Read These Blogs

Write Our Stories
This Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, NBC News is highlighting some of the efforts by Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to write their stories back into history.

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Co-workers keep mixing up people of color in the office. It’s more than a mistake.
When people can’t tell their co-workers of color apart, it's a constant reminder that you're an outsider.

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She’s Asian and female. But she’s not me.
"If you just cringed, chuckled or rolled your eyes, I’ve been there. These instances are rarely intentional, and can be more embarrassing for the person who made the error than for me. Sometimes it’s genuinely funny. Other times, it’s just awkward. It took me years to realize that it also stings."

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How Chinese American Women Changed U.S. Labor History
Women workers and organizers remember staging the massive 1982 Garment Strike in Chinatown

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If ABC Cancels Fresh Off the Boat, It Cancels the Most Adorable Show on TV
Fresh Off the Boat is the most adorable show on television -- "the rare sitcom that manages to be cute without ever turning cloying." The show awaits word from ABC about a sixth season.

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13 Asian American & Pacific Islander Authors On The First Time They Saw Themselves In A Book
13 Asian American and Pacific Islander authors talk about the first time they saw themselves in a book.

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What It’s Like To Be Asian In A TV Writers Room
To celebrate the Asian writers behind some of your favorite television shows, Bustle spoke to a handful of gamechangers rewriting the script in Hollywood right now.

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'Warrior': Inside the Episode That Pits Kung-Fu Fighters Against Gunslinging Outlaws
Director Kevin Tancharoen and writer Kenneth Lin discuss fight logistics, representation, and identity in the latest groundbreaking episode of Cinemax's action drama Warrior.

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Meet Marvel's Secret Weapon: 'Avengers: Endgame' Executive Producer Trinh Tran
As an executive producer on The Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame, Marvel's Trinh Tran knows a thing or two about wrangling superheroes, on and off screen.

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Ming-Na Wen, Nancy Kwan Talk Hollywood's New "Awareness" on Diversity: "It's Opening Up"
Reuniting for the first time in 18 years, the former ER co-stars discuss their mother-daughter dynamic and Kwan's "amazing connection" to Crazy Rich Asians and each major studio film with an all-Asian cast.

Angry Reader of the Week: Vinny Chhibber

"Actor, storyteller, creative activist and avid FC Barcelona fan."



Greetings, good people of the internet! It is time, once again, 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 Vinny Chhibber.

Google Doodle celebrates artist Ruth Asawa

Acclaimed Japanese American artist was known intricate wire sculptures and works on paper.



As you you may know, May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. To kick off the celebration, Google dedicated its iconic home page Doodle on Wednesday to Ruth Asawa, a Japanese American artist who overcame discrimination during World War II to become a nationally renowned sculptor of wire forms and an arts educator who believed "art will make people better."

More here: May 1, 2019: Celebrating Ruth Asawa

Asians on TV: Do Networks Make the Grade?

Asian Pacific American Media Coalition releases annual diversity Report Card; Fox gets an "F."



Every year, the Asian Pacific American Media Coalition (APAMC) issues "report cards" to the top four television networks grading their progress toward diversity and inclusion of Asian Americans on the air and behind the scenes. This year's report card, evaluating the past 2017-18 season, gives ABC high marks, while Fox gets a failing grade of "F." And you know when it comes to grades, Asians are not messing around.

Since APAMC began meeting with the networks in 1999 to advocate for greater diversity and inclusion of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, there have been gradual (though inconsistent) increases in the number of Asian Americans represented in the categories of Actors (regular and recurring roles in prime time), Unscripted (host/judges and contestants), Writers/Producers, Directors, and Program Development.

This year, they've added a separate grade for each network on its Diversity Department's Relationship with the APAMC, which previously had been included within the "Commitment to Diversity" category. This takes into account the APAMC's dealings with each network's Diversity department as well as the timeliness and quality of data the network provides. I guess you don't add a category like this if your dealings are going particularly well.

Here's the report card for the four networks:

Who are the Most Influential AAPIs of 2019?

Gold House's A100 List honors the most impactful Asians and Asian American & Pacific Islanders in culture.



In celebration of AAPI Heritage Month, Gold House has announced its second annual A100 List honoring the most influential Asians and Asian American & Pacific Islanders in American culture.

The 2019 List honors 100 of "the most esteemed and impactful Asians in media and entertainment, fashion and lifestyle, technology, business, and social activism and politics from the past year," according to Gold House's press release. "These trailblazers are illuminating the path to a future of more inclusion and diverse impact in high positions across various professional sectors."

