save 11-year-old Jorge Castro, who was fishing nearby when he slipped and fell on some rocks into the Potomac River.
Nguyen jumped into the water to rescue Castro, and both were pulled under and swept away by a strong current. Their bodies were later recovered by authorities: Potomac River Tragedy Binds 2 Grieving Families. No matter what, Hau Nguyen is a hero, and my heart goes out to both families.
This is for my San Francisco friends... Comedian Hari Kondabolu, a very funny guy, informs me that he'll be taking part in a show next week with W. Kamau Bell and Nato Green at the Punchline Comedy Club. He's a funny dude, so you all should go check him out. Details:
WHAT: Laughter Against the Machine with W. Kamau Bell, Nato Green and Hari Kondabolu
WHERE: The Punchline Comedy Club (444 Battery St. San Francisco, CA)
W. Kamau Bell (SF Weekly's Best Comedian 2008 & Comedy Central's first comic to tell a Barack Obama joke) and Nato Green (of Iron Comic, Laughing Liberally Local 415, & The New Jew Revue ) --- two of the Bay Area's most deeply underground and thought-provoking comedians --- band together for the second edition of their comedy summit: Laughter Against The Machine. LATM is a stand-up comedy show which promises an evening filled with biting political & social commentary, that will attack all points along the spectrum from the rightest right to the leftest left. This is an evening of the comedians doing what they do best and are supposed to do, expressing their pointed opinions in hilariously awesome ways. Tonight's show also features special guest Hari Kondabolu (Jimmy Kimmel Live and Comedy Central's Live at Gotham).
Come. Sit down. Laugh. Go home.
I first became a fan of Hari Kondabolu when I saw him in the hilarious short film Manoj. Since then I've seen him perform standup on Comedy Central and Jimmy Kimmel Live. This should be a pretty fun show. For more information, and to purchase tickets, go here.
This story is a couple of weeks old, but it's worth bringing up because it's just so damn sad... 35-year-old Xiu Ping Jiang, a mentally ill Chinese immigrant, has been stuck for over a year in the solitary hell of deportation limbo -- suicidal, emaciated and deprived of proper medical treatment or representation: Mentally Ill and in Immigration Limbo.
Her bleak experience in the immigration system has only come to light because of a fluke -- she happens to have the same name as the ex-wife of Jiverly Wong, the gunman who fatally shot 13 people in April at an immigration services center in Binghamton. Not the same person, but as reporters tried to find the ex-wife, her court records came up.
The situation illustrates the vulnerability of the mentally ill in the immigration system. While Immigration and Customs Enforcement keeps putting increasingly strict enforcement measures in place, more and more people with mental illness are being put into detention -- and no one is really looking out for them.
There are currently no rules for determining competency in deportation proceedings, and no way to ensure representation for a mentally ill person facing deportation. So what happens in the case of someone like Ms. Jiang? Too often, people in the system just disappear.
An update on Asian Pacific Americans for Progress' National AAPI House Party with Konrad Ng, happening Sunday, May 31 from 4:00-6:00pm EST... Have you made plans to take part? I just heard that Tammy Duckworth, Assistant Secretary of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs for the Department of Veterans Affairs, will also be joining in on the call:
Duckworth and others to join Ng
APAP is pleased to announce an additional speaker for the conference call. Previously-announced guest Konrad Ng, President Barack Obama's brother-in-law, will kick off the program. Joining him will be members of the Obama Administration including Tammy Duckworth. (At this time, we have also invited Sonal Shah, the head of the new Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation.)
Tammy Duckworth currently serves as Assistant Secretary of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs for the Department of Veterans Affairs. Prior to this appointment, she served as the Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs where she implemented many programs for service members in the areas of health care, mental health, housing, and employment. Under her leadership, the state has become a leader in the provision of services for its veterans. As a Major in the Illinois Army National Guard, Ms. Duckworth also received various prestigious decorations for her service in Iraq. Many have seen her most recently as a speaker at the 2008 Democratic National Convention where she was given a prime-time speaking slot and led a tribute to service members and veterans.
The aim of the House Parties is to unite constituents in raising awareness of AAPI concerns and build solidarity as communities across the nation work to advance AAPI interests. The AAPI community has shown itself to be a strong force in activism, as 63% of AAPI voters as well as countless AAPIs worked on the campaign trail to help bring about the historic election of President Obama. This House Party is intended to stimulate dialogue and mobilize AAPIs to channel their energy for activism towards issues in recognition of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.
If you are interested in participating in this nation-wide conversation with these prominent speakers, please consider hosting a house party with friends and family. For more information on hosting a party, please email Patrice.Yao@gmail.com For updates on house party locations, please visit www.apaforprogress.org
The call will allow community organizers and activists from all across the country to hear from the Administration and its plans for an AAPI agenda. After the call, each local party will engage in a small group discussion. APAP will then compile these reports and submit them back to the Administration. To learn more about attending or hosting the National AAPI House Party, visit the APAP website here.
The news actually broke last week, but I wanted to make sure everyone was aware that indeed, Kari Ferrell, aka "the Hipster Grifter," has been apprehended. So no, you're mistaken -- that petite, pixie-cut Asian girl you saw at the bar over the weekend wasn't her: Confirmed: Hipster Grifter in Custody.
Ferrell apparently turned herself in to authorities in Philadelphia, and will be extradited back to Utah, where she's wanted on six warrants alleging $60,000 in fraud. That's in addition to a host of other pending charges from folks who have come forward since her exploits hit it big on the blogs.
It's kind of crazy how news of Ferrell's scamming ways received such intense attention. What was it about her that captivated/entertained/disgusted so many people? NBC's Dateline is reportedly going to do a story on her. What's next? Hipster Grifter: The Movie! (I'm sure someone, somewhere, is working on it.)
Sung J. Woo has a really great piece in the New York Times on growing up as a Korean immigrant kid, fresh off the plane with no knowledge of English, with his family in Manasquan, New Jersey: A Mom and Pop Store, and Then Some.
Woo's first novel, Everything Asian, published last month by Thomas Dunne Books/St. Martin's Press, is about a young Korean immigrant and his family as they adjust to life in suburban New Jersey. If you couldn't figure it out, the story is semi-autobiographical. As they say, write what you know.
I have to honest, I've had a copy of this book for months now, but just haven't found the time to read it. But the first few chapters I've gotten through are great, and set the stage for a really great read. I'm looking forward to finally digging in when I get the chance. For more info on the book, visit Sung J. Woo's website here.
Yungsuhn Park Age: 29 Attorney, Asian Pacific American Legal Center
Why she's influential: Because she fights for those who are left out. Yungsuhn Park is a passionate and progressive Asian American activist who has dedicated her life to fighting for socio-political/economic justice for immigrants and poor communities of color. Growing up in Los Angeles, she witnessed the calamities of the 1992 civil unrest, and after graduating from law school, returned to L.A. to focus on common issues impacting the APA community and beyond.
As a staff attorney at the Asian Pacific American Legal Center, Yungsuhn has represented (and won) cases on behalf of Asian and Latino low wage workers who were denied their basic rights, low-income tenants forced to live in slum housing, and immigrant consumers with limited English-speaking ability who were defrauded by big businesses.
