NY Times launches series on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

Despite being in the US for centuries, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are nearly invisible in US society.

In a recent study, more than half of all Americans found it difficult naming a single prominent AAPI figure even though Vice President KamalaHarris is Inidan American, multiple Grammy winner Olivia Rodrigo is Filipino American and AAPI are prominent in the fields of medicine, business, science and high tech. 

Part of the problem of the erasure or oversight in school books and a lack of inclusion and coverage in mainstream media, which paints a picture of the country everyday by decisions made by journalists on what stories and personalities to cover. The lack of a presence in the media contributes to that invisibility in American society.

The New York Times, one of the most prominent and influential mainstream news organizations in the country, announced Monday a new series th at examines the increasing creative output of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) in popular culture.

“At The Asian American Foundation, we believe that the best way to fight anti-Asian hate is to create belonging and there is no better way to do that than through storytelling,” said Norman Chen, CEO of The Asian American Foundation, which conducted the sturdy. “This moment represents a departure from a long history of invisibility, stereotyping, and misrepresentation of our community. We look forward to The Times’s exploration of the influence of AAPI culture in our everyday lives.”

The project will include immersive articles that delve into the ways filmmakers, authors and other creators are depicting AAPI life. It will culminate with an event featuring prominent artists exploring the ways in which they are infusing stories about their experience into American pop culture.

Asian Americans are the fastest growing demographic in the US, with nearly 25 million Americans with heritage that connects to more than 20 countries throughout East Asia, Southeast Asia and the subcontinent of India. Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders are the third fastest growing group in the US.

The new project also shows the long road the New York Times has traveled since its 2016 video "Conversations on Race," which surveyed members of the Asian American community. The newspaper came under strong criticism for focusing on East Asains, skipping over Stouth and Southeast Asians..

Veronica Chambers, an award-winning editor, will oversee the 2024 project. Her team are focused on producing series that demonstrate how moments in history impact modern society. Other work includes a series that excavates the Harlem Renaissance, an examination of love and money with the Modern Love team, and a series based on images uncovered in The Times’s photo archives.

This series will draw on talent across the newsroom, including Miya Lee, editor of Modern Love projects at The NY Times. Lee’s work builds on the experience she gained from helping to turn a 20-year-old print column into a compelling digital and multimedia brand. Outside of Modern Love, Lee has written articles about elements of Asian American and Pacific Islander culture.

“I’m thrilled to work on this series that examines this significant moment in American popular culture, when an increasing number of AAPI filmmakers, comedians, authors and others are breaking through and reaching wide audiences,” Lee said.

The first piece of the series, “Found in Translation: Asian Languages Onscreen,” is focused on the use of Asian languages in American movies and TV. The story features an innovative visual design by Alice Fang, a New York Times graphics editor.

This Times series is funded through a grant from The Asian American Foundation a nonprofit founded to serve the Asian American and Pacific Islander community in their pursuit of belonging and prosperity that is free from discrimination, slander and violence.

“Our team at The New York Times is dedicated to telling richly layered, visually vibrant pieces, leaning into innovative story formats. We’re excited to explore how Asian American and Pacific Islander artists are crafting new American narratives through music, food, literature, film and television,” said Chambers.

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

Filipino American makes history as the new Miss Philippines Universe

MISS UNIVERSE

Chelsea Manalo was named Miss Philippines Universe.

Filipino American Chelsea Anne Manalo made history by becoming the first Black woman to be crowned Miss Universe Philippines on May 22.

“As a woman of color, I have always faced challenges in my life. I was told that beauty has standards, actually,” she answeered a question in the final stage of the contest. She added  that she was taught to “believe in my mother, to always believe in yourself, uphold the vows that you have.”

“Because of these, I am already influencing a lot of women who are facing me right now,” she said, gazing out to the audience.

Representing the province of Bulacan where she was born and raised, the 24-year old model was raised by her mother and stepfather after the death of her African American father.

"I grew up having insecurities as I was always bullied because of my skin and my hair type,” she told Essence, crediting her friends and family for helping her “realize that I am beautiful in my own extraordinary way.”

Manalo's selection was seen as significant for shattering traditional beauty standards in the Philippines too often defined by European features.  

