AUGUST 23, 2022

Hello, everyone!

The President of the NAACP branch in Orange County, California has resigned, citing anti-Asian racism in the organization as the reason.

Dr. Vanessa Toolsie announced her resignation on the Orange County NAACP Facebook page, explaining that her colleagues discriminated against her based on her Indian heritage. She further stated that while she has attempted to resolve this internally and appreciated others that stood up for her, she felt it was hypocritical “to continue to stand at the helm of an organization branch ‘for the equality of all persons’ that is against racism and oppression, while I continue to be treated with such bold disproportionate inequality, maliciously racistly oppressed as the first AAPI President of the branch to a disproportionate blatant level that I have not yet seen in any organization.”

Dr. Toolsie worked her way up the ranks during her time working for NAACP, leading multiple initiatives including a resolution to condemn Islamophobia on behalf of the national NAACP, advocating for LGBTQ+ rights, as well as working with law enforcement to launch an AAPI liaison program to build trust between the community and authorities.

Spotlight 💡

British Indian actor Himesh Patel is nominated for an Emmy for his performance in “Station Eleven,” a series on HBO that details stories of people rebuilding after a devastating pandemic.

His character, who has a Chicago accent, is a freelance writer who decides to take in an orphan as he navigates a post-pandemic reality as a new parent.

Patel grew up speaking Gujarati in Cambridgeshire, England with both of his Indian parents who were born in Africa. With a very cross-cultural background, Patel’s rise to fame grew from his role in British soap opera “EastEnders,” romantic comedy “Yesterday,” and the Christopher Nolan-directed action-drama “Tenet.” Patrick Somerville, the creator of “Station Eleven,” explained that he tailored the character a little to match Patel’s unique skills in acting, citing his “stillness” that carries the emotionality of a scene.

Race in America 🌎

Joel Kim Booster shared his perspective on race jokes with other comedians, Ziwe and Anjelah Johnson-Reyes. The three shared their favorite race joke, its origins, design and comedic value.

Ziwe talked about the experience of humor and the artistry in comedy through a Black experience and the satirical, blunt questions that often lead to quotes that aren’t found anywhere. Johnson-Reyes talked about creating comedy sets with her experiences for her Latino audience. Her jokes are tailored to creating connection through an inclusive experience that addresses the community at large – like fighting over who has the best food.

Booster, who was interviewed last, explained that communicating racial experiences as jokes to audiences that may not understand the humor requires a certain silliness and absurdity to it. He also explains that the nervousness of representing the Asian community began in his childhood as an adoptee. His white parents and the surrounding environment was isolating, and for a long time, he was the only person that a lot of people cited as their only Asian friend or acquaintance. He was worried that he would solidify stereotypes that people already had about Asian people. But, after a trip to Japan for a friend’s birthday, becoming another face in the crowd through the streets lifted a weight off his shoulder. 

But, all three comedians explained that making people laugh was their first priority. There is a weight to making thoughtful racial jokes AND being a comedian of color, but whatever perspectives emerge from that experience is a beneficial byproduct. They just want to be their authentic selves.

A 6,600-square-foot Asian American cultural center just opened in Milford, Connecticut, and its potential for programs and events are endless.

Out of that 6,600 square footage, around 5,000 of that is open space, dedicated to martial arts exercises and special events that are going to be operated by Wu Dang Kung Fu Academy and Ai Ping Tai Chi. Organizers and local politicians expressed the importance of the center and its facilities.

In Other Asian News 🗞

In Pakistan, former Prime Minister Imran Khan is facing charges of terrorism due to his rousing speech to his supporters after being ousted through a vote of no-confidence.

Local police released a report detailing his charges, citing the national antiterrorism act. Khan’s speech, given to hundreds of supporters during a rally in Islamabad, condemned the arrest of one of his top aides and threatened the senior police officers and the judge involved in the arrest. Authorities are labeling Khan’s words as “a deliberate and illegal attempt to intimidate the country’s judiciary and police force.”
 

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Under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration, Philippine journalists and organizations are continuing to face strict standards imposed by former President Rodrigo Duterte.

As the president was transitioning into his position in June, more than two dozen sites were flagged as “Communist Terrorist Groups,” and the Philippines’ Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) upheld the decision to revoke Rappler’s operating license. Meanwhile, vloggers, who are currently not accredited or held to strict fact-checking standards, are allowed to thrive with invitations and support from the government. Journalists and news organizations are concerned that vloggers may play a role in spreading disinformation.
 

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Bangladeshi tea garden workers have been on strike to demand a 150% wage increase.

As one of the lowest paid occupations, tea garden labor pays a daily wage of 120 taka (about $1.25), which is by no standard a living wage. Workers are not only unable to provide food for their families but also unable to pay for medical and educational services and needs.

Now, there are almost 150,000 protestors joining the cause to raise the daily wage to 300 taka or $3.15 a day. Plantation owners have also explained their side of the story, citing benefits that are provided to workers, as well as the rising costs in other areas of their operations that are straining their ability to pay for labor.

Food and Film 🥘

In Alaska, whale skin and blubber, called maktak, is being paired with kimchi and has become a staple for the native Iñupiat people.

The Iñupiat are some of the few communities in the world that have the legal right to hunt whales through the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Restaurant owners Hyung and Louise Kim of the restaurant Sam and Lee’s serve maktak and kimchi. For Louise, it’s all about serving and bringing the community together. “People love each other. My hometown is so far away, so these are my people, my village, my family.”

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Buddhism may have helped spread sushi to Japan. Accounts as early as the sixth century trace Buddhism from China to Japan. Sushi would have been a viable alternative for practitioners as Buddhists abstain from consuming meat.
 

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Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s Japanese film “Drive My Car” has won the FIPRESCI Grand Prix for best film this year. The award is determined by members of the International Federation of Film Critics. “Drive My Car” also snagged screenplay honors at its premiere at Cannes last year. 

What else is on our minds? 🧠
 

• Thousands of farmers in India broke barricades and gathered to protest Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s alleged false promises to clear all farmer debts and put a minimum price on goods, among others.

• A lunch program in Portland has been serving the Japanese American community for over 40 years. 

• At least 20 are dead after flash floods hit central Afghanistan. 

• An analysis on how life crisis events are better predictors and warning signs for mass shootings than mental illnesses. 

• David Chou has pleaded not guilty to killing and shooting five others of a Taiwanese congregation meeting at a church in California.