Most recently, Yungsuhn served as APALC's lead trial attorney in Kim v. Shin, where she represented four low-income tenants who were subject to severe uninhabitable conditions during a landlord-initiated condominium conversion. The tenants were awarded a judgment exceeding $572,000 in damages, restitution, and attorney's fees. At the end of the case, the trial court judge complimented Ms. Park in open court, recognizing that she was the youngest member of the trial team and calling her "the star" of the trial.
On top of all this, Yungsuhn mentors Asian American law students and young attorneys, and has worked tirelessly to educate Asian Americans in Los Angeles about why it's always important to speak out against injustice. According to her colleague Julie (among the many who nominated her), Ms. Park is "tenacious and fearless and blazing the trail for all young Asian American activists to follow."
See the rest of the 30 Most Influential Asian Americans Under 30 here.
Behold, the upcoming good/bad creature feature Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus. The title kind says it all, doesn't it? But wait, the trailer says even more. Octopus! Shark! Fighting! And goodness -- is that Debbie Gibson? And Lorenzo frickin' Lamas?! How can this not be good? It's from Asylum, the B-movie production company that brought you such cinematic gems as Transmorphers and The Day the Earth Stopped.
The only reason why I mention it here, aside from its evident monster vs. monster awesomeness, is that the movie features Vic Chao in the cast as Dr. Seiji Shimada, Ms. Gibson's love interest in the story. Hopefully, he does not get eaten by a shark nor an octopus in the movie. Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus will be released on DVD on May 19.
Almost forgot... The 25th anniversary edition of the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival wrapped up last week, celebrating its closing night by handing out jury prizes to a number of films, including the Grand Jury Prize for Tze Chun's Children of Invention, the Outstanding Director Award for So Yong Kim's Treeless Mountain and the Grand Jury Prize for Outstanding Non-Fiction film for Christopher Wong's Whatever It Takes. Here's the full list of winners:
LOS ANGELES ASIAN PACIFIC FILM FESTIVAL 2009 AWARDS
NARRATIVE FEATURE COMPETITION
GRAND JURY PRIZE - OUTSTANDING FILM CHILDREN OF INVENTION - A FILM BY TZE CHUN
OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR SO YONG KIM - TREELESS MOUNTAIN
OUTSTANDING FIRST FILM MARK TRAN - ALL ABOUT DAD
OUTSTANDING SCREENPLAY DAVID BOYLE AND JOEL CLARK - WHITE ON RICE
ACTING AWARDS NEW TALENT TO WATCH MICHAEL CHEN - CHILDREN OF INVENTION CRYSTAL CHIU - CHILDREN OF INVENTION HEE YEON KIM - TREELESS MOUNTAIN SONG HEE KIM - TREELESS MOUNTAIN JUSTIN "BOB" KWONG - WHITE ON RICE
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE COMPETITION
GRAND JURY PRIZE - OUTSTANDING DOCUMENTARY WHATEVER IT TAKES - A FILM BY CHRISTOPHER WONG
SPECIAL JURY PRIZE THE REAL SHAOLIN - DIRECTED BY ALEXANDER LEE
SHORT FILM PRIZES
GOLDEN REEL AWARD - OUTSTANDING SHORT FILM A GREEN MOUNTAIN IN THE DRAWER - A FILM BY LEE HWA JUN
LINDA MABALOT NEW DIRECTORS/NEW VISIONS WET SEASON - A FILM BY MICHAEL TAY
2009 AUDIENCE AWARDS
FICTION FILM: KARMA CALLING - A FILM BY SARBA DAS
DOCUMENTARY FILM: WHATEVER IT TAKES - A FILM BY CHRISTOPHER WONG
These are all definitely films and talents to watch. As someone who watches a considerable number of short films, I was particularly happy to see awards go to Lee Hwa Jun's A Green Mountain in the Drawer and Michael Tay's Wet Season. Seek them out if you get the chance. For more information on all the films, as well as photos from the festival, go to the website here.
If you haven't already heard, Japanese pop superstar Utada Hikaru is making another attempt at crossing over into the U.S. music market, with a new album, This Is The One, out this week. Really? Is this the one? The last try didn't go so well. But this time around, so far, things are looking pretty good.
Now just going by "Utada," her digital album and first single "Come Back to Me" were released earlier this year, earning her the #2 spot in the iTunes Music Store's Pop Album Chart in March, just one day after its official release -- apparently the highest spot ever reached on the chart by a Japanese artist.
I just downloaded my copy of This Is The One from iTunes, and I'm giving it a listen. I'm actually not very familiar with Utada's music, but so far, it's not bad. It's probably going to take a few more spins to grow on me.
What's most intriguing to me about Utada is that while she's achieved massive fame in Japan, she's actually Japanese American. Born and raised in Manhattan and educated at Columbia University, she speaks fluent English, and grew up with strong family ties to the Japanese music industry.
By age 11, Utada had written and recorded her first song. By the time she graduated from junior high, she had signed onto a major record label and released her first Japanese album. Over the last ten years, Utada has become one of the most successful and acclaimed pop singers in Japanese music history.
Now, does any of that overseas success actually mean anything here to music fans in the U.S.? I'm curious to see if Utada can cut it as a singer in America, especially since language isn't much of a barrier for her. I guess we'll find out. Heck, I'll give her the benefit of the doubt, for now. To learn more about Utada, visit her official website here.
Meanwhile, the Secret Identities crew continues their tour, bringing their story to various college campuses, community organizations and professional groups around the country. It looks like they're in Seattle this week, New York next week, and Los Angeles at the end of the month. For more information, visit the website here. And get your copy of Secret Identitieshere.
Aw snap. It's back. Next month, they'll be holding auditions for the fourth season of MTV's America's Best Dance Crew in Los Angeles, Chicago, Orlando and New York. Do you have what it takes? Time to do it again. For more information, go here. Good luck.
On a related note, I did some traveling over the weekend, and who did I run into at the airport gate? None other than season three winners Quest Crew. They were headed to a performance in Vancouver. Very cool guys, and of course, I thanked them for doing their thing.
Earlier this month, when two of the young white men who allegedly killed Mexican immigrant Luis Ramirez in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania were acquitted by an all-white jury, the facts of the case reminded a lot of folks another eerily similar murder trial: the 1982 Vincent Chin hate crime case. Carmina Ocampo breaks it down: No Justice for Vincent Then, No Justice for Luis Now.
Just read this cool story Kimiko Nagaoka Mukai, who celebrated her 90th birthday on Saturday night... and received an honorary degree from Seattle Pacific University: Woman, 90, gets degree 67 years late.
Mukai has been attending the school in 1942 (back when the school was called Seattle Pacific College) but her degree plans were interrupted when she was sent into an internment camp, along with with thousands of other Japanese Americans, following the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor.
According to Seattle Pacific President Philip Eaton, presenting the honorary degree after all these years was the school's way of recognizing her ability to overcome adversity. Serious, it's about time!
Why he's influential: Because Asian names shouldn't have to be "easier for Americans to deal with." Today's entry is written by Eugenia Beh, a friend and reader who has some very complimentary things to say about Chinese American political activist/attorney Ramey Ko, recent nemesis to Texas state Rep. Betty Brown:
Ramey is my Ashley. I first learned about him when I was in grad school at UT and was frustrated by the lack of opportunities for young Asian Americans to become politically involved on campus and in the community.
