Hate Me If You Want But I Can't But Like This Because I Love The Way You Lie

Can I get an Asian American cover of this MF?

Just tell me yes.

Hyphen Magazine, DIY, And Giving A Little Back

Like I've said before in this space too many times (or maybe not even enough) - if we don't do it ourselves, sometimes no one else will, and while it's not just up to us to spread the good word about the API community - because everyone else who's not Asian American you gotta do your part too (and I'll push you on every level) - that base, that core - sometimes it is us - and one of those organizations that's helped foster a community of artists, writers, community on the ground as well as online is Hyphen.

Sure, they might have a viewpoint you may not always like. You may not always agree with what they have to say, or where their writers come from - I don't - but that's the thing right? How do you know what you like and where you stand if you're never exposed to different POV's? How do you come to a balance if there's never dialogue? If there's never debate?

If that diversity that in some ways the API community is still building and getting out into the world showing the complexities of what we have to offer and who we are isn't ever seen?

The answer is that you can't.

And we need too.

But Don't Listen To Me. Listen To Someone That Really Gets It

Dear Friends,

As a volunteer-run publication, Hyphen is a passion project and a veritable labor of love. As one of its longtime contributors, I remain committed to the magazine because I love what Hyphen is about: coverage of Asian America that you won’t find anywhere else.

I joined Hyphen in 2005 because I wanted to help tell stories about our community that have gone overlooked by the mainstream press. I’ve written articles on topics ranging from eco-friendly nail shops and Filipino krumpers (a style of dance). I’ve also edited two sections of the magazine. All in the name of presenting and covering Asian America, unabridged.

Despite our niche, Hyphen has not been immune to the economic downturn. In the past year, our income dropped by half. But thanks to our dedicated staff, we continue to produce a magazine featuring top-notch articles, design, artwork, and photography.

But we need your help.

We need to raise at least $10,000 this summer, which is the cost of printing one issue of the magazine and paying small stipends to our feature writers. We rely heavily on donations to continue our work, so we ask that you donate what you can, from $1 to $1,000. No cliché here—every little bit helps.

If the power of the Asian American story isn’t enough, here are just a few reasons from the past year to continue supporting Hyphen:

• We were nominated for a 2010 Utne Independent Press Award, which recognizes excellence in alternative and independent publishing. We were selected from more than 1,300 publications.

• We attracted hundreds of submissions to our third-annual short story contest, the only writing competition to highlight emerging Asian American authors. Co-sponsored by New York City’s Asian American Writers Workshop, the winner receives a $1,000 award; their story is published in the Fall 2010 issue of Hyphen.

• We expanded our website and now feature additional web exclusives and more original work from our stand-out photographers and illustrators. We continue to provide daily commentary and coverage on issues that matter to Asian America, from hate crimes, to immigration reform, to pop culture criticism.

I hope you’re as inspired as I am by what we have accomplished so far this year, and that you’ll continue to support our work by sending in a tax-deductable donation during the month of August.

Thank you in advance and please know that we can’t do this without you!

Sincerely,

Momo Chang
Hyphen editor and writer

Take Some Action And Put A Little Love Into It

Maybe it's today, maybe it's next week - but if you're so inclined - head on out to the Hyphen site and see about giving back if you can because like I've already said - if we don't support ourselves, sometimes no one else will.

And maybe one of those people can be you.

Cover: Dawen + Usher + Somebody To Love

Ellen Wong + Scott Pilgrim Vs The World

Just wanted to drop a quick video of Ellen Wong who plays Knives Chau in the upcoming Scott Pilgrim VS. The World (around the 3:00 minute mark).

In Pictures, The APIA Open Mic, National Poetry Slam 2010, And An Autographed Nation Of Immigrants CD Giveaway

Even though I got there late - because I'm lazy, slow, and well, parking in downtown St. Paul is sometimes fun and interesting (but that's a story for another time) - I did get a chance to see the majority of API poets that were out and about for the APIA Open Mic session at the National Poetry Slam and I gotta be honest - even if you aren't into spoken word - if you weren't there - you definitely missed out on some drop dead wordsmithing all with a vibe, candor, and unabashed presence that only these types of artists can bring to a stage.

