Rise in AsAm firearm purchases linked to racism on mental distress, alcohol use, during the pandemic

Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

By Kate Barnes, University of Michigan

Racism provoked during the COVID-19 pandemic is directly tied to increased firearm purchases among Asian Americans, according to a study led by researchers at the University of Michigan and Eastern Michigan University.

The study, published in the Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, is believed to be the first to examine the relationship between racism, mental distress, alcohol use and firearm purchasing behavior among Asian Americans during the pandemic.

Evaluation of the data showed that experiencing racism was both directly and indirectly related to firearm purchases.

        READ: The original article in University of Michigan's 'Medical Press.'

"Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Asian Americans have experienced multiple threats, including hostile rhetoric, violence, exposure to invectives, negative stories in the media, and anti-Asian hate and incidents," said lead author Tsu-Yin Wu, professor and director of the Center for Health Disparities Innovation and Studies at Eastern Michigan University.

"The study results showed that Asian Americans' racism experience is associated with increased mental distress, alcohol use and firearm purchases. The mechanism further illustrated that mental distress and alcohol use were also linked to firearm purchases, which means racism affects firearm purchase in a heightened way both directly and indirectly."

        RELATED: Anti-Asian hate gives rise in gun purchases among Asian Americans

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow Threads.net/eduardodiok, @DioknoEd on Twitter or the blog Views From the Edge.

Representation Matters: Looking forward to watching 'Expats' and 'Avatar: The Last Airbender'

'ExPats' will center on three women living in turbulent Hong Kong.

Two new television offerings with Asian American themes and characters may make viewers forget the loss of two favorite series, Warrior and American Born Chinese.

Max's Warrior and Disney's American Born Chinese were canceled for poor ratings. Although popular with Asian American audiences for depicting AsAm stories rarely seen on American TV, they apparently failed to gain a enough of an audience to satisfy the studios.

However, coming up early this year are two new productions that will hopefully fill the void and present Asian Americans in all their complexity beyond the ordinary simple stereotypes portrayed in the simplistic mindset of American media.

Amazon's Expats and Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender will introduce Asian American storylines from opposite ends of the entertainment spectrum.

The more "serious" of the two, Expats is a heavyweight drama starring A-lister Nicole Kidman, will debut today. Set against the complex tapestry of Hong Kong residents, Expats depicts a multifaceted group of women after a single encounter sets off a chain of life-altering events that leaves everyone navigating the intricate balance between blame and accountability.

It is based on Yasmin Y.K. Lee’s 2016 novel “Expatriates,” the six-episode Expats is being produced by Kidman and directed by Lulu Wang, whose debut film, The Farewell, won a Golden Globe for best "Foreign Language" film, a controversial distinction since it was an Asian American motion picture.

While the main storyline is about how three women handle grief after a family tragedy. Besides Kidman, who plays Margaret, she shares the story with Sarayu Blu portraying Hilary, an Indian American expat, and Ji-young Yoo, who plays Mercy, a 20-something Korean American.

The personal tragedy affecting the women is set in Hong Kong as it experiences the social and political unrest 2016's "Umbrella Revolution."

What really intrigues me, though, the Downstairs, Upstairs setting of Episode 5 as the series explores Hong Kong's underbelly, made up mostly by Filipino immigrant workers hired to cater to the upper echelons of Hong Kong society as maids, nanny's and cooks.

Wang contrasts the fancy parties and cold modernity of the rich, "all navigating their Western guilt over the maids, cooks, and babysitters, euphemistically called 'helpers') hired to support their lifestyle.

Episode 5's dtour makes sense because the Filipinos are expatriates, too. "Margaret’s nanny Essie (Ruby Ruiz) is a woman torn between her loyalty to her grieving employers and her family back in the Philippines urging her to retire and come back home. Hilary’s “helper” Puri (a radiant Amelyn Pardenilla) finds herself performing emotional labor for her employer in the wake of her crumbling marriage," writes  RogerEbert.com.

The latest incarnation of Avatar: The Last Airbender will feature an all Asian American cast.

It will be interesting to see if Avatar: The Last Airbender will succeed where American Born Chinese failed. Like ABC, Airbender will take the audience into a fantasy world peopled by Asians where the elements of fire, water and air can be controlled by Avatars.

This is not the first time the original anime story based on the comic book was transformed into live-action. Anime fans will remember (or willfully forget) the disastrous whitewashed 2010 M. Night Shyamalan flop? This 8-episode series will debut Feb. 22.

The synopsis offered by Netflix follows:

“Water. Earth. Fire. Air. The four nations once lived in harmony, with the Avatar, master of all four elements, keeping peace between them. But everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked and wiped out the Air Nomads, the first step taken by the firebenders towards conquering the world. With the current incarnation of the Avatar yet to emerge, the world has lost hope. But like a light in the darkness, hope springs forth when Aang, a young Air Nomad — and the last of his kind — reawakens to take his rightful place as the next Avatar. Alongside his newfound friends Sokka and Katara, siblings and members of the Southern Water Tribe, Aang embarks on a fantastical, action-packed quest to save the world and fight back against the fearsome onslaught of Fire Lord Ozai. But with a driven Crown Prince Zuko determined to capture them, it won’t be an easy task.They’ll need the help of the many allies and colorful characters they meet along the way.”

