Indiana University Apologizes for Banning Japanese American Students During World War II

And Other Things to Know From Angry Asian America.



President McRobbie addresses IU’s WWII-era Japanese American student ban
This week, Indiana University formally apologized for a World War II-era policy banning admission of Japanese American students between 1942 and 1945. The official apology, issued in a letter from President Michael McRobbie, follows several years of advocacy and a petition delivered to the university in February. The statement expresses regret that the university "ailed to recognize the needs of the 12 Japanese American students who were seeking a new academic home during a time when they were unjustly excluded and removed from their home institutions, in violation of their civil rights." McRobbie also outlines several official actions the university will take to address the issue. Read the letter here.

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Suspect in 'racially motivated' attack on elderly man charged with assault
In Vancouver, a man has been charged in the racially motivated assault of an elderly Asian man. Cameras caught Jamie Allen Bezanson shoving the 92-year old victim, who suffers from severe dementia, in a convenience store on March 13. Store employees were trying to help the victim when the suspect started shouting anti-Asian remarks. The altercation continued outside, where the Bezanson shoved the victim, who fell to the ground and hit his head. Bezanson has been charged with one count of assault. I don't know, I feel like there should be another separate charge for being a Totally Despicable Racist Piece of Shit.

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Police, FBI Investigating Death of Professional Poker Player Susie Zhao
Police in Michigan have identified the woman whose badly burned body was found in a state recreation area as professional poker player The body was discovered at a parking area near the Pontiac Lake Trail the morning of July 13, according to police. Investigators say the case could be connected to Zhao's travels in the poker circuit around the country, or could be the result of meeting someone in the area when she returned recently. Anyone with information or who might have seen Zhao between July 11 and 13 is asked to contact the White Lake Township Police Department at 248-698-4400.

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Two Teens Charged in Murder of Arizona State University Professor
Two teenagers have been charged with murder in the death of an Arizona State University professor who was reported missing in March. Junseok Chae, an associate dean for research and an engineering professor, was reported missing on March 25 after he did not return home from work. The break in the case came after police in Shreveport, Louisiana, responding to a suspicious vehicle call, encountered Javian Ezell and Gabrielle Austin, both 18, and determined they were in Chae's car. Upon further investigation, deputies determined that Chae was killed at an intersection north of Phoenix, and his body was placed in a dumpster. Ezell and Austin were extradited to Arizona, where they were arrested on July 15 and charged with first-degree murder, armed robbery and theft of means of transportation.

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Promotional Image For Disney’s 'Raya and the Last Dragon' Has Debuted
Disney has released the first promotional image for the upcoming animated feature Raya and the Last Dragon, giving us our first good look at the title character. Raya and the Last Dragon will be an epic fantasy adventure with southeast Asian themes, set in a realm called Lumandra, described as "a reimagined earth inhabited by an ancient civilization." Five clans form the land of the dragon, and Raya is determined to find the last dragon. Featuring the voices of Cassie Steele and Awkwafina, the film is due out in theaters on March 12, 2021.

They Call Us Bruce 103: They Call Us Becoming Less Racist

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 crossover episode, we join forces with Becoming Less Racist: Lighting the Path to Anti-Racism with host Simran Jeet Singh. We talk about anti-Asian racism in the time of COVID, the model minority myth, and The Good, The Bad and The WTF of becoming less racist.

Suspect Charged with Hate Crime For Running Over Sikh Man

And Other Things to Know From Angry Asian America.



DA Charges Suspect With Bias-Motivated Crime After Attack On Sikh Man
Nearly three months after Lakhwant Singh was brutally assaulted in Lakewood, Colorado, the district attorney has finally decided to add a hate crime charge against his assailant. Eric Breemen verbally accosted Mr. Singh and his wife in their store, repeatedly telling them both to "go back to your country," before running over Mr. Singh with his car and leaving him for dead. He later described Mr. Singh as an "older Arab" to the officers who arrested him. Up until this week, the Jefferson County District Attorney's Office publicly stated they didn't believe the assault on Mr. Singh was biased, because "go back to your country" is "not racial." I don't know, I thought it was pretty damn racial. But I guess they changed their minds. Moving forward, Breemen will be charged with multiple counts -- now including a bias-motivated crime.

