Hey, everybody! It's about that time again. It's time to meet the Angry Reader of the Week, spotlighting you, the very special readers of this website. Over the years, I've been able to connect with a lot of cool folks, and this is a way of showing some appreciation and attention to the people who help make this blog what it is. This week's Angry Reader is Nancy Wang Yuen.
Who are you?
My name is Nancy Wang Yuen. My parents named me after Nancy Reagan when I immigrated to the United States as a kid. But my Chinese name is 嵐, which means "storm."
What are you?
I am a pop culture geek disguised as a sociology professor.
Where are you?
The San Gabriel Valley, which is the largest majority Latino and Asian American region in the U.S. (approximately 45% Latina/o, and 28% Asian, as of 2010).
Where are you from?
I was born in Taiwan and grew up all over southern California. Whenever I visit Taiwan, I'd say I'm "going back" -- but not in the way that people mean when they say "go back to your country." The concept of belonging to two places is foreign to U.S. dominant culture.
What do you do?
Professionally, I am an associate professor and chair of the Sociology department at Biola University. I write, teach and speak on race and ethnicity in the media. I am the author of Reel Inequality: Hollywood Actors and Racism (2016), the first book to examine the barriers actors of color face in Hollywood and how they creatively challenge stereotypes. In 2006, I pioneered the first study of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders on television. I am currently conducting a 10-year followup study. Besides my academic writings, I also contribute to the Huffington Post and tweet regularly (@nancywyuen).
What are you all about?
Art. I create and consume art (visual, poetry, films) for emotional transcendence and sanity.
Faith. I draw on my faith to fight for justice.
Activism. I resist injustice through my writing, teaching and advocacy work.
What makes you angry?
Because I teach and write on racism/sexism, I'm pretty much angry all the time. But as an Asian American woman, I have to be strategic in how I express my anger.