“I am more than a reflection of a woman who is very humble of having humble beginnings. And a sash that is really close to my heart because it reminds me of who I am, of the Philippines, of who we are.” she said. “And this will only transpire me to be more radiant because I am a woman of color but I am also a transformational woman that can really represent who we are as Filipinos.”

Manalo will represent the Philippines in the MIss Universe contest that will be held in Mexico in September.

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

Haley changes her tune and says she supports Trump

Nikki Haley

During her short time campaigning in the Republican primaries, campared to Trump loyalists, Nikki Haley sounded like a moderate. But, make o mistake, she is an ambitious, two-faced radical.

She made it clear where she comes down in the on the political scale when she endorsed Donald Trump, the man she had been campaigning against for months.

Haley made the announcement during a Q&A session at the Hudson Institute, a conservative think tank, on May 22. They were the first public comments the Indian American and former Trump administration official had made since dropping out of the GOP presidential primary earlier this year. 

She made her endorsement after a speech hitting both Biden and those Republicans opposed to aiding Ukraine. Haley said she would support a candidate who aligned with her views on national security, border and fiscal issues.

“Trump has not been perfect on these policies,” Haley said. “I’ve made that clear, many, many times. But Biden has been a catastrophe. So, I will be voting for Trump.”

Haley, who Trump appointed United Nations ambassador, was not so forgiving on the campaign trail. SDuring her run for the GOP nomination, she called Trump dangerous and unstable, saying, “I feel no need to kiss the ring.”

The former South Carolina govenror also questioned Trump’s mental fitness, and made it a point to question the capabilities of Trump and Biden, both of whomwere approaching 80 years of age.

Haley was the last challenger to Trump and was seen as a moderate alternative for those Republicans abhorred by Trump's antics and radical policies. The support she received revealed that may Republicans were alooking for alternatives to Trump.

Even after she officially dropped out of the race, she still managed to garner votes from dissatisfied Republicans.

She won over moderate Republicans during her campaign even though during her campaign she said expressedd support for a national ban on abortions and favored making cuts to "entitlement" programs like social security and Medicare.

Haley tempered her support for Trump by saying: “Having said that, I stand by what I said in my suspension speech. Trump would be smart to reach out to the millions of people who voted for me, and not assume that they’re just going to be with him.”

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

The former ambassador to the U.N. painted Trump as dangerous and unstable on the campaign trail, saying, “I feel no need to kiss the ring.”

 

The remarks drew swift condemnation from anti-Trump Republicans, including former Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.), who called her support for the former president “pathetic.”

 

Less predictable will be the reaction from those voters who backed Haley in primaries even after she had dropped her challenge to Trump.

AANHPI nonprofits not getting their share of philantropic giving

While AANHPI Heritage Month focuses on the  heritage, history and contributions of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, agencies erving tthose  communities are not getting the financial support from philantropic organizations.

Despite making up 7% of the U.S. population, AAPI organizations receive less than 0.2% of philanthropic giving from foundations and less than 1% of corporate giving, according to The Asian American Foundation. With charitable donations and philanthropic giving combined making up a nearly $500 billion industry, AAPI advocates and leaders say their communities remain underfunded and under-resourced.

“Philanthropy plays a key role in providing support and resources to the countless mission-driven organizations and groups doing incredible work across our country,” said Fontane Lo, deputy director of AAPI Data.

Give In May is an annual online fundraising campaign during Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month.

Give In May aims to increase both awareness and investment in nonprofit organizations across the country who are dedicated to addressing the needs of AAPI communities. This year’s Give In May campaign features 200+ nonprofit organizations that serve 25 states and nearly 100 cities. 

Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders In Philantropy released a report, is proud to release Seeking to Soar: Foundation Funding for Asian American and Pacific Islander Communitie that confirms the lack of funding given to AANHPI organizations.

The AAPIP report finds that foundation funding designated for Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities only accounts for 0.20 percent of all U.S. grantmaking. This mirrors findings from AAPIP's 1992 report — from three decades ago — Invisible and in Need: Philanthropic Giving to Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. As AAPI communities seek to soar and reach new heights, they continue to be hamstrung by an alarmingly low level of philanthropic investment.

