They Call Us Bruce - Episode 25: They Call Us Randall Park

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. 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.

This episode, we welcome our good friend, actor Randall Park, aka "Asian Jim." He reflects on the fourth(!) season of Fresh Off The Boat, shares almost nothing about his role as Jimmy Woo in Ant-Man & The Wasp, and considers the Good, the Bad and the WTF of being "Asian Famous."

In which Fred Armisen discovers he is actually Korean

'Portlandia' star learns some startling family secrets on the PBS ancestry series 'Finding Your Roots.'



After playing a cavalcade of memorable characters for years on Saturday Night Live, Fred Armisen has discovered he is not who he thinks he is. The Portlandia star recently appeared on the PBS series Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates Jr. to find out some pretty damn earth-shattering truths about his lineage, including the fact that he is not a quarter Japanese, as he has believed his whole life.

He's actually Korean.

Appearing on season four of the acclaimed ancestry series, Armisen learns that his paternal grandfather, dancer and choreographer Masami Kuni, was actually quite famous. There's even a whole museum exhibit dedicated to him in Japan. But Armisen also seems unsettled to learn that in the 1930s and 40s, Kuni was employed in Germany (where he eventually met and had an affair with Armisen's grandmother) as a performer for the Nazis.

But wait, there's more. A 1944 report from the U.S. Office of War Information suggests that Kuni was actually leading a double life, moonlighting as a secret agent for Japan during his stint as performer among the Nazis. The perfect cover. Oh, the intrigue! This is the kind of stuff they make movies about.

Letters to Immigrant Parents on National Coming Out Day

Guest Post by Patrick Lee



Growing up queer is rarely easy. Throw on a heaping load of immigrant family sacrifice, cultural conflict, and language barriers, and you have something that starts to approximate how I felt coming of age in a very white suburb of Chicago.

I didn't know whom to talk to or confide in; I didn't even really know why I felt so different from other people around me. I just knew that I didn't see myself in any of my friends or classmates.

But now I know I'm not alone: As an adult, I moved to New York and started seeking out community. I met a handful of queer and trans Asian Pacific Americans, and then another handful, and then another. Our experiences are never the same; our families all unique. But we share some common threads and frustrations, and for the first time in my life, I felt like someone was hearing me.

I decided to make a film to document some of the stories of our community, and the struggles we have communicating with our immigrant parents about queerness, gender identity, and sexuality.

Stupid Korean Games: Korean Drama Podcast - Boys Over Flowers #19

A K-Drama re-watch podcast by (and for) people who don't watch Korean dramas.



Are you a fan of Korean dramas? Then this podcast is probably not for you. The Korean Drama Podcast is the K-Drama rewatch podcast by (and for) people who don't watch Korean dramas.

In season one, host Will Choi (founder of Asian AF) and I -- both self-professed Korean drama beginners -- with help and hand-holding by our resident K-Drama expert Joanna Lee, attempt to watch and discuss the 2009 megahit drama Boys Over Flowers in its entirety, episode by episode.

In this episode, we discuss Perm Boy's mom's spy games, surprise pizza trucks, and how Pottery Boy sucks now, but Ringo is still keeping it real. Also, we explain the strange, punitive world of Stupid Korean Games.

They Call Us Bruce - Episode 24: They Call Us Jeremy Lin's Hair

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. 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.

This episode, we discuss Jeremy Lin's hair. Yes, his hair. Specifically, the recent dustup over our favorite Asian American point guard's decision to sport dreadlocks, and where it's situated in the larger conversation about cultural appropriation.

Join the AAPI National Week of Action

Stand up, fight back and join the conversation, October 7-14



The Trump administration continues its attacks on immigrant youth and families. A rising wave a xenophobia, Islamophobia, hate speech and racial violence goes unchecked. Neo-Nazis, KKK and white supremacists march on Charlottesville. Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders do not live in a bubble -- these acts affect us other marginalized communities. Will you stand up and fight back?

This week, October 7-14, is the AAPI National Week of Action. This is an opportunity to break the silence and make our voices heard in the public discussion on what is happening in our nation.

The primary focus right now is action around immigration, particularly in consideration of Trump's elimination of DACA and the proposed RAISE Act, which would significantly reduce legal immigration over the next decade and would have a devastating impact on family reunification -- particularly for Asian Americans.

AAPI Voices is partnering with dozens of community group around the country to organize events in 15 cities and online. To see the full updated list of organizations and actions, go to AAPI Voices.

Read These Blogs

Trump Immigration Plans and Asian Americans, Part I: The RAISE Act would affect the majority of Asian immigrants to the United States. Asian Americans of all political stripes would do well to pay close attention.

For All Our Dreamers: Smith Surasmith, who moved to the United States when he was seven and grew up undocumented in the 80s and offers a call to support people in his position today.

Jagmeet Singh, Canada's Newest Political Star, Lifts His Party's Hopes: Jagmeet Singh's been elected to lead the New Democratic Party -- the furthest to the left of Canada's mainstream parties.

A Life on the Line: Cecilia Lam made the last call of her life at 5:05 a.m. on October 10, 2014. It was the eighth she'd made to 911 in a span of nine hours, asking police to protect her from her violent boyfriend. Why wasn't it enough to save her?

Ken Burns' 'The Vietnam War' offers same narrative, with little perspective: Author Aimee Phan on the thoroughly narrow lens of Ken Burns' PBS documentary series on the Vietnam War.

A New Musical - And Its Audience - Grapple With Asian Identity, Through K-Pop: KPOP, a new interactive musical tells a story about the delicate, dotted lines between being Asian, American and Asian American.

Behind the Scenes of the Long-Awaited Revival M. Butterfly: How director Julie Taymor and David Henry Hwang have worked to transform and deepen the Broadway revival of M. Butterfly this time around.

Aliens Would Probably Love Science Fiction: On this "Geek's Guide to the Galaxy" podcast episode, writer Charles Yu and John Joseph Adams talk about the anthology they co-edited, The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi's Kelly Marie Tran Opens Up About Her Overnight Fame: How has Kelly Marie Tran's life been since picking up her role in Star Wars: The Last Jedi? "I just still can't believe it's all happening."

Vice reporter Mary H.K. Choi previews debut novel Emergency Contact - see an exclusive excerpt and cover: Mary H.K. Choi's debut novel, Emergency Contact, is about young live in the digital age.

'Fresh Off The Boat' Star Randall Park Expected More Lead Roles For Asian-Americans By Now: Randall Park chats about the upcoming fourth season of Fresh Off The Boat, Asian Americans in Hollywood (why aren't there more?), and his upcoming project with Ali Wong.

War baby: the amazing story of Ocean Vuong, former refugee and prize-winning poet : His grandfather was a US soldier who fell in love with a Vietnamese farm girl.But then Saigon fell and the family was blown apart. Ocean Vuong poured it all into Night Sky With Exit Wounds, winning him a Forward prize -- and comparisons with Emily Dickinson.

Angry Reader of the Week: Chiwan Choi

"I am all about agitating, making the establishment feel uncomfortable."


Photo: Jess Castillo
Hey, everybody. It's time. Like we do every seven days, 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 Chiwan Choi.

Still few answers in police shooting of Tommy Le

Seattle's Vietnamese American community experiencing a political awakening around Le's death



Police say he was holding a weapon. It turned out to be a pen. Officers claimed they fired after he charged at them. An autopsy revealed he had been shot in the back. It's been four months since 20-year-old Tommy Le was fatally shot by King County Sheriff's deputies, and there are still few answers about his death.

While public awareness around Le's death seemed relatively quiet, the Vietnamese American community in Seattle has begun to experience a political awakening around Le and the movement against police violence.

"His death has become a catalyst for a campaign by activists to make it easier in Washington state to prosecute police officers in shooting cases," the Los Angeles Times reports. "It has also emerged as a key example in a wider push to require police dash and body cameras, which were not in place when Le was killed."

More here: He was 20 and unarmed. A police shooting brings Seattle's Vietnamese Americans into the world of activism

Charges upgraded in kidnapping of missing Chinese student

Brendt Christensen could face the death penalty for killing Yingying Zhang.



The man charged in the disappearance of a Chinese scholar at the University of Illinois could be eligible for the death penalty after new charges were filed, accusing him of kidnapping and killing her.

Illinois man could face death penalty in missing Chinese student case

According to an updated indictment released this week, 28-year-old Brendt Christensen has been charged with kidnapping resulting in the death of Yingying Zhang. Christensen was initially charged with kidnapping Zhang, but the new charges claim he kidnapped and "intentionally killed" her.

Funko Pop! Star Wars: The Last Jedi - Rose in Disguise

A Funko Specialty Series exclusive


It's not secret that we're waaaaay hyped to see Kelly Marie Tran as Rose in Star Wars: The Last Jedi and thus gobbling up all Rose-related merchandise. The latest: Funko just announced that one of its upcoming Specialty Series exclusives will be a Pop! Star Wars: The Last Jedi Rose in Disguise.

Ken Leung opens up about the death of his brother

Listen to 'The Inhumans' actor on The Well podcast.



Ken Leung is one of my favorite actors. His credits include Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Vanilla Sky, Rush Hour, Keeping the Faith, X-Men: The Last Stand, Lost, The Night Shift, and The Inhumans. Recently, he was a guest on The Well, a podcast about creative inspiration with Branan Edgens and Anson Mount. The conversation quickly becomes personal when Leung shares about the sudden death of his brother.

"Actor Ken Leung woke up one morning to a phone call. It was his father telling him that he had to fly to Thailand to bring back the body of his brother Kevin who had suddenly drowned while on vacation. Ken explains a mystery surrounding the circumstances; and goes on to tell us how the experience of handling his brothers affairs changed his outlook on both his life and his craft."

It's a wonderful, candid conversation that offers insight into Leung as a man and an artist. Listen:

Ramyun Talk: Korean Drama Podcast - Boys Over Flowers #18

A K-Drama re-watch podcast by (and for) people who don't watch Korean dramas.



Are you a fan of Korean dramas? Then this podcast is probably not for you. The Korean Drama Podcast is the K-Drama rewatch podcast by (and for) people who don't watch Korean dramas.

In season one, host Will Choi (founder of Asian AF) and I -- both self-professed Korean drama beginners -- with help and hand-holding by our resident K-Drama expert Joanna Lee, attempt to watch and discuss the 2009 megahit drama Boys Over Flowers in its entirety, episode by episode.

This episode is just another episode of Boys over Flowers: innocent misunderstandings, Ringo fighting fools, Jun Pyo realizing that he's a jerk... wait that's new! Perm Boy finally learns that he's been a dick for the past 17 episodes and tries to make good, by learning to eat ramyun! Ramyun so good that we go off on an extended discussion on the goodness of ramyun.

Read These Blogs

On American Identity, the Election, and Family Members Who Support Trump: Nicole Chung reflects on the burden of engaging with racism and educating white people, including some in her own family.

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The Ultimate List of Asian Hosted Podcasts To Listen To: In honor of International Podcast Day, Sheena Yap Chan has compiled a lengthy, "ultimate list" of podcasts hosted by Asians.

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American Pendulum I: What happens when the Supreme Court, the highest court in the land, seems to get it wrong? Korematsu v. United States is a case that's been widely denounced and discredited, but it still remains on the books.

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Why Saturday Night Live's Most Intriguing New Hire Is Behind the Camera: NBC's flagship sketch show recently added comedian/writer Nimesh Patel to its almost always perennially white writing staff.

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A Michigan state rep dared to bring her daughter to a public meeting and some dude is pissed: "Some dude" needs to calm the fuck down and let Stephanie Chang be the awesome mom-legislator that she is.

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Filmmaker Kulap Vilaysack Can Teach You All About Lao Cuisine: Kulap Vilaysack is the comedian and filmmaker behind Bajillion Dollar Propertie$ and has also appeared in Parks and Recreation. Most recently, she shot her first documentary film, Origin Story, about the search for her biological father. Here, Vilaysack discusses Lao cuisine, cultural appropriation, and representation.

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Local restaurant temporarily closes doors to treat head chef to yearly trip home to Thailand: In Bakersfield, California, a local restaurant closes for two weeks every year so its head chef can make a special trip home to see his family in Thailand.

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Michelle Yeoh's Response To Millions Upset Over Her Character In Star Trek: Discovery (Spoiler Alert!) Were you bummed out by the bleak fate of Captain Philippa Georgiou on the two-part premiere of Star Trek: Discovery? Star Michelle Yeoh offers some assuring words.

They Call Us Bruce - Episode 23: They Call Us Kristina Wong

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. 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.

This episode, we welcome longtime pal, performance artist and culture jammer Kristina Wong. We talk about the art of trolling dudes with yellow fever, How Not to Pick Up Asian Chicks, and the Good, the Bad and the WTF of Dating While Asian.

Angry Reader of the Week: Thomas Nguyen

"I enjoy sharing all of my mistakes to other people so that they can achieve their goals a little bit faster."



What's up, good people of the internet? I'll tell you what's up. 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 Thomas Nguyen.

Stop the Fence at Tule Lake

Proposed airport fence threatens historic site of Japanese American resistance.



The Tule Lake Segregation Center is recognized as the World War II concentration camp where thousands who protested the mass incarceration of Japanese Americans were punished for speaking out. The maximum security camp housed the largest number of detainees (housing over 18,000 prisoners at its peak), stayed opened the longest and was the place where "troublemakers" from other camps were sent.

Now considered the crucible for Japanese American resistance to incarceration during World War II, the infamous site is today preserved as a monument to one of our nation's darkest chapters. In 2006, Tule Lake was officially designated as a U.S. National Historic Landmark, the highest level of recognition for a historically significant property. In 2008, the site was dedicated as a National Monument.

