Read These Blogs

Corky Lee's Photographs Helped Generations of Asian-Americans See Themselves
Legendary photographer Corky Lee, who died last week, viewed his camera lens as an extension of his activism, helping Asian Americans recognize their shared yearnings and struggles.

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A Scientist Is Arrested, and Academics Push Back
Gang Chen, an M.I.T. professor, faces federal charges of hiding affiliations with China. His colleagues, and M.I.T., are publicly challenging the allegations.

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What Tracy Chou learned about online harassment while building an app to solve it
Tracy Chou's new app, Block Party, aims to give people control over harassing content.

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I'm A First-Generation Indian American Woman. I Married Into A Family Of Trump Supporters.
"I had so wanted to be a part of this family. But how could they love me, a brown-skinned woman, if they believed lies that placed whiteness above all else?"

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Many South Asian Americans Tap Into Their Community To Kick-Start Their Political Careers
While fundraising from within the South Asian American community can boost some South Asian Americans' political campaigns, community support doesn't always guarantee success and can pose a unique set of challenges for newcomers.

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The only samurai colony ever attempted outside of Japan was in California
Wakamatsu Farm was the first home of Japanese immigrant families in the United States.

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Try Harder! Sundance Film Considers College Admission Bias
Debbie Lum's documentary Try Harder!, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, follows students at San Francisco's top public high school.

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Kate Tsang's film debut combines 'weirdo' magic with the joy of Asian American family life
Kate Tsang, writer/director of the Sundance feature Marvelous and the Black Hole, discusses Asian American representation and sleight of hand magic.

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The Downside Of Bling Empire, House Of Ho, & The New Wave Of Asian Representation
These two reality TV shows focus on wealthy Asian Americans, revealing the limitations of representation.

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Chronicles of a Bubble-Tea Addict
"Boba and I spent our adolescence as scrappy, enterprising immigrants at America's periphery. For a new generation, it's a ubiquitous, Instagram-friendly mark of Asian identity."

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Pork Buns Have Become an American Favorite. Why Can't We Acknowledge They're Taiwanese?
The American pork bun craze is borrowed from the Taiwanese classic, gua bao.

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With His Fourth Book, Charles Yu Finally Feels Like a Writer
Interior Chinatown explores Asian American stereotypes, something that captivated novelist and TV writer Charles Yu as he thought about stars, supporting characters and who gets to play the lead.

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Grace Lin was early to champion diversity in children's literature
Growing up, Grace Lin longed to find role models she could emulate in her career. "I found parts of them, but I never found one person."

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He Can't Carry a Tune, but Chang-rae Lee Has a Song to Sing
Author Chang-rae Lee's sixth novel, My Year Abroad, is about letting yourself plunge into the world, even when it hurts. He's been thinking about that a lot over these past, painful months.

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'I Can Be Someone I Didn't Have.' Actor Simu Liu on Asian Representation and His Marvel Future
Simu Liu stars in the upcoming Marvel film, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.

They Call Us Bruce - 119: They Call Us Your Korean Dad

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 Nick Cho, aka "Your Korean Dad" of viral TikTok fame. He talks about his journey from coffee professional to making videos on social media and becoming an affirming father figure to 2 million followers and counting.

Read These Blogs

Why aren't more Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in Biden's Cabinet?
"Biden made promises along the campaign trail, but never went the full measure to build the big tent or act affirmatively beyond his comfort area. Nor did his advisors, all decent individuals, fully engage a greater circle to seek out talent beyond their frame of mind."

* * * Why Koreans pointed out two 'Joes' at inauguration
The last name of the head of President Biden's Secret Service detail, David Cho, is pronounced like "Jo," and Koreans had jokes.

* * * 'She's Black and Indian Like Me': What Seeing Kamala Harris Means to 6-Year-Old Sumaya
The Singh-Sidibe family talks about the impact Kamala Harris getting sworn in.

* * * Prabal Gurung on What It Means To Dress Kamala Harris
Nepalese American fashion designer Prabal Gurung discusses the emotional impact of seeing America's first female, Black, and South Asian Vice President wear his designs.

* * * Memories of the I-Hotel
Warren Mar shares memories of the fight for the tenants of the International Hotel and coming of age in San Francisco during the radical movements of the late 1960s and '70s.

* * * 'Our hearts are hurting': Elderly Chinese isolated as SF dim sum restaurants shutter in pandemic
Cheung Yinching and her husband discuss the meaning dim sum brings to their lives — and how the pandemic has changed their weekly tradition.

