Okay, I admit it. I'm freaking out about Christmas presents. I just gave my roommate her birthday present, and her special day was back in June. So I know that if i don't put in a special effort, I'll be empty-handed at the Christmas tree. (Not to mention that I'll be in Tokyo for Christmas, and bearing no gifts in Japan is akin to blasphemy.)
Lately though, I've grown more and more resistant to buying mass-produced goods that were made by a corporation. Not only was some woman/child/brown person probably mistreated in its production, but it lacks soul and is probably chemically treated and bad for you.
So I'm compiling some gift ideas that are fun, functional, and benefit the artists, entrepeneurs, and activists in our global community.
* Hyphen!
When you give the gift of Hyphen, you give them insight into the Asian American community, quirky fun that explodes stereotypes, a compilation of journalism, design, literature and art that makes everyone who reads it just a bit more hip and a lot more informed.
* Chocolate sushi.
Started by two San Jose-based JA sisters, Suedy's Kooki Sushi hand makes chocolate confections that look exactly like the nigiri and maki you'd order up at a sushi bar. It's pricey, but it's pretty amazing looking.
* Handmade, custom clothing
There's a lot of young upstarts out there, designing clothes. Like Marilyn Yu-Lin, Sunhee Moon, and Nisa. You can buy off the rack from Sunhee and Nisa, or you can get something custom fitted by Marilyn. Don't ever say you don't know what to get her again. (Her, meaning me.)
* The Iris Chang Collection
Why not honor her life and support your locally owned bookstore at the same time? The Rape of Nanking is not an easy read, but it's an important one. The Chinese in America and Thread of the Silkworm got critical raves.
* Season tickets!
Asian American theater is probably in a city near you, with long-running companies in places like San Francisco, Seattle, and DC. (Here's a list of companies.) SF's offers a "pay-what-you-can" season package, so theater is no longer merely for the financially elite. See plays from Phillip Kan Gotanda, David Henry Hwang and a film from Adam Chin --support the movement to get more Asian faces on stage and on screen.
* A "Racially Profiled" t-shirt
from Blacklava. You can also choose from "I am not a terrorist," "I suck at math" and "SWM seeking SAF." Help your cousins or grandma raise the political consciousness of any room they enter.
* Handwoven silk scarves from Laos
I love fair trade stores --unique handmade stuff that's give women a livelihood through regional arts and crafts. World of Good is selling scarves made by Laotian women; more elaborate and expensive designs are available at Beyond the Banyan Tree. Women in Laos raise the worm, spin the thread, dye it, and then weave the scarves, start to finish. Pretty badass if you ask me.
* Livestock
For people on your list who have too much of everything, give to a cause they'd appreciate in their name. One I like: making the capital investment for low-income families in the developing world (and in the US) --through heifers! Or bees, trees, rabbits, chicks, or even llamas. Heifer International will deliver your gift to a needy family and provide technical support and training. Families can supplement their income selling milk or honey, or even start a full-fledged business with the livestock. A gift that will likely outlast the latest electronic gizmo.
* DVDs
Who doesn't want to own Better Luck Tomorrow, Charlotte Sometimes, or Harold and Kumar? Or jump off the beaten path with great, undersung titles like The Monkey Kid made by Beijing-San Francisco Film Group, Revolution by Margaret Cho, or the remastered box set of Arthur Dong's DVDs called Stories from the War on Homosexuality.
* Make a gift!
The best gifts of all are made handmade by you. Unless you're still making macaroni necklaces --in that case, why not check out ReadyMade, chock full of clever ideas for the hip DIYer, and another Bay Area, independently produced magazine.
After you've got gift in hand, head over to the Bay Street Emeryville Mall to get your gift wrapped by Hyphen! We're raising money for our next issue, the Boys and Girls Club, and the YMCA. There's a very cool train, and we've got great paper, great prices, and very artistic, highly skilled wrappers.
Any other great ideas out there? Please share (I need them!) Be careful out there, and remember, you cast a ballot every (2 or) 4 years, but you cast your dollars almost every day. Make those votes count!
Posted by jennifer at 5:50 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Okay, I admit it. I'm freaking out about Christmas presents. I just gave my roommate her birthday present, and her special day was back in June. So I know that if i don't put in a special effort, I'll be empty-handed at the Christmas tree. (Not to mention that I'll be in Tokyo for Christmas, and bearing no gifts in Japan is akin to blasphemy.)
Lately though, I've grown more and more resistant to buying mass-produced goods that were made by a corporation. Not only was some woman/child/brown person probably mistreated in its production, but it lacks soul and is probably chemically treated and bad for you.
So I'm compiling some gift ideas that are fun, functional, and benefit the artists, entrepeneurs, and activists in our global community.
* Hyphen!
When you give the gift of Hyphen, you give them insight into the Asian American community, quirky fun that explodes stereotypes, a compilation of journalism, design, literature and art that makes everyone who reads it just a bit more hip and a lot more informed.
* Chocolate sushi.
Started by two San Jose-based JA sisters, Suedy's Kooki Sushi hand makes chocolate confections that look exactly like the nigiri and maki you'd order up at a sushi bar. It's pricey, but it's pretty amazing looking.
* Handmade, custom clothing
There's a lot of young upstarts out there, designing clothes. Like Marilyn Yu-Lin, Sunhee Moon, and Nisa. You can buy off the rack from Sunhee and Nisa, or you can get something custom fitted by Marilyn. Don't ever say you don't know what to get her again. (Her, meaning me.)
* The Iris Chang Collection
Why not honor her life and support your locally owned bookstore at the same time? The Rape of Nanking is not an easy read, but it's an important one. The Chinese in America and Thread of the Silkworm got critical raves.
* Season tickets!
Asian American theater is probably in a city near you, with long-running companies in places like San Francisco, Seattle, and DC. (Here's a list of companies.) SF's offers a "pay-what-you-can" season package, so theater is no longer merely for the financially elite. See plays from Phillip Kan Gotanda, David Henry Hwang and a film from Adam Chin --support the movement to get more Asian faces on stage and on screen.
* A "Racially Profiled" t-shirt
from Blacklava. You can also choose from "I am not a terrorist," "I suck at math" and "SWM seeking SAF." Help your cousins or grandma raise the political consciousness of any room they enter.
* Handwoven silk scarves from Laos
I love fair trade stores --unique handmade stuff that's give women a livelihood through regional arts and crafts. World of Good is selling scarves made by Laotian women; more elaborate and expensive designs are available at Beyond the Banyan Tree. Women in Laos raise the worm, spin the thread, dye it, and then weave the scarves, start to finish. Pretty badass if you ask me.
* Livestock
For people on your list who have too much of everything, give to a cause they'd appreciate in their name. One I like: making the capital investment for low-income families in the developing world (and in the US) --through heifers! Or bees, trees, rabbits, chicks, or even llamas. Heifer International will deliver your gift to a needy family and provide technical support and training. Families can supplement their income selling milk or honey, or even start a full-fledged business with the livestock. A gift that will likely outlast the latest electronic gizmo.
* DVDs
Who doesn't want to own Better Luck Tomorrow, Charlotte Sometimes, or Harold and Kumar? Or jump off the beaten path with great, undersung titles like The Monkey Kid made by Beijing-San Francisco Film Group, Revolution by Margaret Cho, or the remastered box set of Arthur Dong's DVDs called Stories from the War on Homosexuality.
* Make a gift!
The best gifts of all are made handmade by you. Unless you're still making macaroni necklaces --in that case, why not check out ReadyMade, chock full of clever ideas for the hip DIYer, and another Bay Area, independently produced magazine.
After you've got gift in hand, head over to the Bay Street Emeryville Mall to get your gift wrapped by Hyphen! We're raising money for our next issue, the Boys and Girls Club, and the YMCA. There's a very cool train, and we've got great paper, great prices, and very artistic, highly skilled wrappers.
Any other great ideas out there? Please share (I need them!) Be careful out there, and remember, you cast a ballot every (2 or) 4 years, but you cast your dollars almost every day. Make those votes count!
Posted by jennifer at 5:50 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Okay, I admit it. I'm freaking out about Christmas presents. I just gave my roommate her birthday present, and her special day was back in June. So I know that if i don't put in a special effort, I'll be empty-handed at the Christmas tree. (Not to mention that I'll be in Tokyo for Christmas, and bearing no gifts in Japan is akin to blasphemy.)
Lately though, I've grown more and more resistant to buying mass-produced goods that were made by a corporation. Not only was some woman/child/brown person probably mistreated in its production, but it lacks soul and is probably chemically treated and bad for you.
So I'm compiling some gift ideas that are fun, functional, and benefit the artists, entrepeneurs, and activists in our global community.
* Hyphen!
When you give the gift of Hyphen, you give them insight into the Asian American community, quirky fun that explodes stereotypes, a compilation of journalism, design, literature and art that makes everyone who reads it just a bit more hip and a lot more informed.
* Chocolate sushi.
Started by two San Jose-based JA sisters, Suedy's Kooki Sushi hand makes chocolate confections that look exactly like the nigiri and maki you'd order up at a sushi bar. It's pricey, but it's pretty amazing looking.
* Handmade, custom clothing
There's a lot of young upstarts out there, designing clothes. Like Marilyn Yu-Lin, Sunhee Moon, and Nisa. You can buy off the rack from Sunhee and Nisa, or you can get something custom fitted by Marilyn. Don't ever say you don't know what to get her again. (Her, meaning me.)
* The Iris Chang Collection
Why not honor her life and support your locally owned bookstore at the same time? The Rape of Nanking is not an easy read, but it's an important one. The Chinese in America and Thread of the Silkworm got critical raves.
* Season tickets!
Asian American theater is probably in a city near you, with long-running companies in places like San Francisco, Seattle, and DC. (Here's a list of companies.) SF's offers a "pay-what-you-can" season package, so theater is no longer merely for the financially elite. See plays from Phillip Kan Gotanda, David Henry Hwang and a film from Adam Chin --support the movement to get more Asian faces on stage and on screen.
* A "Racially Profiled" t-shirt
from Blacklava. You can also choose from "I am not a terrorist," "I suck at math" and "SWM seeking SAF." Help your cousins or grandma raise the political consciousness of any room they enter.
* Handwoven silk scarves from Laos
I love fair trade stores --unique handmade stuff that's give women a livelihood through regional arts and crafts. World of Good is selling scarves made by Laotian women; more elaborate and expensive designs are available at Beyond the Banyan Tree. Women in Laos raise the worm, spin the thread, dye it, and then weave the scarves, start to finish. Pretty badass if you ask me.
* Livestock
For people on your list who have too much of everything, give to a cause they'd appreciate in their name. One I like: making the capital investment for low-income families in the developing world (and in the US) --through heifers! Or bees, trees, rabbits, chicks, or even llamas. Heifer International will deliver your gift to a needy family and provide technical support and training. Families can supplement their income selling milk or honey, or even start a full-fledged business with the livestock. A gift that will likely outlast the latest electronic gizmo.
* DVDs
Who doesn't want to own Better Luck Tomorrow, Charlotte Sometimes, or Harold and Kumar? Or jump off the beaten path with great, undersung titles like The Monkey Kid made by Beijing-San Francisco Film Group, Revolution by Margaret Cho, or the remastered box set of Arthur Dong's DVDs called Stories from the War on Homosexuality.
* Make a gift!
The best gifts of all are made handmade by you. Unless you're still making macaroni necklaces --in that case, why not check out ReadyMade, chock full of clever ideas for the hip DIYer, and another Bay Area, independently produced magazine.
After you've got gift in hand, head over to the Bay Street Emeryville Mall to get your gift wrapped by Hyphen! We're raising money for our next issue, the Boys and Girls Club, and the YMCA. There's a very cool train, and we've got great paper, great prices, and very artistic, highly skilled wrappers.
Any other great ideas out there? Please share (I need them!) Be careful out there, and remember, you cast a ballot every (2 or) 4 years, but you cast your dollars almost every day. Make those votes count!
Posted by jennifer at 5:50 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
I'm not sure why, or how he got a hold of it, but some guy is selling the last standing barracks from the Manzanar Japanese Internment camp. Place your bid at eBay. The auction ends on, you guessed it, Dec. 7.
Posted by harry at 12:20 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
I'm not sure why, or how he got a hold of it, but some guy is selling the last standing barracks from the Manzanar Japanese Internment camp. Place your bid at eBay. The auction ends on, you guessed it, Dec. 7.
Posted by harry at 12:20 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
I'm not sure why, or how he got a hold of it, but some guy is selling the last standing barracks from the Manzanar Japanese Internment camp. Place your bid at eBay. The auction ends on, you guessed it, Dec. 7.
Posted by harry at 12:20 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
The past several months have made a few things clear to me: 1) I really need to lower my cholesterol, 2) Reality TV is not as entertaining as a car accident, 3) I don't actually know what my rights are anymore, and 4) I don't know where to go to "get involved." The first two are self-explanatory, but for someone who has, through Hyphen magazine, publicly protested the loss of civil rights through the PATRIOT ACT, how can I not know exactly what rights were lost? For someone who calls herself an activist and has given 20 hours a week to nonprofits for the past six years, how can I not know where to turn to get organized to turn out the vote -- or whatever issue will be exercising me in the next coupla years?
Well, sometimes it takes a while both to sort out the implications of new public policies, and to see which options are really enforceable. By the time the fights have died down, public (and my) attention has turned elsewhere. And when it comes to knowing where to turn when you want to act, I found that when I turned to my very active friends, or went to my trusty internet, I ran up against a lot of blank looks and dead ends. Frankly, not a lot of people or websites have a handle on the vast and diverse landscape of community organizing. There's no single clearing house for lefty/liberal causes, and the most well known organizations tend to use their "take action" pages as a way to get you involved in ... well their organization only. So I went looking a little this week and here's what I found. Please let me know if there are better resources out there:
WHAT ARE YOUR RIGHTS?
Well, to start with, I realized just now that I never read the actual text of the U.S. Constitution in school, only its substance and implications; I suspect a lot of citizens and non-citizens can say the same thing. To remedy that, here's the text of the United States Constitution, including the Amendments. Pay particular attention to the Bill of Rights, contained in Amendments I - X. It's an oldie, but goodie, shockingly readable after 230-odd years, and, surprisingly enough, inspiring in a way that organizational documents usually aren't. As some blogs have been pointing out recently, second amendment citers tend only to read the first half of the sentence, since the second half is all about restrictions.
To get at how the PATRIOT ACT has altered these rights, the ever-helpful American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has compiled resources to answer questions about what your rights are in a number of increasingly common situations, including when government agents contact you and when you are being questioned in airports. You can download a pdf "Know Your Rights" pamphlet in a variety of languages. They also have an online interactive feature detailing the PATRIOT ACT's impact on your rights, broken down amendment by amendment. You can also sign up for updates and action alerts on the ACLU's website, or just check in periodically and inform yourself.
For a more Muslim-specific take on your rights, you can check out the Council on American-Islamic Relations' (CAIR) "Know Your Rights Pocket Guide". This also includes some suggestions as to how to become active in your Muslim community.
WHERE AND HOW TO TAKE ACTION
When you're ready to take arms against a sea of troubles and by opposing end them, the ACLU's training resources page has a number of suggestions for simple ways you can affect change at your own desk, or in your own community. Their suggestions are of course heavily slanted towards helping out the ACLU, but there's some common sense in here. If you'd rather work within an existing organization try Volunteer Match, a website where you can search thousands of non-profit organizations all over the country for groups that address your interests in your area. All groups list mission, specific volunteer opportunities and contact info.
For youth and young adults, volunteer opportunities in your area can be found on Youth Noise' website. The League of Pissed Off Voters, a young voters organization, has a number of great resources on its resources and links page.
If you're already writing those letters to your representative and signing petitions, and want to jump your activism to a higher level, you might benefit from some training. You can find a sea of training resources on ActionPA's activism training, materials and resources page. If you're involved in an organization and need further training, you might check out the Midwest Academy a liberal training center for activists. And many, many organizations have youth activist and leadership training programs, so go directly to the source to see if there's something there for you.
KEEP IN MIND
It's your world, I'm only blogging in it.
Posted by claire at 3:58 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
The past several months have made a few things clear to me: 1) I really need to lower my cholesterol, 2) Reality TV is not as entertaining as a car accident, 3) I don't actually know what my rights are anymore, and 4) I don't know where to go to "get involved." The first two are self-explanatory, but for someone who has, through Hyphen magazine, publicly protested the loss of civil rights through the PATRIOT ACT, how can I not know exactly what rights were lost? For someone who calls herself an activist and has given 20 hours a week to nonprofits for the past six years, how can I not know where to turn to get organized to turn out the vote -- or whatever issue will be exercising me in the next coupla years?
Well, sometimes it takes a while both to sort out the implications of new public policies, and to see which options are really enforceable. By the time the fights have died down, public (and my) attention has turned elsewhere. And when it comes to knowing where to turn when you want to act, I found that when I turned to my very active friends, or went to my trusty internet, I ran up against a lot of blank looks and dead ends. Frankly, not a lot of people or websites have a handle on the vast and diverse landscape of community organizing. There's no single clearing house for lefty/liberal causes, and the most well known organizations tend to use their "take action" pages as a way to get you involved in ... well their organization only. So I went looking a little this week and here's what I found. Please let me know if there are better resources out there:
WHAT ARE YOUR RIGHTS?
Well, to start with, I realized just now that I never read the actual text of the U.S. Constitution in school, only its substance and implications; I suspect a lot of citizens and non-citizens can say the same thing. To remedy that, here's the text of the United States Constitution, including the Amendments. Pay particular attention to the Bill of Rights, contained in Amendments I - X. It's an oldie, but goodie, shockingly readable after 230-odd years, and, surprisingly enough, inspiring in a way that organizational documents usually aren't. As some blogs have been pointing out recently, second amendment citers tend only to read the first half of the sentence, since the second half is all about restrictions.
To get at how the PATRIOT ACT has altered these rights, the ever-helpful American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has compiled resources to answer questions about what your rights are in a number of increasingly common situations, including when government agents contact you and when you are being questioned in airports. You can download a pdf "Know Your Rights" pamphlet in a variety of languages. They also have an online interactive feature detailing the PATRIOT ACT's impact on your rights, broken down amendment by amendment. You can also sign up for updates and action alerts on the ACLU's website, or just check in periodically and inform yourself.
For a more Muslim-specific take on your rights, you can check out the Council on American-Islamic Relations' (CAIR) "Know Your Rights Pocket Guide". This also includes some suggestions as to how to become active in your Muslim community.
WHERE AND HOW TO TAKE ACTION
When you're ready to take arms against a sea of troubles and by opposing end them, the ACLU's training resources page has a number of suggestions for simple ways you can affect change at your own desk, or in your own community. Their suggestions are of course heavily slanted towards helping out the ACLU, but there's some common sense in here. If you'd rather work within an existing organization try Volunteer Match, a website where you can search thousands of non-profit organizations all over the country for groups that address your interests in your area. All groups list mission, specific volunteer opportunities and contact info.
For youth and young adults, volunteer opportunities in your area can be found on Youth Noise' website. The League of Pissed Off Voters, a young voters organization, has a number of great resources on its resources and links page.
If you're already writing those letters to your representative and signing petitions, and want to jump your activism to a higher level, you might benefit from some training. You can find a sea of training resources on ActionPA's activism training, materials and resources page. If you're involved in an organization and need further training, you might check out the Midwest Academy a liberal training center for activists. And many, many organizations have youth activist and leadership training programs, so go directly to the source to see if there's something there for you.
KEEP IN MIND
It's your world, I'm only blogging in it.
