Your Halloween Costumes, Part Two

Our annual gallery of reader-submitted Halloween costumes.



Happy Halloween, dear readers! Now let's show off some of those costumes. Here is part two of our annual reader-submitted Halloween costume photo gallery (see part one here), one of our favorite holiday traditions.

Got an awesome, tasteful, non-offensive costume photo to share? Send it in. Photos of cute kids are especially welcome. Email your photos to angryasianman@angryasianman.com, or tag @angryasianman on social media. It helps to include the names of everyone in the photo, as well as a description of their costume(s).

(Just to be clear: by sending in your photo(s), it is assumed that you are giving permission to have them published on this website and/or our associated social media accounts.)

Here's the next round of photos. Stay tuned for part three.

Stop the Wedding: Korean Drama Podcast - Boys Over Flowers #22

A K-Drama re-watch podcast by (and for) people who don't watch Korean dramas.



Are you a fan of Korean dramas? Then this podcast is probably not for you. The Korean Drama Podcast is the K-Drama rewatch podcast by (and for) people who don't watch Korean dramas.

In season one, host Will Choi (founder of Asian AF) and I -- both self-professed Korean drama beginners -- with help and hand-holding by our resident K-Drama expert Joanna Lee, attempt to watch and discuss the 2009 megahit drama Boys Over Flowers in its entirety, episode by episode.

In this episode, the wedding nobody is excited about is finally here! How will Jan Di celebrate? By getting kidnapped, of course. Join us as we recap the epic conclusion to the Boys Over Flowers saga. Will love(?) triumph over all? Wait, there's still three episodes left?!?!?!?!?!! Also, we share a much more interesting list of possible Boys Over Flowers spin-off shows.

Most Badass Art Show Ever Pays Tribute to Bruce Lee

"Bruce Lee: Spirit of the Dragon," November 3-25 at Sketchpad Gallery


Bruce fans in San Francisco, here's something you'll want to check out. Sketchpad Gallery and the Bruce Lee Foundation present Bruce Lee: Spirit of the Dragon, a group art exhibition and charity show dedicated to Bruce Lee and his teachings. It runs November 3-25, with an opening reception on Friday, November 3.

"Spirit of the Dragon" features both local and international artists, who have done work for such companies as Lucasfilm, Pixar, Lucasfilm Animation, Industrial Light and Magic, Marvel Comics, DC, IDW, Sony and more.

Featured artists include: Kim Jung Gi, Kim Hyun Jin, Nathan Anderson, Bagger43, John-Paul Balmet, Arvin Bautista, Jamie Borja, Dawn Carlos, Cryssy Cheung, Isaac Davis, Thomas Denmark, Jackson Dryden, Duke Duel, Emonic, Nikki Lukas Longfish, Dela Longfish, Steward Lee, Ben Jelter, Kevin Kwong, Frank T Lin, Brian Kistler, Robotnicc, Dean Stuart, Lloyd Thompson, Dave Yee, Carolina Zeleski, Jeeyoon Park, Le Tang, Chris Koehler, Gary Choo, Alina Chau, and Sinic Choy, to be joined by additional artists.

Here's some sample work from "Spirit of the Dragon":

They Call Us Bruce - Episode 26: They Call Us Halloween Costumes

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. 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.

Happy Halloween! This episode, we welcome cosplayer/superfan Laura Sirikul and Boom Studios' Arune Singh to talk costumes. We discuss racist costumes, the significance of seeing yourself represented in pop culture, and the Good, the Bad and the WTF of Halloween costumes.

Your Halloween Costumes, Part One

Our annual gallery of reader-submitted Halloween costumes.


Happy Halloween! Some of you clearly got the festivities going a little early over the weekend, so we've already got some great costume photos to share. So here is part one of our annual reader-submitted Halloween costume photo gallery, which has become a really fun and popular tradition on this website.

Got a cool/fun/cute/hilarious costume photo to share? Send it in. Photos of adorable kids are especially welcome. Email your photos to angryasianman@angryasianman.com, or tag @angryasianman on social media. It helps to include the names of everyone in the photo, as well as a description of their costume(s).

(Just to be clear: by sending in your photo(s), it is assumed that you are giving permission to have them published on this website and/or our associated social media accounts.)

Above, we have little Sophia as Pebbles from The Flintstones. Here are some more great costumes:

Houston Astros' Yuli Gurriel suspended for racist gesture

...but he won't have to sit out the World Series.



If you were watching the World Series on Friday night, yes, that was indeed Yuli Gurriel of the Houston Astros making a racist gesture in reference to an Asian pitcher. For those who didn't catch it, you already know exactly what gesture I'm talking about: the slant eye. And it got him a five-game suspension.

Yuli Gurriel suspended five games, in 2018, for actions in World Series Game 3

During the Game 3 broadcast, cameras caught the Astros first baseman pulling his eyes back and uttering "chinito" while sitting in the Houston dugout. He was clearly referring to Dodgers pitcher Yu Darvish, who is Japanese and Iranian. Gurriel hit a solo home run off Darvish to kick off a four-run rally in the second inning.

Perhaps that was Gurriel's way of celebrating -- the international symbol for "chink." Well, the cameras were watching, the image was zapped across national television, and the outcry was fairly immediate.

Read These Blogs

Star Wars: The Last Jedi - Kelly Marie Tran Made A Porg Costume And We Don’t Deserve Her: Kelly Marie Tran, who plays Rose Tico in the upcoming Star Wars: The Last Jedi apparently spent three hours making a porg costume for Halloween. And it's adorable.

* * *
Chinatown's Ghost Scam: Beware highly coordinated fraudsters who are targeting elderly, vulnerable Chinatown immigrants with "blessing scams," bilking them out of their life savings.

* * *
Hot Joy's Food Is Almost as Bad as Its Cultural Cluelessness: "Hot Joy is a clueless white-dude fantasy in which Asian identity and cuisine are reduced to a string of ironic clichés." A scathing restaurant review of Hot Joy, a white-owned, Asian-inspired hot mess in Dallas.

* * *
David Cross, Charlyne Yi, and the Luxury of Forgetting: David Cross has apologized, repeatedly, for the racist encounter Charlyne Yi recounted on Twitter. But the way he apologized, and how the aftermath unfolded tells us a lot about how Asian Americans are still perceived in the country's imagination.

* * *
We Need To Stand Up To Bullying In The Asian American And Pacific Islander Community: Bullying is rampant among Asian American, Sikh American, and Muslim American students. Appalled by these stats, Maulik Pancholy helped launch the #ActToChange campaign to spread awareness.

* * *
Thirty Years After My Adoption, I Found Out I Wasn't a US Citizen: Andrea Ruggirello, a Korean American adoptee, recounts how she found out -- as an adult -- that she wasn't a U.S. citizen.

* * *
Constance Wu Opens Up About Stereotypes, Beauty Products, and Body Image: Constance Wu, who stars in Fresh Off The Boat and the forthcoming film adaption of Crazy Rich Asians, speaks candidly about body image, race, and beauty.

* * *
That's It, Star Wars, Mandalorian Sabine Wren Needs Her Own Comics: The case for Sabine Wren, the badass multicolor-haired Mandalorian warrior on Star Wars: Rebels (voiced by Tiya Sircar), to receive a bigger canvas to tell her story.

Wake, Play, Slay: Asian American Women in Comedy

Panel Discussion on Wednesday, November 1 at NBCUniversal



If you're in Southern California, Comcast NBCUniversal and the Center for Asian American Media invite you to Wake, Play, Slay: Asian American Women in Comedy, a panel discussion highlighting female voices in comedy that are using laughter to tackle difficult and timely issues. The lineup includes Jenny Yang, Colleen McGuinness, Geeta Patel, Tess Paras and moderator Traci Lee.

It's happening Wednesday, November 1 at NBCUniversal. Here are some more details:

Hey Readers! Share your Halloween costume photos!

Send in your photos to be included in our annual costume gallery.



It's that time of year again! Halloween is upon us. What will you be wearing this year? We want to see your costumes! You're invited, dear readers, to send in photos of your awesome, tasteful and non-offensive Halloween costumes to be featured our annual reader-submitted gallery, which has become a really fun and immensely popular annual tradition. Photos of cute kids are especially welcome.

For instance: Laura's nephew as a porg, above.

Email your photos to angryasianman@angryasianman.com, or tag @angryasianman on social media. It helps to include the names of everyone in the photo, as well as a description of their costume(s). (By sending in your photo(s), it is assumed you are giving permission to have them published on this website and/or social media.) If your photo makes the cut, it will be featured in this year's annual multi-part gallery.

You won't win a prize or anything. Just a chance to be part of the fun. So suit up and send 'em in!

Angry Reader of the Week: Bo Yeon Kim

"Taking pride in needing more than fifteen seconds to explain what I am or where I'm from."



Greetings, good people of the world wide web. 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 Bo Yeon Kim.

Poet and activist Fay Chiang dies at 65

She championed Asian American education and culture.



From the New York Times: Fay Chiang, whose quest to understand her identity as a child of Chinese immigrants found outlets in vivid poetry and in community activism that helped elevate Asian-American education and culture, died on October 20 in a hospice in the Bronx. She was 65.

Her daughter Xian Chiang-Waren said the cause was complications of cancer. She had lived in Manhattan, in the East Village, until the cancer spread to her brain.

More here: Fay Chiang, 65, Poet Who Championed Asian-American Culture, Dies

Justin Lin is returning to 'Fast & Furious'

Franchise "architect" is in "advanced talks" to direct ninth and tenth installments.



Whaaaaat. Justin Lin, the director responsible for turning the Fast & Furious movies into a legit international blockbuster mega-franchise, is reportedly ready to return to helm the ninth and tenth films in the series.

Justin Lin to Return for Next Two 'Fast & Furious' Films, Says Vin Diesel

This week during a Facebook Live broadcast from the set of Fast 9, franchise star Vin Diesel revealed that he was working with Lin. Describing him as the "architect" of the auto action series, Diesel announced that the director, along with star Jordana Brewster, will be returning for what will likely be the final two installments.

According to Entertainment Weekly, Lin is in "advanced talks" to get back in the director's chair.

Texas father charged in 3-year-old's death

Wesley Mathews initially claimed his daughter Sherin was missing.



In the Dallas area, the father of a 3-year-old girl, who had initially declared his daughter missing, has admitted to forcing milk down his daughter's throat until she started choking and later died.

A father reported his 3-year-old missing. Then he told police he'd watched her die.

Wesley Mathews had previously claimed that his daughter Sherin, who was adopted from India, went missing on October 7 after he sent her alone into an alley as punishment for refusing to drink her milk.

But on Monday, he changed his story. After authorities had found the girl's body in a nearby culvert, Mathews provided investigators in Richardson, Texas with an "alternate statement of events."

Filipino veterans to receive Congressional Gold Medal

In recognition of their U.S. military service and sacrifices during World War II.



It's about damn time.

This week, Filipino veterans of World War II will be awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, after a lengthy battle for national recognition of their U.S. military service and sacrifices nearly 75 years ago.

The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest civilian award in the United States. The award will be presented at a ceremony on Wednesday in the U.S. Capitol to honor the 260,000 Filipino soldiers who fought alongside American forces during the war and more than 57,000 Filipino troops who died.

More here: Fought and forgotten: Filipino World War II veterans honored with medal 75 years later

Randall Park vs. James Van Der Beek: The Rap Battle

'Fresh Off The Boat' star faces off against Dawson himself on 'Rock the Mic.'



You've seen him in over three seasons as the Huang family patriarch in Fresh Off The Boat. But did you know that Randall Park was once also a rapper? Back in the day, the guy who plays your favorite Asian American TV dad Louis Huang was once the frontman for the Los Angeles band Ill Again.

While the Ill Again days might be behind him, Randall's still got the rhymes. You can see him put his emcee skillz to use again on Drop the Mic, the new TBS comic battle rap competition series based on the popular segment from The Late Late Show with James Corden, in which celebrities face off in a rap battle royale.

Randall was no doubt recruited to perform on Drop the Mic after dropping a few bars while appearing on The Late Late Show last year. According to the executive producer Jensen Karp, while other celebrities were paired up with writers to come up with their verses, Randall apparently showed up with his own already written.

On his episode of Drop the Mic, he will face off against none other than Dawson himself, James Van Der Beek. UPDATE: Here's the full battle:

Meat Set: Korean Drama Podcast - Boys Over Flowers #21

A K-Drama re-watch podcast by (and for) people who don't watch Korean dramas.



Are you a fan of Korean dramas? Then this podcast is probably not for you. The Korean Drama Podcast is the K-Drama rewatch podcast by (and for) people who don't watch Korean dramas.

In season one, host Will Choi (founder of Asian AF) and I -- both self-professed Korean drama beginners -- with help and hand-holding by our resident K-Drama expert Joanna Lee, attempt to watch and discuss the 2009 megahit drama Boys Over Flowers in its entirety, episode by episode.

We're in the home stretch! In this episode, we are treated to the lead up to the least anticipated Korean wedding ever. In other news, Pottery Boy cries in the car as his bro pours crappy lattes, Jan Di models for food, and we wonder what Ringo is up to (probably fighting fools). Oh, and people stand in flower fields and stare off into the distance, you know, K-Drama style!

All the Asians on TV: Fall 2017 Series Premieres

Here are the new scripted shows featuring actors of Asian descent. We counted.



These are new shows. The new fall television season is well underway, and as usual, we've been keeping an eye on the new Asian faces on the tube. Because we like to keep track of such things. But with cable and streaming services, as well as new shows now premiering year-round, the old model of a new fall "season" as a programming benchmark is not quite what it used to be. Nevertheless, after scouring the slate of new shows, here's a general rundown of actors of Asian descent who are series regulars (not technically guest starring or recurring) on new scripted prime time network, cable and streaming shows premiering this fall.

We might have missed a few, but here you go. These are new shows.

Read These Blogs

New Flight for a New 'Butterfly': An interview with David Henry Hwang, whose revival of his breakthrough play M. Butterfly promises some significant changes from its 1988 version.

* * *
5 Artists on How 'M. Butterfly' Changed Their Lives: Asian American actors and playwrights describe how M. Butterfly inspired their work, and its lasting effects more than 20 years after its release.

* * *
What We Miss When We Ignore Asian Americans: "Whether it's television programming or the leadership of tech companies and law firms, what we see right now isn't reflective of where we are as society -- and what we aspire to be."

* * *
A California congressional race reveals political divisions in the Asian-American community: As Democrats compete for a spot in congress, Asian American voters diverge.

