20th Annual Asian American Showcase

Presented by FAAIM, April 3-16 at the Gene Siskel Film Center in Chicago



Chicago film fans, it is on. The Asian American Showcase, presented by the Foundation for Asian American Independent Media, celebrates its 20th anniversary as a platform for new work by established and emerging Asian American filmmakers. The festival kick runs April 3-16, and kicks off this Friday with the Opening Night screening of the critically acclaimed thriller Man From Reno at the Gene Siskel Film Center.

Here's a rundown of their awesome program:

Alabama cop indicted for assault on elderly Indian man

Officer Eric Parker is accused of using "unreasonable force" on 57-year-old Sureshbhai Patel.



Last week in Alabama, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced that the police officer who threw a 57-year-old Indian man to the ground, severely injuring him, has been indicted on civil rights violations charges.

Madison Police officer indicted for civil rights violation

Officer Eric Parker of the Madison Police Department was fired and charged with third-degree assault for using excessive force on Sureshbhai Patel, who had been visiting his family from India. The incident left him partially paralyzed and hospitalized with a fused vertebrae.

Mr. Patel, who does not speak English, was on an afternoon walk when he was stopped by police responding to a call about a "suspicious person." Police video shows Parker yanking Patel's arm and slamming him into the ground. He suffered serious injuries requiring surgery and months of rehabilitation.

'Star Wars Epic Yarns' recreates iconic scenes in felt

May the Felt Be With You.



Epic Yarns, a book series for kids of all ages by twin brothers Holman and Jack Wang, tells the story of each of the first three Star Wars movies -- A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, of course -- in just twelve words and twelve iconic scenes depicted in incredibly detailed and adorable needle felt.

Yes, people. NEEDLE FELT.

First Look at Gemma Chan in 'Humans'

AMC's upcoming sci-fi drama series is about robots in the parallel present.



In addition to our first look at Daniel Wu in Into the Badlands, during the season five finale of The Walking Dead, AMC also offered a quick glimpse of Gemma Chan in the upcoming sci-fi drama series Humans.

The eight-part series, based on the award-winning Swedish sci-fi drama Real Humans, is set in a parallel present where the latest must-have gadget for any busy family is a 'Synth' -- a highly developed robotic servant eerily similar to its live counterpart. It looks like Gemma Chan plays the "upgrade you've been waiting for."

Here's the teaser:

First Look at Daniel Wu in 'Into the Badlands'

AMC's genre-bending martial arts series premieres in fall 2015.



Folks who tuned into Sunday night's season five finale of The Walking Dead caught a brief glimpse of AMC's upcoming martial arts drama Into the Badlands starring and executive produced by Daniel Wu.

The show is described as a "genre-bending martial arts series" loosely based on the classic Chinese tale Journey to the West. In a land controlled by feudal barons, the series tells the story of a great warrior and a young boy who embark on a journey across a dangerous land to find enlightenment.

Here's the 15-second teaser:

Oakland Blasts Abortion Bans Based on Asian Stereotypes

Guest Post by Avani Mody


NAPAWF members at Oakland City Hall, coming out against sex-selective abortion bans.
On March 17, Oakland became the second city, after San Francisco, to pass a ban on sex-selective abortion bans. This is a huge victory for women, and in particular Asian American women. But why? What is a sex selective abortion ban?

Sex-selective abortion bans are an attempt by Republicans lawmakers to take away abortion rights. This time they are doing it using deceptive stereotypes of Asian American women. Much of the language around these bans indicates that Asian Americans do not value the lives of daughters. Their "evidence" is the high rate of female infanticide in Asia... because, you know, the situations of Asians abroad and Asians here in the U.S. are clearly the same. In an attempt to undermine abortion rights, they are exploiting a real women's rights issue abroad and putting Asian American women in harm's way -- all under the deceptive guise of equality. Oh, the irony.

Yet despite the intention to limit all women's reproductive rights, this logic is working. These Republican lawmakers are playing on the racist and anti-immigrant fears of Americans. Since 2010, it has passed in five states including Arizona and North Carolina, which have some of the fastest-growing Asian populations.

'Big Trouble in Little China' Screening

Wednesday, April 8 at the Japanese American National Museum



Film fans, this is going to be a good one! If you're in Los Angeles, we invite you to a screening of John Carpenter's action cult classic Big Trouble in Little China, presented by Japanese American National Museum in partnership with Angry Asian Man, First Pond Entertainment, and Visual Communications.

Join us for a fun screening and a Q&A with some of the cast and crew. Confirmed guests includ George Cheung, James Hong, Jeff Imada, Peter Kwong, Al Leong, James Lew and Gerald Okamura. It's happening Wednesday, April 8 at the Japanese American National Museum.

Here are some more details about the event:

Rutgers student took LSD, got naked and stabbed his friend

22-year-old Kevin Huang is charged with attempted murder for stabbing his buddy in the neck.



Asians behaving badly... LSD-is-a-hell-of-a-drug edition. A Rutgers University student is charged with attempted murder after allegedly taking LSD, taking off all his clothes and stabbing his friend in the neck.

Rutgers student stabs pal in the neck after taking LSD: officials

On Saturday night, 22-year-old Kevin Huang and a buddy decided to spend their evening taking LSD. Things took a wrong turn when Huang suddenly became violent, tearing off his clothes and destroying the apartment. A witness left to get help, but when he returned, he found Huang had stabbed his friend in the neck.

Tammy Duckworth announces bid for U.S. Senate

Congresswoman will challenge incumbent GOP Senator Mark Kirk.



In a YouTube video posted Monday morning, Illinois Democratic Rep. Tammy Duckworth officially announced that she is running for the United States Senate against incumbent GOP Senator Mark Kirk.

Tammy Duckworth launches Illinois Senate bid

"I'm running for the United States Senate in 2016 because it's time for Washington to be held accountable and put Illinois' families and communities first," Duckworth says in the two-minute video, which highlights her humble upbringing and her personal background as a wife, a mother and a combat veteran.

"If you elect me as Illinois' senator I will fight my heart out to represent you with honor and integrity."

Here's the announcement:

Disney is making a live-action 'Mulan'

The studio has bought a script based on the legendary Chinese woman warrior.



Well. This is some interesting movie news. On the heels of the box office success of its live-action Cinderella retelling, Disney has announced that it is developing a live-action version of Mulan.

Disney Developing Live-Action 'Mulan' (Exclusive)

Disney has reportedly bought a script by Elizabeth Martin and Lauren Hynek, based on the Chinese legend of Hua Mulan, the female warrior fans know and love from the studio's 1998 animated feature Mulan.

Would you drink a beer called "Happy Ending"?

Retailer refuses to carry beer over racist, sexist bottle label.



Would you drink a beer called "Happy Ending"? This one comes courtesy of Atlanta-based SweetWater Brewing Co., who apparently have no problem marketing their beverages with sexist, racist stereotypes. One Chicago retailer has a problem with it, and has made headlines for refusing to carry the beer.

Does craft beer have a sexism problem? Binny's rejects Happy Ending

SweetWater's Happy Ending imperial stout label art features a box of tissues, the silhouette of a geisha and that "O-face" guy from Office Space. The beer is subtly described as "sporting a huge dry hopped stiffy resulting in an explosive finish!" Well, I'm sure someone thought they were being clever.

Starbucks employee accuses customer of stealing secrets

"If you want steal our stuff for your store in China, go ahead, we're fine with that."



Oh hell no. Did this really happen? During a recent visit to a new premium Starbucks location in Seattle, one Asian American customer says he got the "acrid taste" of racism with his coffee when he was "lectured" by a corporate employee who jokingly suggested he was trying to copy company secrets to use in China.

On a recent visit to Seattle, Yelp user Daniel L. visited the Starbucks Reserve Roastery and Tasting Room, which is described as intended to be a "Willy Wonka experience" for coffee connoisseurs and amateurs alike. Daniel says the coffee was awesome, and he was ready to give it a 5-star review, but then...

Daniel says he and a friend started chatting with a "corporate guy" from Starbucks who pegged them as people in the coffee business, then advised them, "if you want steal our stuff for your store in China, go ahead, we're fine with that." Later, he followed that up with an unsolicited mini-lecture about good, old-fashioned American training, which cannot be copied. "That's something we'll never give to you." Whaaaaaat.

Here's an excerpt from Daniel's Yelp review:

Read These Blogs

Embracing My Chinese-American Identity: In the New York Times, photographer An Rong Xu shares about the coming-of-age story behind his photo series "The Chinese-Americans," and how he found empowerment and acceptance in his own Chinese American identity.

* * *
Chinatown hotel next up in S.F. gentrification wars: "This is the most direct indicator we have seen of gentrification in Chinatown. This is the bottom of the housing market. This is last-resort housing, where immigrants and poor people live." The recent eviction of two dozen families at 2 Emery Lane, could be a signal that Chinatown single-room-occupancy hotel may be the next frontier of San Francisco's gentrification wars.

* * *
The Dim Sum Revolution: How a brigade of kitchen workers took on Yank Sing, San Francisco's most lucrative and popular dim sum restaurant, and got back what had been stolen from them, and then some.

* * *
Hey, white Hollywood: Looking for work in the age of "Empire"? Here's some friendly advice : "The 'ethnics' are invading TV!! What's a struggling white actor to do?!" -- Some friendly advice from Arthur Chu.

* * *
As Multicultural TV Shows Succeed, Some Wonder if Diversity has Gone Too Far: Jeff Yang's latest "Tao Jones" column responds to Deadline TV editor Nellie Andreeva's controversial, much-criticized piece about recent "ethnic castings" on television being "too much of a good thing."

'Fresh Off The Boat' Live LA Community Viewing: LGBTQ Episode

Tuesday, March 31 at the Japanese American National Museum



If you're in Los Angeles, please join us for another community viewing of Fresh Off The Boat! Because it's fun to watch it together. The next episode, "Blind Spot," is a LGBTQ-themed episode, so a bunch of community groups are getting together to co-present a live viewing and post-show panel discussion featuring Fresh Off The Boat showrunner/executive producer Nahnatchka Khan, episode guest star Rex Lee, author/comedian D'Lo and artist/organizer Erin O'Brien, and moderated by filmmaker Curtis Chin. It's happening Tuesday, March 31 at the Japanese American National Museum in Little Tokyo.

Here are some more details:

Angry Reader of the Week: Kathy Uyen

"I love new ideas, stories and inspiration. If you've got one or two, let's talk, connect and make it happen."


(Photo Credit: Vic Nguyen)
Hey folks! It's that time again. 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 Kathy Uyen.

Bikers plead guilty in 2013 motorcycle mob attack

All but three of the eleven men charged have pleaded guilty in the attack on motorist Alexien Lien.



Remember the case of the New York motorist who was chased down the highway by a pack of bikers, pulled out of his car, and beaten on the street in front of his wife and toddler? This week, four of the assailants pleaded guilty for their role in the September 2013 road rage attack.

More plea deals in West Side Highway biker road rage case

For those unfamiliar with the case, here's the abridged version: A motorcyclist, riding with a pack, brake-checks a Range Rover and gets hit. Bikers surround the SUV. The driver, Alexian Lien -- who's with his wife and 2-year-old daughter -- takes off, plowing through several motorcycle riders and sparking a crazy pursuit on the West Side Highway. Driver gets chased down, pulled out of his car and beaten in front of his family.

'Rad American Women A-Z'

Picture book profiles "Rebels, Trailblazers, and Visionaries who Shaped Our History... and Our Future!"



THIS IS AWESOME. If you're looking for a fun, colorful book to teach kids -- and heck, grownups too -- about real-life incredible, visionary, revolutionary women, spanning the entire alphabet, then you need this book.

Rad American Women, A-Z by written by Kate Schatz and illustrated by Miriam Klein Stahl, profiles 26 of America's famous and unsung heroines -- past, present and future. It's feminist history in a picture book.

A is for Angela Davis. B is for Billie Jean King. C is for Carol Burnett. Y is for Yuri Kochiyama. Z is for Zora Neale Hurston. X is for the women whose names we don't know, "the women we haven't learned about yet, and the women whose stories we will never read." Incredible.

Here are a couple of the illustrations:

Driving instructors get pranked by a pro racer

Watch pro driver Leona Chin scare the crap out of unsuspecting driving school instructors.



This is just mean. What happens when a professional racer, disguised as a timid driving student, gets behind the wheel for a lesson with an unsuspecting driving instructor? Lots and lots of squealing tires. And screaming.

A driving school enlisted the help of 28-year-old Leona Chin, a professional motorsport racer from Malaysia, to play a prank some new instructors on their first day on the job. Chin winningly plays the part of a nerdy newbie driver, starting off the lesson with some blunders... then proceeds to show off her insane drifting skillz.

Needless to say, the poor instructors freaked the f*ck out. Watch:

Restaurant owner arrested for enslaving cook

Pradeep Kumar is accused of enslaving and abusing an Indian restaurant worker for three years.



Damn. Been hearing way too many stories like this lately... In Southern California, a restaurant owner has been arrested for allegedly enslaving an Indian employee and holding him in servitude for several years.

Valencia restaurant owner accused of slavery, beating employee

47-year-old Pradeep Kumar was arrested this week on suspicion of mayhem, assault with a deadly weapon, human trafficking and holding a person in involuntary servitude. Police say the victim, an unnamed 55-year-old Indian national, endured three years of slavery and physical abuse.

