The long and the short is that the Mandarin is part of a long tradition of 'yellow peril' characters in popular culture, including Fu Manchu, Shiwan Khan, Ming the Merciless and numerous other Asian/Eurasian despots of the pulp fiction era.

Oh boy. I'm already dreading this film.

Posted by Melissa at 10:10 AM | Comments (3)

Stuff in the news lately:

The long and the short is that the Mandarin is part of a long tradition of 'yellow peril' characters in popular culture, including Fu Manchu, Shiwan Khan, Ming the Merciless and numerous other Asian/Eurasian despots of the pulp fiction era.

Oh boy. I'm already dreading this film.

Posted by Melissa at 10:10 AM | Comments (3)

Stuff in the news lately:

The long and the short is that the Mandarin is part of a long tradition of 'yellow peril' characters in popular culture, including Fu Manchu, Shiwan Khan, Ming the Merciless and numerous other Asian/Eurasian despots of the pulp fiction era.

Oh boy. I'm already dreading this film.

Posted by Melissa at 10:10 AM | Comments (3)

Bruce Lee's family is producing a movie about the martial arts icon based on a biography his brother has written.

Apparently Stephen Chow of Kung Fu Hustle and Shaolin Soccer fame is interested in playing Lee in the movie.

The movie is the first about Lee that his family has been involved with. I guess they didn't like Jason Scott Lee's performance in Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story. But Stephen Chow? I've only seen him in comedic roles, but he's got a dramatic acting background. Maybe it would work.

Who would you like to see play Bruce Lee?

Posted by harry at 12:01 AM | Comments (20)

Bruce Lee's family is producing a movie about the martial arts icon based on a biography his brother has written.

Apparently Stephen Chow of Kung Fu Hustle and Shaolin Soccer fame is interested in playing Lee in the movie.

The movie is the first about Lee that his family has been involved with. I guess they didn't like Jason Scott Lee's performance in Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story. But Stephen Chow? I've only seen him in comedic roles, but he's got a dramatic acting background. Maybe it would work.

Who would you like to see play Bruce Lee?

Posted by harry at 12:01 AM | Comments (20)

Bruce Lee's family is producing a movie about the martial arts icon based on a biography his brother has written.

Apparently Stephen Chow of Kung Fu Hustle and Shaolin Soccer fame is interested in playing Lee in the movie.

The movie is the first about Lee that his family has been involved with. I guess they didn't like Jason Scott Lee's performance in Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story. But Stephen Chow? I've only seen him in comedic roles, but he's got a dramatic acting background. Maybe it would work.

Who would you like to see play Bruce Lee?

Posted by harry at 12:01 AM | Comments (19)

Mako, a pioneer for Asian American actors in Hollywood has died at the age of 72 from esophageal cancer.

In 1965 co-founded East West Players, the nation's first Asian American theater company. He was also nominated in 1966 for an Academy Award for his compelling turn as the Chinese character Po-han in the film, The Sand Pebbles.

"What many people say is, 'If it wasn't for Mako there wouldn't have been Asian-American theater,'" artistic director of East West Players, Tim Dang, told the LA Times. "He is revered as sort of the godfather of Asian American theater."

Posted by Melissa at 10:22 AM | Comments (2)

Mako, a pioneer for Asian American actors in Hollywood has died at the age of 72 from esophageal cancer.

In 1965 co-founded East West Players, the nation's first Asian American theater company. He was also nominated in 1966 for an Academy Award for his compelling turn as the Chinese character Po-han in the film, The Sand Pebbles.

"What many people say is, 'If it wasn't for Mako there wouldn't have been Asian-American theater,'" artistic director of East West Players, Tim Dang, told the LA Times. "He is revered as sort of the godfather of Asian American theater."

Posted by Melissa at 10:22 AM | Comments (2)

Mako, a pioneer for Asian American actors in Hollywood has died at the age of 72 from esophageal cancer.

In 1965 co-founded East West Players, the nation's first Asian American theater company. He was also nominated in 1966 for an Academy Award for his compelling turn as the Chinese character Po-han in the film, The Sand Pebbles.

"What many people say is, 'If it wasn't for Mako there wouldn't have been Asian-American theater,'" artistic director of East West Players, Tim Dang, told the LA Times. "He is revered as sort of the godfather of Asian American theater."

Posted by Melissa at 10:22 AM | Comments (2)

Tuesday, July 25 & Thursday, July 27 – Berkeley

Are you a young Cal alumni of Chinese descent (C/o 1990-2006)? UC Berkeley’s Chinese Chapter Alumni Association has existed for 70 years and would like to get your input. Participants can choose to attend one of two focus groups. (6:30-8:30pm, Alumni House, UC Berkeley Campus. RSVP to cleung@alumni.berkeley.edu with your name, class year, email, phone, and which date you're available. Free dinner).

Saturday, July 29 – Oakland

As Is is a collection of visual and literary works by Vietnamese Americans in the Bay Area. Limited copies available at the event, and readings and visual art will be on display by contributing artists. Special guests include comedian Ali Wong. (7-9pm, Pro Arts Gallery, 550 Second St., Oakland. www.vacollective.org. Free).

E-mail events to: momo@hyphenmagazine.com.

Posted by momo at 11:05 AM | Comments (0)

Tuesday, July 25 & Thursday, July 27 – Berkeley

Are you a young Cal alumni of Chinese descent (C/o 1990-2006)? UC Berkeley’s Chinese Chapter Alumni Association has existed for 70 years and would like to get your input. Participants can choose to attend one of two focus groups. (6:30-8:30pm, Alumni House, UC Berkeley Campus. RSVP to cleung@alumni.berkeley.edu with your name, class year, email, phone, and which date you're available. Free dinner).

Saturday, July 29 – Oakland

As Is is a collection of visual and literary works by Vietnamese Americans in the Bay Area. Limited copies available at the event, and readings and visual art will be on display by contributing artists. Special guests include comedian Ali Wong. (7-9pm, Pro Arts Gallery, 550 Second St., Oakland. www.vacollective.org. Free).

E-mail events to: momo@hyphenmagazine.com.

Posted by momo at 11:05 AM | Comments (0)

Tuesday, July 25 & Thursday, July 27 � Berkeley

Are you a young Cal alumni of Chinese descent (C/o 1990-2006)? UC Berkeley�s Chinese Chapter Alumni Association has existed for 70 years and would like to get your input. Participants can choose to attend one of two focus groups. (6:30-8:30pm, Alumni House, UC Berkeley Campus. RSVP to cleung@alumni.berkeley.edu with your name, class year, email, phone, and which date you're available. Free dinner).

Saturday, July 29 � Oakland

As Is is a collection of visual and literary works by Vietnamese Americans in the Bay Area. Limited copies available at the event, and readings and visual art will be on display by contributing artists. Special guests include comedian Ali Wong. (7-9pm, Pro Arts Gallery, 550 Second St., Oakland. www.vacollective.org. Free).

E-mail events to: momo@hyphenmagazine.com.

Posted by momo at 11:05 AM | Comments (0)

Editor in Chief with the birthday cake. Photo by Khang Tran.

Thanks to everyone who came out on Saturday to celebrate our 3rd birthday. We gave away lots of door prizes, Mr. Hyphen cut some birthday cake, and one of y’all stole a copy of the newly released Issue 9. (Hey, we’re flattered, but please don’t steal from independent mags.) We hope you had a great time — we know we did. Double thanks to those of you who bought a subscription at the door. Subscriptions are what keep Hyphen alive. Keep buying those subs so that we may celebrate another birthday with you again next year!

Also, thanks to Poleng for hosting, Poketo for providing their clever, arty wallets for door prizes, and the DJs who volunteered their time: ModestMark, pantyRobber, Politik, Steveda5eight, Proof, and Franchise. Props to Angelo, who got on the turntables when we needed an impromptu DJ to get the party started.

Here’s a couple photos below. But you can see much more at the following sites:

This photo set was taken by Jay Jao and posted at his site MochaMonkey.

Hyphen staffers Khang Tran and John Liau also shot some photos, which are posted here.

Lucky winners at the Hyphen merch table, deciding on which door prize to take home. Photo by Jay Jao.

Photo by Jay Jao.

Photo by Jay Jao.

Me and Mr.Hyphen, Robin Sukhadia of Project Ahimsa. You can't see it in this photo, but Robin is wearing his Hyphen bling belt which he won when he was crowned Mr. Hyphen. Photo by Jay Jao.

Free back issues for all! Photo by Jay Jao.

Posted by Melissa at 11:18 AM | Comments (4)

Editor in Chief with the birthday cake. Photo by Khang Tran.

Thanks to everyone who came out on Saturday to celebrate our 3rd birthday. We gave away lots of door prizes, Mr. Hyphen cut some birthday cake, and one of y’all stole a copy of the newly released Issue 9. (Hey, we’re flattered, but please don’t steal from independent mags.) We hope you had a great time — we know we did. Double thanks to those of you who bought a subscription at the door. Subscriptions are what keep Hyphen alive. Keep buying those subs so that we may celebrate another birthday with you again next year!

Also, thanks to Poleng for hosting, Poketo for providing their clever, arty wallets for door prizes, and the DJs who volunteered their time: ModestMark, pantyRobber, Politik, Steveda5eight, Proof, and Franchise. Props to Angelo, who got on the turntables when we needed an impromptu DJ to get the party started.

Here’s a couple photos below. But you can see much more at the following sites:

This photo set was taken by Jay Jao and posted at his site MochaMonkey.

Hyphen staffers Khang Tran and John Liau also shot some photos, which are posted here.

Lucky winners at the Hyphen merch table, deciding on which door prize to take home. Photo by Jay Jao.

Photo by Jay Jao.

Photo by Jay Jao.

Me and Mr.Hyphen, Robin Sukhadia of Project Ahimsa. You can't see it in this photo, but Robin is wearing his Hyphen bling belt which he won when he was crowned Mr. Hyphen. Photo by Jay Jao.

Free back issues for all! Photo by Jay Jao.

Posted by Melissa at 11:18 AM | Comments (4)

Editor in Chief with the birthday cake. Photo by Khang Tran.

Thanks to everyone who came out on Saturday to celebrate our 3rd birthday. We gave away lots of door prizes, Mr. Hyphen cut some birthday cake, and one of y�all stole a copy of the newly released Issue 9. (Hey, we�re flattered, but please don�t steal from independent mags.) We hope you had a great time � we know we did. Double thanks to those of you who bought a subscription at the door. Subscriptions are what keep Hyphen alive. Keep buying those subs so that we may celebrate another birthday with you again next year!

Also, thanks to Poleng for hosting, Poketo for providing their clever, arty wallets for door prizes, and the DJs who volunteered their time: ModestMark, pantyRobber, Politik, Steveda5eight, Proof, and Franchise. Props to Angelo, who got on the turntables when we needed an impromptu DJ to get the party started.

Here�s a couple photos below. But you can see much more at the following sites:

This photo set was taken by Jay Jao and posted at his site MochaMonkey.

Hyphen staffers Khang Tran and John Liau also shot some photos, which are posted here.

Lucky winners at the Hyphen merch table, deciding on which door prize to take home. Photo by Jay Jao.

Photo by Jay Jao.

Photo by Jay Jao.

Me and Mr.Hyphen, Robin Sukhadia of Project Ahimsa. You can't see it in this photo, but Robin is wearing his Hyphen bling belt which he won when he was crowned Mr. Hyphen. Photo by Jay Jao.

Free back issues for all! Photo by Jay Jao.

Posted by Melissa at 11:18 AM | Comments (4)

Farmers in South Korea are resisting U.S. militarization that threatens to evict them from their ancestral homes.

Tuesday, July 18 – Oakland

Pyeongtaek Farmers Struggle US Speaking Tour (Los Angeles, Oakland, New York and Washington D.C) with Go You-Kyoung comes to Oakland Tuesday night. (7pm, Korean Community Center of the East Bay, 4390 Telegraph Ave., Suite A. Oakland. www.saveptfarmers.org. Free).

Thursday, July 20 – SF

Ali Wong’s Cameltoe Show, a night of dirty stand-up comics (the kinds you don’t take home to motha…). Ali Wong headlines with Samantha Chanse, Sherry Sirof, with host Nico Santos. (7:30pm, The Purple Onion, 140 Columbus Ave., SF. www.aliwong.com. $10).

E-mail events to momo@hyphenmagazine.com

Posted by momo at 1:00 PM | Comments (1)

Farmers in South Korea are resisting U.S. militarization that threatens to evict them from their ancestral homes.

Tuesday, July 18 – Oakland

Pyeongtaek Farmers Struggle US Speaking Tour (Los Angeles, Oakland, New York and Washington D.C) with Go You-Kyoung comes to Oakland Tuesday night. (7pm, Korean Community Center of the East Bay, 4390 Telegraph Ave., Suite A. Oakland. www.saveptfarmers.org. Free).

Thursday, July 20 – SF

Ali Wong’s Cameltoe Show, a night of dirty stand-up comics (the kinds you don’t take home to motha…). Ali Wong headlines with Samantha Chanse, Sherry Sirof, with host Nico Santos. (7:30pm, The Purple Onion, 140 Columbus Ave., SF. www.aliwong.com. $10).

E-mail events to momo@hyphenmagazine.com

Posted by momo at 1:00 PM | Comments (1)

Farmers in South Korea are resisting U.S. militarization that threatens to evict them from their ancestral homes.

Tuesday, July 18 � Oakland

Pyeongtaek Farmers Struggle US Speaking Tour (Los Angeles, Oakland, New York and Washington D.C) with Go You-Kyoung comes to Oakland Tuesday night. (7pm, Korean Community Center of the East Bay, 4390 Telegraph Ave., Suite A. Oakland. www.saveptfarmers.org. Free).

Thursday, July 20 � SF

Ali Wong�s Cameltoe Show, a night of dirty stand-up comics (the kinds you don�t take home to motha�). Ali Wong headlines with Samantha Chanse, Sherry Sirof, with host Nico Santos. (7:30pm, The Purple Onion, 140 Columbus Ave., SF. www.aliwong.com. $10).

E-mail events to momo@hyphenmagazine.com

Posted by momo at 1:00 PM | Comments (1)

Hey everyone! Hope you'll be able to join us tomorrow for Hyphen's birthday party. We're turning 3. No small feat for an independent, volunteer-run magazine with little in the way of resources. I can't say we've grown as much as we've liked in these last 3 years. We still don't have an office. We still can't afford to pay anyone. We're still all working day jobs. What we do have is a lot of passion. And somehow that's taken us this far. It's really amazing (or maybe just stubborness) that we've survived as long as we have when most magazines (with millions of dollars in start-up capital) fail within their first year.

We'll have the new issue with us. What's in issue 9?

Tomorrow night we're also offering a special deal at the door. If you buy a subscription ($18) it will only cost you $2 to get into the party! Regular party admission is $10. If you want to support Hyphen, the best thing you can do (short of giving us a big donation) is buy a subcription. That provides us with revenue right away (no waiting for the middle men to take their cut and deliver a check) and increases our circulation numbers, which makes us more attractive to advertisers.

Hope to see you there. As always, this event, like all Hyphen events, is a fundraiser that goes towards the cost of printing the next issue.

Oh and did I mention that Mr. Hyphen will be there?! Meet him in person!

PARTY INFO!

DJs:
Modest mark (parknwreck)
Pantyrobber (massive selector)
Politik (parknwreck)
Steveda5eight (parknwreck)

$10 general admission.
-OR-
buy a one year subscription and get in for just $2!
($18 subscription +$2= $20)

21+ only.

WHEN: Saturday July 15 10:00PM to 2:00AM
WHERE: Poleng Lounge 1751 Fulton Ave., San Francisco, CA

Click on our front page to see all the details.

And thank you to all our readers!

Posted by Melissa at 12:09 PM | Comments (1)

Hey everyone! Hope you'll be able to join us tomorrow for Hyphen's birthday party. We're turning 3. No small feat for an independent, volunteer-run magazine with little in the way of resources. I can't say we've grown as much as we've liked in these last 3 years. We still don't have an office. We still can't afford to pay anyone. We're still all working day jobs. What we do have is a lot of passion. And somehow that's taken us this far. It's really amazing (or maybe just stubborness) that we've survived as long as we have when most magazines (with millions of dollars in start-up capital) fail within their first year.

We'll have the new issue with us. What's in issue 9?

Tomorrow night we're also offering a special deal at the door. If you buy a subscription ($18) it will only cost you $2 to get into the party! Regular party admission is $10. If you want to support Hyphen, the best thing you can do (short of giving us a big donation) is buy a subcription. That provides us with revenue right away (no waiting for the middle men to take their cut and deliver a check) and increases our circulation numbers, which makes us more attractive to advertisers.

Hope to see you there. As always, this event, like all Hyphen events, is a fundraiser that goes towards the cost of printing the next issue.

Oh and did I mention that Mr. Hyphen will be there?! Meet him in person!

PARTY INFO!

DJs:
Modest mark (parknwreck)
Pantyrobber (massive selector)
Politik (parknwreck)
Steveda5eight (parknwreck)

$10 general admission.
-OR-
buy a one year subscription and get in for just $2!
($18 subscription +$2= $20)

21+ only.

WHEN: Saturday July 15 10:00PM to 2:00AM
WHERE: Poleng Lounge 1751 Fulton Ave., San Francisco, CA

Click on our front page to see all the details.

And thank you to all our readers!

Posted by Melissa at 12:09 PM | Comments (1)

Hey everyone! Hope you'll be able to join us tomorrow for Hyphen's birthday party. We're turning 3. No small feat for an independent, volunteer-run magazine with little in the way of resources. I can't say we've grown as much as we've liked in these last 3 years. We still don't have an office. We still can't afford to pay anyone. We're still all working day jobs. What we do have is a lot of passion. And somehow that's taken us this far. It's really amazing (or maybe just stubborness) that we've survived as long as we have when most magazines (with millions of dollars in start-up capital) fail within their first year.

We'll have the new issue with us. What's in issue 9?

Tomorrow night we're also offering a special deal at the door. If you buy a subscription ($18) it will only cost you $2 to get into the party! Regular party admission is $10. If you want to support Hyphen, the best thing you can do (short of giving us a big donation) is buy a subcription. That provides us with revenue right away (no waiting for the middle men to take their cut and deliver a check) and increases our circulation numbers, which makes us more attractive to advertisers.

Hope to see you there. As always, this event, like all Hyphen events, is a fundraiser that goes towards the cost of printing the next issue.

Oh and did I mention that Mr. Hyphen will be there?! Meet him in person!

PARTY INFO!

DJs:
Modest mark (parknwreck)
Pantyrobber (massive selector)
Politik (parknwreck)
Steveda5eight (parknwreck)

$10 general admission.
-OR-
buy a one year subscription and get in for just $2!
($18 subscription +$2= $20)

21+ only.

WHEN: Saturday July 15 10:00PM to 2:00AM
WHERE: Poleng Lounge 1751 Fulton Ave., San Francisco, CA

Click on our front page to see all the details.

And thank you to all our readers!

Posted by Melissa at 12:09 PM | Comments (1)

It could be the white-sand beaches. It could be the blue sea that calls you to jump in. It could be the warm tropical weather and the palm trees waving in the breeze. It could be a laid-back lifestyle.

It’s all of these things that make Hawaii unique and make me feel so comfortable when I visit. What really sets Hawaii apart, though, is its population. About 60 percent of the state’s residents are Asian Pacific Islanders.

