“Spearheaded by Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders also aims to address the impacts of Covid-19 on Asian American livelihoods, including businesses that suffered disproportionately throughout the pandemic.”
Author: Tomonori Nagano
Crimes targeting Asian Americans continue to increase in 2021
“The number of hate crimes against Asian Americans jumped from 28 in 2020 to 129 thus far in 2021, the NYPD Hate Crime Review Panel found, NBC News reported.”
The social, economic, and health impact of COVID-19 on undocumented immigrants
A qualitative study of 20 in-depth interviews to examine the social, economic, and health implications of COVID-19 for undocumented immigrants.
For many Asian Americans, graphic novels are way to explore history, fight racism
Graphic novels can have the same intimacy as diaries, one author said. “Issues of identity can be so emotionally fraught, so it makes sense to talk about them using a visual medium.”
NYT Op-Doc: A Conversation With Asian-Americans on Race (published in 2016)
A short collection of interviews with Asian Americans and their racialized experiences. Published in 2016, but it is a great testimony that the bias against Asian Americans was not caused by the pandemic — it was amplified by it. “A Conversation With Asian-Americans on Race” by Geeta Gandbhir and Michèle Stephenson on April 5, 2016
A new documentary series about the murder of Vincent Chin by Academy Award-winning director Chloé Zhao
Chloé Zhao, the Academy Award-winning director of “Nomadland,” will create a series about the murder of Vincent Chin in 1982.
Sesame Street adds Ji-Young, the first Asian American Muppet, to cast
Ernie appears with Ji-Young, the first Asian American muppet on Thanksgiving Day as part of a special titled “See Us Coming Together.” Quote: “In the special — that centers around a “Neighbor Day” celebration and features celebrities ranging from actor Simu Liu to Japanese tennis pro Naomi Osaka — another child tells Ji-Young to “go home” in an offscreen incident. She subsequently seeks out friends and adults who, together, help her understand she’s “exactly where she belongs,” according to a press release on the episode.”
Call for participants in the Asian American COVID-19 Oral History Project (for a $25 gift card)
We are looking for current or former LaGuardia students to participate in interviews for the Asian American COVID-19 Oral History Project. This oral history collection aims to document the experience of LaGuardia Community College students, especially those of the Asian descent, during the COVID-19 pandemic. A participant who has completed an interview for this project will receive a $25 Visa gift card. The interviews will join the images, essays, and more that are part of the COVID-19 Story Project in the Institutional Archives. How can a student participate in this project? Visit the Asian American Oral History Project website (https://asianheritage.commons.gc.cuny.edu) …
California requires ethnic studies for high school graduation
After years of advocacy and intra-minority debates, Gavin Newson, the governor of California, signed Assembly Bill 101, which requires ethnic studies for high school diplomas in California. The bill ignited a lot of debates over exactly what should be included in the “ethnic studies” curriculum.
The debate over language on race and ethnicity continues
Asian American or AAPI? Quote: “Americans have always wrestled with language when it comes to describing race, with phrases and vocabulary changing to meet the struggles and values of the moment.”