* * *
Making Diwali our own, and passing it on: For many South Asian Americans, celebrating Diwali meant putting it in a new context, but keeping the roots of its important meaning.

* * *
Despite what you might have heard, Asian American CEOs are the exception, not the norm: The perception may be that Asian Americans are overrepresented in Silicon Valley, but while they are hired in large numbers, they are the group least likely to be promoted to managerial and executive ranks.

* * *
The Asian American Women Writers Who Are Going to Change the World: V.V. Ganeshananthan, Porochista Khakpour, Bich Minh Nguyen, and Esmé Weijun Wang discuss writing, activism and community.

* * *
An Interview with MacArthur 'Genius' Viet Thanh Nguyen: 2017 MacArthur fellow Viet Thanh Nguyen discusses questions of justice, diversity in literature, and empathy across cultures.

* * *
Amy Tan on Writing and the Secrets of Her Past: Renowned author Amy Tan talks to Nicole Chung about family history, Donald Trump, and her new book, Where the Past Begins: A Writer's Memoir.

* * *
Guilty pleasure: Hari Kondabolu loves 'Untamed Heart' When comedian Hari Kondabolu was 14 years old, he secretly obsessed over Untamed Heart, which ignited a lasting passion for the sappy romance genre.

* * *
Metro Knows You're Not Listening To Its Respectful Pleas, Says Eff it, Releases These Videos: LA's Metro has released a trio of new PSAs -- starring Anna Akana -- to encourage passengers to use good manners on the bus and the subway.

* * *
The best Sabine Wren episodes of Star Wars: Rebels: In honor of the fourth and final season of Star Wars: Rebels, here's a list of one writer's favorite episodes that center on Sabine Wren, the badass multicolor-haired Mandalorian warrior, voiced by Tiya Sircar.

Kelly Marie Tran Rides the Space Horse

New 'Star Wars' promo art reveals closer look at 'Last Jedi' creatures.


Photo: Imgur
As you know, we are enormously excited to see Kelly Marie Tran in Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

We don't know much, but we know her character, a Resistance maintenance worker named Rose, has the biggest new role in a galaxy far, far away. We know that she'll be paired up with Finn, their mission will take them to a casino city called Canto Bight, and at some point, they'll go undercover as First Order officers.

Also: they will ride space horses.

Some new Last Jedi promotional art gives us a closer look at creatures called fathiers -- aka "space horses." According to Star Wars News Net, they are extremely fast creatures that are exploited for racing and gambling on Canto Bight. And as depicted (in extremely small detail) on this theatrical standee, it appears that Rose and Finn will saddle up and make a run for it on the back of one of these majestic space steeds.

Angry Reader of the Week: Joel Kim Booster

"I get up on stage and talk about my butt."



Hey, everybody! It is time, once again, 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 Joel Kim Booster.

Dammit. Jeremy Lin is out for the season.

Nets guard suffers ruptured patella tendon during Brooklyn's season opener.



Noooooooooooo! Brooklyn Nets guard Jeremy Lin has been diagnosed with a ruptured patella tendon of the right knee and is expected to miss the rest of the 2017-18 season, the team announced Thursday.

The injury occurred Wednesday night during the fourth quarter of Brooklyn's season-opener against the Indiana Pacers. Lin landed awkwardly on a drive to the basket and crumbled to court in obvious pain. His immediate emotional reaction seemed to indicate he knew the injury was pretty serious.

"I'm done," he said, shaking his head, before doubling over in anguish. It's painful to even watch.

Ryan Potter cast as Beast Boy in 'Titans'

Upcoming live action TV series based on the DC Comics title.



Looks like we have a Beast Boy! Ryan Potter has been cast in the series regular role of Beast Boy in Titans, the upcoming live-action TV series adaptation based on the popular DC Comics title.

'Titans': Ryan Potter Cast As Beast Boy In Live-Action Series For DC Digital Service

Titans follows a group of "soon-to-be superheroes from every corner of the DC Universe." Recruited by Dick Grayson (Brenton Thwaites), this fearless band of new heroes includes Starfire (Anna Diop), Raven (Teagan Croft), and of course, Garfield "Gar" Logan, aka Beast Boy.

As a child, Gar contracted a lethal disease on an African safari with his geneticist parents, only to experience some "bizarre side effects" after being treated with an experimental drug. In addition to his skin and hair turning permanently green, the wisecracking, fun-loving Beast Boy is able to transform himself into animals of any size.

Charlyne Yi Recounts Racist Remarks from Writer and Director David Cross

By Jenn Fang. Cross-Posted from Reappropriate.



Charlyne Yi -- the award-winning actor, comedian, writer, and musician best known for her role as a series regular on House, her voice acting work on Steven Universe, and her starring role in Paper Heart which she also wrote -- took to Twitter earlier this week to describe her first encounter with writer, director and actor David Cross.

In a series of four tweets, Yi -- who is mixed race Filipinx and Korean American -- describes how when she first met Cross, Cross made fun of Yi for her appearance. When she didn't respond, Cross reportedly said: "What's a matter? You don't speak English?? Ching-Chong-Ching-Chong." Cross went on to mockingly challenge Yi to a karate match.

At the time of the encounter, Cross was over forty years old, and already an established comedian, writer and TV and film actor with several stand-up comedy specials already under his belt. Yi was a veritable newcomer to the comedy and acting scene, and was only about twenty years old.

Get this Awesome Shirt and Support 18 Million Rising

Celebrate 18MR's five years of organizing Asian Americans online.



Just wanted to point your attention to this awesome t-shirt design from our friends at 18 Million Rising. To celebrate five years of organizing Asian Americans online, as well as fundraise to keep it all going for the future, they're offering these super-cool limited shirts and hoodies.

Designed by Karl Orozco, the shirt is a re-imagining/inversion of the old political cartoon about the "yellow peril" tiger attacking the globe. According to 18MR, "we wanted our tiger to protect the globe as our communities increasingly find ourselves on the frontlines of state violence, gentrification, and climate change."

Federal judge in Hawaii blocks Trump's travel ban

Travel ban "plainly discriminates based on nationality" in a way that is "antithetical" to American principles.



Trump keeps trying to make this shit happen. And Hawaii keeps knocking it down. A federal judge in Hawaii has issued an order blocking major parts of Trump's newest travel ban, suggesting it violated immigration law.

The decision, ordered by U.S. District Judge Derrick Watson in Honolulu on Tuesday, stopped the administration’s travel restrictions nationwide, hours before they were scheduled to take full effect Wednesday.

The newest travel rules, which Trump signed September 24, indefinitely ban entry to the U.S. by most nationals of Syria, Libya, Iran, Yemen, Somalia, Chad and North Korea. They also restrict travel by certain Venezuelan government officials and their families.

Watson wrote that the ban goes against the Immigration and Nationality Act and "plainly discriminates based on nationality" in a way that is "antithetical" to American principles. He also said the order "lacks sufficient findings that the entry of more than 150 million nationals from six specified countries" would harm U.S. interests.

More here: Federal judge in Hawaii blocks Trump's new travel ban

"This is such a bad idea": Korean Drama Podcast - Boys Over Flowers #20

A K-Drama re-watch podcast by (and for) people who don't watch Korean dramas.



Are you a fan of Korean dramas? Then this podcast is probably not for you. The Korean Drama Podcast is the K-Drama rewatch podcast by (and for) people who don't watch Korean dramas.

In season one, host Will Choi (founder of Asian AF) and I -- both self-professed Korean drama beginners -- with help and hand-holding by our resident K-Drama expert Joanna Lee, attempt to watch and discuss the 2009 megahit drama Boys Over Flowers in its entirety, episode by episode.

We're in the home stretch! In this episode, Jan Di is homeless now (because apparently she has no real friends) and becomes a maid in Perm Boy's family. Perm Boy still doesn't know what he wants... and a shocking cliffhanger ending! Also, we talk about lucid and recurring dreams and our own high school experiences with student government.

Chinatown Art Brigade protests racist exhibition

"Chinatown lives are not poverty porn!"



On Sunday afternoon in New York, dozens of protesters from the Chinatown Art Brigade and other local art and anti-gentrification activist groups converged in the front room of James Cohan Gallery's Chinatown location, demanding that the gallery take down what the group is calling "racist art."

Their target: Omer Fast's new exhibition, August, which has transformed the space to appear like a poorly maintained Chinatown business. Visitors walk through the space to see the artist's video work in the backroom.

In a letter sent to the gallery last week, CAB called the exhibition a "racist aggression towards the community of Chinatown," and added "this show reifies racist narratives of uncleanliness, otherness and blight that have historically been projected onto Chinatown."

More here: Chinatown Art Brigade Protests Omer Fast's "Racist" Exhibition at James Cohan Gallery

"Here's my problem with most racism: it's the inaccuracy."

Watch Kumail Nanjiani's opening monologue from 'Saturday Night Live.'



Hey, racists! Kumail Nanjiani would take you a little more seriously if you could just get it right.

Over the weekend, the Pakistani American comedian, fresh off the summer success of his indie romantic comedy The Big Sick, performed hosting duties on Saturday Night Live. During the opening monologue, he delivered a hilarious, timely standup set, taking on racism and... more racism.

Among other things, he pointed out the very real fact that Sikhs are often targeted with Islamophobic violence, mistaken for Muslims. This is a challenging thing to joke about, but Kumail just slays it. He also clarifies what bothers him most about racism: the inaccuracy. Racists, you're just not coming at this with correct information -- and it's not working out for you.

"I'm like, do the research," Kumail says. "Put in the work. You will see the benefits!"

Check it out:

Read These Blogs

She Was Told Internment Didn't Happen. Now, Her Family's Story Is in School Books. Starting this semester, students in the U.S. will be able to learn about the World War II incarceration of Japanese Americans from Katie Yamasaki's 2013 children's picture book, Fish for Jimmy, which was selected to be included in the newest version of McGraw-Hill Education's anthology textbook for fourth grade students.

* * *
29 Things That Are Too Damn Real For People Raised By Asian Parents: "If at first you don't succeed, don't come back home." Yet another one of these BuzzFeed lists so many of us can relate to...

* * *
Chinese immigrants in Philly still recovering from home-invasion terror: More than a year after masked gunmen burst into their homes and robbed them, the terror remains vivid for Philadelphia-area Chinese business owners and their families.

* * *
Definitive For Americans: A Refugee's Review of 'The Vietnam War': Beth Nguyen watched Ken Burns' documentary series The Vietnam War, which strives to give some Americans a sense of healing, but gives little perspective from the Vietnamese or Vietnamese Americans who were also there.

* * *
A New Generation Of Therapists Is Fighting Asian-American Mental Health Stigma: When it comes to mental health, research shows Asian Americans are three times less likely than white Americans to seek help.

* * *
Cyberpunk Cities Fetishize Asian Culture But Have No Asians: The Blade Runner universe is visually Asian -- a visual cue for the future. But if Asians shaped this cyberpunk future, where are they?

* * *
Asian American TV Producers Speak Out About Making the Shows They Want, Whether or Not Networks Are on Board: TV producers Mindy Kaling, Daniel Dae Kim, Alan Yang, and more on creating a more inclusive storytelling landscape.

* * *
Asian American TV Actors Expose the Difficulty of Landing Parts - With or Without an Accent: Daniel Dae Kim, Kal Penn, Jamie Chung, and more on role models, problematic auditions, breakthrough gigs, and the changing face of TV.

* * *
Asian-Americans Are Disrupting An Unwelcoming Music Industry: "It's a different world now" - and one that's leveling the playing field for Asian American pop artists, who've traditionally been shut out of the American music industry.

Angry Reader of the Week: Alice Y. Hom

"I'm a lover of pandas, plaid clothing, and good eats."


Photo: Erin O'Brien

Greetings, internet friends. You know what time it is. 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 Alice Y. Hom.

They Call Us Bruce - Episode 25: They Call Us Randall Park

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. 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.

This episode, we welcome our good friend, actor Randall Park, aka "Asian Jim." He reflects on the fourth(!) season of Fresh Off The Boat, shares almost nothing about his role as Jimmy Woo in Ant-Man & The Wasp, and considers the Good, the Bad and the WTF of being "Asian Famous."

In which Fred Armisen discovers he is actually Korean

'Portlandia' star learns some startling family secrets on the PBS ancestry series 'Finding Your Roots.'



After playing a cavalcade of memorable characters for years on Saturday Night Live, Fred Armisen has discovered he is not who he thinks he is. The Portlandia star recently appeared on the PBS series Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates Jr. to find out some pretty damn earth-shattering truths about his lineage, including the fact that he is not a quarter Japanese, as he has believed his whole life.

He's actually Korean.

Appearing on season four of the acclaimed ancestry series, Armisen learns that his paternal grandfather, dancer and choreographer Masami Kuni, was actually quite famous. There's even a whole museum exhibit dedicated to him in Japan. But Armisen also seems unsettled to learn that in the 1930s and 40s, Kuni was employed in Germany (where he eventually met and had an affair with Armisen's grandmother) as a performer for the Nazis.

But wait, there's more. A 1944 report from the U.S. Office of War Information suggests that Kuni was actually leading a double life, moonlighting as a secret agent for Japan during his stint as performer among the Nazis. The perfect cover. Oh, the intrigue! This is the kind of stuff they make movies about.

Letters to Immigrant Parents on National Coming Out Day

Guest Post by Patrick Lee



Growing up queer is rarely easy. Throw on a heaping load of immigrant family sacrifice, cultural conflict, and language barriers, and you have something that starts to approximate how I felt coming of age in a very white suburb of Chicago.

I didn't know whom to talk to or confide in; I didn't even really know why I felt so different from other people around me. I just knew that I didn't see myself in any of my friends or classmates.

But now I know I'm not alone: As an adult, I moved to New York and started seeking out community. I met a handful of queer and trans Asian Pacific Americans, and then another handful, and then another. Our experiences are never the same; our families all unique. But we share some common threads and frustrations, and for the first time in my life, I felt like someone was hearing me.

I decided to make a film to document some of the stories of our community, and the struggles we have communicating with our immigrant parents about queerness, gender identity, and sexuality.

Stupid Korean Games: Korean Drama Podcast - Boys Over Flowers #19

A K-Drama re-watch podcast by (and for) people who don't watch Korean dramas.



Are you a fan of Korean dramas? Then this podcast is probably not for you. The Korean Drama Podcast is the K-Drama rewatch podcast by (and for) people who don't watch Korean dramas.

