Wear It Like You Own It

1. Who are you?

My name is Lee Le. I am a second-generation Vietnamese-American woman born and raised in Orange County, CA. My age? Nice try. I’m not telling.

2. What’s your story?

I am currently attending the California State University of Long Beach majoring in Asian Studies, Chinese Studies, and Linguistics with a minor in Anthropology. As you can see, I have a hard time choosing just one of something; I try not to go near Baskin Robbins. As a soon-to-be graduate walking into the world, my future is uncertain, but I think everyone’s is to some degree.

3. Why do you support Racebending.com and how did you learn about us?

After learning about the casting for The Last Airbender last year, I was outraged. However, there’s only so long you can discuss an issue within your circle of friends before the conversation dies. I was wondering if there was a larger discourse out there on the issue that I can participate in. That’s when I found Racebending.com on Facebook.

I’m not sure how much of a tangible difference we can make, but it is important to keep the conversation going. I’ve heard so many young Asian-Americans say that racism is no longer a relevant topic for us. I tell them to go look up what year Asian-Americans got the vote; it’s more recent than you think. I tell them to go look up Vincent Chin; it’s more heartbreaking than you can imagine. Keep the conversation alive. Social change begins with discourse; it begins with the conversation you and I are having right now.

Read it in full down at racebending.com

Making An Impact: Jessica Chau

This is a great story for a couple of reasons - one is that Boston College put a name to their Asian American Scholarship (now known as the Benigno and Corazon Aquino Scholarship) and that Jessica Chau - the recipient of said scholarship - is just someone the world should get to know.

The scholarship is given to a junior who demonstrates a strong commitment to the Asian American community at BC.

"I am humbled and honored to be awarded the Aquino Scholarship," said Chau, a sociology major from San Francisco. "If you read the biography of Benigno and Corazon Aquino, you quickly realize that they have done so much - exemplary leaders, tireless advocates. It's a humbling experience to be given an award with their names attached and a challenge to continue their work in the future."

Chau knows about personal challenge. Her family fled Vietnam on a boat built by her father and lived as refugees in Malaysia for several years before settling in the Chinese community in San Francisco.

At Boston College, Chau has established herself as a student leader, volunteering as a mentor to seven elementary school girls in the "Strong Women, Strong Girls" program. A staff member of the BC Women of Color Caucus, she also serves as political and education director of the BC Asian Caucus.

Read it aloud.

NACBA: If You're In Toronto

North American Chinese Basketball Association Tournament

In Their Own Words: Ching-In Chen And Olivewood Cemetery

Caugh this article and wanted to post some of it up where Ching-In Chen, the author of The Heart’s Traffic, talks about her poem "Olivewood Cemetery: a haibun of Riverside, California".

This poem began at a Ching Ming (grave-cleaning) ceremony for the Riverside Chinese who hadn’t been sent back to China and didn’t have descendants to take care of them. I felt a chill — of history, ghosts, untold stories, communal energy — as we gathered to read the names of the dead. The list also consisted of death causes, occupations, ages. As the roll call continued on in my head, what became clear was how much I did not know about these people. At the time, I was teaching sections for Creative Writing and we had to read Rick Moody’s “Boys,” in which he repeats the same sentence over and over, adding in different meanings by adding layers over the sentence. This made sense to me for my Chinatown dead.

Read it in full here.

Artichoke & Peachies, Mko, Memories, Grace Su, And Arden Cho

Arden Cho And Grace Su (aka peachies.net blog)

Descriptor(s): Model, blogger, filmmaker, actress, vlogger.



Mko - Memories - Energized Vocal Remix (Arden Cho)

Co-Write A Song With Kina Grannis

What?

You say you've always wanted to write a song with Kina Grannis?

Now's your chance.

Get Your Haiku On And Win Free Stuff

I realize this is a little late in the month - but the Asia Society wants you to tell them the best things about being Asian American - in the form of a Haiku. Which - if you don't remember and who would blame you (because I can barely remember yesterday much less that a Haiku entailed) - it's a 5 syllable line, 7 syllable line, and then one last 5 syllable line like the following bad haiku:

Hi tomodachi,
Toi muon to know what you said,
Mexico in Fall?

The winning Haiku will get a CD and a book from the AsiaStore.

Cool.

Random Sandra Endo Post (Because Of JuJu Chang)

This post sponsored in part by my curiosity of who JuJu Chang was following on Twitter -- one of them being CNN national correspondent Sandra Endo.

Jay Legaspi: Picture Perfect

I got word sent out my way about Jay Legaspi's debut full length CD which is out today, and after giving it a few plays all I have to say is that you should definitely get on out and give it a listen, because it's just good music that gets better with each rotation. Picture Perfect showcases what Legaspi does best -- setting the table with infectious hooks, a soul/rock vibe, and an honesty that every singer and songwriter should take a cue from.

At the same time he's taking some chances with new sounds like "Paper Shapes", "Interlude", and "Maggie" but still keeping his signature strings - backed by a fuller and more mature sound - with songs like "T-Shirt & Sweats", "Newly Made Stranger", "Untitled", and one of my favorite newest songs "Jacketlining" - which btw should definitely get picked up for a soundtrack.

Get the album at jaylegaspi.com and at iTunes.

On Second Thought

Maybe my posts have NBA mojo after all?

Yeah. I know.

Suns knot it up and put some pressure on the Lakers.

And since neither team plays defense I'm still feeling pretty good about a Celtics championship.

Nice.

Do I Have The Post Of Death Or Something?

What the hell? I make that post about the Lakers and now they're ahead?

Again I ask - what the hell?

It's The Suns It's The Lakers (Guess Who I'm Rooting For?)

In all honesty - sure - I bash the Lakers, the people, the organization (and don't worry - I know their roots) but I get it - they might be your team and you might actually like them and sometimes you're just stuck with who you're stuck with in terms of teams - I know - and while you might think I'm rooting for the Suns - technically I am - there's a piece of me that would like to see the Lakers in the Finals.

But that's only because I'm looking for a Celtics Lakers rematch.

And Celtics beatdown.

Magnetic North & Taiyo Na: Home:Word

Magnetic North. Taiyo Na. Collaboration Album.

Release Date June 8, 2010.

What's not to love?

Get the sampler.

And There's A Release Party

Cover Art: Lakshmi Menon

Rumors + Wrestling + WWE = Su Yung Drop Kicks You In The Nads

I don't really know much about wrestling - but apparently there's a rumor going around that the WWE has signed Memphis Wrestling's Su Yung to a developmental deal - and while you may balk at things like this - you have to admit - it still takes skill - and honestly - I wouldn't want to be dropped to ground like that because I like my back...

In Pictures: Hot Asian Americans

Linkage

Ellen + Dance Kid

I don't know if I'd want my four-year old kid grabbing their crotch on national tv impersonating someone who coincidently, might have wanted to grab his crotch - but then again - I'm not a dad. At the same time - if my kid could get me rich by grabbing his crotch on tv who am I to stand in the way of his greatness?

Again. This is why I'm not a dad.

Kid does have steps though.

The Scoop + Tinhte.vn + iPod Touch With 2MP Camera?

After posting up info on the 13-inch White Macbook right before Apple officially unveiled the product as well as posting up a next gen iphone looking a lot like the one Gizmodo had - Tinhte.vn does it again - this time with the iPod touch (which apparently has a 2 megapixel camera).

Updates: Laura Ling + Euna Lee

Some links to videos of Laura Ling on different shows:

• Laura Ling Opens Up to Oprah: Ling explains why she confessed to illegally crossing into N. Korea.
• Media's role in freeing Laura Ling: Lisa and Laura Ling discuss their media strategy that helped free Laura from North Korea.
• Laura Ling: 'It was my decision': Journalist Laura Ling tells CNN's Rick Sanchez she has deep regrets for the events that landed her in a North Korean jail.

Euna Lee's book will be coming out this fall.

Because You Wanted A Kim Kardashian And Vera Wang Picture