Rep Honda Introduces Bi-Partisan Bill to End Hepatitis Epidemic in America
October 30, 2009
Washington D.C. — Congressman Michael Honda (D-CA), chairman of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, introduced the bi-partisan Viral Hepatitis and Liver Cancer Control and Prevention Act of 2009, to address a national Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C epidemic impacting America. The bill incorporates the monitoring, testing and research and education provisions contained in the Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C bills from the 110th Congress. Rep Honda’s bi-partisan legislation was drafted in strong partnership with Congressmen Charles Dent (R-PA), Edolphus Towns (D-NY), William Cassidy (R-LA), David Wu (D-OR) and Anh “Joseph” Cao (R-LA). They are joined as original co-sponsors by Congressman Todd Platts (D-PA), Delegate Donna M. Christensen (D-VI), Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA), and Congressman Bobby Rush (D-IL).
Rep Honda, chairman of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, said, “Chronic Hepatitis B and C are silent killers, poised to strike millions of Americans and it is time for Congress to act in a concerted effort to educate particularly vulnerable communities as well as the general public. For example, due to a number of factors, Asian American & Pacific Islanders have a much higher prevalence rate of hepatitis B and develop liver cancer at a much higher rate than other ethnic groups. However, few in the AAPI community are aware of their risk factors or about how to manage or treat the disease. This bipartisan bill judiciously invests federal money in a balanced, comprehensive approach to viral hepatitis education, prevention, treatment, and management and I look forward to working to pass this legislation.”
The Viral Hepatitis and Liver Cancer Control and Prevention Act of 2009 brings together the common concerns of the diverse viral hepatitis community to create a surveillance system to track chronic Hepatitis B and C infections; support activities to promote early detection and education, particularly in vulnerable populations, and incorporate them into existing clinical programs at the state, federal, and tribal level; and conduct research on improved treatments and vaccines; and meet other needs of the Hepatitis community as identified by advocacy groups.
Both Representatives Wu and Cao issued the following statements in support:
Rep Wu: “This bill establishes a comprehensive, coordinated strategy for hepatitis prevention, education, research, and medical management programs by federal agencies in order to bring the full horse-power of the government to bear on this important public health issue. Hepatitis infections disproportionately affect Asians and Pacific Islanders, African Americans, and Hispanic populations in the United States. For example, although they represent only four percent of the U.S. population, Asian and Pacific Islanders account for over half of the 1.4 million chronic hepatitis B cases. It is vital that minority populations received the care they need in an appropriate and effective manner, and this legislation will help make sure that happens.”
Rep Cao: “Unfortunately, Chronic Viral Hepatitis disproportionately affects certain populations, such as lower income, Asian-Pacific, and African American populations. As a Vietnamese-American and the representative of Orleans and Jefferson Parishes, I have seen the faces and know the names behind these statistics of high incidence and mortality rates in the demographics I represent, especially given limited access to and availability of resources. Fortunately, Chronic Viral Hepatitis is treatable when detected early and properly managed, and I am glad this bill is comprehensive in its approach to educating about, detecting, and treating Chronic Viral Hepatitis.”
About Chronic Viral Hepatitis
Hepatitis B and hepatitis C are highly contagious blood borne viruses that cause liver disease, liver cancer, and premature death. Chronic hepatitis B is treatable when detected early and properly managed. In about 50% of the cases, chronic hepatitis C can be cured.
It is estimated that 2,000,000,000 people worldwide have been infected with the hepatitis B virus, 400 million chronically. Approximately 170 million people worldwide are chronically infected with the hepatitis C virus. An estimated 5.3 million people living in the United States are infected with either hepatitis B or hepatitis C; tragically more than half are unaware of their status.
About the Bill
The Viral Hepatitis and Liver Cancer Control Act would amend the Public Health Service Act to establish, promote, and support a comprehensive prevention, research, and medical management referral program for chronic hepatitis B and chronic hepatitis C virus infection. The bill, with a price tag of 90 million in 2011 will increase the ability of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to support state health departments in their prevention, immunization and surveillance efforts. The CDC’s Division of Viral Hepatitis has been underfunded in comparison with other CDC programs within the National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention. The following numbers show the dramatic difference in funding levels.
