How, in 2021, do people not know that "chink" is a slur?

Devin Funches apologizes for saying "chinky."



Over the weekend during a press conference, Green Bay Packers receiver Devin Funchess used the word "chinky" to describe the smiling eyes of reporters. He clearly wasn't directing the slur at anyone; he wasn't even referring to any actual Asian person. It was, on the surface, a word uttered out of ignorance.

More here: Green Bay Packers WR Devin Funches apologizes for anti-Asian remark

But this incident, and the similarly casually racist Juventus slant-eye photo debacle, point to a bigger issue, as sports commentator Pablo Torre points out in this excerpt from the ESPN Daily podcast.

Suspect Arrested in Attack on Elderly Woman

80-year-old woman violently pushed in unprovoked assault.



In Honolulu, surveillance cameras caught a disturbing violent assault on an 80-year-old woman on the street. 37-year-old Jordan Wong was arrested Tuesday after violently pushing down the unnamed victim in an unprovoked attack. The woman fell to the ground, over the curb and landed in the shoulder of the road, hitting her head. She reportedly walked away from the assault, but suffered bruises and complained of back pain. Honolulu Police have classified the incident as a second degree assault.

More here: Suspect accused of knocking down elderly woman in Honolulu arrested

Read These Blogs

Op-Ed: For years, I got teased for wearing face masks. The pandemic changed that.
Cartoonist Mari Naomi was wearing masks before it was cool.

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Suni Lee's win shines a bright light on the Hmong legacy
Atop the biggest stage in global sports, Suni Lee has lifted America's Hmong community on her strong shoulders, casting an important light on the triumphs and struggles of Hmong people -- a compelling American story that few Americans know."

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Atlanta shooting victim's sons seek to unite Black, Asian communities in shared fight against hate
Robert Peterson's mother Yong Ae Yue was killed in the Atlanta spa shootings. Inspired by the support his family has received from the Black and Asian communities, he is determined to help both groups converge in their fights for greater equity.

* * *
Infinite Self
Rising writer Anthony Veasna So died unexpectedly last winter, before his debut book Afterparties was released. Everyone remembers him differently.

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Sandra Oh Is Speaking
Sandra Oh on challenging the unbelievable pressure of being a modern woman.

Read These Blogs

Sunisa Lee didn't owe the U.S. gold. Her victory is a gift, especially to her Hmong community
"To be part of a diaspora means to create a home in lands that don't want you in them; to constantly carve out spaces just so you can exist. Lee is a product of that resilience."

* * *
Sunisa Lee Is Representing America in the Tokyo Olympics—and a Community America Left Behind
Suni Lee's place in the Tokyo Olympics carries the hopes of the U.S., and a Hmong community that has not always been embraced by the U.S.
* * *
Rivalry Without Racism
Can America compete with China and avoid fueling anti-Asian hate?

* * *
White residents burned this California Chinatown to the ground. An apology came 145 years later
More than a century ago, Chinese people in Antioch, California built tunnels under the city because they were forbidden by law from going outside after sundown. Then, white residents burned Chinatown to the ground.

* * *
Marking a Pandemic, One Crane at a Time
Grace Loh Prasad and her son took on what seemed like a simple project: fold one origami crane every day during the pandemic. Together, they discovered over the year how making art helps people bear the unbearable.

* * *
Can Joanne Lee Molinaro, the Korean Vegan, ever stop overachieving?
Joanne Lee Molinaro is a cookbook author, food blogger and partner at a major law firm who also happens to be a TikTok star in her free time.

* * *
Dev Patel, Starry Knight
The Green Knight offered Dev Patel a movie-star moment unlike anything he's done before. Could he conquer his insecurities and take the lead?

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Michelle Zauner and Jiayang Fan on becoming their mothers' artworks
Japanese Breakfast frontwoman Michelle Zauner and New Yorker staff writer Jiayang Fan discuss the frantic need for creative expression and the emotional resonance of H Mart.

Sunisa Lee Helps U.S. Women Gymnastics Team Win Silver

She received 15.4 -- the highest score on the uneven bars so far at the Tokyo Olympics.



With Russia's women"s gymnastics team leading by more than a point and Simone Biles abruptly out of the competition in Tuesday's team final, it fell to Sunisa Lee, anchoring the United States on the uneven bars, to keep the Americans' gold medal hopes alive. It was, Lee said afterward, "the most pressure I’ve ever felt in my life." It didn’t show. Lee received a score of 15.4 on the uneven bars, the highest mark anyone has received on bars at the Olympics so far.

More here: Sunisa Lee Stepped Up When Simone Biles Stepped Back

Suspect Pleads Guilty in Atlanta Spa Shootings

Robert Aaron Long faces four other murder charges in a neighboring county.



The man accused of killing eight people at a string of Atlanta-area spas pleaded guilty on Tuesday to four counts of murder in suburban Cherokee County and will serve four consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole plus 35 years in prison. Robert Aaron Long, who already admitted to investigators that he was responsible for the March 16 shooting spree, still faces four other murder charges in nearby Fulton County, where the prosecutor is seeking the death penalty.

More here: Suspect in Atlanta-Area Spa Shootings Pleads Guilty to 4 Counts of Murder

Read These Blogs

'We Have To Speak Up': Japanese American Activists Call For Reparations For Black Americans
Japanese Americans who fought for reparations for being incarcerated during World War II are now lending their support to Blacks who want redress for the nation's history of slavery and discrimination.

* * *
Asians Are Represented in Classical Music. But Are They Seen?
The success of some artists of Asian descent obscures the fact that many face routine racism and discrimination. U.S. gymnastics star Sunisa Lee's long, winding journey to Olympics 2021
"Maybe because of Sunisa, people might know us." The amazing story of Olympic gymnast Sunisa Lee.

* * *
At 101, judo coaching great Yosh Uchida still isn't done helping Olympians
Prolific judo coach Yosh Uchida still heads San Jose State’s storied program 70 years after assuming the post.

* * *
Mindy Kaling Responds to Backlash Over South Asian 'Velma'
Mindy Kaling, who will produce and star in an animated Scooby-Doo spinoff, Velma, questions why people couldn't imagine "a smart, nerdy girl with terrible eyesight" as Indian.

* * *
‘Crazy Rich Asians’ made Henry Golding a star. Now he’s showing Hollywood everything he can do
Henry Golding became an overnight sensation thanks to the runaway success of Crazy Rich Asians. Now he's starring in the title of role of the G.I. Joe spinoff Snake Eyes and it feels like he's only begun to show the full spectrum of his range.

* * *
Snake Eyes star Andrew Koji is so much more than Hollywood's Warrior
Andrew Koji was never pursuing action. But now that it's his main niche these days, he's taking full advantage.

* * *
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan On How to Pronounce Her Name: "I'm Asking For Basic Respect"
"I'm asking for basic respect when I want people to say my name right."

They Call Us Bruce 129: They Call Us Seoul Sausage

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



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

In this episode, we welcome Ted Kim, Yong Kim and Han Hwang, aka Seoul Sausage Co., fresh from the finale of Food Network's The Great Food Truck Race All Stars. They talk about returning to reality TV, how gamesmanship took the competition to the next level, and the bowl of egg rice that made a grown man cry.

Read These Blogs

Fear, and Discord, Among Asian Americans Over Attacks in San Francisco
In San Francisco, a string of attacks against older people of Asian descent has led to calls for more police officers, an idea rejected by the city's Asian American leaders.

* * *
'No Vaccine for Racism’: Asian New Yorkers Still Live in Fear of Attacks
In New York, patrols aimed at stopping anti-Asian violence have been cut back even as anxiety lingers.

* * *
'She's one of the brave ones.' Yuh-Line Niou's outspoken leadership style
Yuh-Line Niou came to the New York state legislature as an insurgent, and she hasn't lost that attitude.

* * *
Asian-American history comes alive on No-No Boy's '1975'
A deeply personal new recording from songwriter and scholar Julian Saporiti reexamines a neglected history and challenges what it means to be an American.

* * *
Thuy Is in Her Bag
Vietnamese American songstress Thuy has carved out a space for herself both within and beyond the community of self-made Asian American musical artists that have emerged in the streaming era.

