Send in your awesome photos for the annual reader Halloween costume photo gallery.
It's that time of year again. In the madness of everything going on this year, I actually almost forgot. But in what has become an annual tradition, we want to see your awesome Halloween costume photos! Each year, we put together a fun gallery of reader-submitted costume photos. If you would like your photo to be feature, send it in! We are accepting photos of your fun, cool, scary, not racist Halloween costumes. Photos of cute kids are especially encouraged. (By submitting your photo, you consent to having the photo featured on this website, for the purpose of inclusion in the Halloween gallery and/or promotion of the Halloween gallery.) Thank you!
Jeff Yang and Phil Yu present an unfiltered conversation about what's happening in Asian America.
What's up, podcast listeners? We've got another episode of our podcast They Call Us Bruce. (Almost) each week, my good friend, writer/columnist Jeff Yang and I hos an unfiltered conversation about what's happening in Asian America, with a strong focus on media, entertainment and popular culture.
In this episode, we welcome photographer Andria Lo and writer Valerie Luu, the authors behind Chinatown Pretty, a blog and book capturing the unique street style of Chinatown seniors. They discuss the art of chasing down pretty poh pohs to take their photo.
The Complexity in 'Where Are You From?'
"My father is gone now, but I've wondered what he would make of the coronavirus. He surely would have worried about his family more than himself. It would have pained him that relations have cratered between his ancestral and adopted homelands, causing a backlash against Asian-Americans. 'Go back to where you came from!' we're told. But where did we come from, and why does it matter?"
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On Preserving Taiwanese Through Romanization
"Like the island itself, my father's life was shaped by occupation and silence. He is as shrouded and multilayered as Taiwan's history. Taiwanese identity is of great importance and pride to him, but as an American-born daughter of immigrants, I found the definition of Taiwanese-ness kind of blurry."
"So many stories I didn’t know'
Kao Kalia Yang started out writing her family's refugee memoir. Now she's sharing the journeys of others. The Minnesota author's new book, Somewhere in the Unknown World, began when she collected her uncle's story about fleeing Laos. Then she spoke to a Liberian hospital worker, a Karen parent from school, a Jewish singer from Ukraine -- and created "a collective refugee memoir."
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Why Hollywood Must Reimagine Asian-Inspired Stories
Asian American audiences are no longer looking for representation through a Western lens, and other takeaways from a Variety panel with Asian American Hollywood insiders.
And Other Things to Know From Angry Asian America.
"I wear my mask if I want F**KING ASIAN you create the virus"
In San Francisco, police are investigating a hate crime in the city's Sunset District, where a man vandalized an Asian American woman's home and left a letter saying, "I wear my mask if I want FUCKING ASIAN you create the virus." The hate incidents were apparent set off by an altercation in which the woman, who was outside her home with her infant twins, asked a passing man to wear a mask. The man later returned multiple times to throw a water bottle, then an egg and then to leave not only the letter but a mask with writing on it, which said "keep America without Asian." Police are investigating the incident as "racially motivated." Ya think?
Woman Pushed Off Vancouver Bus After Spitting on Man
Metro Vancouver Transit Police are investigating after a video was posted on TikTok showing a woman who appears to have been pushed off a bus after she spit on another passenger. In the video, the bus is stopped when a woman, who is standing in the aisle and not wearing a face mask, appears to spit on a man. The man, who is wearing a face mask, appears shocked and disgusted, gets up from his seat and appears to push the woman twice. After the second push, the woman can be seen falling onto a sidewalk. I can't say I condone physical violence, but hell, I'm not gonna fault this guy for losing his cool in the moment.
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Steven Yeun Could Become the First Asian American Best Actor Nominee
With Hollywood's upcoming awards season starting to take shape, A24 has confirmed that Steven Yeun will campaign as a lead actor for his performance in Minari. Co-star Yeri Han will also campaign for best actress, while his cast mates Alan S. Kim, Will Patton and Yuh-Jung Youn will look for consideration in the supporting categories. If nominated for best actor, Yeun would be the first Asian American to ever be recognized in the category. Written and directed by Lee Isaac Chung, Minari tells the story of a Korean American family who searches for a better life when they move to a small farm in 1980s Arkansas. The film is scheduled for release sometime by the end of this year.
And Other Things to Know From Angry Asian America.
Boston School Committee Chair Resigns After Mocking Asian Names
Boston Schools Committee chairman Michael Loconto has stepped down after reportedly mocking Asian Americans during a Wednesday night school committee meeting, which prompted calls for his immediate resignation. During the virtual meeting, the moderator can be heard on an audio recording saying the names of upcoming participants from the community. Loconto can then be heard saying a series of names under his breath in a manner most certainly mocking the Asian anmes of thos participants. Yup, he said them racistly. And that shit was broadcast on a Zoom call for all to hear. And then the mayor accepted Loconto's resignation Thursday morning.
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Apple's 'Pachinko' Sets Cast, Directors for International Production
Apple has set the cast and directors for its multilingual international drama Pachinko, based on the novel by Min Jin Lee. The cast includes Lee Min-ho, Jin Ha, Anna Sawai, Minha Kim, Soji Arai and Kaho Minami. Kogonada will direct four episodes, including the pilot, and serve as an executive producer of the series. Justin Chon will also direct four episodes. The big-budget series is set to begin production next week and will film across multiple continents. The eight episodes, told in Korean, Japanese and English, chronicle the hopes and dreams of four generations of a Korean immigrant family.
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Coming Home Again
Acclaimed director Wayne Wang's moving new film, the emotional family drama Coming Home Again, is based on a personal essay by award-winning Korean American writer Chang-rae Lee published in The New Yorker. Justin Chon stars as the main character, also named Chang-rae, who returns to his family home in San Francisco to care for his ailing mother. Wanting nothing more than to fulfill his role as the supportive son, he must come to terms with his own conflicted emotions. The film opens in virtual cinemas on October 23. A free live-stream Q & A will take place on Saturday, October 24 at 4 pm EST, with director Wayne Wayne, writer Chang-rae Lee and 3 Star Chef Corey Lee, moderated by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker and film programmer Robert Rosenberg. Registration for the Zoom event here.
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The Donut King
Have you ever wondered why so many donut shops in California are owned and operated by Cambodian immigrants? It's all because of one guy. The Donut King, directed by Alice Gu, is a feature documentary that tells the incredible rags-to-riches story of Ted Ngoy, a Cambodian refugee who came to America in 1975 and founded an unlikely multi-million dollar empire of donut shops across the West coast. He was living the American Dream. But, in life, great rise can come with great falls. The Donut King opens in theaters and vitual cinemas on October 30.
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BYOB: Bring Your Own Ballot
Join Sherry Cola, Ronny Chieng, Jeremy Lin and Kelly Marie Tran for a conversation about making the APIA vote count. Saturday, September 24. Register at VoteWith.Us.
Raya and the Last Dragon Teaser Trailer
Holy moly. Disney has dropped the first teaser trailer for its upcoming animated feature Raya and the Last Dragon, and it looks amazing. Starring the Kelly Marie Tran, and written by Adele Lim and Qui Nguyen, Raya is an epic fantasy adventure inspired by Southeast Asian cultures. According to Disney's synopsis: "Long ago, in the fantasy world of Kumandra, humans and dragons lived together in harmony. But when an evil force threatened the land, the dragons sacrificed themselves to save humanity. Now, 500 years later, that same evil has returned and it's up to a lone warrior, Raya, to track down the legendary last dragon to restore the fractured land and its divided people. However, along her journey, she'll learn that it'll take more than a dragon to save the world -- it's going to take trust and teamwork as well." Raya and the Last Dragon, originaly set to hit theaters next month, is now scheduled for release on March 12th, 2021.
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Study: People Blame Asian Americans for COVID-19 Because People Are Racist
According to a new study, a blend of racial prejudice, poor coping and partisan media viewing were found in Americans who stigmatized people of Asian descent during the COVID-19 pandemic. But it was prejudice against Asian Americans that was most strongly linked to beliefs that Asians were responsible for the pandemic and most at risk for spreading it, results showed. So... basically this study confirms what we already knew: people are racist.
