AsAm mayor resigns after admitting she was a spy for China

Once considered a 'rising star:' Eileen Wang resigns as mayor of Arcata, California.

The political landscape of the Chinese Americans of California's San Gabriel Valley was rocked Monday as Eileen Wang, the mayor of Arcadia, abruptly resigned, admitting she had been operating as an unregistered agent for the Chinese government.

In a stunning plea agreement unsealed in federal court, Wang confessed to a felony count of acting as an illegal foreign agent — a move that brings a swift and ignominious end to her short tenure as mayor. 

According to prosecutors, from 2020 to 2022, Wang was essentially moonlightng for Beijing, using a website called "U.S. News Center" to push pro-China propaganda directly into the feeds of Chinese-speaking residents in the San Gabriel Valley.

The evidence presented was as damning as it was cinematic. Text messages showed Wang reporting viewership metrics back to Chinese officials and editing articles at their behest. In one exchange that will likely haunt her legacy, she responded to a superior's praise by texting, "Thank you leader."

This isn't an isolated incident for the "City of Homes." Wang’s downfall is the latest domino to fall in a sprawling federal investigation that has already snagged her former fiancé, Yaoning "Mike" Sun, and high-level operative John Chen.

Sun was the bridge between Wang and Chen, a convicted operative who worked to cultivate Wang as a "new political star" for the Peoples Republican of China. Sun is currently serving a four-year prison sentence.

Wang, who just took the mayor's gavel this past April and was considered a rising star among local politicians, now faces up to 10 years in federal prison. Her resignation is effective immediately, leaving Arcadia to pick up the pieces of a trust shattered by international intrigue.

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UCLA offers new digital textbook on AANHPI history for free

One of the problems of offering ethnic studies in US schools — particularly about AANHPI history — has been the lack of teaching material, but school districts can no longer use the lack of resources as an excuse.

UCLA’s Asian American Studies Center just dropped a game-changer for the classroom. Their new multimedia textbook, Foundations and Futures, isn't just another dry history book — it’s a massive, digital deep-dive into the AAPI stories that usually get short shrift in American curricula.

Led by professors Karen Umemoto and Kelly Fong, It moves way beyond the "model minority" myth, bringing in over 100 scholars to spotlight more than 20 different communities, including often-overlooked stories from South Asian organizers and Pacific Islander diasporas.

This free resource packs 50 chapters of history, from the struggles of 8-year-old Mary  Tape fighting for her right to go to school to the groundbreaking legacy of Hawaii Congressmember Patsy Mink.

“It’s transformative for youth to see themselves and their families centered in curriculum instead of in a paragraph, sentence, footnote or not at all,” said Fong. “In centering Asian American and Pacific Islander experiences, the textbook opens possibilities for students to feel valued and learn more about the communities they belong to as well as communities they may not know much about.”

“I was inspired by the thought of my 15-year-old Indian/Pakistani American niece seeing herself and her community represented in a major textbook,” said Uzma Quraishi, a contributing writer to the project. “I thought, ‘How empowering and affirming would that feel for a young Asian American today?’”

Almost 25 million people identify as Asian in the United States, according to the Pew Research Center. Yet, a recent study from The Asian American Foundation (TAAF) found that one in four adults in the US say they lack personal connections with anyone in the AAPI community. About half of adults say that AAPIs have little or no influence on American culture, with 47% of those surveyed unable to name a famous Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander and 53% unable to name a single significant moment in US history related to AAPIs.




Foundations and Futures is being released at an important time for public education, as the movement for ethnic studies in K–12 schools and higher education has grown significantly in recent years.

Governor Gavin Newsom signed California Assembly Bill 1468 in 2020, requiring students enrolled in California State University campuses to take a class in Native American Studies, African American Studies, Asian American Studies, or Latina and Latino Studies. This was followed by AB 101 in 2021, which made California the first state to require ethnic studies for high school graduation.

There are now 22 other states that have statutes requiring ethnic studies, with Oregon, Oklahoma, Florida, Tennessee and Connecticut among those that include Asian American and Pacific Islander studies in their academic standards.

What makes UCLA's textbook stand out is the format. It’s built for the TikTok generation but grounded in serious scholarship, using audio, video, and poetry to bring 200 years of struggle and triumph to life. As ethnic studies becomes a requirement in more states, UCLA is handing teachers the keys to tell a more honest, inclusive version of the American story.

“The histories featured in the textbook expand our understanding of the world in transformative ways. It helps grow our understanding of who we are and build mutual respect across differences,” said Umemoto. “It deepens knowledge about growing societal problems and shares intergenerational wisdom to make positive change in the world.”

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ANHPI Heritage Month: Congressional Resolution for recognition in a climate of contempt

As we move into May 2026, the familiar ritual of AANHPI Heritage Month feels a lot less like a celebration and more like a battle cry.