In season one, host Will Choi (founder of Asian AF) and I -- both self-professed Korean drama beginners -- with help and hand-holding by our resident K-Drama expert Joanna Lee, attempt to watch and discuss the 2009 megahit drama Boys Over Flowers in its entirety, episode by episode.

In this episode, we discuss Perm Boy's mom's spy games, surprise pizza trucks, and how Pottery Boy sucks now, but Ringo is still keeping it real. Also, we explain the strange, punitive world of Stupid Korean Games.

They Call Us Bruce - Episode 24: They Call Us Jeremy Lin's Hair

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. 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.

This episode, we discuss Jeremy Lin's hair. Yes, his hair. Specifically, the recent dustup over our favorite Asian American point guard's decision to sport dreadlocks, and where it's situated in the larger conversation about cultural appropriation.

Join the AAPI National Week of Action

Stand up, fight back and join the conversation, October 7-14



The Trump administration continues its attacks on immigrant youth and families. A rising wave a xenophobia, Islamophobia, hate speech and racial violence goes unchecked. Neo-Nazis, KKK and white supremacists march on Charlottesville. Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders do not live in a bubble -- these acts affect us other marginalized communities. Will you stand up and fight back?

This week, October 7-14, is the AAPI National Week of Action. This is an opportunity to break the silence and make our voices heard in the public discussion on what is happening in our nation.

The primary focus right now is action around immigration, particularly in consideration of Trump's elimination of DACA and the proposed RAISE Act, which would significantly reduce legal immigration over the next decade and would have a devastating impact on family reunification -- particularly for Asian Americans.

AAPI Voices is partnering with dozens of community group around the country to organize events in 15 cities and online. To see the full updated list of organizations and actions, go to AAPI Voices.

Read These Blogs

Trump Immigration Plans and Asian Americans, Part I: The RAISE Act would affect the majority of Asian immigrants to the United States. Asian Americans of all political stripes would do well to pay close attention.

For All Our Dreamers: Smith Surasmith, who moved to the United States when he was seven and grew up undocumented in the 80s and offers a call to support people in his position today.

Jagmeet Singh, Canada's Newest Political Star, Lifts His Party's Hopes: Jagmeet Singh's been elected to lead the New Democratic Party -- the furthest to the left of Canada's mainstream parties.

A Life on the Line: Cecilia Lam made the last call of her life at 5:05 a.m. on October 10, 2014. It was the eighth she'd made to 911 in a span of nine hours, asking police to protect her from her violent boyfriend. Why wasn't it enough to save her?

Ken Burns' 'The Vietnam War' offers same narrative, with little perspective: Author Aimee Phan on the thoroughly narrow lens of Ken Burns' PBS documentary series on the Vietnam War.

A New Musical - And Its Audience - Grapple With Asian Identity, Through K-Pop: KPOP, a new interactive musical tells a story about the delicate, dotted lines between being Asian, American and Asian American.

Behind the Scenes of the Long-Awaited Revival M. Butterfly: How director Julie Taymor and David Henry Hwang have worked to transform and deepen the Broadway revival of M. Butterfly this time around.

Aliens Would Probably Love Science Fiction: On this "Geek's Guide to the Galaxy" podcast episode, writer Charles Yu and John Joseph Adams talk about the anthology they co-edited, The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi's Kelly Marie Tran Opens Up About Her Overnight Fame: How has Kelly Marie Tran's life been since picking up her role in Star Wars: The Last Jedi? "I just still can't believe it's all happening."

Vice reporter Mary H.K. Choi previews debut novel Emergency Contact - see an exclusive excerpt and cover: Mary H.K. Choi's debut novel, Emergency Contact, is about young live in the digital age.

'Fresh Off The Boat' Star Randall Park Expected More Lead Roles For Asian-Americans By Now: Randall Park chats about the upcoming fourth season of Fresh Off The Boat, Asian Americans in Hollywood (why aren't there more?), and his upcoming project with Ali Wong.

War baby: the amazing story of Ocean Vuong, former refugee and prize-winning poet : His grandfather was a US soldier who fell in love with a Vietnamese farm girl.But then Saigon fell and the family was blown apart. Ocean Vuong poured it all into Night Sky With Exit Wounds, winning him a Forward prize -- and comparisons with Emily Dickinson.

Angry Reader of the Week: Chiwan Choi

"I am all about agitating, making the establishment feel uncomfortable."


Photo: Jess Castillo
Hey, everybody. It's time. Like we do every seven days, 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 Chiwan Choi.

Still few answers in police shooting of Tommy Le

Seattle's Vietnamese American community experiencing a political awakening around Le's death



Police say he was holding a weapon. It turned out to be a pen. Officers claimed they fired after he charged at them. An autopsy revealed he had been shot in the back. It's been four months since 20-year-old Tommy Le was fatally shot by King County Sheriff's deputies, and there are still few answers about his death.

While public awareness around Le's death seemed relatively quiet, the Vietnamese American community in Seattle has begun to experience a political awakening around Le and the movement against police violence.