By luck, I happened to hear about this guy, Ramey Ko, who was head of Asian Americans for Obama (perfect for an early Obama supporter like me!) and even better, was a lawyer in Austin, TX. The amazing thing was, he was only 26 years old at the time.
Since then, he's gone on to form Capital Area Asian American Democrats (a Democratic organization in Central Texas dedicated to promoting issues of importance to the Asian American Pacific Islander community within the Democratic Party), and became a national delegate for Barack Obama at the Democratic National Convention.
Perhaps more importantly, the incident rallied Asian Americans and non-Asian Americans to take action against Brown, from signing a petition created by the Asian American Democrats of Texas calling on her to apologize, to joining the Down with Betty Brown Facebook group in droves, to donating money to support Texas Legislative candidates who support voting rights.
Sadly, Ramey may be leaving Austin soon, but be sure that he will continue the good fight when he makes the move to a larger stage. Plus, if you knew him before he became famous, join this group to remember the good times!
(Contributed by Eugenia Beh)
See the rest of the 30 Most Influential Asian Americans Under 30 here.
Last week, Lt. Dan Choi, a gay National Guard platoon leader, received word that he was being discharged from the military. Here's video of Choi being interviewed last week by Rachel Maddow: Kicked Out Of Army For Being Gay.
Choi, a 2003 West Point graduate and fluent speaker of Arabic who served an extended combat deployment in Iraq, is among 38 West Point graduates who came out of the closet in March with an offer to help the military recognize the contributions of gay military members.
Look, the guy is obviously an upstanding, qualified soldier with an impressive service record, regardless of sexual orientation. Isn't the U.S. military denying itself of critical skills and experience by discharging Choi and other soldiers like him?
I guess I'm not surprised. The guy chose to stand up, go public and do the right thing, and this is what he gets -- a letter of dismissal. This is America, after all. "Don't ask, don't tell" has got to go: Obama, activists lose momentum over 'don't ask'.
More on American journalist Roxana Saberi, who was released from prison in Iran this week after being in jail since January on suspicion of espionage: Journalist's Release Shows Divide Among Iran's Leaders. In her first public remarks since her release, Ms. Saberi told reporters on Tuesday that she was very happy to be free and reunited with her parents. She thanked those who helped win her release -- whether they knew her or not. She said she did not have any immediate, specific plans and wanted to spend time with her family.
You might remember about a month back, NPR previewedAfterquake, a new folk/electronica music project produced in Sichuan and commemorating the devastating earthquake that struck southwestern China last year. The seven-song EP is available today, May 12 -- the anniversary of the earthquake, with a portion of proceeds going to Sichuan Quake Relief.
The project is a collaboration between folk musician Abigail Washburn and Dave Liang, the producer behind the Shanghai Restoration Project. The two have collected recordings in rural Sichuan of what they call "earthquake soundscapes" -- construction sounds, playground noise, song performances by children from the quake zone, and the voices of their parents: 'Afterquake': Rebuilding Sichuan With Song.
I've been listening to the Afterquake CD for a couple of weeks now, and someone who has heard pretty much all of Dave's music under the SRP banner, I think it's some of his most interesting, ambitious, and moving work yet. To learn more about Afterquake, check out the photo galleries, interview/making of videos and music clips at the website here. Also check out this cool documentary on YouTube.
In San Francisco, a Superior Court jury began deliberating the fate of Joseph Melcher, who faces three counts of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder for three alleged hate crime killings of Asians in the city's Portola district and Japantown in 2006: Jury To Deliberate 'Cold, Calculated' Triple Murder Case.
On August 27, 21-year-old Robert Stanford was killed and his 16-year-old friend was injured in a shooting that happened as they left Stanford's girlfriend's house. Fleming said the driver of another car blocked the victims' car on San Bruno Avenue and the driver opened fire, hitting Stanford 10 times.
On October 21, a man walked into the Flow bar on Post Street at about 9:15 p.m. and shot a 34-year-old woman, Song Sun Lee of San Bruno, twice in the back of the head, killing her. He also shot a female bartender, who survived, and then walked out to Peace Plaza and shot 22-year-old Kam Yan Li, of San Francisco, fatally wounding her.
All of the victims were of Asian descent. Witnesses described hearing the Peace Plaza shooter curse and yell out not to mess with "Johnny white boy coke dealer." Whatever the hell that means. If convicted of all the charges, Melcher faces life in prison without parole.
Too Many Names to List Ages: 21-24 Student Leaders of the "Count Me In" Campaign
Why they're influential: Because all AAPI students should be counted. In 2006 and 2007, a small group of UCLA students led the "Count Me In" campaign to get the UC to disaggregate data on AAPI students. Starting Fall 2008, the UC started listing 23 different AAPI ethnic group boxes for people to identify their ethnicities. And their model of student campaigns is being followed by other groups who also see data as a strategy for social justice activism.
We all know that there is a group of wealthier Asian Americans who are doing well in school, but we also know there's a significantly large number of lower income, less privileged Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders whose educational needs are ignored by institutions, because the diversity of socioeconomic conditions among AAPI populations is not reflected in the data that lumps all these ethnic groups into one group.
Starting with a handful of students in UCLA's Asian Pacific Coalition deciding to take proactive action, the campaign unified the diverse AAPI community, and educated peers on the need for ethnic data disaggregation. They got non-AAPI students, faculty, and administrators on board with the campaign, which spread to all 9 UC undergrad campuses.
To all of you out there saying, "Yeah, but they're in California. It's just easier to do stuff at the UC," don't forget that the core group was only 10 students or less, at any given time. These 17 leaders are key people who were involved over 2 years. Some graduated mid-campaign. Sustaining a campaign when half your core leadership graduates... now that's impressive, and very possible through diverse coalition-building with other people of color!
American journalist Roxana Saberi has been freed from jail in Iran. She was released and reunited with her family after an appeals court suspended her eight-year prison sentence on charges of spying for the U.S.: US journalist freed by Iran, reunites with parents.
On Monday, an appeals court reduced her jail term to a two-year suspended sentence. Now, our attention turns to the situation with Laura Ling and Euna Lee, the two American journalists who are still being detained in North Korea. Hey, State Department. What's going on with that?
With the box office success of Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay, it wasn't long before we heard news that there would indeed be a third installment of the stoner comedy franchise in the works. Some more details about the project last week... Next year, Harold and Kumar will be spreading the holiday cheer: It's Going To Be 'A Very Harold And Kumar Christmas'.
A title and a release date (November 5, 2010) is all we have at the moment. Warner Brothers hasn't announced anything about casting. With Kal Penn taking on his highly publicized new job at the White House, I didn't think this would be happening anytime soon. But I guess it's got the green light.
So what does this mean? Is it really possible that anyone other than John Cho and Kal Penn could play the titular stoner duo? I'd be seriously bummed. Are they going to be replaced with another Korean/Indian duo? Like replacement Bruce Lee clones? Or perhaps given the prequel treatment, with younger teen versions of Harold and Kumar? Either way, I'm curious to see what happens.
The worst news for the Houston Rockets and their fans... Yao Ming has a broken left foot and will miss the rest of the playoffs. He appeared to be in a lot of pain, limping off the court after the Lakers' 108-94 victory over the Rockets on Friday night. An examination later revealed a hairline fracture. No surgery is required, but he'll need 8-12 weeks to recover. So he's out: Yao (broken foot) out for season. Still, even without Yao, the Rockets managed to take down the Lakers on Sunday to tie the series 2-2: Rockets rip Lakers 99-87 without Yao, even series.