As we kick off May 2026, the ritual of AANHPI Heritage Month feels less like a celebration and more like a desperate holding action. On April 30, Representative Grace Meng and Senator Mazie Hirono dropped a bicameral resolution (H.Res.1243) to officially recognize our month. But let’s be real: while Congress cites our history, the current administration is busy repeating the worst parts of it.

“Happy Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month! This year’s celebration precedes the 250th anniversary of the United States—a historic milestone and an opportunity to honor the generations of AANHPIs who have helped build and strengthen this nation," says Rep. Grace Meng, chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC).

        FYI: Read the entire Resolution

"Our presence long predates America's founding, beginning with the first recorded arrival of Filipinos in what is now the continental United States at Morro Bay in 1587."

The resolution doesn't just list our "contributions" — it serves as a historical receipt. By explicitly citing the Page Act of 1875 and the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, it reminds the country that the US government has a long, ugly history of using law as a weapon against us. It’s a necessary jab at a political climate that feels increasingly like a 19th-century throwback.

The "Hellhole" rhetoric

While Congress tries to "honor" us, the rhetoric coming from the top is pure vitriol. Just last month, Trump reportedly lumped China and India into a list of "hellholes," a move that does more than just offend—it signals to his base that people from these regions are "less than."

This isn't just talk; it's a green light for targeted harassment. In Minneapolis, we’ve seen a disturbing spike in anti-Asian incidents where residents are being told to "go back" to those very places. This atmosphere of xenophobia is exactly what the 2026 resolution warns against, yet it is being fueled daily by the White House.

The machinery of exclusion

The most brutal edge of this rhetoric is found in the surging number of AANHPIs in ICE detention. We are seeing a record-breaking crackdown, with families being torn apart as the administration aggressively moves to deport Southeast Asian refugees for minor, decades-old crimes—crimes for which they have already served their time.

 These are people who came here as children fleeing war, now being sent back to countries they don't even know.

The stakes are life and death. The rise in detention numbers has been accompanied by reports of preventable deaths in ICE custody, where language barriers and medical neglect have turned a "minor crime" into a death sentence.

View from the edge

For AANHPI Heritage Month 2026, let’s get one thing clear: we aren’t "guests" in this country, and we’re tired of being asked where we’re really from. This year, as we celebrate under the theme "Power in Unity: Strengthening Communities Together," we’re taking a hard look at the "perpetual foreigner" trope — that tired, racist myth that treats us as outsiders no matter how many generations our families have been here.

A fresh report from the Committee of 100 and NORC shows that 55% of Asian Americans still deal with people assuming they’re foreign. It’s a weight that hits U.S.-born and naturalized citizens almost equally, making it clear this isn’t about a passport—it’s about how we’re seen.

A resolution is a nice gesture, but it won’t stop a deportation bus or silence a racist trope. As the resolution’s 2026 theme reminds us, there is "Power in Unity," but that unity is being tested by an administration that treats our community as a political scapegoat. 

If we want more than just a commemorative plaque, we have to keep fighting the policies that treat us like the the "perpetual foreigners" that the Exclusion Act intended us to be. From land bans to visa limitations and the gutting of DEI programs, the current administration is using policy to reinforce that trope. We're not simply the good little boys and girls that the "model minority" that separates us from other communities.

This May, we’re not just celebrating heritage; we’re asserting our belonging and integration into American society. We’re bridge builders, teachers, innovators, artists, healers and leaders, and — most importantly — neighbors who have been part of the American story from the start.

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Republicans celebrate dismantling of the Voting Rights Act by launching redistricting in 7 southern states

April 29, 2026 was one of the worst days for American democracy. Over 60 years of voting rights dismantled and dismissed.

Watch out. After the conservative majority in the US Supreme Court’s destruction of the Voting Rights Act, Republicans are wasting no time in trying to wrest away Congressional districts from Black voters.

On April 29, the Supreme Court 6-3 decision in Louisiana v. Callais significantly weakened Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act (VRA), limiting the use of race in creating majority-minority districts.

“For decades, the Voting Rights Act has helped ensure that communities of color have a fair opportunity to make their voices heard at the ballot box,” said Christine Chen, Executive Director of APIAVote. The Supreme Court “decision weakens one of the most important remaining safeguards against discrimination in our electoral system and threatens the progress that so many communities have fought hard to achieve. Today’s decision will make it easier for politicians to draw voting districts that let them choose their voters rather than empowering voters to choose their elected officials. ”

As of early 2025, In the 119th Congress there is a record number of 67 Black lawmakers serving in the 119th Congress, according to Spectrum News. This total includes 62 Democrats and five Republicans, with 62 serving in the House of Representatives and five in the Senate, marking the highest representation in US history. 

