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 poet/author/activist Bao Phi and Minnesota Star Tribune columnist Laura Yuen to discuss the ongoing and escalating crackdown by federal immigration operations in Minnesota. They talk about Laura's recent piece about her family and their citizenship; the temperature on the street, particularly in the wake of recent killings by ICE agents; the widespread fear and uncertainty among community members just trying to move through their lives; and the kindness of everyday Minnesotans who are helping each other survive the siege. Also: The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of being in Minnesota right now. This episode is sponsored by Chinese Republicans, a new play from Roundabout Theatre Company.
"Asian Americans, in particular, have always struggled with being perceived as perpetual outsiders, no matter how long we've lived in the country. When immigrants of my parents\' generation started families here in the 1970s, many of them figured their children would fit in and thrive here, so long as they gave their children Western names and made sure they could speak perfect American English. I always felt they went overboard, that we didn't have to whitewash ourselves to gain acceptance. A half-century later, I'm thinking maybe my parents were onto something."
Sorry, Wrong Asian. The images of ChongLy Thao's arrest by ICE in St. Paul sparked outrage in Minnesota and across the internet. Thao was led out of his home in freezing weather, wearing nothing but his boxers and a blanket draped around him. Agents did not present a warrant, nor did they ask Thao for identification. He was released shortly afterward. Turns out, one of the guys they were looking for was already in prison.
Alabama is finding new ways -- using old laws -- to criminally charge undocumented immigrants. Federal courts in the state are using a law last applied during the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II to charge immigrants who don't register themselves.
In Ohio, five people were arrested for their involvement in a highly organized burglary ring targeting Asian Americans. Authorities in the Cincinnati suburbs gathered intelligence indicating that the suspects were planning to burglarize a home and caught them in the act. The group is accused of target Asian American small business owners in the area for years.
Attention filmmakers! The Center for Asian American Media is launching SILK STREAM, a new digital short film series. This initiative is a contemporary, digital-first reimagining of CAAM's groundbreaking SILK SCREEN anthology, specifically designed to engage a cross-generational audience, with a strong focus on digital-native viewers. They're looking for narrative and documentary shorts that not only explore the depth of the Asian American experience but also possess a distinct visual flair and the undeniable energy of contemporary pop culture. Learn more and submit here.
