Trump Plans to Suspend Immigration to U.S.
Donald Trump said on Monday evening that he intended to close the United States to people trying to immigrate into the country to live and work, claiming that the drastic move would protect American workers from foreign competition once the nation's economy began to recover from the shutdown caused by the coronavirus outbreak. A pandemic is a perfect excuse for this administration to double down on its aggressive immigration restrictions. Can't let the wrong people in. Because of the "Invisible Enemy." And jobs!
"IT'S AN HONOR JUST TO BE ASIAN" Masks
You've seen the shirt. The iconic quote from Sandra Oh is now available on a face mask! Just in time for AAPI Heritage Month. Each order includes a 3-pack of limited use masks. All proceeds from sales will go to East West Players, the nation's oldest Asian American theater company. Show your pride in a time when anti-Asian bigotry and violence is becoming more and more common -- and help a crucial Asian American performing arts nonprofit survive the COVID shutdown of all live gatherings and performances.
Feed the Frontliners Project
The Park's Finest in Los Angeles serves up some damn fine Filipino-flavored barbecue. While the pandemic has forced the restaurant to shut down its physical dining room, they've been keeping busy with the Feed the Frontliners Project, an effort made possible through community members and angel sponsors buying plates for healthcare workers (nurses, doctors, clerical, custodial, etc.) and emergency responders to be fed during shifts. While it originally started as a way for frontliners to pick up plates at the shop, the approach has shifted where they can now arrange for delivery to hospitals or fire stations. Wanna help feed some frontliners? Donate here.
Sigh, Gone: A Misfit's Memoir of Great Books, Punk Rock, and the Fight to Fit In
With a cover like that, how can I not read this new memoir by Phuc Tran? But if you need more convincing, here's the official description off the book jacket: "In 1975, during the fall of Saigon, Phuc Tran immigrates to America along with his family. By sheer chance they land in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, a small town where the Trans struggle to assimilate into their new life. In this coming-of-age memoir told through the themes of great books such as The Metamorphosis, The Scarlet Letter, The Iliad, and more, Tran navigates the push and pull of finding and accepting himself despite the challenges of immigration, feelings of isolation, and teenage rebellion, all while attempting to meet the rigid expectations set by his immigrant parents.
Appealing to fans of coming-of-age memoirs such as Fresh Off the Boat, Running with Scissors, or tales of assimilation like Viet Thanh Nguyen's The Displaced and The Refugees, Sigh, Gone explores one man's bewildering experiences of abuse, racism, and tragedy and reveals redemption and connection in books and punk rock. Against the hairspray-and-synthesizer backdrop of the '80s, he finds solace and kinship in the wisdom of classic literature, and in the subculture of punk rock, he finds affirmation and echoes of his disaffection. In his journey for self-discovery Tran ultimately finds refuge and inspiration in the art that shapes -- and ultimately saves -- him."
Digital Town Hall - Asian Americans in the Time of COVID-19
The Center for Asian American Media, along with WETA, the flagship public media station in the nation's capital, and Asian American community leaders will host a digital town hall exploring how lessons from Asian American history can help us understand the experience of Asian Americans in the time of Covid-19. Panelists will discuss what can be learned from the history of Asian Americans, and how we can move forward together as Americans in this particularly challenging moment. Panelists include: Writer Viet Thanh Nguyen, Journalist Amna Nawaz, Filmmaker Renee Tajima-Pena, Journalist and Activist Helen Zia, and Comedian Hari Kondabolu. It's happening Thursday, April 30 at 5pm PST / 8pm EST.