* * *
What Indian American Kumar Rocker’s historic MLB pick means for South Asians
Star college pitcher Kumar Rocker, who was drafted by the New York Mets, will inspire "legions of little Indian and Pakistani kids with that name on their jerseys," one expert said.

* * *
'Never Have I Ever' Complicates Its Asian American Characters. That's The Whole Point
The second season of the Netflix comedy Never Have I Ever assigns more depth to the Indian American female characters by complicating their storylines -- which is exactly the point.

Read These Blogs

Justin Chon Confronts a Broken American Dream in Blue Bayou
In his first interview about his buzzy Cannes premiere Blue Bayou, acclaimed writer/director/star Justin Chon says his film "represents what America feels like and looks like."

* * *
Why won't American radio play more K-pop?
BTS was supposed to usher in the K-pop invasion. Where is it?

* * *
The Joy of Being a Bad Asian
What is it like to be Asian American when you're invisible within it?

* * *
It's Time to Pronounce Asian Names Correctly
Andrea Y Wang wrote her middle grade novel The Many Meanings of Meilan to explore the feeling of otherness when someone renames you without your consent.

* * *
Research on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Is Being Stifled
Funders and peer reviewers are contributing to systemic racism through their biases about AAPI populations.

* * *
Advice for Artists Whose Parents Want Them to Be Engineers
Viet Thanh Nguyen gives advice to people who want to pursue a dream different from their parents' wishes.

* * *
St. Lenox's American Songs
Singer/songwriter Andrew Choi, who makes music as St. Lenox, writes richly evocative songs about religion, death, and society when he's not working his day job as a Manhattan attorney.

* * *
The story behind the iconic Vietnam episode of 'Hey Arnold!'
For the 25th anniversary of the “Hey Arnold!" pilot, show creator Craig Bartlett talked to NBC Asian America about the storyline surrounding Mr. Hyunh, a Vietnamese refugee.

* * *
Lou Diamond Phillips Has Worked His Whole Life to Play a Filipino-American Character
The actor, director, and writer had to take matters into his own hands to play someone with his background.

* * *
George Takei, Danny Pudi, more reflect on Hollywood's portrayal of Asian men
The future of Hollywood representation according to Asian and Asian American actors.

Adele Lim to Direct Ashley Park in R-rated Comedy

Follows four Asian American women on a journey of "no-holds-barred wild debauchery."


Adele Lim, co-writer of Crazy Rich Asians and Raya and the Last Dragon, will make her directorial debut helming an untitled R-rated comedy for Lionsgate and Point Grey Pictures.

Starring Tony and Grammy-nominated actress Ashley Park, the project follows four Asian American women as they travel through Asia in search of one of their birth mothers. Along the way, their experience becomes one of bonding, friendship, belonging, and no-holds-barred wild debauchery that reveals the universal truth of what it means to know and love who you are. The film will be written by Cherry Chevapravatdumrong and Teresa Hsiao, from a story by Chevapravatdumrong, Hsiao and Lim.

"This journey began with me, Cherry and Teresa -- my friends and comedy writing heroes -- wanting to tell a story with characters who look like us, about women who are messy and thirsty, but have so much heart," Lim said. "Point Grey and Lionsgate have been incredible allies and partners from day one, and I am thrilled to be making my directing debut with them on a story that’s so special to me."

More here: Adele Lim Directing Ashley Park in Untitled R-Rated Comedy for Lionsgate, Point Grey

Anonymous Letter Threatens to "Shoot Cambodians"

"I want to take a gun and go down there and kill these individuals."

Last week in Philadelphia, someone sent an anonymous letter to community leaders threatening to "shoot Cambodians." The typed, one-page letter, reportedly sent last week to the office of the Cambodian Association of Greater Philadelphia, accuses Cambodian residents of setting off fireworks at all hours in Mifflin Square Park.

The letter's author claims to be a Marine suffering from traumatic stress disorder after serving tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. He also claims to own several guns. "I want to take a gun and go down there and kill these individuals," the letter reads. "I am writing you to let you know when I do freak out and try to kill these people that it is your fault for not going to them and encouraging them (it is in their best interest) to stop doing this and remain alive!"

The association, which believes the letter is blatant, targeted racial intimidation, plans to address the incident during a news conference on Friday at the park. The letter has been reported to Philadelphia police and other investigative agencies.

More here: Amid anti-Asian hate, letter-writer threatens to shoot Philly Cambodians over park fireworks

Suni Lee Earns a Spot at the Tokyo Olympics

18-year-old gymnast will be the first Hmong American athlete to compete at the Olympics.



On Sunday, 18-year-old gymnast Suni Lee placed second at the U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Trials, automatically earning a spot on the U.S. Olympic team and qualifying for the Tokyo games. Lee, the three-time 2019 World Championships medalist who finished second to Simone Biles, is believed to be the first Hmong American athlete to complete at the Olympics.

Read These Blogs

The Return of Han
After his killer was welcomed to the team with open arms in The Fate of the Furious, the ninth installment of the Fast franchise is once again bending the laws of nature to bring back fan favorite Han, played by Sung Kang.

* * *
How 'F9' reunited the ‘'okyo Drift' crew — and what that could mean for the 'Fast' future
Tokyo Drift faithful, our time is now.

* * *
A letter to my parents about depression and mental illness
"I'm sorry you’re reading this in the newspaper. I know you might fear the consequences of sharing my struggles so publicly. But now, at 33, I no longer believe my depression is something to be ashamed of."

* * *
How hate incidents led to a reckoning of casual racism against Asian Americans
While Asian Americans have dealt with overt discrimination for centuries, experts say the recent attention on anti-Asian racism amid the pandemic has led many to reflect on the everyday, quiet, yet insidious forms of racism that Asian Americans often endure.

* * *
I'm Grateful for the Hugs I Can Now Share–and Haunted by the Ones I Can't
"I don't remember our final hug itself because I thought I'd be back soon. I didn't know it was the last time I would ever see her."

* * *
More Than 'Just Takeout'
A new generation of Chinese American chefs is celebrating the inventiveness, resourcefulness and deliciousness of American Chinese food with menus dedicated to the classics.

* * *
The Best Way to Clean Your Ears: With a Spoon
Doctors strongly discourage people from scraping inside their ears. But knowing better and doing it anyway is part of what makes us human.

* * *
Meet Amanda Gorman’s California successor as youth poet laureate: Alexandra Huynh
18-year-old Alexandra Huynh, an incoming first-year Stanford University student from Sacramento, is Amanda Gorman's successor as the national youth poet laureate.

* * *
Margaret Cho forgives Jay Leno for his anti-Asian jokes
Comedian Margaret Cho, who currently stars in Netflix's Good on Paper, said Leno's apology was "meaningful."

They Call Us Bruce 128: They Call Us Justin Lin

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



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

In this episode, we welcome director Justin Lin, chief architect of the Fast & Furious film franchise. He talks about getting back behind the wheel for F9, #JusticeForHan, and The Good, The Bad and The WTF of bringing back a beloved character from the dead.

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Walt Disney Animation Studios to partner for a "Week with Raya and the Last Dragon"

Sponsored Post

This week, Disney Animation Studios will celebrate the release of its movie Raya and the Last Dragon by working with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital to spread joy through a series of virtual events for St. Jude patient families and its generous supporters.

Raya and the Last Dragon is an epic journey to the fantasy world of Kumandra where Raya learns that it takes more than a dragon to save the world. It takes trust and teamwork -- timeless themes reflected in the pioneering research and lifesaving treatment delivered at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital for kids with childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

Below is a snapshot of the fun offerings.

The Monster Roars: On From Little Tokyo, With Love and Asian Girl Rage

Guest Post by Sarah Kuhn

I have always had an explosive temper. As a kid, it felt too big for my body—a monster that lived inside of me, pounding against the walls of my chest, screaming to be released into the wild. My anger burned fast and fierce and bright, and I quickly learned that the only way for a girl to handle that monster was to put it in a cage. Shove it down into the depths of your body until you can't hear it scream anymore.

 

Little girls aren't supposed to let that anger spill out of them, to draw others into their messy maelstrom of chaos. And, as societal stereotypes constantly remind us, little Asian girls aren't supposed to even feel that anger in the first place. We're supposed to be sweet and small and dutiful. We're supposed to offer ourselves up for the consumption of others.

 

We're not supposed to let the monster roar.

 

Netflix to Adapt K-pop Rom-Com 'Somewhere Only We Know'

Maurene Goo's young adult novel is described as 'Roman Holiday' meets 'Before Sunrise.'

Netflix has picked up the film rights to Maurene Goo's young adult novel Somewhere Only We Know, a romantic comedy set in the world of K-pop. Adapted by writer Lana Cho, the story is described as Roman Holiday meets Before Sunrise, following a massive K-pop star and a tabloid photographer as they wander through the neon streets of Hong Kong, finding both adventure and love.

More here: K-Pop Rom-Com 'Somewhere Only We Know' Set at Netflix

Passenger Tells Uber Driver to "Go Back to Asia"

Stella can't stop her racist rant, much to the embarrassment of her friends.



In Charlotte, North Carolina, an unruly Uber passenger was caught on video verbally abusing an Asian American driver, cursing him out and telling him to "go back to Asia," much to the embarrassment of her friends. The altercation apparently started when the women gave the driver the wrong address. The driver kicked the passengers out of his car at a gas station after the woman, named Stella, cursed him out and called him a "chink." Even outside the car, Stella cannot stop, despite her friends pleading with her to shut the fuck up and get out of there. She threatens, for some reason, to call 9-1-1. The driver, understandably, has had it.

Billie Eilish Apologizes for Mouthing Racial Slur in Video

"I am appalled and embarrassed and want to barf that I ever mouthed along to that word."

Billie Eilish has apologized after a video surfaced of her apparently mouthing along to a song as an anti-Asian racial slur is used. The singer posted a statement on her Instagram account addressing the edited compilation of videos, which was widely circulated on TikTok earlier this month. Eilish says the videos in question were recorded when she was 13 or 14 years old. In one clip, Eilish mouthed the word "chink" -- which she claims she didn't know was a slur at the time -- and in another video she apparently imitated an accent.

Seems like sooner or later, somebody always digs up some racist bullshit you did in your young past -- whether you knew it was racist or not. It's like a twisted celebrity rite of passage.

More here: Billie Eilish Says She Is Sorry After TikTok Video Shows Her Mouthing A Racist Slur

Fund This: Koreatown Dreaming - A Photo Book

Chronicling the photos and stories of immigrant small business owners of Los Angeles' Koreatown.

Koreatown Dreaming, by photographer/filmmaker Emanuel Hahn, chronicles the photos and stories of Korean immigrant small business owners who helped build Los Angeles' Koreatown into the iconic neighborhood that it is today. According to the book's Kickstarter, the project was borne out of a sense of urgency around documenting the stories of Koreatown, in a time of rapid change and uncertainty. The book features 40 establishments across retail, services, community spaces and restaurants, with photography, poetry, and essays by Katherine Yungmee Kim, Lisa Kwon, Cathy Park and Dumbfoundead.

More here: Koreatown Dreaming - A Photo Book

Read These Blogs

Viral images show people of color as anti-Asian perpetrators. That misses the big picture.
A new analysis reveals misconceptions about perpetrators, victims, and the general environment around anti-Asian hate incidents. These can have "long-term consequences for racial solidarity."

* * *
The Asian American wealth gap, explained in a comic
The largest wealth gap in the country comes down to the history of Asian migration.

* * *
I Started Going to Therapy When I Hit 40. Why Did It Take So Long?
Andrew Ti was taught therapy wasn’t for people like him. But reaching midlife during a pandemic—and rising racist violence—changed things.

* * *
The Water in May
In a letter to his young son, the actor Ken Leung tells the story of his brother, who tragically drowned in Thailand, and the incredible journey it took to bring him home.

* * *
Simu Liu on His Journey from Scared Asian Guy to Marvel Superhero
A conversation between comedian Ronny Chieng and Simu Liu on Liu’s acting career so far.

* * *
SuChin Pak Is Processing Everything
The groundbreaking news anchor is still making sense of her MTV experience.

* * *
F&W Game Changers: Sahra Nguyen
Nguyen Coffee Supply is bringing single-origin Vietnamese coffee to as many cups as possible.

Read These Blogs

‘She Died Working for Us': Sons of Atlanta Victim Struggle to Move Forward
Randy and Eric Park's mother, Hyun Jung Grant, was among eight people killed in the Atlanta spa shootings. They have been largely left to navigate the world by themselves.

* * *
My name is hard for Americans to pronounce. Don't tell me to change it.
"I used to wish I had a different, less ‘difficult' name. Now I treasure it."

* * *
I had to travel 6,000 miles to learn this lesson about being Asian American
When Jean Trinh traveled to China to visit her distant relatives in China, she learned to let go of the internalized "American-born Chinese" shame she carried for so long.

* * *
Watching Martial Arts Movies Amid Anti-Asian Violence Is Much-Needed Catharsis
Movies and TV shows like The Paper Tigers and Warrior show the beauty of Asian American survival.

* * *
"You Have to See It to Be It": Michelle Zauner and Karen O in Conversation
Yeah Yeah Yeahs frontwoman Karen O and Japanese Breakfast singer Michelle Zauner talk grief, growing up biracial, loving the '80s pop star Tiffany, and much more.

* * *
St. Lenox's Songs From Indie Asian-America
Andrew Choi shares a playlist of his favorite Asian American peers' music ahead of the release of his fourth LP.

* * *
Hollywood's New Crown Prince of Musicals
Jon M. Chu, the director of In the Heights and Wicked, is finding a new edge in an old genre.

* * *
Wish Dragon star John Cho says his work is informed by a 'desire to please myself as a kid'
He's been to White Castle, the Final Frontier, and Over the Moon, but now John Cho is just trying to enter the spirit world in Netflix's Wish Dragon.

* * *
Phillipa Soo talks recording her first audiobook, romance novel The Stand-In
You've heard her voice bringing inimitable life to Eliza Hamilton on the Hamilton soundtrack, But now Soo is putting her vocal talents to a new challenge, narrating a romance novel by Lily Chu.

* * *
A Hip-Hop Dance Crew’s Frabjous Reign in Las Vegas
The Jabbawockeez, with their something-for-everyone approach, proved that an ensemble of anonymous, masked dancers could pull in crowds.

They Call Us Bruce 127: They Call Us Jon M. Chu

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



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

In this episode, we welcome back Jon M. Chu, who directed the new film adaptation of the hit musical In The Heights. He talks about bringing Lin-Manuel Miranda's vision to the screen, making sure you get the sauce right, and why this is the movie the world needs right now.

Read These Blogs

The Beautiful, Flawed Fiction of 'Asian American'
"As long as the United States remains committed to aggressive capitalism domestically and aggressive militarism internationally, Asians and Asian Americans will continue to be scapegoats who embody threat and aspiration, an inhuman 'yellow peril' and a superhuman model minority."

* * *
The Cost of Being an 'Interchangeable Asian'
At some top companies, Asian Americans are overrepresented in midlevel roles and underrepresented in leadership. The root of this workplace inequality could stem from the all-too-common experience of being confused for someone else.

* * *
I am Asian American. No hyphen required
"Every time we call ourselves Asian American, we are making a powerful political statement that we are American, and we belong here."

* * *
Verbal jiujitsu, disarming and other tips for dealing with microaggressions
Some common racial microaggressions that Asian Americans experience include people assuming they are foreigners and non-Asians explaining Asian culture to them.

* * *
What Is Asian American Music, Really?
Seeking more than representation, a critic tries to make sense of a fragmented, disparate musical tradition.

* * *
Why 'Kim's Convenience' Is 'Quietly Revolutionary'
In not explaining every detail of Korean food culture, the award-winning Canadian sitcom Kim's Convenience speaks volumes.

* * *
With 'In the Heights,' Jon M. Chu disrupts the movie musical. Here’s how he did it
Director Jon M. Chu makes his movie musical debut with In the Heights, nearly twenty years after he was predicted to transform the genre.

* * *
Invincible's racebending makes the whole series deeper and smarter
In the animated superhero series Invincible, Mark Grayson's biracial heritage is a major theme of the story -- and now it isn't just subtext.

* * *
Sung Kang on embracing 'rare' journey of Han, 'Hollywood story' return in F9
Sung Kang talks about reviving Han, his Fast & Furious character, back from the dead.

Read These Blogs

I'm Tired of Trying to Educate White People About Anti-Asian Racism
"I am ready to stop chasing after those who need to see your deepest wounds on display before they will even contemplate believing your words. I've lost the energy or desire to educate or provide reasoned, patient answers to anyone who still needs to be convinced that Asian people face discrimination and violence in this country."

* * *
As Anti-Asian Attacks Continue, What Kind of Bystander Are You?
What R.O. Kwon didn't fully expect, she writes, was the abiding and overwhelmingly white silence many Asian people have encountered from even would-be allies.

* * *
'This could have been me'
The six victims of Asian descentin the Atlanta-area mass shooting represented a diverse community. Their deaths have united many Asian American women.

* * *
Why Don't We Know Mitsuye Endo?
Mitsuye Endo participated in a landmark Supreme Court case challenging the right of the government to hold citizens in concentration camps like Topaz.

* * *
Those 5 Words
It's time to stop saying 'Me love you long time.'

* * *
What Happened To The First Asian American Rapper Signed To A Major Label?
MC Jin was the unofficial face of the AZN Pride movement in the aughts. He's still grappling with his identity and the terms of his success.

* * *
Michelle Zauner Is Not Quite Ready to Retire
The writer and Japanese Breakfast front woman is excited about the future of her art.

* * *
How Subtle Asian Traits made a generation of Asians feel understood on the internet
Founded in 2018 by nine Chinese Australian high schoolers, Subtle Asian Traits has grown into a global phenomenon with nearly 2 million members.

Read These Blogs

'Whoa, this is crazy': L.A. teen punks the Linda Lindas on going viral (just before finals)
Hot off their face-melting set earlier this month at the Cypress Park branch of the L.A. Public Library, including the viral anthem "Racist, Sexist Boy," tween/teen girl punk quartet The Linda Lindas are suddenly the most talked-about band in the country.

* * *
The Silence of My White Friends After Atlanta
"I strangely found more comfort on Twitter with fellow Asian Americans—most of them creatives and artists—than I did from my own best friend."

* * *
When the Reporter Asks You Why There Are So Many Filipino Nurses in the U.S.
"The presence of Filipino nurses in the United States is a longstanding one. Yet the reporter's questions suggest that the general public is wondering for the first time why there are so many Filipino nurses in the U.S."

* * *
In many Asian American families, racism is rarely discussed
According to a 2019 Pew Research Center survey, only 13 percent of Asian adults said race came up "often" in conversations with friends and family, compared with 27 percent of Black adults.

* * *
Some Korean pastors say they need to be more vocal about racial justice
Pastor Byeong Cheol Han, who presides over the Korean Central Presbyterian Church of Atlanta, felt it was vital to condemn white supremacy and systemic racism after the March 16 massacre in Atlanta. Many other ministers discouraged him from doing so.

* * *
Jeremy Lin reflects on lessons he's learned as an Asian American chasing NBA dreams
Jeremy Lin is no longer pursuing a return to the NBA and shares some profound lessons for Asian Americans.

* * *
100 Years of Yuri Kochiyama: Akemi Kochiyama on Her Grandmother's Life, Leadership, and Legacy
On Yuri Kochiyama's 100th birthday, her granddaughter Akemi Kochiyama reflects on her radical anti-imperialist, anti-racist, and internationalist politic and praxis.

* * *
Bowen Yang Is Changing the Late-Night Comedy Landscape
At the end of his second season on Saturday Night Live, Bowen Yang has carved out a space for queer characters whose sexuality isn’t always a punchline.

* * *
A Queer Asian American Photographer In The South Is Making Some Of The Best Art Of His Generation
Originally from Memphis, Tommy Kha creates photos that reflect his relationship with the South and Southern culture, as well as his own Chinese heritage.

* * *
In Praise of Congee
I grew up eating rice porridge, and every culture has its version. From mush we originate — to mush we'll return.