The victim was lured to the United States in 2012 to work as a chef at Tandoori Grill in Valencia. But Kumar confiscated his passport, barred him from contact with the outside world, and forced the cook to work seven days a week, about 12 to 14 hours each day without pay. When he made mistakes, Kumar would beat him.

Angry Asian America: Name That Sitcom Challenge!

In which we quiz Randall Park on classic sitcom families.



Heyyy, video watchers. We're not quite done with this one yet... On the latest edition of our talk show Angry Asian America on ISAtv, co-host Jenny Yang and I milked one last segment out of our conversation with Randall Park. Having passed the 90s Rap Challenge, with flying colors, in this special Name That Sitcom Challenge! edition, the Fresh Off The Boat star gets quizzed on classic sitcom families.

Check it out:

Lana Condor cast as Jubilee in 'X-Men: Apocalypse'

Will she have a significant role in the mutant movie sequel?



An Asian American addition to the cast of the upcoming X-Men movie sequel... Director Bryan Singer has announced that newcomer Lana Condor has been cast as teenage mutant superhero Jubilee in the 2016 feature X-Men: Apocalypse. Singer made the announcement on Wednesday via social media:

Lakers start first-ever Asian American backcourt

Jeremy Lin and Jordan Clarkson share a neat moment of NBA history.



In case you missed it, this week, the Los Angeles Lakers made a neat little bit of Asian American sports history. Jordan Clarkson and Jeremy Lin became the first-ever Asian American starting backcourt in the NBA.

Lakers start first Asian-American backcourt

On Tuesday night, the Lakers started Jeremy Lin and Jordan Clarkson, who is biracial -- his father is African American and his mother is Filipino -- at the guard spots for their game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Jeremy commemorated the historic moment by posting a photo of himself and his teammate on Instagram:

Angry Asian America: Randall Park 90s Rap Challenge!

In which we quiz the 'Fresh Off The Boat' star on classic hip hop lyrics



What's up, internet video watchers! I am pleased to share this latest installment of our web talk show Angry Asian America on ISAtv. This one is a special bonus follow-up to our conversation with Randall Park, in which co-host Jenny Yang and I quiz the Fresh Off The Boat star on hip hop lyrics.

Was Randall up to the challenge? Check it out:

Call Rep. Judy Chu: stand with the many, not the few

Cross-posted from 18 Million Rising


One of our greatest victories is under attack.

Last month, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) used their legal regulatory power to pass rules to ensure the internet is fair, open, equal, and accessible for all. After a long fight where over four million people--maybe even you!--submitted comments to the FCC, Chairman Wheeler decided to stand on the right side of history and regulate the internet so service providers can’t decide what you can post, read, and watch online. For Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, an open internet means a fair chance to be heard and the opportunity to thrive.

Now, Republican-controlled Congress is trying to do the dirty work for the big telecoms after they lost at the FCC. On March 25, a key hearing will be happening in the House Judiciary Committee. It’s important that our allies in Congress on Team Internet stand firm in support of the FCC’s Title II rules. Representative Judy Chu (D-CA) is on the Judiciary Committee and is the Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, which makes her a leading voice for our communities in Congress. We’re calling on her to stand firm as a champion for the internet and for our communities.

Sign 18 Million Rising's petition here.

How To Look More White! A Makeup Tutorial

Joy Regullano's latest "White Fetish" sketch spoofs beauty tutorial videos.



Daaaaaaamn. In the hilarious latest installment of her "White Fetish" webseries, actor/writer Joy Regullano spoofs YouTube beauty tutorial videos, offering a few of her own helpful tips for folks whose unsightly Asian features just can't seem to meet those impossibly unattainable White Standards of Beauty.

"Are you a self-hating Asian? Do you wish you looked more white? Then this makeup tutorial is for you!"

This one reaalllly digs in. Check it out:

Korean restaurant ordered to pay $2.67 million in back wages

Kum Gang San failed to pay minimum wage and overtime and stole tips from workers.



In New York, a federal magistrate judge has awarded $2.67 million in damages to eleven workers claiming wage theft against Kum Gang San, a Korean restaurant with branches in Manhattan and Flushing.

Judge Tells Korean-Restaurant Owner in Queens to Pay $2.7 Million in Back Wages

Last Thursday, the court ruled that Kum Gang San, owner Ji Sung Yoo and two restaurant managers owed $2,672,657 in damages to the workers, who are Korean and Latino. The defendants failed to pay minimum wages and overtime pay and stole tips from the workers, in violation of federal and state labor laws.