The AAPIP report notes:

• While the AAPI population in the United States more than doubled in size, foundation funding for AAPI communities flatlined, totaling a mere $174 million in 2018 – even when overall philanthropic giving was rising.
• Put differently, for every $100 awarded by foundations for work in the United States, only 20 cents is designated for AAPI communities.
• As a percentage of overall grantmaking, funding designated specifically for AAPI communities has declined since peaking at 0.60 percent in 2002 and 2009.
• The funding is also heavily concentrated among a handful of foundations. The top five funders accounted for nearly 40 percent of all philanthropic support for AAPI communities. This creates instability where any shift can topple that lifeline

Give In May is hosted by Asian Pacific Community Fund, a philanthropic organization dedicated to serving the AANHPI community throughout Southern California, and AAPI Data, a leading national research and policy organization — with support from The Asian American Foundation.

Meanwhile, while philantropic orgazations appear to overlook AANHPI nonprofit agencies, a separate report from the Pew Research Center found that almost half of Asian Americans give measurable donations to US charities.

“At Asian Pacific Community Fund, we cultivate philanthropy and centralize giving power to invest in the AAPI community. During Give In May this AAPI Heritage Month, we invite everyone to empower AAPI nonprofits to continue supporting our community through the power of giving,” said Chun-Yen Chen, executive director of Asian Pacific Community Fund.

FYI: Visit giveinmay.org to learn more about the organizations participating in the campaign and donate to their causes during the month of May.

Give In May is a national online giving campaign to support nonprofits dedicated to addressing the needs of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. The purpose of the month-long campaign is to raise awareness about issues AAPIs face which are often unseen. It is held in May in recognition of AAPI Heritage Month.

28+ AANHPI Populations & Ethnic Groups Served include:

Bangladeshi, Bhutanese, Burmese, Cambodian, Chinese, Fijian, Filipino, Hawaiian, Himalayan, Hmong, Indian, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Laotian, Malaysian, Maldivian, Mongolian, Nepalese, Pacific Islander, Pakistani, Samoan, Taiwanese, Thai, Tibetan, Uyghur, Tongan, Vietnamese, among others

There are 19+ Issue Areas and Causes including:

Anti-Hate & Anti-Racism, Arts & Culture, Civic Engagement, Developmental Disabilities, Domestic Violence, Education Access, Environment & Environmental Justice, Elderly Assistance, Food Security, Health & Well-Being, Housing, Immigration, Labor & Workforce Development, Legal Assistance, LGBT Services & Advocacy, Poverty & Safety Net, Research & Analysis, Women & Girls, Youth Development, among others

“Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander organizations achieve incredible feats under such limited constraints — now envision what a world would look like if our communities were invested in adequatly," added Lo.

"Give In May plays an important role in changing that narrative — and reality — by raising awareness and investment to our communities’ needs at a critical time.”

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

Survey surprise:Asian Americans' charitable giving andcivic involvement

Asian Americans are more concerned and involved in their communities than generally believed, according to a newly released survey. 

 Two-thirds of Asian American adults say they have volunteered or made a donation through a charitable organization in the United States, their Asian ancestral homeland or both places in the 12 months before the survey conducted by the Pew Research Center.

The results of the survey busts the stereotype of the tight-fisted Asian American who is only concerned about their immediate family and refrains from participating in US society.

Among thowse who toook part in the survey, it was found that:

• :46% say they have given to a charity only in the US.

• 17% say they have given to charities in both the US and their Asian country of origin.

• 3% say they have given to a charity only in their Asian country of origin.

        FYI: Read the entire Pew Research Center report.

Across the six largest Asian origin groups in the United States, majorities say they have given to a US charity.

About seven-in-ten Japanese (72%), Filipino (70%) and Indian (68%) adults say this. Somewhat smaller shares of Korean (65%), Vietnamese (61%) and Chinese (58%) adults say the same.

The survey also measured charitable giving and civic participation by Asian Americans was influenced by religion, education level and how long the respondents have lived in the US. In brief, nonChristians, better educated and long-time US residents were more ilikely to be nvolved in their community.

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

No folks. Zendaya has not been cast as the new Moana

Disney studios released a picture of an older Moana that will featured in a new animated musical.