Making of 'Minari': How Lee Isaac Chung Created a Unique American Story Rarely Seen Onscreen
With a predominantly Korean American cast and crew, writer-director Lee Isaac Chung says of his film Minari, "This is probably the first time something like this could have been made."

* * * Riz Ahmed Makes Some Noise
With his buzzy performance in Sound of Metal -- which required him to learn sign language and drumming -- plus a new wife and a booming company, actor and rapper Riz Ahmed is having his loudest year yet.

* * * The Backstory 'Cobra Kai' Should Tell
Cobra Kai has given plenty of context and backstory to certain characters. Why not tell Mr. Miyagi's story?

* * *
The Big Boss (and Bruce Lee’s cultural legacy) Turns 50
Lots of people are stars, but only a very few stars are icons.

Read These Blogs

Kamala Harris has elevated the Blindian community: ‘It’s a validation of the identity I’ve had to fight for’ With a Black father and an Indian mother, Harris is part of a group that has struggled for acceptance.

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A senator's experiences as a soldier and wheelchair user shaped her response to the Capitol riots
Senator Tammy Duckworth recounts what went through her mind as white supremacists stormed the Capitol.

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There’s a reason the South Vietnamese flag flew during the Capitol riot
In America, white nationalists and Vietnamese nationalists share a common condition: nostalgia for a lost cause.

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‘It’s Starting Again’: Why Filipino Nurses Dread the Second Wave
Indispensable to New York City hospitals, health care workers from the Philippines died in shocking numbers last spring. Will things be different this winter?

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Shake Shack catches flak for 'lazy' take on Korean fried chicken
Shake Shack is catching flak for a limited-edition menu of "Korean-style" offerings that critics say is a "lazy" interpretation of Korean fried chicken.

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What the outcry from Kumail Nanjiani's sculpted body tells us about racism, masculinity standards
On race and body shaming in celebrity culture.

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'Minari' CD Julia Kim Went to Extreme Lengths to Find the Perfect Cast
Casting director Julia Kim was tasked with assembling the Korean American immigrant family in Minari.

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Ang Lee reflects on Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon 20 years later: 'I was upgrading a B-movie'
Oscar-winning director Ang Lee spoke to EW about pulling off his blockbuster wuxia epic Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon to mark its 20th anniversary.

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You Know Awkwafina, But Have You Met Nora Lum?
This year, Awkafina will star in a Marvel movie, a Disney movie, and her own Netflix show. Over a virtual slime-making session, Nora Lum opens up about family, depression, and the highs and lows of fame.

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'Bling Empire' & 'House of Ho': The Reality-Show Descendants of 'Crazy Rich Asians'
"There's the sort of wealth that buys designer clothes. Then there's the sort of wealth that shuts down Rodeo Drive for a private Lunar New Year party, has a nine-piece band and a Gucci claw machine for a 1-year-old's birthday, and takes a friend to their favorite restaurant -- in Paris -- as a treat."

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Bling Empire star Kevin Kreider can't wait to prove people wrong for calling the show 'tone deaf'
The star of Netflix's Bling Empire dishes to EW about how he met his rich friends, the castmate he "hated," and the most extravagant thing that didn't make the show.

Read These Blogs

Ted Lieu: Why we will impeach Trump a second time
"The president incited an attempted violent overthrow of Congress in broad daylight. Several people died. This was a frontal assault not only on Congress, but on our Constitution and our democracy. If the impeachment provision of the Constitution is not invoked for this situation, then what the hell is it for?"

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'It Was No Accident': Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal on surviving the siege.
Rep. Pramila Jayapal, who was in the Capitol Building during the siege, talks about the particular vulnerability of Black and brown women to violent incursion, and about how her party must now move forward, both in response to the attack and as the governing party moving into a new administration.

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Meena Harris, Building That Brand
Kamala Harris's niece is building her own empire with statement T-shirts. Just don't define her by her family.

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The Mahjong Line debacle is the latest in a long history of Asian erasure
The Mahjong Line’s "refresh" is a classic case of cultural appropriation that strips away the cultural, personal, and emotional significance of the game's roots.

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At Netflix, 'Cobra Kai' broke out. Now its whiteness is under a new spotlight
Cobra Kai comes to Netflix thirty years and several reprises after The Karate Kid, and many have been pushing for more diversity in its characters and stories.

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Seattle restaurateur Yuji Okumoto reprises a role — and a life — he thought he'd left behind
When Yuji Okumoto got the call to reprise the role of Chozen for Netflix's Cobra Kai, he was excited -- and had some things to say.

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The Partnership: Steven Yeun & Lee Isaac Chung Chart Their Own Course With 'Minari,' Examining Korean Immigrant Family's Pursuit Of The American Dream
Writer/director Lee Isaac Chung wrote his film, Minari, based on his own childhood.

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Harry Shum Jr. on 'All My Life' and Its "Big Step Forward" for Asian Americans On-Screen
"Before this, how many Asian Americans could you name in a leading romantic role?"

* * *
Dante Basco talks Avatar reunion, Netflix live-action, and how Zuko would handle a pandemic
Dante Basco, the voice of Prince Zuko, talks about organization a Avatar: The Last Airbender cast reunion.

"What else could I do?"

New Jersey Congressman Andy Kim Helps Clean Up Capitol. Literally.
Late at night, after a pro-Trump mob stormed and ransacked the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, New Jersey Rep. Andy Kim was photographed in the rotunda, crouching on his hands and knees over the debris the crowd had left behind. He was picking up the trash. "When you see something you love that's broken you want to fix it," Kim told the Associated Press. "I love the Capitol. I'm honored to be there. This building is extraordinary and the rotunda in particular is just awe-inspiring. How many countless generations have been inspired in that room? It really broke my heart and I just felt compelled to do something. What else could I do?"

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Elaine Chao Announces Resignation Over Trump's Response to Riot
File under: too little too late. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao has announced her resignation over the riot Wednesday at the U.S. Capitol. Time to jump ship, apparently. In a statement addressed to the Department of Transportation, Chao wrote that she will resign effective Monday and was "deeply troubled" by the "entirely avoidable" events at the Capitol building. What a crock of cowardly shit. The time to jump ship was to never get on board. But Chao and her ilk have propped up Trump and this garbage fire of an administration for four years. You don't get to walk away with clean hands after being complicit in ugly shit that absolutely everybody saw coming. Get the fuck out of here yesterday.

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Rep. Michelle Steel, who questioned mask mandate, tests positive for coronavirus
Rep. Michelle Steel, who previously expressed skepticism about the need for a mask mandate in Orange County, tested positive for the coronavirus on Wednesday. Steel learned that morning that she had been in contact with someone who tested positive. She sought a test in the afternoon "out of an abundance of caution," and it came back positive, according to a statement released by her office. In the spring, Steel repeatedly questioned the Orange County health office's decision to mandate face coverings countywide, but later called on residents and visitors to wear face coverings in public, when COVID cases surged. And now ya got the COVID.

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Jeremy Lin signs to play with Warriors G-League team
Before the season started, Jeremy Lin reached a deal with the Golden State Warriors that would have had him playing for its G-League team, a first step in working his way back to an NBA roster. But that fell apart because paperwork from his former Chinese team the Beijing Ducks (where he played last season) through FIBA (basketball's international governing body) did not get to the NBA in time. Lin has now signed outright to play for the Warriors' G-League team -- the Santa Cruz Warriors -- in that league's restart bubble starting next month. The dream is still alive and kicking!

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Raya and the Last Dragon Raya Pop! Vinyl Figure
In case you're a collector like me: Funko Pop! figures based on the upcoming Disney animated feature Raya and the Last Dragon are now available for pre-order. The Southeast Asian-inspired fantasy adventure, starring the voice of Kelly Marie Tran, will premiere in theaters and on Disney Plus on March 5.

"What we saw... was not a protest, it was an attempted coup"

And Other Things to Know From Angry Asian America



U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth Speaks Out Against Trump Demonstrators
U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth spoke out against President Donald Trump and the demonstrators that forced their way into the U.S. Capitol building Wednesday: "What we saw today was not a protest, it was an attempted coup. I refuse to let anyone intent on instigating chaos or inciting violence deter me from carrying out my Constitutional duties. Congress must continue its work certifying the results of the election and turn the page on this shameful chapter in our history. It is the only way to inch closer to healing our nation."

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After 5 hours I’ve been rescued from my hiding place. Now i can show you my DIY barricade and gas masks. Protestors were right outside the door chanting ‘USA USA’ it was scary but i am ok! Thanks all for your prayers. pic.twitter.com/OX3rfM35zH

— Grace Meng (@Grace4NY) January 6, 2021

Rep. Grace Meng Shows Where She Hid Amid Violent US Capitol Protests
As the U.S. Capitol was stormed by a mob of pro-Trump protesters, New York congresswoman Grace Meng took cover for hours in a room that was barricaded shut with office chairs while rioters stormed outside. "After 5 hours I've been rescued from my hiding place. Now i can show you my DIY barricade and gas masks," wrote Rep. Meng. "Protestors were right outside the door chanting 'USA USA' it was scary but i am ok! Thanks all for your prayers."

* * *

I can't contain my rage at Donald Trump and Republicans who invited, incited, and fueled this terror. Our country and our democracy will have to recover from these deep wounds—and it won't be easy.

Thanks to everyone for your prayers and thoughts for our safety and for America.

— Rep. Pramila Jayapal (@RepJayapal) January 6, 2021

'I was closing my eyes and praying'
As pro-Trump mobs stormed the United States Capitol on Wednesday, forcing the building into a lockdown, U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal crouched behind a railing in the House gallery, seeking shelter from a scene that more closely resembled a terrorist attack than a peaceful transfer of power.

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Now is the time for @VP @Mike_Pence to start the 25th Amendment process. https://t.co/GQ0NXhyAK9

— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) January 6, 2021

Rep. Ted Lieu calls for Trump's immediate removal from office
When Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol building, California Rep. Ted Lieu tweeted that he was evacuated from the building, and called the events a coup attempt. He is calling for the immediate removal of the president. "This assault on our nation's Capitol is a coup attempt and all those involved should be prosecuted as such," he wrote. "Also, for those Dems saying we shouldn't impeach @realDonaldTrump again? You are wrong."

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Rising number of Democrats call for Trump impeachment
Rep. Judy Chu joined calls for impeachment, telling Politico that Trump's "actions qualify for treason, bribery or other high crimes and misdemeanors. I really question, actually, President Trump's mental state," Chu said. "If I were a member of the Cabinet, I would invoke the 25th Amendment to remove him."

Three White Women Made a Mahjong Line Nobody Asked For

Dallas company apologizes after criticism for redesigning mahjong tiles
It seems that white people, not content with bottling bad kimchee and crappy pad thai, are exploring new dimensions in cultural appropriation. The latest Asian shit stolen and made "new": mahjong, courtesy of three white ladies, who have given the game a "respectful refresh" that absolutely nobody was asking for.

The Mahjong Line, based in Dallas, was the brainchild of Kate LaGere after she "discovered" that traditional mahjong tiles had the same designs and "did not reflect the fun" she had while playing the game, according to the company’s website. Perhaps worst of all: the damn thing costs $425. I had no idea that mahjong could be gentrified. But they've done it. And the internet of Asian America has let them know accordingly. Do not mess with our shit, because we will let you know.

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Brooklyn Democratic Party Leader Resigns Over Racist Tweet
A Brooklyn Democratic District Leader has resigned her post after triggering a firestorm of criticism over a racist rant she posted against Chinese people over the weekend, including the bizarre slight: "I can't even look at Chinese food." Lori Maslow posted the comments on Twitter with a link to a news item on Chinese tariffs. It has since been deleted. On Monday, Maslow issued a statement apologizing and resigning from her position in the party: "I hereby resign from my position as 6th vice chair of the Kings County Democratic County Committee effective immediately. I sincerely apologize for the poor choice of words I used in a social media posts over the weekend, which were hurtful to members of the Chinese American Community."

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Rose Ochi, Japanese American trailblazer for civil rights, dies at 81
Rose Matsui Ochi, a trailblazing Los Angeles attorney who tapped far-flung political networks from City Hall to Congress in her fierce advocacy of civil rights, criminal justice reform and Japanese American causes, has died at 81. Ochi broke barriers as the first Asian American woman to serve as a Los Angeles Police Commission member and as an assistant U.S. attorney general. She advised L.A. Mayors Tom Bradley and James Hahn on criminal justice, served on President Carter’s Select Commission on Immigration and Refugee Policy and worked with President Clinton on drug policy and race relations. Ochi died December 13 after being diagnosed with a second bout of COVID-19, which exacerbated existing health problems.

Congresswoman Wears Hanbok at Swearing-In Ceremony

Marilyn Strickland Makes History
Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland made history on Sunday, becoming the first Korean American woman elected to congress and the first African-American woman to represent Washington State at a federal level. Strickland was elected to represent Washington's 10th congressional district. Strickland also was the first woman to wear a Hanbok during the ceremony.

“Today, I was honored to be sworn into one of the most historically diverse Congresses in history, joining a record number of women, and women of color, serving in our Democratic Majority. As a woman of both Korean-American and African-American descent, it was deeply personal to wear my Hanbok, which not only symbolizes my heritage and honors my mother, but also serves as a larger testament to the crucial importance of diversity in our nation, state, and the People’s House," Strickland said in a press release after the ceremony.

Read These Blogs

Asian-American Voters Can Help Decide Elections. But for Which Party?
"For many Democrats who still hope that greater Asian-American political involvement will benefit them, the election illustrated that the party must go after nonwhite voters with the same nuanced approach and level of urgency that has generally been reserved for white voters in swing states."

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Asian American voters could decide the Georgia Senate runoffs
Asian American voter mobilization in Georgia made a significant difference in November's general election -- and could be decisive again in the state's Senate runoffs.

* * *
Some Asian Americans and immigrants wore masks readily; it made them heroes, targets, prophets
The impact of the coronavirus, and mask-wearing, has had on Asian Americans.

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How Georgia's 1st Vietnamese American state rep is continuing Stacey Abrams' fight
Bee Nguyen took over Abrams' seat in the state House in 2017. Now she's also battling voter suppression and galvanizing Asian Americans.

* * *
Before They Closed, Restaurants Opened Doors for Us
Ligaya Mishan counts the many ways she misses eating out, and the lessons it taught her about the world and its possibilities.

* * *
Truth, Reconciliation, and Korematsu v. United States
A lesson from history in finding the truth when the Justice Department has been complicit in the cover-up.

* * *
Watching “Minari,” I Saw My Immigrant Experience On The Screen For The First Time
The struggles of growing up Korean American in Annandale, Virginia, came flooding back to Esther Yoon-Ji Kang while watching Lee Isaac Chung’s new film Minari.

* * *
To reprise her 'Karate Kid' role in 'Cobra Kai,' Tamlyn Tomita had some ground rules
Actress Tamlyn Tomita reprises her role as Kumiko from The Karate Kid Part II in the Netflix series Cobra Kai.

* * *
'Shadow in the Cloud' Filmmaker Roseanne Liang Sets the Record Straight on Her Film's Writing Credits
After sexual abuse accustations against screenwriter Max Landis were made public, writer/director Roseanne Liang clarifies that his involvement in her new feature film Shadow in the Cloud was distant and minimal.

Read These Blogs

'Minari' is about immigrants who speak Korean. That doesn't make it 'foreign.'
Viet Thanh Nguyen says the Golden Globes Awards' restrictive categorization of Minari as a "foreign" film rests on a narrow definition of what makes a story American.

* * *
Steven Yeun Reflects on His 'Walking Dead' Demise: 'I Was Always in Service to This Larger Narrative'
The death of Glenn Rhee upset many Walking Dead fans, but Steven Yeun says seven seasons of the show helped him build the skills and confidence he needed for other roles -- and to speak up on the job.

* * *
7-Year-Old Alan S. Kim Is the Breakout Star of 'Minari,' and the Antidote to 2020
Lee Isaac Chung's Minari may be an ensemble drama at heart, but it does feature one inarguable breakout performance by its young star: Alan S. Kim.

* * *
The mental health toll of being a 'model minority' in 2020
"Especially when you talk about the invisibility of some of their issues, in a sense, it's almost a self-fulfilling prophecy," psychologist Richelle Concepcion said.

* * *
How The New Yorker Fell Into the "Weird Japan" Trap
Elif Batuman was duped by a source's fabrications about the country's rent-a-family industry. What went wrong?

* * * Naomi Osaka: Athletes, Speak Up
"Sports have never been apolitical, and as long as they continue to be played by human beings, they won't be."

* * *
The Lonely Legacy of Spam
Once seemingly alone in their love for the canned meat product, many Asian Americans today are finding comfort in each other's shared histories.

* * *
Have Yourself a Lonely Little Christmas
"I've spent many a holiday by myself. And you know what? It can be absolutely thrilling."

* * *
How Younghoe Koo's career went from NFL nightmare to the Pro Bowl
When Younghoe Koo faced a major career setback three years ago, he was determined to try again, and again, and again. Now he's a star kicker for the Atlanta Falcons.

* * *
Ken Leung on the Industry Finale, Working With Lena Dunham and Becoming the Veteran
An interview with Ken Leung, who plays Eric on HBO's Industry.

They Call Us Bruce 118 - They Call Us Bugs Bunny

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 Eric Bauza, the new voice of Bugs Bunny. We discuss issues of diversity and inclusion in voice acting, "cracking the code" of a good impression, and how a Filipino kid from Canada ended up as the voice of animation's most wascally wabbit.

Read These Blogs

How Fake News Is Hatching in Immigrant Communities
Right-wing conspiracy theories have infiltrated Asian and Latino communities through social media platforms like WeChat, WhatsApp, Facebook, KakaoTalk and YouTube. Organizers say that older immigrants who don't consume mainstream English-language media can be more susceptible to disinformation about American politics.

* * *
What the Asian-American Coalition Can Teach the Democrats
Viet Thanh Nguyen says the Asian American community's ability to form a solid majority around a shared politics despite its many differences is a model for the Democratic party -- and the nation.

* * *
The Truth Behind Indian American Exceptionalism
"What is forgotten is that before Indian Americans became a model minority, we were regarded as a problem minority. Also forgotten is the extent to which the U.S. engineered the conditions that allowed certain nonwhite groups to thrive."

* * *
How the pandemic threatens to destroy America's three remaining Japantowns
An eviction crisis is intensifying long-standing pressures on America's three remaining historic Japantowns -- from displacement to urban renewal -- and it could lead to their collapse.

* * *
She Saved Thousands of Best Friends. Then Covid-19 Killed Her.
Valerie Louie rescued dogs and matched them with families, including ours. These beloved pets helped countless people bear up during the pandemic, making her death a particular Covid-19 cruelty.

* * *
How This Restaurant Owner Has Pivoted To Endure The 'Craziest' Ride He's Been On
Sung Kim, owner of the Korean-inspired eatery Chick-N-Bap with five locations in upstate New York, shares how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected his unique business model.

* * *
‘A Sugar & Spice Holiday,’ ‘House of Ho’ And Accepting Mediocre Attempts At Asian Representation
The Lifetime holiday rom-com and the HBO Max reality series bring Asian American representation to two generic, highly mass-produced genres.

* * *
Challenging patriarchal practices makes "House of Ho" more than just a Vietnamese Kardashians clone
Judy Ho, one of the stars of the HBO Max's House of Ho, spoke to Salon about abiding by her immigrant parents' expectations until being on a reality show let her break free.

* * *
Why Cracklin' Oat Bran is key to Daniel Dae Kim's productive morning
If you work 24 hours a day, like Daniel Dae Kim does, you better eat a good breakfast.

Sushi Restaurant Vandalized with Racist Graffiti

And Other Things to Know From Angry Asian America



Police Arrest Man Accused Of Spray-Painting Hate Speech On Restaurant
In the Sacramento area, authorities arrested a man accused of spray-painting hate speech on the front of a restaurant. 43-year-old Lahn Hansen faces various charges including committing a hate crime. The incident happened early Thursday at Umai Bar and Grill in Elk Grove. Hansen was reportedly caught on surveillance footage and identified. Evidence linking him to the vandalism was located inside of his vehicle, where police also located narcotics, burglary tools and items related to a previously reported church burglary.

* * *


Rock Thrown Through Window Of Foster City Vice Mayor's Home
In the Bay Area, police are investigating after a rock was thrown through a window of the home of Richa Awasthi, Vice Mayor of Foster City. The incident occurred on Tuesday night. In a letter distributed by the city, Awasthi said the large rock broke the glass and blinds and nearly hit her husband in the head. Her two children were also in the home when it happened. Police are investigating the incident as felony vandalism though there are no suspects or motive identified. This is actually the second time an incident like this has occurred against a local elected official this year. In June, San Mateo Councilwoman Amourence Lee also had a rock thrown through her window. It's worth noting that Lee and Awasthi are Asian American councilwomen and the only sitting women of color on their respective councils. Doesn't sound like a coincidence to me.

* * *


Bong Joon Ho and Lee Isaac Chung Talk 'Minari'
Variety hosted a conversation between Bong Joon Ho, Oscar-winning director of Parasite, and Lee Isaac Chung, writer/director of the critically-acclaimed Minari. The two filmmakers discussed creating on-screen families, telling personal stories and their work with actor Steven Yeun.

* * *


Ted Chiang's "The Truth of Fact, The Truth of Feeling" is Being Developed for TV
Acclaimed science fiction writer Ted Chiang's short story "The Truth of Fact, The Truth of Feeling" is being developed as an hour-long TV drama. Set against the backdrop of technology that grants users exact recall of their past, the series combines a kidnapping with a messy adult love story in a cautionary tale about privacy in the modern world. The short story was originally published in 2013 by Subterranean Press, was a Hugo Award finalist and later became part of Chiang's collection Exhalation.

* * *


Tamlyn Tomita Returns as Kumiko in a Clip from Cobra Kai
As the latest trailer for season three of Cobra Kai revealed, Tamlyn Tomita and Yuji Okumoto will reprise their roles as Kumiko and Chozen, repsectively, from The Karate Kid Part II. In this advance clip, we get a glimpse of Kumiko and Daniel's reunion. Cobra Kai season three premieres January 8 on Netflix.

They Call Us Bruce 117: They Call Us House of Ho

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 producer/friend Jes Vu and Salon culture editor Hanh Nguyen to discuss the new HBO Max reality show House of Ho. We talk about actual crazy rich Asians, family dysfunction, airing out your dirty laundry, and The Good, The Bad and The WTF of Asian Americans on reality television.

The First Cambodian American Elected Official in Long Beach

And Other Things To Know From Angry Asian America.



Suely Saro is the First Cambodian American Elected Official in Long Beach
When she is sworn in Tuesday, Suely Saro will become the first Cambodian American council member in the history of Long Beach, which has since the 1980s hosted the nation's largest concentration of Cambodian American refugees. She may also be the first Cambodian American elected to office in California.

* * *


Anthony Veasna So, Author of Highly Anticipated Story Collection, Dies at 28
Anthony Veasna So, author of a highly anticipated debut story collection, had died. He was 28. His death was announced Thursday by his publisher, Ecco, which did not immediately provide additional details. In Afterparties, to be published in August, he drew upon the tragedies his family endured in Cambodia during the rule of the Khmer Rouge and his own struggles with sexual and cultural identity.

* * *

😈 JACKSON HE FOR SIX 🔱

THE FIRST CHINESE BORN PLAYER TO SCORE A TOUCHDOWN IN FBS HISTORY.

🎥 https://t.co/ai5cgW0WIH pic.twitter.com/cAJoY90Jao

— Sun Devil Football (@ASUFootball) December 12, 2020

Jackson He Becomes First Chinese Player to Score TD in FBS History
On Friday, during Arizona State's 70-7 victory over Arizona, a little bit of history was made. Jackson He, junior redshirt from Shaoguan, China, scored a touchdown for the Sun Devils, becoming the first Chinese-born player to score a touchdown in Division I Football Bowl Subdivision history.

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The Joy Luck Club Added to National Film Registry
The Library of Congress has included 1993's The Joy Luck Club, directed by Wayne Wang, as one of this year's selections for the National Film Registry, an archive of motion pictures chosen for their “cultural, historic or aesthetic" importance to the nation’s understanding of cinema.

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Behold, Baby Bruce, Future Asskicker
This citizenship documentation, recently shared by the Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation, shows a three-month-old Bruce Lee, as presented to U.S. immigration officials in 1941.

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A year of loss, heartache, looming eviction — and rescuing itself — for Chinatown
The pandemic and anti-Asian racism have decimated Chinatowns in New York, San Francisco and Seattle, but many residents are turning to one another for help.

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Why I, a South Korean immigrant, think Donald Trump made America great again
Progressive, grassroots movements, fueled by nothing but the collective faith and desires to restore America's true promise, sprung up across the nation. Millions have rallied to defend democracy, across ages, genders, ethnicities, sexual orientations, and sociopolitical leanings. Without President Trump, these movements would not have been as, shall we say, tremendous.

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Leading By Example: How Naomi Osaka Became the People’s Champion
In the two years since Naomi Osaka became an international tennis phenomenon, she has used her platform to call attention to issues affecting Black people.

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What's in a Page: Searching for Sylvie Lee author Jean Kwok's writing career started with a doodle
Jean Kwok’s upbringing in a Chinese immigrant household didn’t necessarily encourage creativity. The author of Searching for Sylvie Lee talks about how she started her writing career.

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Ang Lee on 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' 20 years later
Tuesday marked the 20th anniversary of the release of Ang Lee's Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon.

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'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' turns 20: Why Jen Yu is the Asian heroine we're still looking for
Twenty years after the release of Ang Lee’s iconic film, some are still searching for a heroine like Jen Yu.

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Kelly Marie Tran talks 'unfair pressure' of playing Disney's first Southeast Asian princess
At first, actress Kelly Marie Tran felt a lot of pressure in her role as the voice of Disney’s first Southeast Asian princess in the upcoming animated film Raya and the Last Dragon. But she's come to look at the situation differently.

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Jacky Lai on Starring in Lifetime's First Asian-American Holiday Movie: 'The Industry Is Changing'
Actress Jacky Lai is making history with her latest project, Lifetime's A Sugar & Spice Holiday.

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Asian American And Pacific Islander Turnout Helped Hand Biden Georgia
President-elect Joe Biden carried Georgia with less than a 13,000-vote lead, a tiny margin made possible, in part, by historic turnout among Asian American and Pacific Islanders in the Peach State. It's the first time in nearly 30 years that Georgia voters chose a Democrat for president.

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Why it's time to retire the term 'Asian Pacific Islander'
"API" came out of a movement strategy to unify different Asian American group. Now, some Pacific Islander community leaders say it's time to claim, celebrate, and advocate for themselves.

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Tony Hsieh's American Tragedy: The Self-Destructive Last Months Of The Zappos Visionary
When the business icon died in a fire last week, questions abounded. The answers seem rooted in a Covid-period spiral, where he turned to drugs and shunned old friends.

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From Chinatown Pretty To Nora From Queens, Chinese Grandmas Are 2020's Fashion Icons
Not only do Chinese grandmothers have experience and wisdom to share, but also practical, functional, and pattern-ladened clothes.

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'Be Water' Reexamines Bruce Lee from an Asian-American Lens
"I wanted to make sure that Bruce Lee's story wasn't just lensed in the view of a cultural icon, but as an Asian American icon, as an Asian American. And I think that story has been lost in his narrative over time and that really propelled me towards making this film."

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The NFL's best origin story belongs to Younghoe Koo
There might be equally improbable NFL journeys out there, but there aren't any better than Younghoe Koo's.

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Riz Ahmed knows his worth. With the gut-wrenching 'Sound of Metal,' he ensures you do, too.
In Sound of Metal, Riz Ahmed stars as a punk metal drummer who begins to lose his hearing.

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Warrior's Olivia Cheng on Bringing Activism to Her Art
"The norm for many Asian actors is to play the 'dependable exposition giver' -- constantly available and helping the leads solve the case, or as a doctor in a hospital without a full character arc. My role in Warrior is to play complexity and humanity in all its colors: joy, humor, grief, pain, conflict."

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Dianne Doan on 'Warrior,' Season 3 Hopes, and Landing Her 'Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.' Role
"I don't think 'Warrior' is done."
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Momona Tamada's Week: 'Satisfying' Baking Videos and Peace Through Podcasts
Momona Tamada, who stars in The Baby-Sitters Club, had a head start on our new, socially distant reality.

All The Asians On Star Trek - 11: Rosalind Chao

The Podcast In Which We Interview All The Asians On Star Trek.



All The Asians On Star Trek is the podcast in which we interview all the Asians on Star Trek. In Episode 11, we welcome Rosalind Chao. She is best known for her recurring role as Keiko O'Brien on multiple seasons of both Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. A veteran actress whose career started when she a teen, her long list of film and TV credits include MASH, The Joy Luck Club and Mulan.

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Photographer Explores Asian American Identity In 'Where We're Really From'
In his multimedia project, "Where We're Really From," photographer Eric Lee explores what it's like to grow up Asian American, through the Pham brothers, Henry, 7, and Hayle, 9. The boys are just beginning to understand and peel the layers of being Vietnamese Americans living in Gaithersburg, Maryland.

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The challenge of combating fake news in Asian American communities
Language diversity within the AAPI community means misinformation is difficult to track.

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A New Political Force Emerges in Georgia: Asian-American Voters
The Asian American population in the state of Georgia has doubled in two decades, and many live in the Atlanta suburbs, which voted for Joseph R. Biden Jr. by large margins.

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Junk Food Was Our Love Language
"To feel close to my father, a man I never fully knew, I eat chicken nuggets."

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Revisiting a breakthrough novel on the Asian-American high-school experience
Marie Myung-Ok Lee's Finding My Voice, published in 1992, was widely regarded as the first young adult novel about being an Asian American by an Asian American writer.

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From 50 First Dates to Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Amy Hill is an underrated chameleon
Actress Amy Hill talks to Entertainment Weekly about the legacy of Margaret Cho's All-American Girl, Asian American representation, and her hopes for the future.

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Industry's Ken Leung delivers the breakout HBO performance of the year
Ken Leung plays investment banker Eric Tao on the HBO drama Industry.

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In Need of a Film About Romantic Possibility? Try 'In the Mood for Love'
Director Wong Kar-wai's influential romantic drama In the Mood For Love, along with his Chungking Express, are part of a new retrospective of the Hong Kong auteur's work.