To the relief of its legion of fans, this current version of Airbender will stay truer to its roots by using Asian American actors in the main roles. Tthe production is led by 14-year-old Gordon Comier as Aang, the Avatar who can control all four elements. 

Aang’s two best friends, Sokka and Katara, will be played by Ian Ousley and Kiawentiio, respectively. The beloved anti-hero Fire Nation Crown Prince Zuko, who was voiced by Filipino American actor Dante Basco in the animated version, will be played by 22-year-old Dallas Liu.

The three seasons of Warrior , which featured some of the best action choreography, was picked up by Netflix and there is hope that the increased viewership of the series will prompt more stories of the historical drama inspired by the late martial arts icon Bruce Lee.

American Born Chinese, from the perspective of a contemporary Chinese American, was so relatable to Asian Americans, it's too bad Disney didn't have the patience to  let the series find its audience much like Never Have I Ever was able to do and by growing its viewership an Indian American  teenager navigate between two cultures. 

Expats and Avatar: The Last Airbender will hopefully carry on covering a wide spectrum of emotions and stories as Hollywood and North American audiences discover the diverse worlds beyond the usual black and white paradime and beyond a one-and-done series. 

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow me at Threads.net/eduardodiok, @DioknoEd on Twitter or at the blog Views From the Edge.

''Past Lives' earns two Academy Awards nominations

Teo Yoo and Greta Lee star in 'Past Lives.'

Past Lives, a story of childhood friends in Korea reconnect as adults in the United States received two Oscar nominations for Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay.

“It’s just so amazing. It’s such a great honor, and on the first movie, I think that’s really the coolest thing,” filmmaker Celine Song told Deadline. “It feels so ... cool and amazing, and I just genuinely am so ... grateful for every single person…who’s ever come across being a part of this movie, anybody who’s even talked to me about this movie.”

        FYI: The complete list of nominees for 2024 Academy Awards

The lyrical film served as ametaphor for the pull of countries of origi was also the directorial debut of by Korean Canadian Song.

It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in Jan. 2023, Past Lives was named one of the top ten films of 2023 by the National Board of Review and the American Film Institute, then received five nominations at the 81st Golden Globe Awards, including Best Motion Picture – Drama.

Some critics believe the quiet romantic film should have received nominations for Best Director and its female lead Greta Lee should have been nominated for Best Actress.

An Oscar nomination also went to Nai Nai and Wai Po, (Mom's mom and Dad's Mom) in the Short Documentary category about two grandparents who become best friends and live together. The "love letter" to the two grandparents is written and directed by their grandson Sean Wang.

The 96th Academy Awards will air on ABC on March 10 and hosted by Jimmy Kimmel.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow me at Threads.net/eduardodiok, @DioknoEd on Twitter or at the blog Views From the Edge.

Nikki Haley's astounding views on race may impact New Hampshire primary

SCREEN CAPTURE / C-SPAN

Nikki Haley hopes to do well in the New Hapshire primary today.

As New Hampshire counts its primary votes today, Presidential candidate Nikki Haley continues to dig a deeper hole for herself on the question of racism in the United States.

Haley is the last remaining rival to Donald Trump winning the GOP nomiination for President. The former UN Ambassador and ex-South Carolina governor is drawing the wrong kind of attention to herself that could hurt her in the upcoming primary. 

During the CNN town hall last week, the former South Carolina governor was asked if she stood by that answer, given the country’s history of legal racism, including slavery. Haley doubled down, saying that America was founded on the idea that all men are created equal.

Even though many of the framers of the Constitution were slave owners and they signed the country's guiding principles that included counting Black slaves as three-fifths of a White person, Haley continued

"The intent was to do the right thing,” she said of the writers of the US Constitution.. “Now, did they have to go fix it along the way? Yes, but I don’t think the intent was ever that we were going to be a racist country.”

On a personal level, she said that while she experienced racism growing up in rural South Carolina, her parents told her that those experiences wouldn’t define what she could achieve.

“We had plenty of racism that we had to deal with, but my parents never said we lived in a racist country, and I’m so thankful they didn’t,” Haley said. “Because for every brown and Black child out there, if you tell them they live or were born in a racist country, you’re immediately telling them they don’t have a chance.”

Haley pointed to her own achievements of becoming one of the first female minority governors in the country and later Trump’s US ambassador to the United Nations. She echoed comments she’s made on the campaign trail that too many Americans have a “national self loathing,” even though the US is not “racist” but “blessed.”

“I think it’s important that we tell all kids that, ‘Look, America is not perfect. We have our stains, we know that,’” she said. “But our goal should always be to make today better than yesterday.”

Haley's latest comments comes days after a town hall questioner asked her  about the cause of the Civil War without mentioning once, the word slavery. A day later she had to clarify her answer, "Of course it was about slavery," she said.