Hold your horses. Calm down. Zendaya has not been cast as Pacific Islander princess Moana in the live-action remake. 

A trailer purported to be an "official" trailer for the live-action remake of the original Disney animated movie announcing that Zendaya has been cast in the title role is a fake. Cries of cultural appropriation exploded on the internet when the fake trailer first appeared. Zendaya is not of Pacific Islander descent.

“Moana remains an incredibly popular franchise,” said Disney CEO Bob Iger. “And we can’t wait to give you more of Moana and Maui when Moana 2 comes to theaters in November."

What is true is that Disney is planning to retell the tale of Moana's search for a new island home with real actors. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, who viced the demi-god Maui in the animated feature will reprise that role in the life-action version. However, the search for an actress to play Moana is underway.

Unfortunately, Aul'i Cravalho, who provided the original voice of Moana will not return for the live-action remake. 

FYI: Meet the actress playing Moana

Cravalho, who will be 23 years old when filming starts and in the Disney story, Moana is only 16. The actress, who is currently starring in the Broadway version of "Mean Girls," said in an Instagram post that she will keep her ties with the Moana franchise as an executive producer.

“I’m truly honored to pass this baton to the next woman of Pacific Island descent to honor our incredible Pacific peoples, cultures, and communities that help inspire her story, and I look forward to all the beautiful Pacific representation to come. Mahalo," Cravalho shared on Instagram.

Thomas Kail, the Tony Award-winning director of “Hamilton” on Broadway, will direct the movie. "Hamilton" creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, who wrote the music for the original Moana, will do the same for the live-action musical.

Cinema Pro Studio published a concept trailer (See below) of Moana on its YouTube page, showing Zendaya and The Rock in the film.

"Here's our concept trailer for 'Moana Live Action,' an exhilarating cinematic journey that brings Zendaya's Moana and Dwayne Johnson's Maui to life in a captivating new adaptation,” says the description under the concept trailer.

A concept trailer featuring Zendaya alarmed Moana fans.

Cravalho, however, will provide the voice of the animated project, tentatively titled Moana 2, that will feature further adventures of the island princess.

Originally scheduled to start filming this year, the release of the live-action film was pushed back to mid 2025. Nevertheless, the fake trailer went viral an stirred up social media critics.

Walt Disney Animation Studios’ epic animated musical Moana 2 is not a remake but a continuation of Moana's adventures. It takes audiences on an expansive new voyage with Moana, Maui and a brand-new crew of unlikely seafarers.

Moana 2 takes place three years after the end of the original Moana. After receiving an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors, Moana must journey to the far seas of Oceania and into dangerous, long-lost waters for an adventure unlike anything she’s ever faced.

The voice actors from the original Moana will be back, including:

• Auli’i Cravalho as Moana
• Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson as Maui
• Nicole Scherzinger as Sina
• Temuera Morrison as Chief Tai

Johnson will provided the voice of the demi-god Maui in the original animated movie will repeat the role in the animated sequel and the live-action movie. He feels close to the role because of his own Samoan heritage. “As many of you know ... we found so much inspiration for Maui in the mana and the presence of my late grandfather, the legendary High Chief, Peter Maivia," Johnson shared.

Directed by Dave Derrick Jr. with music by Grammy® winners Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, Grammy nominee Opetaia Foa’i, and three-time Grammy winner Mark Mancina, Moana 2 opens in theaters on Nov. 27, 2024.

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

Vice President Harris gets real with her no-nonsense advice to young AANHPI leaders

Vice President Kamala Harris was blunt and crossed over from proper political speech to the street vernacular in giving some unvarnished  advice to AANHPI young people.

"We have to know that sometimes people will open the door for you and leave it open. Sometimes they won't, and then you need to kick that f‑‑‑ing door down,” Harris said at the annual Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies Legislative Leadership summit held May 13.

The audeince made up of emerging AANHPI leaders broke into applause and cheers.

"Excuse my language," she added.

The vice president made her comments in a conversation at the annual Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies Legislative Leadership Summit where she was being interviewed by Jimmy O. Yang. 

Conservative media like the NY Post, Washington Examiner jumped on her language as beneath the office. Some meainstream media also got sucked into the fray with headlines like: "Harris utters a profanity ...." or "Vice President drops the F-bomb."

