This year is the 40th anniversary of the strike at San Francisco State University that forced the administration to accept Ethnic Studies as part of the university’s curriculum (“Asian American Studies Now,” Editorial, April 18). Today, I am proud to walk in the footsteps of my fellow brothers and sisters as a B.A. degree holder nearly finishing my M.A. program in Asian American Studies at SFSU.
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Related articles:
Sam Cacas: Blasian love on the web
Emil Amok: Asian Man, White Woman: Breaking an Enduring Taboo
Asianweek staff: Asian American Studies
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“American history” does not tell the full story about our ancestors who were not white. Learning about my ethnicities and other cultures has given me a sense of personal pride, and I can use this knowledge towards a unique job in the future.
Aaron Kitashima
San Francisco, CA, April 15
Never Say ‘Never’
Never Forever sounds more like a gender spin on the “Asiaphile” phenomenon–not about breaking a taboo (“Asian Man, White Woman: Breaking an Enduring Taboo,” Emil Amok, April 11).
As such, I think the label of “breaking taboo” as it relates to Asian men and their romantic counterparts would perhaps be more apropos for Black women as opposed to White women.
Kelli Rucker
Chicago, Ill., April 13
Click to BlAsian Love
Great article (“BlAsian Love on the Web,” Beyond Borders, April 11)! I would like to add that aznlover.com also has a good crowd of black women who like/love Asian men. We welcome any race of women who have a preference for Asian men as well as Asian men who are looking to network with like-minded friends.
Tom [last name withheld]
Lakewood, Calif., April 13
China and the Olympics
I get upset when others criticize America for trying to protect our country (“An Asian American Viewpoint On China, Tibet and the Olympics,” Editorial, April 4). I get equally upset when China gets bashed for trying to do what’s necessary to protect their country.
The world should stop criticizing unless it has an answer to the problem. Looking at Iraq, I don’t think America has the answers for China either.
Hong Ung
Bradenton, FL, Apr. 8
I believe Tibet’s an internal issue between the Chinese government and Tibetans. We should leave them alone, and let them take care of their problems.
It’s the same with minority and civic inequality in this country; it is our internal problem. China never dares to intervene our business.
We can’t even solve our own problems here at home. Why worry about others?
David Phung
Sacramento, Calif., April 6
Rev. Wright and Obama
The fundamental basis of Black Liberation Theology is the struggle between the “white oppressor” and the “black oppressed” (“A Teachable Moment on Race,” Washington Journal, April 4). A serious problem I see with this is that it is premised upon our differences, rather than our similarities. It is premised upon conflict rather than reconciliation. One has to contort Christianity beyond all reason to come up with such a “theology.”
If I heard a pastor say even one statement derogatory of “black people” or “Asian people” or “Hispanics” or any other group, I would be out of that church in a minute. The fact that Obama has gone back for 20 years and considers Wright to be his “mentor and spiritual adviser,” is telling.
Fred Jones
Los Alamitos, California, Apr 9
Rev. Jeremiah Wright made these comments; Sen. Barack Obama did not (“Obama’s Wright Wing Conspiracy,” Hu’s on First, April 4). Mr. Wright may hold these beliefs as truths; Sen. Obama may not.
Though he attends that church, he does not necessarily agree with the personal beliefs of Wright. I attend church, and am Catholic. But there are many things the Catholic Church does and says that I do not agree with.
Sen. Obama should not be judged based on words he did not say.
Keri Frantell
Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, Apr 8
Whitewashing ‘21’
This article is overboard, and anyone supporting a boycott is just being ridiculous (“’21′ Not the First Film To ‘Whitewash’ Our History,” Reel Stories, April 4). It was a poor film to begin with, and you want to make a big deal about it?
Let’s be honest, the two Asian actors in this movie were less than stellar. There are bigger fish to fry, and the Asian community is crying about not being represented in a major Hollywood motion picture.
And what’s with this “not-too-distant-past” of movies I haven’t even heard of — 1990 and 1989? That’s over a decade old!
Adrian Keith
Long Beach, Calif., April 9
I fail to see why an Asian actor had to portray the original MIT student. It is a fictionalized account. If the Asian community is so angered, why not get a studio in China to make this movie? If Hollywood decide to make a movie, they have every right to cast whoever they want.
I’m not saying racism is not a problem, but certainly not in this case. Up until very recently India was stereotypically portrayed as an overfull train with goats walking around inside. This was highly belittling of a country that is growing to be a major economic power.
Hollywood takes a lot of liberties when dramatizing a true story, however, this does not mean it is purposely trying to be racist.
Abhiroop Basu
Coventry, United Kingdom, April 14
Movie casting may not be as “real”, but it’s part of an overall anti-Asian attitude that leads to incidents like what happened to Vincent Chin.
Anti-Asian media reports, surrounding the success of the Japanese auto industry in the 1980’s compared to the American auto industry, influenced those two out-of-work white Detroit auto workers to attack Vincent Chin, a
Chinese American, because they thought he was Japanese. Media of all kinds, including movies, does have an effect on people’s actions.
Melissa Lin
Baltimore, Maryland, April 13
Wine With Asian Food
I completely disagree with the comment: “It is best to choose a wine that evolved alongside that dish” (“Wine With Asian Food,” March 28). That philosophy would deny a Japanese salaryman the right to wear a Western suit. There would only be Jaguars and Minis, but no Lexuses or VWs on British roads.
Local wine evolved with local cuisine in Italy and France simply because they were insular and did not know any better. And this was before the wheel was invented so wine could be transported from one village to the next, and before ships and barrels could take wine from one country to another without deteriorating.
Warren Edwardes
Wine for Spice Limited
London, April 3
Giving, the Asian Way
This is good news, but I will be more impressed when you report that the Asian American community is giving to non-Asian individuals and institutions as well (“Giving, the Asian Way,” Editorial, March 21). That will reflect their confidence in their place in society as caring citizens of the whole community. As Asians have been in the U.S. since the building of the railroads, surely this is already happening.
Melissa Miller
San Antonio, Texas, March 27
Asian Americans in Business School/Math Textbooks
Asians in business schools (“Business School: The New Stereotype?,” Hu’s On First, March 21)? Why not? They now have the language skills, the social skills, the drive, the acceptance of society and the supportive parents to make it in the business world. I’m all for it.
If the two-tier income society is shaping to be the reality of tomorrow (or today), and the business world provides the path to upper-tier wealth, why not? Maybe a lot of the Asian values, such as “middle of the way,” modesty and humility can help shape a new corporate culture in this country.
Grace [last name not provided]
Via asianweek.com, March 25
More interactive approaches to teaching kids math are a great idea. Kids would do so much better if they found math fun, interesting and challenging, but doable. That does not mean rules, algorithms and formulas should be like some sort of interpretive dance — kids shouldn’t think they can make up their own rules for math — but math really is about imagination that expands upon foundations of logic.
Esther Oh
Mission Hills, Calif., March 25
Adam Carolla and Racial Slurs
This seems to be the second time I’ve read something negative about Asians with relation to this ugly and racist Adam Carolla guy (“MANAA Blasts Comedian MacDonald for Racial Slur,” Arts Briefs, March 21). How the hell is he getting away with this stuff, not once but twice, and who knows how many times more? What can we, as Asian Americans, do to get the message out there that it’s not acceptable? What would African Americans do if Norm MacDonald and Carolla said something like “He’s killed strange n—–s?” And are we Asians so weak and powerless that this does not make the headlines of American newspapers, only Asian ones?
I’m really upset with this issue of racists using racist slurs on Asians with apparent wrist-slapping immunity time and time again.
Guy Kichi
San Francisco, March 26
Don’t Have a Cow
The Cow Palace is unsafe in an earthquake, yet they do not hesitate to fill it with 20,000 people (“Community Divided Over Cow Palace,” March 14). If it is filled and the big one hits, the ’89 earthquake will seem like nothing.
Neighborhood resident Joseph Keh is right: The Cow Palace does nothing for the neighborhood except cause problems. I say, “Bring on the wrecking ball!”
Gus Peterson
Daly City, Calif., March 17
Who’s Got Game?
I am not entirely sure that the Asian Playboy is the world’s greatest pick-up artist (“Proselytizing ‘the Game,’” Feb. 8). Sure, he might be the most popular and most marketed one, but the greatest? Nah. I’ve met the greatest Asian pick-up artist in Toronto, Canada, and he goes by the name of “Tung.” You can find more info about him on NaturalSeducers.com. He is the real deal.
William Wong
Via asianweek.com, March 31
AZN, R.I.P.
I’m a Puerto Rican male that fell in love with this station back in 2004 when it was still called “The International Channel” (“AZN Television To Go Off Air,” Feb. 1). I am incredibly disappointed to hear that AZN is being taken off the air.
This channel opened up my horizons when it came to music from Japan and Korea. I also loved watching Chinese shows/soap operas like “As You Like It”, “S.N.A.G”, and “Hero Of The Times.” If not for this channel I would have never been exposed to great movies like “Running Out Of Time”, “Oldboy” or “Kamikaze Girls,” which have since become some of my favorites.
It will sorely be missed. Thank you AZN TV and all who worked there.
Luis Santos
Waterbury, CT, April 2
Though I’m sad this is happening, I guess the market didn’t support this kind of programming.
I think that the cookie cutter silly love comedies got very old. Too many of those series offered the same type of story, only with a different cast of characters; I honestly watched less of AZN because those programs started airing too often. Even my wife, who likes those kinds of shows, started to turn them off.
I would love to see another Asian channel come along and offer a greater diversity of shows.
America is a wonderful melting pot of so many cultures, and there is room for all cultures to have programming that really is of interest to all Americans.
Tom C.
Via asianweek.com, March 31
I have been a huge fan of AZN TV since it was the International Channel. Everyone has always told me that I was born into the wrong race (I happen to be Hispanic).
This is sad — we have BET for African Americans, Si TV, Univision, Telemundo and many others for our Latino Americans, but the only channel for Asian Americans gets shut down. Something needs to be done — and soon.
Andrew Steven Guerrettaz
Pearland, TX, April 14
April 4, 2008
Dear Editor,
Again, Amil gets it right, “Barack Obama’s ‘Model Minority’ Problem” (Mar 28) quote:
“Already some are suggesting that if a black man [Obama] wins, that’s it. Game over. Race equity is achieved. Forget about slavery. Any racial debts [reparations] are paid. The playing field is level.”
As he pointed out, this is what “post-affirmative action politics” is all about. And led by “anti-affirmative action” Ward Connerly, am American male Christian, and his cohorts. Some are blacks like him, African-Americans, American male Christians, and of other identities.
Further, they would wipe out in order of seniority, 400 years (1607-2007) of the dehumanization of American women, Natives and blacks by American male Christians. The same is true for other Americans with less pre and post Civil War seniority for the dehumanization of Asians and others, still by American male Christians, our only ruling class, no one else. Also, they want to erase “affirmative action” history.
In 1867, just two years after the Civil War and almost 100 years before President Lyndon Johnson in 1965, promulgated “affirmative action,” the first step Black elected officials of the South did in making decisions for blacks and whites alike was to pass laws creating public schools throughout the South. Until then, there had been no public schools, not for backs, and not for whites. And so the first schools for white Americans in the South came from “affirmative action” by Black Legislatures.
The second step the Black Legislatures took was to provide care for the elderly, a kind of social security. Before that there was only charity, not recognition that we ha obligations as a community. And it was the first time that poor elderly people had some relief in old age. It came from the “affirmative action” of Black Legislatures for white people too.
Note, blacks were shipped here under duress and in chains from 1619. Consequently, we are neither emigrants nor immigrants and are referred to as “involuntary immigrants”—an oxymoron—in the 42 Volume 1911 Dillingham Immigration Commission Report. It finally began in 1897 during the 55th Congress and started identifying racial and ethnic emigrants for immigration classification and census tabulation by country of birth. Of the 56 “sub-races of peoples” in the Report, 45 emigrated to the United States.
The 29 non-white and non-black Caucasian emigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe were classified as white immigrants. This classification was to help to protect them from continued treatment as “blacks.” It afforded them “affirmative action” for land, job opportunities, equal protection of the laws, and most importantly, to move up the economic ladder like “American male Christians” on the backs of black Americans. As a consequence, the current effect in 2008 is, America’s blacks are still at the bottom, after near 400 years. This is due to their lack of cultural cohesiveness as Americans.
“Race” alone is not cohesiveness, culturally or otherwise. Due to the separation of slaves on the “auction black” for over 200 years, slaves loss forever their specific link with a cultural and or ethnic group or tribe of Africa. Continental or other geographical identity is not ethnic identity or cultural cohesiveness, e.g., African-American, and there are non-black Africans.
Given the above historical back ground with 400 years of uninterrupted dehumanization to the detriment of women, Natives, blacks and others by our only ruling class, the American male Christians, it seems to me, the questions is:
As a real and true African-American and an American male Christian, where foes Senator Obama stand on “Affirmative Action” for women, Natives, blacks and others?
Women alone make up more than half of our population and registered voters. And they too are still treated as second-class persons and citizens.
Le Roy F. Gillead
WW II Octogenarian and 2006
Congressional Gold Medal Awardee