Surprise, Racists! Your Slurs Are Streaming on Facebook Live

And Other Things to Know From Angry Asian America.



Retired Navy captain apologizes after racial slurs streamed on Facebook
A former member of the U.S. Naval Academy alumni trustees issued an apology Sunday for using racial slurs on social media. Retired Capt. Scott Bethmann was asked to resign as a trustee on Saturday after a live conversation with his wife that was posted on Facebook disparaged admission by the academy of African Americans, Asian Americans and women. The comments were made by Bethmann and his wife, Nancy, while they were watching TV news and discussing the Black Lives Matter movement. They were overheard using the N-word and making other racial comments while accidentally streaming live on Facebook. Gotcha, suckers. Private racism that becomes public is my favorite genre.

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Katie Leung Speaks Out For Trans Women Amid J.K. Rowling Backlash
If you were only Twitter over the weekend, you may have seen that "Cho Chang" was trending. Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling stepped in it again, making remarks about transgender women that were widely criticized as transphobic. Twitter was there for the backlash, airing out old grievances about her work -- including the fact that she lazily named Harry Potter's only East Asian character "Cho Chang." I guess we've been holding on to that one for a while. It got so crazy that even Katie Leung, who played Cho Chang in the movies, weighed in on the matter, sort of. "So, you want my thoughts on Cho Chang? Okay, here goes..." she tweeted, before dropping a flurry of links in support of transgender rights. So yeah, I think we know where she stands on what matters.

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BTS Fan Army Matches $1 Million Donation to Black Lives Matter
As I've said before, don't mess with K-pop fans -- particularly the massive fan army behind BTS. When news came out Saturday that BTS and their record label Big Hit Entertainment had donated $1 million to support the Black Lives Matter campaign amid worldwide protests against racism and police brutality, their fans decided to match it. And match it they did -- in just over a day.

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How to Feed Crowds in a Protest or Pandemic? The Sikhs Know
"Since the coronavirus pandemic has halted religious gatherings in most of the country, including langar, gurdwaras like the Sikh Center of New York, in Queens Village, are mobilizing their large-scale cooking resources to meet the skyrocketing need for food aid outside their places of worship."

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Well Played by Beau Sia
"These poems began as an answer. In the face of the undeniable, they became a reckoning. Of the lies that are lived to feel belonging. Of the lies that are told to hide shame. Of the lies that are believed to maintain within illusions. Well Played is a warning to the present, a welcoming of the truth, and a poet working to earn his way."

Some of My Best Friends Are White

A Poem by Beau Sia, Banned From Facebook



The following poem was originally written by Beau Sia and posted to Facebook on July 6. Last week, given the state of things, Beau thought it would be appropriate to re-post it. But not long after posting it, Facebook took it down because the poem offended someone's sensibilities. Somebody apparently reported it, though nobody bothered to inform Beau why or how the piece was so unfit for Facebook. It was just reported and yanked.

So Beau posted it again. Within a day, not only was the poem flagged for removal again, but Beau was blocked from Facebook for a period of 24 hours, along with the warning that he could be blocked permanently if continued to violate "community standards." So Beau posted it again. But this time, he had the support of a community of Facebook friends who also started sharing the poem widely.

Because censorship sucks, and dammit, we need some poetry right now. And so, I share it with you.

Want to see some 'Pretty Dudes'?

Comedy webseries explores masculinity, race, colorism, sexuality, friendships and the rules of attraction.



Pretty Dudes is an upcoming original comedy series that explores the dynamics between a millennial multiethnic group of friends in Los Angeles. Created by Chance Calloway, the series uses humor and truth to explore masculinity, race, colorism, sexuality, friendships, and the ever-changing rules of attraction.

The 12-episode series is currently raising production funds through Seed & Spark.

The project centers on six friends who consider themselves to be "pretty" and claim that the label has ruined their romantic lives. As one of them goes through a breakup, the friends band together -- through a high stakes bet -- to find him the perfect love, discovering the truth about their own relationship struggles in the process.

Here's some more information about the project:

Midnight Makeout Session: A Play by Dante Basco

December 3 & 10 at The Study in Hollywood



If you're in Los Angeles, Dante Basco and Beau Sia invite you to a Midnight Makeout Session. The play, that is. Midnight Makeout Session is an original play that will take you back to romance with the help of hip hop, poetry and slow jams. Two shows a night, happening December 3 and 10 at The Study in Hollywood.

Here are some more details:

Beau Sia: Love Beau - Session Four

Wednesday, March 4 at Giant Robot 2



If you're in Los Angeles, poet Beau Sia invites you to the latest edition of his LOVE, BEAU series, an intimate little monthly gathering where he shares poems and work on his relationship with love. It's happening this Wednesday, March 3 at GR2. This month's meetup will feature special guest Chinaka Hodge.

Here are some more details:

Beau Sia: New Writings and Vintage Tales

Thursday, October 2 at GR2

Hey, folks. If you're in Los Angeles, and care to venture to the wild west side, come out to a reading with poet Beau Sia, presented by Giant Robot. Beau will read from his book The Undisputed Greatest Writer of All Time, as well as new poems from his upcoming book Fuck Me. It's happening this Thursday, October 2 at GR2.

Here are some more details about the reading:

Beau Sia: A One of a Kind Poetry Experience

Friday, July 18 at Art Share LA



If you're in the Los Angeles area this Friday, acclaimed spoken word artist Beau Sia will be sharing new work and classic poems in his first solo play, described as a show filled with "dance, love, and the empowering potential of words." Well, that sounds awesome. Who wouldn't want to be a part of something like that? It's happening July 18 at Art Share LA.

Here are some more details about the show:

Kickass poets and performers share the stage at LAPP Fest

A set from the 2013 DC Asian American/Pacific Islander Literary Arts & Performance Poetry Festival.


Last week, poets, literary and spoken word artists, and activists from across the United States convened in Washington DC for the 2013 DC Asian American/Pacific Islander Literary Arts & Performance Poetry Festival, aka "LAPP Fest." From the looks of it, it was an awesome gathering of folks using art for social change.

For folks who couldn't make it to the festival, here's an hour-long video of the LAPP Fest Showcase at The Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage, featuring artists Gowri K., Adriel Luis, Regie Cabico, Simone Jacobson, Sahra Nguyen, Michelle Myers, Beau Sia and G Yamazawa. Very cool.

I couldn't figure out how to embed the video, so check it out on the Kennedy Center website.

Midnight Makeout Session: A Play by Dante Basco, March 13

Short notice, but if you're in Los Angeles, you might want to check this out... Our friend Beau Sia directs Midnight Makeout Session, a new play by Dante Basco. They've been hard at work at this thing and are ready to share it with a few folks. It's Wednesday, March 13 at Art Share LA. For one night only! Here's some more information, in Dante's own words:

beau sia reading/signing at gr2, november 18

Good people of Los Angeles! If you haven't heard yet, Beau Sia's out with The Undisputed Greatest Writer of All Time, his first book of written work in seven years, and he'll be reading from it at Giant Robot 2 this Sunday, November 18. Can't make it out, but still want a signed copy? GR2 will work with you. Here's some more info:

angry poetry corner: "asian americans" by beau sia

We're getting poetic up here. It's time for another installment of Angry Poetry Corner, a regular weekly spotlight on the work of API poets -- not necessarily angry -- curated by Cara, our Angry Asian Intern.

Because you could use a little more poetry in your life.

In the corner this week, a poem by Beau Sia, from his new book The Undisputed Greatest Writer of All Time:

beau sia is the undisputed greatest writer of all time

Here's all you need to know: our friend Beau Sia, spoken word assassin, recently published his first book of poetry in over a decade, The Undisputed Greatest Writer of All Time. If you're fan of Beau's work, then that's really all you need to know. But if you're the kind of person who likes to peruse the back cover before you crack open a book of poetry, then read this:

angry reader of the week: beau sia

Holla! Gather 'round, kids. Because 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 my poet hero Beau Sia, the lyricist behind East West Players' current production Krunk Fu Battle Battle.