Read These Blogs

Targeting Asians and Asian Americans will make it harder to stop covid-19
"Though the wave of anti-Asian racism that looms in response to the global coronavirus pandemic is ugly and frightening, it is not new. I should know: I witnessed the harassment and violence Asian Americans faced in the wake of the collapse of the U.S. manufacturing sector in the 1980s. Scapegoating Asian immigrants and Asian Americans did nothing to save the U.S. auto industry then. And it won't provide the scientific advances and government leadership necessary to slow the spread of covid-19 now."

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Trump's racist comments are fueling hate crimes. Time for state leaders to step in
"This pandemic requires us to stop the spread of both COVID-19 and racial hatred. Asian Americans need allies who will intervene when they see racial profiling happening. We need to learn from American history and have the courage and leadership to counteract fear and anxiety in this time of crisis."

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Andrew Yang is Wrong: Respectability Politics Won’t Save Asian Americans from Racist Violence
"Asian Americans are not responsible -- in any way -- for anti-Asian hate crimes against our community. We have not invited or incited violence against our bodies. We have nothing to apologize for."

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Dear Andrew Yang — Racism was the first virus, and there's no cure for that.
"I totally get what you're saying, but it’s what you didn't say that really frustrated me."

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Asian Americans Use Social Media to Mobilize Against Attacks
"Asian Americans are using social media to organize and fight back against racially motivated attacks during the pandemic, which the FBI predicts will increase as infections grow. A string of racist run-ins in the last two weeks has given rise to hashtags — #WashTheHate, #RacismIsAVirus, #IAmNotCOVID19 — and online forums to report incidents."

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Cyberbullying against Asian people skyrockets 900% in wake of pandemic
Hateful online abuse targeting Asian people has increased by 900% since the coronavirus outbreak began.

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I'm disabled and need a ventilator to live. Am I expendable during this pandemic?
"It is a strange time to be alive as an Asian American disabled person who uses a ventilator. The coronavirus pandemic in the United States has disrupted and destabilized individual lives and institutions. For many disabled, sick, and immunocompromised people like myself, we have always lived with uncertainty and are skilled in adapting to hostile circumstances in a world that was never designed for us in the first place."

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Comedian Jenny Yang Rebuts Andrew Yang Op-Ed With Satirical Video
"Honk If You Won't Hate-Crime Me!"

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Chinese-American Artist Creates A Comic About 'The Wuhan I Know'
Since the coronavirus outbreak began, Laura Gao has been troubled by the disgust and pity directed at her hometown. So she decided to make a comic telling her own story and highlighting her favorite parts of the city.

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Hate Crimes Surge Against Asian Americans While They Are On The Front Lines Fighting COVID-19
Hate crimes against Asian Americans and Asian immigrants in the United States have been surging in reaction to the coronavirus pandemic. And yet, ironically, Asian Americans are also vastly over-represented among the front line medical workers who are treating those who have been infected, as well as working at the forefront of America's efforts to find a vaccine.

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Yaeji's New Mixtape Is the Opposite of Social Distancing
DJ and producer Yaeji's music has always been about communion and friendship. And that's precisely what makes her new mixtape What We Drew 우리가 그려왔던 such a tease right now.

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How a Chinese-American Novelist Wrote Herself Into the Wild West
C Pam Zhang’s debut, How Much of These Hills Is Gold, is one of several new or forthcoming books by Asian American writers set in a period that historically hasn't recognized them.

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Randall Park Talks 'Top Chef' Guest Judge Spot and Cooking in Quarantine
The Hollywood Reporter speaks with actor and writer Randall Park about judging Bravo's cooking competition Top Chef with his friend and collaborator Ali Wong: "I'm, like, the worst judge."

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For the Best Sriracha, Look Beyond That Famous Bottle
"Before Sriracha was found on counters in every restaurant, lined up in the Trader Joe’s sauce aisle, stacked within pantries across America, blended into a creamy and unholy mixture from Heinz called mayoracha, legend has it that the vibrant red sauce was actually quietly created in a seaside town southeast of Bangkok -- a town called Si Racha."

So You Made the Sidewalk Racist

And Other Things to Know From Angry Asian America.



"Fuck Off Gooks"
This heartwarming message was spotted on the sidewalk at Eddy and Laguna in San Francisco.

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Japanese Americans speak out against Andrew Yang's Op-Ed
Japanese American leaders are criticizing former Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang's call to Asian Americans to display patriotism during the coronavirus pandemic, saying it brings back painful memories of the rhetoric directed at Americans of Japanese ancestry who were incarcerated during World War II.