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Asian Americans Could Play a Crucial Role in the 2020 Election
"Contrary to stereotype, the Asian American electorate is engaged, diverse, and spans the ideological spectrum. Some -- especially some first-generation Asian Americans, as well as some members of certain ethnic subgroups such as Vietnamese Americans and Hmong Americans -- are conservative-leaning. However, most Asian Americans, particularly younger, U.S.-born voters, are strikingly progressive on several issues including health care, the environment, and gun control."
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Why Asian Americans Face Extra Obstacles to Voting by Mail
As more Americans are encouraged to vote by mail amid the pandemic, Asian American voters, especially those who are new to the U.S. or who face language barriers, may encounter extra difficulties with that method of casting a ballot.
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I Will Vote
Today, the Democratic National Committee announced a new multilingual print, digital, and radio advertising campaign to reach 1 million AAPI voters in key battleground states and across the country. The ads will reach voters in Chinese, English, Hindi, Korean, Telugu and Urdu, and Vietnamese in national constituency media, including the Korea Times, Nguoi Viet, and World Journal, as well as local print, digital, and radio outlets in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Wisconsin.
The Podcast In Which We Interview All The Asians On Star Trek.
All The Asians On Star Trek is the podcast in which we interview all the Asians on Star Trek. In Episode 9: introducing the Away Mission, where we break from the usual format and invite fellow Asian American fans of Star Trek to do a deep dive into an episode of their choosing. For this inaugural edition of the Away Mission, we welcome writer Sarah Kuhn (Heroine Complex, Shadow of the Batgirl, Doctor Aphra) to discuss "The Collaborator" from season two of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Lots of scary Orb visions and sexy time.
My arrest after protesting ICE was an attempt to silence Asian Americans and immigrants
Last week, the Philadelphia Police Department arrested community leader and activist Nancy Nguyen on bogus charges in an attempt to intimidate her and protestors who have been vocal about Tony Pham, the new director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Don't Grieve Alone. Reach Out.
"For many of us, finding emotional support often means turning to long-established networks already built for distance. We may be weary or fearful now, freshly cut off from familiar routines and many forms of in-person support, but there’s still reassurance and solace to be found in distanced fellowship."
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Going Sohla
After leaving Bon Appétit, where she had to play sidekick to less experienced chefs, Sohla El-Waylly now has her own show -- where she's paid fairly for her fantastic creations.
Jimmy O. Yang's Week: Watching Rom-Coms as ‘Homework'
Comedian Jimmy O. Yang is entering new territory as the romantic lead in the new Netflix comedy Love Hard. So he watched Notting Hill and The Kissing Booth 2 to prepare.
Jeff Yang and Phil Yu present an unfiltered conversation about what's happening in Asian America.
What's up, podcast listeners? We've got another episode of our podcast They Call Us Bruce. (Almost) each week, my good friend, writer/columnist Jeff Yang and I hos an unfiltered conversation about what's happening in Asian America, with a strong focus on media, entertainment and popular culture.
In this episode, we welcome filmmaker Diane Paragas, writer/director of the new movie Yellow Rose. She talks about the long journey to bring her Filipino American story to the screen, how she cast the film's incredible star Eva Noblezada, and why country music is so cinematic.
The Podcast In Which We Interview All The Asians On Star Trek.
All The Asians On Star Trek is the podcast in which we interview all the Asians on Star Trek. In Episode 8, I talk to Bo Yeon Kim and Erika Lippoldt. They served as writers on the first three seasons of Star Trek: Discovery, and are currently co-executive producers of the upcoming spinoff Section 31. They discuss having to juggle the many storytelling mandates and creative challenges of launching a show like Discovery. The discuss geeking out over Michelle Yeoh. They absolutely do not discuss Section 31.
Turns Out Immigrant Parents Were Right About Everything
"All of this has been a reminder that many of our parents lived through war, dislocation, and refugeeism, through famine and natural disaster -- and in the process, like Liam Neeson in Taken, gained "a very particular set of skills," acquired over a lifetime of hardship."
