Who will win season eight of America's Best Dance Crew?

Will it be Quest Crew, SuperCr3w or Kinjaz? Vote now.



All right, folks. Your vote matters. I'm talking about, of course, America's Best Dance Crew. Three totally kickass crews, Quest Crew, SuperCr3w and Kinjaz, have made it to the finals of MTV's dance competition, and your vote will determine who is crowned the ABDC All Star Champions. All three crews delivered stunning, mic-dropping final performances on last night's penultimate show of Season 8.

I mean, just watch:

Asian Birth Tourism, Numbers In Perspective

By Karthick Ramakrishnan. Cross-posted from AAPI Data.


Photo Credit: New York Times
In a recent press conference, Jeb Bush clumsily (and erroneously) said that the phenomenon of so-called "anchor babies" was "frankly, more related to Asian people."

As others have noted, the phenomenon of birth tourism is distinct from most conventional understandings of the offensive term "anchor baby," which tends to imply that people use birthright citizenship from their children to avoid deportation or eventually gain U.S. citizenship for themselves.

There has been a fair amount of sensationalist reporting on birth tourism by Chinese immigrants, with little understanding of the number of estimated "birth tourists," and how they compare to the overall number of Chinese immigrants or visitors to the United States. Below, we provide some numbers in perspective.

Here's 8 Ways Asian Americans Can Stand Up to Racist Presidential Candidates

Cross-posted from CAPA21



Republican presidential candidates Jeb Bush and Donald Trump this week unleashed a string of racist insults against Asian Americans and Latinos.

Trump pulled a "ching chong" at a rally and earlier called for the deportation of all undocumented immigrants. He then threw out a renowned Latino journalist from a press conference just for asking questions. Bush said "anchor babies" was an immigration problem caused by the "Asian people" and then said today he would "quadruple down" on his position.

We just got a terrific preview of how a President Bush III and President Trump would treat Americans who are not White. In a more perfect Union, these idiots would have been forced to end their candidacies by Americans of all colors who believe that our President should at least be a decent person.

What to do? For one thing, forget about apologies. Genuine contrition by candidates and elected officials can only be proven by actions. In the context of a high stakes political battle, a well-crafted apology is often used simply to counter a news cycle, and not reflect the person's true feelings.

Here's eight suggestions on what Asian Americans can do to hold Bush and Trump accountable.

Margaret Cho to play Ken Jeong's sister on 'Dr. Ken'

Comedian will guest star on the new ABC comedy as Ken's famous and successful sister.



Well, that's kind of perfect. Comedian Margaret Cho will guest star as Ken Jeong's sister on an upcoming episode of the new ABC comedy Dr. Ken. I can't think of anyone more appropriate for the role.

'Dr. Ken' Casting Scoop: Margaret Cho to Play Ken Jeong's Sister

Dr. Ken is inspired by Jeong's own experiences as a real-life doctor. He stars as Ken Park, a brilliant but frustrated HMO doctor juggling medicine, marriage and parenting -- succeeding at none of them.

In 1994, Cho made history starring in her own short-lived ABC comedy All-American Girl, the first network sitcom centered around an Asian American family. It only lasted a season, and it would take another two decades before we saw another Asian American family hit prime time. But let us recognize a trailblazer.

So it's rather fitting that Margaret will playing Ken's awesome, more accomplished sibling.

Action Movie Kid fights a shark in the living room

Fox has reportedly bought the rights for a feature film version of Action Movie Kid.



Action Movie Kid is back! If you're not familiar with his adventures, Action Movie Kid, aka James, is the 4-year-old son of DreamWorks animator Daniel Hashimoto, who has made a popular series of special effects-enhanced YouTube videos featuring James playing in various incredible and death-defying situations.

In his latest adventure, James must battle (and save his baby sister from) a creature from the deep:

12-year-old boy trips and punches $1.5 million museum painting

Paolo Porpora's "Roses" now prominently features a fist-sized hole.



Do you feel anxiety when you're in the vicinity of rare and priceless museum artifacts? You will, after seeing this video. It's like a field trip chaperone's worst nightmare come true. Over the weekend in Taiwan, a young museum-goer accidentally tripped, fell and punched a hole into a $1.5 million oil painting.

12-Year-Old Kid Trips, Punches Fist-Sized Hole in a Million-Dollar Painting

On Sunday, while attending "The Face of Leonardo, Images of a Genius" exhibition at at Huashan 1914 Creative Park in Taipei, a 12-year-old boy stumbled on a rope barrier, lost his balance, extended his arms and made contact with an extremely valuable 17th century painting. And by contact, I mean he punched a hole in it. Paolo Porpora's "Roses" now prominently features a fist-sized hole.

