California Bill Would Designate May 17 as "Bruce Lee Day"

And Other Items of Note From Angry Asian America.

May 17 could become ‘Bruce Lee Day' in California

A bill designating May 17 as "Bruce Lee Day" in California was announced Wednesday to honor the legacy of the San Francisco-born actor and martial arts star. The bill, which would encourage schools and communities to teach Bruce Lee's impact, was introduced by San Francisco Assemblyman Matt Haney. If it passes, he would become the first Chinese American to be recognized with a day in California state law.

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Racial backlash erupts online after California mayor admits to being an agent for China

The resignation of Arcadia, California mayor Eileen Wang, who pleaded guilty to acting as a foreign agent for China, has sparked backlash and reignited fears of anti-Asian discrimination. Cue the wave of racist comments, which hit social media as soon as the FBI announced the case against Wang, casting suspicion, fear and discrimination on Asian communities as a whole. Nothing new in these United States of America.

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The Season | Official Trailer

Set against the vibrant backdrop of Hong Kong, The Season is a high-gloss drama that follows a group of close-knit friends gathering for a summer of sun-drenched splendour as the boating season begins. The glamor unfolds as a young newcomer joins this society for the summer. When secrets are revealed, the line between ally and enemy blurs, and ambitions could change everything. The Season premieres on Hulu on June 17.

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May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Let’s put it to good use

"Trump and the right wing are correct about one thing. It would be ideal if nobody cared about immutable differences, and we didn’t need to have things like Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. But if recent history teaches us anything, fear of differences that stoke the worst in human tendencies can easily explode to the surface."

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The Oldest Tofu Shop in America

"Ota Tofu has survived in Portland since 1911. I use the word survived, because many of the Japanese-owned businesses of the early 20th century in Portland did not. Their owners were placed in prison camps by the US government during World War 2; only 1/3rd of the Japanese community returned, finding their businesses sold or confiscated. The founders of Ota Tofu were brothers, and one died in the camps."

They Call Us Heritage Month?

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.

It's May, and that means it's AANHPI Heritage Month -- possibly the last one ever, if certain people get their way. In this episode, we check in and discuss the significance of Heritage Month, reflecting on community resilience, cultural celebrations, and the challenges faced by Asian Americans in this moment. By way of The Good, The Bad, and The WTF, they explore the impact of recent events on mental health within the community, the ongoing importance of representation in media, and the troubling perceptions of Asian Americans in U.S. society as revealed by recent surveys.

Judge Compares Stay-Home Orders to WWII Incarceration

And Other Things to Know From Angry Asian America.




Watch Wisconsin Judge Compare Stay-Home Orders to WWII Internment
On Tuesday, the Wisconsin Supreme Court heard oral arguments via teleconference on a challenge from the state's Republican lawmakers to the "safer at home" order issued by Gov. Tony Evers to protect citizens during the COVID-19 outbreak and slow the spread of the disease. During the hearing, Justice Rebecca Bradley invoked the landmark Supreme Court case Korematsu v. United States, which allowed the government to hold Japanese Americans in internment camps during World War II. Bradley suggested that requiring Wisconsin residents to stay home, and to keep non-essential businesses closed, was similar to that decision. I'm sorry, your honor, but please shut up about shit you know nothing about.

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Coronavirus Researcher Killed in Apparent Murder-Suicide
A University of Pittsburgh professor on the verge of making "very significant findings" researching Covid-19, according to the university, was shot and killed in an apparent murder-suicide over the weekend. Research assistant professor Bing Liu was found in his townhouse Saturday with gunshot wounds to the head, neck, torso and extremities, according to police. Investigators believe an unidentified second man, who was found dead in his car, shot and killed Liu in his home before returning to his car and taking his own life. According to colleagues at the university's Department of Computational and Systems Biology, Liu was "on the verge of making very significant findings toward understanding the cellular mechanisms that underlie SARS-CoV-2 infection and the cellular basis of the following complications."

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Turner Classic Movies Spotlight: Asian Americans in Classic Hollywood
Heads up, classic movie fans. In celebration of AAPI Heritage Month, starting tonight, Turner Classic Movies is running a month-long spotlight on Asian Americans in classic Hollywood movies. Movies on the schedule feature films from the likes of screen legends Anna May Wong, Sessue Hayakawa, Philip Ahn, Richard Loo, James Shigeta and more. See the full lineup here.

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Watching With...: The Half Of It with Writer Director Alice Wu
So you've seen The Half of It. Now watch it with the director's commentary! Writer/director joins Netflix's Marya E. Gates to do a full-length (spoiler-filled) director's commentary on her new film, a coming-of-age tale about a Chinese-American queer teen. Queue up the movie, sync it up with the podcast, and press play.

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I ♥ Chinatown
This Thursday, May 7, join us for a night of storytelling, food and art to provide pandemic relief for Chinatown's small businesses and tenants. The fundraiser, organized by Stephanie Foo, will feature the likes of Joel Kim Booster, Kat Chow, Esmé Weijun Wang, Tienlon Ho, Sasami and more. I'll be taking part with my They Call Us Bruce co-host Jeff Yang. It's all going down on Facebook Live. This event has a suggested donation of $15, but please pay what you can. Donate here.

Who Are The Most Influential Asian Americans?

And Other Things to Know From Angry Asian America.


A100 List
Kicking off AAPI Heritage Month, Gold House has announced its third annual A100 list, spotlighting "the 100 most esteemed and impactful Asians in entertainment and media, fashion and lifestyle, technology, business, and social activism. The List, determined by 20 Asian nonprofit groups, a panel of multicultural icons, and hundreds of Gold House members, unites the Asian diaspora with other communities in celebrating excellence and championing a path towards a more inclusive future for everyone." View the list here.

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AAPI FRONTLINE
From doctors to delivery workers, AAPIs make up the backbone of many critical industries amid the coronavirus pandemic. This Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, NBC Asian America is honoring the workers leading medical research, helping low-income and limited English proficiency groups, combating racism and more.

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Unemployment Claims from Asian Americans Have Spiked 6900% in NYC
In New York, about 147,000 self-identified Asian workers have filed initial unemployment claims in the last four weeks alone, up from just 2,100 during the same period last year. That's a 6,900% increase -- by far the largest percentage increase experienced by any one racial or ethnic group.

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Digital Town Hall - Asian Americans in the Time of Covid-19
In connection with the upcoming PBS series Asian Americans, the Center for Asian American Media, WETA, and Asian American community leaders hosted 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.

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The Half of It
The Half of It, the long-awaited new feature film from writer/director Alice Wu, is now available on Netflix. Shy, straight-A student Ellie is hired by sweet but inarticulate jock Paul, who needs help winning over a popular girl. But their new and unlikely friendship gets complicated when Ellie discovers she has feelings for the same girl.

May is AAPI Heritage Month. We've Got You Covered.

And Other Things to Know From Angry Asian America.



2020 AAPI Heritage Month Digital Event Calendar
Heads up: May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. If you didn't know, now you know. We get a month. While the current state of the world prevents us from gathering in person, we can all still celebrate. We've compiled a running list of digital events you can participate in virtually, happening throughout Heritage Month. Peruse the calendar here and check back frequently. We'll be adding more events as they come in. And if you'd like to submit an event to the calendar, fill out the form here.

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Faces of the Cure
#FacesoftheCure is a social media campaign calling on folks to spotlight the healthcare heroes who are risking their lives to save the world in the fight against COVID19 by sharing their photos and stories. Most of these war-weary doctors, nurses, and hospital staff will never get the recognition they deserve. To the contrary, many have been discriminated against. Think of the campaign as "Humans of New York" but for the pandemic. Let's join together to give them recognition they deserve.

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Stop COVID-19 Disinformation. Stop Anti-Asian Violence
"We're living through a global health pandemic and an insufficient government and corporate response that is causing people to lose their lives and loved ones. The hate and disinformation spread online around COVID-19 are putting even more lives in danger. Companies like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube are hotspots for coronavirus opportunists to spread their dangerously misleading lies and fuel xenophobic and anti-Asian violence. Asian Americans are being blamed for spreading COVID-19 and targeted, particularly those of us who are of East Asian descent." Sign this petition to tell Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to immediately shut down hate and misinformation about COVID-19 on their platforms.

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Irrfan Khan, Bollywood Star at Home in Hollywood, Dies at 53
Irrfan Khan, the celebrated Indian actor who became a crossover star in Hollywood, starring in movies like The Namesake, Slumdog Millionaire and Life of Pi, died on Wednesday in Mumbai. He was 53.

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Alice Wu’s Rom-Com Was Influential, but Her Follow-Up Wasn't Easy
This New York Times profile on Alice Wu, writer/director of the Netflix feature The Half of It, reveals how the filmmaker beat writer's block while working on the movie's screenplay. She wrote a check for $1,000 to the National Rifle Association -- a cause she decidedly does not support -- then gave it to a friend with an ultimatum: if she didn't turn in the first draft of her script in five weeks, send the check. This is gangster shit!

Lululemon Fires Employee Over 'Bat Fried Rice' Shirt

And Other Things to Know From Angry Asian America.



Lululemon Fires Employee Over 'Bat Fried Rice' Shirt
The athletic-wear company Lululemon has issued an apology after its art director posted a racist "Bat Fried Rice" shirt design on social media. Trevor Fleming shared a link on Instagram to the design first shared by artist Jess Sluder, featuring a Chinese take-out box decorated with bat wings and the words "no thank you" on the back. Fleming has reportedly been fired. But the real crime? The damn shirt was selling for $60.

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92-year-old Asian Man Assaulted in Vancouver Hate Crime
Police are searching for a man who assaulted a 92-year-old Asian man with dementia last month in East Vancouver. On March 13, the victim, who suffers from severe dementia, wandered into a convenience store, where staff were trying to assist him. That's when this guy started yelling racist remarks (including comments about COVID-19), draged the elderly man out of the store, then shoved him, causing him to fall to the ground and hit his head.

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Coronavirus Reminds Asian Americans Our Belonging is Conditional
"You can’t stand up for some and not for others. And like the virus, unchecked aggression has the potential to spread wildly. Please don't minimize the hate or assume it's somewhere far away. It's happening close to you. If you see it on the street, say something. If you hear it at work, say something. If you sense it in your family, say something. Stand up for your fellow Americans."

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Korean Drama Podcast: Season 2
The Korean Drama Podcast is back! After a long hiatus, the mildly popular podcast I used co-host is back for a second season. While Will, Joanna and I won't be back as your guides, we've handed off the reins to an awesome new set of hosts, Steven Lim, Kathy Yamamoto and Kim Cooper, who will be watching, re-capping and reacting to the 2010 series Secret Garden. I'm looking forward to following along with them.

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Submit Your AAPI Heritage Month Online Event Calendar Listing
With May coming up, and the community basically under lockdown and unable to gather, Jeff Yang and I are compiling a public calendar of online events taking place for Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Do you have an online event scheduled or know of one? Email us your event details at theycallusbruce@gmail.com or fill out this form. And if you're reading this and finding out for the first time that May is Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month -- yes, we get a month -- consider yourself informed. Now you know what's up.

Karen Chee's Guide for Celebrating Heritage Month

'Late Night with Seth Meyers' writer offers some helpful DOs and DON'Ts for white people.



As you may know, May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. To celebrate the occasion properly, Late Night with Seth Meyers recently invited writer Karen Chee to share a short list of helpful Dos and Don'ts for white people who would like to join in on the Heritage Month fun.

For instance, the first one on her list is a microagression classic: "Don't ask me where I'm really from!" Unfortunately, people still need to hear this one. "Because when I say I'm from a suburb of San Francisco, I can tell you're disappointed," Chee says. "Asian American people are descendants of many different countries, which is just a polite way of saying number two. Don't say 'Ni Hao' to me."

Ah, the ni hao. Check out the full segment:

Google Doodle celebrates artist Ruth Asawa

Acclaimed Japanese American artist was known intricate wire sculptures and works on paper.



As you you may know, May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. To kick off the celebration, Google dedicated its iconic home page Doodle on Wednesday to Ruth Asawa, a Japanese American artist who overcame discrimination during World War II to become a nationally renowned sculptor of wire forms and an arts educator who believed "art will make people better."

More here: May 1, 2019: Celebrating Ruth Asawa

When DC's Asian Superheroes Got Together for Dim Sum

Artist Bernard Chang celebrates #asianheroesmonth on his variant cover for 'New Super-Man' #11.



It's May, so it's Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month... but it's also #asianheroesmonth!

To celebrate, artist Bernard Chang created this awesome variant cover for New Super-Man #11 depicting Kenan Kong, aka the Chinese Superman, going out to dim sum with some of his fellow Asian superheroes of the DC Universe (at a restaurant where the poor wait staff is apparently possessed by Starro the Conqueror).

It's officially "Fresh Off The Boat Day" in Los Angeles

The City of Los Angeles declares May 2 "Fresh Off the Boat Day" in honor of the hit ABC sitcom.



Los Angeles loves Fresh Off The Boat. May 2 has been officially declared "Fresh Off The Boat Day" in Los Angeles, as part of the city's celebration of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

L.A. Mayor Declares May 2 'Fresh Off the Boat' Day

To kick off Heritage Month and "celebrate the rich diversity, identity, and cultures of the Asian Pacific American community," the City of Los Angeles declared May 2 "Fresh Off the Boat Day" in honor of the hit ABC sitcom.

The declaration ceremony took place Tuesday morning at Los Angeles City Hall, with remarks by Mayor Eric Garcetti, council member David Ryu, council President Herb Wesson Jr. Fresh Off The Boat star Randall Park and the show's executive producers, Nahnatchka Khan and Melvin Mar.

The celebration ended with a luncheon sponsored by Panda Express, of course.

The first Asian American superhero returns in 'Shadow Hero Comics' #1

Gene Luen Yang and Sonny Liew partner with Panda Express for an exclusive new Green Turtle comic.



The Green Turtle returns! Award-winning comic book creator Gene Luen Yang has partnered with Panda Express to release an exclusive new comic featuring The Green Turtle -- the first Asian American superhero and star of the acclaimed graphic novel The Shadow Hero, in celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and the restaurant chain's salute to underdogs and unsung heroes.

Yang, the National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, has reunited with artist Sonny Liew to revisit their re-imagining of the obscure Golden Age comic superhero The Green Turtle in Shadow Hero Comics #1. Created by artist Chu Hing in 1944 for Blazing Comics, the character is believed to be the first Chinese American superhero. Yang and Liew revived the character in 2014 with an all-new Asian American origin story.

Here's the soundtrack for your AAPI Heritage Month

Spotify playlist presented by the White House Initiative on AAPIs and the Smithsonian APA Center.



Looking for some tunes to set off your day? In celebration of AAPI Heritage Month -- it's May, didn't ya know? -- the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center have put together this very cool AAPI Heritage Month 2016 Spotify Playlist.

It's a pretty dope list, running almost two hours with 31 songs from a wide array of artists, including Run River North, TOKiMONSTA, Jai Wolf, Yuna, Red Baraat, Kero One, Sam Tsui and many more.

Scarlett Johansson Presents: AAPI Heritage Month

Scarlett Johansson will not be at this show.



You gotta respect the next-level trolling involved with an event entitled Scarlet Johansson Presents: Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month. If you're in Los Angeles, celebrate AAPI Heritage Month and come see some good-ass comedy from some of the funniest Asian American improv teams in town.

It's happening Friday, May 27 at UCB Sunset's Inner Sanctum Cafe. Here are some more details:

Happy Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month 2016

"Let us celebrate the many contributions our AAPI brothers and sisters have made to the American mosaic."



Hey, everybody! It's May, and that means it's Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month! As I say every year, for many of us in the community, every month is AAPI Heritage Month. But it's nice that the powers that be have officially designated May as the month for everyone else to care. So let's celebrate.

"Our nation's story would be incomplete without the voices of countless Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders who have called the land we all love home," says President Obama, proclaiming May as AAPI Heritage Month. "This month, we honor the irreplaceable roles they have played in our past, and we recommit to ensuring opportunities exist for generations of AAPIs to come."

Here is President Obama's official proclamation of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month 2016:

Meet the White House Champions of Change for Asian American and Pacific Islander Art and Storytelling

The White House will recognize ten AAPI artists and advocates in celebration of AAPI Heritage Month.



On Wednesday, the White House will recognize ten individuals from across the country as "White House Champions of Change for Asian American and Pacific Islander Art and Storytelling."

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. To celebrate, the White House and White House Initiative on AAPIs are honoring artists and advocates who have used unique channels and diverse platforms to tell powerful stories, increase awareness around key AAPI issues, and encourage diversity and inclusion in all sectors of society. These ten individuals were selected for their leadership and tireless work to raise the visibility of diverse AAPI experiences and create dialogue around issues the community faces.

The Champions of Change event will feature remarks by Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff to the First Lady Tina Tchen, National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Jane Chu, and White House Initiative on AAPIs Executive Director Doua Thor. There will also be panel discussions with the awardees, moderated by myself and Jeanny Kim, Acting Director of the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center.

The event will be live streamed on the White House website at www.whitehouse.gov/live on Wednesday, May 4, at 2:00 PM ET. Follow the conversation at #WHChamps.

The White House Champions of Change for Asian American and Pacific Islander Art and Storytelling are:

Watch 11 documentaries on public TV for AAPI Heritage Month

Presented by CAAM. Check your local PBS and public TV stations for schedules.



Throughout the month of May, in celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, CAAM is presenting an exciting documentary slate of broadcasting eleven films on national public television.

The schedule includes Wayne Wang's latest film Soul of a Banquet, Ursula Liang's sports doc 9-Man, and the PBS broadcast of Filipino American Lives, a three-part series hosted by Tony-winning actress and singer Lea Salonga. All you have to do is turn on the tube to enjoy these awesome programs that highlight the fascinating, diverse, untold stories from the broad spectrum of the Asian Pacific American community.

Here's the list of this year's programming -- check your local PBS station for schedules:

Happy Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month 2015

Watch a video message from the White House and read President Obama's proclamation.



It's May. Happy Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month! Of course, around here, that's pretty much every month. But I appreciate the dedicated thirty-one day gesture, America. Let's celebrate.

In June 1977, Reps. Frank Horton of New York and Norman Y. Mineta of California introduced a House resolution that called upon the president to proclaim the first ten days of May as Asian-Pacific Heritage Week. Twelve years later, the week was extended into a month-long celebration. In 1992, the official designation of May as Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month was signed into law. And here we are.

Here's a video message from Kiran Ahuja, Executive Director of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and Konrad Ng, Director of the Smithsonian Asian Pacific Center:

Save the Date: White House Summit on AAPIs

Tuesday, May 12, 2015 in Washington DC



What are you doing on May 12? Save the date. The White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders invites you the White House Summit on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in Washington DC. The Summit will feature panels, workshops, and armchair dialogues with senior Administration officials, AAPI celebrities, and well-known community leaders, plus performances by distinguished AAPI artists.

The Summit is part of a series of events happening May 11-15 during AAPI Heritage Month in Washington, and provides a unique forum to actively engage with hundreds of AAPI leaders from across the nation. Previous AAPI Heritage Month speakers have included President Obama at the 2013 White House Celebration and Vice President Biden at the 2014 Opening Ceremony.

Programming details are still coming together, but more information on the Summit will be available in the coming months. In the meantime, visit the Summit website or subscribe to the weekly White House AAPI email newsletter. For further questions, email whitehouseaapi@ed.gov.

Images from A Day in the Life of Asian Pacific America

The first crowdsourced gallery of the Asian Pacific American experience as lived on one day: May 10, 2014



Happy Independence Day, whatever it may mean to you. Just in time for the Fourth of July, the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center has launched A Day in the Life of Asian Pacfic America, an incredible, illuminating photo exhibition celebrating the breadth and diversity of our community.

On May 10, 2014 more than 500 people captured over 2,000 photos and videos throughout the course of a single day. From the submissions, curators put together this gorgeous online exhibition -- the first crowdsourced gallery of the Asian Pacific American experience around the world as lived on one day.

Here are some sample photos from the exhibition:

Who says there are no AAPI civil rights heroes?

16-part video series profiles AAPI civil rights icons for Heritage Month



Some history for your Heritage Month... In celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Asian Law Caucus is releasing a 16-part series of short videos profiling AAPI civil rights heroes, from Wong Kim Ark to Larry Itliong to Japanese American internment dissenters.

Here are the videos they've released so far: