Man Dies Whle Trying to Rescue Three Children From River

And Other Things to Know From Angry Asian America.



Good Samaritan Dies While Trying To Save 3 Children From River
A 29-year-old man is dead after jumping into a California river to rescue three children who were swept away in the water. Two eight-year-old girls and a 10-year-old boy were playing in the Kings River in Fresno County when they were pulled under a bridge by the current. Manjeet Singh was standing on the bank when he saw the kids struggling and decided to jump in at the bridge to save them. According to police, Singh was pulled underwater shortly after jumping in. Other bystanders were able to pull two of the children out to safety, while one of the girls, who was underwater for 15 minutes, is in critical condition. Singh was later found underwater and unresponsive, and declared dead at the hospital. My condolences to his family. Manjeet Singh is a hero.

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Hong Garden Fire Relief Fund
This family's Chinese restaurant could use your help. Hong Garden, which has been operating in Paoli, Pennsylvania for 26 years, was badly damaged in a fire last month. The cause of the fire is still undetermined. Nobody was hurt, but the damage was extensive. Loved ones have organized a fundraiser to provide financial relief for the restaurant staff -- now out of a job amidst the COVID-19 pandemic -- and to offset the cost of cleaning up and restoring the space destroyed by the fire. As I write this, the GoFundMe is already well past the original $15,000 fundraising goal, but some extra funds will probably help in the long road to recovery. Your help and generosity are appreciated.

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Video shows man screaming at restaurant staff in Blind Bay, B.C.
Meanwhile, in Canada... a video posted to Facebook on Friday shows a man yelling and swearing at the staff of a Chinese restaurant because he apparently wasn't getting his food fast enough. In the video, recorded by a customer at the Chinese Garden Restaurant in Blind Bay, a man can be seen yelling at an elderly staff member. "(I ordered) an hour ago, and you're not making my food," the man screams. After the staff person tries to hand him a bag of food, the man replies "I don’t fucking care anymore! I’ve got to go feed my two-year-old. Fuck you! If you can't take orders, tell people you can't!" Real classy, dude.

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YouTuber Teams Up With BBC Host After Criticizing Her Rice Recipe
Fried rice fans from across the world united on Sunday when a YouTube comedian who savagely mocked a BBC presenter for her cooking skills made peace by teaming up with her for a new video. The entire debate over fried rice kicked off last month when Nigel Ng, a Malaysian comedian, released a YouTube video showing himself reacting to the egg fried rice prepared by BBC presenter Hersha Patel. The video went viral, with social media widely joining in to mock Patel's rice preparation techniques. But in a twist, Patel reached out Ng and they actually met up in person -- they both live in London -- to chop it up and discuss Patel's alleged crimes against rice. They even collaborated on a video to make it official. And all was good again in the world of rice.

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How One Swing Changed Collin Morikawa's Life
On Sunday, at the 102nd P.G.A. Championship at T.P.C. Harding Park in San Francisco, 23-year-old Collin Morikawa etched his name on the Wanamaker Trophy with a final-round six-under-par 64 in only his second appearance at a major championship. He became the third-youngest winner of the P.G.A. Championship since it became a stroke-play event in 1958. All thanks to one epic, jaw-dropping drive to the 16th green.

Read These Blogs

How the Pandemic Defeated America
A virus has brought the world's most powerful country to its knees.

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An Atomic Bomb Survivor On Her Journey From Revenge To Peace
As a child, Koko Kondo vowed to one day get revenge on the person who dropped the atomic bomb on her home city of Hiroshima. Then, she met him.

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The U.S. Crackdown on Chinese American Researchers Endangers the Future of Science
Ethnically Chinese scientists are fighting a long history of U.S. persecution.

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How Kamala Harris or Tammy Duckworth as VP could impact the AAPI vote
Largely overlooked in the public VP discussions, Biden's selection of a running mate with Asian American roots -- like Kamala Harris or Tammy Duckworth -- could appeal to growing populations in key states.

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Congress must intervene to make sure Trump doesn't sabotage the census
"Denying the Census Bureau adequate time to navigate covid-19 makes clear that the president wants to decide who counts and who does not in the United States. In the event that Trump does not serve a second term, cutting the census short would ensure that decisions about congressional apportionment are made under his presidency."

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In America's "First Suburban Chinatown," Asian Americans Have Negotiated Cultural Representation
In the San Gabriel Valley, home to the largest concentration of Asian Americans, cultural landmarks tell a story of the formation of a collective cultural identity.

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Chanel Miller's Secret Source of Strength
"Drawing was a way for me to see that I was still there," says author Chanel Miller, who refuses to be defined by an assault. A new mural in San Francisco is her museum debut.

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Hee-sook Lee, who built an empire with BCD Tofu House chain, dies at 61
Hee-sook Lee had tenacity and a secret recipe. She opened the first BCD Tofu House restaurant in 1996.

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Pandemic economy inspires cousins to start ‘side hustle’ delivering fresh durian to O.C. and beyond
Chris Meechukant, co-owner of Bangkok Taste, started selling fresh, Thailand-imported durian to Orange County customers about one month ago as a "side hustle." He's sold about 50 boxes as week.

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Column: 'Mulan' deserves more. Why a Disney+ release does the warrior heroine another disservice
Disney announced that the long-delayed live-action version of Mulan would debut on Disney Plus next month, to the upset of many who were anticipating the film's theatrical release.

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Lost in the '90s: Struggling to find Asian American representation when there was none
Growing up in the 90s, Ariel Dean combed through American comic books and international Asian icons searching for Asian American heroes to relate to -- and found kindred spirits in a first-generation family of goofballs hidden in the sewers of New York City: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

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Padma Lakshmi Wants Us to Eat More Adventurously
Top Chef host Padma Lakshmi talks about her aims to demystify foods that are part of American culture with her own show, Hulu's Taste the Nation.

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Baby-Sitters Club's Momona Tamada on Being Claudia Kishi and Fashion
The Baby-Sitters Club star on playing the dream role, the power of protest, and all those fabulous clothes.

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Maitreyi Ramakrishnan on John McEnroe and Crying on Camera
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan's starring role in Never Have I Ever was her first job -- ever.

Why isn't this attack being investigated as a hate crime?

And Other Things to Know From Angry Asian America.



NYPD: Classify brutal attack against 89-year old Asian woman a Hate Crime.
Last month in Brooklyn, an 89-year old Asian woman was assaulted and set on fire by two people in masks. The police are not investigating the incident as a hate crime, despite the fact that there was no provocation, the assailants didn't know the victim, and they didn't try to take anything from her. It was just a heinous, violent act. This petition is calling on the NYPD and Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez to classify the incident as a hate crime.

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James Hong Deserves a Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
With hundreds upon hundreds of credits to his name, James Hong is Hollywood's most prolific actor, hands down. If anyone deserves a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, it's Mr. Hong, who has appeared in films from Chinatown to Big Trouble in Little China to Kung Fu Panda over a seven-decade career. So fellow actor Daniel Dae Kim has launched a fundraiser to get Mr. Hong his star. [UPDATE: The GoFundMe has reached its goal of more than $55,000 in just three days. The next step is the nomination process.]

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Benson Lee Set to Direct 20th Century Studios' Untitled K-Pop Film
Seoul Searching director Benson Lee is set to direct a K-pop-themed feature film from 20th Century Fox Studios. The untitled film follows a young Asian American college student from the United States who becomes a top competitor on South Korea's toughest k-pop competition show and chases her dreams of becoming a K-Pop star, despite the disapproval of her family.

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First Look at Character Designs From 'Invicible'
Here's a first look at the character designs from the upcoming Amazon animated series Invincible, based on the comic book by Robert Kirkman and starring the voice of Steven Yeun in the title role. It's a Walking Dead reunion, of sorts. Invincible follows a teenager named Mark Grayson whose father is the most powerful superhero on the planet. The series is set to premiere later this year.

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HAYAO MIYAZAKI PIN
"Children understand intuitively that the world they have been born into is not a blessed world." This 1-inch soft enamel pin from Super Yaki pays tribute to the smiling face of master animator, filmmaker, screenwriter, author, and manga artist Hayao Miyazaki. Get it here.

"The Violence is Always There"

And Other Things to Know From Angry Asian America.



Life as a Sikh in Trump's America
"Many Sikh civil rights groups believe that the Trump presidency is to blame for a 17% spike in anti-Sikh violence since the 2016 election, as well as a deluge of other discriminatory incidents in the workplace, in housing, in schools, at airport security checkpoints. The president’s inflammatory language about immigrants and foreigners, they say, has made official profiling more prevalent and emboldened racists to speak and act more openly."

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New York Politician Apologizes for Calling BLM 'Business Lives Matter'
New York City Council member Peter Koo apologized on Thursday for saying BLM stood for "business lives matter" during a speech. Speaking at a forum with the city's Department of Transportation and the Metropolitan Transit Authority, Koo was speaking in opposition to a proposal for a bus lane for stretch of street in Flushing, saying that the plan posed a problem for local small-business owners. "BLM, it means what? Business lives matter," Koo said to the crowd. Stop. That is the sound of my eyes rolling. You can make your point without saying shit like this. The councilman has since apologized for his remarks.

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Scientist Killed During Her Regular Morning Run
A 43-year-old scientist and mother of two was found dead near a creek in Plano, Texas, on Saturday morning after going out for her regular morning run. Sarmistha Sen had gotten up early for a run and at some point in time came across her attacker. Less than two hours later, a witness discovered Sen's body near the creek. Her death is being classified as a homicide and a person of interest is currently being held for a burglary that happened nearby, according to police. Local residents paid tribute to Sen by dropping off pairs of running shoes near the site where she was killed.

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Classroom Convos 1: Difficult Conversations About Race
The recent racial uprising has made us all aware of the extent of racism around us. More of us, especially the younger generation, are now willing to talk about race and find collective ways to combat systemic racism. But these conversations are not easy, and we may not even be comfortable talking about race, because we were never taught how to. However, these conversations are crucial to bring about a systemic change. Act to Change invites you to their first Classroom Convos, a youth workshop that will guide you on talking about race, especially with Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Participants will be able to reflect on their challenges and discomforts with talking about race and racism, and will leave with concrete strategies to increase their influence and sustainability. It's happening Friday, August 7 at 1pm ET. Speakers will include Maulik Pancholy, actor, author & co-founder of Act To Change; and Richard Leong, leadership development coach & board member of Act To Change. Register for the webinar here.

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Lucky Grandma
Lucky Grandma is now available on digital platforms. Written and directed by Sasie Sealy, this darkly hilarious indie feature stars the legendary Tsai Chin at the center of a Chinatown gangster caper. An ornery, chain-smoking, newly widowed 80-year-old Grandma is eager to live life as an independent woman, despite the worry of her family. When a local fortune teller predicts a most auspicious day in her future, Grandma decides to head to the casino and goes all in, only to land herself on the wrong side of luck... suddenly attracting the attention of some local gangsters. Desperate to protect herself, Grandma employs the services of a bodyguard from a rival gang and soon finds herself right in the middle of a Chinatown gang war.

'Mulan' is Skipping Theaters and Going Straight to Disney Plus

And Other Things to Know From Angry Asian America.



'Mulan' to Premiere on Disney Plus
After months of delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the live-action Mulan is finally getting a release next month, bypassing theaters altogether and going straight to Disney Plus. Mulan will debut September 4 on the streaming service, but it'll cost subscribers a hefty "premiere access" rental fee of $29.99. With the world currently on fire, and nobody reasonably headed to movie theaters anytime soon, this will be an interest test case for the future of moviegoing. So... will you pay thirty bucks to watch Mulan at home?

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Safe From Hate
Responding to sharp rise in violence and harassment targeting Asian Americans in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, "Safe From Hate" is a new initiative giving away free personal safety alarms to Asian Americans in New York City's Chinatown. The initial launch, happening the morning of Saturday, August 15, will give away up to 600 alarms to pre-registered seniors over 60 years of age residing at Confucius Plaza. "Safe From Hate" was created by Gilbert Chan and Barbara Yau, two longtime friends who were fueled by a motivation to protect Asian Americans who have been targeted in recent racist attacks. Find out more here.

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Lifetime is Finally Making an Asian American Christmas Movie
Lifetime's 2020 slate for their "It's a Wonderful Lifetime" holiday programming will include A Sugar & Spice Holiday, the cable network's first holiday movie centered on a Chinese American family. Jennifer Liao is set to direct with Eirene Donohue writing. Casting is currently underway, with production set to begin this month. The official description: "Suzie, a rising young architect, returns to her small hometown in Maine for Christmas where, her Chinese American family runs the local Lobster Bar. Following the loss of her beloved grandmother who was a legendary baker in their community, Suzie is guilted into following in her grandmother's footsteps by entering the local gingerbread house competition. Teaming up with an old high school friend Billy, who grew up to be a catch, Suzie must find the right recipes and mix of sugar and spice to win the competition and perhaps find some love in the process."

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Could This Be a Casting Call for Shang-Chi?
This week in Sydney, where production is about to resume for Marvel's Shang-Chi and Legend of the Ten Rings, folks spotted a possible casting call for the movie, looking for Chinese men and woman with "archery skills." The full flyer posted here, reads: "Extras casting, Film in Sydney, Archery, Chinese Men & Women 18+. Archery Skills: not required to shoot an arrow. Knowledge of how to use a bow is required." Hey, Australian readers, maybe that's you! If you know how to hold a bow and look good doing it, you could maybe possibly maybe be an extra in Shang-Chi.

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A Thousand Cuts
A Thousand Cuts is a powerful new film about the attacks on the free press in the Philippines. Directed by Ramona Diaz, the film focuses on journalist Maria Ressa and her attempts to fight back and defend press freedom in the country from the authoritarian regime of President Rodrigo Duterte. Ressa places the tools of the free press -- and her freedom -- on the line in defense of truth and democracy. A Thousand Cuts opens Friday in virtual cinemas nationwide. For more information, go here

Google Doodle Celebrates Olympic Diver Vicki Manalo Draves

And Other Things to Know from Angry Asian America.



Celebrating Vicki Draves
Today's Google Doodle celebrates Filipino American diver and coach Victoria "Vicki" Draves, the first Asian American woman to win an Olympic medal. On this day in 1948, Draves won the gold medal in the women’s 3-meter springboard event at the London Summer Olympics.

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Meet the Bay Area rapper working on a COVID vaccine
Ruby Ibarra will save us all. With her rhymes an her science. You might know her as an incredible ass-kicking Filipino American hip hop artist. But did you know she works a day job? As a freaking scientist? She's a scientist at a Bay Area biotech company, working in the quality-control department on COVID-19 test kits and even a vaccine. She's got the smarts and the flow. I should not be surprised.
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Suspect Arrested in Death of Professional Poker Player Susie Zhao
A suspect is in custody in connection to the death of professional poker player Susie Zhao, whose burned remains were found at a Michigan park in July. A 60-year-old man was arrested on Friday in the investigation of Zhao's homicide. Charges have no been released, and the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALLFBI or submit tips online to tips.fbi.gov.

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BCD Tofu House Founder Hee Sook Lee Has Died
Hee Sook Lee, who founded the beloved, Los Angeles-based BCD Tofu House restaurant chain, known for its bubbling pots of soondubu and its late night hours, has passed away. The Koreatown Youth and Community Center announced her death last week in a post on its Facebook page. No date or cause of death was given, although it appears Lee died in early or mid-July. Pour out some soondubu jjigae in her honor. Rest in peace.

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Wong Kar-Wai's New Series Is an Ambitious Ode to Shanghai
Blossoms Shanghai, famed auteur Wong Kar-Wai's first dramatic series, is an adaptation of the epic, multi-award-winning novel Blossoms by Jin Yucheng. The series "tells the story of an enigmatic, self-made millionaire, Mr. Bao (Hu Ge), and his journey of reinvention from a young opportunist with a troubled past to the heights of the gilded city of Shanghai. Set against the backdrop of massive economic growth in 1990’s Shanghai, the series unveils the glamour that follows his dazzling wealth and his entanglement with four fabulous women that represent the pursuits of his life: adventure, honor, love and innocence."

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One Korean American's Reckoning
There's been an energized push of Asian Americans involved in and vocally supporting Black Lives Matter protests -- but the history of this group's organizing for racial justice isn't new.

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Fate and Desire in Asian America
The satisfaction people take in free will comes not from their ability to choose, but from their ability to feel like they've chosen.

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When I Couldn't Be With My Sister After Childbirth, We Practiced Zuo Yue Zi From Afar
"I wasn't supposed to be in charge of my sister's ritual postpartum recovery. But when my mom couldn't travel due to the pandemic, it was up to me."

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Interview with a writer: Ada Tseng
An interview with Ada Tseng, entertainment editor for TimesOC (and longtime friend of this blog).

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Marvel's 'Daredevil' Asian problem is really Hollywood's bigger Asian problem
"We must stop perpetuating the notion that Asians are inherently foreign or other and allow them to live on screen as we do in life: fully and unapologetically."

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He's probably been in more movies than any actor in history
Without exaggeration, James Hong might be the most prolific actor in Hollywood history. With more than 600 credits to his name, he may lay claim to the most credits of any actor, living or dead.

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Another Asian American Actor's Not-So-Hollywood Ending
To be Chinese in Hollywood meant that your name didn't matter -- no one in the audience would remember you or send you a fan letter. The story of enduring Hollywood actor and television star Victor Sen Yung.

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The personal experiences that Lev and Yara's actors brought to The Last of Us Part 2
Ian Alexander and Victoria Grace agreed that playing Seraphite siblings in the hit video game The Last of Us Part II was one of the most transformative experience they'd ever had.

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Angela Mao in Lady Kung Fu outsold Bruce Lee's Enter the Dragon at US cinemas
The characters that legendary martial arts actress Angela Mao played fought mercilessly and she had an intense screen presence, but it was her Peking Opera school training that was key to her success.

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After facing tragedy, Yiyun Li has become a different kind of writer
The award-winning author behind Where Reasons End returns with her anticipated new novel, Must I Go.

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Kevin Kwan and Cornelia Guest Share Stories About the Crazy Rich and Famous
Kevin Kwan's fourth novel, Sex and Vanity, is set in New York and the Italian island of Capri.

They Call Us Bruce 104: They Call Us Lucky Grandma

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 the legendary Tsai Chin, star of the feature film Lucky Grandma, along with writer/director Sasie Sealy and co-writer Angela Cheng. We discuss why a 85-year-old Chinese grandma was the perfect star for a Chinatown gangster caper. Special thanks to our producer Nick Song for resurrecting and salvaging this episode from audio limbo.

"You Yellow Bitches Shouldn't Be Here, This Is My Country..."

And Other Things to Know From Angry Asian America.



Racist Cyclist Hurls Slurs at Asian Man For Honking
Look! Another guy caught on video doing racist shit! This incident, filmed in Brooklyn, was sparked when an Asian motorist, Zane Tang, honked at a cyclist because he was swerving in the middle of the road. The guy on the bike responded by flipping him off, brake checking and hitting Tang's vehicle, then getting into a verbal altercation when Tang got out of the car. The guy launched into a racist and homophobic tirade, telling Tang, "You yellow bitches shouldn't be here, this is my country, I was born here," and "You guys are the weakest race on the planet," among other things. Tang posted the video to Facebook, where it unsurprisingly went viral. [UPDATE: The cyclist has been identified as Harry Tzianakis, who apparently has a history of anti-Asian harassment in the area.] Yes, internet. You know what to do.

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All 50 States Have Issued Warnings About Mysterious Packages of Seeds
All 50 states have now issued warnings about mysterious, unsolicited packages of seeds that people across the nation have received in the mail in recent weeks. The packages appear to be coming from China, which has prompted fears that the seeds could be some sort of invasive plant species. And that's how those sneaky bastards get us! A literal attack on American soil! Actually, the leading theory is that the seeds are part of a "brushing scam" -- when third-party sellers send people items they didn't order and write glowing product reviews on their behalf. It's a thing. I don't know, they look like sunflower seeds.

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NAVARRO: "The China virus. The CCP virus."@JohnBerman: "You know what? We let you say that once, Peter. Please don't say that again on this show."

NAVARRO: "The China virus."

BERMAN: "Alright. Peter Navarro, we appreciate you being with us." pic.twitter.com/g5gJ9MTuEi

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 29, 2020

CNN Cuts Off Trump Adviser for Saying "China Virus"
CNN host John Berman shut down White House economic adviser Peter Navarro for repeatedly referring to COVID-10 as the "China virus" during an interview on Wednesday morning -- noting that Asian Americans have told the network they have become "the source of crimes" amid the pandemic.

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Adaptation of 'Number One Chinese Restaurant in the Works
Kerry Washington's Simpson Street Productions is developing an adaptation of Number One Chinese Restaurant, based on Lillian Li's novel of the same name. Li and writer/director Jessica Yu are attached to work on the series. The ensemble drama follows a Chinese family's obsession over legacy, power and money. The restaurant in question is inhabited by waiters and kitchen staff who have been fighting, loving, and aging within its walls for decades. When disaster strikes, this working family's controlled chaos is set loose, forcing each character to confront the conflicts that fast-paced restaurant life has kept at bay.

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Definition Please
Check out the trailer for Definition Please, the feature directorial debut of Sujata Day, who also wrote, produced and stars in the film. It's been 15 years since Monica Chowdry won the national Spelling Bee, and life hasn't quite panned out as expected for the young champion. When her estranged older brother returns home to help care for their sick mother, the siblings must find a way to reconcile in this late bloomer coming-of-age family dramedy. Definition Please will have its virtual world premiere at the Bentonville Film Festival in August.

89-Year-Old Woman Set On Fire in Brooklyn Assault

And Other Things to Know From Angry Asian America.



89-Year-Old Woman Slapped In Face, Set On Fire In Brooklyn
What is wrong with people? In New York, police are looking for two men accused of slapping an 89-year-old Asian woman and setting her shirt on fire. The incident happened on July 14 in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. Police said the suspects approached the victim and slapped her in the face. When she moved away, they allegedly lit her shirt on fire with a match or lighter, then ran away. Fortunately, the woman didn't suffer any serious injuries. Anyone with information about the attack is asked to call the NYPD;s Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). You can also submit a tip via their website or on Twitter, @NYPDTips.

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Did This Good Morning America Host Interviewing Kristina Wong... Think She Was Talking to Ali Wong?
Comedian and performance artist Kristina Wong was a guest on Good Morning America to talk about her incredible efforts with the "Auntie Sewing Squad," which has created and distributed thousands of masks for vulnerable communities. Awesome, right? Except... the opening moments of the interview seem to indicate that host Amy Robach thought she was talking to comedian Ali Wong. Am I tripping?

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Man arrested for incidents targeting Asians in Torrance, West Carson
Torrance again. Last week, a man was arrested on assault and vandalism charges after being accused of two attacks on an Asian man and a Japanese restaurant this month. 36-year-old Aaron Sutton Angeles allegedly approached an Asian man on the street and asked him multiple times if he was Asian before attacking him with a knife. Upon his arrest, deputies learned Angeles was also suspected of vandalizing a nearby Japanese restaurant a day before the assault, when he was seen throwing a rock through the restaurant's window. He was reportedly also overheard saying, "The Japanese caused 9-11." Yeah.

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After Lesko mispronounces Pramila Jayapal's name the first time, she butchers the pronunciation the second time and Jayapal was not having it.@RepJayapal: "Jayapal, if you're going to say my name, please say it right. It's Jayapal." pic.twitter.com/hiw0yEDbz6

— Erick Fernandez (@ErickFernandez) July 28, 2020

Rep. Jayapal Asks Colleague to Properly Pronounce Her Name
It's pronounced JYE-ah-paul. Rep. Pramila Jayapal interrupted Rep. Debbie Lesko to correct how Lesko pronounced her name during a Judiciary Committee hearing Tuesday about protests and the use of federal intervention in major cities. "Jayapal," she said. "If you're going to say my name, please say it right. It's Jayapal." You're damn right it is. Make them say your name. Make them say it right.

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The Master of Martial Arts Battles an Army in Arthur Adams' 'Shang-Chi' #1 Cover
Here's a preview of the cover of Marvel Comics' upcoming new Shang-Chi series, written by Gene Luen Yang with art by Dike Ruan. The awesome cover art for the first issue, above, is by industry legend Arthur Adams. Shang-Chi #1 hits shelves in September.

Bus Driver Assaulted After Asking Passengers to Wear Masks

And Other Things to Know From Angry Asian America.



Baseball Bat Attacker First Accused Asian Muni Driver of Being COVID-19 Positive
Last week in San Francisco, when a bus operator asked three passengers to wear masks aboard the bus, one of the men spat at the driver -- who is Asian -- called him racial slurs and accused him of having coronavirus, before attacking him with a baseball bat. When the driver managed to grab hold of the bat, the man then punched the driver twice in the face. The driver suffered a fractured finger, bruises and pain where he was struck. While bus union insists this was a hate crime, San Francisco police are saying the incident did not appear to be racially motivated. What?

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Caught on Camera: Woman Calls Postal Worker a "Chink"
In Los Altos, California, a woman was caught on camera calling an Asian American postal employee a "chink." In the video, shot by another customer, the woman yells at the USPS worker, "Can you just do your job?! It's simple!" After some more shouting the woman can be heard saying "chink" under her breath. Bystanders in line quickly jump in to denounce the slur. A few seconds later, the woman looks directly into the phone camera and says "chink" again, much louder, and storms out. And now that it's blown up, be on the lookout for the inevitable tearful apology, in which the woman claims she was "having a bad day," and that's "not who she is."

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‘Daredevil’ Actor Peter Shinkoda Claims Jeph Loeb Made Anti-Asian Comments
Daredevil actor Peter Shinkoda took a stand on Sunday during #SaveDaredevilCon as he claimed that former head of Marvel Television Jeph Loeb said anti-Asian comments during the production of the series. Shinkoda, who played Nobu Yoshioka, talked about how a potential storyline delving into his character's relationship with Madame Gao (Wai Ching Ho) got scrapped. "Jeph Loeb told the writers room not to write for Nobu and Gao," Shinkoda said. "He said, 'Nobody cares about Chinese people and Asian people. There were three previous Marvel movies, a trilogy called Blade that was made where Wesley Snipes killed 200 Asians each movie. Nobody gives a shit so don't write about Nobu and Gao.'" As a result, the storyline was dropped. From what I remember about Daredevil... yeah, all this sounds about right.

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SAG-AFTRA Asian American Anti-Hate PSA
In this new public service announcement, SAG-AFTRA members from the Asian American community raise their voices about the current social climate in the country and call for a change.

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The Cowboy Bebop Soundtrack is Now Streaming on Spotify
The entire series soundtrack of Shinichirō Watanabe's Cowboy Bebop, composed by Yoko Kanno, is now available on Spotify. Fans know what's up. (If you want to watch or re-watch the series, it's available on Hulu.)

Read These Blogs

Three Portraits of Bruce Lee
Nearly 50 years after his death, the legend of actor and martial artist Bruce Lee has grown into a massive tale. In the United States, Hong Kong, and everywhere in between, he has gained renown as a polymath and icon of near-peerless popularity. But how much of Lee’s story is true? And how much does that even matter?

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Asian Americans Suffer From Trump's Racist Attacks Too
The long history of America's hostility toward immigrants from China, Japan, and Korea.

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Traveling while Asian during the pandemic
"I hope we don't get sick from these chinks." With the increase of reports of anti-Asian hate across the world, many Asian travelers are feeling more vulnerable than ever -- in their own neighborhoods and on the road. CNN talked to Asians who travel for a living to see how they have been affected by the pandemic.

* * *
When a 10-Year-Old Translated for Her Parents on Live Radio, Thousands Recognized Themselves
A 10-year-old called into a radio forum to address COVID-19 concerns on behalf of her immigrant parents. Many listeners recognized the stress of translating vital information for their own parents.

* * *
BoJack Horseman's Diane Problem Is Now an Industry Problem
From Big Mouth to The Simpsons, high-profile white voice actors are expressing regret and relinquishing their roles as characters of color. But the departures have caused divisions among their peers.

* * *
Asian Americans Face Disproportionate Economic Insecurity Amid Pandemic, And Racism Plays A Role
An economist analyzes the data of Asian American businesses during the pandemic.

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Anti-Asian and anti-Black racial housing covenants can still be found in the Bay Area. Why?
Racial covenants were common in the U.S. during the 1930s and 1940s, embedded in property deeds as a way to keep nonwhite people from purchasing or occupying land. While such convenants may be perceived as a relic of the past, home buyers in the Bay Area are still experiencing racism as a barrier to housing.

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City's Bangladeshi Community Sees Failure of Government to Help Vulnerable New Yorkers
As the pandemic ravages New York, the city's leadership has failed to offer guidance and support to the large Bangladeshi community, which has been hit especially hard by COVID-19.

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'Free speech has never been freer': Pankaj Mishra and Viet Thanh Nguyen in conversation
Are we living through a moment of lasting change? Authors Pankaj Mishra and Viet Thanh Nguyen discuss Black Lives Matter, the Harper's letter and where we go from here.

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'They don't think it's important': Ellen Pao on why Facebook can't beat hate
Julia Carrie Wong interviews Ellen Pao, the tech executive known for her work to detoxify Reddit. Pao says social media bosses know what's right -- they just need to act.

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When It Comes to a Recipe, What's in a Name?
What do we lose when paratha is called "flaky bread," or bibimbap a "rice bowl"? What we call a dish can either ground it in a particular culinary history, or it can remove a dish from that culture entirely. Recipe developers explain why names matter.

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Indian Matchmaking Is Just Telling It Like It Is
"At least on this show, people state things in reflection of the warts-and-all truth. Hindus are largely casteist. Much of India, today, leans Hindu supremacist. Marriage is a business and a game, whether in India or America, and grotesque from many angles."

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Star Trek Archeology With the Okudas
Mike and Denise Okuda talk reusing and recycling on Star Trek.

Indiana University Apologizes for Banning Japanese American Students During World War II

And Other Things to Know From Angry Asian America.



President McRobbie addresses IU’s WWII-era Japanese American student ban
This week, Indiana University formally apologized for a World War II-era policy banning admission of Japanese American students between 1942 and 1945. The official apology, issued in a letter from President Michael McRobbie, follows several years of advocacy and a petition delivered to the university in February. The statement expresses regret that the university "ailed to recognize the needs of the 12 Japanese American students who were seeking a new academic home during a time when they were unjustly excluded and removed from their home institutions, in violation of their civil rights." McRobbie also outlines several official actions the university will take to address the issue. Read the letter here.

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Suspect in 'racially motivated' attack on elderly man charged with assault
In Vancouver, a man has been charged in the racially motivated assault of an elderly Asian man. Cameras caught Jamie Allen Bezanson shoving the 92-year old victim, who suffers from severe dementia, in a convenience store on March 13. Store employees were trying to help the victim when the suspect started shouting anti-Asian remarks. The altercation continued outside, where the Bezanson shoved the victim, who fell to the ground and hit his head. Bezanson has been charged with one count of assault. I don't know, I feel like there should be another separate charge for being a Totally Despicable Racist Piece of Shit.

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Police, FBI Investigating Death of Professional Poker Player Susie Zhao
Police in Michigan have identified the woman whose badly burned body was found in a state recreation area as professional poker player The body was discovered at a parking area near the Pontiac Lake Trail the morning of July 13, according to police. Investigators say the case could be connected to Zhao's travels in the poker circuit around the country, or could be the result of meeting someone in the area when she returned recently. Anyone with information or who might have seen Zhao between July 11 and 13 is asked to contact the White Lake Township Police Department at 248-698-4400.

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Two Teens Charged in Murder of Arizona State University Professor
Two teenagers have been charged with murder in the death of an Arizona State University professor who was reported missing in March. Junseok Chae, an associate dean for research and an engineering professor, was reported missing on March 25 after he did not return home from work. The break in the case came after police in Shreveport, Louisiana, responding to a suspicious vehicle call, encountered Javian Ezell and Gabrielle Austin, both 18, and determined they were in Chae's car. Upon further investigation, deputies determined that Chae was killed at an intersection north of Phoenix, and his body was placed in a dumpster. Ezell and Austin were extradited to Arizona, where they were arrested on July 15 and charged with first-degree murder, armed robbery and theft of means of transportation.

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Promotional Image For Disney’s 'Raya and the Last Dragon' Has Debuted
Disney has released the first promotional image for the upcoming animated feature Raya and the Last Dragon, giving us our first good look at the title character. Raya and the Last Dragon will be an epic fantasy adventure with southeast Asian themes, set in a realm called Lumandra, described as "a reimagined earth inhabited by an ancient civilization." Five clans form the land of the dragon, and Raya is determined to find the last dragon. Featuring the voices of Cassie Steele and Awkwafina, the film is due out in theaters on March 12, 2021.