The incident was caught on surveillance video:

CAAMFest San Jose, September 17-20

See you at CAAM's annual South Bay showcase of sneak peeks and film premieres.



San Jose film fans! The Center for Asian American Media announces the return of CAAMFest San Jose, its annual South Bay showcase of exclusive sneak peeks and film premieres, conversations with celebrated media makers and lively parties. It's happening September 17-20 at Camera 3 Cinemas.

CAAMFest San Jose officially opens on Friday, September 18 with a special presentation welcoming the start of Season Two of the ABC hit comedy Fresh Off The Boat, with the show's Executive Producer Melvin Mar in attendance. Festival programming will continue with screenings and other events through the weekend.

Here's a rundown of some of the CAAMFest San Jose program highlights:

Donald Trump mocks Asians in campaign speech

"We want deal!" Republican front-runner impersonates Chinese and Japanese negotiators.



And we're off! The Republican presidential candidates appear to be in a neck-and-neck horserace to see who can offend the hell out of Asians. The latest shot comes from -- surprise, surprise -- Donald Trump.

Well, that didn't take long. Just a day after Florida governor Jeb Bush threw Asians under the bus with his comments about "anchor babies," Republican front-runner Donald Trump did a shitty little impression of Asians, using broken English during a campaign speech in Iowa on Tuesday night.

"Negotiating with Japan, negotiating with China, when these people walk into the room, they don't say, 'Oh hello, how's the weather, so beautiful outside, isn't it lovely? How are the Yankees doing? Oh they are doing wonderful, great,'" Trump told supporters in Dubuque. "They say, 'We want deal.'"

You really have to see the video for the full effect:

Stop everything and listen to St. Lenox sing "You're Not Here"

St. Lenox is a project singer/songwriter Andrew Choi, the guy with the gigantic voice.



I don't have a lot of words to describe the music of St. Lenox, except to implore you to listen to that voice. That gigantic, incredible voice. St. Lenox is project of Ohio-bred, New York-based singer/songwriter Andrew Choi, whose music is variously categorized as "folktronica," R&B, indie-pop and jazz.

I first got turned on to St. Lenox's music earlier this year when his track "Just Friends," from his debut album Ten Songs About Memory And Hope, was featured on NPR's Songs We Love. He recently popped up back on my feed with this awesome live video premiere for "You're Not Here." You gotta hear this.

Like I said, that voice:

Fund This: Seppuku, a Japanese American cinematic folk tale

Short film "looks through the lens of a psyche molded through generations by the legacy of internment."



Here's a cool-looking short film that could use some support... Seppuku is described as a "Japanese American cinematic folk tale" about the ritual death and rebirth of Mari Yoshimori, an Olympic track star.

Directed and co-written by Daryn Wakasa, and starring Akemi Look, Tamlyn Tomita and Yuji Okumoto, "looks through the lens of a psyche molded through generations by the legacy of internment." The project recently launched a crowdfunding campaign through Seed & Spark to raise production funds.

Here are some more details about the story:

Casting Call: Netflix series seeks Asian Transgender Teen

For series regular role on Zal Batmanglij and Brit Marling's 'The OA'



Heads up. Got this casting call passed along to me... The creators of a new Netflix series are looking far and wide for an Asian American transgender teen actor (transitioning from female to male) for a major role.

The character, a 14-15 year-old teenager named Buck, will be a series regular on the Netflix drama series The OA, from filmmakers Zal Batmanglij and Brit Marling, and produced by Plan B and Anonymous Content. The premise is being kept under wraps, but Netflix reportedly won a bidding war for the top secret series.

Here's the casting call:

Watch this couple's epic one-take wedding music video

Robert and Teresa enlisted the help of 250 wedding reception guests.



I have seen a lot of wedding videos. But I've never seen anybody do this.

On their big day, Robert and Teresa surprised their guests at the end of their wedding reception with a secret mission, enlisting the help of all 250 guests to shoot an epic one-take, multi-song music video, complete with props and choreography. The guests were briefed for ten minutes, placed into position, and they were off.

Check it out:

10th Anniversary Screening of 'The Motel'

With cast/crew in attendance, September 9 at the Japanese American National Museum



Los Angeles film fans! This is a good one. The community film series Big Trouble in Little Tokyo is proud to present a special ten-year anniversary screening of the 2005 indie coming-of-age dramedy The Motel.

In The Motel, Jeffrey Chyau stars as thirteen-year-old Ernest Chin, who lives and works at his family's seedy hour-rate motel. Alienated from his family, Ernest befriends Sam Kim, a troubled yet charismatic Korean man who checks in to the motel and teaches the fatherless boy the rites of manhood.

Join writer/director Michael Kang, stars Sung Kang and Samantha Futerman, and producers Miguel Arteta and Gina Kown, as we reunite and revisit the hit Sundance feature, a decade later. It's happening Wednesday, September 9 at the Japanese American National Museum.

Here are some more details about the screening:

Job Opportunity: Voting Rights Organizer, AALDEF

Help defend the voting rights of Asian Americans.


Want to help defend the voting rights of Asian Americans? The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund's Asian American Democracy Program seeks to promote fairness in the electoral process and invigorate the civic participation of Asian Americans, especially new citizens and persons not yet fluent in English.

AALDEF is currently looking to hire a Voting Rights Organizer who will be responsible for mobilizing Asian American community groups for a non-partisan exit poll of Asian American voters and overseeing volunteers for Election Day poll monitoring for the 2016 Presidential Election.

Here are some more details about the job:

New Music: "Princess Diamond" by Kero Uno feat. Kelsey Bulkin

New single from his forthcoming producer album 'Reflection Eternal.'



At last! Some new music from one of my favorite artists. Los Angeles-based emcee/producer Kero One just dropped his new single "Princess Diamond" featuring guest vocals by Kelsey Bulkin of Made in Heights. The track is from his forthcoming full-length debut producer album Reflection Eternal -- under the name "Kero Uno" -- due out later this year.

Here's a preview of the song:

Jeb Bush on Anchor Babies: "Frankly it's more Asian people."

And this is how a presidential candidate throws Asians under the bus. Wow, that was easy.



It has begun. You may have heard the derogatory term "anchor babies" -- yes, shit is derogatory -- being used in discussions about immigration, particularly from the likes of Republican presidential candidates like Donald Trump, et al. who are calling for stricter crack downs on undocumented immigrants who purportedly taking advantage of America's policy of birthright citizenship under the 14th amendment.

Jeb Bush: 'Chill Out' on Criticism of 'Anchor Baby' Term

Criticized for using the term "anchor babies" during a conservative radio interview last week, Florida governor Jeb Bush has doubled down, telling reporters that he does not believe the term is offensive. "Nothing about what I've said should be viewed as derogatory towards immigrants at all," he said Monday in McAllen, Texas. "I think we need to take a step back and chill out a little bit." This is all apparently political correctness run amok.

He clarified further, saying that he used the term "anchor babies" specifically to refer to fraud in a "specific targeted kind of case" involving mothers who travel to the U.S. only to win citizenship for their unborn children.

"Frankly, it's more Asian people."

Got that, folks? In case you were concerned that Jeb Bush was referring to Latinos when talking about "anchor babies" taking advantage of birthright citizenship, don't worry -- he was just talking about Asians.

Dragons in Oakland Chinatown!

Dragon School is a neighborhood youth project to paint 99 golden dragons in Oakland's Chinatown.



Have you heard about the dragons in Oakland? I recently about an awesome community project happening in Oakland Chinatown called Dragon School. Founded by artist Luqman Lin, the project empowers local youth to reclaim their own neighborhood by teaching kids to beautify the walls with 99 golden dragons.

Luqman, who has been doing street art in Oakland and elsewhere for years, came up with the idea to paint 99 dragons in Chinatown to reclaim the community and walls. So he teaches young people how to paint dragons, offering templates and instructional YouTube videos. Like this one:

Fund This: Picture Taipei

A short film about living an authentic life, shot on location in Taiwan.



Here's a crowdfund film project that's worth a look... Picture Taipei is a short film that the tells the story of Aimee, a disillusioned young woman who travels from Los Angeles to Taipei, where the people she encounters change her life. Directed by Jason Poon and starring Aileen Xu, the film was shot on location in Taiwan (not Thailand), and is now raising post-production funds via Kickstarter to finish the film.

Here's a video with some more information about the project, including a teaser:

See Ki Hong Lee run his ass off again in 'The Scorch Trials'

Ki Hong Lee returns as Minho in 'Maze Runner' sequel, in theaters September 18.



Anybody else really really looking forward to seeing our dude Ki Hong Lee in Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials next month? In the follow-up to The Maze Runner, based on the popular young adult science fiction books, Ki Hong reprises his role as Minho, one of the titular maze runners. I knew nothing about these books, but I went to go see the first movie just hoping I wouldn't see Ki Hong killed off. He ended up being a pretty cool character.