But now the physical and historical integrity of Tule Lake, located in Modoc County, California, is threatened by the potential construction of a massive fence, and community members are asking for your support.

Sound and Fury Podcast Episode 24: Lena Khan

Writer and Director of 'The Tiger Hunter'



Hey, podcast listeners! We're back, and pleased to share another edition of my original interview podcast Sound and Fury. For now, I'm hoping to get the show back on a monthly schedule, at least. So thank you for listening.

In Episode 24, I talk to Lena Khan, director and co-writer of the indie comedy The Tiger Hunter. She talks about her professional path to become a filmmaker, why her 1970s-set immigrant comedy feels particularly relevant right now, and how you can accomplish anything with just one really groovy suit.

Check it out:

How do AAPIs resist? Sign on, stand up and fight back!

Sign up to join the AAPI National Week of Action, October 7-14.



Recently, the Trump administration has advanced racist nativist attacks on immigrants by rescinding DACA, imposing a travel ban on refugees and six Muslim-majority countries, and supporting drastic immigration restrictions through the proposed RAISE Act. Trump has even essentially called neo-Nazis, the KKK, and white supremacists "fine people" in the aftermath of violence in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Sign up here for #AAPIAction

From xenophobia and Islamophobia to acts of racial violence, it is evident all oppression is connected and we can no longer continue to have single-issue campaigns and platforms because we don’t live single-issue lives. Unfortunately, we also have to recognize that segments of our own community have worked against social justice; for example protesting sanctuary cities, ethnic data disaggregation, and affirmative action, et cetera.

All of these unjust acts negatively affect Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and other marginalized communities. In the wake of all of this, we may ask: What now?

Pretty People Problems: Korean Drama Podcast - Boys Over Flowers #17

A K-Drama re-watch podcast by (and for) people who don't watch Korean dramas.



Are you a fan of Korean dramas? Then this podcast is probably not for you. The Korean Drama Podcast is the K-Drama rewatch podcast by (and for) people who don't watch Korean dramas.

In season one, host Will Choi (founder of Asian AF) and I -- both self-professed Korean drama beginners -- with help and hand-holding by our resident K-Drama expert Joanna Lee, attempt to watch and discuss the 2009 megahit drama Boys Over Flowers in its entirety, episode by episode.

In this episode, as we move towards the final arcs of Boys Over Flowers, we're introduced to a pottery girl, witness a ramen challenge, and find out Perm Boy learned how to swim?!?!?! (Character development!) Also, Jan Di needs to be saved a lot and there's a bunch of misunderstandings. Just another week with F4!

Casting call seeks Asian teen for 'Titans'

Open auditions for the live-action adaptation of DC Comics' Teen Titans.



Want to play a superhero on TV? Note: you might have to be green. And I'm not talking about the Hulk.

Casting directors are currently searching high and low for an Asian teen to star in Titans, a live-action adaptation of DC Comics' Teen Titans from Warner Bros. Television/DC Entertainment.

The open casting call from Rapaport/Baldasare Casting seeks a 13 to 15 year old Asian male to play the series regular role of "Jax," who is described as "funny, self-deprecating and charming."

Watch the trailer for 'Go For Broke' - A 442 Origins Story

Film tells the story of the most decorated combat unit in American military history.



Go For Broke, a 442 Origins Story, is a Hawaii-based, non-commercial education multi-part film project that aims to tell the complete story of the 100th/442nd Regimental Combat Team and Military Intelligence Service.

The first film, Go For Broke, follows a group of University of Hawaii ROTC students during the tumultuous year after the attack on Pearl Harbor as they navigate wartime Hawaii and fight discrimination by forming the Varsity Victory Volunteers. The brave actions of these young Japanese Americans, along with the perseverance of the original 100th Infantry Battalion draftees from Hawaii, directly led to the formation of the all-Japanese fighting unit -- the 442nd -- the most decorated combat unit in American military history.

Here's the recently released first trailer for Go For Broke:

Badass action figure reimagines Captain America as samurai

Samurai Captain America Meisho Manga Realization Action Figure by Bandai Tamashii Nations



What do you get when you mix Captain America with a samurai warrior? Wait, why would you do such a thing? It does not matter. It has been done. The Samurai Captain America Meisho Manga Realization Action Figure from Bandai Tamashii Nations re-imagines Marvel's star-spangled superhero as a samurai warrior.

Standing about 6 9/10-inches, Samurai Captain America features a distinctive winged helmet and scale armor inspired by Cap's traditional red, white and blue Nazi-kicking super-uniform, remixed by sculptor Takeyuki Takeya. His chest star emblem is removable and becomes a throwing star. The figure includes four optional hands, shield parts and sword parts.

