PBS plans documentary series on Asian Americans for 2020

A mural, created by seven Filipino artists and donated to the Philippine-Louisiana Historical Society, depicts the lives of Louisiana's Manilamen, the Filipino settlers who founded the first permanent Asian American settlement in the New World probably in the late 1500s.

ASAM NEWS

PBS and WETA announced Monday a new five-part documentary series on Asian Americans, scheduled to broadcast in May 2020 for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.

According to press materials, as welcome as the project will be, it apparently will be skipping the opening chapters of Asian American history.

A unique aspect of the limited series is that Asian Americans will be looking at the significant role of Asians Americans in shaping US history and identity from the first wave of Asian immigrants in the 1850s, according to a press release.

“These are American stories: stories of resilience in the face of racism, of overcoming challenges as refugees from war and strife, of making contributions in all sectors of society: business, technology, military service, and the arts," said Stephen Gong, Executive Director of the Center for Asian American Media. 

The series is helmed by a team of Asian American filmmakers, including the Academy Award-nominated series producer Renee Tajima-Peña (Who Killed Vincent Chin?). 

“As America’s home for documentaries, PBS is committed to telling stories that illuminate and celebrate the rich diversity of our country,” said Paula Kerger, PBS President and CEO. “We are proud to share this important series with our audiences, and to deepen understanding about the extraordinary impact of Asian Americans on our national identity.”

Unfortunately, by apparently focusing on East Asian migration, the series would omit any mention of the first  documented arrival of Asians setting foot in the New World off the California coast in 1587, or the founding of the first permanent settlement in the Louisiana bayous in the late 1500s by Filipino seamen who escaped their forced service on the Spanish galleons.

PBS is making this a Multiplatform initiative that will consider what it means to be a US citizen. Sharon Percy Rockefeller, President and CEO of WETA, said, “Following our previous series, The Jewish Americans, The Italian Americans and Latino Americans, WETA remains committed to revealing the significant stories of the entire American people.”

“We are proud to support the Center for Asian American Media for the important work they do bringing programs about the Asian American experience to public media and audiences across the country,” said Pat Harrison, CPB president and CEO.

Executive producers are Jeff Bieber and Dalton Delan for WETA; Stephen Gong and Donald Young for CAAM; Sally Jo Fifer for ITVS; and Jean Tsien. 

“We are proud to have WETA as a partner on this milestone series, which weaves the histories of many Asian American communities within the broad sweep of American history,” said Gong.

"These Asian American experiences and voices provide a vital foundation for a future fast approaching, in which no single ethnic or racial group defines America, in which shared principles will define who we are as Americans.”

VIEWS FROM THE EDGE contributed to this report.

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