Surprisingly, the White House didn't try to dance around Harris' advice and instead, embraced it.

“She’s passionate about what she fights for. She is. And I think it’s important to have someone who’s passionate about what they’re speaking about,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters Tuesday,

Jean-Pierre also praised Harris as “someone who has broken glass ceilings,” adding she is “proud to have her as someone I look up to as vice president.” Harris has been scrutinized by critics who contend her language was unbefitting of her office.

In the interview, Harris, the first Asian AMerican Vice President, also talked about her upbringing that included visits to India and walks with her grandfather as major influences on her life.

"And I, as the eldest grandchild, had the honor among anyone in our family of being invited my — by my grandfather to take his morning walk with his retired buddies," continued Harris, who used to visit her family in India during the summers.

"And they would, every morning, gather — these, you know, old men, who were very smart and very knowledgeable, and they would take their walk. And I would hold my grandfather’s hand, and I was the one who was able to go on the walk with him.

"And my grandfather and his friends would passionately debate the importance of democracy and a government that treated people equally and with fairness and was — and a government that was not corrupt. And — and that’s — that influenced my life in more ways than I can ever explain, even though I didn’t realize it at the time. And all of that had an impact, then, on what I decided to do with my life.

"My mother — when she arrived in the United States, she automatically, given who my grandfather was and about the fight for independence in India, my grand- — my mother, then, of course — you might kno- — know this in retrospect took to the streets to march for civil rights in her sari (laughter)," she said.

"So, here’s the thing about breaking barriers. Breaking barriers does not mean you start on one side of the barrier and you end up on the other side. There’s breaking involved. And when you break things, you get cut and you may bleed. And it is worth it every time. Every time."

Harris went on: "And so, to especially the young people here, I say to you: When you walk in those rooms being the only one that looks like you, the only one with your background, you walk in those rooms chin up, shoulders back. Be it a meeting room, a boardroom, a courtroom, a hearing room, you walk in those rooms knowing that we are all in that room with you, applauding you on and expecting certain things from you, including that you will not be silent in those rooms and that we expect that from you because we also expect that you will internalize and know we’re there with you. And so, your voice can be strong."

Harris continued her underlying theme to go beyond words and social media and the need for postive action to institute change, sounding much like the late labor leader Larry Itliong, One of his famous quotes said: “The Constitution said that everybody has equal rights and justice. You have to make that come about. They are not going to give it to you.”

Harris continued: "I’ll talk about my lived experience. It — that also taught me that you have to fight for — for rights for everybody. And you have to be in the fight. You can’t — you can’t sit it out. Right?

"And that’s — that’s part of what I — that’s certainly how I was raised: You can’t sit it out and — because you know how inequity happens, you know what happens when systems create displaced power or when systems are — are suppressing the rights of other people. You know? And — and so, that’s part of how I was raised as well."

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

Indian Americans raise $1.5 million in one event for the Biden-Harris campaign

INSTAGRAM

President Biden met with Indian Americans in Silicon Valley

Reports of Asian American voters drifting to the right to the right may be misleading.  A group of prominent Indian Americans met President Biden and raised more than $1.5 million for the Biden-Harris reelection campaign.

The Silicon Valley residence of Indian American billionaire and venture capitalist Vinod Khosla, , the co-founder of Sun Microsystems and the founder of Khosla Ventures,, was the venue for a campaign fundraiser and the opportunity to meet the President.

Tickets for the May 10 event  on Friday at the residence of Mr Khosla, the co-founder of Sun Microsystems and the founder of Khosla Ventures, reportedly ranged from $6,600 to $100,000. About 89 people attended the fundraiser.

Biden spoke for about 15 minutes focusing on immigration and women's rights, reports NDTV.

"They (immigrants) have been incredible contributors to the work ethic of this country -- incredible," said Biden, generating applause from the guestss. "One of the reasons why we continue to grow is we are not xenophobic. We have the input of new immigrants coming into the country that should come into the country that are generating economic growth."

The event was the first political fundraiser for either frontrunner hosted by Indian Americans for the 2024 campaign. Biden's visit to Silicon Valley was part of a series of campaign stops throughout the Bay Area, which has historically leaned towards Democratic candidates and policies.

