Read These

Racist and sexist disinformation is sowing divisions among Asian Americans
A new report spotlights how disinformation not only pits Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders against other marginalized groups but also sows divisions within the community itself, sometimes to intentionally diminish its collective political influence.

* * *
The New York Times’s Interview With Yuh-Line Niou
Yuh-Line Niou is a state assemblywoman in New York's 65th District, representing parts of Lower Manhattan since 2017. She is running for the U.S. House of Representatives in New York's newly drawn 10th district.

* * *
Yuh-Line Niou on Her Especially Personal Run for Congress
From representation to disability policy, she says there’s a common theme: Courage.

* * *
Asian American Voters Rallied for Democrats in 2020. Will They Again?
The Democratic party confronts a mood of frustration among the rising electoral force that helped vault it to power. The campaign in Georgia will test that bond.

* * *
Big projects like the Sixers’ arena plan have often threatened Philly’s Chinatown. But the AAPI community always fights for the neighborhood.
For 150 years, Philadelphia's Chinatown community has fought for its life as big development project after project has targeted the neighborhood, threatening not only its existence but its unique authenticity -- most recently with the 76ers’ proposal for a new arena in the neighborhood.

* * *
My ICU Summer: A Photo Essay
Alice Wong’s months in the ICU highlights the steep costs of medical care for disabled individuals and their families due to a broken healthcare system.

* * *
A New Documentary Sheds Light on a Pivotal Movement in Asian American History
Social justice activism in the Asian American community today owes much of its legacy to the pivotal case of Chol Soo Lee, whose heartbreaking, remarkable, and undeniably complex story is the subject of a new documentary.

* * *
The Metamorphosis of Mindy Kaling
Starting with her rise to fame on The Office to now creating some of streaming’s biggest hits, the actress, writer, and producer has transformed Hollywood. But her most fulfilling project yet is happening behind the scenes—as a mother, mentor, and mogul.

* * *
Sujata Day on Her Search For Samosas As Good As Mom’s
Director and writer Sujata Day recalls a restaurant in L.A. she yearns for the most.

They Call Us Bruce 167: They Call Us Yuh-Line Niou

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 congressional candidate Yuh-Line Niou, who is running for the House of Representatives in New York's newly drawn 10th district. She talks about truly representational politics, making the legislative process more accessible for all, and The Good, The Bad and The WTF of running for congress. This episode is paid for by the U.S Department of Health and Human Services. Find boosters near you at vaccines.gov.

They Call Us Bruce 166: They Call Us Katherine J. Wu

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 journalist Katherine J. Wu, who covers science as staff writer for The Atlantic. She talks about joining science with storytelling, where we went wrong (and right) with our collective pandemic response, and the most erroneous assumptions we're making about COVID right now. This episode is paid for by the U.S Department of Health and Human Services. Find boosters near you at vaccines.gov.

Read These

What It Means to Be Asian in America
In a new Pew Research Center analysis based on dozens of focus groups, Asian American participants described the challenges of navigating their identity in a nation where the label "Asian" brings expectations about their origins, behavior and physical self.

* * *
How a tiny Chinatown bookstore became a hub for authentic Asian American stories
Yu and Me Books, the first Asian American female-owned bookstore in New York, highlights titles from immigrants and people of color, with a special focus on Asian Americans.

* * *
To 'Free Chol Soo Lee,' Asian Americans had to find their collective political voice
NPR talks to Julie Ha, co-director of the new documentary Free Chol Soo Lee, which tells the story of a 20-year-old Korean American man imprisoned for a murder he did not commit -- a case that became a pivotal moment for the Asian American community.

* * *
Jo Koy's 'Easter Sunday' puts Filipinos front and center
Comedian Jo Koy stars in Easter Sunday, the first big studio movie with an all-Filipino ensemble.

* * *
Tia Carrere in "Easter Sunday" Marks a Profound Change for Filipinos in Hollywood
Tia Carrere, who cemented herself in Hollywood three decades ago as the iconic Cassandra Wong in Wayne's World, appears in the family comedy Easter Sunday -- the first time in her prolific, 30-year-plus career that she is playing a Filipino.

* * *
Nobody wanted to make 'Squid Game.' Now it’s making history
For a very long time, no one wanted to make Squid Game. Now it has 14 Emmy nominations.

* * *
Paper Girls Star Ali Wong on Comics, Erin's Journey, and Her Childhood Dreams
Ali Wong, who stars as adult Erin in the series Paper Girls, talks about her relationship with the Paper Girls comic book, the dynamic between the two Erins, and her childhood dreams.

* * *
88Rising's NIKI is Owning Her PAST - and Taking a Cue from Taylor Swift
Filled with reproduced and never-before-heard music, NIKI's second album is an exploration of her start in the industry -- and a taste of where she wants to go from here.