FAAE to Partner with Warriors to Host Filipino Heritage Night on Nov. 6
October 29, 2009
Filipino American Arts Exposition (FAAE) to partner with Warriors to host Filipino Heritage Night on November 6. Special Appearance By Arnel Pineda, lead singer of Journey.
Oakland, Ca - On November 6, 2009 for the second year in a row, the Golden State Warriors will be hosting their Filipino Heritage Night at Oakland’s Oracle Arena as they face conference rivals Los Angeles Clippers. In partnership with the Filipino American Arts Exposition, and other organizations such as the Filipina Women’s Network, Manilatown Heritage Foundation, ClubWorks and the Arnel Pineda Foundation, the franchise will celebrate Philippine culture by showcasing outstanding Filipino performing artists such as the Pinay Divas, Kawayan Folk Arts and Likha Pilipino Folk Ensemble. Fans can also connect with Filipino culture by viewing historical artifacts and photographs from a special Filipino heritage display and even learn how to write their name in Baybayin, the ancient Filipino script.
“Our mission is to broaden awareness and deepen understanding of Filipino culture. Through events like the Warriors Filipino Heritage Game, we aim to share our rich cultural heritage and inspire our community to learn more,” said Al Perez, president of the Filipino American Arts Exposition. “This event also provides an opportunity for the Filipino community to come out and enjoy a professional basketball game with their family and friends, and be more engaged and active participants in American culture.”
Also in attendance for the night’s festivities is Filipino singer and performing artist Arnel Pineda. As an international singing sensation, Arnel has toured with the band “Journey” bringing inspiration and exposure to the Filipino community around the world. Through a special post-game Q&A, Pineda will discuss his “rags to riches” story from obscurity to a world-wide youtube rock star Icon.
With a history of honoring the Filipino Bay Area Community, the Warriors will also be distributing commemorative Warriors Filipino Heritage Night T-shirts to fans who purchased the Filipino Heritage Night ticket package. “This much anticipated event is expected to sell out so we are encouraging everyone to buy their tickets ahead of time to make sure you don’t miss out on this exclusive event,” said Perez.
While the event will be a great time for everyone to celebrate the unique culture and spirit of the Filipino community, the night will also be focused on raising funds for an extremely important cause. Last month the Philippines was hit hard by a typhoon that caused major city flooding, devastation, population displacement and fatalities. The Golden State Warriors will donate a portion of the proceeds from the Warriors Filipino Heritage Night ticket sales to help with the Philippine Typhoon relief efforts.
Tickets cost $28, $34, and $75. Pre-game performances begin at 6:30 pm, and the game starts at 7:30 pm. Special tickets can be purchased by visiting www.warriors.com/specialevents or by contacting Warriors’ Group Sales Account Executive Kristin Cantlin at 510-986-5403 or via email at kscantlin@gs-warriors.com.
Daily Dose & Announcements: 10/29/09
October 29, 2009
>>South Asian Network’s 2009 Annual Fundraising Dinner
>>”STILL LIVES”: Unseen China and the Films of Jia Zhangke
>>6th Annual Austin Asian American Film Festival
>> I.M. Chait’s Asian & International Fine Arts Auction
Noted Silicon Valley Engineer Shu-Park Chan Celebrates 15th Annivesary of his International Technology University
October 29, 2009
by Gerrye Wong
To celebrate the founding of International Tehnology University’s 15th anniversary as well as the founder Dr. Shu-Park Chan’s 80th birthday, a celebration is being held November 8 at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport Hotel, with all proceeds going towards funding a new building for ITU and providing scholarships for new students.
Contact: lisaJ@ITU.edu or visit www.itu.edu/bday.
In keeping with his father’s charge, Shu-Park Chan studied electrical engineering, getting his PhD from Urbana, and joined Santa Clara University’s EE department, where he served for 30 years, becoming Dean of the Engineering School, the first endowed professor of SCU and its most celebrated professor.
Throughout his career, Professor Chan has personally taught over 10,000 students. Because of his cutting edge research, in the area of graph theory and network topology, bridging between electrical engineering over and into computer science, his PhD students include the co-founders of Cadence, ATMEL, Microelectronics Technologies, Oak Technology, Inc. and many other pillar companies that created the phenomenon known as the Silicon Valley. Conservatively speaking, over 80% of all microprocessors designed and developed within the last 20 years have been created or touched by technology, generated from Professor Chan’s students.
