immigrant
‘Dreams as boundless as their potential’: Remembering the first Korean immigrants to arrive in the US
- The U.S. celebrates Korean American Day every year on Jan. 13.
- The first large group of Korean immigrants arrived in Honolulu on Jan. 13, 1903, but succeeding immigration was hampered by racist U.S. policies until 1965.
- President Joe Biden recently recognized Korean Americans for their contributions in all aspects of American society despite the discrimination they face amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
On this day in 1903, the first wave of Korean immigrants landed on U.S. soil. Aboard the RMS Gaelic, 102 passengers arrived on the shores of Honolulu in search of greener pastures.
That fateful day would herald a century of immigration and diplomatic relations between the U.S. and South Korea. It would also be recognized as Korean American Day, which commemorates the contributions of Korean Americans in all aspects of American life.
‘Heartbreaking and enraging’: Gemma Chan calls for official UK apology to Chinese seamen
- British Asian actor Gemma Chan recently penned an essay about her father’s life as a Chinese seaman working for the British merchant navy.
- The 39-year-old actor touched on the hardships her father experienced, drawing comparisons to the abuse other Chinese seafarers endured under the British in the 1940s.
- Chan learned that her father was instrumental in fighting for his fellow crew members’ rights during his maiden voyage as a seaman.
“Eternals” star Gemma Chan recently wrote a heartfelt essay about her Chinese seaman father after learning about the hardships that seafarers like him endured under the British in the 1940s.
In her piece, which was published in The Guardian on Jan. 8, the 39-year-old actor wrote about the sacrifices her father made, working “for years on ships – mostly oil tankers – at sea for months at a time” and sending “money home to pay for his siblings’ school fees.”
Vanessa Hudgens wants to make a movie about the struggles her immigrant Filipino mom faced
Hollywood star Vanessa Hudgens recently revealed that she dreams of one day developing a movie about her mother’s experience as a Filipino immigrant in the U.S.
A story worth sharing: Hudgens, who graces this month’s cover of Glamour UK, shared in an interview with the magazine that she would like to create a film about the challenges that her mom, Gina Guangco-Hudgens, faced after moving to the U.S. at the age of 25.
Bipartisan bill to give ‘Documented Dreamers’ path to citizenship blocked by Senate parliamentarian
A proposed bipartisan bill aimed at giving so-called “Documented Dreamers” a path to permanent residency hit a roadblock on Sunday after Senate parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough ruled against including immigration reforms in Democrats’ $3.5 trillion, 10-year spending plan.
Rare bipartisan support: Last week, Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., and Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., unveiled the “America’s Children Act” legislation that aims to grant children of long-term visa holders a means to apply for their own green card, the New York Times reported.
He Started With One Domino’s Pizza, Now He’s Worth $10 Million
Trung Vien, a son of immigrants who migrated to Australia from Vietnam with nothing, is now worth millions today by making bold choices and taking risks in business early on.
First time entrepreneur: Vien was 24 years old when he decided to quit his job as a financial planner helping people buy stocks at a bank and start his first business venture by opening a Domino’s Pizza branch, according to News.com.au.
71% of Asian Americans Fighting COVID-19 on the Front Lines Are Immigrants
The majority of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) working in essential industries amid the COVID-19 crisis are immigrants, according to a report published last month.
Right off the bat, 1.4 million AAPIs make up 8.5% of all front line workers in health care, and almost a million of them were born outside the United States.
Asian-Owned Mall in Alabama Loses $200,000 After Being Set on Fire By Looters
A retail store in Alabama was burned down after it was hit by looters last month, overshadowing peaceful nationwide protests following the murder of George Floyd.
California Fashion Mall, a retail store in downtown Birmingham that has been in business for 30 years, took extensive damage caused by the fire on May 31, according to WBRC.
Our Generation Will Survive the COVID-19 Pandemic Because of Our Immigrant Roots
Although things may seem bleak at the moment, we can take refuge in acknowledging the strength that comes from our immigrant roots.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, people are dying, unemployment rates have skyrocketed, and the Asian community has been used as a scapegoat for anger and hatred. The reality is, everyone is experiencing this crisis, needless to say in different intensities, however, it is completely and utterly out of our control. And that right there, is what feels so universally uncomfortable.
Why Venmo and Queenly Co-Founders Owe Their Success to Immigrant Roots
There are things inherent to the immigrant experience that equips people with the mindset and skillsets necessary to create impactful businesses.
According to Forbes, studies show “that 55%, or 50 of 91, of the country’s $1 billion startup companies had at least one immigrant founder.”
Asian Americans are Now the Fastest-Growing Ethnic Group THAT CAN VOTE
In the past two decades, Asian Americans have become the fastest-growing racial or ethnic group in the U.S. electorate, a new analysis from the Pew Research Center shows.
According to the report, eligible Asian American voters have increased by 139% from 2000 to 2020. This year, more than 11 million will be able to cast their votes, making up 5% of the country’s electorate.
Beef Jerky Boss Sends Racist Email to ‘Oriental’ Client, Blames Poor English Skills
A Baker, California beef jerky company has sparked outrage on social media after a woman’s business inquiry received a racially insensitive reply.
Alien Fresh Jerky, which describes itself as a family and “immigrant Latino company” on social media, was founded in 2000 by Luis Ramallo. The company’s Instagram page, which has nearly 57,000 followers, was set to private as of this writing.
What It’s Like Being Chinese in America Right Now
To be honest, I didn’t believe that the virus could come to America. When it first appeared in Wuhan, China, and later spread rapidly and killed thousands, I still didn’t believe it would come here. Not America. I admit I had a “white-superiority” kind of mindset, which is so stupid in hindsight. As you can see from my last name, I am not white. I am Chinese American. I am a world of both. I am also a world of neither.
Viruses don’t discriminate. When later it spread to neighboring countries such as Japan and Korea, I started to worry. But it was only until the World Health Organization (WHO) announced the virus as a pandemic that I seriously started stocking up on food and other essentials. I was initially reluctant to stock on food because I thought it would be alright here. I even scoffed at all the Asian people in my community panic-buying rice at Costco to the point that they sold out. I’m still not sure why I felt that way though. Perhaps, I was too afraid to acknowledge the gravity of the situation.