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"China Poisoned Our People"
A new campaign ad from Republican congressional candidate Kathaleen Wall, who is running for Texas' 22nd Congressional District, seizes the moment and goes heavy on the anti-China rhetoric. "China poisoned our people," a narrator says in the ad, which then lauds President Donald Trump for calling COVID-19 the "Chinese virus." You can probably expect to see a lot more of this shit pretty soon.

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hey @andrewyang, consider this me showing my "AMERICAN-NESS" pic.twitter.com/ENfs9wnF3G

— Jenny Yang (@jennyyangtv) April 3, 2020

Honk If You Won't Hate Crime Me
America! Comedian Jenny Yang shows America her American-ness.

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At long last! We get the new full-length album from singer/songwriter Jane Lui, who is now making music as Surrija. New name, new music, new sound. The album's crowdfunding backers have had the privilege of listening to it for months, and now the rest of world's ears get to partake in this fantastic new record. Hear it on SoundCloud, Spotify and the all the usual places you get music.

They Call Us Bruce - Episode 93: They Call Us Yul Kwon

Jeff Yang and Phil Yu present an unfiltered conversation about what's happening in Asian America.



What's up, podcast listeners? We've got another episode of our podcast They Call Us Bruce. (Almost) each week, my good friend, writer/columnist Jeff Yang and I host an unfiltered conversation about what's happening in Asian America, with a strong focus on media, entertainment and popular culture.

On this episode, we welcome Yul Kwon, winner of Survivor: Cook Islands, who is back competing on the show's current season, Survivor: Winners at War. They discuss the "race war," Yul's reasons for returning to reality television, and if/how they'd all survive in a zombie apocalypse.

Andrew Yang Wants You to Show Your "American-ness"

And Other Things to Know From Angry Asian America.



Andrew Yang Says Asians Need To Show 'American-ness' To Avoid Racism
In a Washington Post op-ed published Wednesday, former presidential candidate Andrew Yang attempted to address the increasing incidents of harassment and racism against Asians amid the coronavirus pandemic, encouraging Asian Americans to "embrace and show our American-ness in ways we never have before." Yang called on Asian Americans to combat coronavirus-related racism by helping to end the public health crisis, urging them to "help our neighbors, donate gear, vote, wear red white and blue, volunteer, fund aid organizations" and "demonstrate that we are part of the solution." It was not well-received.

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Self-Care Tips For Asian Americans Dealing With Racism Amid Coronavirus
"Whether you've been subjected to discrimination or not, simply hearing about the widespread xenophobia can affect your mental health. We asked therapists who work within Asian American communities to share their best self-care advice for these stressful times."

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Liyna Anwar, L.A. Times Podcast Producer, Dies at 30
Liyna Anwar, a rising journalist who helped the Los Angeles Times expand its digital footprint and waged a public fight to save her own life, has died of complications from acute myeloid leukemia. Surrounded by family, Anwar died March 26 at the City of Hope in Duarte, just weeks after the launch of Asian Enough, an Asian American-focused podcast she produced. She was 30.

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Doctor's Log
In the new podcast Doctor's Log, Dr. Esther Choo, an emergency room physician in Portland, Oregon, delivers a twice weekly report from the front lines of the coronavirus crisis: her own ER. She takes listeners into the real world doctors and nurses are facing now, as they grapple with the most significant health threat in modern history, and helps us all understand what to do to stay safe.

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The Linda Linda Lindas - "Claudia Kishi"
And just for fun, here are The Linda Linda Lindas -- Bela, Lucia, Eloise and Mila -- performing their song "Claudia Kishi," as heard in the closing credits of the documentary short The Claudia Kishi Club.

That Sam's Club Stabbing Was Indeed a Hate Crime

And Other Things to Know From Angry Asian America.



Stabbing of Asian American Family Was a Virus-Fueled Hate Crime
Confirming what everybody pretty much suspected when this attack was reported last month, the vicious stabbing of an Asian American family -- including a 2-year-old girl --at a Sam’s Club in Texas earlier this month has been officially deemed a hate crime by the FBI. 19-year-old Jose L. Gomez confessed to authorities that he attempted to murder three Asian American family members, including the toddler and a 6-year-old, "because he thought the family was Chinese, and infecting people with coronavirus." He is now facing several charges, including three counts of attempted capital murder and one count of aggravated assault.

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House Lawmaker Proposes Resolution to Denounce Coronavirus Racism
Last week, New York congresswoman Grace Meng introduced a House resolution to denounce the racism toward Asian Americans related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The legislation, co-sponsored by more than 120 fellow lawmakers, stipulates that the House would condemn all forms of racism and scapegoating and call on public officials to denounce any anti-Asian sentiment, as well.

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Doctor Kicked Out of Gas Station in Coronavirus-Related Discrimination
A doctor who works with cancer patients says he was berated and kicked out of an Indiana gas station by an employee using the coronavirus to discriminate against Asians. The doctor stopped at a Marathon gas station in Martinsville, Indiana, for gas and a cup of coffee. But when he went inside, the clerk yelled at him, asking if he was Chinese, and told him to leave. (The doctor, by the way, is not of Chinese descent. Like it mattered.)

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The New Fear for Asian-Americans Going Out in Public
"What's scary is you wear a mask, you get targeted. You don't wear a mask, you get targeted. It doesn't fucking matter," she said. "I've literally been like, How can I make myself look less Asian when I go out?"

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Somebody decided to invite Dr. Rishi Desai onto Fox.

I don’t think they’ll be asking him back.

pic.twitter.com/7BGXo5Le9r

— Joshua Potash (@JoshuaPotash) April 2, 2020

"I don’t think they’ll be asking him back."
Dr. Rishi Desai, an Oakland physician who is treating COVID-19 patients, was invited on a Fox News segment to comment on some of the developments regarding the way the U.S. has handled the viral pandemic. And oh shit, he brought facts. Host Martha MacCallum could not cut to commercial fast enough.

Dorm Fight Breaks Out Over Racist Coronavirus Prank

And Other Things to Know From Angry Asian America.



"Coronavirus" Poster Prank Leads to Armed Confrontation in Dorm Room
Update on this crazy story, in English. Basically, a fight broke out between two students at Angelo State University, which apparently started when a white student plastered multiple COVID-19 advisory flyers on the dorm room door of a Korean student. The Korean student wasn't taking that shit. When he went to the white student's room to confront him, a physical fight broke out, people got punched, and the white student pulled a shotgun on him. At some point, somebody called the cops, who arrived to find broken property, busted faces, and a friggin' Confederate flag. And then multiple arrests. I swear, COVID is gonna get somebody killed.

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ER doctor says he was fired for calling out unsafe COVID-19 conditions
For the last 17 years, Dr. Ming Lin has worked in the emergency room at PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center in Bellingham, Washington. Last week, he publicly called on the hospital to better protect patients and staff from COVID-19. "I do fear for my staff," Dr. Lin warned on social media. "Morally, I think when you see something wrong, you have to speak out." The hospital responded by firing him.

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Cruise Ship Stuck at Sea After Passengers Test Positive for Coronavirus
A Holland America cruise ship is heading toward the United States looking for a port while the voyage has turned, according to the son of one couple aboard, into a "nightmare scenario." Maximilian Jo's parents are on board the Zaandam cruise ship, where eight people have tested positive for the novel coronavirus and about 200 people have influenza-like symptoms.

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SGV Was Weeks Ahead of LA on Coronavirus; What Life Is Like Right Now
The San Gabrel Valley is masked up and has been for weeks. In the month leading up to Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti's "Safer at Home" order, which was issued on March 15, Southern California's most populated Asian American community was already quietly preparing for the worst.

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Hollywood’s Asian Community Calls On Allies For Support As Coronavirus Misinformation Incites Hate
"These horrible stories reverberate through every single Asian community. Whether you're Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Indian, Pakistani, Filipino, Cambodian, Laotian -- Asian-focused racism doesn't bother to differentiate. It immediately puts every Asian on alert to protect themselves on top of staying safe from COVID-19. It's infuriating, frustrating, frightening and disappointing in the fact that this is not a new thing for our country."

Join the Conversation on COVID-19 Bullying and Hate

And Other Things to Know From Angry Asian America.


Covid-19 Convos: Rising Above Bullying and Hate 
Since the beginning of the Coronavirus pandemic, anti-Chinese and anti-Asian sentiment have been on the rise. Amid the crisis, many individuals of Asian descent has been victims of bullying and hate. Act To Change presents a virtual conversation to share ways in which parents, educators, students, and community members can all come together to protect the Asian American and Pacific Islander community from discrimination. Speakers will include Maulik Pancholy, Congresswoman Grace Meng, Dr. Vivek Murthy and Hudson Yang. It's happening this Friday, April 3 at 1-2pm ET.

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"You caused coronavirus, bitch!"
A group of teens attacked an Asian woman on a city bus in The Bronx, blaming her for the coronavirus. According to police, three teens approached the 51-year-old victim on the bus near Ogden Avenue and West 166th Street on Saturday afternoon, screaming anti-Asian slurs, then hitting the the Asian woman in the head with an umbrella. One of the attackers reportedly yelled, "You caused coronavirus bitch!" The victim was taken to the hospital, where she received stitches on her head. The three teens were arrested and charged with hate crime assault and aggravated harassment.

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How Asian-American Leaders Are Grappling With Coronavirus Xenophobia
As Asian Americans face racist attacks and President Trump has tied the virus to China, community and political leaders have tried to comfort constituents. But even they admit to feeling unnerved.

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CBS Journalist Maria Mercader Dies at 54 of Coronavirus
CBS News producer and talent executive Maria Mercader, who had a hand in much of the network's coverage of foreign and domestic breaking news for three decades, died Sunday from the Covid-19 coronavirus in a New York hospital. She was 54.

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Kona Kitchen Owner and Her Husband Have Died from COVID-19
The Seattle restaurant community was stunned last week when Elizabeth Mar, 72, the well-known owner of popular Hawaiian mainstay, Kona Kitchen, died from COVID-19. In a heartbreaking turn, her husband Robert, 78, died just a day later of the same disease. They would have celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this coming August.

Read These Blogs

They shot a film about a family trapped indoors to avoid a sickness. Then reality started imitating fiction
Daughter is an experimental surrealist thriller about a young woman, known only as Daughter, who is kidnapped and trapped inside a house with a strange family -- Father, Mother and Brother -- because an unknown toxin outside is making everyone sick. They finished shooting the film in fall of 2019, before the first cases of a then-unknown new virus started being reported in December.

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Coronavirus is inspiring anti-Asian racism. This is our political awakening.
What we need now is solidarity.

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For Asian Americans, There Are Two Pandemics: COVID-19 And Daily Bigotry
"The person called my Filipino mother a 'Chinese coronavirus bitch' and said that both of my parents are 'bearers of the virus.'" These events have become commonplace for Asian Americans in the wake of the current global public health emergency.

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Asian Americans Are Blamed By Some For COVID-19 Outbreak
NPR talks to Russell Jeung, professor of Asian American Studies at San Francisco State University, about harassment of Asian Americans during the coronavirus pandemic.

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Fear Is a Virus
How do we stop the infection?

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My Family and Friends In Hong Kong Love Trump's "China Virus"
"I wonder if my family expects me to defend myself with "I'm not Chinese, I'm a Hongkonger!" before getting yelled at, spat on, or worse. I wish I wasn't too terrified to step outside for reasons beyond COVID-19 itself."

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Little Tokyo Fights To Preserve Its Soul In Face of Coronavirus
Small businesses are struggling in the wake of the stay-at-home orders to slow the pandemic. In L.A.'s Little Tokyo, boutiques, bars, and eateries are fighting hard to stay afloat.

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The Unlikely Story Behind Japanese Americans' Campaign For Reparations
A new book tells the story of how Japanese American community members, formerly incarcerated by the U.S. government during World War II, successfully led the campaign for reparations decades later. It was a fight that came with significant resistance -- not just from the American public at large, but from the Japanese American community itself.

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Helen Gym Is the Most Popular Politician in Philadelphia
Helen Gym is a Philadelphia City Councilmember who has received more votes than any member has gotten in a primary in the last 30 years. And depending on where you stand, she is either very good or very bad news.

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UCLA's Natalie Chou won't stand for anti-Asian racism related to coronavirus
UCLA guard Natalie Chou took to Twitter on Saturday to discuss why using ignorant terms like "Chinese virus" or "kung-flu" to refer to the coronavirus is not only racist but also dangerous.

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Gene Luen Yang Discovers the Art of Basketball
Cartoonist Gene Luen Yang discusses Dragon Hoops, his first graphic novel that is nonfiction, the way basketball has invaded his life and the biggest thing about "Linsanity."

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Coping With COVID-19 Crisis: 'I Will Make You Mine's Lynn Chen Talks How SXSW Cancellation Affected Romantic Comedy Trilogy
The indie film I Will Make You Mine, which marked star Lynn Chen's directorial debut, was set to premiere at this year’s SXSW Film Festival. but then COVID-19 happened and derailed everything. Chen talks to Deadline about how this affected her as a first-time filmmaker and what the I Will Make You Mine team is doing to persevere and how the crisis impacts indie film by and for diverse audiences.

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How I'm Living Now: Lulu Wang, 'The Farewell' Director
With the novel coronavirus keeping filmmaker Lulu Wang at home in Los Angeles, she opens up about planting, pickling and finding a community online.

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'Nora From Queens’ Season Finale: EP Teresa Hsiao On How Awkwafina Comedy Brings Fresh Perspective On Asian Identity And Plans For Season 2
Co-creator of Nora From Queens Teresa Hsiao on making the show and how comedy sheds light on the seldom-told narrative of being Asian American vs. Asian.