Tag Archives for Japanese American

Black-Asian solidarity in the wake of today’s racist events

After ESPN called Jeremy Lin a “chink” in an article headline and KPOP songwriter Jenny Hyun argued for genocide against black people, race scholar Dr. Sarah Jackson tweeted about things that blacks and Asians in the US share:

On the real though there is a lot of love and history between Black folks and Asian folks no matter what these individual a-holes do/say.

So I will now tweet some facts in the name of Afro-Asian love. #spreadlovenothate

Africa, the Middle East, and Asia had advanced trade and education networks among each other before they were ever “discovered.”

In the U.S. racist Asian characters were a common part of the minstrel shows (that popularized blackface) of the 1900s. #solidarity

The Black Press spoke out vocally against the interment of Japanese Americans during WWII. #solidarity

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Happy Fred Korematsu Day!

Fred Korematsu, center. Photo: the Korematsu family (Flickr/Creative Commons).

Today in California we celebrate Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution. The late Korematsu, born in Oakland in 1919, fought against the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II and later became a civil rights leader. Fred Korematsu Day is the first official holiday named for an Asian American in the United States. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the holiday into law in September 2010.

Read more about Korematsu’s inspiring story:

Wednesday link roundup: year end edition

Mas Yamashita on the usu used to make mochi, used in Japanese New Year dishes like ozouni:

Koji Steven Sakai’s Top 5 Favorite Things About Japanese New Year

When I explain Oshogatsu to my non-Japanese friends, I tell them that it’s Japanese Thanksgiving. It’s a time for the entire family to come together. When I was younger (pre-birth of my child) I thought that this was cheesy but now that I’m a father, the importance of family has taken on a whole new meaning. I get all teary eyed about spending time together. (This of course doesn’t make me any less gangsta, does it?)

How to Have a Fat-Talk-Free Holiday Season – Thick Dumpling Skin

(2) Don’t forget what Holiday Family Dinners are really all about: When you think of the true meaning of your holiday get togethers, they’re really about love, family, friends, and gratitude, right? I mean, what happened to the “Thanks” part of Thanksgiving? If we can focus on what we have—our strengths, our assets, and our support system—instead of what we lack, our Holiday dinners will surely be more enjoyable…and something to fondly look forward to and remember.

Thick Dumpling Skin is a great blog/community focusing on body image issues in the Asian American community.

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