What's up, my people? Gather 'round 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 Sean Miura.
Who are you?
I am Sean Paul Takeo Miura and I have been an Angry Reader since I was 13.
What are you?
I am a fourth-generation Japanese American Canadian. I am a volunteer administrator for Tuesday Night Project and co-curator for our flagship free public art series, Tuesday Night Café. I am a member of the dance crew Ninjas for Social Justice (NSJ) with Alli Nakamura and Naoya Ogura. I am a blogger at my new home for writing, Down Like JTown. I am a shamisen player, a sometimes-writer, a wannabe-filmmaker, and an excellent Starfox 64 pilot. I am also Mr. Hyphen 2013.
Where are you?
I am in the middle of a crazy year full of dancing, teaching, organizing, and hunting for sleep time -- all on top of my day job.
I am for the moment taking a break at Café Dulce in JTown. I am sitting at the far corner stool against the window. The corner near the table of flyers, not near the barista. This side has more outlets.
Where are you from?
I am from Seattle, Vancouver (Canada), Maryland, Vancouver again, New Jersey, and Los Angeles. I am the son of a math professor who teaches and researches at different universities, a fact that explains my irrational roots. I am from the after-school cartoons of the ‘90s, the online communities of the ‘00s, and the bowed-head Instagrammer clan of the 10's (@seanmiura, by the way).
What do you do?
I organize (i.e., do community work), building with groups like Tuesday Night Project and Little Tokyo Roots. I tackle the never-ending stream of event planning and conference organizing that Los Angeles consistently generates. I teach, whether it be introducing high school students to spoken word poetry or constructing dance + activism workshops for eight-year-olds. I force myself to ask questions. I have so much to learn that I can't afford to get stuck in my head, as attractive as that can seem. I live in the South Bay. I work in advertising. I take my grandpa to the Gardena Bowl coffee shop on weekends. I dance in empty elevators and sing/rap in the car.
What are you all about?
I am all about my summer slate (working on an out-of-my-comfort-zone dance project with NSJ, developing an art + activism workshop, and curating some awesomely challenging Tuesday Night Cafes). I am all about gratitude and forgiveness, though we can always be better at these (myself included). I am all about art and community building. I am all about free parking. I am all about carne asada fries. I am all about meeting new people and listening to what they're all about. I am all about finding the perfect song for the moment.
What makes you angry?
I get angry when my asada fries get soggy on the way home. When I think it's Thursday and then it's actually Wednesday. When the 405 Santa Monica onramp is closed.
I get angry when people don't cite their sources. When people are not clear or genuine with their intentions. When people do not come to a conversation with an open mind.
I get angry when event organizers take advantage of artists, photographers/videographers, designers, or stage/sound technicians. I get especially angry when for-profit organizations don't pay any of the above.
I get angry that Asian Americans are not taught the bulk of our histories in public school. That we often forget the roots of the term “Asian American" as a unifying, empowering symbol. That our community does not, on the whole, instinctively practice solidarity across all dimensions (ethnic, gender, sexual preference, geographic, etc).
I get angry that I have been guilty of all these things (except for the 405 on ramp closure, which has never been my fault). But hey. Gratitude and forgiveness.
Photo Credit: Jimmy Sianipar