Posted by claire at 3:58 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
The past several months have made a few things clear to me: 1) I really need to lower my cholesterol, 2) Reality TV is not as entertaining as a car accident, 3) I don't actually know what my rights are anymore, and 4) I don't know where to go to "get involved." The first two are self-explanatory, but for someone who has, through Hyphen magazine, publicly protested the loss of civil rights through the PATRIOT ACT, how can I not know exactly what rights were lost? For someone who calls herself an activist and has given 20 hours a week to nonprofits for the past six years, how can I not know where to turn to get organized to turn out the vote -- or whatever issue will be exercising me in the next coupla years?
Well, sometimes it takes a while both to sort out the implications of new public policies, and to see which options are really enforceable. By the time the fights have died down, public (and my) attention has turned elsewhere. And when it comes to knowing where to turn when you want to act, I found that when I turned to my very active friends, or went to my trusty internet, I ran up against a lot of blank looks and dead ends. Frankly, not a lot of people or websites have a handle on the vast and diverse landscape of community organizing. There's no single clearing house for lefty/liberal causes, and the most well known organizations tend to use their "take action" pages as a way to get you involved in ... well their organization only. So I went looking a little this week and here's what I found. Please let me know if there are better resources out there:
WHAT ARE YOUR RIGHTS?
Well, to start with, I realized just now that I never read the actual text of the U.S. Constitution in school, only its substance and implications; I suspect a lot of citizens and non-citizens can say the same thing. To remedy that, here's the text of the United States Constitution, including the Amendments. Pay particular attention to the Bill of Rights, contained in Amendments I - X. It's an oldie, but goodie, shockingly readable after 230-odd years, and, surprisingly enough, inspiring in a way that organizational documents usually aren't. As some blogs have been pointing out recently, second amendment citers tend only to read the first half of the sentence, since the second half is all about restrictions.
To get at how the PATRIOT ACT has altered these rights, the ever-helpful American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has compiled resources to answer questions about what your rights are in a number of increasingly common situations, including when government agents contact you and when you are being questioned in airports. You can download a pdf "Know Your Rights" pamphlet in a variety of languages. They also have an online interactive feature detailing the PATRIOT ACT's impact on your rights, broken down amendment by amendment. You can also sign up for updates and action alerts on the ACLU's website, or just check in periodically and inform yourself.
For a more Muslim-specific take on your rights, you can check out the Council on American-Islamic Relations' (CAIR) "Know Your Rights Pocket Guide". This also includes some suggestions as to how to become active in your Muslim community.
WHERE AND HOW TO TAKE ACTION
When you're ready to take arms against a sea of troubles and by opposing end them, the ACLU's training resources page has a number of suggestions for simple ways you can affect change at your own desk, or in your own community. Their suggestions are of course heavily slanted towards helping out the ACLU, but there's some common sense in here. If you'd rather work within an existing organization try Volunteer Match, a website where you can search thousands of non-profit organizations all over the country for groups that address your interests in your area. All groups list mission, specific volunteer opportunities and contact info.
For youth and young adults, volunteer opportunities in your area can be found on Youth Noise' website. The League of Pissed Off Voters, a young voters organization, has a number of great resources on its resources and links page.
If you're already writing those letters to your representative and signing petitions, and want to jump your activism to a higher level, you might benefit from some training. You can find a sea of training resources on ActionPA's activism training, materials and resources page. If you're involved in an organization and need further training, you might check out the Midwest Academy a liberal training center for activists. And many, many organizations have youth activist and leadership training programs, so go directly to the source to see if there's something there for you.
KEEP IN MIND
It's your world, I'm only blogging in it.
Posted by claire at 3:58 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Today was our first day of the Hyphen giftwrapping fundraiser at Bay Street mall in Emervyille. I'm pretty certain that we spent more than we made while shopping and eating. Oh well. If you're in the area, stop by to chat with us. Proceeds go to three great causes -- the YMCA, the Boys & Girls club, and Hyphen.
There's an Abercrombie & Fitch in this mall. It always bugs me how there are lots of Asians and blacks shopping in that store.
No, I'm not over the t-shirt thing. I'm most definitely not over the discriminatory hiring and promotion practices which they recently settled a federal class-action lawsuit on, to the tune of $40 million. What really bugs me, though, is their image. Abercrombie is an "aspirational" brand in retail lingo. Do that many people want to be lily white?
For the longest time, they had this giant, I mean giant, poster at the entrance of the store. A blonde-haired white guy with a chiseled jaw lying half naked in the sand. And he had this smirk on this face, like he knew he was such a great looking guy or something. Ugh. How full of himself, I thought. The size of the poster, the look on his face -- it was all so obnoxious. Even without knowing about the lawsuit or the offensive t-shirts, I wouldn't walk into a store like that. But apparently lots of people do. Lots of people of color do.
Now, I bet if you went up to one of them and said, "Would you support a company that repeatedly discriminates against minorities, that purposely assigns minorities to work the back stockroom so the public does not see them, that has a record of promoting whites over blacks, Latinos, and Asians" they would answer "no." But that's what all those people are doing, spending their money there. It irks me to no end. OK, I'll get off my soapbox now. It's just that sometimes I look at people and wonder what in the hell is wrong with everyone? Do they not read the news or something? Or do they read it and just not care?
Posted by Melissa at 11:57 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Today was our first day of the Hyphen giftwrapping fundraiser at Bay Street mall in Emervyille. I'm pretty certain that we spent more than we made while shopping and eating. Oh well. If you're in the area, stop by to chat with us. Proceeds go to three great causes -- the YMCA, the Boys & Girls club, and Hyphen.
There's an Abercrombie & Fitch in this mall. It always bugs me how there are lots of Asians and blacks shopping in that store.
No, I'm not over the t-shirt thing. I'm most definitely not over the discriminatory hiring and promotion practices which they recently settled a federal class-action lawsuit on, to the tune of $40 million. What really bugs me, though, is their image. Abercrombie is an "aspirational" brand in retail lingo. Do that many people want to be lily white?
For the longest time, they had this giant, I mean giant, poster at the entrance of the store. A blonde-haired white guy with a chiseled jaw lying half naked in the sand. And he had this smirk on this face, like he knew he was such a great looking guy or something. Ugh. How full of himself, I thought. The size of the poster, the look on his face -- it was all so obnoxious. Even without knowing about the lawsuit or the offensive t-shirts, I wouldn't walk into a store like that. But apparently lots of people do. Lots of people of color do.