The Marvel Samurai Captain America Meisho Manga Realization Action Figure will be available in February 2018. You can pre-order it now for $89.99 from Entertainment Earth.

Here are some more photos of the figure:

She could save her sister's life. But the U.S. won't let her into the country.

Helen Huynh best hope for survival is a stem cell transplant from her sister in Vietnam.



Helen Huynh will die without a stem cell transplant. A donor could save her life, and there is hope: her sister in Vietnam is a perfect match. But the U.S. Consulate there has refused to give her a temporary visa.

A cancer patient desperately needs a stem-cell transplant. But the U.S. won't grant the donor a visa.

Huynh, 61, is suffering from acute myeloid leukemia. Her best hope for survival is stem cell transplant from her sister, Thuy Nguyen, who lives in a Vietnam and is a rare 100 percent match.

But Nguyen's visa application has now been denied four times.

Read These Blogs

The soft bigotry of having to change your name. Because somehow Tchaikovsky is easier. What's in a name? A ton of discrimination if your name doesn't "sound white."

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How the Graham-Cassidy Proposal Would Hurt Communities of Color: There have been repeated efforts by Congress to repeal the Affordable Care Act. The newest iteration has been the Graham-Cassidy proposal. Here's how it could hurt communities of color.

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If You're Undocumented in Trump's America, Mental Health Matters: For many, the realities of the undocumented experience in America today rival the stressors that brought them here in the first place.

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Against "Fire and Fury": As tensions with North Korea continue to rise, Korean American voices are often left out of the conversation. Hyphen presents twelve responses to the ongoing crisis.

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It's called the 'Pao effect' - Asian women in tech are fighting deep-rooted discrimination: Ellen Pao's Reset: My Fight for Inclusion and Lasting Change delves into the legal battle against her former venture capital form. Her case has brought attention to discrimination against women, and in particular Asian women, in Silicon Valley. Since her lawsuit, many Asian and Asian American women in tech are speaking out about their own experiences.

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Where have you gone, Tim Lincecum? In search of beloved Giants ace: Tim Lincecum, once considered one of the best pitchers in Major League Baseball, has seemingly gone AWOL, now nowhere to be found.

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The Exorcist: How John Cho is changing American horror: 'I had not seen Asian faces in American horror, and it kind of tickled me to want to change that visual vocabulary a bit,' the actor says

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"The Tiger Hunter" star Karen David on embracing her multiracial identity and auditioning in Hollywood: An interview with Karen David, who can be seen in The Tiger Hunter, a film about an immigrant form an Indian village trying to make it as an engineer in 1970s Chicago.

Angry Reader of the Week: Simran Jeet Singh

"I can no longer hide behind the "One day, I will..." I'm here, and I'm here today."



Hey, everybody! You know what time it is. 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 Simran Jeet Singh.

Asian American family receives hate mail for posting Black Lives Matter sign

San Francisco home targeted with racist, threatening hate letters.



An Asian American family in San Francisco has been the target of racist, threatening hate mail since putting up a sign in support of "Black Lives Matter" in their window. But they're not backing down.

San Francisco Couple Threatened Over 'Black Lives Matter' Sign Display

Debbie Lee says she has had the sign up in the front window of her Forest Knolls/Twin Peaks home since 2015. But over the summer, she started receiving threatening letters about the sign.

The first letter showed up in her mailbox in July. Postmarked with no return address, it declared "BLUE LIVES MATTER! Get rid of your sign or WE will!" By the way, that's a threat.

The second letter said, "It's time to replace your BLM sign. How about CHINK LIVES MATTER."

When Asian Parents Retire... and Start Cosplaying

Steven and Millie Tani are having a blast dressing up as their favorite pop culture characters.



They say that the couple that cosplays together stays together. Meet Steven and Millie Tani, a retired couple that spends their leisure time getting dressed up as their favorite pop culture characters.

The couple, who have been married for 27 years, caught the cosplaying bug three years ago when they needed costumes for Halloween event at Disneyland. They went as Carl and Ellie from Pixar's Up.

Since then, the Southern California couple has suited up as everything from Captain America and Agent Carter to Han Solo and Princess Leia, traveling to events and conventions around the state.

Their daughter, a veteran cosplayer herself, suggested they document their newfound hobby on social media. You can view fun photos of Steven and Millie's costume exploits on CosplayParents.

Brazilian tennis player fined for making racist gesture

You know exactly what gesture I'm talking about.



A Brazilian tennis player has been fined for making a racist gesture while playing against a Japanese opponent during a Davis Cup match in Osaka. You know exactly what gesture I'm talking about.

Guilherme Clezar: Brazilian tennis player fined for 'offensive' gesture

Brazil's Guilherme Clezar made a gesture during a match against Japan's Yuichi Sugita on Friday. Clezar stretched his eyes in the direction of a line judge after successfully challenging a line call.

Because that was definitely the mature, sportsmanlike thing to do.

Actually, no. Clezar was fined £1,100 (about $1,500 US) by the International Tennis Federation for "unsportsmanlike conduct." Yes, at minimum. I would actually characterize it as "racist as shit."

Poison Soba: Korean Drama Podcast - Boys Over Flowers #16

A K-Drama re-watch podcast by (and for) people who don't watch Korean dramas.



Are you a fan of Korean dramas? Then this podcast is probably not for you. The Korean Drama Podcast is the K-Drama rewatch podcast by (and for) people who don't watch Korean dramas.

In season one, host Will Choi (founder of Asian AF) and I -- both self-professed Korean drama beginners -- with help and hand-holding by our resident K-Drama expert Joanna Lee, attempt to watch and discuss the 2009 megahit drama Boys Over Flowers in its entirety, episode by episode.

In this episode, JK (Perm Boy's fiance), who we all kinda like, tries to be friends with everyone but really just causes more drama. We also share our relationship with sleepovers, drinking culture, and Korean food (specifically, the blatant lies Will's mom told him about soba noodles).

A Call to Action by Jay Hirabayashi, Holly Yasui, and Karen Korematsu

By Jay Hirabayashi, Holly Yasui, and Karen Korematsu. Cross-Posted from Stop Repeating History!


Karen Korematsu (left), Holly Yasui (middle), and Jay Hirabayashi on a panel at the 2013 JANM National Conference. (Photo via DiscoverNikkei.org.)

A Call to Action: Reject the Shameful Legacy of Japanese American Incarceration and Call Upon the U.S. Supreme Court to Fulfill Its Role as Defender of the Constitution

Riz Ahmed is the first Asian actor to win an Emmy

Other notable winners include Lena Waithe and Aziz Ansari for 'Master of None.'



On Sunday at the 69th annual Emmy Awards, Riz Ahmed won Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie for his starring role as an accused murderer in HBO's limited series crime drama The Night Of.

That makes Ahmed the first man of Asian descent to take home a trophy at the Emmys, and only the second Asian performer ever to win, following Archie Panjabi's win for The Good Wife in 2010.

The Night Of is an eight-part miniseries that follows the intricate story of a murder case in New York City. Ahmed received critical praise for his star-making turn as Nasir "Naz" Khan, a Pakistani American college student accused in the grisly murder of a mysterious young woman after a night gone wrong.

"Wow. This is a tremendous honor to be recognized along so many actors who I've watched for so long." Ahmed said in his acceptance speech. "If this show has shone a light on some of the prejudice in our society, Islamophobia, some of the injustice in our justice system, then maybe that's something."

The Pakistani British actor and emcee also specifically credited the organizations South Asian Youth Action and The Innocence Project for helping him prepare for the role.

Read These Blogs

Lessons From the World War II Experiences of Japanese Americans for Today's Muslim Americans: "Our political leaders should listen to Americans of Japanese ancestry who have personal experience with the dangers of racial prejudice and wartime hysteria. Our family stories contain profound lessons that must be retold to safeguard the constitutional liberties of all Americans."

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Just Like My Mother: How We Inherit Our Parents' Traits and Tragedies: My-Linh Le is discovering the ways in which she has inherited and manifested some of her refugee parents' spoken and unspoken traumas.

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A lot of white supremacists seem to have a weird Asian fetish: From David Duke to Charleston church shooter Dylann Roof, a lot of white supremacists seem to have an unlikely Asian fetish. What gives?

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Two Asian-Americans On Growing Up In The Midwest vs. Chinatown: What it's like being one of a few Asian-Americans in school, contrasted with having a whole community you relate to.

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Remembering Betty Ong: On September 11, 2001, flight attendant Betty Ann Ong heroically notified the American Airlines ground crew of the hijacking situation on board Flight 11, relaying vital information until the plane crashed into the World Trade Center.

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We Need More Filmmakers Like Justin Lin to Explore Asian-Americana: Justin Lin is going back to his Asian American underdog roots with his new Chinatown bank prosecution picture.

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"I've Always Been Political": Celeste Ng and Nicole Chung in Conversation: On transracial adoption, social media and Ng's new novel Little Fires Everywhere.

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Michelle Yeoh Sheds Light on Captain Georgiou, Discovery: Michelle Yeoh, who plays Captain Phillippa Georgiou of the U.S.S. Shenzhou, talks about taking on the captain's chair on Star Trek: Discovery.

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TOKiMONSTA Lost Speaking and Musical Abilities After Brain Surgery. This Is How She Regained Them.: Last year, Jennifer Lee, AKA TOKiMONSTA, had two brain surgeries that left her temporarily unable to comprehend language, walk, and -- worst of all to her -- understand music.

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Marjorie Liu on the Road to Making Monstress: Acclaimed comic book writer Marjorie Liu discusses working for Marvel, the loneliness of novel-writing, and why her epic-fantasy series Monstress is mostly populated by women and characters of color.

* * *
Dream Casting: The All-Asian New Super-Man: Syfy's "Dream Casting" imagines who they'd like to see starring in a hypothetical movie version of Gene Luen Yang's New Super-Man, aka the "Chinese Superman."

They Call Us Bruce - Episode 22: They Call Us #ExpressiveAsians

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. 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.

This week, we talk TV and #ExpressiveAsians with Nancy Wang Yuen, author of the book Reel Inequality: Hollywood Actors and Racism, and co-author of "Tokens on the Small Screen," a comprehensive new study on the state of AAPI representation on television.

The Great Failed Spam Heist of Ewa Beach

Thieves thwarted while attempting to steal 18 cases of Spam from a Hawaii drug store.



It wasn't exactly a fool-proof plan, but you have to appreciate the audacity of these thieves, just a little bit. This week in Hawaii, three women were thwarted while trying to steal 18 cases of Spam.

3 women attempt to steal 18 cases of Spam at Ewa Beach Longs

According to KITV, the attempted Spam heist occurred at a Longs Drugs store in Ewa Beach, where a trio of shoplifters tried to roll off with 18 cases -- that's 216 cans -- of everybody's favorite canned cooked meat.

The thieves were thwarted when a watchful customer noticed the shopping cart full of Spam while hanging out in cereal aisle. He got suspicious and staked out the store's exit to see what was up.

"I didn't say anything. I just stood by the door and the person that was trying to steal all the Spam just pushed the wagon and said 'Here!'" Kurt Fevella told KITV.

Angry Reader of the Week: Lena Khan

"I'm all about trying. I don't know if everything succeeds, but I try a lot."



Greetings, good people of the internet. 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 Lena Khan.

Breaking Stereotypes When It Matters Most

Heroes from Houston's restaurant industry step up during Hurricane Harvey. Guest Post by Thomas Nguyen.



Hurricane Harvey made landfall in Texas on August 25, 2017, and is likely to be the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history. Harvey dumped more than 50 inches of rainfall in Houston, Texas, causing catastrophic flooding and damage to over 200,000 homes and businesses.

With over 12,000 restaurants that include everything from Ethiopian, Pakistani, barbeque, Viet-Cajun, Tex-Mex, to South African, Houston has unofficially become the most diverse city in America. But what makes Houston unique isn't just the diversity of cultures and people, it is seeing everyone come together in times of tragedy, catastrophe and chaos. Among the overwhelming number of inspirational and heroic stories during Harvey these past few weeks were chefs, owners and volunteers from Houston's burgeoning restaurant industry.

A handful of these stories involving Asian Americans stood out to me. Not because they were more significant than any others, but because they demonstrated traits that went against typical Asian American stereotypes. These individuals were not weak, silent or passive. They were leaders, they were compassionate, and they wholeheartedly contributed to those who needed help.

George Takei to guest star on 'Fresh Off The Boat'

Iconic 'Star Trek' actor will play "a charming ESL instructor."



Sooner or later, it had to happen, right? Sulu, meet the Huangs. Legendary Star Trek actor George Takei will guest star on an upcoming fourth season episode of the ABC comedy Fresh Off The Boat.

George Takei to Guest Star on 'Fresh Off the Boat'

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the iconic actor and activist will play Bernard, "a charming ESL instructor for whom Grandma Huang (Lucille Soong) has a sweet spot." Love it. Ah, Uncle George, always the charmer.

You can get a life-size cardboard Rose from 'Star Wars'

If that's your thing.



Hey, superfans. I just thought everyone would want to know that right now on Amazon, you can order a life-sized cardboard standup of Kelly Marie Tran as Rose from Star Wars: The Last Jedi. If that's your thing.

Rose Tico is described as "a gearhead, a greasemonkey, a behind-the-scenes jack-of-all-trades" in the Resistance who gets pulled into an adventure with Finn. Based on all the information and marketing that's been released so far, she's apparently Episode VIII's biggest new character -- and worthy of a cardboard cutout.

The Tokens, The Invisible and The Stereotyped: AAPIs on TV!

Comprehensive new report details the state of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders on television.



If you've watched any amount of television, I don't think you really needed a study to figure this one out, but it certainly helps to back it up with the numbers. A new study, Tokens on the Small Screen, reports on the ongoing representation of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders on prime time television and streaming television. The report concludes that while AAPI actors have increasing opportunities today, AAPIs are still underrepresented on television and their characters remain marginalized and tokenized on screen.

