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JULY 23, 2022
Hello, everyone!
Today's spotlight is Amy Qin, who is returning to the National Team at the New York Times to report on Asian American news.
Previously a China correspondent on the International Team, Qin reported on the Uyghur government crackdown in 2019 and the COVID-19 crisis in Wuhan in 2020. After she was expelled to Taiwan with a bunch of other journalists, Qin’s expertise in reporting on East and Southeast Asia has brought her back to the U.S.
Her work on the Taiwanese church shooting, Chinese diaspora and sinophobia are testaments to her journalistic excellence and dedication to the Asian American community.
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Race in America
The summer heat has been challenging for everyone around the globe. But Asian Americans, who frequently immigrate from countries with sweltering climates, are sharing their experiences and tips on how to survive without AC.
Mehr Singh and her family are acutely aware of the heat, as it is similar to the temperatures that she experienced while living in Delhi, India. Her tips include: wearing damp cotton shirts next to floor fans, showering in cold water and drinking nimbu pani, an Indian lemonade. Filipino-American Sheepa Yap Chan and Chinese-American Karlin Chan both express that constantly running the AC is not a sustainable option, so many opt to eat spicy foods to induce sweat to help keep cool. Many in the article also express the hardships of living in areas where AC is not readily available, and continue to inform others of low-cost options to beat the heat.
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Mission Chinese Food’s last location in NYC is closing, leaving fans to reflect on its complicated history as an establishment that inspired hope for the future of Asian American restaurants.
Originally an iconic restaurant, the controversy that led to its downfall began in 2018 when a lawsuit was brought forth on racial discrimination. Despite the progressive values marketed to clientele, workers in the restaurants also came forward about abuse committed by each location’s deputies. In addition to recent financial challenges, the restaurant finally decided to close. Mission Chinese Food initially began as a food cart in San Francisco before later evolving into a famous business that laid the groundwork for early 2000s Asian American culinary spaces.
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Danny Bowien from Mission Chinese Food is pictured.
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In Other Asian News
Hyundai Motor Corp’s U.S. subsidiary for supply parts, SMART Alabama LLC, has been found to use child labor in their factories. Children as young as 12 years old were employed in the factories, which have had an extensive history of Occupational Safety and Hazard Administration (OSHA) violations and amputation dangers.
On Friday, both Hyundai and SMART released statements explaining how their procedures are compliant with federal, state and local laws, and that they do not tolerate illegal child labor. Both deny any knowledge of the hiring malpractice. The minors involved in the incident were all foregoing their schooling in an effort to pick up more shifts at the factories. The Alabama Attorney General’s office has yet to release a statement; however, according to state laws, minors under 17 are all required to enroll in school, and no child under 18 is allowed to work in metal stamping and pressing operations.
David Michaels, the former U.S. secretary of labor for OSHA expressed that “consumers should be outraged.”
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In Sri Lanka, the newly inaugurated president directed security personnel to raid protest camps armed with riot gear and assault rifles.
Earlier today, nine individuals were arrested, two are hospitalized and at least 50 are injured. Although those arrested were released later on bail, representatives from the U.N., as well as the U.S. ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung, have urged the government to show restraint, especially during a time of great economic crisis. Chung tweeted, “This is not the time to crack down on citizens, but instead to look ahead at the immediate and tangible steps the Government can take to regain the trust of the people, restore stability, and rebuild the economy.”
Angered by the raids, hundreds of protestors marched toward the Galle Face protest site, determined to hold space there.
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Entertainment
Eddie Huang, creator of “Fresh Off the Boat” is workshopping a new show with Showtime called “Panda.” The series takes place in the 90s and centers around a gifted kid from Orlando, Florida, that starts selling ecstasy with the help of Jade, a girl from the private school on the other end of town. The duo rise through the drug trade industry amid the permeation of the rave scene at the time.
Huang will serve as a writer and executive producer of the show. Showtime is producing the series with assistance from Strong Baby Productions, with Matt Dines and Jonah Hill also as executive producers.
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HYBE’s newest subsidiary label debuted their new 5 member girl group NewJeans today along with the music video for their single “Attention.” The project is spearheaded by Min Heejin, a former HYBE chief brand officer and former SM Entertainment visual director behind groups like Girls Generation, Exo, Shinee and Red Velvet.
NewJeans is composed of Vietnamese member Hani, Korean member Minji, who appeared in BTS’ 2021 hit “Permission to Dance,” Korean-Australian member Danielle, Korean member Haerin and Korean and maknae (youngest) member Hyein, who was a former member of the Kids Planet girl group Usso.Girl under the stage name U.Jeong. They will be releasing their four track EP on Aug. 1, but are pre-releasing every track till then, with four different music versions of a track called “Hype Boy” coming out July 23, “Hurt” dropping July 25 and “Cookie” on the same day as the EP.
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What else is on our minds?
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