Now, I bet if you went up to one of them and said, "Would you support a company that repeatedly discriminates against minorities, that purposely assigns minorities to work the back stockroom so the public does not see them, that has a record of promoting whites over blacks, Latinos, and Asians" they would answer "no." But that's what all those people are doing, spending their money there. It irks me to no end. OK, I'll get off my soapbox now. It's just that sometimes I look at people and wonder what in the hell is wrong with everyone? Do they not read the news or something? Or do they read it and just not care?
Posted by Melissa at 11:57 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Today was our first day of the Hyphen giftwrapping fundraiser at Bay Street mall in Emervyille. I'm pretty certain that we spent more than we made while shopping and eating. Oh well. If you're in the area, stop by to chat with us. Proceeds go to three great causes -- the YMCA, the Boys & Girls club, and Hyphen.
There's an Abercrombie & Fitch in this mall. It always bugs me how there are lots of Asians and blacks shopping in that store.
No, I'm not over the t-shirt thing. I'm most definitely not over the discriminatory hiring and promotion practices which they recently settled a federal class-action lawsuit on, to the tune of $40 million. What really bugs me, though, is their image. Abercrombie is an "aspirational" brand in retail lingo. Do that many people want to be lily white?
For the longest time, they had this giant, I mean giant, poster at the entrance of the store. A blonde-haired white guy with a chiseled jaw lying half naked in the sand. And he had this smirk on this face, like he knew he was such a great looking guy or something. Ugh. How full of himself, I thought. The size of the poster, the look on his face -- it was all so obnoxious. Even without knowing about the lawsuit or the offensive t-shirts, I wouldn't walk into a store like that. But apparently lots of people do. Lots of people of color do.
Now, I bet if you went up to one of them and said, "Would you support a company that repeatedly discriminates against minorities, that purposely assigns minorities to work the back stockroom so the public does not see them, that has a record of promoting whites over blacks, Latinos, and Asians" they would answer "no." But that's what all those people are doing, spending their money there. It irks me to no end. OK, I'll get off my soapbox now. It's just that sometimes I look at people and wonder what in the hell is wrong with everyone? Do they not read the news or something? Or do they read it and just not care?
Posted by Melissa at 11:57 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
First off: I don't mean to intrude on Jennifer's day to blog. I'm a day early, but I doubt I'll have time to blog tomorrow so: Hapa Thanksgiving! (My bad, I mean Happy Turkey Day.)
It's 4:30 AM and I didn't bother with sleep after getting home just before midnight. (I was with other Hyphen staffers, getting our store-front ready at Bay Street in Emeryville, for our gift-wrapping fundraiser). I figured it'd be retarded for me to try and sleep... I still had work to do, emails to send out, packing, and I was taking care of all that up til the moment I drove myself to the airport at 3:40 AM.
So hello from Oakland Airport--again. (I'm sitting next to the check-in kiosk at my gate, and I just saw a rat running around on the floor! Yikes!) I'm headed to San Diego to spend the holiday weekend with my dad and extended Ednalino clan. I hope you all have good, long weekends with your families and/or other loved ones.
Now on to business. Last weekend I went with my good friend T to Fremont to see a Bollywood film, Veer-Zaara. In Fremont there's a theater called Naz8 that screens only South Asian films. (You can eat samosas and drink mango juice while watching your flick!) After seeing a film called Main Hoon Na at the Third I Film Festival two weekends ago, I've developed a slight fangirl obsession with actor Shahrukh Khan (he's sooo dreamy!). (Google him if you don't know who I'm talking about.) When T invited me to Fremont for another chance to see Shahrukh on the big screen, I happily opened up my Saturday afternoon for a three-hour film.
Laugh if you want, but I'm a late convert to the arena of Bollywood films. (I can hear all my South Asian friends—especially one of my best friends—clapping their hands like, "Welcome to our world!") I mean, Filipino (from the Motherland) cinema is melodramatic and cornball too, but never as over-the-top as South Asian films. (Those variety shows and novelas on TFC [The Filipino Channel] that my aunties watch religiously are another story. If you know how to "Ocho-ocho" like one of the Sex Bomb Dancers, then you know what I'm talking about.)
My previous exposure to Bollywood film came via my work at NAATA's film festival. Two years ago the festival screened Bend it Like Beckham, the classic Mother India, and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (starring SRK). I remember sitting in the publicity office, formatting media lists and dubbing press screener copies of KKHH while the volume was muted. Even as I was focused on my computer monitor, I found my peripheral vision wandering towards the images I was dubbing. I checked out a screener copy of KKHH to watch at home.
My interest was piqued enough to watch a Sri-Lankan film at the San Francisco International Film Festival a few months later. But it's taken two years for me to finally jump onto the Bollywood Bandwagon that all of my cine-phile friends have been riding long before me.
After seeing Main Hoon Na, I had these fantasies of exiting the Castro Theater, bursting into song and dance: My hair windblown just so, as my shoulders bounce to bhangra beats. You know, singing a duet with a tall, gorgeous Shahrukh Khan look-alike, his arms outstretched towards me… Oh wait, I'm getting carried away.
I'm such a sucker for musical melodrama, sheesh.
T promised he would take me to Naz8 again so that we can see Shahrukh Khan in Swades. The trailers before Veer-Zara said it was coming out December 17th. Until then, I have Netflix—the next couple DVDs in my queue are all starring SRK!
Holla at me now!
Posted by Audrey at 4:54 AM | Comments (5) | TrackBack
First off: I don't mean to intrude on Jennifer's day to blog. I'm a day early, but I doubt I'll have time to blog tomorrow so: Hapa Thanksgiving! (My bad, I mean Happy Turkey Day.)
It's 4:30 AM and I didn't bother with sleep after getting home just before midnight. (I was with other Hyphen staffers, getting our store-front ready at Bay Street in Emeryville, for our gift-wrapping fundraiser). I figured it'd be retarded for me to try and sleep... I still had work to do, emails to send out, packing, and I was taking care of all that up til the moment I drove myself to the airport at 3:40 AM.
So hello from Oakland Airport--again. (I'm sitting next to the check-in kiosk at my gate, and I just saw a rat running around on the floor! Yikes!) I'm headed to San Diego to spend the holiday weekend with my dad and extended Ednalino clan. I hope you all have good, long weekends with your families and/or other loved ones.
Now on to business. Last weekend I went with my good friend T to Fremont to see a Bollywood film, Veer-Zaara. In Fremont there's a theater called Naz8 that screens only South Asian films. (You can eat samosas and drink mango juice while watching your flick!) After seeing a film called Main Hoon Na at the Third I Film Festival two weekends ago, I've developed a slight fangirl obsession with actor Shahrukh Khan (he's sooo dreamy!). (Google him if you don't know who I'm talking about.) When T invited me to Fremont for another chance to see Shahrukh on the big screen, I happily opened up my Saturday afternoon for a three-hour film.