MSNBC News host Mehdi Hasan, an Indian American, also criticized Haley's racial blindness. Reminding Haley of her Indian American heritage, Hasan posted on X: 

"What about that time you said you got excluded from a kids' beauty contest for being brown? Or that time you said your dad was profiled at a market because of his turban?" 

After Haley finished a distant third in the Iowa Caucuses behind Donald Trump and FLorida Governor Ron DeSantis, she is hoping for a stronger showing in New Hampshire where she has been closing the gap between her and Trump. When  DeSantis dropped out of the race Sunday, she's halfway there.

Indian American businessman Vivek Ramaswamy finished in the fourth in the Iowa caucuses. His poor showing convinced him to end his campaign and throw his support to Trump.

Haley's apparent gaffs on race might, however, might raise her appeal to White voters. New Hampshire is one of the whitest states in the nation with 87% of its population counted as White in the US Census. Asians account for only 2.6% of the New England state.

No matter how she fnishes in New Hampsire, nationally her position on racism may hurt her nationally. Her assertion runs counter to the experience of the majority of Asian Americans. A recnt poll from AAPI Data and The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found 15% of Asian American and Pacific Islanders specifically say they believe they have been the victim of a hate crime. About half — 51% — believe racism is an “extremely” or “very serious” problem in the US.

But as Haley fights for relevancy by courting moderate Republicans, she is losing the fight for a portion of the Indian American vote. Of all the Asian ethnic groups and nationalities, Indian Americans have remained overwhelmingly Democratic with 68% of Indian American voters leaning towards the Dems. A candidates' racial origins were less of a deciding factor with Asian American voters than a candidates' positions on issues.

As if a backlash to her comments on racism wasn't bad enough, Trump pulled out the race card against Haley by deliberately referring to her as Nimrada, a supposed play on Haley's full name Nimarata Nikki Randhawa and sounds a lot like "nimrod," On his social media he inaccurately claimed she is ineligible for the presidency because her parents were not US citizens when she was born in 1972.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow me at Threads.net/eduardodiok, @DioknoEd on Twitter or at the blog Views From the Edge.

Monterey Park shooting anniversary: Biden reminds nation of need for stricter gun measures

SCREEN CAPTURE / NBC

People memorialized the mass shooting at the Star Dance Studio in Monterey Park, California. 

Asian Americans are back in Monterey Park's dance studios, a year after the deadly mass  shooting rampage took the lives of 11 of their fellow dancers.

President Biden used the anniversary Sunday to remind people of the need for gun safety measures.

 "It’s long past time we banned assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, ended immunity from liability for gun manufacturers, passed a national red flag law, enacted universal background checks, and required safe storage of guns," said Biden in a statement. "We cannot tackle the gun violence epidemic in America while Republicans in Congress sit on their hands."

Sunday, January 21, 2024, marked one year since a gunman entered Star Dance Studio in Monterey Park, California, and opened fire, murdering 11 individuals and seriously wounding 9 others. The shooter then went on to Lai Lai Ballroom in Alhambra, attempted to enter and continue his killing spree, and was only stopped by the heroic actions of Brandon Tsay, who saved countless lives that day.

The shooting suspect, 72-year-old Huu Can Tran, took his own life later in the evening.

“As we grieved and healed this past year, I was encouraged by the remarkable stories of hope and unity; so many of my neighbors, and strangers from across the country, courageously offered support, raised money for the families affected, and helped us process the trauma," said Congressmember Judy Chu, whose district includes Monterey Park.

This shootings, the worst in Los Angeles County history, occurred on the eve of Lunar New Year in a community that is majority Asian American and is considered the first suburban Chinatown in the nation.

“[Monterey Park] has a very central role in the Asian American community, which is why the January 21st shooting impacted so many people,” Henry Lo, a council member and former mayor of Monterey Park, told Time magazine. "A lot of communities look to us as a leader, and I think it’s important to show that we will not forget the victims, but also acknowledge important events in the community."

A memorial vigil was held Sunday and the city will celebrate Lunar New Year with a two-day event.

The dance studios, important social gathering spots for the city's Asian American  residents, are busy again with senior citizens learning the tango and walthz or the latest dance steps. At the Star Dance Studio, a makeshift memorial remembered those that fell victim to gun violence last year.

Victims' families and survivors are still struggling with the tragedy, though. 

“My dad Valentino Alvero was one of the victims, and I cannot express to you how much the community support has helped my family and me heal from losing my dad to tragedy,” Kristenne Reidy told the Orange County Register. “The shock and the grief that came with their deaths traumatize me so much that every time I was invited to a party, especially one with dancing and singing, I couldn’t help but feel a tremor of sorrow, with my dad’s final moments in the back of my mind.”

Chu, who calls Monterey Park her hometown, pointed out that President Biden, who came to Monterey Park, personally consoled each of the victim’s families, and announced historic executive actions to reduce gun violence and stem the tidal wave of mass shootings plaguing the nation. There were 658 mass shootings in the U.S. last year, according to the the Gun Violence Archive.