* * *
Constance Wu Portrays The Pain Of Miscarriage In 'Solos' Episode
Each episode of the new Amazon series Solos features a character struggling in isolation. Constance Wu talks to NPR about her 22-minute monologue as "Jenny."

Read These Blogs

What My Korean Father Taught Me About Defending Myself in America
Lessons in tae kwon do, style, and activism.

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The Term 'Asian American' Has an Impossible Duty
In a moment of pain, the descriptor "Asian American" has become a galvanizing force. But what happens when you lump together a group of people whose lives differ so vastly?

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'You cannot do anything': Indian American doctors struggle with COVID-19 crisis back home
Dr. Sunita Puri, who is trying to rally funds to send supplies to India for the COVID-19 crisis, is one of many Indian American doctors struggling with the COVID crisis in India.

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I Am Sikh and Tired
Wracked with pain about being othered, Vishavjit Singh dressed up like Captain America.

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We Need to Talk About What It Means to Be 'White-Adjacent' in Tech
"But it is that mix of privilege and exclusion that also gives us a unique position from which to advocate for anti-racism and the dismantling of structural and systemic racism."

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Grieving Vincent Chin, 39 Years Later
"There are no words that can describe the abuse and erasure we have faced."

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I'm Asian. My parents are white. How do I process anti-Asian violence?
After a year of rampant racism and violence against Asian Americans, some Asian adoptees in white families are left wondering how they fit into the conversation.

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'But I'm Just Like You'
The moment when illustrator Ruth Chan learned what it meant to be the 'other' in America.

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Uncovering the History of America's First Koreatown
A Korean-American professor discusses the most gratifying research of his career, into Riverside's Pachappa Camp -- the first Korean community in the United States, predating the founding of Los Angeles' Koreatown .

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The Lure of H Mart, Where the Shelves Can Seem as Wide as Asia
H Mart is "a beautiful, holy place." The huge grocery chain and other megastores like it have revolutionized the way many Asian Americans shop and eat.

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Meet the mystery woman who mastered IBM’s 5,400-character Chinese typewriter
Lois Lew operated IBM's improbable, ill-fated Chinese typewriter with aplomb in presentations from Manhattan to Shanghai. 70-plus years later, she's telling her story.

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Why I Bought Bruce Lee's Watch
The story behind the martial arts icon's Seiko is almost as legendary as the man himself.

They Call Us Bruce 126: They Call Us The Asian Superhero Celebration

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



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

In this episode, we welcome DC Comics Editor Jessica Chen, the mastermind behind DC Festival of Heroes: The Asian Superhero Celebration, a new comics anthology spotlighting Asian superheroes and creators. We discuss why superhero representation matters and do some deep-cut nerding out over Batgirl, Samurai, Jim Lee and more.

"We Belong '21" by Magnetic North & Taiyo Na (feat. Ann One)

"...but we're still here; And we're going strong; And we're getting tired of proving we belong."



I'm proud to share "We Belong '21," the new track from Magnetic North & Taiyo Na, featuring Ann One.

Back in 2010, Magnetic North & Taiyo Na's "We Belong" was a rallying cry for humanity and belonging amidst the AAPI community's experiences with erasure, exclusion and absurdity. Sampling Asian American folk pioneer Chris Iijima's "Asian Song" on the chorus, the song was part of a larger thematic album Home:Word, where homeland and refuge were explored from an Asian American migrant perspective.

Unless you've been actively putting your head in the sand -- and let's face it, this is entirely possible -- you know that there's been a near-daily deluge of reports of attacks on Asian Americans. Upon hearing the details of yet another violent assault, in which the attacker told the victim, "You don't belong here," I was reminded of Iijima's lyrics: "...but we're still here; And we're going strong; And we're getting tired of proving we belong."

I begged Theresa, Derek and Taiyo to get back on the mic to record an updated version of "We Belong." It just felt like we needed it. Turns out, they were already thinking about revisiting the song in light of recent events, particularly the mass shootings in Atlanta and Indianapolis. And they have delivered.

"We Belong '21" adds layers of urgency and relevance to the original track, delving deeper into experiences of a community being appropriated and othered while pointing towards the possibilities of solidarity and action to bring us forward. The soulful Ann One lends her voice to sing Iijima's timeless words.

Listen here: