On the Topic of Vintage Photographs and Asian American Photographer Michael Jang
By Linh Phung
Photography is a powerful tool to convey information instantaneously. As a young photo-enthusiast, I discovered a most of my parents’ past and history through old, dog-eared photo albums. For example, I learned that my dad wore bellbottom pants and disco suits of the 70s.
That’s so seventies! My dad (left) and his friend
Another memorable experience with photography happened in my Asian American studies class. I was reading about tong societies, or Chinese secret brotherhood societies in the late 1800s in San Francisco, but I had no idea what the members looked like until I saw this old photograph.
WHAT: Top Chef contestant Angelo Sosa will share recipes and culinary advice about integrating Korean ingredients into your food
WHO: Angelo Sosa
WHEN: 6/05/ from 6:30 to 8:30 PM
WHERE: The Korea Society in New York
Cost: $20
For more information, please visit here.
AA Limelight Interview with Nichole Wong
SHORTENED TRANSCRIPT OF INTERVIEW
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
My name is Nichole Wong. I was born in San Francisco, but when I was seven years old I moved to Hong Kong. So I grew up there from the age of about seven up to high school, and then I came back to the States for college. Being born here—and coming from this culture—and going the other way to Hong Kong kind of shaped my identity a lot. I went to school in the East Coast for undergrad and grad school. In between, I went to the Peace Corps, so I served in West Africa for two years.
What is the Asian Pacific Fund and Growing Up Asian in America?
The Asian Pacific Fund is a community foundation. We provide grants and services to over ninety affiliate [Asian American] agencies [in the Bay Area], and they range from providing services to homeless or youth like health services, arts. Growing Up Asian in America is our educational program, and it’s an art and essay contest that’s open to K-12 students throughout the Bay Area, and anyone can enter. We try to involve Asian American kids and get them thinking about what it means to be Asian American. This year, we got over 1400 contest entries that include art and essay. And that’s probably like the second highest level of participation we’ve gotten in the 17 years it’s been running.
What were some of your favorite submissions this year, and why?
I think my favorite essay entry was the first place middle school winner. Her name was Claire Dworsky. She is from Kazakhstan, but she was adopted as a six month old baby from a Caucasian family here in San Francisco. She very skillfully wove the story of being adopted from Kazakhstan and all the things she had to deal with—coming from a very poor orphanage—with her love of the Golden Gate Bridge, which ties in with the theme of the contest this year. Basically, when she was adopted, her legs had shrank. When she got here, the doctors told her parents the only chance she’d have to use her legs and walk again would be to do physical therapy [like] gymnastics and swimming.
APA Heritage Bash
WHAT: A celebration of Seattle’s influential Asian Americans as part of Asian Heritage Month
WHERE: Parlor Ultralounge in Bellevue
WHEN: 9 PM to midnight on 5/25/2012
WHO: Performers include comedians Helen Ho and Mo Mandel
For more information, please visit here
AA Limelight Clip of the Week: Jessica Sanchez
Throughout this season’s American Idol, pint size Filipino American powerhouse, Jessica Sanchez has consistently wowed America and the judges with her insane vocals and great stage presence. Such praises have caused many to compare Sanchez to musical greats like Beyonce, Mariah Carey, and Whitney Houston. Support overseas has also been strong with even Philippines president, Benigno Aquino III sending his praises.
After several weeks of nail-biting competition, American Idol finale came down to Jessica Sanchez and white guy with a guitar Phillip Phillips. Unfortunately the show has a tendency to like to repeat itself and so for the 5th time in a row, a white guy with a guitar was crowned winner. While Sanchez may not have broken the “idol curse”, she certainly stole the show with her heart-stopping duet of “And I am telling You I’m not Going” with Jennifer Holliday.
As the first Asian American to get into the finale, she certainly has an amazing career ahead of her. Remember her name cause this girl is going to go far!
AA Limelight Interview with Dumbfoundead
Photo by Justin Kong
Tell us a little about yourself.
I’m Dumbfoundead. I’m from Koreatown Los Angeles, and I make videos on YouTube and songs for the world.
What inspires you to rap?
What inspires me to rap? A lot of girls—women are a huge inspiration in my life. I grew up with my mom and sister and, you know, have been in relationships. You know, women are a metaphor for life.
As an Asian American MC, do you feel like you have a responsibility to the Asian American community?
Yeah, definitely, definitely. I think it’s more than just performing just for an Asian community—it’s about representing the Asian culture outside of that, you know what I mean. I never want to be stuck in a comfort zone and just reach out to a certain group of people. I rather perform for non-Asians because I can actually share the stories of the Asian community with them.
“You caught my eye with that B-O-O-T-Y”: Discussing misogyny in Asian American music
I always feel a nice mix of discomfort and fury whenever I hear an Asian American rapper drop a line about how many innumerable hoes are on his dick, or see one shoot a music video full of jiggling ass cheeks. It’s a burning feeling in my stomach that bubbles up my throat and inevitably results in an angry blog post. For example, when watching a Far East Movement music video featuring cleavage, ass, and paint or cleavage, ass, and girls wrestling in cages, or the exoticized, primitive half-clothed islanders in Dumbfoundead’s “BRB” video, or the “Cool and Calm”expressionless harem of women cooking, rolling blunts, and decorating Dumb’s couch, or the objectifying laundry list of hook-ups and relationships in “For You,” or the booty popping store clerk in Traphik’s “My Fresh” – and so on. At the root of this feeling is something – as over dramatic as it sounds – like betrayal. The questions start boiling: How could they do that? Don’t they know they’re repping Asian America, don’t they know they’re role models for Asian American masculinity?
This beautiful music video by Taiyo Na, Magnetic North, and Heather Park is a great tribute from some of the OGs of Asian American music to new love, who gets to love, and the feeling of being in love. The ending is a pretty daring move by these artists that’s dynamic on both cultural and political levels. Put it all together, and you have this week’s Clip of the Week.
Dynasty Project
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
My name is Ren Hsieh. I’m the Executive Director of The Dynasty Project and Content Editor for FastbreakNYC.com. I’m also a blogger for OurChinatown.org and currently a guest curator at the Museum of Chinese In America where I’m developing a project on the history of athletics in New York Chinatown.
What is the Dynasty Project?
The Dynasty Project is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization that promotes and supports athletics as a healthy lifestyle choice in Asian American communities. Our programs focus on serving local Asian American youth in underprivileged communities by creating and sponsoring sports leagues, camps, educational efforts and community outreach events embedded in their neighborhoods. We hope to provide an alternative to the pitfalls often found in high needs communities while also providing a healthy form of recreation and socialization.
AA Limelight Interview with Uploaded: The Asian American Movement
Director Kane Diep and Producer Julie Zhan speak to AA Limelight about their documentary.
