Black-Asian Unity: BlAsian Love in the New Media
December 7, 2009
By Sam Cacas
Absence makes the heart grow fonder. And for a writer, I might add that absence also makes the words go stronger. Since this column’s appearance in the summer, a number of new media developments have taken the BlAsian world by storm and made my BlAsian writer mission ever more motivated. Probably the most impressive development is the July 23 debut of a mobisode preview called “Audre and Dre” which was produced by Los Angeles-based Kelley Company Productions. Co-starring New Jersey-born actress (see vid of her recent appearance on the T.V. show House) Audrey D. Kelley and Andrew Chen, the film highlights their fictional marriage’s ups and downs ending in a hedonistic sensually fulfilling ending.
The 2:35-minute vid has drawn raves in various BlAsian discussion boards including the PowerCouples_AMBW which I co-moderate (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PowerCouples_AMBW/). In its short YouTube life, this vid has garnered 1720 views on YouTube as of November 29. Co-star Audrey Kelley, who is also CEO of The Kelley Company Productions (see their YouTube channel at (http://www.youtube.com/user/KelleyCoProductions), told yours truly: “The video wasn’t written to be race specific but the leads were cast as an Asian male and African-American woman. I wasn’t aware that there was such a desire out there to see a couple such as this.” She added that her company will continue to produce films in the BlAsian genre.
In case you didn’t know, a mobisode is a short video designed specifically for showing on a cellphone. Thus, the shots are usually closeup and the storyline happens at a faster pace than a regular video or film. Also, mobisodes are usually a mere two to five minutes in length. They are usually designed for cellphone users as well as internet users and are most popular Asian countries such as Korea, China, Japan, and Singapore. Not surprisingly, “Audrey and Dre” will initially be distributed in the above countries.
Kudos to Barry Jenkins for his vid “Tall Enough” featuring a BlAsian couple from Brooklyn, New York whose rapture is featured by Bloomingdale’s.
Kudos also go to Akira’s Hip Hop Shop producer Joseph Doughrity whose award-winning BlAsian film was featured BET’s Special Eyes on talent on November 22. The showing was headlined by actress Sanaa Lathan of the BlAsian flick, “Sushi and Watermelon.”
This columnist highly recommends as your next read the recently self-published BlAsian memoir titled “Black Passenger Yellow Cabs” by Jamaican native and long-time California resident Stefhen Bryant. The Jamaican native’s memoir narrates a sexual sojourn to Japan which Bryant took between 2001 and 2008 in which he set out to fulfill his dream of. Bryant’s dream was launched by his attraction for Asian women in his hometown of East Kingston. While I question a number of his claims (e.g., “As sex, like most things in Japan, is for the satisfaction of men, Japanese men, uncomfortable with the intimacy aspect of sex, cannot fathom the concept of sex with the objective of pleasing women and the art of pleasuring women, sexually or otherwise is alien to them. They are oblivious to the power of furnishing women with multiple orgasms.”), his outright honesty about his sexual addiction issue and stated decision to curtail such exploits and get married made me curious enough to keep reading beyond the back cover copy.
At press time, a new BlAsian board has emerged on the ning.com site. Aptly called Black women Asian men United the new site seeks “to support, encourage, and promote interaction between Black women and Asian men. Yours truly has accepted the invitation to be co-Administrator. See my thoughts about this new site at my blog.
And last but not least, look for my seminal fiction work “BlAsian Exchanges, a novel” to be launched as an e-book in January 2010 or sooner. Yours truly has made the decision to go indie and will sell the e-book version of his tome on clickbank.com and other virtual venues.
Sam Cacas, author “BlAsian Exchanges, a novel” blogs at http://blackwomanasianman.wordpress.com
Black-Asian Unity: The Increasing BlAsian numbers
May 16, 2009
The mixed-race population in the United States has increased by 5 million since 2000, according to the March issue of the AARP Bulletin. That’s a 25 percent increase since the prior Census! Thus, more children of Black-Asian unions exist - and in my perception, they are expressing their pride.
I am not raising a straw-man argument for my advocacy of BlAsian relationships. I am, rather, alluding to the BlAsian children that I hear from online as well as in person. These individuals, whether they are the lady Read more
Blasian Perspective: Yes, We Did!
November 16, 2008
Remember my August 7 column where I boldly predicted that Barack Obama would be the first BlAsian president of the United States? (BlAsian in the combined biological-family-cultural sense: His father is Kenyan and his stepfather, who helped raise him, is Indonesian. And Barack was born in Hawai‘i and lived there as well as in Indonesia during his formative years.) Read more
Daily Dose: 07/07/08
July 7, 2008
>>AsianWeek Market Report
>>Japanese Americans Worried About Patriot Act
>>Chinese Media Changing Its Tune on Same-Sex Marriage
>>Asian American Takes on American Pop Culture
>>MUNI Contractor Sued for Harassing Chinese Man
>>Zheng Impressive in Wimbledon Semifinals Despite Loss to Serena
>>Beijing Turns Green Before the Olympics
>>Jay Chou, Karen Mok Take Top Prizes at Taiwan’s Golden Melody
>>As Cars Take Over in Booming China, Bicycles Prove a Hardy
>>Activists Mark Filipino American Friendship Day with Protest at U.S.
Compiled by Beleza Chan and Miriam Ling
AsianWeek Market Report
| AsianWeek’s Market Report | ||||
| Asian Stock Indexes | ||||
| NIKKEL_225 | Tokyo | 13,360.04 | 122.15 | 0.92% |
| HANG SENG | Hong Kong | 21,913.06 | 489.24 | 2.28% |
| KRX | Busan | 3,281.39 | 11.12 | 0.34% |
| SSE IX | Shanghai | 9,902.98 | 502.25 | 5.34% |
| BSE | Bombay | 13,525.99 | 71.99 | 0.54% |
| HOSE | Ho Chi Minh | 435.89 | -3.79 | -0.86% |
| SET | Bangkok | 730.56 | -12.47 | -1.68% |
| Asian American Market Report | ||||
| Yahoo! | Y | 23.91 | +2.56 | (11.99%) |
| Citigroup | C | 16.38 | -0.44 | (-2.62%) |
| Amkor Technology, Inc | AMKR | 10.10 | -0.01 | (-0.10%) |
| Sybase | SY | 29.20 | +0.70 | (2.46%) |
| UnionBancal Corp | UB | 38.53 | -1.32 | (-3.31%) |
| East West Bank corp,Inc | EWBC | 7.62 | +0.04 | (0.53%) |
Japanese Americans Worried About Patriot Act
DENVER — Many of the Japanese Americans that gathered Saturday to remember the internment of 120,000 family members during World War II expressed concern about what they see as an erosion of civil liberties since the Sept. 11 attacks.
During a town hall discussion on the Patriot Act at a weekend conference organized by the Japanese American National Museum, San Francisco lawyer Dale Minami told the audience they shouldn’t think denying people access to lawyers or a right to a trial is something that can’t hurt regular law-abiding people.
“It did happen to you. It did happen to you in 1942,” said Minami, who worked on a landmark case that led to the exoneration of a Japanese American who refused to report to an internment camp.
Fred Korematsu’s conviction for violating the internment order in 1942, along with the overall internment policy, had been upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1944.
—Associated Press
BAY
Chinese Media Changing Its Tune on Same-Sex Marriage
SAN FRANCISCO — This June, Helen Zia and Lia Shigemura’s wedding became front-page news once more in local Chinese newspapers. Zia is an award-winning journalist, editor and author, and Lia Shigemura is a prominent voice in San Francisco’s Asian American and Japanese American community. Chinese language publications covered the couple’s saga as they struggled toward becoming a legally married couple. The World Journal, for example, published an article titled “Helen Zia Marrying with Happiness and Blessings.” Sing Tao reported that “After 16 Years, Lesbian Chinese Couple Got Hitched.” The article reviewed the path on which Chinese immigrants strove for their rights in the United States, from competing for immigration and citizenship to being treated equally. The shift in Chinese media’s coverage, they say, may also reflect the change of attitude in its audiences.
— New America Media
. . . . . . . . . .