I live the San Francisco Bay Area, where there are a fair number of Asian Americans. But even I found myself going "whoa" at the sheer majority that APIs have in Hawaii on a trip there last month.

Many people in Hawaii pride themselves on how well the various racial and ethnic groups who have landed on the islands have intermingled, intermarried and intermixed. In fact, the theme for Asian American Journalists Association conference I attended was “Where Diversity Lives.”

Diversity means different things to different people, and there’s no doubt that Hawaii has a great mix. But there’s a clear majority in the mix, and Hawaii might be the only place outside of the NBA where white people may feel discrimination.

I’ve heard about white people who feel they’ve been discriminated against in Hawaii, and the student journalists I was working with at the conference considered doing a story about it for the convention Web site. We didn’t have time to pursue the story, but I was reminded of it the week after the conference while vacationing on the Big Island of Hawaii.

I was taking a swim in the volcanically heated hot-spring pool at Ahalanui State Park when I over heard two white guys talking. One said he came to Hawaii 20 years ago and never went back to the mainland. The other was a tourist who said he had visited the islands numerous times over the past 20 years.

“You’ve been here enough times. Have you considered buying property here and moving?” the kama‘aina (not a native, but someone who’s lived in Hawaii a long time) asked the tourist.

Family reasons would keep the tourist from moving, but also it would be hard to compete with all the Asians, he said. “All the signs in Waikiki, they’re all in Japanese.”

Probably the only time tourist has felt like a minority is in Hawaii, and from his Japanese comment, I can only deduce that he’s among those who “can’t tell them apart.” All the Japanese signage is for visitors from Japan, not local Hawaiians, and why assume that all Asians can read Japanese? That's for another blog entry.

I'm not trying to discount any discrimination or racism white people may endure in Hawaii. I'm sure it happens. Unfortunately, prejudice is everywhere. I do wonder what the tourist and others like him take home after visiting Hawaii and leaving their comfort zone.

Do they begin to resent APIs if they've felt the sting of racism? Do they lament at how the Asians have taken over? Or do they go home with a new understanding of what it feels like to be uncomfortable, as many who are not in the majority have experienced?

Hawaii is a comfortable paradise for some, but not for everyone.

Posted by harry at 11:45 AM | Comments (23)

It could be the white-sand beaches. It could be the blue sea that calls you to jump in. It could be the warm tropical weather and the palm trees waving in the breeze. It could be a laid-back lifestyle.

It’s all of these things that make Hawaii unique and make me feel so comfortable when I visit. What really sets Hawaii apart, though, is its population. About 60 percent of the state’s residents are Asian Pacific Islanders.

I live the San Francisco Bay Area, where there are a fair number of Asian Americans. But even I found myself going "whoa" at the sheer majority that APIs have in Hawaii on a trip there last month.

Many people in Hawaii pride themselves on how well the various racial and ethnic groups who have landed on the islands have intermingled, intermarried and intermixed. In fact, the theme for Asian American Journalists Association conference I attended was “Where Diversity Lives.”

Diversity means different things to different people, and there’s no doubt that Hawaii has a great mix. But there’s a clear majority in the mix, and Hawaii might be the only place outside of the NBA where white people may feel discrimination.

I’ve heard about white people who feel they’ve been discriminated against in Hawaii, and the student journalists I was working with at the conference considered doing a story about it for the convention Web site. We didn’t have time to pursue the story, but I was reminded of it the week after the conference while vacationing on the Big Island of Hawaii.

I was taking a swim in the volcanically heated hot-spring pool at Ahalanui State Park when I over heard two white guys talking. One said he came to Hawaii 20 years ago and never went back to the mainland. The other was a tourist who said he had visited the islands numerous times over the past 20 years.

“You’ve been here enough times. Have you considered buying property here and moving?” the kama‘aina (not a native, but someone who’s lived in Hawaii a long time) asked the tourist.

Family reasons would keep the tourist from moving, but also it would be hard to compete with all the Asians, he said. “All the signs in Waikiki, they’re all in Japanese.”

Probably the only time tourist has felt like a minority is in Hawaii, and from his Japanese comment, I can only deduce that he’s among those who “can’t tell them apart.” All the Japanese signage is for visitors from Japan, not local Hawaiians, and why assume that all Asians can read Japanese? That's for another blog entry.

I'm not trying to discount any discrimination or racism white people may endure in Hawaii. I'm sure it happens. Unfortunately, prejudice is everywhere. I do wonder what the tourist and others like him take home after visiting Hawaii and leaving their comfort zone.

Do they begin to resent APIs if they've felt the sting of racism? Do they lament at how the Asians have taken over? Or do they go home with a new understanding of what it feels like to be uncomfortable, as many who are not in the majority have experienced?

Hawaii is a comfortable paradise for some, but not for everyone.

Posted by harry at 11:45 AM | Comments (23)

It could be the white-sand beaches. It could be the blue sea that calls you to jump in. It could be the warm tropical weather and the palm trees waving in the breeze. It could be a laid-back lifestyle.

It�s all of these things that make Hawaii unique and make me feel so comfortable when I visit. What really sets Hawaii apart, though, is its population. About 60 percent of the state�s residents are Asian Pacific Islanders.

I live the San Francisco Bay Area, where there are a fair number of Asian Americans. But even I found myself going "whoa" at the sheer majority that APIs have in Hawaii on a trip there last month.

Many people in Hawaii pride themselves on how well the various racial and ethnic groups who have landed on the islands have intermingled, intermarried and intermixed. In fact, the theme for Asian American Journalists Association conference I attended was �Where Diversity Lives.�

Diversity means different things to different people, and there�s no doubt that Hawaii has a great mix. But there�s a clear majority in the mix, and Hawaii might be the only place outside of the NBA where white people may feel discrimination.

I�ve heard about white people who feel they�ve been discriminated against in Hawaii, and the student journalists I was working with at the conference considered doing a story about it for the convention Web site. We didn�t have time to pursue the story, but I was reminded of it the week after the conference while vacationing on the Big Island of Hawaii.

I was taking a swim in the volcanically heated hot-spring pool at Ahalanui State Park when I over heard two white guys talking. One said he came to Hawaii 20 years ago and never went back to the mainland. The other was a tourist who said he had visited the islands numerous times over the past 20 years.

�You�ve been here enough times. Have you considered buying property here and moving?� the kama�aina (not a native, but someone who�s lived in Hawaii a long time) asked the tourist.

Family reasons would keep the tourist from moving, but also it would be hard to compete with all the Asians, he said. �All the signs in Waikiki, they�re all in Japanese.�

Probably the only time tourist has felt like a minority is in Hawaii, and from his Japanese comment, I can only deduce that he�s among those who �can�t tell them apart.� All the Japanese signage is for visitors from Japan, not local Hawaiians, and why assume that all Asians can read Japanese? That's for another blog entry.

I'm not trying to discount any discrimination or racism white people may endure in Hawaii. I'm sure it happens. Unfortunately, prejudice is everywhere. I do wonder what the tourist and others like him take home after visiting Hawaii and leaving their comfort zone.

Do they begin to resent APIs if they've felt the sting of racism? Do they lament at how the Asians have taken over? Or do they go home with a new understanding of what it feels like to be uncomfortable, as many who are not in the majority have experienced?

Hawaii is a comfortable paradise for some, but not for everyone.

Posted by harry at 11:45 AM | Comments (23)

Feel left out the of the immigration debate?

Thursday, Jul 13 – San Jose

Photo by Seng Chen. San Francisco Immigrant rights march, May 1, 2006.

Asian and Pacific Islander Americans are the 3rd largest undocumented immigrant population (1.5 million) – how will proposed legislation impact our communities? Listen to speakers from Asian Law Alliance, Filipinos for Affirmative Action and the National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights at a First Thursday forum in the South Bay. RSVP here. (6:30pm, The United Way Building, Rm. 105, 1922 The Alameda, San Jose. www.firstthursdays.org).

Posted by momo at 1:41 PM | Comments (3)

Feel left out the of the immigration debate?

Thursday, Jul 13 – San Jose

Photo by Seng Chen. San Francisco Immigrant rights march, May 1, 2006.

Asian and Pacific Islander Americans are the 3rd largest undocumented immigrant population (1.5 million) – how will proposed legislation impact our communities? Listen to speakers from Asian Law Alliance, Filipinos for Affirmative Action and the National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights at a First Thursday forum in the South Bay. RSVP here. (6:30pm, The United Way Building, Rm. 105, 1922 The Alameda, San Jose. www.firstthursdays.org).

Posted by momo at 1:41 PM | Comments (3)

Feel left out the of the immigration debate?

Thursday, Jul 13 � San Jose

Photo by Seng Chen. San Francisco Immigrant rights march, May 1, 2006.

Asian and Pacific Islander Americans are the 3rd largest undocumented immigrant population (1.5 million) � how will proposed legislation impact our communities? Listen to speakers from Asian Law Alliance, Filipinos for Affirmative Action and the National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights at a First Thursday forum in the South Bay. RSVP here. (6:30pm, The United Way Building, Rm. 105, 1922 The Alameda, San Jose. www.firstthursdays.org).

Posted by momo at 1:41 PM | Comments (3)

Hyphen advisory board member and blogger Sonny Le alerted us to this video of Delaware Sen. Joseph Biden, a presidential candidate, talking to Indan American supporters and making reference to 7-Eleven and Dunkin Donuts. Doh!

Sen. Biden:

"I've had a great relationship [with Indians]... You cannot go to a 7-Eleven or a Dunkin Donuts unless you have a slight Indian accent."

Apparently, there's a pattern of this among Democratic senators, according to the Times of India.

Posted by harry at 8:21 AM | Comments (4)

Hyphen advisory board member and blogger Sonny Le alerted us to this video of Delaware Sen. Joseph Biden, a presidential candidate, talking to Indan American supporters and making reference to 7-Eleven and Dunkin Donuts. Doh!