This year's honorees include creative voices and athletes such as Awkwafina, BTS, Darren Criss, Hasan Minhaj, Marie Kondo, Jon M. Chu, Naomi Osaka, and Sandra Oh; founders and entrepreneurs such as Rise CEO & Founder Amanda Nguyen, chef David Chang and Twitch Co-Founder Kevin Lin; and leaders such as U.S. Senator Kamala Harris, Planned Parenthood President Leana Wen, and Allure Editor-in-Chief Michelle Lee.

Additionally, for the first time, Gold House is launching the A1, a vote among the A100 for the single most impactful Asian in culture from the last year. Votes may be submitted at goldhouse.org/a1 until May 15; the A1 will be announced at the end of May.

Here's the list of this year's honorees:

Toro y Moi performs at NPR's Tiny Desk

Artist offers four stripped down tracks from 'Outer Peace.'



Chaz Bear, who performs as Toro y Moi, is the latest artist to drop by and perform for NPR's Tiny Desk Concert series, treating fans to four stripped down tracks from his acclaimed record Outer Peace. Peeling away the heavy auto-tune and electronic effects of the record, Toro y Moi offers acoustic versions of "Laws of the Universe,' "New House," "Freelance" and "Ordinary Pleasure."

Check it out:

Netflix teams with Jon M. Chu for Thai cave rescue project

Jon M. Chu and Nattawut "Baz" Poonpiriya will direct the story of the 2018 Thai soccer team cave rescue.



Netflix is teaming up with SK Global Entertainment and directors Jon M. Chu and Nattawut "Baz" Poonpiriya to tell the story of last year's dramatic rescue of a boys' soccer team trapped in a cave in Thailand.

Netflix & ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ Team Pact For Thai Cave Story

The project will tell the true story of how twelve boys and their soccer coach were rescued after being trapped for two weeks inside of the flooded Tham Luang caves near Chiang Mai, Thailand during the summer of 2018.

The project's format is unclear, but The Hollywood Reporter indicates that it's expected to be a miniseries.

Read These Blogs

Ali Wong, Comedy’s Reigning Queen Mom
The comedian burst onto the scene with two Netflix specials that mined pregnancy and motherhood for hilarity. As her new film, Always Be My Maybe, ups the ante, Ali Wong contends with her growing fame, touring with kids in tow, and more.

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John Cho on Heritage, Hashtags and Hollywood's Surprises
John Cho talks about narrating the PBS documentary Korea: The Never-Ending War, his role on The Twilight Zone, how Cowboy Bebop casting broke the internet, and the possibility of another Harold and Kumar movie.

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When Did Asian Food Become Dirty?
"Asian Americans are right to object to the weaponizing of the word "clean" as a way to suggest that Asian food is only safe when white people are in charge."

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The Next Mayor of Boston?
Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu has emerged as one of the city's most effective politicians.

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California's Lost (and Found) Punjabi-Mexican Cuisine
Rasul's El Ranchero restaurant in Yuba City, California created a roti quesadilla for a very specific community -- a half-century before Indian fusion food became trendy.

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How chef Helene An brought Vietnamese cuisine to the U.S.
The Smithsonian recently announced it will honor chef Helene An and her family with a Pioneer Award in Culinary Arts, recognizing her as "the mother of fusion cuisine" and "the first to introduce Vietnamese cuisine to mainstream America, changing American palates forever."

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Actress Leyna Bloom Is Gonna Make Trans, Black, And Asian History At The Cannes Film Festival
Model and actress Leyna Bloom is the first transgender woman of color to lead a film at Cannes.

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The Story of Our Lives Do Not Have Faces: Sally Wen Mao Interviewed by Anne Anlin Cheng
The poet on her new collection and how a person lost to history can survive in the imaginary possibilities of art.

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Ali Wong and Randall Park talk Always Be My Maybe, D'Angelo, and romance
Ali Wong and Randall Park, stars of the upcoming Always Be My Maybe, talk about their rom-com favorites and a scene in the film that features an assist from an R&B star.

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Amy Tan looks back on The Joy Luck Club -- and ahead to a post-Crazy Rich Asians Hollywood
The bestselling book The Joy Luck Club celebrates its 30th anniversary with a special edition of the novel, which includes a new preface by author Amy Tan.

Read These Blogs

Cellist Yo-Yo Ma Plays Bach In Shadow Of Border Crossing
World-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma brought his Bach Project to the sister cities of Laredo, Texas, and Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, on Saturday. The "Day of Action" featured performances in both cities to celebrate the relationship between the two communities.