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A Look At Chinatown's Most Stylish Seniors
Andria Lo and Valerie Luu went around various Chinatowns to photograph local Asian American residents and shoppers in all their resplendent glory, which eventually became their new book Chinatown Pretty. As they write in the book's intro, "These Chinatown fashion icons share some of the same aesthetic sensibilities as hipster bloggers -- except they’re eighty years old!"
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Director Alice Wu: Bring Back the Days of the Coming Out Letter
To celebrate this weekend's National Coming Out Day, Alice Wu, the director of Saving Face and The Half of It, recalls her own memorable story, which involved "literally sitting in my closet, coming out of the closet."
The Meaning of Chuseok During a Pandemic Year Chuseok, celebrated in the fall, is often described as the Korean Thanksgiving. During the pandemic, the whole world has been considering what the Korean holiday means -- whether they realize it or not.
How Mira Nair Inspired ‘Yellow Rose’ Director Diane Paragas to Keep Going
It took filmmaker Diane Paragas 15 years to bring Yellow Rose to the big screen. She kept hearing that no one wanted to see a story about a Filipino immigrant growing up in Texas. She talks about the journey, her casting and why she chose country music as her genre.
Jeff Yang and Phil Yu present an unfiltered conversation about what's happening in Asian America.
What's up, podcast listeners? We've got another episode of our podcast They Call Us Bruce. (Almost) each week, my good friend, writer/columnist Jeff Yang and I hos an unfiltered conversation about what's happening in Asian America, with a strong focus on media, entertainment and popular culture.
In this episode, we welcome Daniel Chong, creator of the hit animated series We Bare Bears. We discuss the beginnings and the bittersweet end of the show, the timely real-world issues in We Bare Bears: The Movie, and how a cartoon about a trio of bear brothers can inspire empathy and understanding in these dark times.
The Podcast In Which We Interview All The Asians On Star Trek.
All The Asians On Star Trek is the podcast in which we interview all the Asians on Star Trek. In Episode 7, I talk to Keone Young. He guest starred on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine as Benjamin Sisko's favorite baseball player Buck Bokai, in the season one episode "If Wishes Were Horses." He also appeared in Star Trek: Enterprise as Mr. Sato, the father of Hoshi Sato, in the second season episode "Vanishing Point." Outside of Star Trek, he's a veteran performer with decades of film and TV credits, including the voice of Storm Shadow on G.I. Joe and one very special episode of Diff'rent Strokes.
Redefining the Korean experience
Six people with Korean roots talk how they've come to -- or are still learning to -- understand their heritage.
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The profound comfort of kimchi
"The timeline of kimchi is marked by pain and prosperity -- the story of the Korean peninsula and its people. For kin carried away by diasporic waves, kimchi serves as an ever-glowing beacon, ready to welcome daughters and sons home."
Jeff Yang and Phil Yu present an unfiltered conversation about what's happening in Asian America.
What's up, podcast listeners? We've got another episode of our podcast They Call Us Bruce. (Almost) each week, my good friend, writer/columnist Jeff Yang and I host an unfiltered conversation about what's happening in Asian America, with a strong focus on media, entertainment and popular culture.
In this episode, we welcome Quoc Bao Tran, writer/director of the new kung fu comedy The Paper Tigers. He talks about the long journey to make this film, why The Paper Tigers had to be an Asian American story, and The Good, The Bad and The WTF of getting too old for this shit.
The Podcast In Which We Interview All The Asians On Star Trek.
All The Asians On Star Trek is the podcast in which we interview all the Asians on Star Trek. In Episode 6, I talk to actress, filmmaker and martial artist Diana Lee Inosanto, who worked as a stunt double on several episodes of Star Trek: Enterprise. The daughter of legendary martial artist Dan Inosanto and the goddaughter of Bruce Lee, she has dozens of credits as a stunt performer, fight coordinator and choreographer. She talks about fake-kicking Vulcan ass, embracing martial arts as her heritage, and the moment she realized that "Uncle Bruce" was famous.