They Call Us Bruce 165: They Call Us Jo Koy

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 special bonus episode, Jeff talks to Jo Koy, comedian and star of the movie Easter Sunday. He talks about the execs who told him his Filipino American story was "too specific," getting the backing of none other than Steven Spielberg, and doing it for the culture. For the culture!

They Call Us Bruce 164: They Call Us Lou Diamond Phillips

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 the man, the myth, the legend: actor Lou Diamond Phillips, who appears in the new movie Easter Sunday. They discuss how Filipino Americans are having a moment, LDP as LDP, achieving "icon" status, and The Good, The Bad and The WTF of being ambiguously Filipino. This episode is paid for by the U.S Department of Health and Human Services. Find boosters near you at vaccines.gov.

They Call Us Bruce 163: They Call Us Simran Jeet Singh

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 Simran Jeet Singh, scholar, activist and author of the book The Light We Give: How Sikh Wisdom Can Transform You Life. He talks about his journey of faith, dad jokes, his refusal to give in to negativity, and The Good, The Bad and The WTF of being Sikh.

Read These

How a skid row store faces the tensions in Black-Korean history — by discussing its bleakest chapters
Danny Park, owner of Skid Row People's Market in Los Angeles, wants his store to be more than its inventory. On a given shift, employees might serve as therapists, social workers, confidants or mediators.

* * *
Food Is Identity. For Korean Chefs Who Were Adopted, It's Complicated.
Raised in the U.S., Korean American adoptee chefs are exploring a heritage they didn't grow up with through restaurant cooking -- and finding both fulfillment and criticism.

* * *
For Asian American cooks, ties with Italy run deep
They may not share a common origin, but evidence suggests that these starchy foods developed concurrently for hundreds of years, with China coming first.

* * *
Why Wearing a Mask Makes Me Feel Powerful
"Over the years, my constant poker face hardened to such a point that it could cut diamonds and became so natural that it took little effort to maintain. People often told me—unsolicited, of course—that I looked unhappy, or bored, or even contemptuous."

* * *
The Biggest Boba Fan in the World
Nataraj Das is an audio-visual engineer and drinks 200 boba beverages a year.

* * *
East West Players: Asian American Visibility, Also Sustainability
How the historic theater company East West Players has stabilized both its mission and its finances.

* * *
Pop iconoclast Rina Sawayama: 'Drag is turning trauma into entertainment. That's what I'm doing'
British-Japanese pop star Rina Sawayama's genre-mashing second album is the product of her hard-won self-knowledge. She talks about reckoning with her Asian identity, forgiving her mother and her determination to be happy.

* * *
Why Brandon Perea's 'Nope' Audition Made Jordan Peele Cry
Breakout ator Brandon Perea's unexpected take on Angel, the Fry's worker, so won over Nope director Jordan Peele that he decided during their meeting to rewrite the script.

All The Asians On Star Trek 28: Eric Bauza

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



All The Asians On Star Trek is the podcast in which we interview all the Asians on Star Trek. In Episode 28, we welcome voice over artist Eric Bauza. He played the role of "Cerritos Conn Officer" and other characters on several episodes of the animated series Star Trek: Lower Decks. Outside of Star Trek, he's a prolific voice over artist with dozens of credits, having provided voices for some of animation's most iconic characters -- including Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and Tweety most recently in Bugs Bunny Builders. He talks about getting his breaks as a voice actor, almost getting cast as another Lower Decks character, and making merchandise from obscure Canadian kids TV shows.

They Call Us Bruce 162: They Call Us Love and Noraebang

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 key creatives behind the k-drama/telenovela-inspired narrative podcast rom-com Love and Noraebang: co-director Amy S. Choi, co-writer Quincy Cho, and actress Julia Cho. They discuss telling stories with joy and authenticity, and why Randall Park is the perfect voice of Los Angeles.

All The Asians On Star Trek 27: Away Mission with Andrew Ahn

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



All The Asians On Star Trek is the podcast in which we interview all the Asians on Star Trek. In Episode 27, we embark on another Away Mission, in which we invite fellow Asian American fans of Star Trek to do a deep dive into an episode of their choosing. For this edition of the Away Mission, we welcome filmmaker Andrew Ahn (Fire Island, Driveways, Spa Night) to discuss "Timeless" from season five of Star Trek: Voyager -- a perennial series favorite. We discuss, among other things, why Deanna Troi is a gay icon, how survivor's guilt over faulty phase variance data can really age you, and Andrew's big ol' crush on Ensign Harry Kim.

In 'Quantum Leap,' Time Travel is Not Just For White People

Raymond Lee stars in the new 'Quantum Leap' reboot as Dr. Ben Seong.


I cannot express how I excited I am for NBC's upcoming restart of Quantum Leap. Not only was a huge fan of the hit 1990s time travel drama, I'm pretty psyched to see Raymond Lee in the starring role as the titular leaper.

The original show centered Dr. Samuel Beckett, who unwillingly finds himself "leaping" through space and time into the identities of individuals, helping history along the way before leaping into the next life. In the update, Lee stars as quantum physicist Dr. Ben Seong, who sets the reboot in motion when he makes an unauthorized leap into the past. His team begins searching for answers, scrambling to bring him home before he gets in too deep."

Entertainment Weekly has an exclusive preview on the new show, including some insightful background information on Dr. Seong from Lee and the showrunners:

Described as a spiritual scientist, quantum physicist Dr. Seong has a specific approach to time travel. "He is compelled over and over again to make the right decision, even if his own life is at stake, so he is a much better person than I am in real life. He's something to strive for," Lee says. Dr. Seong immigrated from Korea with his mother, which will be integral to the story Quantum Leap is telling. "We're telling an immigrant story at its core, and it is how Ben is experiencing life moving forward," Lilien explains.

More here: Quantum Leap bosses preview thrilling new chapter

Read These

She's running for Congress, despite the anti-Asian attacks against her
Yuh-Line Niou is campaigning to represent New York's 10th District, which now includes two Chinatowns.

* * *
Kristi Yamaguchi Is Remembered as the Perfect Olympics Hero. It Wasn't Always That Way.
The figure skater won a gold medal, but to many, she still had to prove she was American.

* * *
Brazen robbery of $60,000 Rolex in 99 Ranch parking lot shocks Asian Americans
A shocking robbery in the parking lot of a 99 Ranch has shocked the Chinese community in San Gabriel Valley.

* * *
Constance Wu Doesn't Need To Apologize
Constance Wu revealed that vicious community backlash over her tweets -- yes, those tweets expressing frustration over Fresh Off The Boat's renewal -- made her suicidal.

* * *
Watching my son watch 'Ms. Marvel' feels like a game-changing event
Ms. Marvel is an important step forward for Muslim American representation on screen.

* * *
My hot, rowdy Indian summers at Hindu youth camp
Actor and filmmaker Sujata Day remembers how over several summers attending Hindu camp as a camper, then a counselor, she overcame bears, a serial killer and the wrath of the gods.

* * *
Discovering the Modern South Asian Ritual of Making Chai
Sujata Day is obsessed with her homemade chai and doesn't go a day without it.

* * *
Panda Express' orange chicken changed the game for American Chinese food 35 years ago
Panda Express' orange chicken, the quintessential American Chinese invention that helped bolster a nationwide craze for Chinese takeout, turned 35 on Friday.

* * *
John Cho Has Entered His DILF Era
"I have found myself speaking about issues of race -- often against my will -- it seems like for all my career," says John Cho. But his latest film, Don’t Make Me Go, cares less about identity than everything else.

* * *
Henry Golding and His Powers of Persuasion
Jane Austen wrote William Elliot as one of literature's most memorable cads. In a buzzy new Netflix adaptation of Persuasion, Hollywood's nicest guy proves it's a role he was born to play.

They Call Us Bruce 161c: They Call Us Live From New York - Part 3

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, recorded live at The Greene Space at WNYC, we welcome tech entrepreneur/thinkers Anil Dash and Ben Sun to talk about Asian American impact on the tech industry (and get nostalgic about Asian Avenue). Part 3 of the in-studio "RISE Conversations" in celebration of AAPI Heritage Month and inspired by RISE: A Pop History of Asian America from the Nineties to Now. Produced with the generous support of UBS.

They Call Us Bruce 161b: They Call Us Live From New York - Part 2

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, recorded live at The Greene Space at WNYC, we welcome writer/comedian Karen Chee and costume designer Minji Kim to talk about Asian American visibility in fashion and entertainment. Part 2 of the in-studio "RISE Conversations" in celebration of AAPI Heritage Month and inspired by RISE: A Pop History of Asian America from the Nineties to Now. Produced with the generous support of UBS.

They Call Us Bruce 161a: They Call Us Live From New York - Part 1

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, recorded live at The Greene Space at WNYC, we welcome chef Dale Talde, food personality Agnes Chung Talde and writer Frankie Huang to talk about the rise of Asian American food culture. Part 1 of the in-studio "RISE Conversations" in celebration of AAPI Heritage Month and inspired by RISE: A Pop History of Asian America from the Nineties to Now. Produced with the generous support of UBS.

Read These Blogs

He Had a Dark Secret. It Changed His Best Friend’s Life.
Tin Chin and Mo Lin were inseparable at the homeless shelter. But one of the men wasn't who he seemed to be.

* * *
Hopes And Fears As DACA Goes Back To Court
As the DACA program's fate is argued in the courts, many DACA recipients worry about their futures.

* * *
How a Marvel musical parody gave Aidan Park the role of a lifetime: an Asian superhero leading man
Comic Aidan Park returns to musical theater in his new role as Dr. Strange in the Lyric Hyperion's "The Streaming-Verse of Madness.”