Though many have credited Professor Chan as a founding father of Silicon Valley hi-tech engineering education, and he is the first Asian-American appointed by a US President (Bush Senior) to sit on the prestigious Fulbright Scholarship Board, Professor Chan never relinquished his father’s charge and his own dream to bring the American education system to infuse China’s infrastructure, and extend that contribution to the rest of the developing world.
Professor Chan retired early, and in 1994, founded ITU to be the world’s first global network university model. Having successfully pioneered Silicon Valley hi-tech engineering education, Professor Chan recognized that proper engineering education bridges the “relevance gap” — found in most academic institutions — between academic theory and practical application. A university structure with relevant application-oriented education could develop new technologies and spin off new industries to convert an agriculturally-based economy into a burgeoning hi-tech center of development, trade and prosperity.
Merging his own successful Silicon Valley educational experience with the Warlord’s dream, Professor Chan developed the global vision for ITU. The first goal of creating ITU as a hi-tech model of university education has been accomplished. The next step is to scale out the ITU model all over the globe and infuse the entire world with relevant and internationally networked university level education that will support and build developing communities with educational resources and technologies. Indeed, education is the proper bridging infrastructure to non-violently develop the entire world, and also to bridge relations between and among all nations.
In mid 2005, Professor Chan’s son, Yau-Gene Chan, was appointed Executive Vice President to run ITU and carry forth the family’s vision. At that time, ITU had been running on a deficit every year, since inception. Yau’s first decision was to ask on board Dr. Gerald Cory, and together they rebuilt ITU from ground up, continuing ITU’s unbroken tradition of delivering cutting-edge hi-tech education, but also restructuring the operations of the university to become fiscally sound and eventually, scalable in its expansion
The University is locted at 756 San Aleso Ave., Sunnyvale, CA.
For more info: www itu.edu or call 888 488 4968.
Bakka Balloon Mom Mayumi Heene
October 28, 2009
By Arthur Hu
The latest infamous Asian American on the news isn’t a disgrunted geek shooter or Yale murder victim, but the Japanese American mom of “balloon boy,” Mayumi Heene.
During WWII, the government kept it a secret that the Japanese Navy was sending balloons over our forests, but this particular balloon was no secret - everybody has heard about it and most have even seen it. After the rescue drama subsided, the press began to wonder if Mayumi Heene was a co-star in crime or a battered victim, but considering her story to the sherriff, she might be both. Hillary put up with Bill Clinton to stay in the limelight, so Richard Heene might have been her less-than-shining knight.
I first heard the story on Dori Monson’s radio show in Seattle, and then saw the balloon land on internet video. Her looks, name and accent were all Japanese. That makes her boys Falcon, Bradford and Ryo, Asian, or at least “Hapa” American, and her husband an Asian-in-law.
We soon learned that the Heene’s were the same eccentric “we are children of aliens” family led by a manic DIY mad-scientist dad on the television show “Wife Swap.” Standing in front of what looks like a UFO balloon version 1.0., hubby Richard called the guest wife a “man’s nightmare,” and added that he was glad “my wife was born in Japan.” A boy from the guest family was equally impressed by how Mayumi “yelled a lot” and showed “strong emotions” in taking charge of her alternate household.
Mayumi’s name was Iizuka when she first met Richard at a Hollywood acting school. He evidently impressed her enough as a wacky gaijin to have her hand in marriage in 1997 in Las Vegas (perhaps she wanted to get away from her strong, overbearing father). The couple is not exactly what you’d expect a real life goof-off Homer and straight-woman Marge Simpson to look like. With a hard-charging American, slightly nutty professor-like dad, 3 young boys and a wife from Asia who stays in background, they don’t resemble any family that I personally know of.
Barbara Slusser of Fort Collins got close to the family while working with the dad on TV projects, but pulled out over concerns with his temper. She upset many who felt her subsequent comments promoted stereotypes, when she told the press that Mayumi’s Japanese heritage has kept her in a “subservient” relationship with her husband and her boys.
“She’s a highly intelligent woman, a lovely soul,” Slusser said, “[but] whatever he says goes. She’s basically his slave.” She said Mayumi is a rock for her husband, and should be put up for sainthood for putting up with him, but then added Mayumi would even “wear orange and go to jail with him.”
Disgrasian.com’s Diana Nguyen and Jen Wang noted that the report seemed to paint Mayumi as “essentially a sad, suffering-in-silence subservient — a word used three times to describe her — Asian woman cliche.” Despite this, both commentators did notice that the pair had separate his-and-her lawyers. That’s not something you’d expect from a wife loyal enough to go down with the ship and her captain.
Now there’s a big difference between “subservient” and “submission.” Explained in my Asian values (arthurhu.com/index/values.htm) paper, the Japanese word “Amae” encapsulates heirarchy and dependence. While the old are above the young, and husband over the wife, everybody submits to somebody else, not just the wives. If Slusser claimed the mother submitted to the kids, then that’s a far cry from the “Asian mother loses it when sees B+” stereotype. One Japanese woman commented that Mayumi wasn’t being stereotypical, but “Bakka,” or crazy, and from what I’ve seen of video clips, she doesn’t seem to be an average Japanese any more than Richard is a typical American. Why someone would stick with a guy like Richard might lie in “Gaman,” or inner strength, and “Sho ga nai“, which means “It Can’t Be Helped.” When you’re in a pickle, you make it work instead of quitting or being defeated.
Now the local sheriff, James Alderden, is telling us that family is in a good ‘ol American “heap of trouble.” One Colorodan reader commented that he was “embarrassed to call him our elected sheriff,” and called him a “media hog” who had “taxpayer employed family members.” Alderden doesn’t sound like the kind of guy you’d want to have mess with your family if he didn’t think your balloon hoax was funny. Things could get ugly as the Heene’s could be looking at felonies that could bring a dozen years in prison, a half million in fines, and a bill for the rescue that won’t be erased by bankruptcy.
Not all pranks are treated the same way, it seems.
In 2008, America’s televisions were taken over by another hoax committed by Rozita Swinton, who alleged abuse by polygamists at the Texas YFZ ranch. Authorities used her call as a flimsy search warrant to dig up whatever they could to justify putting every child into foster care on the basis of what a few men might have done.
But ranch residents were telling the truth when they warned that Swinton’s claims was a hoax, as many others quickly suspected. If any prankster deserves prison time, Swinton does for blowing over $14 million dollars and for interrupting and ruining the lives of hundreds of women and children who were unjustly interned for weeks.
Even Texas Rangers were breaking down into tears when they had to pry away kids from their mothers. Swinton’s hoax was uncovered, but it looks like the authorities are protecting instead of prosecuting her. She still has yet to be charged for the Texas calls, and has yet to stand trial for the calls she’s been charged with in Colorado.
On the other hand, it’s the Heene’s who have had their house raided at 1 a.m. by the cops and Child Protective Services. Photos, cameras, tapes, computers and computer files were all removed, but without the tank and SWAT team.
America, we have to able to tell the bad guys from the really bad guys.
The Heene’s are a family living on the edge — having lived in an office space, renting homes and driving with a broken hatch window. They love their boys, and didn’t mean to hurt anybody. Many Americans can only dream of capturing the imagination and attention of America if only for a few hours. As much as some might despise the misguided patriarch of the family, their misdeeds certainly don’t rise to the level of having the book thrown at them or to delivering the boys into the clutches of the foster care system.
In this day of zero tolerance, America has shown how the real bad guys come out when they get legal excuses to demonstrate just how much they dislike certain people. Judging by comments left on the richardheeneofficial youtube channel, there’s a mob out there just waiting to mete out justice, and I can’t imagine how having a wife from Japan is going to help their case.
Here are just a few of the said comments posted on Heene’s youtube channel:
* “Hey f-g-t, Your wife is a mail order piece of˛ˇ cr*p..”
* “When your *ss gets sent to jail …Have fun being r*ped.”
* “an egotistical, wife beating. brainwashing, waste of air, low life scum!
* “I hope u go to jail for ur crimes or at least die from those lovely tornatos”
* “you are the reason the rest of the world hates our country”
* “F-ing… D-bag….”.
* “Take his kids away from him.. many living safe families would would to have those children”..
* “I hope someone kills you and your slap head wife”.
—————————-
This family is in some deep tofu folks. Look in your history books of the American West to see how easily people felt perfectly justified in discriminating against the Chinese, Mormons and Native Americans.
As far as I’m concerned, these folks did commit a hoax, but let’s not confuse justice with what a lot of people would like to do to them. The Heene’s don’t have a mean bone anywhere in their bodies, and they’re pretty much at the mercy of public opinion now. After they’ve paid a fair price for their mischief, they need help to get back on track to the American dream. While Asian parents are tough on discipline, it’s to teach a lesson, not to ground people for life.
They’re probably strangers to the Asian Asian community (TM), but look at how African American communities are willing stick up for their people, no matter what they’ve been accused of, until proven guilty. God help the next family who gets their photos and computers taken away because they made the government look foolish. MIT students break rules to pull famous “hacks” all the time.
If it were up to me, I’d give back their stuff, sentence them to a month in jail and a month of community service. I would then harness their obvious energy for the public good by handing them over the Great American Celebrity Machine. The dad would make a great host of a backyard inventor show, and Mayumi could appear on Oprah with her story. Whatever wealth they get should be plowed into scholarships for other kids of crackpot parents, not the helicopter gas bill. If nobody has yet stuck up for these adventurous folks, it’s time for the Asian community to take a stand, starting with this Asian American dad.
Daily Dose & Announcements: 10/28/09
October 28, 2009
>>Asian American Civil Rights Groups Applaud Signing of Federal Hate Crimes Legislation
>>Herhold: Phuong Ho Interview Offers Key to Beating Case
>>Mr. Hyphen 2009
>>Bill to Increase Access to Contraception Is Dividing Filipinos
Daily Dose & Announcements: 10/27/09
October 27, 2009
>>State of Washington Appoints Director of Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs
>>2009 California Peace Prize Honoree: Phalen Lim
>>Warriors Filipino Heritage Night
>>Champion BBoys from South Korean Debut at the SF HipHop DanceFest
AsiaPacificFilms.com Offers Free Previews of Premiere On-Line Library of Asia & Pacific Films
October 27, 2009
Free Unlimited Access Until November 1, 2009. Includes Films, Shorts and Documentaries from China, India, South Korea, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan, Sri Lanka, Iran and More
Honolulu, HI — AsiaPacificFilms.com announces free unlimited access to its on-line library of 500 culturally significant and historically important feature films, shorts and documentaries from Asia and the Pacific.
This free trial period lasts until November 1, 2009. After November 1, the monthly subscription rate for unlimited access is $8.99 a month.
Jeannette Hereniko, President of AsiaPacificFilms.com believes the free introduction to AsiaPacificFilms.com will expose cinema lovers and those interested in Asian and Pacific cultures to this outstanding collection of 500 films from 20 countries. “No other site in the world offers such a collection and such a deal,” she says.
AsiaPacificFilms.com Project Manager Justin Park says: “We want a two-way conversation with our users. Their feedback after viewing the films will help us refine the experience on our site, so we absolutely want to hear suggestions,” Park said.
NETPAC (Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema) was instrumental in the formation and development of AsiaPacificFilms.com. This is a well respected international organization and it awards prizes at most of the major international film festivals that show Asian films. All AsiaPacficFilms.com curators and company president Hereniko are NETPAC members. The complete streamed library and pricing information are available at AsiaPacificFilms.com. Additional offerings will be added frequently.
You can provide feedback on the site from anywhere in the world by writing: comment@asiapacificfilms.com.
Access the free trial at asiapacificfilms.com.
For more information write news@asiapacificfilms.com.
Loving Las Vegas
October 27, 2009
On the Scene by Gerrye Wong for Asian Week Online
When some members of the Foon Hay Golf Club chose Las Vegas for their annual golf trip in October, the weather was perfect and the courses welcoming, as were all the brightly lit casinos and high rise hotels. Dan Hammel, Director of Golf at the TPC at the Canyons, was busy with the neighboring TPC Summerlin hosting the Justin Timberlake Charity Tournament that week, but his TPC Canyons course was in excellent condition and an engaging yet challenging course for any level player. The golf shop has won many awards for its extensive array of fashionable and latest golf equipment. Another welcoming course with interesting terrain was Angel Park where David Stead rules the roost to keep the play moving orderly and efficiently with a very personable staff throughout the whole lay out ready to guide and assist you whenever needed. Other courses enjoyed by the Bill Kimuras, James Gates, Chuck Leongs and Larry Louies, as arranged by John Kao and Wilson Fong, were the Palms, Wild Horse and Boulder City G.C.
Deborah Munch, VP of Public Relations of Caesars Palace gave us a marvelous tour of the newly renovated hotel casino with its multitude of attractive hotel wings, four inviting swimming pools with attractive private casitas available, and a Brahma Shrine on the street-side of the hotel which attracts Asian visitors from around the world. New to Caesars is the Beijing Noodle House #9 which features the cuisine of a Chef imported from Shandong Province, China, with his popular hand pulled noodle specialties. This small quiet out of the way restaurant is specially inviting for the casino patrons who desire and appreciate quick service with authentic Chinese dishes, Asian and non-Asian, according to Munch, who has seen the tremendous growth of Caesars in her over 20 year tenure with the hotel. She cited the many special programs offered by Caesars to their Asian clientele, including a Thanksgiving November 29 concert by Canton pop artist Hins Cheung which is sure to fill the 2000 seats at Caesars Colosseum Theatre. Enjoying the opening night of Caesar’s Bette Midler show were South Bay patrons Miriam Ngai, Carol Fong, James and Susan Lee.
Down the block at MGM Grand, upon Promotions Director Scott Ghertner’s recommendation, we enjoyed fine dining at L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon, sitting at the kitchen-side counter to watch the master French chefs at work in this popular Michelin star restaurant. General Manager Emmanuel Cornet introduced us to his gourmet special Discover Menu 9 course menu which featured appetizers foie gras parfait, Sea Scallops, white onion tart and duck foie gras with confit pierced quince and yuzu, entrees foie gras stuffed free-range quail and French-style hanger steak with fried shallots and ending with a delightfully light peach confit apricot milkshake and chocolate cake cremeux dessert layered with espresso ice cream. Served with fine wines, it was a perfect way to celebrate my birthday in the finest French style of cuisine. Chef Joel Robuchon had just been to the restaurant the week before overseeing and introducing new dishes for this very popular restaurant and its sister restaurant of fine dining next door, the Robouchon Signature Room.
Just in case you think I only lavish praise on food, my fellow travelers Dali Jones, John and Muriel Kao and Arthur Tom all agreed one of the best shows in Vegas was that of ventriloquist Terry Fator at the Mirage Hotel. A very likeable fellow with a wonderful voice which sings as voices of a myriad of puppets with nary a movement of his lips, Fator is a favorite among locals as well as Las Vegas visitors, and I would heartily recommend his show to any readers going to Vegas in the near future. Another performer to see is Comedienne, TV personality and author Rita Rudner who comes through with an hour and a half of one liners that keeps you either grinning, shaking your head or regaled with laughter at her Harrah’s show. So there you have it — take your pick - whether you like fine dining, great shows or relaxing golf — Vegas has it all, and more!
When you’re mingling amongst the large crowds there, you wonder - is there really an economic recession?
On the local scene: Japanese actress Kimiko Glenn breezed into the Bay Area with Broadway San Jose’s offering of Spring Awakening October 28-Nov 1 at the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts. A student of the Boston Conservatory, she received her chance of a lifetime when offered to play Thea in this first national tour. www.springawakening.com
Salute to the Tapes
October 26, 2009
This is Week 31 of AsianWeek’s salute to Chinese American heroes, in strategic partnership with Chinese American Heroes, a 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to documenting the contributions of Chinese Americans to America and the world.
In this week’s historic moment, we salute “Tape.” The Tape we are referring to are Joseph and Mary Tape. Thanks to work Dr. Judy Yung put into her book, “UNBOUND VOICES – A Documentary of Chinese Women in San Francisco,” 1999 University of California Press, we know about two very special pioneers who fought against all odds over a hundred years ago to open the doors of public education in San Francisco for their daughter and all Chinese American children.
The opportunity to be educated in schools in America was denied to the early Chinese as it was for many minorities. San Francisco required them to pay an unrealistically high school tax that white children weren’t required to pay. Chinese, who have traditionally honored education as the best way to rise in the world, were especially incensed at being refused the right to an education and took legal action. The leading case was brought by the Tape family and was finally decided in 1885. Mary Tape was especially stubborn in fighting for her daughter, Mamie’s right to be educated in San Francisco public schools.
In the 1880s having a Chinese American daughter with the name of Mamie was very significant and different. Few 1st generation Chinese immigrants had integrated into American society (few white Americans would welcome them and certainly nobody in official government circles wanted them.) Without access to American education, their acquisition of English skills would be delayed for decades, perpetuating the stereotype of Chinese as perpetual foreigners and potential enemies.
The Tapes were uniquely educated and both could speak and read English. Joseph worked as an expressman, a drayman and an interpreter for the Chinese consulate. Mary had emigrated from Shanghai, and was educated by Christian missionaries. She spoke a very educated form of English. She had her own dreams and was a self-taught photographer, painter, and telegraph operator. Mary was most unusual and was far ahead of her contemporaries in dressing in Western attire and adapting to an American lifestyle. She had four children, all trained and skilled in classical European music, amazing everyone who met her. Mary Tape’s story was written up in the Morning Call newspaper in San Francisco. When her 8 year old daughter was denied entry into Spring Valley School in 1884 by Principal Jennie Hurley, Joseph and his feisty and educated wife fought back. The Tapes sued the San Francisco School Board in the case of Tape v. Hurley).
It was a very bold move for a Chinese couple to take on the American establishment. Much to everyone’s surprise, including their own most likely, the Tapes won when a superior court judge ruled in their favor, citing the 14th Amendment and California legislation that all children, regardless of race, were entitled to a public education.
The local court victory did not please the San Francisco Board of Education, who had described the Chinese as “baboons and monkeys” in 1859. The case was appealed to the California State Supreme Court. Fearing what might be another decision against them the school superintendant immediately pressed the California State Legislature to pass an “emergency” law setting up a separate “Oriental Public School” for “Chinese or Mongolians.” (White Americans and their officialdom having no idea that these nationalities have been separate culturally and historically.) This was duly made into law in Assembly Bill 268 (only repealed in 1947.) Incredibly, the State Court upheld the superior court’s judgment despite the efforts of all levels of California officialdom. Even with the courts supporting her, young Mamie Tape was accompanied by two lawyers on her first day of class at Spring Valley School. Despite the lawyers, Principal Hurley, again denied entrance with the excuse that Mamie did not have a vaccination certificate required by the Board of Education, and also said that the school was overbooked. Mamie was put on a “waiting list” that would never be called. “Separate but equal” became San Francisco’s official school policy a decade before the US Supreme Court case of Plessy v. Ferguson made those racist policies the law of the land in 1896. Left with few other choices in immediately getting the education they wanted for their children the Tapes enrolled their children in the new Chinese Primary School in San Francisco in April 1885.
Mary Tape continued her fight and wrote a letter to the Board of Education shaming the Board for being racists and hypocrites but this was ignored. Mary Tape believed in the democratic process and fought for justice through the politicians and the courts. Although unsuccessful at the time she was an extraordinary woman fighting for justice and the rights of her family whose position for equality was ultimately vindicated when all schools were officially desegregated following the US Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education in 1954. Her death in 1934 prevented her from seeing this vindication.
Mary Tape was lucky to live long enough though to see the day when women finally got the right to vote across the United States in 1920 with the passage of the 19th Amendment to the US Constitution, 144 years after the Declaration of Independence had declared that “all men are equal.” The Chinese were not the only ones who had to fight hard and long to enjoy their civil rights. Let’s hope that Mary at least enjoyed this victory.
For additional information about Chinese American heroes, please visit the Chinese American Heroes website at www.chineseamericanheroes.org.
Daily Dose & Announcements: 10/23/09
October 23, 2009
>>Speier Co-Sponsors Bill to Reunify Filipino Veterans with Families
>>JCCCNC/JCYC Halloween Carnival
>>VIZ Pictures Releases New Documentary on Acclaimed Modern Arts Yayoi Kusama
>>Giant Robot Biennale 2: 15 Years
>>First Annual Asian American Jazz Festival
Daily Dose & Announcements: 10/22/09
October 22, 2009
>>Contemporary Lao Studies: Research on Development, Language and Culture, and Traditional Medicine
>>New People Extends Yoshitaka Amano Art Show
>>AsiaPacificFilms.com Hosts a Premier Collection of Award Winning & Independent Asia Pacific Films Online
>>New People Yokai Event Celebrates Halloween Japanese Style
>>Yul Kwon Appointed to FCC