The plaintiffs say the restaurant required them to work 10-12 hours a day without overtime pay, or even minimum pay, and routinely stole tips that were owed to wait staff. But the last straw was making the employees pick vegetables at the owner's farm outside the city. Oh hell no.

4th Annual AAPI Policy Research Summit

Wednesday, April 22 at Loyola University Chicago



Policy people where you at? Next month, stakeholders and smart people from the non-profit sector, government, and higher education will be convening in Chicago for the 4th annual AAPI Policy Research Summit, Navigating Alliances with AAPIs: Ethical Dilemmas and Values of Community-Based Research. It's happening Wednesday, April 22 at Loyola University Chicago, just around time for the Association of Asian American Studies Conference, happening that same week in Evanston.

Here are some more details about the event:

Research Survey: Asian American Body Image Scale

Seeking Asian American participants, ages 18 and older, to complete an online survey.

Dr. Frances Shen, an Associate Professor in the Psychology Department at the University of Illinois at Springfield (UIS), is conducting a research study on the impact of body image on the psychological well-being of Asian American men and women.

They're looking for individuals who (1) identify as an Asian American man or woman and (2) are at least 18 years of age to complete an anonymous web-based survey about Asian Americans' body image-related experiences and attitudes.

The entire study should take approximately 50-60 minutes. As a thank you, participants who complete the survey can enter into a lottery drawing to win one of four $25 gift certificates or one of four $50 gift certificates.

Here are some more details about the study:

Enter the White Privilege

By Keith Chow. Cross-posted from The Nerds of Color.



Over the weekend Ain't It Cool News revealed that the internet's favorite hack director Brett Ratner is interested in remaking Enter the Dragon. At a screening of Rush Hour in Los Angeles, Ratner told the audience -- almost in passing -- that he is in the early stages of developing the movie and is looking for a martial artist to star. Now, before you start foaming at the mouth and cursing your keyboard, rest assured that this isn't an official announcement that the movie is happening. For all we know, Ratner is just putting it out there with the hopes that Warner Brothers would give him the opportunity to do it — as blasphemous as it may be.

Of course, the internet is beside itself that a hack like Ratner would dare remake a classic like Enter the Dragon and is appropriately showing its disgust at the idea. Here's the thing that no one's seeming to be complaining about, though. Both of the names for the prospective lead that got tossed around in the original post are white. Buckle up, because some "reverse racism" is about to go down after the jump.

Women drugged, raped after being lured for cleaning job

Suspects are possibly targeting young Mongolian women



This is some horrifying news out of Virginia, where two international students say they were lured to a home on the pretense of working at a housecleaning job, and then sexually assaulted and beaten.

Women said they were raped after being lured to Burke home from Ballston

Earlier this month, two Mongolian women, ages 21 and 30, went to the mall looking for jobs and met another Mongolian woman who claimed to run a housecleaning business. She introduced them to a man who lured them to a home in Burke, where they were apparently drugged, raped and assaulted.

Register for the White House Summit on AAPIs

Tuesday, May 12 at The George Washington University in Washington DC



Got plans for AAPI Heritage Month? The White Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders invites you to Connect, Share and Mobilize at the first-ever White House Summit on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, happening May 12 at The George Washington University in Washington DC.

The Summit will be an all-day convening of senior federal officials and community leaders. The day will include panel discussions, conversations, interactive sessions on a variety of issues, plus performances by distinguished AAPI artists. The event is free and open to public. Registration just went live.

Here are some more details about the Summit:

'Fresh Off The Boat' Episode Guide (109-111)

Asian American family sitcom airs Tuesdays at 8:00pm on ABC



After re-airing the pilot episode last week, Fresh Off The Boat returns with an all new episode Tuesday night at 8:00pm on ABC. The show, if you haven't heard, is inspired by the memoirs of renegade restaurateur/chef Eddie Huang, and stars prime time network television's only Asian American family.

Fresh Off The Boat stars Randall Park as Louis, Constance Wu as Jessica, Hudson Yang as Eddie, Forrest Wheeler as Emery and Ian Chen as Evan. Eddie Huang provides the voice over narration.

Despite some seriously heavy time slot competition, the show has been earning some solid ratings. If you haven't had a chance to tune in, full previously aired episodes are available for free streaming on the ABC website, as well as Hulu. You can also purchase episodes of Fresh Off The Boat from iTunes.

Here's a preview of the upcoming episodes:

Jeremy Lin drops season-high 29 points on the 76ers

And meet the fans who invited Jeremy -- via hand-made sign -- to their wedding.



Another big night for Jeremy Lin! During Sunday night's game against Philadelphia, your favorite Asian American point guard scored a season-high 29 points, helping the Lakers beat the 76ers, 101-87.

Jeremy Lin's season-high 29 points help Lakers beat 76ers

Okay, so never mind that it was a matchup between two of the NBA's worst teams. Jeremy threw down an impact performance worth talking about, scoring 29 points with five rebounds and five assists in 28 minutes.

With fourteen games left in a crushingly disappointing season, and free agency looming, I'd say this was a good time for Jeremy to make a statement. Like this niiiice no-look dish to Wesley Johnson for the dunk:

Meet the Worst Tutor in the World

Ex-tutor Timothy Lai faces multiple felony charges for orchestrating a high school grade-changing scheme.



Asians behaving badly... grade-changing, cheating tutor edition! In Orange County, a former tutor is facing felony charges for hacking a teacher's computer to help a group of high school students change their grades.

Tutor accused of hacking school computers faces 16 more felony charges

29-year-old Timothy Lance Lai is accused of breaking into Corona del Mar High, while working as a private tutor, to place a keystroke-logging device on the back of a teacher's computer. With that information, Lai allegedly accessed the school's network to change several students' grades on multiple occasions in 2013.

The school district and police launched an investigation into the cheating after a teacher discovered that student grades had been changed. After interviews with students, it wasn't long before Lai's name came up.

Read These Blogs

Chop Chop Chinaman owner defends his restaurant's provocative name: After listening to this edition of WBEZ's Afternoon Shift, it's pretty clear that Larry Lee, co-owner of controversial Chop Chop Chinaman restaurant in Chicago, has no f*cking idea what he is talking about. Team Jeannie all the way.

* * *
Starbucks' #RaceTogether Campaign Is Not The Answer: "But #RaceTogether does not propel changes, and it has not told us what outcomes Starbucks wants to generate. Instead, it can create unfair onus on minority employees and minority patrons. It suggests that Starbucks, not their own communities and their own sense of identity, is what empowers them."

* * *
Race, outrage and white male excuses: It's much worse than just one frat boy: Let's celebrate bad-ass responses to outrages in Ferguson and Oklahoma. But Arthur Chu says not to confuse them with real victories.

* * *
Recognizing Indigenous Pacific Struggles in the Lei at Selma: Remember that photo of Martin Luther Kim and other Selma marchers wearing leis? The Hinemoana of Turtle Island (a collective of Moana feminists) nuance the context of this photo to be understood within a Native Hawaiian context.

* * *
Reclaiming 5 Ugly Letters: When Sharline Chiang saw the 'chink' scene in the pilot episode of Fresh Off the Boat, memories of her own childhood and that word came flooding back.

This Week's Angriest Posts

Not necessarily the angriest, just the most viewed.



1. University of Maryland investigates racist, sexist frat email
"Don't invite any n****r gals or curry monsters or slanted eye chinks, unless they're hot."

2. Fan touches LeBron's ball, immediately regrets it
Courtside fan called for interference after knocking ball away from LeBron James.

3. Memoji Keyboard allows you to emojify yourself
Create and send personalized animated emojis. No yellow skin necessary.

4. Filipino workers file labor lawsuit against popular bakery
Eleven guest workers are suing L'Amande French Bakery for exploitation, discrimination and trafficking.

5. This kid quartet's string cover of "Fireworks" is ridiculous
Meet the Joyous String Quartet.

6. 'Fresh Off The Boat': The Reality Show?
Casting an Asian American family for the "reality version of Fresh Off The Boat."

7. The guy who lost his winning million dollar lottery ticket
Mechanic didn't realize he had won until he saw himself on the news.

8. Michelle Obama and Michelle Phan Go To Japan
Popular beauty guru gives support to the First Lady's "Let Girls Learn" education initiative.

9. Chinese attorney granted posthumous law license
Hong Yen Chang was denied the right to practice law in California in 1890 be­cause of his race.

10. Who is putting these "Chinese Driver" stickers on their cars?
Community members in the Vancouver area say the decal is a racist stereotype.

Stay Angry, folks.

Family Reunion: A Storytelling Show

Presented by Disoriented Comedy, Thursday, March 26 at Echoes Under Sunset



Los Angeles! Where my people at? Make some plans for the latest edition of Disoriented Comedy's Family Reunion. The monthly storytelling show, co-presented by Angry Asian Man, Tuesday Night Project, Mishthi Music and KAYA Press, features regular everyday folks talking story. No notes. Good times.

The theme of this month's show, guest co-presented by Center for the Pacific Asian Family, is "Body & Sexuality" and features storytellers D'Lo, Neelanjana Banerjee, Katrina Lee, Christine Minji Chang, Aidan Park, Stephanie Van, Ernest Tamayo and host Jenny Yang... along with a surprise guest.

It's happening Thursday, March 26 at Echoes Under Sunset. Here are some more details:

Exclusive! Tribute Poster Premiere for 'Man From Reno'

Dave Boyle's neo-noir mystery opens in New York and Los Angeles on March 27



A Japanese crime novelist and a small town sheriff are lured into the same strange murder mystery in director Dave Boyle's engrossing, cross-cultural neo-noir Man From Reno, starring Ayako Fujitani, Pepe Serna and Kazuki Kitamura. The critically acclaimed film opens in New York and Los Angeles on Friday, March 27.

The film is a bit of a departure from Dave's previous work, which include the wacky comedy White On Rice and the black-and-white musical road comedies Surrogate Valentine and Daylight Savings. Here, he jumps genres, taking a completely different turn into moody Hitchcockian suspense, while stay true to his idiosyncratic voice.

It's a damn great movie. In celebration of the upcoming theatrical release, we're proud to present the exclusive premiere of this tribute poster for Man From Reno, designed by Brian Kobashikawa. Check it out:

Who is putting these "Chinese Driver" stickers on their cars?

Community members in the Vancouver area say the decal is a racist stereotype.



C is for Chinese Driver? In Canada, a fake "Chinese Driver" decal being sold in the Vancouver area are getting some negative attention from community leaders who say the stickers are racist.

Chinese driver signs find disapproval in Richmond

The sticker is similar in size, shaping and lettering to decals required by British Columbia for drivers in the graduated license program. Except for, you know, "Chinese Driver" spelled out underneath.

The joke being, of course, that Asians are not particularly good behind the wheel of an automobile. It appears that someone is making a buck from one of our favorite persistent Asian stereotypes.

SFPD officers investigated for racist, homophobic texts

23-year veteran resigns amid text message scandal.



Several officers with the San Francisco Police Department are under fire for their involvement sending a series of racist and homophobic text messages. One of the four officers initially implicated has resigned, and ten other cops were placed under review by the department's internal affairs division.

Fallout From SFPD Racist Texts: Officer Resigns Amid Scandal

Former sergeant Ian Furminger and four other officers reportedly exchanged the text messages, denigrated minorities and gays, between 2011 and 2012. Last week, the U.S. Attorney's office, released the messages as part of a motion to deny bail to Furminger, who was recently convicted on federal corruption charges.

Here is sampling of some of the text sent between the officers, containing various disparaging references to Blacks, Latinos, Filipinos and gay people:

Chol Soo Lee Day of Remembrance

Saturday, March 21 at Advancing Justice - LA



Chol Soo Lee, whose 1973 wrongful murder conviction sparked an Asian American movement, died in December at 62. If you're in Los Angeles, Asian Americans Advancing Justice invites you to a Day of Remembrance for Chol Soo Lee and the Free Chol Soo Lee Movement. It's happening Saturday, March 21 at 3:00pm in the Advancing Justice - LA Community Room. For further information, refer to the flyer above.

Filipino workers file labor lawsuit against popular bakery

Eleven guest workers are suing L'Amande French Bakery for exploitation, discrimination and trafficking.


(Los Angeles Times)
This week in Los Angeles, eleven immigrant workers filed a lawsuit against two popular bakeries, alleging that owners lured them from the Philippines promising high-paying jobs, only to exploit them.

Beverly Hills bakery workers say they were paid as little as $2 an hour

The lawsuit, filed by Advancing Justice - LA and Latham & Watkins LLP on behalf of eleven current and former employees of L'Amande French Bakery, alleges that the workers were fraudulently lured to the United States on E-2 guest worker visas and then subjected to exploitative working conditions including forced labor, severe wage theft, immigration-related retaliation, and national origin discrimination.

AAWW presents Undocupoets Petition Reading

Friday, March 27 at The Asian American Writers' Workshop



Did you know that many writing contests require you to be a US citizen? This requirement ends up discriminating against millions of undocumented writers of color a year. If you also think no poet should be excluded just because of where they were born, the Asian American Writers Workshop invites you to their Undocupoets Petition Reading, requesting that writing contests change their guidelines and get out of the business of checking passports. Featuring Wo Chan, Sonia Guiñansaca, Jennifer Tamayo, Javier Zamora and Christopher Soto, it's happening Friday, March 27 at the Asian American Writers' Workshop in New York.