* * *
Some Surprising Good News: Bookstores Are Booming and Becoming More Diverse
Lucy Yu was certain that a bookstore "focused on Asian American and immigrant stories" was just what Chinatown needed, so she opened Yu and Me Books -- one of more than 300 new independent bookstores that have sprouted across the United States in the past couple of years.

* * *
Don Lee On Making Korean Stories For A Global Audience, With His Special Brand Of Action
Korean actor Don Lee (aka Ma Dong-seok) is playing the long game -- and it’s paying off.

* * *
Close-Up on: Mariko Tamaki
In Anne of Greenville, an adaptation of Anne of Green Gables, Mariko Tamaki imagines Anne Shirley as a queer, Japanese American disco enthusiast trying to make her way in a new school in the middle of nowhere.

* * *
What Working At Marvel Is Really Like, According To Ms. Marvel's Co-Creator
Ms. Marvel co-creator and executive producer Sana Amanat talks about the best advice she’s ever gotten and working through impostor syndrome.

They Call Us Bruce 160: They Call Us Kathleen Kim

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 Kathleen Kim, the puppeteer behind Ji-Young, the first Asian American muppet on Sesame Street. She talks about the process of bringing Ji-Young to life, her surprising journey as a puppeteer thus far, and The Good, The Bad and The WTF of working on Sesame Street.

All The Asians On Star Trek 26: Amanda Wong

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



All The Asians On Star Trek is the podcast in which we interview all the Asians on Star Trek. In Episode 26, we welcome artist Amanda Wong. She is a background painter on seasons two and three of the animated series Star Trek: Lower Decks. Her other credits include Carmen Sandiego, Rick and Morty, My Little Pony: The Movie and DC Super Hero Girls. She talks about becoming a Trekkie at 7 years old, her path to working in animation, and why it's important to get the specific nuances of Cardassian floor patterns just right.

Read These

Wis. school board dismissed book about Japanese American incarceration as being 'unbalanced'
Parents are pushing back after a committee whose members sit on a Wisconsin school board did not move forward with approving a book about Japanese American incarceration during World War II for a sophomore English literature class.

* * *
A Korean man's shocking killing on streets of L.A. sends his daughter searching for answers
Cathy Lee wants more answers from officials in the fatal stabbing of her father, Dal Keun Lee, outside his South L.A. laundromat in May.

* * *
"She hardly goes out": Racism is keeping many Asian Americans from going to the doctor
Pandemic-related hate crimes against Asian Americans have left many feeling unsafe in public. The consequences of missed health care will have lasting effects.

* * *
H.T. Chen, Choreographer of the Asian Experience, Dies at 74
H.T. Chen merged Eastern and Western influences in his modern dance works, and his dance center was a cultural anchor in New York's Chinatown.

* * *
The Challenges That Keep Asian Chefs From Cooking How They Want
While all chefs are tasked with weighing the challenges of filling a dining room, Asian American chefs often have the added burden brought by the expectations and assumptions made by diners.

* * *
Listen: The myths of MSG and 'clean' eating
On the Season 3 finale of Extra Spicy, host Soleil Ho speaks to comedian Jenny Yang about the problem with "clean" eating and her open invitation to Goop.

* * *
S.F. artist Irene Poon's photographs capture small, beautiful moments in Chinatown and elsewhere
With an approach to street photography more friendly than voyeuristic, San Francisco photographer Irene Poon invites viewers to recollect that the majority of life is made up of small, inconsequential but beautiful moments.

* * *
The Chinatown Nightclub Dancer Who Helped Squash Asian Stereotypes
In the 1930s and 40s, Mary Mammon was a singing and dancing sensation in San Francisco Chinatown's red-hot nightclub scene.

* * *
Having tasted his fair share of hate, Jeremy Lin is now on a mission to redefine love
Ten years after Linsanity, Jeremy Lin is a cultural icon, a flag bearer for the Asian American community, with fans all over the world. And he can also lay claim to being an NBA champion. What's next?

* * *
How Mahjong Laid Tiles for Chinese America
The popular game helped forge a new identity as it crossed classes, gender and generations.

All The Asians On Star Trek 25: Christina Chong

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



All The Asians On Star Trek is the podcast in which we interview all the Asians on Star Trek. In Episode 25, we welcome actress Christina Chong. She plays Lieutenant La'an Noonien-Singh, the USS Enterprise's Chief of Security, on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Outside of Star Trek, her acting credits include Line of Duty, Heirs of the Night, Of Kings and Prophets, Dominion, 24: Live Another Day, Black Mirror and Doctor Who. She talks about her humble beginnings as a performer, the burden of her character's infamous ancestry, and what it means for her to be a part of the Star Trek universe.

Read These

The Many Afterlives of Vincent Chin
Vincent Chin's killing, forty years ago, has inspired documentaries, television, young-adult books, and countless works of scholarship. What do we want from his story, and the people who tell it?

* * *
How queer Asian American rom-com 'Fire Island' became summer's sexiest breakout hit
Joel Kim Booster's fresh spin on Pride and Prejudice is filled with magic, romance, sex and social hierarchies, dance parties, and Britney Spears karaoke.

* * *
How One Gaysian Man Navigated Racism And Romance To Ultimately Say 'Asian Guys Are Hot'
"Asian guys are hot. Not because some OKCupid study says so. But because I say so."

* * *
Joel Kim Booster on Finding His 'Nanette' Moment in 'Psychosexual' Special ...
Comedian, writer and actor Joel Kim Booster discusses how his first Netflix special tackles criticisms about his humor and identity: "I can't just speak as an Asian man only or as a gay man only. I am all those things, all at once, all the time."

* * *
Gabriel Chiu Is Capturing the Asian American Experience in New York
Gabriel Chiu's melancholic new photo series, "High and Dry," tells the story of Asian immigrants who uproot and move to the US every day.

They Call Us Bruce 159: They Call Us Post-Heritage Month Blues

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 are still alive! Your hosts return to recap and reset after an extended, unintended hiatus. We discuss our most hectic Heritage Month ever, the suckiness of finally succumbing to COVID-19, and The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of what we missed over the last two months.

Read These

Decades After Infamous Beating Death, Recent Attacks Haunt Asian Americans
Vincent Chin, a Chinese immigrant, was beaten to death after being pursued by two white Detroit autoworkers in 1982. On the 40th anniversary of his death, many hear frightening echoes.

* * *
How I Became an Asian American
"I hope Mr. Chin becomes an even more potent symbol of overdue justice not only for Asian Americans but for all Americans who know their worth is more than what racism and capitalism demand."

* * *
"You Know What I Say About Men Who F--- Asian Women?"
"When white women hypersexualize Asian women onscreen, we suffer the consequences."

* * *
Don’t be fooled — Asian American voters are more progressive than you might think
"The Asian American community can be a progressive political force at the polls. However, political leaders, parties and organizations must make some serious long-term and sustained investments in our communities — not just when they need our votes."

* * *
'A lot of Costco love' — How the warehouse retailer became a staple of Asian America
Asian Americans are the fastest-growing demographic in the U.S. They’re also a disproportionate number of Costco's customers. Asians comprise about 7% of the U.S. population, but make up 11.9% of Costco shoppers.

* * *
"She showed the way" — Viet Thanh Nguyen on Maxine Hong Kingston
Viet Thanh Nguyen talks about Maxine Hong Kingston’s influence and editing a collection of the author’s writing.

* * *
How Dustin Nguyen of '21 Jump Street' helped change the way we see Asian American men
Dustin Nguyen doesn't sit around and think about being a "pioneer." But decades after his iconic, breakthrough role on 21 Jump Street -- as a rare Asian American heartthrob on a mainstream show -- that's what he is.

"An immigrants' kid punched Hitler in the mouth while cosplaying the American flag"

Gene Luen Yang on the corniness and coolness of Captain America -- the hero who is a flag on the move.



"The hero who dresses like the American flag. You can't get much cornier than that." As a young comic book reader, Gene Luen Yang didn't think much of Captain America. To be honest, he summarily dismissed Marvel Comics' star-spangled superhero as a dork -- and certainly nowhere near as cool as the X-Men.

But over time, Gene's relationship to Cap has evolved -- much like the flag, and America itself. In his foreword to the new Penguin Classics Marvel Collection edition of CAPTAIN AMERICA, the award-winning comic book creator shares about coming around to the appeal of Captain America's undeniable dorkiness, and his connection to Cap as a fellow child of immigrants. We're delighted to share Gene's foreword here:

Read These

The man who murdered my brother post-9/11 just died. This is why I mourn him
"In the end, the legacy of the man who gunned down my brother is not only violence and hate. His memory is also one of reconciliation and love."

* * *
It's Been 50 Years. I Am Not 'Napalm Girl' Anymore.
For decades, Kim Phuc Phan Thi has struggled with the infamous photo of her at fleeing a bombed village when she was 9 years old. Today, she thinks of the children of Uvalde, cautioning that school shootings are the "domestic equivalent of war."

* * *
By Accident of Birth
NPR's Throughline tells the story of Wong Kim Ark, who forever changed the path of American immigration law in the 1897 Supreme Court cast United States v. Wong Kim Ark.

* * *
This photographer's surreal images explore the complexity of Asian American identity
Photographer Michelle Watt's portrait series "Lunar Geisha" is an exploration of Asian American female identity, examining who how East Asian women are perceived by society, how they are thrust into playing certain roles, the ways in which they become complicit in those stereotypes and the ways in which they rebel against them.

* * *
After his son died on a USC film shoot, a father is still looking for answers
When Peng Wang died on a USC film shoot in the Imperial Sand Dunes, his father flew from China to find answers.

* * *
Andrew Ahn Did Want to Show Dick on Fire Island
Andrew Ahn talks about directing Fire Island and the importance of having nudity onscreen.

* * *
'Fire Island' and the Bechdel Test: Turning the Debacle Into a Learning Opportunity
A tweet criticized the gay Asian rom-com for failing to adequately represent women. Now what?

* * *
The Indian Action Blockbuster That Should Make Hollywood Jealous
RRR is the heroic epic we’ve been waiting for—one that’s not afraid of its own extravagance.

* * *
'Liquor Store Dreams' Tells Personal Story Of Korean-American Experience In One Pocket Of L.A.
In So Yun Um's feature documentary debut Liquor Store Dreams, she calls herself a "liquor store baby," a first-generation American born to Korean immigrant parents who opened corner stores in "Black and Brown communities in Los Angeles."

* * *
Worst Episode Ever Returns to Remind Us Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers Once Went Bizarrely Racist
"It’s absolutely crazy this cartoon was made barely more than 30 years ago. In fact, the episode is so problematic that it was redubbed and re-edited after it originally aired in 1990, and that’s the only version currently available for viewing, and it still has the warning in front of it. And it should!"

Read These

States are mandating Asian American history lessons to stop bigotry
As anti-Asian attacks surge nationwide, a movement is hoping to combat hate with history, pushing states to require lessons on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in public schools.

* * *
May We Please Just Date Without Hate?
An Asian American college couple tries to let their young love bloom, but racist incidents keep disrupting their honeymoon phase.

* * *
You're called a 'model minority' as an Asian American — until they decide you aren't
"Privilege-adjacent. Invisible at times. As an Asian American, that's how I typically used to think of my minority status. Society labels us the "model minority" when it is convenient. Sometimes we're models to be emulated — when we're not on the receiving end of people's fear, anger and suspicion."

* * *
Why We Make Fun of the Way Other People Eat
On #Swedengate and why we fixate on other cultures' eating habits.

* * *
One 'underdog' candidate sees opportunity in N.Y. maps mess
New York congressional candidate Yuh-Line Niou is vying with better-known Bill de Blasio and Rep. Mondaire Jones, but she sees an opening with an electorate that is 20 percent Asian American voters.

* * *
A single photo can change the world. I know, because I took one that did.
"Kim Phuc and I are two people intertwined in history. To this day, I view her as family. She calls me 'uncle,' and I talk with her often. But I will always hate the circumstances in which we met."

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The Doughnut Kids Are All Right
The next generation of Los Angeles doughnut shop owners are preserving, innovating on, and continuing a uniquely Khmerican experience.

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Elvis reimagined as an Asian American icon
Tommy Kha has photographed a number of people who emulate Elvis Presley over the years, but in this portrait he offers himself as the American icon.

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Chan Is Missing: Lost (and Not Found) in Chinatown
The 1982 film distills a set of broad social themes through intimate snapshots of San Francisco's Chinatown neighborhood and its delightful panoply of personalities.

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Joel Kim Booster Doesn't Need Gay Rom-Com 'Fire Island' to Be Palatable for 'Certain People'
Fire Island star/writer Joel Kim Booster wrote his gay, Asian American romantic comedy script inspired by a trip Fire Island and Pride and Prejudice.

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Daniel Dae Kim's Journey From Actor to Advocate
The actor talks about remaining true to his values, finding the courage to speak up, and why it's hard to watch 'Friends.'

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Filmmaker Geeta Malik on Representation: 'Being Seen Can Be a Double-Edged Sword' (Guest Column)
"I feel like I'm always walking that tightrope between celebrating my culture and resisting people who try to make it the most interesting thing about me."

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AAPI scribes on Grey's Anatomy and Pachinko reveal what it's really like in the writers' room
Three Asian American writers on high-profile shows discuss what's changed and what's remained the same in the writer's room.

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Margaret Cho Has Always Been Unapologetically Ahead Of Her Time
Nancy Wang Yuen reflects on Margaret Cho's long career and its impact on her own life.

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'Crying in H Mart' Made Michelle Zauner a Literary Star. What's Next?
The odds are against making a career as an indie musician. Finding success as a memoirist is equally unlikely. Michelle Zauner, improbably, has done both.

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How Wayne Wang Faces Failure
Filmmaker Wayne Wang discusses his political and artistic education, the contradictions of being Asian in America, and the importance of "unlearning everything."

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A photographer's journey to reconnect with his Chinese American identity
"These images tell the story of not only those who were brave enough to build new lives in America but the story of the generations that came after; how they persisted with their dreams and fought for their culture to exist in a society that wasn't welcoming."

* * *
What Corky Lee Taught Me
Photographer An Rong Xu pays tribute to Corky, who passed away in January last year. For decades, Lee worked to not only document the day-to-day lives of Asian Americans, but also to correct American history that left out Asian Americans.

* * *
A Genocide Left Their Families In A Cycle Of Trauma. Now, A Generation Of Cambodian Americans is Finding A Path Toward Healing.
Immigrating to the U.S. meant pushing aside the pain caused by Khmer Rouge atrocities. For those who grew up in the aftermath, moving forward means working with their elders to process damaging memories.

* * *
How a Family Fruit Stand Became Northern California's Best-Kept Pie Secret
After 70 years, the family-run market and destination pie stop Ikeda's maintains its charm off I-80.

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The Ballad Of Chol Soo Lee: How Asian Americans United To Free A Man Wrongly Convicted Of Murder
Chol Soo Lee seemed an unlikely candidate to inspire a movement, but that's what happened when he was wrongly convicted of a San Francisco gangland murder in 1974.

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Asians in Hollywood Are Finally Showing Their True Selves, Flaws and All
"The power of Everything Everywhere All At Once lies in its comfort of not performatively overcorrecting for the non-Asian audience. An Asian film need not get upon stilts to drive the point home that 'these are not your typical Asians.' We've already passed the audition. The characters should simply be because there is room for everyone."

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'Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' Star Christina Chong Discusses Her Heartbreaking Childhood Connection to La'an Noonien-Singh
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds star Christina Chong discusses turning pain into strength and using all those emotions to better capture and understand the complexities of her character.

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Remembering a Victim of an Anti-Asian Attack, a Hundred and Fifty Years Later
Gene Tong, a popular herbal-medicine doctor in Los Angeles, was hanged by a mob during one of the worst mass lynchings in American history.

* * *
James Hong Really Is Everything, Everywhere, All at Once
The 93-year-old vet has more than 450 credits under his belt -- and, as of this week, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

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Smuggled, Heartbroken and Triumphant: How 3 Comics Tell the Immigrant Story
The profound and painful tribulations of the Asian American journey are centered in Asian American Eyz'd: An Immigrant Comedy Special — a film project by Ana Tuazon Parsons, Nicky Endres and Aidan Park.

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How TikTok's king of poses teaches his 4 million followers to take better photos
Photographer David Suh teaches his 4 million TikTok followers how to pose with confidence.

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In their search for love, South Asians swipe right on dating apps catered for them
Mirchi is among the growing world of dating apps created by and catering to South Asians.

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Ellen Pao on What Asian American Women Need from Workplaces
TIME talked to four Asian American women who have built successful careers within their own industries while advocating alongside other AAPI professionals to build better workplaces for their communities.

James Hong: The Man, The Myth, The Legend

Finally! After seven decades in show business with over 600 film and television roles to his name -- perhaps the most credited Hollywood actor in history -- legendary actor James Hong is being honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. At 93 years old, he is the oldest actor yet to receive this distinction.

Most recently, you may have seen him playing Michelle Yeoh's father in Daniels' genre-bending multiverse epic Everything Everywhere All at Once. Here's a featurette from A24 with his cast mates including Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan and Stephanie Hsu, talking about Hong and his pioneering career:

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The term 'Asian American' has a radical history
"Asian American" is a term that is both ambitious and contentious, depending on who you ask... There are significant limitations to a single category that encompasses such a vast and diverse population. But despite its imperfect nature, scholars of Asian American history say that the term's origins suggest that it has immense potential, too.

* * * More people now incorrectly blame Asian Americans for Covid than at height of pandemic
A new report finds that the percentage of Americans who say Asian Americans are responsible for Covid-19 nearly doubled from 2021 to 2022.

* * * Horrified by the surge of anti-Asian violence, she's giving her community tools to protect themselves
Medical studnet Michelle Tran was horrified by the spike in anti-Asian violence and wanted to do something to help her community. She co-founded Soar Over Hate, a nonprofit that works to support and protect AAPI communities in New York and San Francisco.

* * * A Story of Succession on a New Jersey Farm, in 'Seasons'
Nevia No's mother, who emigrated from what is now North Korea, was embarrassed of her chosen profession as a farmer; in turn, Gabriella Canal and Michael Fearon's documentary about Bodhitree Farm focusses on Nevia’s desire to pass on her work to her own daughter.

* * * Some of the Most Influential Asian American Literature of All Time
"This post was originally going to be called 'The Most Influential Asian American Literature of All Time' but who on earth could write that post?"

* * * From ‘Turning Red’ to ‘Everything Everywhere,’ the Asian (North) American mom goes mainstream
Imperfect, complex Asian American moms are the center of many recent mainstream narratives.