Asian American Takes on American Pop Culture
SAN FRANCISCO — Is hip-hop really the voice of the Asian American youth? What does the American dream mean today? These are some of the topics Sunny Vergara mulls over in AsianWeek’s newest blog — American Pop. In his blog, Vergara casts a critical Filipino eye at the dizzyingly multi-faceted world of American popular culture. A self-described music and movie nerd, Vergara has over two decades of experience in journalism. Other AsianWeek bloggers include filmmaker Eric Byler and activist Annabel Park, award-winning journalist Emil Guillermo and entertainment columnist Lisa Lee. Sharing a blog space are four AsianWeek columnists — author Sam Cacas looks at Black-Asian relationships; Father Bruce Reyes-Chow looks at religion; Eming Piansay offers a youth perspective; and parents John and Belinda Dronkers-Laureta discuss the APA lesbian/bisexual/gay/transgender community. All of AsianWeek’s blogs are at asianweek.com/asianweekbloggers/
. . . . . . . . . .
MUNI Contractor Sued for Harassing Chinese Man
SAN FRANCISCO — Cadit Company Inc. violated federal law when it allowed a foreman to harass a Chinese ironworker with racial and ethnic slurs and then fired him in retaliation for reporting the discrimination, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission charged in a lawsuit filed recently.
Ru Jian Lin was hired by Cadit on June 5, 2006, to perform welding work on a SF Municipal Railway train platform. According to the EEOC’s suit, within weeks of work, Lin faced daily verbal abuse from a white foreman.
Lin spoke to his supervisor about the harassment around mid-July and reported again when it continued. Cadit failed to take action to end the harassment, and on July 26, 2006, the company fired Lin.
The suit seeks back pay and other monetary losses in addition to compensatory and punitive damages for Lin and appropriate injunctive relief to prevent any future discrimination.
GLOBAL
Zheng Impressive in Wimbledon Semifinals Despite Loss to Serena
WIMBLEDON, England — Zheng Jie went from looking overmatched to looking right at home on Centre Court against Serena Williams in the Wimbledon semifinals.
Zheng, the first Chinese player to reach a Grand Slam semifinal, struggled early but picked up her game in the second set Thursday after a 35-minute rain delay. Still, she was eliminated after losing to the eight-time Grand Slam champion 6-2, 7-6 (5).
Zheng, who also became the first female wild-card entrant to reach the semifinals at the All England Club and second at any Grand Slam, was trailing 5-2 in the first set when the rain started. When they resumed, Williams held serve at love to take the first set. But the second set was a different story, and the 133rd-ranked Zheng even had a set point on Williams’ serve after another, longer rain delay. Zheng failed to convert.
—Associated Press
. . . . . . . . . .
Beijing Turns Green Before the Olympics
BEIJING – Several measures have been implemented to ‘green’ Beijing before the Olympics start.
The Beijing government has been promoting the use of public transportation by increasing the number of subway lines and buses and lowering bus fares. About nine new subway lines will be running by the time the Beijing Olympics start. On the ground, bus lines are being added, while fares are being lowered.
Vehicles are also being subject to smog tests. All vehicles coming to Beijing from out of town will be turned back unless they obtain a “green Olympic pass.” From July 20 to Sept. 20, all vehicles in Beijing will be allowed on the streets every other day, depending on the number on their license plates.
On June 1, the Chinese State Council also prohibited all stores and markets from offering plastic bags for free.
— New America Media
. . . . . . . . . .
Jay Chou, Karen Mok Take Top Prizes at Taiwan’s Golden Melody
HONG KONG — Taiwanese R&B sensation Jay Chou and Hong Kong actress-singer Karen Mok have taken top honors at the Golden Melody Awards in Taiwan — Chinese pop’s equivalent of the Grammys.
In awards announced late Saturday in Taipei, Chou won best song for “Blue and White Porcelain,” and Mok won best Mandarin album for Live Is … Karen Mok. Chou was also named best composer and his frequent creative partner, Vincent Fang, was named best lyricist, both for “Blue and White Porcelain.”
Malaysian Gary Chaw was named best male Mandarin singer for the album Super Sunshine and Singapore’s Tanya Chua won in the same category for female singers. Chua was honored for the album Goodbye & Hello.
Taiwan’s Sodagreen was named best band for the album Unparalleled Beauty.
—Associated Press
. . . . . . . . . .
As Cars Take Over in Booming China, Bicycles Prove a Hardy
SHANGHAI, China — For a vivid insight into the clash of old and new in China, follow the bicycle.
Morning rush hour in Beijing and Shanghai used to be rivers of cyclists flowing in a majestic hush down broad bike lanes. Today, many of those lanes have been taken over by cars and buses, their roar and honk drowning out the tinkle of bicycle bells.
Yet despite China’s leap into modernity, the bicycle is far from dead — its numbers are growing. For many Chinese, pedal power remains a mainstay — for commuting, sending children to school or making a living.
As the Chinese fall in love with cars, and Westerners fall out of love with them, China is once again a winner. According to the Earth Policy Institute, of the 130 million bikes manufactured worldwide last year, China made 90 million and exported two-thirds of them.
—Associated Press
. . . . . . . . . .
Activists Mark Filipino American Friendship Day with Protest at U.S.
MANILA, Philippines — Left-wing activists are marking Filipino American Friendship Day with a protest at the U.S. Embassy to denounce the alleged rape of a Filipino woman in Japan and the continuing presence of U.S. soldiers in the Philippines.
In May, a prosecutor in Okinawa dismissed charges against the U.S. soldier after finding insufficient evidence of violence and intimidation.
The Gabriela Women’s Party issued a statement Friday, deploring what it calls Philippine government inaction in the case and the “travesty against a people and a nation.”
The activists also pressed for an end to agreements allowing joint military exercises in the country.
The Philippines holds several military exercises each year with the United States, its longtime ally.
—Associated Press
Black-Asian Group Fights Poverty
May 12, 2008
BlAsian Love Perspective
Asian Neighborhood Design Practices What It Preaches
On the eve of its 35th anniversary, Asian Neighborhood Design (AND) continues to build bridges between communities of color in San Francisco. AND provides multicultural, low-income communities with housing and Read more
Letters to the Editor: Asian American Studies, Click to BlAsian Love, Rev. Wright and Obama, and more…
April 23, 2008
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 Read more
BlAsian Love on the Web
April 13, 2008
Beyond Borders is a new group of four AsianWeek columnists who will each week explore a different issue that is not traditionally associated with or written about in relation to the Asian Pacific American community: black-Asian relationships, the Asian Pacific American lesbian/bisexual/gay/ transgender community and their families, religion and youth.
Web sites focusing on relationships between blacks and Asians (relationships between black women/Asian men or black men/ Asian women, and same-sex black- Asian couples) have proliferated of late. Is it social network technology coming to fruition or just plain old love? Read more
Asian Man, White Woman: Breaking an Enduring Taboo
April 13, 2008
Also: The community division on Tibet
They do IT a lot on the screen in Gina Kim’s Never Forever (opening Friday, April 11, at the Sundance Cinemas Kabuki in San Francisco). That’s good because the people doing IT are an Asian male and a white woman — one of the last unofficial taboos in filmdom and “lovedom.” Read more
Letters to the Editor: Anna May Wong, The War on Homework, Ballroom Dancing Duo, and Black-Asian Couples
March 23, 2008
Anna May Wong
There are three parts to my Anna May Wong endeavor (“A Look Back at a Legend: Elaine Mae Woo’s ‘Anna May Wong: Frosted Yellow Willows,’” Reel Stories, March 14): the 50-minute documentary film; the book, Anna May Read more
Black Asian Dialogue
March 9, 2008
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Black-Asian Unity
I had no idea about Asian and African Americans’ history together (“Black-Asian Unity,” Feb. 29, 2008). As a young black female, it is interesting to know all of this information you never learned in school. I am glad you put this out there to share with the world that there are more colors than just black and white.
Takara Shelton
Pell City, Ala., March 2, 2008 Read more
Black-Asian Unity
February 29, 2008
An Asian American celebration of Black History Month
Throughout my life as a Filipino American, I have recalled my social and political unity with African Americans. And February, national Black History Month, has always served to reinforce such recollection. Read more
Letters to the Editor
February 3, 2008
Obama and 80-20
For the very first time, I feel less need to use the prism of identity politics to determine who I want the next president to be (“The Race-Neutral Race,” Emil Amok, Jan. 25).
I am an Asian American who has often felt mandated to figure out which president would best serve my fellow Read more