"Importantly, we also need Congress to do its part. It’s long past time we banned assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, ended immunity from liability for gun manufacturers, passed a national red flag law, enacted universal background checks, and required safe storage of guns," said Biden. "We cannot tackle the gun violence epidemic in America while Republicans in Congress sit on their hands".

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow me at Threads.net/eduardodiok, @DioknoEd on Twitter or at the blog Views From the Edge.

Marking the 50th anniversary of 'Lau v. Nichols' which established bilingual education

Today, January 21, 2024, marks the 50th anniversary of the landmark 1974 Supreme Court case Lau v. Nichols, which created the legal basis for bilingual education and language access services and expanded rights for students with Limited English Proficiency (LEP).

Since the decision, courts have relied on Lau v. Nichols for several language access cases, which have increased opportunities for LEP istudents nationwide, including instruction in Asian languages such as Chinese, Tagalog and Vietnamese.

The historic case "continues to be a significant milestone for educational equity and language access for AANHPI and immigrant communities today," said Rep. Judy Chu, chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific Caucus.

This class suit brought by non-English-speaking Chinese students against officials responsible for the operation of the San Francisco Unified School District sought relief against the unequal educational opportunities, a decision which violatd the the 14th Amendment, which bans discrimination based on “race, color, or national origin.” The Supreme Court ruled that students who require additional English instruction to succeed in school have a right to those services.

In 2020, five million public school students, including over half a million Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) students, were English learners and eligible for language assistance.

"As we recognize this anniversary of Lau v. Nichols, we must build upon its legacy by increasing language access across the entire federal government, so that everyone that calls America home can fully participate in public education and all areas of public lifem” said Chu.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow me at Threads.net/eduardodiok, @DioknoEd on Twitter or at the blog Views From the Edge.

Awkwafina will lead SF's Chinese New Year Parade

Awkwafina, AKA Nora Lum, will lead San Francisco's Chinese New Year parade.

Award-winning actress Awkwafina has been chosen to be the Grand Marshall of this year's Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco.

The Chinese New Year Festival & Parade draws over a. million onlookers to the city. This year the parade and festival will culminate Lunar New Year observances on Saturday, February 24 as we usher in the Year of the Dragon.

“It’s such an honor to serve as Grand Marshal of the San Francisco Lunar New Year Parade! I’m so excited to celebrate with our community,” says Awkwafina

“Having been born in the year of the dragon, I look forward to fostering growth and progress that the upcoming year will bring for us.”

, who will be starring in the upcoming Kung Fu Panda 4 as Zhen, a fox who teams up with the franchise’s legendary Dragon Warrior, Po. “Having been born in the year of the dragon, I look forward to fostering growth and progress that the upcoming year will bring for us.”

The 35-year old actress is one of th most recognizable Asian American stars in the country. She grew up with her given name, Nora Lum, and has since used her trademark comedic style and signature flair to become a breakout talent in the entertainment industry. 

The actress has starred in several major Asian American Hollywood movies in recent years, including Crazy Rich Asians and Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. She’s also the first Asian to win a Golden Globe for best actress in a motion picture, musical or comedy, for her role in The Farewell.

Lum can currently be seen in the dysfunctional family comedy Hulu feature film Quiz Lady, which she produced and stars alongside Sandra Oh. She also stars in Comedy Central's Awkwafina is Nora from Queens, loosely based on her youth growing up in Queens, a borough of New York City.

Awkwafina is one of the busiest actresses in Hollywood. In 2-24 she can next be heard in Illumination’s Migration, voicing a pigeon alongside a family of ducks. It is slated to be released on December 22. Lum is also voicing a character for  DreamWork’s highly anticipated Kung Fu Panda 4 in March of 2024. She has also been cast, along with Simu Liu and John Cena,tin in Amazon Studio’s upcoming action-comedy Grand Death Lotto, directed by Paul Feig.

She is not the first Hollywood star to lead San Francisco's parade, the biggest Lunar New Year parade in the country. Last year, Warrior star Rich Ting was the grand marshal and Michelle Yeoh was the parade lead in 2018.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow me at Threads.net/eduardodiok, @DioknoEd on Twitter or at the blog Views From the Edge.

Five Emmys go to 'Beef' and its stars Ali Wong, Steven Yeun

Director and writer Lee Sung Jin accepts an Emmy for the limited series 'Beef.'

Beef, the Netlifx series that destroyed the model minority stereotype for Asian Americans, won five Emmys including one for Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series, a first for a series with an Asian American storyline starring a mostly Asian American cast.

It was a really good night for Succession and The Bear but Asian Americans were cheering for Beef, which ended up winning five awards. In addition, it was awarded Emmys for Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series, and its lead protagonists, Ali Wong and Steven Yeun, won Emmys as Lead Actress and Actor Emmy for Outstanding Limited series.

Beef's creator Lee Sung Jin was awarded two Emmys for Directing and Writing for a Limited or Anthology Series.

"I wouldn't be standing here without my parents, my amazing parents, my mother and my father who I so wish was alive to share this moment with me," Wong said as she accepteed her Emmy, "My hilarious father who loved me unconditionally and taught me the value of failure."

        FYI: Complete list of Primetime Emmy Awards

"To my beautiful daughters, you are my everything and thank you for inspiring me," she added of her two young girls — Mari, 8, and Nikki, 6 — whom she shares custody with ex-husband Justin Hakuta. "This is for you."

With his award, Yeun has cemented his spot in Hollywood pantehon of great actors. Yeun, who broke out in The Walkind Dead TV series, previously earned widespread acclaim for his outings in Minari and Burning.

In his acceptance speech, he said that there were days when it became extremely difficult for him to "live in Danny's skin," and added that there were times when he wanted to judge him while on some occasions he wanted to make fun on him as well. Yeun then shared that Andrew Cooper, the on-set photographer of Beef, had once told him to "Never bail on Danny."

The actor went on to add, "I wanna thank Danny for teaching me that judgment and shame is a lonely place, but compassion and grace is where we can all meet."

Beef is a story of road rage between the characters of Wong an Yeun. Their anger, irrational feud and their evolution from protagonists to understnanding showed a side of Asian Americans that is rarely depicted in media where the model minority stereotype continues to dominate peoples' perceptions.

“Wow, thank you. You know, a lot of the suicidal ideation in this show was based on stuff that I and some of the folks up here have struggled with over the years,” said creator Jin after he called up the cast of Beef to share the stage with him. The A24 series is also nominated in both supporting actor categories with Joseph Lee, Young Mazino and Maria Bello..

“So I’m really grateful and humbled by everyone who watched the show and reached out about their own personal struggles," Jin continued. "It’s very life-affirming, so thank you.

“I feel like we live in a world designed to kind of keep us separate,” he continued. “Even here, some of us go home with trophies, other people don’t. I think for some of us when we live in a world like this, you begin to think there’s no way anyone can ever understand you or like you or much less no potential at being loved. So the greatest joy of working on ‘Beef’ has truly been working with the folks up here who loved so unconditionally. Thank you to them. To anyone out there who directly or indirectly was involved with the show, thank you so much.”

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow me at Threads.net/eduardodiok, @DioknoEd on Twitter or at the blog Views From the Edge.

Asian Americans are the fastest-growing group of eligible voters in US

The role of Asian American voters in key areas is getting noticed.

After the 2020 and 2021 national elections, Asian American voters have grabbed the attention of the political parties as the 2024 campaigns heat up.

Asian Americans have been the fastest-growing group of eligible voters in the United States over roughly the past two decades abut their influence wasn't noticed until 2020 when their votes were able to determine the outcome in some close elections.

Using US Census data, Pew Research Center analysts found ghe numbe of Asian American votersr has grown by 15%, or about 2 million eligible voters, in the past four years. That’s faster than the 3% growth rate for all eligible voters during that span and the 12% for Hispanic eligible voters.

In the 21st Century Asian Americans have leaned more towards the Democrats. In 2020, 72% of English-speaking, single-race, Asian voters said they voted for Democrat Joe Biden for president, while 28% said they voted for Republican Donald Trump, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of validated voters.

        FYI: Read the complee analysis by Pew

As the 2024 presidential election approaches, here are six key facts about Asian American eligible voters in the U.S., based on our own projections for 2024, as well as Census Bureau data for previous years. (Eligible voters in this analysis are defined as citizens ages 18 and older residing in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Not all eligible voters are actually registered to vote. 

This November, a projected 15.0 million Asian Americans will be eligible to vote, making up just 6.1% of all eligible voters, according to Pew Research Center projections. However, the number of Asian American eligible voters and their share of the US eligible voter population increased substantially between 2020 and 2024, according to Pew projections. (Between 2000 and 2020, single-race, Asian Americans made up the fastest-growing racial or ethnic group in the U.S. electorate.)

The Pew analysis went on with more facts about the Asian American electorate. 

California, with almost a third of all Asian Americans, has the most voters residing there. In fact, a majorityt of the Asian American voters live in only five states. California is followed by New York, Texas, Hawaii and New Jersey.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow me at Threads.net/eduardodiok, @DioknoEd on Twitter or at the blog Views From the Edge.

Biden renominates Julie Su for Labor Secretary

INSTAGRAM

For the second time, President Biden nominates Julie Su to the Labor Secretary.

President Joe Biden renominated Julie Su to serve as Labor secretary after her nomination was stymie by a few doubtful Democrats in the Senate last year.

Biden sent Su's nomination to the Senate on Monday. He first nominated her in February, but her nomination appeared to reach a dead end in June, with Democratic leadership failed to covince some Democratic senators despite her heading the department for most of 2023 after former Labor Secretary Marty Walsh resigned from the post.

“The daughter of immigrant small business owners, Julie Su has a storied career supporting workers’ rights, working with the business community and organized labor, and helping grow our economy. She has been a superb leader of the Department of Labor—first as a Senate-confirmed Deputy Secretary and now as Acting Secretary—helping implement workplace training programs, convening business and labor to avoid costly shutdowns, and looking out for everyday American workers," said Rep. Judy Chu, D-CA. chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. 

Su would become the first AANHPI Cabinet Secretary in the Biden-Harris Administration, Chu added joining  Vice President Kamala Harris, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai, and Arati Prabhakar, Office of Science and Technology policy director.

“Whether working to strengthen apprenticeship programs or helping to negotiate agreements in industries from rails to ports to auto companies, Julie Su is advancing workers’ rights and getting the job done,” said Sen. Tammy Duckworth in a statement.

As the Acting Labor Secretary, Su was involved in helping negotiate a labor deal between West Coast dockworkers, added Duckworth As Deputy Labor Secretary in 2022, Su was also keyl to negotiations between labor and freight rail companies, working to avert an economically debilitating strike. She also has worked to broaden employee training programs and crack down on wage theft.

After clearing a key Senate committtee in April, despite no Republicans on record supporting her, the Biden administration and her backers were unable to lock down the necessary 50 Democratic votes needed to confirm her. Critical senators claimed that shewas too pro-Labor and anti-business even though she received the support of hundreds of business leaders.

that she had minimal experience in negotiations between workers and management, and point to perceptions that she’s anti-business.

Ranking Member of the Committee on Education & the Workforce Rep. Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03):

“During her tenure at the Department of Labor, Acting Secretary Su has been instrumental to the Biden-Harris Administration’s work to rebuild the economy from the bottom up and the middle out," said Rep. Bobby Scott, D-VA, a Filipino American congressmember who is the ranking member of the House Committee on Education & Workforce.

“Ultimately, when workers do better, businesses do better, and so does the economy. Under the hard work of Acting Secretary Su, the Department of Labor has made significant progress to expand workplace protections and ensure workers are paid what they are owed.," said Scott.

"Further, thanks to President Biden, Acting Secretary Su, and actions taken by Democrats last Congress, unemployment rates remain near historic lows, our job market is continuing to grow, and workers are seeing higher wages. Julie Su is an impeccably qualified candidate to serve as Secretary of Labor, and she is integral to our sustained economic recovery.”

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow me at Threads.net/eduardodiok, @DioknoEd on Twitter or at the blog Views From the Edge.

California reminds school districts of upcoming ethnic studies requirement

Concerned that some California school boards might reneg on teaching the history and contributions of the state's ethnic groups, California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued a premptive  legal alert to school boards and county offices of education.

“Every student deserves to see themselves reflected in the stories and lessons we teach within our classrooms,” said Bonta, California's first Filipino American AG. 

“Our legal alert serves as a guide for educational leaders to actively contribute to the creation of an educational landscape that embraces the rich tapestry of California's diverse population.”

While other states ban books and rewrite history to avoid making White students "uncomfortable," California is improving educational outcomes and investing tens of billions of dollars to improve literacy. The state's students outperformed most states — including Florida and Texas — in mitigating learning loss during the pandemic, and through historic levels of school funding, the state is building a cohesive structure of support for educators and students that reflects a focus on equity, inclusion, and academic success.

        FYI: Read the California legal alert here.

The alert emphasizes the obligation of state schools to provide inclusive curricula, instructional materials, and books that reflect the roles and contributions of California’s diverse population.

A segment of California's Education Code madates that curriculum "Reflect the diversity of the State by including a study of the role and contributions of protected groups in social sciences curricula, including the roles and contributions of all genders, Native Americans, African Americans, Latino Americans, Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, European Americans, persons with disabilities, members of other ethnic, cultural, religious, and socioeconomic status groups, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people to the 'economic, political, and social development of California and the United States of America, with particular emphasis on portraying the role of these groups in contemporary society.'"

This obligation is reinforced by recently-enacted legislation including Assembly Bill  1078, which expands the right to inclusive curricula and books, and AB 101.

In 2021, the governor signed a law that requires high schools to offer ethnic studies courses starting in the 2025-26 school year, and that requires students to complete the courses to graduate, starting with the class of 2030.

As California’s chief law officer,  Bonta plays a role in monitoring compliance of these laws and conducting investigations to address potential violations.

The  legal alert comes afterBonta, Governor Gavin Newsom, and State Superintendent Tony Thurmond sent a joint letter to all county, district, and charter school officials cautioning against book bans in June 2023. The legal alert provides an overview of these laws and stresses the responsibilities of educational institutions to provide a non-biased and inclusive curriculum.

The FAIR Education Act mandates the accurate representation of cultural and racial diversity in educational curricula, particularly in social studies for grades 1-12. Enacted on September 25, 2023, 

AB 1078 provides additional mechanisms for ensuring that students have textbooks and instructional materials that are standards-aligned, and safeguards curricular materials containing inclusive and diverse perspectives, roles, and contributions from being prohibited by governing boards of school districts, county boards, and charter schools. In October 2021, 

AB 101 was signed into law, in anticipation that by the 2025-2026 school year, Districts will offer a one-semester high school course in ethnic studies that showcases the diverse histories and contributions of groups in line with California’s Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum. 

If a school district chooses to adopt an ethnic studies course for this purpose that is not based on the Model curriculum, among other things, it must comply with AB 101’s requirements to teach about the experiences and contributions of diverse communities in an appropriate manner. 

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow me at Threads.net/eduardodiok, @DioknoEd on Twitter or at the blog Views From the Edge.

US Navy petty officer sentenced to prison for giving military secrets to the PRC

Thomas Zhao will spend 27 months in prison for giving military intelligence to a foreign agent.

A US Navy petty officer was sentenced Monday to 27 months in prison and ordered to pay a $5,500 fine for giving sensitive U. military information to an intelligence officer from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in exchange for bribes.

According to court documents, Petty Officer Wenheng Zhao, 26, aka Thomas Zhao, of Monterey Park, California, was arrested last summer and pleaded guilty in October 2023 to one count of conspiring with the intelligence officer and one count of receiving a bribe.

“Mr. Zhao betrayed his solemn oath to defend his country and endangered those who serve in the U.S. military,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “Today, he is being held to account for those crimes.”

Zhao, who worked at Naval Base Ventura County in Port Hueneme and held a  security clearance, engaged in an illegal scheme to collect and transmit sensitive U.S. military information to the intelligence officer in violation of his official duties.

Between August 2021 and at least May 2023, Zhao received at least $14,866 in at least 14 separate bribe payments from the intelligence officer. In exchange for the illicit payments, Zhao secretly collected and transmitted to the PRC intelligence officer sensitive, information regarding US Navy operational security, military trainings and exercises, and critical infrastructure. Zhao entered restricted military and naval installations to collect and record this information

    RELATED: Gov't arrest alleged PRC agents harassing,threatening US citizens..

Zhao also revealed plans for a large-scale maritime training exercise in the Pacific theatre, operational orders and electrical diagrams and blueprints for a Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar system located in Okinawa, Japan.

He used sophisticated encrypted communication methods to transmit the information. He also destroyed evidence and concealed his relationship with the intelligence officer. Zhao’s conduct violated his official duties to protect such information and the oath he swore to protect the United States.

“Make no mistake, the PRC is engaged in an aggressive effort to undermine the national security of the U.S. and its partners,” said Executive Assistant Director Larissa L. Knapp of the FBI’s National Security Branch. “Zhao chose to betray the oath he took to our country and put others at risk by providing sensitive U.S. information to a PRC intelligence official. 

"The Chinese Communist Party has repeatedly shown it will freely break any law or norm to achieve a perceived intelligence advantage. Today’s sentencing demonstrates, yet again, the inability of China’s Intelligence Services to prevent the FBI and our vital partners from apprehending and prosecuting the spies China recruits.”

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow me at Threads.net/eduardodiok, @DioknoEd on Twitter or at the blog Views From the Edge.

Golden Globes: 'Beef' Ali Wong, Steven Yeun win

From left, Beef's Steven Yeun, Lee Sung Jin and Ali Wong after winning their Golden Globes.

Win some. Lose some. The diversity of Asian America was on full display Sunday at the Golden Globes Awards, from the triumphs of Beef to the struggles of comedian Jo Koy, the show's last-minute host.

Beef was awarded Best Television Limited Series, Anthology Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television.

In addition, Beef’s lead factors Ali Wong and Steven Yeun took home awards for best performance by an actress and an actor, respectively.

The Netflix movie’s director and writer Lee Sung Jin, made sure to thank his counterpart in the real-life road rage incident that inspired the show. “I’d be remiss not to thank that driver,” he said. “Sir, I hope you honk and yell and inspire others for years to come.

Beef’s lead factors Ali Wong and Steven Yeun took home awards for best performance by an actress and an actor, respectively.

        FYI: Complete list of winners and nominees.

It was the first time an Asian American production won in these respective categories in Golden Globe history and Wong made history as the first Asian Amereican actress to win in that category.

The awards show also made history with its first Filipino American host Jo Koy. Unfortunately, the standup comedian’s opening monologue wasn’t his best performance. Many of his jokes fell flat in front of the show biz audience.

SCREEN CAPTURE / BBC

Jo Koy's jokes failed to hit with the show business audience. 

At one point during his monologue, Koy was met with boos prompting him to ask for the audience's understanding since he took the job only 10 days ago after several other potential emcees turned down the gig.

The morning after his hosting disaster, Koy was a gust on GMA3. Co-hosts Eva Pilgrim and DeMarco Morgan noted that Koy seemed a bit down deflated during an interview.

“I’d be lying if it doesn’t hurt,” said Koy of the reviews. “I hit a little moment there [during the monologue] where I was just like, ‘Ah.’ Hosting is a tough gig. Yes, I am a stand-up comic, but that hosting position is a different style. It’s not the same style.”

“That’s a tough gig! I’m not gonna lie,” he told the Hollywood Reporter this morning. “I really love the art of stand-up and it was cool that the opportunity came to me. Hosting is just a beast… and the crash course was really hard, too. … I literally got the call and haven’t slept since, just trying to write something, just trying to to write what we had to write. And the guys were great. Everyone was great. It’s just… that was that night. I had an off night!”

He added, “I wanted to give a little bit more of me, and I just fell a little short and that’s all.”

“It’s hard to blame the guy though given that it was not only his first time hosting an awards show but he had very little time to get his act together,” read commentary from Rolling Stone‘s Marlow Stern.

Koy tried to look at the bright side his below par performance. “That’s one thing I want to be proud about,” he said. "It was a long journey, and the opportunity came, and no one knew where the Golden Globes was gonna be, and then last second CBS picked up the show and everyone was kind of turning down the offer because of the time, and I jumped on it. I was like, ‘You know what? Let’s try it. Let’s go for it.’”

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow me at Threads.net/eduardodiok, @DioknoEd on Twitter or at the blog Views From the Edge.

The Jan. 6 Insurrection as seen by minority members of Congress

WIKIMEDIA

Three years ago, rinsurrections broke down the doors and vandalized the United States Capitol in an attempt to overturn the 2020 Presidential election results.

January 6 marked the third anniversary of the  2021 Insurrection and attack on the US Capitol.

It is a day that will never be forgotten by members of Congress, especially members of the Congressional Tri-Caucus representing Asian, Black, Latino American members of Congress, many of whom were in the United States Capitol when it was stormed by  thousands of rioters egged on by Donald Trump.

The Chairs of the Congressional Tri-Caucus—Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) Chair Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28), Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Chair Rep. Steven Horsford (NV-4), and Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chair Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44)— released the following joint statement:

“America deserves a democracy that works for everyone, including communities of color, but throughout our history, sinister actors have spread lies, fomented corruption and broken laws to violently overturn electoral results and the will of the people. January 6, 2021, was a call-back to the most egregious, brutal incidents of our past in an attempt to silence communities of color and allow an electoral loser to cling to power.

“The criminal conspiracy to violently overturn the will of the American people failed on January 6, 2021, thanks to the incredible valor of law enforcement and the pro-democracy leadership of Speaker Pelosi and Leader Schumer in Congress. Members of the Tri-Caucus have been instrumental in managing and publicizing the findings of the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack, under the leadership of Chairman Bennie G. Thompson, which clearly catalogued the ways nefarious actors tried to subvert the results of the 2020 election. 

"While many insurrectionists have been held accountable for their actions on January 6 at the US Capitol by everyday Americans on juries, many of the leaders and co-conspirators who bankrolled, planned, and incited the attack remain free, as candidates for public office, or even as officials still in public office. 

"Meanwhile, federal and state legislators across the country continue their assault on voting rights and the strength of our democracy in service of their ultimate goal: restrict our freedoms and do the bidding of the wealthy few.

“We are committed to supporting ongoing law enforcement efforts to hold every criminal conspirator accountable and to pass additional federal legislation beyond the Electoral Count Reform Act, like the Freedom to Vote Act and John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, to protect, secure and strengthen every American’s voting rights. Only when that happens will we as a nation begin to fully reckon with January 6.”

A day after the attack on the Capitol, Rep. Mark Takano told NBC:

"Let's face it ... the crowd was largely an angry white crowd and quite menacing," he said, adding,  "I think members who are racial minorities, whether Asian, Latino or African American, I certainly think seeing a crowd like that, a crowd that was angry, largely white, with grievances, certainly would have been unnerving, to say the least."

After the insurrectionists left the building, Rep. Andy Kim spent some time picking up debris and broken glass. A picture of him cleaning up the Capitol Rotunda went viral. "What I did wasn't heroic," said the New Jersey Congressman. "It was service. And we need a lot more of that."

Friday, in an MSNBC interview, Kim called those Republicans "cowards," who immediatdly after the attack cnodemened the Jan. 6 violence, but now are embracing Trump as he campaigns for a return to the White House in 2024. 

Since the 2021 insurrection, hundreds of participants have been convicted and sentencd and Donald Trump's role in rallying the riotors to break into the Capitol is under investigation by a special investigator.

Meanwhile,Trump put his own spin on what happened three years ago despite the convictions and visual evidence showing the rioters breaking into the Capitol in an attempt to stop Congress from formally validating the 2020 election.

"They ought to release the J6 hostages. They’ve suffered," Trump said, during a campaign rally in Iowa. "I call them hostages. Some people call them prisoners. I call them hostages. Release the J6 hostages Joe. Release them Joe. You can do it real easy, Joe."

“Political violence is never, ever acceptable in the United States,” said President Joe Biden a day before the Jan. 6 anniversary. “It has no place in a democracy. You can’t be pro-insurrectionist and pro-American.”

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow me at Threads.net/eduardodiok, @DioknoEd on Twitter or at the blog Views From the Edge.