Sen. Biden:

"I've had a great relationship [with Indians]... You cannot go to a 7-Eleven or a Dunkin Donuts unless you have a slight Indian accent."

Apparently, there's a pattern of this among Democratic senators, according to the Times of India.

Posted by harry at 8:21 AM | Comments (4)

Hyphen advisory board member and blogger Sonny Le alerted us to this video of Delaware Sen. Joseph Biden, a presidential candidate, talking to Indan American supporters and making reference to 7-Eleven and Dunkin Donuts. Doh!

Sen. Biden:

"I've had a great relationship [with Indians]... You cannot go to a 7-Eleven or a Dunkin Donuts unless you have a slight Indian accent."

Apparently, there's a pattern of this among Democratic senators, according to the Times of India.

Posted by harry at 8:21 AM | Comments (4)

In true patriotic fashion, I spent a brief part of my long holiday weekend at the mall. What is more American than consumerism?

While walking by Victoria's Secret, I noticed they had an Asian-looking mannequin. In fact, they seemed to be making an effort at having diversity in their window displays, because there was also what looked to be a Latina mannequin.

“Look,” I said to my friend. “I think it’s an Asian mannequin.”

“Well, the way to know for sure if she’s Asian is to check to see if she has an Asian butt,” my friend reasoned.

So we did. But all the mannequin booties looked the same:

It's not every day that I see an Asian or Latina mannequin. The closest we ever get to that is having a brunette. So I took my digital camera out and snapped a few photos before the floor people shooed me away. Is that sad or what? That we have such little representation in this society’s popular culture that I feel compelled to take a photo of a plastic woman because she sort of represents my kind?

Of course, this is Victoria's Secret. Purveyors of lacy, racy things. They are in the business of selling sex. One could argue that exotic = sexy and what is more exotic than an Asian or Latina woman? Their main motivation is to make money. So, are they trying to capture Asian and Latina consumers by making mannequins that represent them? (I’ve got to say, it got my attention right away.) Or are they trying to sell sexy by using images of Asians and Latinas? Or maybe it’s both. Or something else entirely. I wonder.

Even at the mall, I can’t get away from thinking about race and representation.

Posted by Melissa at 1:27 PM | Comments (14)

In true patriotic fashion, I spent a brief part of my long holiday weekend at the mall. What is more American than consumerism?

While walking by Victoria's Secret, I noticed they had an Asian-looking mannequin. In fact, they seemed to be making an effort at having diversity in their window displays, because there was also what looked to be a Latina mannequin.

“Look,” I said to my friend. “I think it’s an Asian mannequin.”

“Well, the way to know for sure if she’s Asian is to check to see if she has an Asian butt,” my friend reasoned.

So we did. But all the mannequin booties looked the same:

It's not every day that I see an Asian or Latina mannequin. The closest we ever get to that is having a brunette. So I took my digital camera out and snapped a few photos before the floor people shooed me away. Is that sad or what? That we have such little representation in this society’s popular culture that I feel compelled to take a photo of a plastic woman because she sort of represents my kind?

Of course, this is Victoria's Secret. Purveyors of lacy, racy things. They are in the business of selling sex. One could argue that exotic = sexy and what is more exotic than an Asian or Latina woman? Their main motivation is to make money. So, are they trying to capture Asian and Latina consumers by making mannequins that represent them? (I’ve got to say, it got my attention right away.) Or are they trying to sell sexy by using images of Asians and Latinas? Or maybe it’s both. Or something else entirely. I wonder.

Even at the mall, I can’t get away from thinking about race and representation.

Posted by Melissa at 1:27 PM | Comments (14)

In true patriotic fashion, I spent a brief part of my long holiday weekend at the mall. What is more American than consumerism?

While walking by Victoria's Secret, I noticed they had an Asian-looking mannequin. In fact, they seemed to be making an effort at having diversity in their window displays, because there was also what looked to be a Latina mannequin.

�Look,� I said to my friend. �I think it�s an Asian mannequin.�

�Well, the way to know for sure if she�s Asian is to check to see if she has an Asian butt,� my friend reasoned.

So we did. But all the mannequin booties looked the same:

It's not every day that I see an Asian or Latina mannequin. The closest we ever get to that is having a brunette. So I took my digital camera out and snapped a few photos before the floor people shooed me away. Is that sad or what? That we have such little representation in this society�s popular culture that I feel compelled to take a photo of a plastic woman because she sort of represents my kind?

Of course, this is Victoria's Secret. Purveyors of lacy, racy things. They are in the business of selling sex. One could argue that exotic = sexy and what is more exotic than an Asian or Latina woman? Their main motivation is to make money. So, are they trying to capture Asian and Latina consumers by making mannequins that represent them? (I�ve got to say, it got my attention right away.) Or are they trying to sell sexy by using images of Asians and Latinas? Or maybe it�s both. Or something else entirely. I wonder.

Even at the mall, I can�t get away from thinking about race and representation.

Posted by Melissa at 1:27 PM | Comments (14)

The Aurora Picture Show, microcinema extraordinaire!

OK, so this is way belated. But I just wanted to thank the folks at the Aurora Picture Show for hosting Slant, the little film fest that I put together in Houston, my hometown. It took place in early June. This is my sixth year working on the festival and the venue just celebrated its 10th birthday, so I feel we've grown old together.

Many many thanks to the audience who came out to see the films. We always get new people coming to the festival, and I can never figure out how they hear about us, but however you found your way there, I'm glad you stopped by. Also double thanks to those audience members who picked up copies of Hyphen. We really value your support.

And to the filmmakers, for doing their thing. That's one damn expensive artform to work in. And I admire people who put their money where their ideas are.

The people at Aurora, they do that. They fund Slant. And unlike many film festivals, we don't charge any entry fees. Plus, we pay the filmmakers an honorarium. Not much, but a little something. We want to pay our artists.

But it's not easy. It's not easy to put together a film, or start a microcinema to screen those films, or run a independent magazine that reports on that kind of film (among other things) for that matter. All of this takes money. And sometimes it seems the only support we get is from other people who don't have much money either.

Now, there's plenty of wealthy people who enjoy and support the arts. See any endowment list for the ballet or symphony. But that's not the kind of art I mean. The established, solid instutions of art. How about the people starting out, exploring something different? Who supports that? This is something I think about a lot while trying to see if it's possible to steer this magazine to some semblance of financial security. We've been around 3 years now, but we're always hanging on by our fingernails.

Well, I'm not going to lecture you on supporting the arts. I hope that you understand why it's important to do so. And that you do.

Posted by Melissa at 1:13 PM | Comments (0)

The Aurora Picture Show, microcinema extraordinaire!

OK, so this is way belated. But I just wanted to thank the folks at the Aurora Picture Show for hosting Slant, the little film fest that I put together in Houston, my hometown. It took place in early June. This is my sixth year working on the festival and the venue just celebrated its 10th birthday, so I feel we've grown old together.

Many many thanks to the audience who came out to see the films. We always get new people coming to the festival, and I can never figure out how they hear about us, but however you found your way there, I'm glad you stopped by. Also double thanks to those audience members who picked up copies of Hyphen. We really value your support.

And to the filmmakers, for doing their thing. That's one damn expensive artform to work in. And I admire people who put their money where their ideas are.

The people at Aurora, they do that. They fund Slant. And unlike many film festivals, we don't charge any entry fees. Plus, we pay the filmmakers an honorarium. Not much, but a little something. We want to pay our artists.

But it's not easy. It's not easy to put together a film, or start a microcinema to screen those films, or run a independent magazine that reports on that kind of film (among other things) for that matter. All of this takes money. And sometimes it seems the only support we get is from other people who don't have much money either.

Now, there's plenty of wealthy people who enjoy and support the arts. See any endowment list for the ballet or symphony. But that's not the kind of art I mean. The established, solid instutions of art. How about the people starting out, exploring something different? Who supports that? This is something I think about a lot while trying to see if it's possible to steer this magazine to some semblance of financial security. We've been around 3 years now, but we're always hanging on by our fingernails.

Well, I'm not going to lecture you on supporting the arts. I hope that you understand why it's important to do so. And that you do.

Posted by Melissa at 1:13 PM | Comments (0)

The Aurora Picture Show, microcinema extraordinaire!

OK, so this is way belated. But I just wanted to thank the folks at the Aurora Picture Show for hosting Slant, the little film fest that I put together in Houston, my hometown. It took place in early June. This is my sixth year working on the festival and the venue just celebrated its 10th birthday, so I feel we've grown old together.

Many many thanks to the audience who came out to see the films. We always get new people coming to the festival, and I can never figure out how they hear about us, but however you found your way there, I'm glad you stopped by. Also double thanks to those audience members who picked up copies of Hyphen. We really value your support.

And to the filmmakers, for doing their thing. That's one damn expensive artform to work in. And I admire people who put their money where their ideas are.

The people at Aurora, they do that. They fund Slant. And unlike many film festivals, we don't charge any entry fees. Plus, we pay the filmmakers an honorarium. Not much, but a little something. We want to pay our artists.

But it's not easy. It's not easy to put together a film, or start a microcinema to screen those films, or run a independent magazine that reports on that kind of film (among other things) for that matter. All of this takes money. And sometimes it seems the only support we get is from other people who don't have much money either.

Now, there's plenty of wealthy people who enjoy and support the arts. See any endowment list for the ballet or symphony. But that's not the kind of art I mean. The established, solid instutions of art. How about the people starting out, exploring something different? Who supports that? This is something I think about a lot while trying to see if it's possible to steer this magazine to some semblance of financial security. We've been around 3 years now, but we're always hanging on by our fingernails.

Well, I'm not going to lecture you on supporting the arts. I hope that you understand why it's important to do so. And that you do.

Posted by Melissa at 1:13 PM | Comments (0)

Recent Entries