Tea Shop Owner Pepper Sprayed in Hate Crime Attack

And Other Things to Know From Angry Asian America.



Suspect Yells 'China' and 'COVID' in Pepper Spray Attack
In Washington DC, police are investigating a suspected hate crime assault at a Dupont Circle tea shop, where a man pepper sprayed the owner after yelling "China" and "COVID-19." Surveillance video shows the suspect entering Valley Brook Tea on Tuesday morning, shouting. When the owner, Yunhan Zhang, asked him to leave, the man pulled out the pepper spray on Zhang, who was reportedly sprayed on his face, arms and clothes. Zhang says this is not the first time he's been attacked, and it seems like the tea shop is the only business in the neighborhood dealing with such harassment. Wonder why. The Metropolitan Police Department says there are no arrests in connection with the case.

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Jeremy Lin works out with Stephen Curry amid NBA comeback bid
In his bid to make a return to the NBA, Jeremy Lin was spotted working out with Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry. This week, Lin was photographed playing some pickup ball with Curry and other Warriors players such as Eric Paschall, Kevon Looney, Marquese Chriss, and Alen Smailagic. After winning a title in 2019 with the Toronto Raptors, Lin played one season with the Beijing Ducks in the Chinese Basketball Association, before announcing his intentions to the return to the NBA. Hopefully this is a sign we'll be seeing him playing stateside soon.

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Claim Us If You're Famous
If you didn't know, now you know: our new Vice President is Black and Asian and South Asian and Indian American. On this week's Code Switch, they discuss what exactly it means for Kamala Harris to be the United States' first Black-South-Asian-multiracial-female-vice-president-elect. They get into a lot of messy territory, like what her political prominence might help illuminate (or obscure) about South Asian political identity, how multiracial people are perceived, and how Blackness intersects with all of those things.

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Bishal Dutta to Direct Untitled Horror Feature for New Line
Director Bishal Dutta will make his studio debut with New Line, directing an untitled original horror feature based on a spec by Joshua Rollins, and produced by James Wan's Atomic Monster. Plot details are being tightly held, but the project is an original horror film set in post-apocalyptic Los Angeles.

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New Blue's Clues & You Will Feature Josh's Lola
This is fun. An upcoming new episode of the children's show Blue's Clues & You will feature a visit from "Lola" -- Josh's grandmother, played by Carolyn Fe. In "Blue's Big Baking Show," Josh and Blue will spend the day making bibingka, a cake from the Philippines that is "masarap"! The episode will premiere Friday, November 20 on Nickelodeon.

They Call Us Bruce 115: They Call Us Election 2020

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 blogger Jenn Fang and columnist Aisha Sultan to discuss the historic election of Kamala Harris as Vice President of the United States, the troubling truth about Trump supporters and the American electorate, and the amazing gift of Four Seasons Total Landscaping.

TCUB 105: They Call Us The Vice Presidential Nominee

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 this episode, we welcome writer/comedian Anna John and WNYC's Arun Venugopal to discuss the historic nomination of Kamala Harris as Joe Biden's running mate -- the first woman of color on a major party ticket. They talk about multiracial identity, representation, and The Good, The Bad and The WTF of a possible Indian American Vice President.

And This is How Racist Kids Grow Up to Be Racist Grown Ups

And Other Things to Know From Angry Asian America.



Gwinnett School Apologizes for Racially Insensitive Yearbook Photo
In Gwinnett County, Georgia, a photo featuring multiple students making a racially insensitive gesture -- you know exactly what racially insensitive gesture I'm talking about -- was published in an elementary school yearbook, which was delivered to families last week. Officials at Dyer Elementary School sent a letter of apology to students and families for the photo's publication. The photo showed a group of students, some of whom were pulling their eyes back. The students had apparently been told to "make a silly face" for the photo. And the adults in charge were apparently okay with said silly face. And okay with the photo. And okay with the photo's publication. And okay with distributing it to the school community. Racism! It makes a fun yearbook photo!

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Newsweek Apologizes for Op-Ed Questioning Harris Eligibility
Newsweek has apologized for an op-ed that questioned Sen. Kamala Harris' U.S. citizenship and her eligibility to be Joe Biden's running mate, a false and racist conspiracy theory which President Donald Trump has not dismissed. "This op-ed is being used by some as a tool to perpetuate racism and xenophobia. We apologize," read Newsweek's editor's note on Friday, which replaced the magazine's earlier detailed defense of the op-ed. "We entirely failed to anticipate the ways in which the essay would be interpreted, distorted and weaponized," read the apology, signed by Josh Hammer, opinion editor, and Nancy Cooper, global editor in chief. But they ended the note by saying that the op-ed would remain on the site, with their note attached.

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USC Pacific Asia Museum Decolonizes Its Collections
"One institution leading the way in decolonizing its collections is the University of Southern California Pacific Asia Museum (USC PAM) in Pasadena. It has not only declared solidarity with Black Lives Matter but has announced plans to reevaluate its collection in this transformative moment. "We have a moment right now to deconstruct everything, take us down to the studs," said USC PAM director Dr. Bethany Montagano, who sees the museum as a human-centered space for social healing, "If we don't confront the fact that our collections are really loaded with the freight of racism and colonial and imperial structures, destructive forces, then we can't do that healing work."

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Awesome Asian Americans: 20 Stars Who Made America Amazing
Awesome Asian Americans: 20 Stars Who Made America Amazing, from San Francisco-based publisher Immedium, is an upcoming book for all ages that tells the spectacular stories of 10 women and 10 men who inspire us to change the world, brought to life with fantastic comic book artwork. Written by Phil Amara and Oliver Chin, and illustrated by Juan Calle, the book features the stories of real-life heroes such as Yuri Kochiyama, Bruce Lee, Lea Salonga, Helen Zia, Jeremy Lin and more. You can pre-order and back the book right now on Kickstarter.

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'Evil Eye': Revenge, Reincarnation, and Indian Mythology Come to Blumhouse
What if you suspected that your daughter's new fiancé was the reincarnation of a man who tried to kill you 30 years ago? That's the clever and creepy premise behind Evil Eye, a new Blumhouse horror movie that puts South Asian characters and mythology front-and-center. Directed by twin brother filmmakers Elan Dassani and Rajeev Dassani, Evil Eye tells the story of Pallavi, who has found the perfect man in New Orleans. But when she relays the news to her mother Usha back in Delhi, India, a terrifying family secret creeps to the surface. Is Sandeep the reincarnation of a man from Usha's dark past? Evil Eye premieres October 13 on Amazon Prime.

The Kamala Harris Birther Bullshit Has Already Begun

And Other Things to Know From Angry Asian America.



Trump and His Campaign Amplify 'Birther' Conspiracy Against Kamala Harris
Well, that shit didn't take long. As soon as Kamala Harris was announced as Joe Biden's pick for vice president, the birther conspiracies were off and running. Some shitbag lawyer writes a racist, baseless Newsweek opinion piece calling Harris' eligibility into question, based on the fact that her parents were both immigrants. For the record, Senator Harris was born in Oakland, California, which indeed makes her eligible for the presidency, like anyone else born in the United States. But of course, Trump couldn't help dip his toe in the birther conspiracy. He's been here before, after all. "I heard it today that she doesn't meet the requirements," Trump said at today's White House briefing, referring to the Newsweek piece. "I have no idea if that's right. I would have assumed that the Democrats would have checked that out before she gets chosen to run for vice president." Like I said, that didn't take long. Are we going to have to deal with this bullshit all the way to election day?

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Justice Dept accuses Yale of discriminating against Asian and White applicants
The Justice Department accused Yale University of discriminating against Asian American and White applicants in its undergraduate admissions process. The announcement, the culmination of a two-year investigation, represents the latest move by the Trump administration to undermine affirmative action policies that have bolstered diversity within higher education for decades. All I have to say about this as it pertains to Asian Americans: I refuse to be the Trump Administration's wedge, in this matter and all matters.

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Fonda Lee's 'Jade City' is Being Adapted for Peacock
Peacock has put in development Jade City, a series based on the first book in Fonda Lee's bestselling fantasy trilogy The Green Bone Saga. Written Dave Kalstein, Jade City is described as "an epic saga of magic and martial arts where two rival clans will fight to the bitter end for love, honor and power. Set in an Asia-inspired fantasy metropolis reminiscent of 70s Hong Kong, jade holds mystical powers and our two warring families will fight to the end over its control."

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1970s-Set 'Batman' Animated Movie Reveals Cast
The Dark Knight is headed to the 1970s for his latest animated adventure, the upcoming Batman: Soul of the Dragon. Directed by Sam Liu, the film is an original tale, rather than based on a specific comic book storyline, that sees Bruce Wayne face a deadly menace from his past with the help of three former classmates: world-renowned martial artists Richard Dragon, Ben Turner and Lady Shiva. It sounds like Batman by way of Bruce Lee, with a voice cast that includes Mark Dacascos, Kelly Hu and James Hong. Batman: Soul of the Dragon is due out in early 2021.

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Ruth Asawa Postage Stamps
Ruth Asawa was a pioneering Japanese American artist who transformed our understanding of art, culture, and education. USPS has honored Asawa with Forever stamps, available starting today. Showcasing Asawa's abstract wire sculptures, the pane includes 20 stamps, with two each of 10 designs. Get them here.

Biden and Harris Make First Appearance as Running Mates

And Other Things to Know From Angry Asian America.



Harris, As Biden's Running Mate, Says Case Against Trump Is 'Open And Shut'
Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and his newly named running mate, Senator Kamala Harris of California, made their first joint appearance Wednesday. Watch the video of their remarks here.

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Where Can AAPI Voters Have the Most Impact in November 2020?
Asian Americans and Pacific Islander voters saw increases in voter registration after the 2016 election. These sizable gains in voter registration could potentially make a noticeable impact this November in battleground states like Arizona, where 173,231 AAPIs comprise 4.6 percent of the state’s electorate. In addition to increases in voter registration, AAPI turnout might also be influenced by other factors, such as the selection of Senator Kamala Harris as the first Asian American person on a major party's presidential ticket.

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'47 Ronin' Sequel Sets 'Mulan's Ron Yuan As Director
Ron Yuan is set direct the upcoming sequel to the Keanu Reeves film 47 Ronin. While the 2013 movie, based on a real-life story of a group of samurai who set out to avenge the death of their master, was set in 18th century Japan, it's being reported that the untitled quasi-sequel re-imagines the tale set 300 years in the future, blending martial arts, action, horror and cyber-punk. You have my attention.

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42 & A-Major Media Team For Movie Adaptation Of 'Good Fortune'
Production companies 42 and A-Major Media are teaming up to produce develop and produce a film adaptation of Megan Chan Meinero's play Good Fortune. Developed in New York with the New Group and Ensemble Studio Theatre, the darkly comic social satire tells the story of Mei-Ling, who was adopted at birth from China by Julie, an American woman who wanted a daughter that would love her and be with her forever. Eighteen years later, Mei-Ling is ready to go to college, but Julie has a different plan.

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Apply to AAWW's 2021 Margins Fellowship
Hey writers! Applications are now open for the Asian American Writers' Workshop's 2021 Margins Fellowship. Every year, AAWW supports four emerging creative writers of color based in New York City with a year-long fellowship that includes a $5,000 stipend; month-long residency at the Millay Colony for the Arts; six-month mentorship with an established writer; career meet-ups with agents, editors, and fellow writers; publication opportunities and more. Applications are due September 7. For more information, go here.

Kamala Harris is Biden's Pick for Vice President

And Other Things to Know From Angry Asian America.


Kamala Harris Is Biden's Choice for Vice President
And there it is. We have a Democratic ticket. Joe Biden selected Senator Kamala Harris of California as his vice-presidential running mate on Tuesday. Harris is the first Black woman and the first person of Asian descent -- her mother is Indian, did you know? -- to be nominated for national office by a major party, and only the fourth woman in history to be chosen for one of their presidential tickets. We are a big step closer to making this damn thing happen. Get it all out now, because we have one job, come November -- getting Trump the fuck out.

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"She punched me on my face"
In Philadelphia, police are looking for a suspect who attacked an Asian American woman an her daughter last week. While authorities say they're not currently pursuing the attack as a hate crime, the victim says it was racially motivated. Jing Chen and her 12-year-old daughter were walking on the street when a woman, identified as Delores Marte, "came out of nowhere" and started spraying water at them. When Chen confronted her, the woman said "You (expletive), Chinese (expletive)." When the woman got in her face, Chen asked, "What you gonna do -- I'm pregnant, are you going to hurt me?" Marte apparently looked at Chen's belly then punched her in the face. Police now have a warrant out for Marte's arrest. However, the district attorney claims there isn't enough evidence to call this an act of "ethnic intimidation." Marte is being charged with simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and harassment. Huh?

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Help! I Can’t Believe My Son’s Friend Fed Him Indian Food Without Calling Me First.
This letter to Slate's "Dear Prudence" advice column is kind of heartbreaking. Because somewhere out there, a 9-year-old's parents have been feeding him bland, terrible food his entire life. Tragic. Basically, a dad is upset because his son, Chris, went over to an Indian friend's house, and said Indian friends' parents had the audacity to feed Chris some Indian food for dinner without asking if it was okay. Because "spicy foods can be hard on small tummies." The kid is nine years old, dude. Your concern for his small tummy is rooted is some kind of racism. And by the way, it sounds like Chris really enjoyed his chicken curry and lentils and vegetables. His small tummy has corrupted by "ethnic" food! Welcome to the dark side, young Chris. You're going to love it.

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Kal Penn to Host Election Series for Freeform Aimed at Young Voters
Kal Penn is set to host and produce an unscripted election-themed series that looks to explore issues and topics relevant to Millennial and GenZ voters. Freeform has issued a series order for the untitled comedy project.

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'Lingua Franca': Isabel Sandoval Tells Timely Story Of Immigration And Civil Rights
From romance to tragedy, the first trailer for Isabel Sandoval's Lingua Franca offers a riveting glimpse of the story of Olivia, an undocumented Filipina trans woman. Ava DuVernay's ARRAY Releasing is set to virtually debut Lingua Franca in select theaters and on Netflix August 26.

Kamala Harris finishes first in California Senate primary

State Attorney General will run against Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez in historic November faceoff.



On Tuesday, California primary voters propelled two Democrats -- both minority women -- to a historic runoff. State attorney general Kamala Harris will face off against Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez on the November ballot for the state's open U.S. Senate seat.

Senate candidates Kamala Harris, Loretta Sanchez advance to general election

Harris, the clear front runner, clinched a first-place finish with 40 percent of the vote, emerging from a field of 34 candidates seeking the seat being vacated by retiring Senator Barbara Boxer. Early returns showed Sanchez, a 10-term congresswoman from Orange County, securing second place.

Under California election rules, only two candidates -- the top vote-getters, regardless of party -- advance to the November election. The matchup between Harris and Sanchez will mark the first time in over a century that Republicans will be absent from California's general election ballot for the Senate.

Kamala Harris announces run for U.S. Senate

California's Attorney General makes a bid for Barbara Boxer's old seat.



Looks like this race is on. On Tuesday, California Attorney General Kamala D. Harris officially announced that she will run for the U.S. Senate seat that is opening up with Sen. Barbara Boxer's retirement.

Kamala Harris launches U.S. Senate bid, begins raising money

Harris, who was re-elected to a second term as attorney general last year, made the announcement to supporters on a new campaign website, and immediately started fundraising for her 2016 bid.

"I'm excited to share with you that I'm launching my campaign to represent the People of California in the United States Senate. Your support has been crucial to me every step of the way, and I'm asking you to help me build a grassroots campaign that reaches every community of California."

She also, of course, shared the news on Twitter: