I'm Asian, But I'm Not...

Don't let stereotypes define who you are.



BuzzFeed keeps bringing that Asian American content. In this PSA-like video, I'm Asian, But I'm Not, a bunch of Asian Americans -- by now, if you've seen enough of these videos, you'll recognize a lot of these usual suspects from the BuzzFeed video team -- talk about some of the ways they do or do not defy the usual Asian stereotypes. They're definitely not letting stereotypes define who they are.

Check it out:

Oakland Blasts Abortion Bans Based on Asian Stereotypes

Guest Post by Avani Mody


NAPAWF members at Oakland City Hall, coming out against sex-selective abortion bans.
On March 17, Oakland became the second city, after San Francisco, to pass a ban on sex-selective abortion bans. This is a huge victory for women, and in particular Asian American women. But why? What is a sex selective abortion ban?

Sex-selective abortion bans are an attempt by Republicans lawmakers to take away abortion rights. This time they are doing it using deceptive stereotypes of Asian American women. Much of the language around these bans indicates that Asian Americans do not value the lives of daughters. Their "evidence" is the high rate of female infanticide in Asia... because, you know, the situations of Asians abroad and Asians here in the U.S. are clearly the same. In an attempt to undermine abortion rights, they are exploiting a real women's rights issue abroad and putting Asian American women in harm's way -- all under the deceptive guise of equality. Oh, the irony.

Yet despite the intention to limit all women's reproductive rights, this logic is working. These Republican lawmakers are playing on the racist and anti-immigrant fears of Americans. Since 2010, it has passed in five states including Arizona and North Carolina, which have some of the fastest-growing Asian populations.

Happy Canada Day from Tess Paras

Music video parody mocks Avril Lavigne's "Hello Kitty"



The music video for "Hello Kitty" was allegedly pop star Avril Lavigne's homage to Japanese pop culture. It was a special kind of awful. As I noted, Gwen Stefani was doing this shit like ten years ago.

Many agreed. Actress Tess Paras, the mastermind behind that brilliant Hollywood-skewering "Royals" parody "Typecast," was inspired to write her own musical homage to Avril Lavigne's home country of Canada -- its celebrities, hobbies, foods, and of course, the national animal, The Beaver.

What better way for us Americans to celebrate July 1 -- Canada Day? Take a look:

"Royals" parody skewers Hollywood's sassy sidekicks of color

"Typecast," written and performed by Tess Paras



If you can handle another take on Lorde's "Royals," check out this funny parody, "Typecast," written and performed by actress Tess Paras. It's a funny lament on the plight of being a performer of color in Hollywood, and enduring the cattle call of auditions for the limited chance to play shining roles like "White Girl's Nerdy Friend," "Oversexed Asian" or "Urban Girls with Flavor." Take a look:

Beyond the Bad & The Ugly: Summit on Asian American Stereotypes, March 23

If you're in Southern California, make plans to join an amazing assortment of stereotype-busting personalities and conversations at the Beyond the Bad & The Ugly, the first-ever Asian American summit on stereotypes, happening March 23 at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles. Organized by Jeff Yang, the gathering will include actors, filmmakers, bloggers, poets, activists and more. Even an adult film star. Here are some more details about the event: