role model

Golden State Warriors sign Jeremy Lin from Harvard

Submitted by Edwin on Sat, 07/24/2010 - 14:20

Great news from our Asian American sensation Jeremy Lin as he signs on with the Golden State Warriors.

We did not see wrong when we saw the potential of this new gunner and that's not in any reference to any kind of school massacres that the Media rubs in our faces.

Asian Americans look on with high confidence when they see Jeremy Lin simply put, doing what he does best.

We aren't unfairly biased when it comes to supporting any Asian Americans in sports, I mean sure we should be supporting Asian Americans in all areas of the professional world but Jeremy Lin actually has a little bit more and we can not help but be proud of him. Not only is he being recognized by Asian Americans but in fact to have the basketball world talking him only shows that he has gained early recognition.

'Amazing Race' Couple: Meet Joe and Heidi

Submitted by Edwin on Sun, 02/07/2010 - 19:44

Software sales executive Joe Wang and his wife Heidi have been married for 11 years. Heidi thinks the race "exemplifies empowerment" and she wants her kids to see that she is "not just a mum".

Joe Wang

Age: 42

Hometown: El Segundo, Calif.

Connection to your Teammate: Married

Current Occupation: Software Sales Executive

Favorite Hobbies: Coaching youth sports, poker and golf

Achievements: My biggest achievement is my family.

Lifelong to do List: Travel around the world.

If I could switch places with someone: My son Jameson who has unlimited potential.

Role Model/Hero: My parents. They immigrated here to USA to provide a better life for me.

What are you passionate about? Raising my kids to be the best they can be.

What would you do if you won the million dollars? Pay for my kids' college education.

People would be surprised to learn: I was born in Taiwan and speak fluent Mandarin Chinese

Favorite place you have ever visited: Fiji

Biggest challenge you and your teammate will face on the Race together: Getting a task that we both can’t do and being away from our kids for an extended period of time.

Meet Tamlyn Tomita, the Leading Lady of AAPIs in Hollywood

Submitted by Edwin on Sat, 10/03/2009 - 17:05

Tomita was born in Okinawa, the daughter of Shiro and Asako Tomita. She is of one quarter-Filipino descent (her mother is half Filipina, half Japanese). Before becoming an actress, she won the title of Queen at the Nisei Week Pageant in Los Angeles in 1984, and Miss Nikkei International in 1985.

Check out her filmogrpah here at IMDB Website

To read more visit Visualization, Tamlyn Tomita will be appearing live on Visualization Tuesday Octber 6th don't miss it, you can also submit your questions to her as well.

October 6 at 6 pm Pacific Time (7 pm MT, 8 pm CT and 9 pm ET).
Click here to Register

Tamlyn Tomita, whose inspirational career as an actor spans movies, television and the stage, and whose leadership and activism spans the Japanese American and Asian American Pacific Islander communities.

Vanishing Son By Amy Kashiwabara (paper)

Submitted by Edwin on Fri, 03/27/2009 - 20:04

Vanishing Son: The Appearance, Disappearance, and Assimilation of the Asian-American Man in American Mainstream Media
By Amy Kashiwabara.
University of California, Berkeley.

"He's handsome. He's tough. He's worth millions. He's Asian American. (Learn his secrets inside.)" Thus begins a mailer advertising Transpacific Magazine, directed at a young and supposedly very mobile new class of Asian-Americans. Next to these words, Russell Wong appears, elegantly dressed in a tuxedo. He is meant to represent the minority that made it big, who has arrived as a powerful force in American and global life. Yet the secrets that lie behind Russell Wong are not his alone. If he represents the success of Asian men in becoming mainstream in America, he also represents their failures and their history.

The history of Asian-American men in mainstream media is largely found in the visual medium of the motion picture. Asian-Americans can be found in the very first black and white silent shorts of the late nineteenth century and in films of every successive decade. Sometimes these characters were more popular, sometimes less. Sometimes they had large roles, sometimes the most minute. Sometimes they were played by actual Asians and sometimes by Whites in yellowface. But whatever the means, Hollywood has consistently produced some version of Asian and Asian-American men to present to the American public.

Asian-American Identity Problems

Submitted by Edwin on Thu, 03/26/2009 - 22:06

for Dr. Ryang
Asian Civilization I 1996

Introduction/Overview

While Asian-Americans have a very rich culture, often they suffer from problems of identity crises, as do many in this country. Should one maintain a sense of family history? Or is it better to try to blend in and assimilate with the rest of America? This is a problems many minorities, in general, face, but Asian-Americans seem to have a particular presence in this problem.

There are countless reasons as to why this could be. This paper will explore specific problems among Asian-Americans trying to find an identity as well as possible reasons and solutions for this problem. The information from this paper comes from books containing oral histories, statistical books, and personal interviews, as well as a smattering of hypothesizing and author's contemplation on the subject.

History of Asian Dissension

Hyphen Women's History Month - Yuri Kochiyama

Submitted by Edwin on Mon, 03/16/2009 - 14:07

President Obama Picks former Gov. Gary Locke as Commerce Nominee

Submitted by Edwin on Thu, 02/26/2009 - 12:10

Former Washington Gov. Gary Locke is President Barack Obama’s new choice for Commerce secretary. Obama officially announced Locke as his pick for the post on Wednesday.

“I am confident that Governor Locke will make investing in our country and getting our economy back on track a priority,” said U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., in a statement.
Locke, the nation’s first Chinese-American governor, served two terms from 1997 to 2005. He is Obama’s third choice for Commerce after New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and New Hampshire Sen. Judd Gregg, a Republican, dropped out. - bizjournals

From Asianweek:
Former Washington Gov. Gary Locke has been named as President Barack Obama’s third nominee for commerce secretary. Locke if confirmed by the U.S. Senate, will be the third Asian American to join the cabinet, after Eric Shinseki, Secretary of Veteran Affairs and Stephen Chu, Secretary of Energy.

“Gary will be a trusted voice in my Cabinet, a tireless advocate for our economic competitiveness and an influential ambassador for American industry who will help us do everything we can, especially now, to promote our industry around the world,” said Obama.

Seeing Yourself in Film, Media

Submitted by Edwin on Thu, 02/19/2009 - 00:48

Alvin wroteon January 28, 2008 at 1:03am

I wish I were articulate enough to capture/express this thought, but I want to address something that AA interviews with actors in multiple threads have alluded to, about growing up, the images they saw on screen, and how it affected them and saw themselves.

Now I don't know about any of the rest of you, but the first time I saw 'Better Luck Tomorrow', and 'Harold and Kumar' (which was greenlit due directly to the success of BLT by the way), something inside of me clicked, or stirred up inside me. Something about seeing faces that look similar to yours on screen, or that you can identify with more, is powerful. It makes you feel like part of the community, and those characters also influence the way you see yourself.

Certainly there are lots of people and icons you can identify with who aren't Asian. But I think there is a difference between seeing and identify and wanting to be an icon or role model like Michael Jordan, James Bond, Brad Pitt, etc, and seeing another Asian icon on screen. At least for me this is the case, and I suspect it's the same for lots of other people.

Yao Ming is a Great Role Model for Young People

Submitted by visitors on Wed, 02/18/2009 - 12:57

Yao Ming is the world's most celebrated Asian athlete and is from the most populous nation, China. Playing center for the Houston Rockets, Yao has overtaken the mantel of top NBA center over his rival/friend Shaq and has shattered many stereotypes and silenced numerous critics along the way. With his continued rise in the NBA and in sports, Yao has been a breath of fresh air for those who value old fashion values such as hard work, respect, loyalty and humility. Yao is not just a great role model for Asians but for all young people around the world.

Yao cares about giving back to the community.
Yao has put his celebrity status to good use as he has worked with and helped the following causes.

    * Handicapped Children - Special Olympics
    * Wildlife Protection
    * NBA Basketball Without Borders
    * HIV/AIDS Awareness
    * SARS telethon
    * Bone Marrow Donor Program
    * Project Hope College Dream Program

Disney's Poster child does the slanty eyes

Submitted by visitors on Mon, 02/09/2009 - 15:42

What does a Spanish Olympian team and a Disney child have in common? probably alot because thanks to Miley Cyrus parents won't feel very comfortable leaving kids in front of the Disney Channel.