And from what I understand (because I don't hit to all the spoken word) - unlike some API open mic sessions - this one had no shortage of participants and audience members.

Because We All Love Pictures

Here are some pics of a few poets who took a little time out of their day to let me take their mug shots (and again, just for the record - I kind of suck as a photographer, so forgive me now).

Jason Bayani



A member of Proletariat Bronze, Jason Bayani was the Grand Slam Champion of Berkeley and San Francisco in 2003 and while I don't know a ton of his work - what he laid down that afternoon was pretty damn hot (at least to me) - and let's just say it - doesn't he look good in that t-shirt?

Yes. Yes he does.

Chanmany



This is Chanmany - local to the Twin Cities who just got up and did his thing after taking a hiatus from writing and you gotta give it up to people who get out on stage and just spread their own unique vibe (because no way in hell will you ever see me out on a stage doing anything because I'm a wuss - unlike the people I had the good fortune of watching).

Kristina Robertson & Chris Locsin (San Jose Slam Team)



The above pic is of Kristina Robertson and Chris Locsin from the San Jose Slam Team and while I loved everyone I saw - like a good book, some things just speak to you - and their dialogue on mixed race -- it hit on every single level - rhythmically, viscerally, and just in a way that no matter how hard you might have tried to block it out - in the end - you just couldn't.

Fres Thao



Minneapolis. Illegoaliens. What more do I have to say?

Phil Kaye And Kai



When I said there was some drop dead wordsmithing going on - part of what I was talking about were these two out of Providence RI - and honestly - to try and even begin to explain it wouldn't even come close to doing it justice, so I just have one word: Meo.

Wait. Maybe that should have been Mao.

(Also check out Phil Kaye down at Project VOICE)

Group Love



Because I'm still trying to figure out how to use a camera and opposable thumbs are new to me - I simply give you the group picture.

And Let's Not Forget About Some Kick-Ass Shit I Have To Give Away

Because I'm posting up on some API Spoken Word and I did say I was going to do a giveaway - and now just seems like the right time - the first person who e-mails me with the Subject "I WANT THAT KICK ASS MF NATION OF IMMIGRANTS CD" gets an autographed copy of said CD with signage from the following Spoken Word poets (not all of whom are on this CD however): Christy NaMee Ericksen, Robert Farid Karimi, Bao Phi, El Guante, and Tou Saiko Lee.

That's A Kick Ass Video: Beatrock Music + Otayo Dubb + The "So Opinionated" Mixtape Promo

DOWNLOAD THE MIXTAPE FOR FREE @: http://beatrockmusic.com

DIRECT DOWNLOAD LINK: http://www.mediafire.com/?tdzzgo1eiej

East West Players + Mysterious Skin + Shake It Up

All I have to say is that to be doing something for 45 seasons - that's one hell of an accomplishment - and this - well - it sounds like one kick ass show.

East West Players’ 45th Season Shakes It Up With
Powerful Drama, MYSTERIOUS SKIN

East West Players (EWP), the nation’s premier Asian American theatre, opens its 45th Anniversary season, themed Shake It Up, with the Los Angeles premiere of MYSTERIOUS SKIN by Prince Gomolvilas, based on the novel by Scott Heim. This production will be directed by EWP’s Producing Artistic Director, Tim Dang. The cast of the production will feature artists with diverse backgrounds: David Huynh, Scott Keiji Takeda, Marcus Choi, Christine Corpuz, Ruffy Landayan, and Elizabeth Liang.
MYSTERIOUS SKIN is a searing drama that follows the story of a boy who believes he was once abducted by aliens. All roads lead back to a childhood classmate, now a hustler, who holds the key to the terrifying and heart-breaking truth. Due to its subject matter, graphic language and nudity, MYSTERIOUS SKIN is intended for mature audiences.

“We’re definitely shaking it up this season with MYSTERIOUS SKIN. The novel by Scott Heim was adapted for the screen by Asian American writer/director Gregg Araki. The play was adapted by Thai-American playwright Prince Gomolvilas. And we’re going one step further by casting Asian American performers,” says Producing Artistic Director Tim Dang.

Writer Prince Gomolvilas is a Thai-American playwright. His plays include BIG HUNK OF BURNIN’ LOVE and THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING, which received their world premieres at East West Players. He writes BAMBOO NATION, an arts and entertainment blog. He teaches in the Master of Professional Writing Program at USC and in the David Henry Hwang Writers Institute at East West Players. He received his M.F.A. in Playwriting and his B.A. in Film from San Francisco State University.

Director Tim Dang has been artistic director of East West Players since 1993. Tim has been recognized with honors such as two Ovation Awards for Best Direction of a Musical (SWEENEY TODD and PACIFIC OVERTURES), Actors Equity Association Diversity Award, the Durfee Foundation Sabbatical Award and most recently received the Irvine Foundation Leadership Award in 2009. He recently directed the New York premiere of IMELDA, a musical, which was originally produced by East West Players, for Pan Asian Repertory Theatre.

A Canadian transplant, David Huynh, playing the role of Neil, has had the fortunate opportunity to have performed on both Canadian and American theatre, television and film productions. David studied film and theatre at The University of Mantioba, The Prairie Theatre Exchange and was a member of the influential Manitoba Theatre for Young People. David was last seen on stage in Benjamin Bettenbender's SWORDPLAY at the Kirk Douglas Theatre, in addition to The Underground Theatre's production of Langford Wilson's BALM IN GILEAD. David made his feature film debut, starring in Juwan Chung's gangland thriller Baby, to great acclaim.

Scott Keiji Takeda, playing the role of Brian, recently graduated from Pepperdine University with a BA in Theatre Arts. MYSTERIOUS SKIN marks his first professional theatre production.

The design team consists of set and projection designer Alan E. Muraoka, lighting designer Jeremy Pivnick, costumer designer Nicholas Hirata, sound designer John Zalewski and property master Ken Takemoto. The stage manager is Odina Dominguez.

Generous support for this production of MYSTERIOUS SKIN is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, California Community Foundation, Shubert Foundation, LA County Arts Commission, City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs and the Ralph M. Parsons Foundation. This production is presented in association with our community partner the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center.
All performances of MYSTERIOUS SKIN will be staged at the David Henry Hwang Theater at the Union Center for the Arts at 120 Judge John Aiso St., Los Angeles, CA 90012.

MYSTERIOUS SKIN opens Wednesday, September 15, 2010 and closes on Sunday, October 10, 2010. Opening night will be accompanied by a pre-performance cocktail reception and a post show reception with the cast and creative team.

Performances are Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, and Sundays at 2pm. Previews are Thursday - Saturday, September 9 - 11 at 8pm and Sunday, September 12 at 2pm. The Pay-What-You-Can Performance will be held Thursday, September 16 at 8 pm with a suggested $5 minimum donation.

General Tickets range from $25 - $35. Preview tickets are $20 for all seats. Opening night tickets are $60 for all seats. Tickets are currently on sale. For ticket purchases or more information, please call East West Players at (213) 625-7000 or visit www.eastwestplayers.org. Senior, student and group discounts are available.

Dates and details are subject to change.

Mike Honda And The BP Oil Spill

Definitely wanted to make sure and post up a little bit of the Mike Honda article down at the Huffington Post because while BP is finally getting control over the oil spill - this is just the beginning.

What is equally disastrous, but less frequently reported, is the impact to the physical health, economy and livelihoods of communities living adjacent to the Gulf Coast. Among these communities, perhaps the most vulnerable are thousands of Southeast Asian and African-American families. The adverse effects experienced by this population are potent and unique.

These Southeast Asian and African-American communities are heavily dependent on the Gulf for their livelihood. Southeast Asian fishermen, for example, make up one-third of the 13,000 fishing vessels registered in the Gulf Coast. Among the approximately 40,000 Southeast Asian individuals living in the region, one in five work in the seafood processing industry. Many of these workers are the primary breadwinners for their families, resulting in an oil spill reach that is projected to negatively affect roughly 80 percent of Southeast Asian families.

Did you get that number people?

I'll give it to you once more just in case you didn't take notice of it in bold - because it's important.

80 percent.

Margaret Cho + PopMatters + Cho Dependent

A little snippet from the PopMatters interview with Margaret Cho and her first musical comdey CD Cho Dependent.

What are the pros and cons to being a really outspoken, opinionated woman of color in the public eye today? How do you think your acting career has been affected by your activism?

Well, its interesting, I think people always assume that I’m mad. I’m not. (laughing) I’m, like, cool with everything and people always assume I’m an angry person. Still, I am critical of certain things. I’m critical of certain stances. Now living in the South—I live in Atlanta where we film Drop Dead Diva—I’m very aware of the divides of race and divides of culture and homophobia and sexism. Its a reality and I have to comment on it, I need to talk about it. I don’t know how its affected my work as an actor, just because I’m mostly in the realm of stand up comedy, where opinion is valued and it’s fine. You can talk about things and you can have a career and still be very progressive.

Dotbusters, Absurdity, And Bashing Vietnamese People Doesn't Really Solve Anything With Immigration

This is just funny to me - albeit in the absurd way when I'm watching something that makes me cringe but I can't help but keep looking (even if it's an out of body experience where I'm watching myself make a complete ass out of, well, me):

In the past three weeks in Hoboken, anti-Semitic graffiti was written on a building, and a Vietnamese tourist was allegedly attacked by a Latino man from Bayonne who allegedly first yelled an anti-Asian slur at him from his car. In Old Bridge, police are investigating whether the June assault and murder of an Indian American professor by a group of teens was racially motivated.

Shall we just chalk it up to the Summer Heat?

And btw - how the hell can people still not call the murder of Divyendu Sinha a hate crime? Did they need to spray paint "Dotbusters" by his body?

Patel = Apple Pie And Now I'm A Little Hungry (Did Someone Say Cool Whip?)

Three things that entered my mind as I was reading this article:

1. Glad to see people associating the name Patel with American. And just for the record, apparently the last name Patel is the 172nd most frequent surname in the U.S.
   
2. I did happen to balk a little at the "almost". But I give them kudos for trying.
   
3. Strawberries sounds tasty too.
   

Sweet List: Asian Americans Running For Office

If you want to catch up on some of the people running for office check out the great list that the Northwest Asian Weekly has up at their site.

Nico Minoru, Runaways, A Little More Japanese American Internment, And Getting Your WhiteWash On?

I don't really follow the comic, but I do know this - Nico Minoru is Japanese American and if the casting call is simply for a "uniquely beautiful, nuturing and guarded" 16 - 18 year old female." there's definitely a problem.

Here's to hoping Hollywood doesn't fuck this one up too.

Roy Recio + The Manilatown Heritage Foundation

Housing. Basic needs. Sometimes you just gotta remember what some of the struggle is all about.

TREFNY: We're talking with Roy Recio. He's the board president of the Manilatown Heritage Foundation. So with a lot of different parts of town that have single room occupancy hotels, that have people living on top of themselves - in Chinatown, for example - what do you, as an affordable housing advocate, what are some of your target areas where you're actually seeing differences made or you think that more attention needs to be paid specifically?

RECIO: Well, that's a struggle. I think that what's happening is that people are moving out of San Francisco. You can see that really in the census, which will be coming out soon. You know as far as the Latino, the African American community, the Filipino community moving out.

Ironically, the Chinese community is growing. And we're just seeing in housing advocacy that when we have a housing unit that's coming up online - for example, we have one right now on 7th Street and it's going to be above the South of Market new health care center there. We have 40 units, roughly, for family housing, and we're going to have well over 5,000 applicants for those 40 units, to give you an idea of the breadth of what we need to do to accomplish fortified housing for those in the working class communities.

TREFNY: As an affordable housing advocate, when you're looking at places like the I-Hotel, which is primarily Filipino Americans, if you're in Chinatown and you're looking at a lot of Chinese Americans or recent immigrants, what role does cultural preservation play in your fight to retain affordable housing?

RECIO: Oh, it's a big struggle. One thing we're fighting for in the South of Market is to try and designate SOMA as SOMA Filipinas, which is really a launching point for Filipino immigrants to come to. They feel like there's a plaza there, if you will, because there's the Filipino education center, there's a veterans' equity center. There's united players, and there's also other service agencies like the South of Market Health Care Center to really address the culturally and linguistically appropriate needs of the community. So there's an infrastructure there we're trying to get recognized. We can do it socially, but when we talk about trying to preserve it physically, it's really challenging.

Get it in full here.

Random Word I'm Getting Tired Of: Full-Blooded

I'm obviously out for people and news that reps the API community but as I was reading the following paragraph something struck me.

The first full-blooded Chinese-American NFL lineman recently reported to the Buffalo Bill’s training camp. Ed Wang, an offensive tackle, was drafted by Buffalo in the 2010 NFL draft, reports Asianweek.com.

I'm getting tired as a MF of hearing people qualify someone's Asian American status as FULL-BLOODED.

So if someone's 3/4 Chinese and a 1/4 Swedish, but the way they identify is as an Asian American - are they somehow less of an Asian American or a person of color?

Do we really have to qualify someone as being FULL-BLOODED?

Think about it this way. If you weren't born here, but lived most of your life here - which I know some of you are - or even if you've lived half your life here - or really - however long - and you're a citizen of the U.S. wouldn't you find it demeaning for everyone that was born here to be qualified as a REAL AMERICAN, but everyone who wasn't born in this country as not a REAL AMERICAN even though it was never said outright but implied because of the words REAL AMERICAN?

Don't get me wrong - I know there's a fine line in how we identify and what we call ourselves - but in the end - I just think it's old and tired to keep on referring to people as FULL-BLOODED.

Your 2010 Korean BQQ Cook-off Winners

Because you really did want to know.

Judges: Jonathan Gold, Ludo Lefebvre, Sandra Oh, Consul General Jaesoo Kim, Councilmember Herb Wesson, Jr.

Judge's Selection: Park's BBQ
Best Beef: Hansong
Best Pork: Olympic Restaurant
Best Fusion: Choonchun Dakgalbi
Chef Ludo's Pick: Park's BBQ
Jonathan Gold's Pick: Ham Ji Park

Soju Mix-off winner: Joel Black. Cocktail name: "K-town cobbler"

Graduating: The Sulu Series

There's probably a contingent of you that have already received this, but in case you haven't, or even if you have - always good to remnind yourself of the organizations out there that have been helping to spread the word about API artists and the changes they go through.

Dear Sulu Series Artists & Supporters,

I'm writing to let you know about what the committee of folks who run the Sulu Series have recently decided about its future. Sulu Series as a monthly series at Bowery Poetry Club will end this upcoming September and then transition into a bi-annual or annual event after that. Our official last monthly date is Sunday, September 19 with special feature Bao Phi from Minnesota and many more friends. This last monthly show is also our 5th year anniversary and will be a benefit for the APIA Spoken Word & Poetry Summit in 2011 in Minnesota.

This August 15, we will have our second to last monthly Sulu Series featuring Marco Mercado, Crystal Leigh, Intalek, Jay Legaspi and Kilusan Bautista with host Koba (http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=140219849343317&ref=ts)

Some of us are saddened, but most of us understand that it's time for a change. Since Sulu started in '05, there's a lot more going on right now for young Asian Americans in the arts in New York City than ever before, making Sulu in New York (not DC or elsewhere) less relevant and urgent, and in a good way. Over the years I've seen each artistic discipline - especially poetry, comedy and music - grow tremendously, with each discipline further carving out their unique communities to foster their intimate growth. From Ken Chen revitalizing the Asian American Writers' Workshop in really inventive and beautiful ways, to the monthly Mouth to Mouth open mic Jen Kwok & Ed Lin host there, to Kollaboration NY being such a success, to Kundiman's reading series and retreats pressing on and expanding, to the various youth-centered events at Project Reach fostering another generation of shakers, I really can stand back and say that this Asian American arts community in New York City is progressing.

I want to express how grateful we are for your support of Sulu through the years, whether near or far. Much thanks must go to the Bowery Poetry Club for hosting us all these years. Together as a community we have showcased hundreds of Asian American poets, comedians, musicians, theater artists and filmmakers. We've held benefits and raised awareness for and alongside dozens of organizations and causes. Our shows have served thousands of audience members, and we've helped to cultivate a canon of Asian American culture that is priceless in its worth and impact.

What all of us Sulu folks would really like to do now is to filter as much of our audience and network into the various mentioned events going on throughout New York City, as well as other events and groups across the country that deserve much attention. Please see the list below.

It's been a great honor and pleasure to serve this community with you through Sulu. As mentor and Program Director of Project Reach Fay Chiang has told me, Sulu Series in New York City is "graduating."

Keep keepin' on.

Sincerely,

Taiyo Na
Artistic Director, Sulu Series

LIST OF EVENTS & GROUPS ALLIED WITH THE SULU SERIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY

NEW YORK:

Asian American Writers' Workshop (AAWW)
http://www.aaww.org/aaww_events.html

Ed Lin & Jen Kwok's Mouth to Mouth Monthly Open Mic @ AAWW
http://jenkwok.net/blog/
http://www.aaww.org/aaww_events.html

Kollaboration NY
http://kollabny.blogspot.com/

Kundiman Retreat & Reading Series
http://www.kundiman.org/

Project Reach NYC
http://projectreachnyc.org/

PHILLY:

Family Style Monthly Open Mic Series @ Asian Arts Initiative
http://www.asianartsinitiative.org/programs/performances.php

BOSTON:

Boston Progress Arts Collective (BPAC)
http://bostonprogress.org/


DC/MD/VA Area:

SULU DC
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=155388419558

Kollaboration DC
http://kollaborationdc.org/


BAY AREA:

RAMA
http://www.gostudiorama.com/


SEATTLE:
isangmahal arts kollective
http://www.isangmahal.org/

LA:

Tuesday Night Cafe
http://www.tuesdaynightproject.org/

Because You Wanted Some Tour Dates From The Slants

8/12: Portland, OR - The Woods (21+), benefit for Camp Odyssey
8/28: Forest Grove, OR - SakeOne Pacific Rim Festival (all ages)
8/28: Portland, OR - Ash Street Saloon (21+)
9/10: Portland, OR - MusicFest NW at the Ash St Saloon (21+)
9/24: Richland, WA - Ray's Golden Lion (all ages)
9/19: Seattle, WA - Chop Suey (21+) w/Gnosis (Japan)
10/8-10/10: Layton, UT - Anime Banzai (all ages)
10/25: Portland, OR - Berbati's Pan (all ages) w/Peelander Z
10/30: Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom (21+)

That's it.

Released: Koua Fong Lee

Koua and his wife after the trial via the Star Tribune

If you haven't heard - this Thursday - Koua Fong Lee was released, and while I've wondered in the past how one person could get that much time from an accident where there was no drinking or substances involved, coming to my own conclusions about the overhaul that's needed not just in our justice systems but in the courts of public opinion - it's finally over.

Koua Fong Lee always said he was innocent, even as he sat in a Lino Lakes prison cell. And Thursday, after an extraordinary day in Ramsey County District Court, his four-year ordeal in the justice system ended abruptly, and he emerged a free man.

Lee grabbed his attorney Bob Hilliard in a tight hug as District Judge Joanne Smith ruled he was entitled to a new trial and could be freed. His jaw dropped and he sobbed when Hilliard and fellow attorney Brent Schafer told him, "It's over," just moments after he walked out of jail. Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner had announced that her office would not seek a retrial.

And what's great to see too - as the new evidence was presented in court - was how the families who once couldn't believe Lee's story, are now hoping to keep in touch with him - and I have to wonder how this story - for some encompassing their lives on a day to day basis, and others, watching from the sides - how this might help change perceptions - those first few thoughts that come into some people's minds as they look at Asian Americans in the justice system.

Step Up 3-D And Jon M. Chu

Opening this weekend at a theater near you - about 2,435 to be exact.