Here are some more details about the reading:

Roy Choi's Loco'L crowdfunding campaign hits $100,000 goal

Fast food concept is Indiegogo's most successful food campaign of all time.



Boom. They did it. Late last night, with just two days to the deadline, restaurateurs Roy Choi and Daniel Patterson reached the ambitious $100,000 crowdfunding goal for their "revolutionary" fast food concept Loco'L, making it the most successful Indiegogo food campaign of all time.

Roy Choi and Daniel Patterson's Loco'L Campaign Gets Fully Funded

Choi and Patterson have their sights set on the fast food industry. They believe that a meal that's easy and affordable can also be delicious and wholesome. The idea behind Loco'L, according to the Indiegogo campaign, is "revolutionary fast food made with real ingredients to nourish the body, soul, and community."

It's a daunting task, but they've already their first two locations set for Los Angeles' Watts and San Francisco's Tenderloin neighborhoods, with more locations on the way. And now that they're fully funded, there's no stopping them. Hopefully, this is the start of a fast food revolution.

Here's some more information about what they're trying to do:

Michelle Obama and Michelle Phan Go To Japan

Popular beauty guru gives support to the First Lady's "Let Girls Learn" education initiative.



First Lady Michelle Obama is currently on a five-day trip to Asia to promote her new global education initiative, and she brought along none other than beauty vlogger Michelle Phan to give her hand.

YouTube Star Michelle Phan Joins First Lady Michelle Obama In Tokyo

The popular entrepreneur and YouTube celebrity joined Mrs. Obama in Tokyo to provide support and spread awareness for the "Let Girls Learn" campaign, which aims to get more girls in school around the world. Phan posed questions to the First Lady submitted by her followers through Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

This kid quartet's string cover of "Fireworks" is ridiculous

Meet the Joyous String Quartet.



So for today's musical dose of cute, I give you these awesome kids calling themselves the Joyous String Quartet, doing a spirited rendition of Katy Perry's "Fireworks" in color-coordinated coolness.

Based in Long Island, these kids have apparently been playing together since they were four years old, and have made TV appearances in Korean and China. And they rock. You may recognize 8-year-old Justin Yu, the moppy-haired kid rocking the cello, who has appeared and performed on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

Take a look:

The guy who lost his winning million dollar lottery ticket

Mechanic didn't realize he had won until he saw himself on the news.



Damn. Meet the guy who lost a million bucks. In Southern California, a man who bought a winning lottery ticket was unable to claim his $1 million Powerball prize because he couldn't find the friggin' ticket.

Man Who Says He Couldn't Find His Winning $1M Powerball Ticket Tells His Story

Hung Nguyen, a mechanic at an El Monte repair shop, bought the ticket six months ago. His winning ticket, worth $1,098,624, matched all the numbers except the Powerball number. However, he didn't realize he had won until months after the drawing, when he returned from a trip to Vietnam and saw himself on the news.

Water to Paper, Paint to Sky: The Art of Tyrus Wong

March 26 - September 23, 2015 at the Museum of Chinese in America



If you're in New York, the Museum of Chinese in America invites you Water to Paper, Paint to Sky: The Art of Tyrus Wong, an exhibition of celebrated painter, muralist, kite-maker, lithographer and calligrapher Tyrus Wong and his extraordinary body of work. It opens March 26 and runs through September 13.

Here are some more details about the exhibition:

Music Video: Jason Chu's comic book-themed "Marvels"

Hudson Yang stars in a story about heroes and hope.



Check it. Los Angeles rapper Jason Chu just dropped this cool new comic book-themed music video for "Marvels," a story about heroes and hope. Directed by Jason Poon, the video stars Hudson Yang, who plays Eddie on ABC's Fresh Off The Boat, as a young wannabe superhero who must face life's realities.

Take a look:

Memoji Keyboard allows you to emojify yourself

Create and send personalized animated emojis. No yellow skin necessary.



So a lot of people were less than enthused by the weird yellow skin emoji that Apple recently unveiled. Johnny Lin, an ex-Apple engineer, was pretty disappointed and decided to do something about it. He created an app called Memoji Keyboard -- a better, more personalized way to send emojis.

Instead of pre-defined (and rather unsightly) skin colors, you use your own skin. In fact, it's your own face, emotions and expressions. The Memoji Keyboard allows you to create and send custom animated emojis of yourself doing the smiley face, sad face, thumbs up, and other emoji classics.