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Why That Video of Hasan Minhaj Teaching Ellen to Say His Name Went So Viral
Last week, Patriot Act host Hasan Minhaj talked to Ellen about the pronunciation of his name. This moment was important for many people of color who have non-Western or non-"American" names.

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New NYC Chinese Restaurant Draws Swift Backlash to Racist Language
The newly opened white-owed Greenwich Village restaurant Lucky Lee's has gone viral for all the wrong reasons after claiming to serve "clean" Chinese dishes for "people who love to eat Chinese food and love the benefit that it will actually make them feel good."

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How Lucky Lee’s Could Have Gotten an 'American Chinese' Restaurant Right
Lucky Lee's is cultural appropriation at its most obvious -- but it didn't have to be.

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Fancy Chinese food is here to stay — and it's about time
Asian American chefs in California today are challenging long-standing ideas about how the foods they grew up eating should look and taste -- and how they should be valued.

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Bok Choy Isn't 'Exotic'
A young generation of Asian American farmers is reclaiming Asian vegetables -- and their culinary heritage.

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Sahra Nguyen Wants to Change the Trajectory of Vietnamese Coffee
Sahra Nguyen wanted to show people there was more to Vietnam that instant coffee, and so she launched Nguyen Coffee Supply, a company that sources beans directly from Vietnam.

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Doctor dragged off United Airlines flight after watching viral video of himself: 'I just cried'
The Kentucky doctor seen in a viral video being forcibly removed off an United Airlines flight has spoken publicly for the first time since the 2017 incident. He says he doesn't regret standing his ground.

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Kamala Harris Takes Her Shot
No other 2020 election matchup would be as riveting -- or as revealing -- as Kamala Harris versus Donald Trump. But first she has to get through the primaries.

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How a mobile game is reopening a hidden chapter in Taiwan's history
The video game Unforgivable examines Taiwan's White Terror through a ludonarrative lens.

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Susan Choi Complicates the Plot
How rage and the Access Hollywood tape inspired this spring’s most inventive and polarizing novel.

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Daniel Dae Kim Wants to Stop Talking About Diversity—but Not Yet
From his years delivering the goods on shows like Lost and Hawaii Five-0 to a role in the new Hellboy, Daniel Dae Kim is one of Hollywood's most reliable players.

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The significance of John Cho starring in Netflix's live-action adaptation of 'Cowboy Bebop'
Netflix recently announced that John Cho is taking on a lead role in the live-action adaptation of Cowboy Bebop -- an important step for Asian American representation in film.

They Call Us Bruce - Episode 64: They Call Us Warrior

Jeff Yang and Phil Yu present an unfiltered conversation about what's happening in Asian America.



What's up, podcast listeners? We've got another episode of our podcast They Call Us Bruce. (Almost) each week, my good friend, writer/columnist Jeff Yang and I host an unfiltered conversation about what's happening in Asian America, with a strong focus on media, entertainment and popular culture.

On this episode, we offer our impressions, praises and critiques of Cinemax's Warrior, the new western/eastern action drama inspired by the writings of Bruce Lee. (Spoiler alert: we really like it.)

He watched all 67 episodes of 'Game of Thrones' in one sitting

"I've never felt more accomplished and more worthless at the same time."



If you're a Game of Thrones fan, you're counting down the hours to this weekend's upcoming premiere of the hit fantasy drama's eighth and final season. If you're a relatively new fan, it's been nearly two years since the season seven finale, so you've had some time to get caught up.

Or you could just binge all 67 episodes of the show in one sitting.

Having never seen the show, Lawrence Dai, a writer for Late Night With James Corden, got locked in a room and sat down to watch the entire run of Game of Thrones so far -- 67 hours -- over the course one bleary-eyed weekend, and filmed it for the show. From Ned Stark's death, to the Red Wedding, to Jon Snow's death, to the mysterious appearance of Ed Sheeran, watch Lawrence suffer all the blows dealt to the Seven Kingdoms.

Coffee shop owner killed in massive explosion

Donate to support the family of Kong Lee.



Some tragic news out of North Carolina, with a family that could use your help... This week, a 61-year-old man was killed in a massive explosion caused by a gas leak in downtown Durham.

Emergency responders were evacuating people in Durham, N.C., when a gas explosion killed 1

Kong Lee, owner of the Kaffeinate coffee shop, was killed Wednesday morning when contractor boring under the sidewalk hit a 2-inch gas line, causing the explosion. Lee was inside the building when it collapsed.

Minutes prior to the explosion, Lee had called his children to let them know he was closing up the shop.

Read These Blogs

Stories of transracial adoptees must be heard – even uncomfortable ones
"My esteem for my white family, the strength of my connection to them, is what makes me feel safe, relatable, approachable to some. This, it turns out, is the price of admission, the prerequisite for whatever authority they are willing to grant me when it comes to talking about my own experience."

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Chinese immigrants helped build California, but they've been written out of its history
Chinese workers were indispensable in California's development history, but they have been accorded no voice.

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Thrilling Developments from the 2019 American Copy Editors Society Conference
It's official: you can drop the hyphen in "Asian-American."

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Sarah Jeong Is Watching the Web From Portland. She Sees a Pile of Garbage.
An interview with journalist Sarah Jeong, who looks at how the internet got to the trashy, scammy place it is today (and how she herself has dealt with the garbage).

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We Visited The Set Of 'Fresh Off The Boat' — The First Asian American Sitcom To Hit 100 Episodes
A visit to the set of Fresh Off The Boat, reflecting on the show's historic 100th episode.

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'Fresh Off the Boat' Creator on Breaking Diversity Rules on Broadcast TV: "Everything Has Changed"
As her groundbreaking sitcom hits 100 episodes, producer Nahnatchka  Khan talks about TV's history of avoiding topical comedy and telling immigrant stories amid Trump's demand for a border wall.

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Fresh Off the Boat has changed history. I couldn't be a prouder dad
With Fresh Off the Boat hitting 100 episodes, Jeff Yang thinks back on the journey he and his son Hudson, who plays Eddie, that got them to this point.

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Shang-Chi: 8 Reasons Why It's So Important for Asian Representation in Cinema
Marvel's upcoming Shang-Chi is the opportunity to reverse Hollywood's terrible trend of whitewashing, as well as an opportunity to tap into and continue the success of Crazy Rich Asians.

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How casting across racial lines exposes Hollywood's power imbalance
As Mary Queen of Scots and Hellboy have shown, colourblind casting and whitewashing are part of the same, complex argument.

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Mira Jacob Still Believes America's Changing for the Better
Mira Jacob talks with Rebecca Carroll about her second book Good Talk and not having to feel "guilty for somebody else's tremendous shortcomings."

Angry Reader of the Week: Jason Tobin

"I told my parents that I wanted to be the Bruce Lee of acting."


Photo Credit: Faye Thomas
Hey, everybody! Here we are again. 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 Jason Tobin.

They Call Us Bruce - Episode 63: They Call Us Shannon Lee

Jeff Yang and Phil Yu present an unfiltered conversation about what's happening in Asian America.



What's up, podcast listeners? We've got another episode of our podcast They Call Us Bruce. (Almost) each week, my good friend, writer/columnist Jeff Yang and I host an unfiltered conversation about what's happening in Asian America, with a strong focus on media, entertainment and popular culture.

On this episode, we welcome Shannon Lee, CEO of Bruce Lee Family Companies and the daughter of our show's namesake, Bruce Lee. She talks about her father's incredible legacy and the original vision that became the basis for the new Cinemax action series Warrior.

Still 'Fresh' at 100

'Fresh Off The Boat' celebrates its landmark 100th episode.



My, how far we've come. Tonight marks the landmark 100th episode of ABC's Fresh Off The Boat, starring your favorite prime time network sitcom family. You never thought the Huangs would take it this far.

Now in its groundbreaking fifth season, Fresh Off The Boat follows the continuing misadventures of the Huangs -- Jessica and Louis, their sons Eddie, Emery and Evan, and Grandma -- as they pursue the American dream in 1990s suburban Orlando. The series, based on the memoir by Eddie Huang, stars Constance Wu, Randall Park, Hudson Yang, Forrest Wheeler, Ian Chen, Lucille Soong, Chelsey Crisp and Ray Wise.

Need to catch up? Here's a ridiculously fast recap of every single episode that got us here:

You could save this boy's life

7-year-old Ryan is in need of a bone marrow donor.



7-year-old Vietnamese American leukemia patient Ryan Jacoby is in desperate need of a bone marrow donor. He has beat leukemia before -- his brother was a match -- but unfortunately his cancer recently returned.

7-Year-Old Cancer Patient Seeks Compatible Bone Marrow Donor

You may know that it's often difficult to find bone marrow matches for patients of Asian descent, because Asian Americans are poorly represented in the bone marrow donor registry. Frankly, we're terrible at this.

What makes finding a match for Ryan particularly challenging is that he's of Vietnamese and Caucasian descent. Bone marrow matches on the registry are even lower for mixed race patients.

John Cho to star in live-action 'Cowboy Bebop' series

Cho leads a diverse cast in Netflix's remake of the iconic anime series.



John Cho will star in as Spike Spiegel in the live action adaptation of the classic Japanese animated space western Cowboy Bebop, arguably the coolest damn show ever made. And now actually #StarringJohnCho.

'Cowboy Bebop': John Cho, Mustafa Shakir, Daniella Pineda & Alex Hassell To Star In Netflix Series

Cowboy Bebop is "the jazz-inspired, genre-bending story of a rag-tag crew of bounty hunters on the run from their pasts as they hunt down the solar system's most dangerous criminals," aboard their spaceship, the Bebop.

Read These Blogs

What I Learned About Racism as the Only Chinese Person at a 'Chinese' Festival
This one is a doozy. Every year, 20,000 people come together to wear eyeliner and shout "Ni hao" at each other at a Chinese festival in the Bavarian town of Dietfurt.

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I’m A Filipina USC Graduate — Stop Associating Students of Color with the College Bribery Scam
"My admission was the only free thing about my education. I didn't have to pay to be seen as good enough. Nobody can take my education from me, but every time someone berates, jests, or teases about if I even deserve it -- they are stripping it of its struggle and value, which may well be the same thing."

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As ICE cracks down on Cambodian communities, a mother says goodbye to her son
Immigration and Customs Enforcement is targeting long-time residents with criminal convictions, most of whom have lived in the US since fleeing the Cambodian genocide as children.

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Queer Eye's Tan France: 'The word gay was never mentioned in my parents' home'
As Netflix's smash hit Queer Eye returns, the Fab Five's style guru reflects on growing up gay in Yorkshire, marrying a former Mormon and his own Muslim faith.

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'Poor Yella Rednecks': Kung fu, F-bombs and the immigrant superheroes of playwright Qui Nguyen
Qui Nguyen's Poor Yella Rednecks picks up where his 2015 play, Vietgone, left off -- as his Vietnamese parents cope with the challenges of marriage and moving to a new country.

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How Hulu's Series 'PEN15' Refreshingly Flips The Script On Asian Moms
As the Hulu comedy PEN15 illustrates, there's more than meets the eye with Asian tiger parents.

Angry Reader of the Week: Tim Chiou

"I try to do more loving than hating, but there are plenty of things that make me angry."



What's up, internet. You know what time it is. It is time, once again, 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 Tim Chiou.

Nathan Chen wins World Figure Skating Championships

19-year-old skater defends title with flawless free skate.



Nathan Chen does it again. On Saturday, the 19-year-old skater performed a flawless free skate to successfully defend his title and win the gold medal at the World Figure Skating Championships in Saitama, Japan.

Chen, who was first after the short program, made no mistakes and landed four quadruple jumps to set a record score in the free skate with 216.02 points, finishing with a total of 323.42.

Chen, the U.S. national champion, opened his program with a quad Lutz and followed with a quad flip. He then added two quad toe loops, one in combination, to solidify his lead.

"I'm proud of myself for being able to put out two good programs, the short and the long," Chen told AP. "Ultimately, I'm just happy with how this event went and I hope to have more experiences like this."

More here: Chen defends title in men's free skate at worlds

Read These Blogs

Stop Calling Asian Women Adorable
When novelist R.O. Kwon is at work, she wants to talk about work. Not her hair or skin.

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The Forgotten Minorities of Higher Education
The importance of affirmative action for Asian Americans who don't fit the model minority stereotype.

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I'm an Asian American graduate of Brooklyn Tech. Don't use me as a wedge in your education lawsuit.
Jason Wu, a lawyer and graduate of New York City's public school system, refuses to allow Asian Americans to be used as a wedge in the debate surrounding the admissions process for the city's specialized high schools.

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Looking for a Reflection as the Only Asian Actor in a Production of 'Mulan'
Philippe Thao recalls the experience of being the only Asian actor in a production of Mulan: “I felt humiliated singing a song about honor when I could only feel shame. As I stood in yellowface, I had finally fulfilled my quest to become white."

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In Little Saigon, this newspaper has been giving a community a voice for 40 years
In 1978, Yen Ngoc Do founded Nguoi Viet Daily News, a publication that helped to connect Vietnamese Americans with each other and the world.

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He Built Koreatown: Hi Duk Lee, First Korean Business Owner at Olympic and Normandie, Dies at 79
When Hi Duk Lee arrived in Los Angeles, he used his savings to open a Korean market on Olympic and Normandie, and helped to found L.A.'s famous Koreatown.

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The Student Strike That Changed Higher Ed Forever
50 years ago, the longest student strike in U.S. history took place at San Francisco State College, resulting in the establishment of Ethnic Studies.

* * *
What My Immigrant Family Taught Me About Money
"Get That Money" is The Cut's column about the many ways we think about our finances. This week, Karissa Chen thinks about the ways her immigrant family taught her about hoarding and spending money.

* * *
Gemma Chan Wants to End Whitewashing — In Hollywood and in History Books
With a law degree from Oxford and a license to kill in Captain Marvel, Gemma Chan has the world by the tail.

* * *
The Big, Queer Universe of Gregg Araki
Cult filmmaker Gregg Araki on his new Starz series Now Apocalypse, writing through the AIDS crisis and Trump era, and gay-baiting on Riverdale.

* * *
This Designer Is Using Streetwear to Get People Hyped About Laotian Food
Salong Namsa's new brand Laos Supply strikes a chord with Laotian youth who want to rep their culture and cuisine through clothes.

* * *
The OA's Ian Alexander Explains Why Hollywood Has No Excuse Not to Cast Trans Actors
"I want to see trans people every day in the film industry. Behind the camera, in front of it, in the writers' room — everywhere, because trans people are everywhere."

They Call Us Bruce - Episode 62: They Call Us MasterChef

Jeff Yang and Phil Yu present an unfiltered conversation about what's happening in Asian America.



What's up, podcast listeners? We've got another episode of our podcast They Call Us Bruce. (Almost) each week, my good friend, writer/columnist Jeff Yang and I host an unfiltered conversation about what's happening in Asian America, with a strong focus on media, entertainment and popular culture.

On this episode, recorded live at SXSW, we welcome MasterChef Season 9 contestants Ashley Mincey and Farhan Momin to chat about cooking, family, culture, authenticity and "ethnic food." Special thanks to Lisa Lee of DoorDash, for putting it all together, and Torchy's Tacos, for filling our bellies.

Angry Reader of the Week: Soleil Ho

"My deal is thinking about how we can use food to explain bigger things."



Greetings, good readers. It is time, once again, 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 Soleil Ho.

Is that you, Constance Wu?

'Fresh Off The Boat' star begins filming 'Hustlers' in New York City.



Fresh Off the Boat and Crazy Rich Asians star Constance Wu has begun production on her next project, the stripper crime drama Hustlers. Unofficial photos from the set give us a glimpse of her look... and wow.

This is not Rachel Chu. This is definitely not Jessica Huang.

They Call Us Bruce: Episode 61 - They Call Us Austin Asians (Live From SXSW)

Jeff Yang and Phil Yu present an unfiltered conversation about what's happening in Asian America.



What's up, podcast listeners? We've got another episode of our podcast They Call Us Bruce. (Almost) each week, my good friend, writer/columnist Jeff Yang and I host an unfiltered conversation about what's happening in Asian America, with a strong focus on media, entertainment and popular culture.

On this episode, recorded live at SXSW, Jeff and Phil host an Asian American trivia quiz show, with special guests Simu Liu, Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, Jonny Sun, Nancy Wang Yuen, Chloe Dao and PJ Raval -- all vying for Asian (North) American honor, glory and bragging rights. Special thanks to our friends at the Austin Asian American Film Festival and Indeed.

Justin Chon's 'Ms. Purple' acquired by Oscilloscope

Sundance sibling drama will hit theaters later this year.



After premiering earlier this year to rave reviews at the Sundance Film Festival, Justin Chon's sibling drama Ms. Purple, starring Tiffany Chu and Teddy Lee, has been acquired for distribution by Oscilloscope Laboratories.

Ms. Purple follows Korean American sister and brother Kasie and Carey, who were raised and are now seemingly stuck in Koreatown, Los Angeles. Abandoned by their mother and brought up by their father, the siblings continue to struggle with deep emotional wounds from the difficulty of the parental dynamic. Now, with their father on his death bed, the estranged Carey comes home to help Kasie care for him. As they reunite over their dying father, Kasie and Carey confront their shared past, attempting to mend their relationship.

The film will be released in theaters later this year.

More here: Oscilloscope Acquires Justin Chon Sundance Drama 'Ms. Purple'

It's Bruce Lee vs. Brad Pitt in 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood'

"My hands are registered as lethal weapons."



Bruce Lee... versus Brad Pitt?. The first trailer for Quentin Tarantino's latest film just dropped, and it seems to be the moment everybody's talking about. But did the badassest guy who ever lived have to be the comic relief?

Plot details are still pretty scant, but Once Upon a Time in Hollywood follows faded television actor Rick Dalton, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, and his stunt double Cliff Booth, played by Brad Pitt, striving to achieve fame and success in the film industry during the final years of Hollywood's Golden Age in 1969 Los Angeles.

Amidst a lot of quick cut vintage Hollywood imagery, the teaser shows a black-clad Bruce Lee, played by Mike Moh, claiming his hands are registered lethal weapons. "We get into a fight, I accidentally kill you... I go to jail."

Pitt, unimpressed, retorts, "Anybody accidentally kills anybody in a fight, they go to jail. It's called manslaughter."

Cut to the two engaging in some gung fu tusslin'.

Read These Blogs

Sandra Oh Says Jobs Are Like Dating — and She's Learned to Move On
At 47, and reaching new heights in her career, Sandra Oh gives far less fucks.\

* * *
The Unlearned Lesson of My Lai
A half-century after a brutal massacre in Vietnam, the U.S. still struggles to hold itself accountable for atrocities.

* * *
Andrew Yang is running for president. Haven’t heard of him? You will soon.
Last week, Andrew Yang, an entrepreneur and veteran of the tech industry, became the latest -- and, perhaps, least likely -- Democratic presidential candidate to meet the requirements necessary to appear in the party's first debate in June.

* * *
Centering The Asian American Community
"When I think about Asian Americans, I think of a community that wants to get organized and uplift the power of their people. But there are not enough tools in our cultural toolbox to engage in this type of (political) discourse."

* * *
Son’s tweet of ‘sad’ dad at new but empty doughnut shop sends community flocking for tasty treats
All it took was a single tweet of a “sad” father stationed behind the counter of a newly opened but desolate mom-and-pop doughnut shop to bring the community out and get sales rolling.

* * *
NBC Hiring Lilly Singh As a Late Night Host Is a Very Big Deal
The YouTube star will become the only queer woman of color hosting a late night show on a major network.

* * *
Does “Captain Marvel” Do Right By the Talented Gemma Chan?
"Minn-Erva follows a long line of marginal and minor Asian female characters in Marvel films."

Read These Blogs

America, Say My Name
When writer Viet Thanh Nguyen was younger, he tried on different "typical American" names, encouraged by generations of American tradition. Eventually, he stuck with the name his parents gave him.

* * *
The Memory Keepers
For survivors of Japanese American incarceration and their descendants in California, documentation and counter-documentation has become a form of resistance.

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White Supremacist Propaganda At 'Record-Setting' Levels, ADL Report Finds
According to a new report by the Anti-Defamation League, white supremacy propaganda increased by 182 percent in 2018 compared with the year before.

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I Will Never Be As Brave As My Mother
Recently, Elizabeth Ann Quirino discovered that during World War II, her mother Lourdes "Lulu" Reyes Besa risked her life to sneak medicine to prisoners of war in concentration camps in the Philippines.

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Director removes racism and yellowface from Minneapolis staging of 'The Mikado'
With a new production of Gilbert & Sullivan's The Mikado opening in Minneapolis, playwright and theater artist Rick Shiomi shares his vision for addressing the 1885 work's racial offenses.

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Soleil Ho is a young, queer woman of color who wants to redefine food criticism
Food journalist and trained chef Soleil Ho is The San Francisco Chronicle's new restaurant critic.

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The Female Chef Making Japan's Most Elaborate Cuisine Her Own
How Niki Nakayama's kaiseki restaurant became a highly coveted reservation in L.A.

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The One and Only Naomi Osaka
Naomi Osaka is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside a blistering forehand: For all her growing fame, the world's No. 1 tennis player remains tough to define -- just the way she likes it.

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My worst moment: 'Fresh Off the Boat' star Randall Park and the soggy audition
Randall Park, who plays endearingly optimistic, consistently upbeat Louis on Fresh Off the Boat, recalls a cringe-worthy audition from his early days of acting.

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With "Captain Marvel," Gemma Chan Is Demolishing Hollywood's Aversion To Color-Blind Casting
Gemma Chan speaks about the importance of challenging Hollywood's ideas about roles for Asians.

They Call Us Bruce: Live Podcast & AAPI Creatives Mixer

Monday, March 11. Presented by the Austin Asian American Film Festival



Hey Austin! Our podcast They Call Us Bruce is teaming up with the Austin Asian American Film Festival for a free live podcast taping event/trivia competition/creatives mixer. Think NPR's Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me with an Asian American twist. Jeff Yang and I will be joined by panelists Paul Sun-Hyung Lee and Simu Liu (Kim's Convenience), PJ Raval (SXSW Keynote Speaker/Documentary Director), Nancy Wang Yuen, Ph.D. (Author & Pop Culture Geek), Chloe Dao (Project Runway Winner), and Jonny Sun (writer on Bojack Horseman, Lin Manuel-Miranda collaborator). It's happening Monday, March 11 at Indeed.

For further information and to RSVP, go here: AAPI Creatives Mixer w/ They Call Us Bruce Live Podcast

They Call Us Bruce - Episode 60: They Call Us Canadians

Jeff Yang and Phil Yu present an unfiltered conversation about what's happening in Asian America.



What's up, podcast listeners? We've got another episode of our podcast They Call Us Bruce. (Almost) each week, my good friend, writer/columnist Jeff Yang and I host an unfiltered conversation about what's happening in Asian America, with a strong focus on media, entertainment and popular culture.

On this episode, we welcome Canadian actors Paul Sun-Hyung Lee (Kim's Convenience) and Samantha Wan (Second Jen). They discuss the unique flavor and challenges of telling stories north of the border, and The Good, The Bad and The WTF of being Asian Canadian.

Angry Reader of the Week: Jenn Wong

"I'm a very short person. And Canadian, so very friendly by default."



Greetings, good people of the internet! It is time, once again, 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 Jenn Wong.

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Dr. Seuss Books Can Be Racist, But Students Keep Reading Them
Dr. Seuss delivered racist messages in his books and other writing and illustration. Despite efforts to diversify reading lists for children, his books remain popular.

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4 Asian-American Women Who Changed History
Four trailblazing Asian American women whose work impacted the lives of many.

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Jameela Jamil Is a Force for Revolutionary Self-Acceptance
The Good Place actress Jameela Jamil wants to use her privilege and platform to shed light on important issues, like fat shaming and mental health.

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How PEN15's Mutsuko Erskine Wound Up Playing Herself on TV
Mutsuko Erskine not only plays the matriarch in Maya Erskine's PEN15 -- she is Maya's mother in real life.

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Jeremy Lin reflects on the time he was disrespected by Kobe
At the height of Jeremy Lin’s popularity in 2012, the very peak of "Linsanity" all over the basketball world, almost everyone and their mother was talking about him. But not Kobe Bryant.

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David Henry Hwang on Theater, Trump, and Asian-American Identity
Celebrated playwright David Henry Hwang discusses storytelling across cultures.

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Constance Wu Reveals Significance Behind Her Yellow Oscars Dress
Crazy Rich Asians star Constance Wu's Academy Awards outfit came with a deeper meaning.

"Honoring the sacrifices they made for our nation is long overdue."

Rep. Grace Meng introduces resolution in Congress to recognize Chinese railroad workers.



New York congresswoman Grace Meng has introduced a resolution in Congress to recognize the almost 12,000 Chinese workers who helped build America's transcontinental railroad during the 19th century.

"In May, we will commemorate 150 years since the end of the railroad's completion, and providing these laborers with the national recognition they deserve would be an outstanding way to commemorate this milestone," Rep. Grace Meng said in a statement. "Honoring the sacrifices they made for our nation is long overdue."

The resolution acknowledges the risks Chinese laborers faced between 1865 and 1869 as they toiled in dangerous conditions on the monumental engineering project, all while dealing with discrimination and unequal pay and treatment.

More here: N.Y. congresswoman introduces resolution honoring Chinese railroad workers

Angry Reader of the Week: Richie Menchavez

"I am always digging to discover great music."



Hello, internet friends. Once again, we find ourselves at another opportunity 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 Richie Menchavez.

Jude Weng and Jessica Yu land milestone TV directing gigs

Weng will direct ABC's comedy pilot from Jessica Gao; Jessica Yu will direct NBC's 'Bluff City Law.'



Asian American women directors making some big moves in television...

Jude Weng has been hired to direct ABC's untitled single-camera comedy pilot from writer Jessica Gao. She is believed to be the first Asian American woman ever and the first woman of color in nearly 30 years to direct a half-hour broadcast network pilot, since Debbie Allen helmed the pilot for The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air in 1990.

Meanwhile, Jessica Yu is set to direct NBC's drama pilot Bluff City Law. The Academy Award-winning director is believed to be the first Asian American woman to direct a broadcast drama pilot.

More here: Jude Weng & Jessica Yu Land Milestone Directing Gigs In Strong Pilot Season For Director Diversity