"With successful shows like Master of None and Fresh Off The Boat on the air, it may seem like Asian Americans are making greater strides on television," says report co-author Christina B. Chin, Assistant Professor at CSU Fullerton. "Yet, when we take a deeper look at the larger TV landscape, we start to see that these shows are the exception rather than the rule; Asian American and Pacific Islander actors and their stories are still tokenized or missing."

Following up and expanding on their 2005 and 2006 studies of AAPIs in prime time television, scholars from six California universities painstakingly evaluated broadcast, cable and streaming televising scripted shows airing between September 1, 2015 and August 31, 2016. (That is a lot of television.) In the most comprehensive report on this topic to date, the authors detail how AAPI series regulars fare in numbers settings, screen time, relationships, stereotypes and storylines.

Here are some key findings of the report:

Korean Drama Podcast - Boys Over Flowers #15

A K-Drama re-watch podcast by (and for) people who don't watch Korean dramas.



Are you a fan of Korean dramas? Then this podcast is probably not for you. The Korean Drama Podcast is the K-Drama rewatch podcast by (and for) people who don't watch Korean dramas.

In season one, host Will Choi (founder of Asian AF) and I -- both self-professed Korean drama beginners -- with help and hand-holding by our resident K-Drama expert Joanna Lee, attempt to watch and discuss the 2009 megahit drama Boys Over Flowers in its entirety, episode by episode.

In this episode, our heroes wrap up their adventures in Macau and return to birthday parties, new jobs, and ... MORE DRAMA! We struggle between rooting for the relationships the show wants us to root for and the relationships we actually want to root for. Also: a (very) in-depth discussion on public restrooms.

The Comedy Comedy Festival: A Comedy Festival 2017

Family Reunion Storytelling: All Stars (September 21) & Disoriented AF (September 23)



If you're in Los Angeles and looking for some laughs, do not miss the The Comedy Comedy Festival: A Comedy Festival 2017. Scaled back from previous years, this mini-festival features two fun shows: a special "All-Star" edition of Disoriented Comedy's storytelling show Family Reunion and the variety comedy show Disoriented AF, with standup, improv, sketch and special guest storyteller Kelly Marie Tran.

It's going to be fun! Family Reunion is going down on Thursday, September 21 at the Lyric Hyperion Theatre & Cafe, while you can catch Disoriented AF on Saturday, September 23 at the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center in Little Tokyo. Here are some more details:

Daniel Dae Kim to replace Ed Skrein in 'Hellboy'

Former 'Hawaii Five-0' actor in talks to play Ben Daimio in 'Hellboy: Rise of the Blood Queen.'



What. Are you telling me that an Asian American character will be played by an actual Asian American actor? That's wild! Daniel Dae Kim will reportedly star as Major Ben Daimio in the upcoming Hellboy movie reboot.

Daniel Dae Kim in Talks to Replace Ed Skrein in 'Hellboy' Reboot (Exclusive)

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Kim is talks to step into the role of Ben Daimio in Hellboy: Rise of the Blood Queen. Ed Skrein, who was originally signed on to play Daimio, dropped out of the project after an outcry over his casting -- yet another Asian character gets the Hollywood whitewash! In Mike Mignola's original Hellboy comic books, Daimio is Japanese American. Ed Skrein is... not.

This is more like it. Kim, who recently made headlines with his very public exit from Hawaii Five-0 after seven seasons, will play the severely scarred former marine officer who works for the Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense. Due to supernatural encounter in the field, Daimio has the ability to transform into a monstrous, jaguar-like creature under extreme stress.

Damn, Daniel!

Autopsy: Tommy Le Shot Twice in Back by Police for Holding a Pen | #JusticeforTommyLe

By Jenn Fang. Cross-Posted from Reappropriate.



On June 14th, twenty-year-old Tommy Le was shot and killed just outside of Seattle, Washington by King County Sheriff’s deputy Cesar Molina. After the shooting, Molina insisted that Le was shot for approaching police aggressively while wielding an object that appeared to be a knife, and that Le further refused to comply with officer orders to drop the weapon.

That version of events is now in serious doubt after an investigation revealed that Le was actually holding a pen, not a knife, when he was shot and killed; and now, an autopsy of Le’s body further shows that Le was actually shot twice in the back, and a third time in the back of the hand. Those findings are incompatible with Molina’s insistence that Le was approaching police when he was killed.

Finally, toxicology reports show that Le was not under the influence of any drugs or alcohol. Although it remains possible that Le was suffering a mental health crisis at the time of his killing, Le’s family say that he had no history of mental illness.