According to the official synopsis, in The Scorch Trials, the Gladers face "their greatest challenge yet: searching for clues about the mysterious and powerful organization known as WCKD. Their journey takes them to the Scorch, a desolate landscape filled with unimaginable obstacles. Teaming up with resistance fighters, the Gladers take on WCKD's vastly superior forces and uncover its shocking plans for them all."

You don't need to know what any of that means. Just know that Ki Hong Lee is pretty badass as Minho.

Here's the trailer:

Missing: 60-year-old David Ku, last seen Friday

Mr. Ku, last seen at his home in Norwalk, CA, suffers from Alzheimer's.



In Southern California, police and loved ones are asking for the public's help in locating a 60-year-old man suffering from Alzheimer's who has been missing since Friday evening.

David Ku left his house in Norwalk on the evening of Friday, August 21 and has not been seen since.

He is Korean, 60 years old, 5'7" and about 170 pounds. He was last ween wearing a polo shirt and khakis. According to his family, Mr. Ku has Alzheimer's and may not respond to his name.

If you see him, or have any information about his whereabouts, please contact Norwalk police at 562-863-8711.

UPDATE: Mr. Ku has been found.

Read These Blogs

A history lesson for Donald Trump and his supporters: Donald Trump's immigration plan wants to "end birthright citizenship." Erika Lee reminds Trump and his followers of Wong Kim Ark, who in the 1890s took his case to the Supreme Court and safeguarded birthright citizenship for millions.

* * *
Here's what Donald Trump gets wrong about immigration: Karthick Ramakrishnan on what Donald Trump gets wrong about immigration. (Is the answer, 'everything'? We think so.)

* * *
Racist Fears Have Long Driven Attempts To Restrict Birthright Citizenship: From Dred Scott to the Chinese Exclusion Act, America has a dark history of trying to deny citizenship to certain groups.

* * *
On Solidarity, "Centering Anti-Blackness," and Asian Americans: Scot Nakagawa answers how to center anti-Blackness as Asian American allies in racial justice activism.

* * *
For Asian American students, stereotypes help boost achievement: Sociologists Jennifer Lee and Min Zhou's new book, The Asian American Achievement Paradox, explore the ways in which the model minority myth can be advantageous for some Asian Americans in academics.

Kollaboration Empower Leadership Conference

Dare to Dream: Saturday, August 29 at the Japanese American National Museum



Known for producing its world-famous Asian American talent show, Kollaboration is a non-profit organization that supports Asian/Pacific Islander Americans who are pursuing their passions in the creative fields.

You are invited to Kollaboration's first-ever leadership conference, EMPOWER, featuring speakers, panels and workshops with leaders and professionals at the top of their game. Attendees will be able to explore a variety of creative career paths, industries, and best practices to apply to making their dreams a reality.

It's happening Saturday, August 29 at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles.

Here are some more details about the conference:

Angry Reader of the Week: Sarah Kuhn

"Writer, geek girl, and Hapa heroine. I also cosplayed as Sailor Mars once."



Hello, everyone. It's that time again. I am pleased to introduce another Angry Reader of the Week, spotlighting you, the very special readers of this website. Over the years, I've been able to connect with a lot of cool folks, and this is a way of showing some appreciation and attention to the people who help make this blog what it is. This week's Angry Reader is Sarah Kuhn.

Geography Fail: Thailand is not Taiwan

San Jose Mercury News headline claims "Taiwan hunts for shrine bomber."



Journalism geography fail.

On Monday in Thailand, a deadly pipe bomb exploded at the Erawan Shrine, a popular tourist attraction, killing twenty people and injuring more than 100 others. As far as I am aware, absolutely nothing of this nature happened in Taiwan -- an entirely separate and different country -- this past week.

Someone at the San Jose Mercury News apparently doesn't know the different between Taiwan and Thailand. The above headline regarding the bomb blast ran in Wednesday's paper. I think Taiwan would be pretty surprised to learn that it's supposed to be hunting for the shrine bomber.

I'm guessing somebody at the Mercury News got yelled at.

(Thanks, Shirley.)


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Angry Asian America: Asians React to Internet Trolling

With co-host Jenny Yang and special guest Arthur Chu



Helloooo, YouTube watchers! I am pleased to share the latest edition of Angry Asian America, our talk show on ISAtv. In this episode, co-host Jenny Yang and I welcome none other than Arthur Chu, who went from Jeopardy infamy to become one of the most outspoken individuals on the internet. We talk about internet trolling, Asian American allies, the best way to support online causes and more.

Check it out:

The Muppets meet Fresh Off The Boat

Randall Park, Constance Wu and Gonzo team up to promote their Tuesday night time slot on ABC.



If you haven't heard, Fresh Off The Boat returns to the airwaves for its second season on September 22 on ABC, right after the series premiere of The Muppets. To promote their back-to-back Tuesday night time slots, stars Randall Park and Constance Wu recently teamed up with the one and only Gonzo to shoot a little promo. As you can see, their collaboration did not go as smoothly as they might have hoped:

Racist graffiti found etched on sidewalk in Flushing

Sometimes, you can encounter hate while just going for walk. Just look down.



Sometimes, you can encounter hate while just going for walk. You don't even to see or talk to anyone. Just look down at the ground and there it is. Like this week in New York, where anti-Asian graffiti was found scratched into sidewalk cement outside a Queens apartment building.

The message read, "ALL YOU CHINK GO BACK TO CHINA!!!"

Racist Remark Found Etched In Sidewalk Outside Flushing Apartment Building

The vandalism, which was carved into wet cement on the sidewalk outside of the Cherry Manor Condos in Flushing, made local news when it was brought to the attention of City Councilman Peter Koo via social media.

The councilman's office contacted the building owner and the city's Department of Transportation, which dispatched a crew to buff out the sidewalk on Tuesday morning, removing the vandalism

Missing: 7-year-old Eric Li

Last seen Tuesday morning in Brooklyn



In Brooklyn, police are asking for the public's help finding a boy who went missing Tuesday.

Police Look for Missing Brooklyn Boy Last Seen Tuesday

7-year-old Eric Li was last seen at around 9:00am Tuesday at 51st Street and Seventh Avenue in Sunset Park.

Eric is 4 feet, 7 inches tall and weighs 60 pounds.

Anyone with information on the case should contact the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS, or text CRIMES and then enter TIP577, or visit nypdcrimestoppers.com.

Teen campers killed by falling tree at Yosemite

14-year-old Dragon Kim and 15-year-old Justin Lee were killed when a tree limb fell on their tent.



Some terrible, tragic news out California, where two teenage friends were killed when a large tree limb fell on their tent while they were camping in Yosemite Valley last week. The campers were identified as 14-year-old Dragon Kim of Tustin and 15-year-old Justin Lee of Irvine.

2 killed by falling tree limb at Yosemite identified as Orange County teens

The branch fell from an oak tree early Friday morning while the boys were sleeping at the Upper Pines Campground. The boys were friends, and were on a camping vacation with family. According to the National Park Service, by the time park rangers arrived, both campers had died from their injuries.

Kim was a sophomore at Orange County School of the Arts in Santa Ana, where Lee was set to start as an incoming freshman next week. Kim's parents, who were camping with the boys, posted a message about their son's death to his friends and teammates at the Northwood Water Polo Club:

Family Reunion: A Storytelling Show

Kicking off The Comedy Comedy Festival! Thursday, August 27 at Echoes Under Sunset.



Good people of Los Angeles! Let me tell you a story. You are invited to join us for the latest edition of Disoriented Comedy's Family Reunion. The monthly storytelling show, co-presented by Angry Asian Man, Tuesday Night Project, Mishthi Music and KAYA Press, features regular everyday folks talking story. No notes.

The theme of this month's show is "Let It Go." It's our one-year anniversary show! And it serves as the kickoff for The Comedy Comedy Festival: A Comedy Festival. The evening's stacked lineup of storytellers includes AJ Rafael, Jumakae, Kulap Vilaysack, Naomi Ko, Christine Chen, Sean Miura, Jason Y. Lee, Parvesh Cheena, and host D'Lo. And me. I'll be telling a story too.

It's happening Thursday, August 27 at Echoes Under Sunset. Here are some more details:

Kristen Kish hosts new Travel Channel show '36 Hours'

'Top Chef' winner stars in new series based on popular New York Times travel column.



Top Chef winner (and culinary crush) Kristen Kish returns to television tonight as host of the new Travel Channel series 36 Hours. Based on the popular New York Times "36 Hours" newspaper columns, the show follows Kristen and her co-host, former pro soccer player Kyle Martino, as they spend a day-and-a-half exploring a city. In each one-hour episode, they'll consult with local insiders, explore the city's unique attractions, and of course, check out the food scene.

Here's teaser for the show:

Yes, there will be Asians in a Galaxy Far, Far Away

Donnie Yen, Jiang Wen, Riz Ahmed officially confirmed among the cast of 'Star Wars: Rogue One.'



Well, it's been rumored for months, but nothing in the Star Wars universe is official until they put it on StarWars.com. And so, it was thus confirmed over the weekend: Hong Kong superstar Donnie Yen is indeed part of the cast of the upcoming Star Wars spinoff movie Rogue One -- and it looks pretty frickin' awesome.

Rogue One -- The Daring Mission Has Begun: Cast and Crew Announced

Lucasfilm announced that their first film in the new standalone Star Wars film series Rogue One has begun principal photography. Yen joins a rad, stacked cast that includes Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Ben Mendelsohn, Jiang Wen, Forest Whitaker, Mads Mikkelsen, Alan Tudyk and Riz Ahmed.

Rogue One, directed by Gareth Edwards, takes place before the events of Star Wars: A New Hope and tells the story of resistance fighters who unite to steal plans to the dreaded Death Star.

Fund This: Haikus With Hotties Calendar 2016

A Very Important research project featuring hot Asian guys and poetry.



All right folks. This is a Very Important crowdfunding campaign that needs your help. The Haikus With Hotties Calendar 2016 is a calendar project based on Audrey Magazine's non-award-winning poetry series "Haikus With Hotties," in which they asked hot Asian American men to exchange poetry with them.

Like I said, Very Important.

The 2016 Haikus With Hotties calendar will feature hot Asian guys and poetry. The end. As Audrey puts it, the calendar will make the perfect gift for friends "who need more Asian American male hotties in their lives. Nothing says 'I love you' or 'Please don't be sad all the way from Thanksgiving through Valentine's Day' better than a calendar reminder that yes, hot men are also literate." I mean, yeah.

Here's a video with Ada Tseng, Professor of Hotness, who explains the important need for this calendar:

Tech entrepreneur's home targeted with racist slur

Vandal caught on camera scrawling "FUCK YOU GOOK" on Justin Kan's garage door.



Justin Kan woke up Saturday morning to discover that he was the victim of a hate crime.

The San Francisco tech entrepreneur, who is Chinese American, came outside to find that a someone had scrawled "FUCK YOU GOOK!" in black ink on his garage door in the Duboce Triangle neighborhood.

Security camera footage shows a white, bearded man with a baseball cap and gray hoodie walking up to Kan's home at 3:38 am Saturday morning, pulling a marker out of his backpack, and writing his "greeting" on the garage door. Kan is apparently one of the few Asian Americans who live on the street.

Kan, a partner at the startup seed-funding group Y Combinator, shared the vandal's "masterpiece" on Twitter:

Read These Blogs

Mishthi Mixtape Volume 4: Asian Americans for #BlackLivesMatter: Mishthi Music made an awesome mixtape of movement songs created by South Asian, Asian Americans and Black musicians/activists.

* * *
The rise of Asian American leaders in tech: With the promotion of Sundar Pichai as Google's new CEO, Jeff Yang talks about the tech industry, its immigrant innovators, and the rise of Asian American leaders in the field.

* * *
Asian Americans Are Invisible To Politics & Politicians, Which Is A Major Problem When The Personal Turns Political: Why are Asian Americans so invisible in the political sphere?

* * *
The Dangerous Weight of Expectations: Why do so many Asian American students suffer from depression?

Angry Reader of the Week: Kathleen Wong(Lau)

"I am a mentor, a mentee, a trainer, an activist and a friend."



Hey, folks. You know what time it is. Gather 'round, because it's time to meet the Angry Reader of the Week, spotlighting you, the very special readers of this website. Over the years, I've been able to connect with a lot of cool folks, and this is a way of showing some appreciation and attention to the people who help make this blog what it is. This week's Angry Reader is Kathleen Wong(Lau).

Cute Central Park dance video turns into surprise proposal

To the tune of Frank Sinatra's "You Make Me Feel So Young."



It starts off as one of these super-cute dance videos that populate the internet. An attractive New York City couple dance around Central Park to the tune of Frank Sinatra's "You Make Me Feel So Young."

But then, the gentleman gets down on one knee...

Five years ago, dancers Amanda Phillips and Joshua Dela Cruz got together to film a dance reel. They apparently never finished it, but they did start dating. In this video, they finally get around to finishing that reel, but little did Amanda know, Joshua had incorporated a very big surprise into the routine.

Stick around for the final take...

Sound and Fury Podcast Episode 21: Samantha Futerman

What's up, podcast listeners! I am pleased to present another new edition of the Sound and Fury podcast. In Episode 21, I talk to actor and filmmaker Samantha Futerman about her award-winning documentary Twinsters, which tells the amazing true story of how she reunited with her long lost twin sister.

Thank you to all the regular listeners of Sound and Fury. To catch up on previous episodes, check out the archive. To stay up-to-date with future episodes as soon as they drop, be sure to subscribe. You can also find Sound and Fury on services like iTunes and Stitcher, where you can rate and review the show.

So... without further ado, here is my conversation with Samantha Futerman:

VoterVOX makes democracy accessible in every language

18 Million Rising's translation mapping app addresses AAPI language access at the polls.



It's no secret that Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are terribly underrepresented at the polls. Why don't we vote? Well, one of the major obstacles to voting in our community is language. AAPIs are three times more likely to cite language barrier as a reason for not voting than Latinos.

That's why our friends at 18 Million Rising have been hard at work on an awesome, ambitious project called VoterVOX, a new solution to address the problem of language access at the polls for AAPI voters.

VoterVOX is a translation mapping app that connects multilingual AAPI volunteers with limited English speakers so that every eligible voter gets access to a ballot and voting information in their language. It's described as "1 part civic tech, 1 part grassroots organizing, and 3 parts cultural connection."

They're currently crowdfunding the project, and with the community's help -- that means you and me! -- they launch VoterVOX in time for the 2016 Presidential election.

Here's a video with some more information:

The Comedy Comedy Festival: A Comedy Festival

Did I mention this is a comedy festival? August 27-30 in Los Angeles.



Los Angeles! You want some comedy? We've got some comedy. We've got a festival full of comedy. Save the dates for The Comedy Comedy Festival: A Comedy Festival, produced by Disoriented Comedy, Kollaboration, Tuesday Night Project, The Always Summer Project and Angry Asian Man.

Did I mention there will be comedy? Four days of showcases for standup, improv, storytelling, workshops, mixers and more, featuring some of the finest comedic talent you can shake a stick at. It's happening August 27-30 in Little Tokyo, Arts District and Echo Park. You want to get in on this. It's going to be pretty darn fun.

Here's a quick glance at the schedule:

'Paradise Lost' re-imagined as an epic sci-fi action tale

Watch EB Rhee's epic proof-of-concept short 'The Garden.'



Spaceships! Dinosaurs! Pretty people in peril! See it all in The Garden, a new sci-fi action short from writer/director EB Rhee, starring Jun Sung Kim and Sheetal Sheth. Described as a sci-fi re-imagining of the literary classic Paradise Lost, The Garden is about a group of explorers who, after learning that the sun is dying, set out into deep space in search of a new home for humanity.

Check it out:

Asian customer referred to as "Chino" on restaurant receipt

According to the folks working at The Golden Pear Cafe.



This is brought to our attention by a reader named Warren, who became the latest recipient of the racial receipt during a recent visit with friends to The Golden Pear Cafe in East Hampton, New York.

Upon ordering his food -- a breakfast burrito and a smoothie -- and taking a seat, he was shocked and disheartened to learn that on his receipt, in the space designated for the customer's name, the cashier, Karina, had identified Warren simply as "CHINO." And yes, Warren is Asian, which Karina clearly made note of.

Boston Chinatown church vandalized with racist graffiti

The Boston Chinese Evangelical Church was spray-painted with racist caricatures.



Last month in Boston, a Chinese American church was vandalized with several instances of hate graffiti. Church members found racist Asian caricatures spray-painted on their office building in Chinatown.

Chinatown church building defaced by racist graffiti

The Boston Chinese Evangelical Church's office building was vandalized with racist graffiti on July 31. According to Sampan, the graffiti depicted a face with slanted eyes, buckteeth and a cone-shaped hat. The image was drawn twice, along with the words "creep" and "have a nice day."

I'm sure someone thought they were being clever.

Read These Blogs

Guest Editorial: Why Saturday's Bernie Sanders Rally Left Me Feeling Heartbroken: Washington State Senator Pramila Jayapal, who was at the Bernie Sanders rally that got interrupted Saturday in Seattle, offers some thoughts about the event.

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There Ought to Be a Law Against Hate: "Three years ago... a white supremacist walked into the Oak Creek gurdwara, a Sikh temple, and fatally shot my mother, Paramjit Kaur Saini, and five other worshipers."

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3 Years After the Sikh Temple Massacre, Hate-Violence Prevention Is Key: "While we may not be able to prevent racists like Wade Michael Page and Dylann Roof from taking violent action, we can certainly create communities where their bigotry is unwelcome, denounced and shunned. In Oak Creek, Wisconsin, the community is sending that message once again, loudly and clearly. It is our responsibility and duty to hear it, and do the same."