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Fort Hood Soldier's Remains Are Found At A Nearby Lake
Police are investigating the death of a Fort Hood soldier whose body was found at a nearby lake -- the third service member from the Texas base to be found dead in the past month. Pvt. Mejhor Morta was found unresponsive on July 17 in the area of Stillhouse Hollow Lake. His death is currently being investigated by the Bell County Sheriff's Department. Preliminary autopsy results show the cause of death is "consistent with drowning." Police officials have not said whether they consider Morta's death to be suspicious, or if it might be connected in any way to the two other deaths, but three deaths at the same base is not normal.

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Austin DJ says he was threatened, called anti-Asian slur near UT campus
In Austin, G. Michael Pendon — the artist better known as DJ Jester, the Filipino Fist -- was out for a nighttime bike ride on Saturday near the University of Texas campus when he was repeatedly harassed by a group in a pickup truck, who threatened him and called him racist and homophobic slurs. Thankfully, he wasn't hurt. The Austin Police Department says there's an open investigation into Pendon's report. Meanwhile, Pendon is seeking security camera footage from the condo development and nearby businesses to help identify the men who harassed him.

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100 Miles Apart
In this documentary short by Garveaux Sibulboro, a love story: Two newly engaged Filipino American healthcare workers are forced to shelter in place 100 miles away from each other during the Coronavirus pandemic as one nurse volunteers to work a COVID unit, leaving their immediate future in ambiguity.

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Race & Storytelling: Asian American Voices
SAG-AFTRA hosted a livestream panel discussion, "Race & Storytelling: Asian American Voices," featuring veteran actor Clyde Kusatsu, The Good Doctor's Christina Chang, ABC News' Nightline co-anchor Juju Chang, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend's Parvesh Cheena, Fresh Off The Boat's Hudson Yang, casting director Leslie Woo, and moderator Jeff Yang. They discussed the ways in which better representation and three-dimensional portrayals of Asian American characters can counter stereotypes and result in larger societal impact.

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"Fight the Virus. Fight the Bias."

And Other Things to Know From Angry Asian America.


Alan Yang Teams With Ad Council To Racism Against Asians During COVID-19
As we all know, there's been a surge in racism against Asians Americans since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. To combat the wave of harassment and discrimination Tigertail director and Master of None co-creator Alan Yang has partnered with the Ad Council's Emmy-winning "Love Has No Labels" for a new PSA titled "Fight the Virus. Fight the Bias," which looks to dispel racism against the Asian American community.

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Little noticed, Filipino Americans are dying of COVID-19 at an alarming rate
For a variety of reasons, Filipino Americans have been hit hard by the novel coronavirus. People with roots in the Philippines account for about one-quarter of the Asian Americans in California, yet data shows that Filipino Americans account for at least 35% of COVID-19 deaths in the state's Asian population.

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Man Arrested For Racist Attack on Calgary Woman
And up in Canada... Calgary police arrested a man on Sunday after a video surfaced of him spitting on an Asian woman and using a racial slur against her. The video shows the woman, who identified herself as Jessica Lau on Instagram, being filmed from behind while longboarding along a park path. Moments later, a cyclist coming from the opposite direction spits at Lau and calls her a "fucking chink." The cyclist was later identified as Justin Williams, who was reportedly arrested with charges pending. According to police, it's too soon to say whether the incident will be charged as a hate crime (really?) but it could also possibly be a case of aggravated assault due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Hey Canada, stop trying to top our American racism.

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Woks for Washington
"Woks for Washington aims to support the Asian restaurant community in the DC area during COVID-19 by purchasing and delivering meals from restaurants to essential workers. Preserving Asian cuisine serves as a major way for the Asian community to continue to share what makes us so diverse with the rest of the world, since it's often one of the easiest and most palatable ways (pun intended) in which people can experience our culture. This is an effort to help preserve Asian American culture and cuisine, while supporting the heroes keeping our families safe." Find out more at woksforwashington.com.

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HIFF @ Home Summer Fest
The Hawaii International Film Festival presents its first-ever HIFF@Home Summer Fest, a mini film festival available entirely online. Scheduled for August 7-14, they've got a killer lineup of the latest award-winning films fresh from the film festival circuit. Titles include Alice Gu's Donut King, Shiro Tokiwa The First Supper, Yi Chen's First Vote, Unjoo Moon's I Am Woman and Hong Khaou's Monsoon, among many others. A Summer Fest Pass is $40 and gets you online access to the full slate of films. For more information, go here.

Sometimes You Have to Jump the Counter and Fight a Racist

And Other Things to Know From Angry Asian America.


Fight caught on camera after restaurant customer tells worker 'get back to China'
In Carmichael, California, a customer at a BurgerIM restaurant location was caught on camera starting a fight, yelling racial slurs and throwing a drink at the employee working behind the counter. But the employee, Stephen Tran, wasn't taking that shit. He leapt over the counter and started throwing punches at the guy. Video of the incident was recorded on the store's camera, but there's no audio. According to Tran, the man refused to stand outside to wait for his food, then said, "Fuck you and your chinky policy," told him to go "back to China" and other racial slurs, before throwing his cup. I'm not condoning violence... but sometimes you have to jump over a counter to make a damn point.

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We are United in our effort to defeat the Invisible China Virus, and many people say that it is Patriotic to wear a face mask when you can’t socially distance. There is nobody more Patriotic than me, your favorite President! pic.twitter.com/iQOd1whktN

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 20, 2020

"We are United in our effort to defeat the Invisible China Virus..."
This fucking guy finally suggests that wearing a mask might be a good idea (under the ridiculous pretense of "patriotism")... while in the same breath still being unsurprisingly racist, referring to the "Invisible China Virus."

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Trader Joe's Working To Remove Product Branding Criticized As Racist
Grocery chain Trader Joe's announced Monday that it will eliminate "ethnic" product names following criticism that the branding perpetuates harmful stereotypes. An online petition is calling for the removal of racist packaging, including "Trader Ming's" for Chinese food, "Arabian Joe" for Middle Eastern foods, "Trader José" for Mexican foods, "Trader Giotto's" for Italian food and "Trader Joe San" for Japanese cuisine.

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Filipino Nurses: New York's Frontliners
"An estimated 150,000 Filipino nurses work in the U.S., earning up to 30 times more than they could back home. But at what cost? Many nurses work long hours, some juggling multiple jobs to support their families. Others are exploited, intimidated and forced into indentured labour. Now Filipino nurses are on the front lines of New York's COVID-19 crisis, some losing their lives as they battle to keep Americans alive. Meanwhile, the Philippines is facing a dire shortage of medical workers at this critical time. 101 East investigates the price of chasing the American Dream."

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Indian Matchmaking hints at happily ever after. Did the couples last?
SPOILERS! Netflix's Indian Matchmaking follows Sima Taparia, who offers her traditional matchmaking services in today’s world of hyphenated identities, niche dating apps and career-driven women. Many of the storylines in the series wrap up with a hint at happily ever after. But did these couples last? The Los Angeles Times checked in with each of the arranged matches via email to see if the couples remained together.

Read These Blogs

I’m Asian American. The pandemic showed me why black people feel so unsafe.
"The pandemic has made me more aware of racism — how it bubbles beneath the surface of everyday life and can erupt at any time, even in a cosmopolitan place like New York. It also has given me a new sense of some of the anxiety that black people face on a regular basis."

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Coronavirus backlash triggers wave of progressive activism from Asian Americans in Orange County
A wave of discrimination tied to the coronavirus pandemic has reshaped reality for many Asian Americans in Orange County -- a realization that is fueling a surge of progressive political activism.

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Shirley Ann Higuchi: Black Americans helped Asian Americans find their voice
The necessity and history of cross-racial solidarity between Black Americans and Asian Americans.

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My parents gave up their American Dream and moved back to India. 25 years later, I asked them why
Rishi Iyengar's parents came to the U.S. to pursue the American Dream -- and then moved back to India. He asks them about their decision, whether they had any regrets, and how their experience can help to understand this moment of tremendous turmoil for immigrants.

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This L.A. music producer is obsessed with houseplants: See how they amplify his work
The sounds Mark Redito produces is heavily influenced by his houseplants.

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'Bulge Bracket' Brings Wall Street’s Asian-American Faces to TV
Writer/director Christopher Au's new short series comedy Bulge Bracket, now on Amazon Prime, wa inspired by his wife's intense experience as an investment banker.

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What We Can Learn From Bruce Lee's Fight Scenes
A closer look at Bruce Lee's biggest movies -- now available in a new Criterion Collection box set -- reveals the many dimensions of a man best known as a fierce action hero.

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'The Baby-Sitters Club' Star Momona Tamada on Claudia Kishi's Fashion Influence
And, yes, the 13-year-old did take a "one-of-a-kind" wardrobe treasure home with her from set.