* * * Wayne Wang Still Isn't Satisfied
On the 40th anniversary of his breakthrough drama, Chan Is Missing, director Wayne Wang says a new generation of Asian American filmmakers must make more challenging work.

* * * Memories of a Vibrant Moment in Asian American Cinema
"To understand our contemporary moment, we must look back at the 1980s and ’90s, when cultural media organizations and film festivals that supported Asian American filmmakers robustly programmed a diversity of aesthetic approaches."

* * * Young Hollywood Was Asian
The playboys, half-castes, outsiders, and sirens who made motion pictures.

* * * 'Fresh Off the Boat' Was Just the Start
Though Fresh Off the Boat has ended, executive producers Jake Kasdan and Melvin Mar are continuing to lead TV’s expansion in Asian American and Pacific Islander representation.

'Quantum Leap' Reboot Starring Raymond Lee is a Go

NBC picks up reboot of popular 1990s sci-fi time travel drama.



NBC has given a series order to Quantum Leap, a reboot of the popular 1990s sci-fi time travel drama. A Quantum Leap reboot was inevitable. What was not inevitable, but is awesome: it stars Raymond Lee.

The original series starred Scott Bakula as Dr. Sam Backett, a scientist who finds himself trapped in the past, "leaping" into the bodies of different people on a regular basis and sorting out their problems whilst trying to get back to his own time. The show ran for five seasons and actually ended with Sam never returning home.

The reboot is set in present time. It's been 30 years since Sam stepped into the Quantum Leap accelerator and vanished. Now a new team has been assembled to restart the project in the hopes of understanding the mysteries behind the machine and the man who created it.

It was previously reported that Lee will play Ben Seong, who is described as both a scientist and man of faith. He's a world-renowned physicist working on the Quantum Leap time travel project. Other cast members include Caitlin Bassett, Ernie Hudson, Mason Alexander Park and Nanrisa Lee.

I was such a huge fan of the original show, so I welcome this reboot. But the fact that Quantum Leap will star an Asian American lead is kind of mind-blowing. Hell yeah, Raymond Lee. Count me in.

More here: ‘Quantum Leap’ Reboot Picked Up To Series By NBC

Call For Submissions: AAPI Poetry Anthology

Upcoming anthology of AAPI spoken word, slam, and poetry of oral traditions to be published in 2024.



Attention, poets! Haymarket Books invites Asian American and Pacific Islander poets, spoken word poets, slam poets, and poets who consider themselves part of various oral traditions to submit their work for an anthology of AAPI spoken word, slam, and poetry of oral traditions to be published in 2024.

This anthology (title pending) seeks to celebrate poetry from the space where Asia, the Pacific, and “America” meet. This project seeks to interrogate what we mean when we say “AAPI poetry,” lean into the complexities of solidarity-building, and highlight what connects our stories. Gathering prominent spoken word artists of the 80s and 90s with contemporary voices in literary publishing, this collection makes a case for the importance of the oral tradition in accountings of Asian/Pacific American literary histories and futures. We seek an aesthetically, demographically, and politically diverse range of poetic work, with an ultimate commitment to fighting—and imagining beyond—imperialism across our diasporas. The editorial team of this anthology are Franny Choi, Terisa Siagatonu, No'u Revilla, and Bao Phi.

You can submit up to three poems for consideration. The deadline is July 1, 2022. For further information, go here: OPEN CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

Read These

Column: What we got wrong about Black and Korean communities after the L.A. riots
"Korean immigrants left their homeland trying to achieve it, and many lost their belief in it after the riots. But was the American dream ever real if Black people never had equal access to it?"

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Op-Ed: For my Korean-Black family, the aftermath of the L.A. riots cut deep
Helena Ku Rhee remembers her cousin Louise and the rift that the L.A. uprisings caused within her family.

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Charges of racism and red-baiting in race for congressional seat created to elevate Asian Americans A new Southern California congressional district was created expressly to empower Asian Americans. But the race to represent the district has turned into a mud-slinging battle rife with accusations of racism, sexism and red-baiting between two Asian American candidates.

* * *
Can Nail Techs Win Better Working Conditions?
They hope legislation will establish standards for safety and determine wages and benefits.

* * *
I Made My Mom See "Everything Everywhere All At Once" And We Both Cried
After Scaachi Koul made her mom watch the film, she prodded her to discuss intergenerational trauma.

* * *
The Guardian of Bruce Lee's Legacy
Jeff Chin has dedicated his life to promoting the martial arts legend’s philosophy of pride and self-love.

* * *
What do Olivia Rodrigo, Saweetie, H.E.R., Bruno Mars, Elle King and Remy Martin have in common? Me.
"Filipino Americans are not easily categorized. But we still need to see our dreams being lived by people who share our heritage."

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How the AAPI Community Is Redefining the Humble Fortune Cookie Fortune cookie makers have turned the confection into a medium for social activism.