Currently, here are 15 congressional districts where Black voters make up a majority of the voting-age population. Each of these districts is currently represented by a Black Democrat.

According to an analysis by Fair Fight Action and Black Voters Matter, the Callais ruling could eventually lead to a redistricting wave down in Dixie that could help Republicans flip as many as 19 majority-minority seats currently held by Democrats.

While majority-Black districts have historically been the primary vehicle for Black representation, most Black members of Congress now represent districts where Black voters are not the majority.

Although the main target was Black majority districts in the South, the SCOTUS ruling could also be used against Asian Americans or Latinos not only for Congressional districts but also local jurisdictions like school districts, cities and counties.

The districts which are vulnerable under the SCOTUS ruling  could be gerrymandered GOP controlled states in order to maintain their control of Congress. Because of Donald Trump's record-breaking unpopularity due to his dismal economic record, his harsh immigration policies, rising healthcare costs and his war against Iran.

According to Democracy Docket, while SCOTUS said redistricting based on race was illegal,  political gerrymandering is OK. The GOP is celebrating and wasting no time in implementing the court's astonishing decision.

• Alabama: Gov. Kay Ivey (R) called a special session to reinstate the state’s old gerrymander before the midterms — pending a greenlight from SCOTUS. 
  
  
• Louisiana: The state successfully suspended its US House primaries. There are already three lawsuits against the state for halting its active election and nullifying votes.
  
  
• Tennessee: In a move that may eliminate its one blue congressional seat and disenfranchise Black voters, Tennessee is now seeking to redistrict mid-cycle.
  
  
• South Carolina: Lawmakers and the state GOP have urged the governor to call for a special session to mid-cycle redistrict. 
  
  
• Georgia: The governor has said he won’t call a special session to redraw for 2026, but as we saw after Alabama’s 180, that could change.
  
  
• Florida: We’re waiting for Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis to sign the recently passed gerrymandered map. 
  
  
• Virginia: The Republican National Committee is appealing its loss in a third challenge to Virginia's 10-1 congressional map approved by voters last month.
  

There is a justifiable fear is that the SCOTUS decision will have a trickle down effect and affect local  legislative districts in the states and our AANHPI communities that have only recently been able to elect representatives that reflect them.

“When the Voting Rights Act is undermined, Black voters are harmed first. But the damage won’t stop there. The Supreme Court has gutted one of the last protections we have against racial discrimination in our democracy. It puts the political power of Asian Americans and communities of color at risk," said Asian Law Caucus' Executive Director Aarti Kohli.

"It leaves communities of color with fewer enforceable protections against unfair maps — and not just for Congress, but in state and local elections across the country. We stand with Black and Brown voters from Louisiana to every state where maps could now be redrawn to limit their voice," Kohli continued.

“The same protections that safeguard the voice of Black voters are the same ones that protect Asian Americans, immigrants, and language-minority communities. This decision is not isolated. It is the latest in a sustained assault on the right of communities of color to participate fully in our democracy. We will not let our rights be taken without a fight — in the courts, in our legislatures, and at the ballot box, together.”

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. If you find this perspective interesting, please repost.

 

California's Asian communities may get split up under SCOTUS' weakening of the Voting Rights Act

Democrats and Republicans pursued Asian American votes in Nevada in 2024.

Unable to win the popular vote in an election, the Republican Party is finagling every which way to dissuade or block Democratic voters, including the majority of Asian American, Native American and Pacific Islander electorate.

For those of us in the AANHPI community, the writing isn’t just on the wall—it’s being carved into the law books. With the Supreme Court’s latest hatchet job on the Voting Rights Act, the legal armor we’ve relied on since the 1960s hasn’t just been dented; it’s been stripped away.

The recent SCOTUS pivot in Louisiana v. Callais effectively puts a tombstone on Section 2 of the VRA. For decades, this was our go-to weapon against "cracking"—the cynical practice of splitting up Asian American neighborhoods so our voices are drowned out by the surrounding districts. Now, the Court has given a wink and a nod to map-makers, allowing them to dilute our voting power under the thin veil of "partisan politics."

But the impact goes deeper than just lines on a map. By raising the bar for proving discrimination to near-impossible heights, the Court is ignoring the reality of the AANHPI experience. We’re talking about the quiet erasure of language assistance at the polls, the shuttering of ballot boxes in growing immigrant hubs, and the "show me your papers" intimidation tactics that target our most vulnerable elders.

The message from the high court is clear: if you can't beat 'em, rig the game. As the fastest-growing electorate in the country, AANHPI voters represent a demographic shift that some in power find terrifying. Instead of competing for our ideas, the strategy has shifted to making sure our ballots never reach the box—or that they don't count when they do.

We’re moving into a "post-VRA" world where the federal government is no longer the referee. The fight now moves to the state houses and the streets. If we want to keep our seat at the table, we’re going to have to fight twice as hard to protect the right to pull the lever.

Impact on California

In California, where we often feel like we're in a progressive bubble, the Supreme Court’s recent gutting of the Voting Rights Act (VRA) is popping that illusion. By dismantling the federal guardrails that prevent racial gerrymandering and vote dilution, SCOTUS has essentially invited a new wave of legal challenges that could unravel decades of gains in AANHPI representation.

California’s AANHPI communities are entering a high-stakes redistricting cycle where "cracking"—the intentional splitting of a community to dilute its vote—is no longer as easy to stop in federal court and those in power will be less inclined to cater to ethnic  neighborhoods.

While California has its own California Voting Rights Act (CVRA), the weakening of federal standards puts every level of our government in the crosshairs.

The immediate threat to the state legislature isn't just about today; it's about the future of how we draw the lines after the 2030 Census.

California’s independent commission has been a model for fairness, but Republicans could now use the SCOTUS "partisan" loophole to challenge existing maps. The "Partisan" Shield: If the commission is seen as favoring Democrats, the Court's new standard makes it nearly impossible to prove that a map also dilutes AANHPI power.

Splitting Silicon Valley, San Francisco

When the 2030 census rolls around, the mandate to protect minority-majority districts will be significantly weaker, potentially leading to "cracked" districts in areas with surging AANHPI populations.

In counties like Santa Clara, home of Silicon Valley, where the AANHPI community has finally reached a "critical mass," the VRA’s demise is a direct hit to local power.

Santa Clara County recently saw its first AANHPI supermajority on the Board of Supervisors. Without Section 2 protections, those newly drawn "unity maps" that represent concentrated Asian American neighborhoods in Districts 1 and 3 are now vulnerable to being redrawn and split up.

Assembly District 17, which houses Chinatown, the Filipino Heritage District and the Tenderloin, home to many Vietnamese families, is currently represented by Matt Haney. In a 2022 special election, Haney replaced David Chiu, who became the city's District Attorney. Some residents say they would prefer an Asian American representing them in Sacramento. Recent maps have already attempted to "crack" this 34% AANHPI district by adding affluent, white neighborhoods, potentially dropping AANHPI influence to 30%.

Filipino Americans have been able to get Filipinos onto the Daly City, Calif. city council.

L.A, San Diego & ther redistricting chaos: 

When the federal government stops looking, local boards are more likely to put non-English voter education materials on the chopping block during "budget crunches," as we've already seen attempted in the South Bay.

Cities like San Diego and Los Angeles, large concentrations of AANHPI neighborhoods could lose their impact and influence at city hall.The fight at the city level is where the "rigging" gets granular, specifically targeting at-large versus district elections.

In a city already reeling from redistricting scandals, the loss of federal oversight means there’s one less referee to stop the "cracking" of AANHPI neighborhoods in the Valley or South LA.

The "cracking" of the San Gabriel Valley's AANHPI voting power across multiple districts is a perennial threat that Section 2 of the VRA used to mitigate; that shield is now effectively gone.

As the AANHPI electorate grows in San Diego, the SCOTUS ruling provides a roadmap for opponents to challenge district-based voting. They can argue that drawing districts to ensure AANHPI representation is "unconstitutional racial gerrymandering," forcing cities back into at-large systems where our votes are easily drowned out.

View from the edge

Experts warn that the California Voting Rights Act itself could be the next target. If the federal courts decide that race-conscious map-making is illegal everywhere, our state-level protections could be struck down entirely.

"While the full impact of this ruling is still uncertain, we know from past experience that decisions striking down, or effectively gutting, provisions of the Voting Rights Act are often followed by new state laws that restrict access to the ballot for voters of color," said California's AG Rob Bonta, a Filipino American.

The high court's decision won't affect California's recently approved remapping of Congressional districts because they were based on partisansip, not race. State voters approved the redistricting last November to counter Texas' redistricting that favored Republicans.

This SCOTUS ruling reverses hard-won progress toward fair representation and responsive leadership. When communities are denied a fair opportunity for political power, the consequences extend far beyond elections, states APIAVote in a press release. Fair representation impacts whether communities can effectively advocate for better schools, affordable health care, safer bridges and roads, environmental protections, language access, and economic opportunity.

“At a time when our democracy should be working to include more voices, this ruling moves us in the wrong direction,” said Christine Chen, executive director of APIAVote. “Every voter has the right to elect representatives who understand and respond to their communities’ needs. We cannot allow hard-fought protections for minority voters to be eroded.”

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. If you find this perspective interesting, please repost.

White House proclamation for AANHPI Heritage Month rings hollow

Donald Trump's praise of AANHPI people don't match his words and actions.

OPINION

It appears the writer of the White House proclamation for AANHPI Heritage Month hasn’t been listening to his boss lately. While the official document is filled with glowing tributes to our "patriotism" and "resilience," the man in the Oval Office has been telling a very different story on the campaign trail and in the briefing room.

We’ve seen this movie before. The White House Proclamation wants to celebrate AANHPI contributions to America’s 250-year history, but those words ring hollow when they come from a leader who has spent his energy painting our communities as a threat to the very fabric of the nation.

A tale of two narratives

The gap between the proclamation’s ink and Donald Trump’s actual rhetoric is a canyon that cannot be bridged by a press release:

"Belonging" vs. The Threat to Citizenship: The 2026 proclamation speaks of Asian Americans as "integral to the American story." Yet, the Trump administration is actively working to dismantle the 14th Amendment. By vowing to end birthright citizenship via executive order, the President is signaling that the children of many AANHPI immigrants are not "true" Americans, regardless of where they were born.

"Talented Doctors" vs. "Gangsters with Laptops:" The proclamation celebrates the "talented doctors" and "technological innovators" driving our industries. Yet, Trump recently amplified a rant describing Indian and Chinese tech professionals as "gangsters with laptops" who have "robbed us blind" and "stepped on our flag."

"Strengthening the Economy" vs. "Hellholes:" While the official message claims AAPI communities "strengthened every facet of American life," Trump recently reshared content labeling the ancestral homes of millions of Americans—specifically India and China — as "hellhole[s] on the planet."

"Unity" vs. The "China Virus" Legacy: The White House calls for "Power in Unity," but we haven't forgotten the President's relentless use of terms like "China Virus" and "Kung Flu." These weren't just nicknames; they were dog whistles making it OK for the racists to emerge from their dark corners. Studies confirmed these racist references caused anti-Asian hate to surge, turning a global health crisis into a target on the backs of our elders.

The view from the edge

As the nation marks its Sestercentennial, the administration is desperate to claim the AANHPI success story as its own. But you can't honor "family and hard work" while simultaneously plotting to strip the next generation of their legal right to exist as citizens.

A proclamation is just paper if it isn't backed by respect. Until Donald Trump stops describing our community as "gangsters" and our children as "aliens," these words aren't a celebration — they’re a betrayal.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. If you find this perspective interesting, please repost.

STAATUS Index: Being AAPI is hard; we're never American enough

Its bad enough that Americans of all ethnicities have a hard time categorizing and recognizing  Asian American issues and individuals, but Filipino Americans fare even worse.

When asked to name a famous Asian American, only 2% of respondents could name Kamala Harris, who ran for President in 2024 and whose ads and news stories and photos were plastered all over media almost 24/7 for almost six months prior to the election.

Two Filipino American entertainers didn't even register a blip: Bruno Mars, whose sold-out  concerts draw hundreds of thousands of fans; and Olivia Rodrigo, who recently hosted Saturday Night Live and whose records run No. 1 on the Billboard charts for weeks on end.

The 2026 Social Tracking of Asian Americans in the US (STAATUS) Index from The Asian American Foundation (TAAF) reveals Americans are divided on AAPI belonging, with 40% questioning the loyalty of Asian Americans to the US (doubling since 2021) and many viewing them as "perpetual foreigners," despite high marks for being hardworking. While 82% place Asian Americans in the top half of the social ladder, only 7% believe they hold "a great deal" of cultural influence.

“Despite our community’s growing power, a significant share of the public is still forming views about America’s fastest-growing racial group with no direct connection or information, said Norman Chen, CEO of TAAF. "This helps to explain the perception gaps that run throughout this report, and has real consequences for our community’s future.”

What it means to be 'American'

The "Loyalty Gap" is perhaps the most stinging revelation in the latest STAATUS Index, serving as a cold reminder that for many in this country, our citizenship comes with an asterisk. 

It’s the statistical proof of a feeling many AAPI folks know in their bones: no matter how long we’ve been here, we are still seen as guests who might leave—or turn—at any moment.

There is a disturbing surge in distrust that should alarm anyone who believes in the American promise. A staggering 40% of Americans now believe that Asian Americans are more loyal to their ancestral homelands than to the United States. This isn't just a baseline level of prejudice; it’s a sentiment that has nearly doubled since 2021, proving that the "perpetual foreigner" trope is being weaponized with renewed vigor in the current political climate.

This surge isn't happening in a vacuum, as the data shows a direct link to the temperature of global politics. The gap is widest among those who view foreign nations, particularly China, as an existential threat to the US In the minds of many, every AAPI neighbor becomes a proxy for a foreign government, turning geopolitical tensions into a personal tax on our sense of belonging and safety.

FYI: Download the full report

The gap also exposes a fundamental disagreement over what it even means to be "truly American." While half of the general public still clings to US birth as the ultimate litmus test for identity, the vast majority of AAPI individuals — especially the younger generation — rightfully reject that narrow definition. This creates a social friction where AAPI citizens feel forced to exhibit "hyper-patriotism" just to be viewed as equal stakeholders in their own country.

Perhaps most disconcerting is the disconnect between how we see ourselves and how the public sees us. 

The US public is divided over who counts as "truly American." As the Supreme Court weighs challenges to birthright citizenship, half of US adults say being born in the US is important to being truly American, while 77% of AAPIs say it is not. AAPIs are also more likely than other groups to rate being white (93%) or being a Christian (84%) as unimportant to American identity.

While the vast majority of AAPI individuals view themselves as fully and proudly American, they are living in a society where their loyalty is treated as a subject of open debate. This "loyalty tax" creates a baseline of psychological exhaustion, leaving many to wonder if the goalposts for "belonging" will simply keep moving further out of reach.

Views of AAPI status differ sharply by race and ethnicity. White Americans see the "model minority" and view the status of Asian Americans in US society as more similar to white people (64%) than to people of color (31%), but most AAPI say "uh-uh" to the harmful stereotype and agree with Black, and Hispanic adults. Nearly 3 in 4 AAPIs (74%) see the status of their own racial group as more similar to people of color than to white people.

Perpetual foreigner

Accordinrg to the latest STAATUS Index, the "perpetual foreigner" trope isn't just alive and well in America — it’s actually gaining steam. Despite decades of contributions to the cultural and economic fabric of this country, the data shows a troubling disconnect in how our neighbors see us.

The numbers tell a story of a community that is respected for its labor but doubted for its loyalty. A staggering 40% of Americans now believe that Asian Americans are more loyal to their ancestral homelands than to the U.S. This isn't just a slight increase; it’s a figure that has nearly doubled since 2021, suggesting that the political climate and global tensions are hitting home in a very personal way for the AAPI community.

While most Americans (82%) are quick to place us on the upper rungs of the social ladder—buying into that tired "model minority" narrative—they aren't exactly seeing us as leaders or cultural movers. Nearly half of the country says Asian Americans have little to no influence on U.S. culture. Even more telling? Almost 50% of people surveyed couldn't name a single famous Asian American. It’s hard to feel like you belong when you’re essentially invisible in the public eye.

The internal toll of this perception is heavy. While the outside world sees "reliable" and "respectful" workers, the AAPI community is living with a baseline of fear. One in three reported experiencing a hate incident in the last year, and 63% say they feel unsafe in their daily lives. 

We are stuck between being viewed as high-achieving "super-citizens" and suspicious outsiders, a duality that leaves many wondering if they will ever truly be seen as "American enough."

Republican-leaning respondents are more likely to express skepticism about AAPI loyalty. This is often tied to "traditional" views of American identity that prioritize birthright and assimilation.

Meanwhile, Democrat-leaning respondents generally score lower on the "loyalty gap" scale but are also more likely to express frustration with the lack of AAPI representation in leadership, highlighting a different kind of political disconnect.

Hate and safety

The STAATUS Index isn't just a collection of data points; it’s a mirror reflecting a harsh reality for Asian Americans. For those of us keeping watch, the latest findings confirm what many in the community feel every time they walk out the door: the shadow of hate hasn't faded.

According to the latest reports from The Asian American Foundation (TAAF), nearly 1 in 2 Asian Americans say they feel unsafe in this country simply because of their race or ethnicity. This isn't a "post-pandemic" recovery; it’s a persistent state of anxiety.

 While the headlines may have moved on, the verbal abuse, racial slurs, and physical threats have not.

The numbers tell a story of a community under pressure. Half of the AAPI community reports feeling unsafe in public spaces. Whether it’s a subway platform or a neighborhood park, that sense of security remains shattered.

Nearly 3 in 10 Asian Americans reported being verbally harassed or abused in the last year. It’s the low-level, constant hum of hostility that defines the daily experience for many.

The Foreigner Trope: The "perpetual foreigner" myth is still alive and kicking. A staggering 40% of Americans still believe Asian Americans are more loyal to their ancestral homelands than to the US.

As tensions between the US and China simmer, it’s Asian Americans who pay the price. The index shows a direct link between political rhetoric and the distrust or "threat" perceived by the general public.

What the STAATUS Index reveals is a profound lack of belonging. For women and the younger generation especially, the "American Dream" is being taxed by a climate of suspicion. We aren't just looking at statistics; we're looking at a community being told, day after day, that they don't quite fit in.

The 2024 and 2025 reports serve as a wake-up call. Awareness might be up, but the reality on the ground — the harassment in our streets and the bias in our systems—proves that the fight for safety and visibility is far from over.

Generational divide

The report notes that 32% of Americans believe AAPI have gained influence in the last five years, with younger Americans (Gen Z) more likely to recognize this shift.

According to the TAAF-sponsored report, there is a sharp generational divide in how Americans define belonging, while the workplace remains a site of "invisible" barriers for AAPI professionals.

The report highlights that Gen Z is leading a shift away from traditional definitions of American identity. Only 23% of Gen Z AAPI respondents believe that being born in the U.S. is essential to being "truly American," compared to 50% of the general public.

This younger cohort is also significantly more likely to recognize AAPI cultural influence in the US, likely due to the rise of AAPI representation in digital media, music, and food. However, Gen Z AAPI individuals also report higher levels of loneliness and a sense of "not belonging" compared to their older counterparts, suggesting that increased visibility has not yet translated into social security.

Bamboo ceiling

Regarding the "bamboo ceiling," the data confirms that stereotypes continue to stall career advancement for AAPI, except for South Asian Americans.

While East and South Asian Americans are rated highly for traits like being "reliable," "respectful," and "hardworking," they receive significantly lower scores for "assertiveness" and "charisma"—traits typically associated with leadership in American corporate culture.

South Asians are more often perceived as more "vocal" or "assertive" than East Asians, which has led to higher representation in certain C-suite roles (e.g., Silicon Valley CEOs).

However, even though aggressiveness is admired among white workers, South Asians who exhibit this trait are viewed as "abrasive" or "difficult to work with" when they do exhibit leadership traits. While they may break the "bamboo ceiling" more often than East Asians, they face a higher "likability penalty" in corporate environments.

This "likability vs. leadership" gap remains a primary driver of the glass ceiling for AAPI workers. Furthermore, while 82% of Americans view AAPI people as being on the upper half of the social ladder, this perception of "success" often masks the lack of actual decision-making power and representation in the C-suite.

View from the Edge

Asian Americans are more worried (44%) than other ethnic groups about the state of the country, Trump and the future, according to the STAATUS survey.

Worry is more top of mind for AAPIs than for other groups. When asked how they feel about life right now, Americans overall most often say hopeful (48%), including white (50%), Black (53%), and Hispanic (44%) adults. AAPIs are the only racial or ethnic group for whom worry (44%) outranks hope (40%).

It is a sad state of affairs that after centuries of being in this country contributing to its culture, technology, economy and medical advancements, the results still shows how much most nonAsian Americans don't know about AAPI people.

However, there is a ray of hope.

The barriers to understanding aren’t just about bias—they’re also about awareness. Most of the American public lacks relationships with Asian Americans, and more than half can’t name a single significant moment in Asian American history. But the data also points to something hopeful: Americans are open to engagement

Engagement also happens out in the community. When asked what would encourage them to visit ethnic neighborhoods like Chinatowns, Manilatowns, Little Indias, Koreatowns, and Little Saigons more often, Americans point to practical draws: More events and local business promotion (40%), new and interesting businesses (32%), and more affordable offerings (28%).

Ethnic celebrations the different Asian New Years, parades and food fairs along with cultural events like the Parol Lantern Festival & Parade, Cherry Blossom Festivals and Holi are ways to invite nonAsians into our communities and to announce our presence. 

It's also important for those AAPI who are in positions of influence or celebrityhood to not be shy about their ethnic heritage to make it crystal clear that AAPI  are here and already an integral part of American society and culture. It behooves all of us to step out of our comfort zones to make sure our voices and issues are heard, whether it be in the voting booth, school board meetings or in corporate board rooms.

Don't be silent.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. If you find this perspective interesting, please repost.

Olivia Rodrigo hosts Saturday Night Live

When Olivia Rodrigo steps onto the Studio 8H stage Saturday night, she won’t just be carrying the weight of a double-duty performance; she’ll be carrying the pride of a community that has waited far too long for this moment.

The history of Filipino Americans on Saturday Night Live is surprisingly short. We have to look all the way back to 2012 to find the first: Bruno Mars. 

During his stint as host and musical guest, Mars didn't shy away from his identity, proudly mentioning his Filipino and Puerto Rican roots. It was a milestone that felt like a breakthrough, yet the door didn't exactly swing wide open afterward. 

In fact, of the more than 1000 episodes of SNL, not many Asian Americans have had the hosting job at all. Despite the massive contributions of the community to the arts, the roster of AANHPI hosts remains a small, exclusive club. We’ve seen trailblazers like Jackie Chan and Lucy Liu way back in 2000, followed by a long drought until Aziz Ansari in 2017, followed quickly with Kumail Nanjiani, Awkwafina in 2018, Sandra Oh in 2019 and Simu Liu in 2021.

Now, at the start of AANHPI Heritage Month, Rodrigo has the floor. Let's hope that like Bruno, Olivia uses the opportunity to bring her racial rooots to America's attention. 

For SNL's episode this Saturday she is set to perform her lead single "Drop Dead" and has teased a brand-new, unheard song from her upcoming album, You Seem Pretty Sad For A Girl So In Love.

As for the comedy, fans are looking forward to Rodrigo's recurring role as "Georgina" in a follow-up to her popular "Tiny Ass Bag" sketch. She’s also been seen in promos parodying The Devil Wears Prada, with James Austin Johnson taking on a spot-on Miranda Priestly, suggesting we might see some fashion-forward satire tomorrow night.

For a show that has often been criticized for its lack of diversity, having a Filipina powerhouse lead the penultimate episode of Season 51 isn't just "good timing"—it’s a long-overdue spotlight on the talent that has always been there.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. If you find this perspective interesting, please repost.

Filipino Food Month: Filipino food and vegan is not an oxymoron

KQED

Mestiza serves traditional Filipino dishes but a large part of their menu offers plant-based options.

The San Francisco Bay Area is known for its innovation and starting trends that spread out to the rest of the nation especially in the areas of high tech, bioengineering and artificial intelligence. Watch out for this new trend: vegan Filipino food.

The Bay Area is also currently the epicenter of a culinary revolution where heritage meets high-octane plant-based innovation. If you’re looking for the intersection of bold, vinegar-laced Umami and ethical eating, the city’s Filipino vegan scene is delivering in a big way. 

Much of the innovation in this culinary field is centered in SOMA Pilipinas, the  city's official Filipino Cultural Heritage District revolving around Kapwa Kollective and its events with The Sarap Shop.

Anchored in the SOMA Pilipinas cultural district, the Filipino vegan movement isn't just about cutting out meat — it’s a radical reclamation of identity through the lens of kapwa, the core Filipino value of shared inner self and deep interconnectedness.

Through the vibrant, open-air healing space of Kapwa Gardens, the collective is proving that "Filipino food" and "vegan" aren't contradictory terms. Their "OMG! (Oh My Gulay)" initiatives and high-energy pop-up events have become a launchpad for a new generation of chefs. 

We’re seeing a creative explosion where plant-based artisans like The Sarap Shop and  Mestiza reimagine comfort classics—think tofu sisig and vegan ube treats—not as "health food," but as essential cultural preservation.

By centering wellness and sustainability, the Kapwa Kollective is doing more than just feeding the community; they are building a "shared identity" that honors the archipelago’s pre-colonial plant-based roots while navigating the complexities of the modern diaspora. In a city where gentrification often erases culture, this movement is planting a flag for a future that is indigenous, ethical, and incredibly delicious.

RELATED:

• New wave of Filipino American chefs 
• How a Filipino root made Philippine cuisine 'cool'
• Filipino food trucks are gateways to Filipino food.
• Discovering the joy of eating with your hands
• For Filipinos, mealtime fills the belly and feeds the soul
• US foodies celebrate Filiipino Food Month

Filipino American chefs here aren't just removing the meat; they are re-engineering the very soul of the cuisine using mushrooms, soy proteins, and coconut-based fats to achieve that signature "sour and salty" profile.

The essential map

Here are some (not all) of the restaurants taking up the baton of vegan cuisine based on Filipino recipes:

• Mestiza (SOMA): This is Filipino-Mexican fusion with a heavy plant-forward tilt. Their 13-inch lumpia is legendary, trading traditional pork for a savory mix of sweet potato and charred brussels sprouts.
• The Sarap Shop (Spark Social SF): This food truck is the gold standard for "conscious comfort." Their tofu adobo is a masterclass in marination, proving you don’t need the pig to get the punch.
• No Worries (Oakland): A total sanctuary for the dedicated vegan. It’s one of the few spots where the entire menu is safe, offering plant-based versions of heavy-hitters that taste like they came straight from a Lola’s kitchen.
• The Top Ten Filipino Vegan Restaurants in the Bay Area, according to Yelp.

A new flavor profile

• Sisig Redefined: By utilizing chopped king oyster mushrooms and firm tofu, chefs are mimicking the chewy, crispy texture of pork ears perfectly.
• Lumpia Evolution: Expect vegetable-dense fillings enhanced by house-made spiced vinegars that cut through the richness of the fry.
• The Secret Sauce: Coconut milk remains the MVP, providing the creamy base for Bicol Express and various curries that remain naturally vegan.

Sensing the movement towards health options, many of the traditional Filipino restaurants in the Bay Area, which includes the East Bay and South Bay, running the gamut from the high-end Abacá restaurant to the food trucks, often offer vegan choices in their menus. 

Health conscious chefs continue to prove that traditional Filipino flavors aren't tied to specific ingredients, but to the technique and passion of the people behind the line.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. If you enjoy this perspective, please repost.