"His death has become a catalyst for a campaign by activists to make it easier in Washington state to prosecute police officers in shooting cases," the Los Angeles Times reports. "It has also emerged as a key example in a wider push to require police dash and body cameras, which were not in place when Le was killed."

More here: He was 20 and unarmed. A police shooting brings Seattle's Vietnamese Americans into the world of activism

Charges upgraded in kidnapping of missing Chinese student

Brendt Christensen could face the death penalty for killing Yingying Zhang.



The man charged in the disappearance of a Chinese scholar at the University of Illinois could be eligible for the death penalty after new charges were filed, accusing him of kidnapping and killing her.

Illinois man could face death penalty in missing Chinese student case

According to an updated indictment released this week, 28-year-old Brendt Christensen has been charged with kidnapping resulting in the death of Yingying Zhang. Christensen was initially charged with kidnapping Zhang, but the new charges claim he kidnapped and "intentionally killed" her.

Funko Pop! Star Wars: The Last Jedi - Rose in Disguise

A Funko Specialty Series exclusive


It's not secret that we're waaaaay hyped to see Kelly Marie Tran as Rose in Star Wars: The Last Jedi and thus gobbling up all Rose-related merchandise. The latest: Funko just announced that one of its upcoming Specialty Series exclusives will be a Pop! Star Wars: The Last Jedi Rose in Disguise.

Ken Leung opens up about the death of his brother

Listen to 'The Inhumans' actor on The Well podcast.



Ken Leung is one of my favorite actors. His credits include Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Vanilla Sky, Rush Hour, Keeping the Faith, X-Men: The Last Stand, Lost, The Night Shift, and The Inhumans. Recently, he was a guest on The Well, a podcast about creative inspiration with Branan Edgens and Anson Mount. The conversation quickly becomes personal when Leung shares about the sudden death of his brother.

"Actor Ken Leung woke up one morning to a phone call. It was his father telling him that he had to fly to Thailand to bring back the body of his brother Kevin who had suddenly drowned while on vacation. Ken explains a mystery surrounding the circumstances; and goes on to tell us how the experience of handling his brothers affairs changed his outlook on both his life and his craft."

It's a wonderful, candid conversation that offers insight into Leung as a man and an artist. Listen:

Ramyun Talk: Korean Drama Podcast - Boys Over Flowers #18

A K-Drama re-watch podcast by (and for) people who don't watch Korean dramas.



Are you a fan of Korean dramas? Then this podcast is probably not for you. The Korean Drama Podcast is the K-Drama rewatch podcast by (and for) people who don't watch Korean dramas.

In season one, host Will Choi (founder of Asian AF) and I -- both self-professed Korean drama beginners -- with help and hand-holding by our resident K-Drama expert Joanna Lee, attempt to watch and discuss the 2009 megahit drama Boys Over Flowers in its entirety, episode by episode.

This episode is just another episode of Boys over Flowers: innocent misunderstandings, Ringo fighting fools, Jun Pyo realizing that he's a jerk... wait that's new! Perm Boy finally learns that he's been a dick for the past 17 episodes and tries to make good, by learning to eat ramyun! Ramyun so good that we go off on an extended discussion on the goodness of ramyun.

Read These Blogs

On American Identity, the Election, and Family Members Who Support Trump: Nicole Chung reflects on the burden of engaging with racism and educating white people, including some in her own family.

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The Ultimate List of Asian Hosted Podcasts To Listen To: In honor of International Podcast Day, Sheena Yap Chan has compiled a lengthy, "ultimate list" of podcasts hosted by Asians.

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American Pendulum I: What happens when the Supreme Court, the highest court in the land, seems to get it wrong? Korematsu v. United States is a case that's been widely denounced and discredited, but it still remains on the books.

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Why Saturday Night Live's Most Intriguing New Hire Is Behind the Camera: NBC's flagship sketch show recently added comedian/writer Nimesh Patel to its almost always perennially white writing staff.

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A Michigan state rep dared to bring her daughter to a public meeting and some dude is pissed: "Some dude" needs to calm the fuck down and let Stephanie Chang be the awesome mom-legislator that she is.

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Filmmaker Kulap Vilaysack Can Teach You All About Lao Cuisine: Kulap Vilaysack is the comedian and filmmaker behind Bajillion Dollar Propertie$ and has also appeared in Parks and Recreation. Most recently, she shot her first documentary film, Origin Story, about the search for her biological father. Here, Vilaysack discusses Lao cuisine, cultural appropriation, and representation.

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Local restaurant temporarily closes doors to treat head chef to yearly trip home to Thailand: In Bakersfield, California, a local restaurant closes for two weeks every year so its head chef can make a special trip home to see his family in Thailand.

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Michelle Yeoh's Response To Millions Upset Over Her Character In Star Trek: Discovery (Spoiler Alert!) Were you bummed out by the bleak fate of Captain Philippa Georgiou on the two-part premiere of Star Trek: Discovery? Star Michelle Yeoh offers some assuring words.