Sharkbites Newsletter

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JUNE 6, 2022


Hello, everyone!

This weekend, Google’s Pride Doodle featured civil rights, gay rights, and anti-war activist
Kiyoshi Kuromiya, who was also born in an internment camp. 


Kuromiya was a third-generation Japanese American who began his advocacy at the University of Pennsylvania, protesting against the war in Vietnam. Later on, he also worked with Martin Luther King Jr., and was later hospitalized with King after a voter registration march in Montgomery, Alabama.

He was also an active member in the gay rights movement, co-founding the Gay Liberation Front in 1969 after the Stonewall riots, and served as the openly gay delegate to the 1970 Black Panther Convention, which supported the gay rights movement. In 2000, Kuromiya died of AIDs complications after a long life of supporting HIV treatment and education.

A black and white picture of Kiyoshi Kuromiya and his friend. Kuromiya has a mustache and embraces his friend while they both smile for the camera.

Race in America

 The mural, “Longevity,” for Houston’s Asiatown, was commissioned by a local Vietnamese non-profit and was unveiled on Saturday. 


As the community’s first mural, artist Thomas Tran focused on incorporating the theme “Heritage and Community Health” into his two-story art piece. The mural showcases East, Southeast, and South Asian themes, reflecting the melting pot nature of the community. 

The mural also features household items and family relationships to showcase each community's depths, struggles, and similarities. Community leader Gene Wu promotes racial solidarity, saying the mural is "a welcome sign, a love letter to the rest of Houston saying, ‘come and see how beautiful this is; come and see our community.”


  


In Other Asian News


Chinese probe Shenzhou 14 was launched on Sunday morning, taking three crew to the Tiangong space station: Chen Dong, Cai Xuzhe and Liu Yang – the first Chinese woman in space.

This is Yang’s second time in space. Yang previously flew a 2012 mission with the rest of the Shenzhou 9 crew to visit Tiangong’s prototype where she was responsible for managing space medical experiments.

On Earth, Yang is a member of the Communist Party and the vice president of the All-China Women’s Federation.




In Vietnam, drowning remains a leading cause of death for children aged 16 and under.

Community-led initiatives across Vietnam have been popping up to teach children how to swim. Sau Thia, who has been teaching since 2002, was first nominated by those in her community for her strong swimming skills. Now, she is a well-known champion for water safety, standing beside the pool despite injury and age, devoted as ever to teaching children of all ages.

Still, many kids lack the opportunity to learn such valuable survival skills due to the lack of water facilities and poor water safety literacy.


 


Film and Sport

While on-screen representation and actor dynamics are a hot topic, it is important to also listen to Asian American creatives behind the scenes who create those acting opportunities in the first place.

Entertainment Weekly interviewed Eileen Shim, Franklin Jin Ro and Julie Wong, who all have amazing projects under their belt. Shim is the producer of an upcoming yet unnamed “Star Wars” series, as well as “Game of Thrones” spin-off “House of the Dragon” and the 2018 series “Light as a Feather.” Ro is the co-producer of the upcoming Netflix series “Incarnate” and has worked on “Pachinko,” “The Exorcist” and “Swamp Thing.” Last but not least, Wong is the co-executive producer of “Grey’s Anatomy.” 


Many writers found themselves the only voices of color in the room, which left significant pressure to champion better representation and diversity. While these stressful experiences may lead to praise and acclaim, which Shim and Wong experienced, some writers also had positive, nurturing experiences like Ro, who enjoyed writers’ rooms filled with women that felt “more egalitarian and empowering.”



The golf U.S. Open champion, Minjee Lee, is taking home the largest payout in women’s golf history.

Since her victory on Sunday, Lee is anticipated to earn $1.8 million as the sixth international player to win the competition. At 26, Lee entered the race ranking No. 4 and finished as the winner.

She emphasized that these earnings are a “step in the right direction” for better pay in women’s sports and that it will only get “better and better.” 
Lee smiles as she listens to the reporter's question as she sits with her trophy on her left.

Image: Golf Central

What else is on our minds? 
 

  • Looking to enter the entertainment industry? BigHit is opening up online and virtual global auditions to men born after 2002 regardless of ethnicity and race. 

  • Another industrial accident in Bangladesh with hundreds of deaths and injuries is bringing up the question of labor safety in the nation.

  • As peaceful protestors gathered for the Tiananmen Square massacre, police stopped, searched, and tried to disperse dozens of people as they cordoned-off the site.

  • President Biden is considering lifting some tariffs on China as inflation worsens, a decision that may shift U.S-China trade relations to cut costs for U.S. consumers.

  • After Indian officials from the ruling BJP party made insulting remarks about Islam this weekend, protestors and other Muslim nations condemned the statements and a riot broke out where 38 people were arrested.

Happy Monday, everyone! Have a great rest of your week. 

Sincerely, Mya Sato and Daniel Anderson
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