They Call Us Bruce 102: They Call Us The Baby-Sitters Club

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 facilitate a deep appreciation of an Asian American icon: Claudia Kishi of The Baby-Sitters Club. We welcome Naia Cucukov, executive producer of the new Netflix series; Jade Chang, writer of "Claudia and Mean Janine"; and Sue Ding, director of the documentary short The Claudia Kishi Club.

This Squad Has Made 60,000 Masks for Vulnerable People

And Other Things to Know From Angry Asian America.



A comedian’s tour was canceled. So she started the Auntie Sewing Squad.
Los Angeles comedian Kristina Wong was planning to take her new one-woman show on tour in the spring when it was suddenly canceled because of the swiftly spreading novel coronavirus. Wanting to put her time to good use, she reached out to the homeless population in her community and donated tents and air mattresses, and also paid to have two washing stations installed so people could keep their hands clean. Then a friend showed her a news story in March about Los Angeles-area hospitals pleading for face masks. Wong knew it was time to pull out her Hello Kitty sewing machine and leftover fabric scraps.

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Trump administration rescinds foreign students rule
The Trump administration on Tuesday rescinded a policy that would have stripped visas from international students whose courses move exclusively online amid the coronavirus pandemic. The move comes after the policy announcement last week sparked a flurry of litigation, beginning with a suit brought by Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, followed by California's public colleges and later a coalition of 17 states, among other challenges.

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💥Shang-Chi

Marvel's intro of an Asian superhero couldn’t come at a better time (although postponed due to COVID).
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“Let’s show them the beauty of our culture” - Bruce Lee#shangchi #marvelstudios #marvel #imcharliewen #brucelee #great #asiansuperhero #mcu pic.twitter.com/vvqZV7oC4g

— Charlie Wen (@imcharliewen) July 11, 2020

Shang-Chi Concept Art
This is totally unofficial, but still kind of interesting. As we all know, Shang-Chi will make his cinematic debut in next year's Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. While we've nearly nothing of what Simu Liu will look like as the Master of Kung Fu, Marvel Studios' co-founder and former Co-Head of Visual Development Charlie Wen recently shared his own unofficial fan design for Shang Chi. I'm not crazy about the head gear.

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Kelly Marie Tran Boards 'Monsterland' Anthology Series at Hulu
Kelly Marie Tran, best known for playing Rose Tico in Star Wars, has signed on to appear on Hulu's upcoming anthology series Monsterland. Based on the collection of stories from Nathan Ballingrud, the eight-episode series will feature encounters with mermaids, fallen angels, and other strange beasts which drive broken people to desperate acts. According to Variety, Tran will play the character of Lauren in an episode titled "Iron River, MI." Her character has just returned to her small hometown to be married. Lauren managed to build a new life for herself after her best friend, Elena, went missing when they were 16.

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'Ravi Patel's Pursuit of Happiness' Moves To HBO Max, Gets Premiere Date
The CNN Original Series Ravi Patel's Pursuit of Happiness is a four-part buddy comedy docuseries that follows actor/documentarian/philanthropist Ravi Patel as he travels the world seeking answers surrounding life's universal questions. At each stop throughout his journey, Patel is joined by a friend or family member, with whom he shares a big conflict or question about life. Driven by an obsession to constantly learn and grow, the series offers an unfiltered look at Ravi's personal struggles with each topic and the earnest comparison of social norms domestic and abroad. Ravi Patel's Pursuit of Happiness premieres August 27 on HBO Max.

Rest in Peace, Grant Imahara

And Other Things to Know From Angry Asian America.



Grant Imahara, Host of 'MythBusters' and 'White Rabbit Project,' Dies at 49
Grant Imahara, an electrical engineer and roboticist who co-hosted the popular TV science show MythBusters and Netflix's White Rabbit Project, has died following a brain aneurysm. He was 49. On MythBusters, Imahara used his technical expertise to design and build robots for the show and also operated the computers and electronics needed to test myths. As one of the few Asian American faces on television, he was a bright light for a lot of viewers who were inspired to pursue their interests science and technology. Rest in peace.

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N.J. Police Chief Accused of Making Bigoted, Sexist Comments Steps Down
A New Jersey police chief accused of making derogatory comments about the nation's first Sikh attorney general and the state's first Asian American county prosecutor is stepping down. On July 4, an audio recording was posted to YouTube in which Trigo allegedly says former acting Union County Prosecutor Grace Park -- the first Asian American county prosecutor in New Jersey -- "is pretty hot" and "she got wide ones." Trigo also allegedly refers to New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal, the nation's first Sikh state attorney general, as "that fucking guy with the turban" and says, "I wanna pull him like a top." Yeah, get this guy the fuck out.

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Business owner targeted with death threats after buying Black Lives Matter billboard
A Houston business owner is facing backlash after purchasing a Black Lives Matter billboard in Houston. Le Hoang Nguyen, who is Vietnamese American, says he stands in solidarity of Black people and those who face racism in America. So he used his personal funds to purchase a bilingual billboard, located in southwest Houston, declaring public support of Black Lives Matter. But now he's facing backlash from people calling for a boycott of his business, and even calls for his lynching -- from his own Vietnamese community.

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'Dungeons & Dragons' Book 'Oriental Adventures' Gets a Disclaimer
"We... recognize that some of the legacy content available on this website does not reflect the values of the 'Dungeons & Dragons' franchise today." Yeah, no shit. The company behind the role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons has added a disclaimer to old titles on its online marketplaces -- most notably "Oriental Adventures," a book originally published in 1985 that has long been criticized by Asian fans. I'm not into role playing games, but I've been hearing about "Oriental Adventures" for years. It took this long to include a friggin' disclaimer... but how about just discontinuing the damn thing? I think the gamers will be okay.

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Daniel Dae Kim Attached to Produce, Star in Rom-Com 'A Sweet Mess'
Daniel Dae Kim will produce and star in the film adaptation of the new novel A Sweet Mess a romantic comedy from writer Jayci Lee. The novel follows a pampered socialite turned small-town baker, who loves her secluded life, but a cake mix-up and a jaded celebrity food critic threatens her hard-won freedom. The fix? Go to California's wine country and guest star on the critic's cooking show. Kim's 3AD banner will produce. Somehow, this will be the first time in DDK's three-decade career where he'll be playing the romantic lead in a feature film.

Could Tammy Duckworth Be the Next Vice President?

And Other Things to Know From Angry Asian America.



Tammy Duckworth Bursts Into VP Contention
"Tammy Duckworth is no longer an afterthought in the Democratic veepstakes. The Illinois senator and Purple Heart recipient has landed squarely in the conversation after a high-profile clash with Tucker Carlson last week and her advocacy against politicization of the military in the weeks prior. The attention hasn't escaped Biden's vetting team. It has stepped up information-gathering on Duckworth recently, scrutinizing her legislative record and talking to her colleagues, according to three sources familiar with the matter."

* * *


Michael Lofthouse Resigns as CEO of Solid8 After Racist Video
Michael Lofthouse, that asshole who was caught on camera harassing an Asian American family with racist remarks at a restaurant, is reportedly resigning from his position as the head of the tech startup Solid8, according to a statement to Fox Business. I find this this rather funny, considering that internet research has turned up the fact that Solid8 is basically a company of one employee, run out of this guy's house. Who the hell got into their head that this dude was the "CEO" of anything? What's also hilarious is Lofthouse claiming that in addition to resigning, he has "enrolled in an anti-racist program with immediate effect." I'm sorry, but what in the hell is an "anti-racist" program? Is it a Learning Annex class? Is it like rehab? Sounds like a lot of bullshit.

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Two-thirds of Asian American health, food workers fighting COVID-19 are immigrants
Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who are immigrants are critical in supporting essential industries during the COVID-19 crisis, particularly in the health care and food supply industries, where more than two-thirds of AAPIs helping fight the virus are immigrants, according to data released late last month.

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Bath and Body Works Employee Fired After Yelling 'Fuck Donald Trump' at Customer
An employee at a Bath and Body Works in Arizona was out of a job last week after cursing at a man wearing a "Trump 2020" face mask. Jeremiah Cota, a strategic initiatives director for the Trump Victory Committee, was walking past the store at a shopping center in Scottsdale, when the employee -- a manager named Karren -- allegedly told him, "Fuck Trump." After Cota tweeted about the incident, Bath and Body Works responded... and Karren was apparently out of a job. Thank you for your service, and where do I donate to the GoFundMe?