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The Voting Rights Act 50 Years Later: On its fiftieth anniversary, an overview of the Voting Rights Act and why it must be restored in order to protect the rights of Asian Americans and other communities of color.

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50 Years After the Voting Rights Act, We Need Meaningful Reform: In memory of Mrs. Thanh Bui, and her unwavering determination to vote. Her story reminds us that we need more protections for limited English proficient voters and communities of color in the United States, and the stark reality that for many, our voting rights are under attack.

Angry Reader of the Week: Alton Wang

"I'm an activist passionate about all things Asian America."



Good people of the internet, you know what time it is. Time to meet the Angry Reader of the Week, spotlighting you, the very special readers of this website. Over the years, I've been able to connect with a lot of cool folks, and this is a way of showing some appreciation and attention to the people who help make this blog what it is. This week's Angry Reader is Alton Wang.

Fund This: A Mural for Yuri & Malcolm

A mural project inspired by the lives, legacies, and friendship between Yuri Kochiyama and Malcolm X.



"From Harlem With Love: A Mural for Yuri and Malcolm" is a mural project led by artists and activists inspired by the lives, legacies, and deep friendship between Yuri Kochiyama and Malcolm X.

The mural project, also led by the family of Yuri Kochiyama, will include film screenings, educational programs, artist visioning sessions, and a series of community mural painting days culminating in a mural of Yuri Kochiyama and Malcolm X in Harlem, New York City -- where their legacies were formed and live on.

To make this happen, they need your help! Make a donation here. This a 100% grassroots effort, and they're putting it all together without any corporate, foundation, or other economic support. This is a project, of, by, and for the people, and will only happen with true community support.

This Show Has The Most Asians on TV Right Now

MTV's 'America's Best Dance Crew' is back for an all-star showdown.



America's Best Dance Crew is back! MTV's groundbreaking team dance competition returned to the airwaves last week, bringing back the show's previous champions for an all-star showdown culminating at the VMAs. You all know I was a huge fan of the show in its heyday, so I'm extra pumped to see all these crews back in top form.

And let's just say it: between the collective membership of Quest Crew, Super Cr3w, Kinjaz, We Are Heroes and I.aM.mE Crew, ABDC is the show with the most Asians on TV right now. No joke.

It's difficult to choose favorite. I love all the crews, but their styles are so different. Quest is, of course, a perennial standout. However, I'm also extra rooting for Kinjaz, a new crew that includes dancers from first season champions Jabbawockeez and first season fan-favorites Kaba Modern.

At this point, I have two gripes about the show.

Seattle City Council expresses regret for anti-Chinese laws

And sorry for that time a mob forced all the Chinese to get the hell out of town.



On Monday, the Seattle City Council approved a resolution expressing regret for legislation passed by the Washington Territory and previous City Councils in 1800s that discriminated against Chinese immigrants.

Seattle issues gesture of regret over 1800s anti-Chinese laws

The resolution is an acknowledgement of the city's racist past. As a result of discriminatory laws adopted by the Washington Territory, which became Washington state in 1889, Chinese people were denied the right to vote, prohibited from giving evidence in the courts in cases involving Caucasians, and denied the right to own land.

Read These Blogs

Little Tokyo monument honors Japanese immigrant activist Sei Fujii : On Saturday in Los Angeles, community members unveiled a new Little Tokyo monument in honor of civil rights activist Sei Fujii.

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Thai Workers Finally Living 'The American Dream’ 20 Years After Sweatshop Raid: Twenty years ago, 72 Thai laborers were freed from slavery when authorities raided an El Monte garment sweatshop, in one of the most infamous human trafficking cases in modern history. But getting freed from captivity was only the beginning of their journey to becoming American heroes.

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Jennifer Pan's Revenge: the inside story of a golden child, the killers she hired, and the parents she wanted dead The complicated, morbid, and just plain sad story of a Canadian immigrant family, whose daughter arranged to have her parents killed.

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Tragedy of 'golden' daughter's fall resonates with Asian immigrant children "It's so easy to blame immigrant parents... The danger of highlighting cases like Jennifer's is that they contribute to a misconception that all Asian American kids experience this extreme pressure and are mentally unstable... Jennifer's parents certainly had a role in making her feel trapped, but I think there's a broader discussion to be had about the expectations that teachers, peers and institutions place on people like Jennifer to fit that stereotype of the exceptional Asian American student."

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Q&A With Prof. Jennifer Lee: Asian American Success Isn't What You Think It Is: An interview with UC Irvine professor Jennifer Lee, co-author of The Asian American Achievement Paradox, a new book debunking the "model minority" myth.