This is the first time I've ever watched a season of The Amazing Race in its entirety. The reason? Tammy and Victor, the super smart, totally telegenic Chinese American brother/sister lawyer team from California -- strong, clever competitors from beginning to end. And last night, in the finale, Tammy and Victor crossed the finish line first. And damn, that felt good to see.
You do not know how angry I would have been if that cheerleader team had won. You ever wonder why the rest of the world thinks Americans are loud, rude and ignorant? It's because of people like Jaime and Cara. Taxi karma sucks.
A globe-trotting trek around the world, surviving all the crazy stuff they had to do... and the Asian American team came out on top! Sure, it definitely helped in the China leg of the race, where the two both spoke fluent Mandarin... but they endured their share of roadblocks and challenging moments too. In the end, it was sooooo awesome to see them win. Congratulations, Tammy and Victor!
Why she's influential: Because she's making sure Asian Americans have a voice in print. The world of print publishing has never been easy, and these days, the game is rougher than ever with major publications folding left and right. But Hyphen is still hanging in there after six years, thanks in large part to publisher Lisa Lee, who has taken the reins of this non-profit, volunteer-run Asian American mag and is making sure it survives.
Lisa started volunteering with the publication at the beginning of 2007. Since then, she has stepped up as Hyphen's leader, on top of working a demanding day job (as a specialist for Facebook), because she is so passionate about the portrayal of Asian Americans and the importance of having and making our own media.
An avid supporter of various Asian American art communities, Lisa started her nonprofit career working for Great Leap, Inc. and Ford Amphitheater/Ford Theatre Foundation in Los Angeles. An aspiring actress, director, and playwright, Lisa has also appeared and directed many theater productions.
She hopes to take Hyphen to the next level by fundraising through different means so that it can continue to be a platform for Asian American writers, artists, and leaders in the years to come. Melissa Hung, Founding Editor of Hyphen (who nominated Lisa), says, "Because I know and work with her, I know how awesome she is. [But] since she's a behind-the-scenes person, I don't know that other people know how awesome she is." Now we know.
Why she's influential: Because she's English-proficient, and didn't have to prove it. Okay, so this is a little unfair, since this young person -- who I'm sure has an extremely bright future ahead of her -- is really on this list for doing one thing. But it's a good one. Lori Phanachone, a Laotian American high school senior at Storm Lake High School in Iowa, made headlines when she defied school administration and refused to take a demeaning and racist English language assessment test.
Lori is a member of the National Honor Society, has a 3.9 grad point average, ranks seventh in her class of 119 and has been offered a number of college scholarships. All of that was threatened, however, when she refused to take the exam, which school official deemed mandatory because Lori indicated on her school registration that English was not the first language spoken in her home.
Rather than take the test, she took school suspension... and earned the respect of a lot of people -- myself included. I think any immigrant, or children of immigrants, could relate to this on some level. Thankfully, AALDEF stepped in to help, and with pressure on the school district and changes in curriculum requirements, it was eventually decided that Lori would not have to take the test.
Something about this whole situation really struck a nerve with Asian Americans far and wide, and Lori found herself in the center of a much larger discussion about the ways in which education, culture and language define who and who isn't American. This should not be the act that defines her, but so far, Lori's stand indicates we can perhaps expect impressive things from her in the future. No pressure, though.
See the rest of the 30 Most Influential Asian Americans Under 30 here.
Naomi Tacuyan-Underwood Age: 28 Deputy Director, Asian Pacific Islander American Vote
Why she's influential: Because she rocks the AAPI vote. A Filipina who hails from the U.S. island territory of Guam, Naomi T. Tacuyan is currently APIAVote's Deputy Director, managing media and partner communications, refocusing the organization's branding efforts and online presence, and providing media strategy trainings and technical assistance for APIAVote partners. In the 2008 elections, APIAVote was instrumental in bringing to light the growing importance of the Asian American and Pacific Islander vote.
Naomi also advises KAYA - Filipino Americans for Progress on organizational and program development, and is active with KAYA's D.C. chapter. Her experience also includes a gubernatorial campaign on her home island of Guam for former representative to Congress, Robert A. Underwood. She handled media buys and relations, as well as field and outreach strategies to various constituencies.
She has also previously served as Communications Director for the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy, Program Coordinator for the National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development, Board Member for the D.C. chapter of the National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum, and an active volunteer with the National Alliance for Veterans Equity, the movement to restore full veterans' benefits to Filipino World War II veterans.
According to friend and mentor Vida Benavides (who nominated her), Naomi's got the 'It' factor: "She has 'IT' when it comes to leadership potential and growth that is solidly grounded and comfortable in her own skin and voice." Indeed. If it sounds like I'm just been rattling off the details of Naomi's bio/resume, it's because I am. But she's an impressive woman who deserves to be recognized.
See the rest of the 30 Most Influential Asian Americans Under 30 here.
Well, today's the day, Trek fans. At long last, the new Star Trek movie arrives in theaters. Director J.J. Abrams' big screen reboot of the enduring sci-fi franchise re-imagines the beginnings of legendary U.S.S. Enterprise crew -- Kirk, Spock, Bones, Scotty, Uhura, Chekov, and of course, Sulu.
As I mentioned before, I was able to catch an early screening of the movie a few weeks ago, and enjoyed it immensely. It's just a really fun ride, for both die-hards and new fans alike. Being a huge Star Trek fan myself, I wasn't disappointed.
Though he actually doesn't get a huge amount of screen time, John Cho does an admirable job as Hikaru Sulu, and definitely gets his moment of some kickass action. Cool to see him do the badass thing, at least briefly. For a moment, you might even forget you saw his naked ass in Harold and Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay.
I heard that John Cho actually cut his hand while filming his big action sequence. Now that I think about it, when I interviewed John last year, he was nursing an injured hand with a conspicuous bandage. It all makes sense now!
What's also really cool about this new Trek movie is its diverse, inclusive vision of humanity in the future. It takes a lot of manpower to traverse the final frontier, and lots of Asian faces are peppered throughout Starfleet in the movie. In my first viewing of the movie, I spotted Freda Foh Shen, Kelvin Yu, Reggie Lee and Faran Tahir as Captain Robau. Minor roles, but cool to see them all the same.
Three years ago, 19-year-old Fong Lee was shot and killed by a rookie Minneapolis police officer during a chase on an elementary school playground. The officer claimed that Lee had a gun, and shot him nine times -- three times in the back as ran away, then five more times in the chest as he lay on the ground. A grand jury cleared the officer of any criminal wrongdoing and the Police Department's internal investigation found he didn't violate any procedures.
However, earlier this year, Fong's family filed a lawsuit alleging that the gun found near his body was not actually in his possession, but planted by police on the scene. New evidence suggested that the gun in question had actually been in police possession, not Lee's, for nearly two years before the shooting.
Unfortunately, this week, a judge threw out most claims in the Lee family's lawsuit, dismissing all claims against the city of Minneapolis and one claim against Officer Jason Anderson: Judge Throws Out Most Claims In Fong Lee Lawsuit.
Community folks, friends and family of Fong Lee have been working hard to spread awareness and bring this case to light. They've planned a rally for Monday morning, standing in support of the family, and asking for an Independent Prosecutor to investigate this death. Here are details on the rally:
Rally for Justice For the Family of Fong Lee
Monday, May 11, 2009 8:45 – 9:45 am Warren E. Burger Federal Building & United States Courthouse
316 North Robert Street 100 Federal Building St. Paul, MN 55101
On Monday, the family of Fong Lee will be meeting with Minneapolis City Council members to negotiate a settlement in the shooting of their son and brother. We will stand in support of the family, and ask for an Independent Prosecutor to investigate this death. We will also be demanding additional changes in policy in the City of Minneapolis to make it a safer place for people to live.
The Police Force should represent Protection for our communities, not Peril!
It's time to make things right!
Seriously, the police force should represent protection for our communities, not peril. If you're in the Minneapolis area this Monday, May 11, come out, stand with the family of Fong Lee and demand justice. For details, including parking/transportation information, go here: Rally for Justice for Fong Lee. (Thanks, Bao.)
Tonight is Closing Night of the 25th Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival. If you've haven't already made your plans, it's time to get going. Man, where did the week go? It's been a whirlwind festival. Things wrap up this evening with a screening of Yojiro Takita's Departures at the Aratani/Japan American Theatre in Little Tokyo.
The surprise Academy Award winner this year for Best Foreign Language Film, Departures tells the story of a suddenly unemployed symphony musician who reluctantly takes on a job at a funeral home. He develops a deep respect for life in all its variations, and a profound empathy for people trying to make peace with the finality of death.
The evening will also feature the presentation of the Grand Jury Awards for Narrative and Documentary Feature; and the Festival Golden Reel Award for Best Short Film. As someone who watches a lot of festival films, it's always pretty cool to see which ones win. For more information about the Closing Night festivities, visit the festival website here. See you there!
Why he's influential: Because he fundamentally changed the way we use the internet... and thus, changed the world. Believe it or not, just over four short years ago, there was once a world wide web without YouTube. Today, it's a billion dollar video sharing site boasting millions of users every day. From the advent of YouTube "celebrities" to countless videos of guys getting accidentally hit in the crotch, you can thank company co-founder Steve Chen for all of it.
Legend has it, YouTube's lightning bolt moment apparently happened after Chad Hurley, Steve Chen and Jawed Karim -- all early employees of PayPal -- experienced difficulty sharing videos that had been shot at a dinner party at Chen's apartment in San Francisco. That might just be a cool marketing story for the media. Whatever the case, the domain name www.youtube.com was activated on February 15, 2005, and nothing's really ever been the same.
In 2006, Chen and Hurley sold YouTube to Google, Inc. for $1.65 billion. Steve is a very rich man, while the rest of us get to enjoy a massive, ever-growing collection of movie clips, video blogs, shorts films, and everything in between, every day, at any hour of the day. Admit it -- you've experienced something on YouTube that has made you laugh, made you angry, spurred you into action, or just plain made you waste time, one video clip at a time.
See the rest of the 30 Most Influential Asian Americans Under 30 here.
It's spoken word on wheels. Check out this cool video, Skate Free, by Tony Toka. I caught this film last year at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, and it left me with the same question I know you're thinking too: how did he do that? The answer is a lot more low-tech than you think -- a camera, a skateboard, and a lot of takes. Good stuff.
Read this, and I just felt sick... Last week in Boulder, Colorado, two middle school students were arrest on suspicion of harassment and a bias-motivated crime after they called a 12-year-old girl and threatened to rape and kill her because she's Asian American: Police: Boulder boys threatened to rape 12-year-old.
According to police, the boys are suspected of calling the girl's cell phone and using explicit and violent language to describe raping her. The girl hung up, and the boys called back and left two messages threatening her:
The girl answered the first call, but her parents intercepted the other messages," Huntley said. "They didn't pick up the phone, but they listened to the messages and shielded their daughter from hearing them."
The messages included details about damaging the girl's genitals, Huntley said.
"In the messages, they indicated that they wanted to have sex with her because she was Asian," Huntley said. "That is the basis for charging them with a bias-motivated crime."
The girl's parents reported the incident to police the next day, and the two 13-year-olds were brought to Boulder County's juvenile detention center. Another 10-year-old boy -- initially thought to be 9 -- was also later arrested and charged.
These are kids we're talking about. Where the hell do they even learn this kind of hateful, disgusting behavior? I don't know what kind of punishment these criminal charges entail, but whatever is, I hope it involves getting these kids some serious help... because they really need it.
Following up on (and hopefully putting to rest, for now) that racist drunken incident that happened at Tufts last month, which eventually resulted in the student responsible apologizing and taking full responsibility for his actions against a group of Korean American students...
Here is Tufts University President Lawrence S. Bacow's official statement to the University Community on how it all went down, released last week: Reflections on the Lewis Hall Incident.
I'm not a member of the Tufts community... but kind of too little too late, don't you think? Thanks for the statement, Lawrence... after all is said and done. Where was the administration while all this was actually going down? Where was President Bacow when Asian American students were calling for action last month?
The only reason why things came to a resolution was because Daniel Foster and the KSA students independently came to an agreement on their own. Awfully convenient for the Prez to pop up with this statement at the end to put bow on it.
If you're in Los Angeles, and you're not going to Closing Night of the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, you might want to check out the other cool event that's happening on Thursday night: APEX's 3rd annual Community Leaders Reception, bringing together distinguished leaders in government, business and the nonprofit sector to network with the APEX community of young professionals.
APEX will receive a special resolution from the California State Assembly from Assemblymember Warren Furutani. State Board of Equalization Vice Chair, Judy Chu and State Senator Carol Liu will provide brief remarks. And Norm Chow, UCLA Bruins Football Offensive Coordinator, will be the event's keynote speaker. Some details:
APEX Third Annual Community Leaders Reception - Building Bridges for Community Empowerment
Thursday, May 7, 2009 6:30PM - 9:00PM Wilshire Grand Hotel 930 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90017
FREE for Premium Members w/ Registration $10 for Non-Members w/ Registration $15 At Door Admission
Confirmed VIPs Include: Elected Officials APEX Honorary Advisors Community & Business Leaders Asian Pacific Islander Legislative Staffers (Click here to see the most current list.)
APEX is all about providing young professional with opportunities for professional development, community giving and cultural awareness. If that's what you're all about too, maybe this event is for you. For full event details, and a list of confirmed VIP guests, go here. And to learn more about the work APEX does, go here.
In June 2006, Watada refused to deploy to Iraq for his unit's assigned rotation to Operation Iraqi Freedom, stating that he believed the war to be illegal and that, under the doctrine of command responsibility, it would make him party to war crimes. His first court-martial, in February 2007, ended with a mistrial.
U.S. District Judge Benjamin Settle in Tacoma ruled on double-jeopardy grounds in October that Watada could not be prosecuted by the Army on charges of missing his redeployment to Iraq, taking part in a news conference and participating in a Veterans for Peace national convention.
However, there is still the possibility that the Army could retry Watada on two counts of conduct unbecoming an officer resulting from his media interviews. It's unclear if the Army plans to pursue those charges. Either way, this ruling is still a victory, and hopefully the end of a long saga for Watada and his family.
Why she's influential: Because she rocks mics. Kelly Zen-Yie Tsai is a Chicago-born, Brooklyn-based Chinese Taiwanese American spoken word artist who, according to her bio, "fights for cultural pride and survival through how she spits and how she lives," and has brought her unique voice to microphones and stages far and wide.
Kelly's entertaining, thoughtful and politically potent spoken word has taken her to performances all around the world, and in hallowed venues like the Nuyorican Poets Cafe, the House of Blues, the Apollo Theater, Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, and three seasons of the award-winning Russell Simmons Presents HBO Def Poetry... but she ain't no stage diva.
As her friend Steve Lin (who nominated her) puts it, Kelly possesses "a dedication to social justice, a sharp eye for power dynamics, and a silver tongue to break it all down in verse." And that's what I love about Kelly's words -- they strike just the right balance of fierce political consciousness when the message demands it, then pull back to breathe, to consider, and to celebrate.
Kelly is the author of Inside Outside Outside Inside (2004) and Thought Crimes (2005) and the CD Infinity Breaks (2006). I instantly became a fan after seeing the video By-Standing: The Beginning of an American Lifetime. Today, I'm enjoying her haiku tweets on Twitter. She's a powerful and needed voice in the arts community, and I can't wait to see what she does next.
See the rest of the 30 Most Influential Asian Americans Under 30 here.
Here we go again. Another college campus publication makes fun of Asians in the tired guise of "satire." This time, we're talking about Indiana University in Bloomington, and The Robin, a student-run humor and satire publication -- sort of like wannabe version of The Onion, only nowhere near as good.
I'm informed that the April issue features a fake news story on how Asians have essentially taken over Bloomington The article "reports" that Asians now make up 90% of the city's population, much to everyone's surprise: Mid-March survey finds Bloomington is 90 percent Asian. It's really unfunny.
I know, I know. Satire. It's the magic password when fools write things like this. But I can't help but think that the sentiment behind this piece comes from a very real place -- perhaps a concern or uneasiness that Bloomington's Asian population is indeed growing too large and too quickly.
To top it all off, The Robin also features the cartoon above, Graphic Violence. Pretty disturbing implication, considering the article about Bloomington's suddenly massive Asian population in the very same issue. I guess "small Asian family" is supposed to be funnier that just "small family." Really? That's racist! (Thanks, Kimberly.)
You've seen his YouTube videos... now check out his music video. Musician David Choi has teamed up with the guys at Wong Fu Productions for the official music video for "Won't Even Start," off of his album Only You. Nicely done. This is definitely one of my favorite tracks from the album. For some behind the scenes info on the video, visit the Wong Fu Productions blog here.
Ever since they announced last fall that the big screen, live-action Hollywood studio adaption of the hit animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender, directed by M. Night Shyamalan, would feature an all-white principal cast, fans have been up in arms. Not just Avatar fans, but also folks who generally don't like to see racist nonsense perpetuated in the movies. And let's face it, that's what this is.
Up to now, Paramount hasn't done a hell of a lot of the calm the ran rebellion, posting all sorts of ridiculouscasting calls and basically ignoring East West Players and MANAA's calls for a more diverse and inclusive cast. Then, of course, there's cast member Jackson Rathbone's idiotic comments about cutting his hair and getting a tan.
I recently heard from the folks with the Media Action Network for Asian Americans (MANAA). After trying to work with Paramount on this behind the scenes, they've decided there's no other choice but to go public with their concerns grievances about The Last Airbender. Here's the press releaseMANAA put out last week:
PARAMOUNT DISCRIMINATES AGAINST ASIAN AMERICAN ACTORS FOR MOVIE ADAPTATION OF ASIAN-BASED TV SERIES
Asian American Advocacy Groups, Fans Condemn Racial Bias in M. Night Shyamalan's "Whitewashed" Casting of "The Last Airbender"
Los Angeles - Thousands of fans and two prominent Asian American advocacy groups are protesting Paramount Pictures' upcoming "The Last Airbender," accusing the production of racial bias in selecting white actors to portray ethnically Asian characters.
The movie—a live action adaptation of the hit animated television series "Avatar: The Last Airbender"—is part of a franchise widely advertised by Nickelodeon as set in a "fantastical Asian world" and is set for release in July of 2010.
Even though all of the series' characters were ethnically Asian or Inuit/Yupik, casting sheets for the leads indicated a preference for white actors—and ultimately, they were chosen for the top four starring roles. The part of the villainous Prince Zuko went to Jesse McCartney. After dropping out, he was replaced by "Slumdog Millionaire's" Dev Patel. Consequently, in a Eurocentric twist, actors of color have been relegated to villain, supporting, and background roles.
Immediately after the initial casting announcement in December, thousands of outraged fans mobilized to protest through a letter writing campaign, petition, and website, www.racebending.com. Fan protest efforts were featured in the SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE and THE WASHINGTON POST.
"We're mortified that the film is turning this story we loved and respected into just another symbol of Hollywood discrimination," Marissa Lee, one of the fans protesting the casting, said. "That's why we decided to speak out and fight back. These ignorant casting decisions have compromised the integrity of the original series."
On February 11, The Media Action Network for Asian Americans (MANAA), the only organization solely dedicated to monitoring the media and its depiction and coverage of Asian Americans, sent a letter to Paramount President John Lesher, executive producers Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall, director M. Night Shyamalan, and producer Sam Mercer, requesting a meeting to discuss the casting controversy before filming began in early March.
On March 25—over a month and a half later—and after shooting commenced, MANAA received a letter signed by "the producers," attempting to justify the selection of white actors to portray characters of color. The letter claimed that the film has "a large and ethnically diverse cast that represents many different heritages and cultures from all corners of the globe."
Although they claim the setting will be diverse, the producers ignored concerns regarding a glass ceiling reserving the three primary heroic roles for white actors. Paramount's letter, available on MANAA's website, www.manaa.org, fails to answer the organization's charges of discrimination, racial bias, cultural appropriation, imperialism, and the production's use of culturally ignorant language to justify the film's casting practices.
Guy Aoki, founding President of MANAA, says, "It's outrageous that the producers are using their supposed concern for ‘diversity' as an excuse to make an Asian story more white. Conversely, does this mean that in the future, the producers will take a story featuring only white people and make a movie with the top four stars all initially being persons of color?"
"Like other studios, Paramount erroneously believes that white audiences won't pay money to see a film that's ‘too Asian.' Unfortunately, we saw this happen last year with "21" and recently with "Dragonball: Evolution." The different cultures of the four Asian nations were unique enough in the original "Avatar" series. Fans expected to see Asian actors play those parts in the movie. Ironically, most of the outraged fans threatening to boycott the film are white, black, and Latino.
In February, East West Players, the longest-running Asian American theatre organization in the country, founded by late "Avatar" actor Makoto "Mako" Iwamatsu, also wrote a letter expressing its concerns.
When graphic novelist Derek Kirk Kim sent the producers a petition from industry professionals, signatories included one of the "Avatar" series' award-winning directors, Giancarlo Volpe.
Korean American comedian Margaret Cho lashed out at the decision on her blog.
"Why is it better to have white actors play the roles of Asians?" Cho wrote. "I don't understand. Because it sells more tickets? I am not white and I have had no trouble selling tickets. Maybe the powers that be should ask me what to do. I would tell them ‘The Last Airbender' is the last straw to a lot of people:"
On his Twitter, producer Frank Marshall continues to deny the production has discriminated by giving opportunities for actors of color to white performers. After a series of twitters back and forth between angry fans and himself, Marshall made his final comment on the subject last week saying, "The casting is complete and we did not discriminate against anyone," defensively adding, "I am done talking about it."
The folks at Racebending have set up a YouTube channel where fans who object to the whitewashed casting of The Last Airbender can post video messages telling producers (and America) why they won't be going to see this movie. They're taking it to the streets! With real, actual people speaking out.
Meanwhile, Viacom (parent company of Paramount), has decided to exercise its supreme authority over the internet universe by shutting down the Racebending.com protest effort's Zazzle store, claiming all but one of the products "contained content in violation of Viacom's intellectual property rights" -- not just images, but words.
Thus, a t-shirt that declares "Aang can stay Asian and still save the world" in a variety of colors and sizes is somehow a copyright violation. Details here: AVATAR: ZAZZLE/VIACOM FAIL. Admit it, Paramount. You're getting annoyed.
Evan Low Age: 25 City Council Member of Campbell, CA Vice-Mayor of Campbell
Why he's influential: Because he's blazing a trail through local politics. In 2006, at age 23, Evan Low made history when he became first Chinese American, openly gay, and youngest person ever elected to the city council in Campbell. A rising star with just a few years experience in the political arena, he holds the distinction of being California's youngest openly gay official.
A fifth generation Californian, Low has strong roots in empowering his community through civic engagement and volunteerism, and places a strong focus on issues surrounding affordable housing, education, and domestic violence. He also currently works as a Senior District Representative for State Assemblymember Paul Fong, and was appointed by Gov. Howard Dean to the DNC Convention Rules Committee in 2008.
On June 5, 2006, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom honored Evan with a proclamation, naming the day "Evan Low Day" in the city and county of San Francisco for his leadership in the greater community -- months before he was even elected to public office. I think we can expect a bright future from this guy -- first Campbell, then the political beyond. One step at a time.
See the rest of the 30 Most Influential Asian Americans Under 30 here.
Pretty dramatic night for Rockets fans, both here and probably a billion or so folks in China... Yao Ming had 28 points and 10 rebounds on Monday to lead Houston past the heavily favored Los Angeles Lakers 100-92 in Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinal series: Yao helps lift Rockets to stable ground.
Fairly scary moment though, when Yao went for the locker room briefly after injuring his knee in the fourth quarter. But he returned to action a few minutes later to hit a key jump shot and sink six free throws for the Rockets -- who used a 9-0 run in the fourth to take control of the game.
But wait! It seems that the York Region District School Board has had a change of heart. In a dramatic reversal, the Asian student who was suspended for fighting back and breaking another kid's nose -- after being hit and racially taunted -- returns to Keswick High School today: York school board stands down, reinstates bullied student.
According to the boy's father, the student will return to school this morning with the suspension removed from his academic record and his upcoming expulsion hearing cancelled. Vindication!
Things began to turn around yesterday when the student and his parents were invited to a reconciliation session with his antagonist -- you know, the kid who called him a "fucking Chinese" -- and his parents. At that meeting, the white student apologized for calling him the racial slur and for punching him in the mouth. The Asian student apologized for breaking his classmate's nose.
The boy still faces a charge of assault causing bodily harm even though the white student's parents have twice called York Regional Police asking that the charges be dropped. Once charges have been laid, however, it's up to authorities to determine whether to proceed or not, which probably won't be decided until a first court appearance on May 13.
What a mess. The whole situation up to now has been handled improperly. The Asian student probably should never have been suspended in the first place. The Education Act states that a principal should consider whether harassment because race or ethnic origin may be a mitigating factor in the incident leading to suspension. All the principal apparently saw was a broken nose.
In case you didn't hear the news... over the weekend at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao easily defeated Englishman Ricky Hatton, taking him down in a knockout after just 359 seconds in the second round: Brilliant Pacquiao cements legacy with win.
The incident sparked a huge community rally last week, with students speaking out against bully and racism. Meanwhile, a hate crime investigator has reportedly been assigned to look into whether indeed the gym class fight does qualify as a hate crime: Hate-crime investigator digs deeper into bullying brawl.
The facts seem pretty clear to me. The 15-year-old student, who came with his parents to Canada from Korea in 2004, says he got into a dispute with a white classmate. The white student addressed him with a racial slur, calling him "a fucking Chinese," and when confronted he refused to apologize.
The white student threw the first punch, hitting the Asian student in the mouth. The Asian student, who just happens to be a black belt in tae kwon do, threw a left-handed jab (consciously using his weaker hand) that broke the white student's nose. Of course, the Asian kid was the only one who charged. What's up with that?
The Asian kid, a top student with a 90 average, must now spend four weeks at a program for suspended students, where he isn't going to learn a damn thing: Korean boy can only watch as others go to school.
And last week, the boys family received a letter from York Region District School Board saying the school's principal is recommending the discipline committee mete out the harshest possible punishment when it meets next week. She's asking that the Asian student be expelled not just from Keswick High, but from all schools in the York region.
You've got to be kidding me. The administration seems to have little understanding of what it's really like to endure a racist comment or taunt -- made to feel like you're less than human, or like you don't belong. Why is this school being run complete morons with absolutely no grasp of what is happening here?
Tim Lincecum Age: 24 Pitcher, San Francisco Giants
Why he's influential: Because, man, he can throw. Tim Lincecum, starting pitcher for the San Francisco Giants, is a freak. That's actually what they call him. "The Freak." At 5'11", 172 lbs., the right-handed hurler has a shaggy mop of hair and the face of a 18-year-old, but throws a mighty 98 on the mound. The winner of the 2008 National League Cy Young Award -- Major League pitching's highest honor -- he's quickly established himself as one of the top pitchers in the game.
Drafted 10th overall by the Giants in the MLB draft, going in 2007 Lincecum was considered one of the top prospects in baseball... and he made good on that assessment. San Francisco might be off to a rocky start this season, but the team boasts a world-class pitching staff anchored by Lincecum, who went 18-5, with 2.62 ERA and led Major League Baseball with 265 strikeouts last year.
I won't pretend to fully understand the mechanics of pitching, but Lincecum is armed with a repertoire of what are described as "unhittable pitches," powered by his massive stride and overhand delivery. Fastball. Curveball. Changeup. You can't hit this. Perhaps coolest of all, the Cy Young win also nabbed him the distinction of getting immortalized on the cover of the video game MLB 2K.
See the rest of the 30 Most Influential Asian Americans Under 30 here.
Why she's influential: Because the Disney generation is watching. Hmong American actress Brenda Song is best known for her role as ditzy hotel heiress London Tipton (like Paris Hilton -- get it?) in the hit Disney Channel series The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, a show I will admit to having seen on several occasions. It's a pretty ridiculous program, but then again, I'm far from the target audience.
Brenda is a bonafide Disney Channel starlet, with a starring role on one of the network's most popular sitcoms and huge appeal amongst the 'tween' set. That's massive fan cred where it counts. While Disney's most bankable force of nature, Miley Cyrus, might be making ching chong faces with friends in her spare time, Brenda is holding it down as a real Asian face on the Disney Channel.
When she isn't filing lawsuits against the really really inappropriate use of her image, she's starring in Disney's Zack & Cody spinoff The Suite Life on Deck, the sequel to Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior, and can be seen this summer in the futuristic dance movie Boogie Town.
All this, and young Brenda has managed to avoid being associated (thus never seriously embarrassing herself) with the dreadful Hollywood party girl scene. In Tinseltown, that's definitely got to be worth something.
See the rest of the 30 Most Influential Asian Americans Under 30 here.
Eugene Kang Age: 25 Special Assistant to the President
Why he's influential: Because he's at the President's side. Maybe you've wondered what it might be like to play a round of golf with the President of the United States. This guy's actually done it. But he's not just Barack's golf buddy. As a political adviser and Special Assistant to the President, Eugene Kang has a unique place in the Obama administration, and a bright future ahead of him.
In 2005, as a student at the University of Michigan, Kang ran for the Ann Arbor City Council... and lost. Narrowly, by just 90 votes. After college, he landed a job in Chicago working in the political affairs shop of the early Obama campaign. On the campaign trail, he drummed up support for Obama among Asian Americans, traveled with the Senator, and even carried the future President's cell phone.
Today, if you want to talk to the President on the phone, Eugene Kang is the guy who gets it done. He sets up phone calls to everyone from high-powered politicians to grassroots activists. He's also Obama's "special projects coordinator," meets with the office of political affairs, and takes it upon himself to make sure the President is informed of what's going on in "the real world." I'd call that pretty influential.
See the rest of the 30 Most Influential Asian Americans Under 30 here.
The documentary focused on the international world of B-boying, and how the art of breaking has evolved and gone global, following dancers in crews from 18 nations vying for title of world champion at the annual Battle of the Year finals in Berlin. If you haven't seen the film, I can't recommend it enough. It's just a fascinating, crowd-pleasing movie. Put it on your Netflix queue right now.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, this new film will tell the story of "a legendary b-boy crew that must return to its roots to reclaim the world championship by competing against the top international breakdancing teams." The take is described as 8 Mile meets The Warriors.
The studio is apparently still looking for a writer. Benson says he decided to adapt the documentary into a narrative film when he realized "there was a lack of very real street dance films out there." You hear that? Benson is taking it to the streets, suckas!
I know it's still pretty early in the process, but I definitely don't think it would be out of the question to hope for some Asian American characters included in the mix here, given how there's no shortage of really talented Asian American b-boys, and America has seen all-or-mostly Asian American crews completely dominate ABDC for three seasons. I'm just saying, people need to recognize.
This week in San Diego, a 29-year-old woman was robbed and sexually assaulted in her home, in what police believe may be the sixth in a series of home-invasion robberies targeting Asian women: Home invasion believed to be latest targeting Asians.
The woman had just arrived home after shopping with her 18-month-old son and had taken the toddler into her apartment and come back outside to retrieve some belongings. As she was going back inside, the man grabbed her from behind and threatened her with a knife, demanding money. He then sexually assaulted the woman and left.
The man was described as white or Latino, about 30 years old, 5 feet 6 inches tall with a medium build. He was wearing a black jacket, jeans and black shoes.
Investigators believe he may be the same man responsible for at least five other attacks since June, in which victims were similiarly threatened with a knife, robbed, and in all but one case, raped or sexually assaulted. All the victims were Asian women between the ages of 20 and 48.
Anyone with information regarding this case or the series is asked to contact the SDPD at 619-531-2299, the UCSD Police Department at 858-534-4358 or Crime Stoppers' anonymous tip line at 888-580-8477. More here: Police: Home Invasion, Sex Assault Part Of Series.
It's May! In honor of APA Heritage Month, I've put together a list of people I'm calling the 30 Most Influential Asian Americans Under 30. Each day this month, I'll reveal one person from the list -- a young person (30 years old or younger) who is making a difference in his or her community, profession and the world at large.
Last month, I put a call out asking you to nominate folks they thought should be on the list. Thank you to everyone who suggested so many worthy individuals. Unfortunately, only thirty can make the list. And that's the thing. Not long after setting out to put this list together, I realized what a difficult task I had taken on.
How exactly do you determine who is actually influential? Is there a measure of quantifiable influence? Let's make it clear -- this list is highly subjective. It's a mix of folks who are making waves in their respective areas of influence, up-and-coming young leaders and personalities, as well as people I just like and admire.
That said, here they are. The 30 Under 30, in no particular order:
Eugene Kang, 25, Special Assistant to the President
All right, the 25th Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival is in full swing! The Opening Night screening of Tze Chun's Children of Invention was a blast, and Friday night was packed with a solid schedule of screenings. And there is almost too much good stuff happening on Saturday.
You could go to the shorts program Life Beings At..., which includes A Green Mountain in the Drawer and Recollections, two of my favorite short narratives in this year's festival. There's also Passion of the People, which includes Tad Nakamura's A Song For Ourselves and Jessica Yu's The Kinda Sutra -- both really excellent documentaries.
Of course, you can't miss the Festival Centerpiece Screening of So Yun Kim's Treeless Mountain. Then there's the documentary I'm most interested in checking out, Christopher Wong's Whatever It Takes, which chronicles the struggles and triumphs of one year at the Bronx Center for Science & Mathematics in New York.
There's also Anna Chi's Dim Sum Funeral, which the festival is billing as the "Saturday Showcase Movie." It stars Kelly Hu, Russell Wong, Julia Nickson and none other than Bai Ling... all who will be in attendance. No joke.
Finally, I want to throw out a big plug for the festival's special retrospective screening of Christine Choy and Renee Tajima's Academy Award-winning documentary Who Killed Vincent Chin?, which examines the landmark 1982 murder case that galvanized the Asian American activist community. I think I can honestly say this film changed my life.
If you haven't seen it, you need to get schooled. The screening is Saturday, May 2, 4:00pm at the Directors Guild of America. This film is not readily available on home video, so you usually have to catch it in educational screenings and Asian American studies classes. Make your plans, grab a friend and try to make an effort to get to the DGA on Saturday afternoon.
Yesterday, NPR broke the news that U.S. Supreme Court Justice David Souter, 69, is planing to retire at the end of the court's current term: Justice Souter To Retire From Supreme Court.
Souter's retirement would give President Obama his first appointment to the high court, and the news immediately set off speculation on who will be chosen to take his place. Law blogs, journalists, and elected officials have already begun throwing out potential names: Souter Replacements: Obama's Five Likely Picks.
Among the short list of names most often mentioned: Harold Koh, the Dean of Yale Law School, recently nominated to be the State Department's legal adviser. However, it seems unlikely that Koh will be chosen for the job -- most observers expect that Obama will appoint a woman, with only one currently serving on the bench. But someday...
I have seen videos of cup-stacking competitions before, and it has to be one of the strangest "sports" I've ever seen anyone devote energy to. Some kids play basketball. Some kids take up badminton. And some kids stack cups.
Steven, a sixth-grader from Longeadow, Massachusetts, is the current record-holder, and something of a star in the sport. Two weeks ago, nearly 700 athletes from all over world gathered in Denver for the World Sport Stacking Championships. Steven, representing Team USA, set a new world record. Want to see the kid in action? Click here. It's crazy... but kind of amazing.
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