* * *


Cardi B Used a Racial Slur To Describe Her Daughter's Eyes
Over the weekend on social media, Cardi B posted a photo of her daughter and commented that she had "chinky eyes." Let's just let that sit for a moment. She said it so casually, you have to assume... she had no idea how offensive it was? Fans jumped in to educate the rapper and explained that the term is considered to be a racial slur. Catching wind of the backlash, Cardi took to Twitter to admit that she "didn't know" the term was offensive. Seriously? How, in the year of our Lord 2020, do people now know that "chinky" is a damn slur?

Read These Blogs

Asian American girls saw pivotal icon in ‘Baby-Sitters Club'
The Netflix series The Baby-Sitters Club, is based on the popular book series about five girls growing up in a Connecticut suburb. Now, many Asian Americans are now recalling the impact that the character Claudia Kishi had on their own childhoods.

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An Ode to Claudia Kishi, the Coolest Kid in 'The Baby-Sitters Club'
Decades after the release of Ann M. Martin's Baby-Sitter's Club book series, the Claudia Kishi fan club lives on through fan pages and a new Netflix documentary.

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Tammy Duckworth: Tucker Carlson Doesn't Know What Patriotism Is
Tucker Carlson's attempts to distract the nation from recognizing the ineptitude of the Trump administration will not deter Senator Tammy Duckworth, who has words for the Fox News host (and Donald Trump).

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I'm 10 Minutes Away From Becoming a U.S. Citizen
"...but U.S.C.I.S. is sitting on a growing backlog of would-be citizens like me."

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Thamee got national acclaim for its Burmese food. Now it wants to become a model for racial justice.
The pandemic and mass protests for racial justice left many small businesses wondering how to proceed. Jocelyn Law-Yone and her daughter, Simone Jacobson, are making sure their restaurant supports and uplifts the Black community that surrounds them.

* * *
Is Small-Town White Montana Ready for My Loud, Brown Family? Doesn't Matter, We're Here Anyway.
Venu Gupta and her family are currently in Montana -- exactly where they belong.

* * *
ON ADOBO AND ANXIETY
A meal at Savannah's only Filipino eatery becomes a second-generation identity crisis.

* * *
Padma Lakshmi's New Food Show Is a Trojan Horse
Taste the Nation is breezy in tone, but it exposes the betrayals at the heart of "American" cuisine.

* * *
The Appropriation of Avatar
"American culture likes to identify its heroes and villains; Koniezko and DiMartino are neither. For me, they are not "canceled." But contrary to public worship, their work bears harm, too."

* * *
Heroes on Peacock: How Masi Oka would have changed Hiro
Masi Oka talks about the legacy of Heroes, the impact of his character Hiro, and how the show changed his life.

Angry Reader of the Week: Clement Chow

"I belong here, just like everyone else."



Hello, internet friends. 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 Clement Chow.

Grande Iced Americano for "Ching"

And Other Things to Know From Angry Asian America.



Starbucks Cup Refers to Asian Customer as "Ching" (That's Not Her Name)
This again. I'm told this occurred last week at the Starbucks location in Arvin, California (along Interstate 5). A group of young Asian American friends got their drink order to discover that the cashier had entered "CHING" on the label where their name was supposed to go. The name was apparently supposed to be "Kim." I don't know how you mishear that. And shit like this has happened at Starbucks before. (Honestly, I've lost count.) According to this Facebook post, the store manager didn't offer an apology or acknowledgement that anybody did anything wrong, and simply offered to refund the cost of the drink. How about telling your employees not to give racist nicknames to your Asian customers?

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Tucker Carlson, Who Can Go To Hell, Suggests Tammy Duckworth "Hates America"
Fox News host Tucker Carlson claimed that Purple Heart veteran Sen. Tammy Duckworth is unpatriotic following her suggestion for a national dialogue about removing historical monuments. Duckworth, who does not take shit from anybody, clapped back at Carlson via Twitter. The war veteran, who lost both of her legs while serving in Iraq and now uses a wheelchair and prosthetic legs, challenged Carlson to "walk a mile in her legs."

* * *


"My Behavior In The Video Is Appalling"
The man caught on viral video making racist comments at an Asian American family in Carmel Valley has been identified as Michael Lofthouse, a local tech consultant. He has issued a bullshit apology: "My behavior in the video is appalling. This was clearly a moment where I lost control and made incredibly hurtful and divisive comments. I would like to deeply apologize to the Chan family. I can only imagine the stress and pain they feel. I was taught to respect people of all race and I will take the time to reflect on my actions and work to better understand the inequality that so many of those around me face every day." Lost control? That racism was the calmest shit I've ever seen. Nice try, asshole.

* * *


Identified: Woman Who Told an Asian American Family 'You Can't Be in This Country'
Aaaand some follow-up on that woman who was caught on video telling an Asian American family "you can't be in this country" while they were hiking last weekend in Marin County. The woman, identified as Beth Taska, was employed as the Chief People Officer at Topa Equities -- up until Tuesday. The company reportedly accepted her resignation as a result of this incident in the park. In a statement she sent to KGO-TV, Taska says she "deeply respects the right of all people and regrets her conversation did not illustrate this and wants to work toward unity." However, she also claims the video "doesn't depict what happened" and that her words were "muffled by the mask" and that what they repeat is not what she said. Sorry, but her words were pretty damn clear to me. Would she have said "you can't be in this country" to a white family?

* * *

Little Jenna here is exactly why #representationmatters . I am so grateful for this show, that so many young people can watch this show and say “It’s me” . Thank you @britbrit1432 for sharing this video ❤️💕❤️💕 @HamiltonMusical #hamilfilm pic.twitter.com/iDbb4orVIs

— Phillipa Soo (@Phillipasoo) July 6, 2020

This Girl's Reaction to Phillipa Soo in 'Hamilton' Shows Why Representation Matters
Hamilton star Phillipa Soo recently shared a heartwarming video of a young Asian girl declaring, "It’s me!" while watching Soo perform as Eliza Schuyler in Disney+'s filmed staging of the hit musical. Do not tell me representation doesn't matter.

How Was Your 4th of July? Racism Didn't Take The Day Off.

And Other Things to Know From Angry Asian America.


"Trump is going to fuck you. You fuckers need to leave. Fucking Asian piece of shit."
Jordan Chan was at a restaurant in Carmel Valley, California celebrating her aunt's birthday when they encountered this piece of shit, who started making racist remarks at them. The man, who social media is identifying as Michael Lofthouse, was caught on camera telling them, "Trump is going to fuck you. You fuckers need to leave. Fucking Asian piece of shit." Chan posted the video on Instagram and the internet took it from there. May you suffer the consequences of your actions. Happy 4th of July. Fuck Trump and fuck this guy.

* * *

"You guys can't be in this country."
Meanwhile, in Marin County, an Asian American family was out enjoying a hike in the woods when they encountered a woman who stopped them and told them they "can't be in this country" after scolding them for having a dog on the trail. (There were apparently several other hikers with dogs on the trail. I highly doubt she confronted all those folks.) She told them they were breaking the law and -- classic move, true to form! -- pulled out her phone to call the police, aka The Manager. Then she scurried away when she realized she was being filmed. Meet the internet, lady.

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Woman who went on anti-Asian tirades arrested on separate battery charge
Remember that racist lady in Torrance? You know who I'm talking about. The woman whose racist anti-Asian tirades went viral last month has a warrant out for her arrest -- but not for those incidents. She's wanted in connection with a separate confrontation from last year. 54-year-old Lena Hernandez was charged Thursday in an alleged case of battery stemming from an incident at a local mall on October 14, 2019, in which she verbally assaulted a custodian and struck another person who tried to intervene. According to the city attorney, there is "insufficient evidence" to support filing criminal charges regarding the incidents at the park. Folks calling for her head will have to settle for the battery charge, and hope you don't run into Lena on the street.

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ICE: Foreign Students Must Leave The U.S. If Their Colleges Go Online-Only This Fall
Foreign students attending U.S. colleges that will operate entirely online this fall semester cannot remain in the country to do so, according to new regulations released Monday by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. So these have a choice, in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic: risk your life going to class in-person or get deported. Another cruel, garbage move by the White House and its ongoing campaign of to rid the nation of immigrants, one xenophobic step at a time.

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The F*CK Racism Collection
A shirt design for our times. A collaboration between People Anyday and ZeebLabs, the limited edition shirt has a fun message when you fold it up. All proceeds from sales of the shirt will go to the Equal Justice Initiative.

They Call Us Bruce 101: They Call Us Adoptees

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 Asian American adoptees Dan Matthews and Grace Newton to share their stories, discuss recent adoption-related controversies in the news, and complicate the narrative around issues of international and transracial adoption.

Angry Reader of the Week: Kulap Vilaysack

"Fuck raisins."


Photo: Andrew Max Levy
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 Kulap Vilaysack.