Laugh if you want, but I'm a late convert to the arena of Bollywood films. (I can hear all my South Asian friends—especially one of my best friends—clapping their hands like, "Welcome to our world!") I mean, Filipino (from the Motherland) cinema is melodramatic and cornball too, but never as over-the-top as South Asian films. (Those variety shows and novelas on TFC [The Filipino Channel] that my aunties watch religiously are another story. If you know how to "Ocho-ocho" like one of the Sex Bomb Dancers, then you know what I'm talking about.)
My previous exposure to Bollywood film came via my work at NAATA's film festival. Two years ago the festival screened Bend it Like Beckham, the classic Mother India, and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (starring SRK). I remember sitting in the publicity office, formatting media lists and dubbing press screener copies of KKHH while the volume was muted. Even as I was focused on my computer monitor, I found my peripheral vision wandering towards the images I was dubbing. I checked out a screener copy of KKHH to watch at home.
My interest was piqued enough to watch a Sri-Lankan film at the San Francisco International Film Festival a few months later. But it's taken two years for me to finally jump onto the Bollywood Bandwagon that all of my cine-phile friends have been riding long before me.
After seeing Main Hoon Na, I had these fantasies of exiting the Castro Theater, bursting into song and dance: My hair windblown just so, as my shoulders bounce to bhangra beats. You know, singing a duet with a tall, gorgeous Shahrukh Khan look-alike, his arms outstretched towards me… Oh wait, I'm getting carried away.
I'm such a sucker for musical melodrama, sheesh.
T promised he would take me to Naz8 again so that we can see Shahrukh Khan in Swades. The trailers before Veer-Zara said it was coming out December 17th. Until then, I have Netflix—the next couple DVDs in my queue are all starring SRK!
Holla at me now!
Posted by Audrey at 4:54 AM | Comments (5) | TrackBack
First off: I don't mean to intrude on Jennifer's day to blog. I'm a day early, but I doubt I'll have time to blog tomorrow so: Hapa Thanksgiving! (My bad, I mean Happy Turkey Day.)
It's 4:30 AM and I didn't bother with sleep after getting home just before midnight. (I was with other Hyphen staffers, getting our store-front ready at Bay Street in Emeryville, for our gift-wrapping fundraiser). I figured it'd be retarded for me to try and sleep... I still had work to do, emails to send out, packing, and I was taking care of all that up til the moment I drove myself to the airport at 3:40 AM.
So hello from Oakland Airport--again. (I'm sitting next to the check-in kiosk at my gate, and I just saw a rat running around on the floor! Yikes!) I'm headed to San Diego to spend the holiday weekend with my dad and extended Ednalino clan. I hope you all have good, long weekends with your families and/or other loved ones.
Now on to business. Last weekend I went with my good friend T to Fremont to see a Bollywood film, Veer-Zaara. In Fremont there's a theater called Naz8 that screens only South Asian films. (You can eat samosas and drink mango juice while watching your flick!) After seeing a film called Main Hoon Na at the Third I Film Festival two weekends ago, I've developed a slight fangirl obsession with actor Shahrukh Khan (he's sooo dreamy!). (Google him if you don't know who I'm talking about.) When T invited me to Fremont for another chance to see Shahrukh on the big screen, I happily opened up my Saturday afternoon for a three-hour film.
Laugh if you want, but I'm a late convert to the arena of Bollywood films. (I can hear all my South Asian friends—especially one of my best friends—clapping their hands like, "Welcome to our world!") I mean, Filipino (from the Motherland) cinema is melodramatic and cornball too, but never as over-the-top as South Asian films. (Those variety shows and novelas on TFC [The Filipino Channel] that my aunties watch religiously are another story. If you know how to "Ocho-ocho" like one of the Sex Bomb Dancers, then you know what I'm talking about.)
My previous exposure to Bollywood film came via my work at NAATA's film festival. Two years ago the festival screened Bend it Like Beckham, the classic Mother India, and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (starring SRK). I remember sitting in the publicity office, formatting media lists and dubbing press screener copies of KKHH while the volume was muted. Even as I was focused on my computer monitor, I found my peripheral vision wandering towards the images I was dubbing. I checked out a screener copy of KKHH to watch at home.
My interest was piqued enough to watch a Sri-Lankan film at the San Francisco International Film Festival a few months later. But it's taken two years for me to finally jump onto the Bollywood Bandwagon that all of my cine-phile friends have been riding long before me.
After seeing Main Hoon Na, I had these fantasies of exiting the Castro Theater, bursting into song and dance: My hair windblown just so, as my shoulders bounce to bhangra beats. You know, singing a duet with a tall, gorgeous Shahrukh Khan look-alike, his arms outstretched towards me… Oh wait, I'm getting carried away.
I'm such a sucker for musical melodrama, sheesh.
T promised he would take me to Naz8 again so that we can see Shahrukh Khan in Swades. The trailers before Veer-Zara said it was coming out December 17th. Until then, I have Netflix—the next couple DVDs in my queue are all starring SRK!
Holla at me now!
Posted by Audrey at 4:54 AM | Comments (5) | TrackBack
My grandma is known to start conversations out the the blue with statements like, "He decided not to. Let's go eat." You may have just gotten off the plane and arrived in her Tokyo apartment, blowsy and crusty-eyed, and you sure as hell have no idea who "he" is, what he decided about, and what that has to do with eating.
The thing is that grandma, at 94, is still thinking three thoughts ahead and forgets that you can't keep up. Her internal logic is so clear to her that elucidating the rest of us is just a bore. Keep up, people! seems to be her attitude.
I've realized that Hyphen's kind of been like that, too. We figured that if we put a daikon on the magazine's cover, you'd understand that it was a "food" issue, not full of recipes and tips, but rather, examining the origins, socio-economic and political ramifications of the work involved in creating a bowl of soup. We didn't bother explaining it anywhere, just figured it was evident. What, you didn't pick up on all that?
But as previously mentioned in this blog, we want to be more accessible, and that requires taking a few steps back to show you the ground we're standing on. In that spirit, I am providing a Hyphen FAQ. Long overdue. Fellow hyphenators, please feel free to append or amend.
What is Hyphen?
Hyphen is a nonprofit news and culture magazine covering Asian America. It's run completely by volunteers with major decisions made collectively and democratically. The hundreds of hours spent by writers, artists, editors, marketers, publicists, circulation managers, envelope stuffers, designers, web gurus, bloggers, grant writers and everyone else are all unpaid. It's a labor of love.
Does the "hyphen" stand for "Asian (hyphen) American?"
No! We do not hyphenate Asian American, or any other ethnic minority. The hyphen has been a source of great controversy in Asian America and many people have fought hard to get it removed.
We chose the title Hyphen for a lot of reasons. For one, it symbolizes the controversy of ethnic identity and representation in America --the issues that have galvanized the community in the past, and asks an silent question: what will we be fighting for in the future?
Secondly, we liked the idea of a hyphen as a connector. We'd like our magazine to serve as a bridge between the diverse populations included in the term "Asian American" and also Asian America and the rest of the word. We'd also like to be a link between people and organizations and ideas.
Who is Asian American? Am I?
Before Hyphen even had a name, we had long discussions on this question. "Asia" encompasses a huge geographical region, from Cambodia to Bangladesh to Turkmenistan to Indonesia. To top it off, Pacific Islanders are often lumped in there, too.
Then there's the unusual cases: I was once approached by a Russian immigrant to the U.S. who argued that because of his hometown's proximity to China, he was culturally Asian American. A staffer has a friend who's white, but was born and raised in China.
In our discussions, we've never drawn boundaries around who is Asian and who is not. If someone genuinely identifies as Asian American, we're not going to get in a slap-fight with them about it. (We've got other things to worry about, quite frankly.) Identity is a thorny issue, and our discussions raised a lot more questions than we ever answered.
So then, who does Hyphen cover?
We cover people of Asian heritage who live in the U.S., Asian Americans who live abroad, and the issues and events that affect them.
What is Hyphen's (un)official food?
spam and kimchee. Even for those of us who refuse to eat it.
Why is Hyphen a nonprofit?
None of us are out to get rich --or even get a salary, at this point. Hyphen's goals are to contribute to the community, educate and increase awareness, and provide coverage and analysis of issues that is unencumbered by corporate interests or heavy-handed investors. Being a nonprofit makes that clear. It also allows us to accept tax-deductible donations, apply for grants, and beg money from friends and relatives.
Do all of Hyphen staffers have day jobs?
Yes, except the people in school, "between jobs", or working nights.
How does Hyphen raise money?
Mostly through events--release parties, speed dating, an upcoming giftwrap booth for the holidays, etc. Magazine sales do not cover the costs of printing, and we are still working on increasing our ad sales.
Why doesn't Hyphen write this story about grapefruit sellers in Shanghai or telemarketing in Bombay?
Those stories are in Asia. We write about Asian America. There's lots of great stories out there that we don't cover --we can't do everything.
Does your fiscal sponsor fund Hyphen?
No. Our fiscal sponsor, currently Independent Arts and Media, gives us the nonprofit (501(c)3) status that allows us to accept donations. We are responsible for raising our own budget.
How can I help?
Lots of ways! You can subscribe! You can donate money, office supplies, office space, computer equipment, a car, printing press time, or anything else a magazine might need.
Or you can get involved --we need people to help out with every part of the magazine, from people who stuff envelopes or take minutes or deal with City Hall to writers, illustrators, editors, and marketing directors. We like people who can roll up their sleeves right away and take responsibility, even for a small task.
Will I be interested in Hyphen if I'm not Asian American?
We certainly hope so. Through our news, profiles, arts, analysis, fun and frivolity, we strive to reveal the many faces of Asian America --things that break down the stereotypes and challenge mainstream images. Well-told stories have a universal human appeal, and that is the standard that we set for ourselves.
Why are all of the Hyphen staffers so good looking?
That's a mystery to us, too. I guess we're just lucky.
Posted by jennifer at 4:59 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
My grandma is known to start conversations out the the blue with statements like, "He decided not to. Let's go eat." You may have just gotten off the plane and arrived in her Tokyo apartment, blowsy and crusty-eyed, and you sure as hell have no idea who "he" is, what he decided about, and what that has to do with eating.
The thing is that grandma, at 94, is still thinking three thoughts ahead and forgets that you can't keep up. Her internal logic is so clear to her that elucidating the rest of us is just a bore. Keep up, people! seems to be her attitude.
I've realized that Hyphen's kind of been like that, too. We figured that if we put a daikon on the magazine's cover, you'd understand that it was a "food" issue, not full of recipes and tips, but rather, examining the origins, socio-economic and political ramifications of the work involved in creating a bowl of soup. We didn't bother explaining it anywhere, just figured it was evident. What, you didn't pick up on all that?
But as previously mentioned in this blog, we want to be more accessible, and that requires taking a few steps back to show you the ground we're standing on. In that spirit, I am providing a Hyphen FAQ. Long overdue. Fellow hyphenators, please feel free to append or amend.
What is Hyphen?
Hyphen is a nonprofit news and culture magazine covering Asian America. It's run completely by volunteers with major decisions made collectively and democratically. The hundreds of hours spent by writers, artists, editors, marketers, publicists, circulation managers, envelope stuffers, designers, web gurus, bloggers, grant writers and everyone else are all unpaid. It's a labor of love.
Does the "hyphen" stand for "Asian (hyphen) American?"
No! We do not hyphenate Asian American, or any other ethnic minority. The hyphen has been a source of great controversy in Asian America and many people have fought hard to get it removed.
We chose the title Hyphen for a lot of reasons. For one, it symbolizes the controversy of ethnic identity and representation in America --the issues that have galvanized the community in the past, and asks an silent question: what will we be fighting for in the future?
Secondly, we liked the idea of a hyphen as a connector. We'd like our magazine to serve as a bridge between the diverse populations included in the term "Asian American" and also Asian America and the rest of the word. We'd also like to be a link between people and organizations and ideas.
Who is Asian American? Am I?
Before Hyphen even had a name, we had long discussions on this question. "Asia" encompasses a huge geographical region, from Cambodia to Bangladesh to Turkmenistan to Indonesia. To top it off, Pacific Islanders are often lumped in there, too.
Then there's the unusual cases: I was once approached by a Russian immigrant to the U.S. who argued that because of his hometown's proximity to China, he was culturally Asian American. A staffer has a friend who's white, but was born and raised in China.
In our discussions, we've never drawn boundaries around who is Asian and who is not. If someone genuinely identifies as Asian American, we're not going to get in a slap-fight with them about it. (We've got other things to worry about, quite frankly.) Identity is a thorny issue, and our discussions raised a lot more questions than we ever answered.
So then, who does Hyphen cover?
We cover people of Asian heritage who live in the U.S., Asian Americans who live abroad, and the issues and events that affect them.
What is Hyphen's (un)official food?
spam and kimchee. Even for those of us who refuse to eat it.
Why is Hyphen a nonprofit?
None of us are out to get rich --or even get a salary, at this point. Hyphen's goals are to contribute to the community, educate and increase awareness, and provide coverage and analysis of issues that is unencumbered by corporate interests or heavy-handed investors. Being a nonprofit makes that clear. It also allows us to accept tax-deductible donations, apply for grants, and beg money from friends and relatives.
Do all of Hyphen staffers have day jobs?
Yes, except the people in school, "between jobs", or working nights.
How does Hyphen raise money?
Mostly through events--release parties, speed dating, an upcoming giftwrap booth for the holidays, etc. Magazine sales do not cover the costs of printing, and we are still working on increasing our ad sales.
Why doesn't Hyphen write this story about grapefruit sellers in Shanghai or telemarketing in Bombay?
Those stories are in Asia. We write about Asian America. There's lots of great stories out there that we don't cover --we can't do everything.
Does your fiscal sponsor fund Hyphen?
No. Our fiscal sponsor, currently Independent Arts and Media, gives us the nonprofit (501(c)3) status that allows us to accept donations. We are responsible for raising our own budget.
How can I help?
Lots of ways! You can subscribe! You can donate money, office supplies, office space, computer equipment, a car, printing press time, or anything else a magazine might need.
Or you can get involved --we need people to help out with every part of the magazine, from people who stuff envelopes or take minutes or deal with City Hall to writers, illustrators, editors, and marketing directors. We like people who can roll up their sleeves right away and take responsibility, even for a small task.
Will I be interested in Hyphen if I'm not Asian American?
We certainly hope so. Through our news, profiles, arts, analysis, fun and frivolity, we strive to reveal the many faces of Asian America --things that break down the stereotypes and challenge mainstream images. Well-told stories have a universal human appeal, and that is the standard that we set for ourselves.
Why are all of the Hyphen staffers so good looking?
That's a mystery to us, too. I guess we're just lucky.
Posted by jennifer at 4:59 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
My grandma is known to start conversations out the the blue with statements like, "He decided not to. Let's go eat." You may have just gotten off the plane and arrived in her Tokyo apartment, blowsy and crusty-eyed, and you sure as hell have no idea who "he" is, what he decided about, and what that has to do with eating.
The thing is that grandma, at 94, is still thinking three thoughts ahead and forgets that you can't keep up. Her internal logic is so clear to her that elucidating the rest of us is just a bore. Keep up, people! seems to be her attitude.
I've realized that Hyphen's kind of been like that, too. We figured that if we put a daikon on the magazine's cover, you'd understand that it was a "food" issue, not full of recipes and tips, but rather, examining the origins, socio-economic and political ramifications of the work involved in creating a bowl of soup. We didn't bother explaining it anywhere, just figured it was evident. What, you didn't pick up on all that?
But as previously mentioned in this blog, we want to be more accessible, and that requires taking a few steps back to show you the ground we're standing on. In that spirit, I am providing a Hyphen FAQ. Long overdue. Fellow hyphenators, please feel free to append or amend.
What is Hyphen?
Hyphen is a nonprofit news and culture magazine covering Asian America. It's run completely by volunteers with major decisions made collectively and democratically. The hundreds of hours spent by writers, artists, editors, marketers, publicists, circulation managers, envelope stuffers, designers, web gurus, bloggers, grant writers and everyone else are all unpaid. It's a labor of love.
Does the "hyphen" stand for "Asian (hyphen) American?"
No! We do not hyphenate Asian American, or any other ethnic minority. The hyphen has been a source of great controversy in Asian America and many people have fought hard to get it removed.
We chose the title Hyphen for a lot of reasons. For one, it symbolizes the controversy of ethnic identity and representation in America --the issues that have galvanized the community in the past, and asks an silent question: what will we be fighting for in the future?
Secondly, we liked the idea of a hyphen as a connector. We'd like our magazine to serve as a bridge between the diverse populations included in the term "Asian American" and also Asian America and the rest of the word. We'd also like to be a link between people and organizations and ideas.
Who is Asian American? Am I?
Before Hyphen even had a name, we had long discussions on this question. "Asia" encompasses a huge geographical region, from Cambodia to Bangladesh to Turkmenistan to Indonesia. To top it off, Pacific Islanders are often lumped in there, too.
Then there's the unusual cases: I was once approached by a Russian immigrant to the U.S. who argued that because of his hometown's proximity to China, he was culturally Asian American. A staffer has a friend who's white, but was born and raised in China.
In our discussions, we've never drawn boundaries around who is Asian and who is not. If someone genuinely identifies as Asian American, we're not going to get in a slap-fight with them about it. (We've got other things to worry about, quite frankly.) Identity is a thorny issue, and our discussions raised a lot more questions than we ever answered.
So then, who does Hyphen cover?
We cover people of Asian heritage who live in the U.S., Asian Americans who live abroad, and the issues and events that affect them.
What is Hyphen's (un)official food?
spam and kimchee. Even for those of us who refuse to eat it.
Why is Hyphen a nonprofit?
None of us are out to get rich --or even get a salary, at this point. Hyphen's goals are to contribute to the community, educate and increase awareness, and provide coverage and analysis of issues that is unencumbered by corporate interests or heavy-handed investors. Being a nonprofit makes that clear. It also allows us to accept tax-deductible donations, apply for grants, and beg money from friends and relatives.
Do all of Hyphen staffers have day jobs?
Yes, except the people in school, "between jobs", or working nights.
How does Hyphen raise money?
Mostly through events--release parties, speed dating, an upcoming giftwrap booth for the holidays, etc. Magazine sales do not cover the costs of printing, and we are still working on increasing our ad sales.
Why doesn't Hyphen write this story about grapefruit sellers in Shanghai or telemarketing in Bombay?
Those stories are in Asia. We write about Asian America. There's lots of great stories out there that we don't cover --we can't do everything.
Does your fiscal sponsor fund Hyphen?
No. Our fiscal sponsor, currently Independent Arts and Media, gives us the nonprofit (501(c)3) status that allows us to accept donations. We are responsible for raising our own budget.
How can I help?
Lots of ways! You can subscribe! You can donate money, office supplies, office space, computer equipment, a car, printing press time, or anything else a magazine might need.
Or you can get involved --we need people to help out with every part of the magazine, from people who stuff envelopes or take minutes or deal with City Hall to writers, illustrators, editors, and marketing directors. We like people who can roll up their sleeves right away and take responsibility, even for a small task.
Will I be interested in Hyphen if I'm not Asian American?
We certainly hope so. Through our news, profiles, arts, analysis, fun and frivolity, we strive to reveal the many faces of Asian America --things that break down the stereotypes and challenge mainstream images. Well-told stories have a universal human appeal, and that is the standard that we set for ourselves.
Why are all of the Hyphen staffers so good looking?
That's a mystery to us, too. I guess we're just lucky.
Posted by jennifer at 4:59 PM |