Of the four major Asian American communities, --  Chinese, Indian, Filipino, Vietnamese -- Indian Americans are the newest immigrant group from Asiabut have grown to become  the second largest group. Wth their numbers and economic clout, they have quickly learned how to impact the US political system as voters and lawmakers. In addition to Kamala Harris as Biden's Vice President, there are ffive Indian Americans in Congress and a score more have been elected at the state level of government. Biden has appointed more than 130 Indian Americans to key positions in his administration, more than any other President. 

Indian American voters overwhelmingly voted for Biden in 2020. Among AANHPI groups, Indian Americans are the most Democrat-leaning communities, about 70% vs. 30% Republican, according to the Pew Research Center. GOP strategigists' have been attempting to chip away at that one-sided support since Indian American and other AANHPI voters could play a vital role in determining the outcome in battlegound states.

“This event is certainly significant, both for President Biden, and for the Indian American community," said Robinder Sachdev, president of Delhi based think tank Imagindia Institute, and one of the founders of US India PAC.

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

CORRECTION: Earlier versions of this post misstated the number of Indian Americans on Congress.

Asian American assumes uneasy crown of Miss USA

MISS USA
Hawaii's Savannah Gankiewicz was named the next Miss USA.

 

Amid the controversies swirling around the Miss USA pageant, a Filipino/Vietnamese American, Miss Hawaii, will assume the title May 15.

On May 9, the Miss USA pageant announced that Savannah Gankiewicz, Miss Hawaii USA 2023 and first-runner up to Voigt at the 2023 Miss USA pageant, would be taking over the national title and its responsibilities. She will be officially crowned on May 15.

“We are proud to crown Savannah Miss USA 2023, A true representation of vision, intelligence, and compassion,” stated a press release.. “Her dedication to empowering women through self-love and confidence is inspiring, and we look forward to her impactful reign as Miss USA.”

Gankiewiez's opportunity occurred after Miss USA 2023 Noelia Voigt resigned from her title claiming mismanagement by the Miss USA organization affecting her mental health.

Voigt's resigniation became even more significant after Miss Teen USA 2023 UmaSofia Srivastava relinquished her crow two days later alleging similar complaints.

A nondisclosure agreement (NDA) in their contract with the Miss USA organization  has, thus far,  prevented neither title holder from expanding on their allegations.

 Despite all the issues existing within the Miss USA organisation and the other contestants standing in support of Noelia, Savannah chose to accept the Miss USA 2023 title and will reign as Miss USA until the 2024 pageant in August.

MISS USA

Former Miss Teen USA Uma  Sofia Srivastava and and Miss USA  Noelia Voigt gave up their pageant crowns.

“I fully support and respect Noelia’s decision to step down, and I stand in solidarity with mental health awareness,” Gankiewicz added. “To my fellow Miss USA sisters, I believe it’s crucial for us to stand united for the future of the organization and the incoming class of 2024 and beyond.”

FYI: The CW Network will air live the 73rd Miss USA pageant on Sunday, August 4 (8-10 pm ET)

A native of Kihei on the island of Maui, Savannah Gankiewicz was crowned Miss Hawaii USA 2023 on 15 November 2023 and represented Hawaii at Miss USA 2023 in Reno, Nevada. Savannah, who is of Filipina, Polish and Vietnamese descent, made history as the first winner from Maui in over 20 years.

Gankiewicz, 24, grew up in Mau with her mother, who is a Filipino/Vietnamese Hawaiian living in Maui and her father, who lives in Virginia. After attending middle and high school in Virginia, she returned to Hawaii.

Savannah is a model, entrepreneur, and program director for What Makes You Feel Beautiful — a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering self-love throughout every stage and phase of life in girls and women of all ages. She also dedicates her time to facilitating the “F.L.Y. First Love Yourself” youth program which empowers young women to develop self-love, confidence, and compassion.

Gankiewicz's reign as Miss USA will be short-lived. She will have to give up her crown in Augus twhen a new Miss USA will be chosen.

During the few months of her reign, Savannah hopes to be a symbol of resilience and hope and bring the Aloha spirit across the nation. She would like to give support to her home island of Maui and put it back into the spotlight on the rebuilding process in Lahaina after the tragic fires nearly one year ago

This year, the 2024 Miss USA pageant will take place in Los Angeles from July 27 to August 4.The venue where the contestants will compete for the iconic crown will be announced soon.

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

Exhibit tells the story of the Filipino Americans of Pajaro Valley

ASUNCION FAMILY

One of the family photos on display is of the Asoncion family gathered together for a
beach picnic in the early 1950s.

An exhibit celebrates the perseverance of a Filipino American community to transform California's Pajaro Valley into a home in the face of racism and exclusion.

"Sowing Seeds: Filipino American Stories from the Pajaro Valley" explores Filipino labor and migration to California's Pajaro Valley from the 1930s to the present. The exhibition brings together oral history, archival materials, and contemporary works of art to feature multidimensional narratives across four themes: labor, gender, conflict, and memory. 

The migration of Filipinos to the United States occurred at the dawn of US colonization of the Philippines in the early twentieth century. The US government appealed to Filipino farmers to travel to the US and fill low-wage agricultural jobs. Roughly 100,000 Filipino men and women traveled across the Pacific to labor in fields. This generation of migrants is known as the manong and manang (“older brother” and “older sister”) generation. 

FYI: "Sowing Seeds" is on exhibit until August 4 at the Museum o Art & HIstory, 705 Front Street, Santa Cruz, CA.

The Pajaro Valley was one major agricultural center where Filipinos worked and where some stayed.

Unfortunately, many of the manong and manang have long passed. Their stories live in the memories of their descendants. Sowing Seeds views these memories as key sites of historical and artistic research. By featuring family photographs, heirlooms, and recorded interviews, the exhibition highlights the stories that descendants seek to memorialize. 

Sowing Seeds also investigates how and what memories are remembered as a way to further explore diversity, difference, and multidimensionality. Eight California-based contemporary artists were invited to interpret these memories in order to visualize the social complexities of this Filipino American community.

The artists featured in Sowing Seeds include Minerva Amistoso, Binh Danh, Ant Lorenzo, Sandra Lucille, Johanna Poethig, Ruth Tabancay, Jenifer Wofford, and Connie Zheng.

The exhibition features archival materials from 17 family collections found on the Watsonville is in the Heart Digital Archive:

Alminiana Family, Ancheta Family, Asuncion Family, Bersamin Family, Bosque Family, Carillo Family, Cawaling Family, Deocampo Family, Fallorina Family, Florendo Family, Irao-de los Reyes and Ibao Family, Lopez Family, Mariano Family, Millares Family, Nabor Family, Recio Family, Reyes Family, Sales Family, Sulay Family, Tana and Tabios Family, and Tuzon Family.

The exhibition culminates a four-year research initiative between community members, UC Santa Cruz students, scholars, and curators called Watsonville is in the Heart (WIITH). WIITH collaborates with The Tobera Project, a grassroots organization based in Watsonville, CA. 

In 2020, Dioscoro “Roy” Recio Jr. initiated a partnership with UCSC to confront the unevenly documented history of Filipino Americans in the Pajaro Valley. With his leadership, the initiative has expanded to include several projects including oral history interviewing, digital archiving, and K-12 curriculum development.

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: AANHP are "a defining force in the soul of our Nation"

WHITE HOUSE

AANHIPI   staffers in the Biden-Harris admininstration  observed AANHP Heritgae Month last year.

In only three years of his first term, President Biden has done more in behalf of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders than any other administrations. 

In his proclamation declaring May as AANHIPI Heritage Month, Biden reminded the AANHPI  communities of  all the accomplishments of his administration lifting up AANHPI, fighting anti-Asian hate and opening up economic opportunities while lauding the contributions of AANHPI to the history and growth of the United States.

Following is the Proclamation signed by President Biden:

This month, we celebrate the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AA and NHPI) communities, whose ingenuity, grit, and perseverance have pushed our great American experiment forward.

From Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders whose ancestors have called their lands home for hundreds of years to Asian immigrants who have newly arrived and those whose families have been here for generations — AA and NHPI heritage has long been a part of the history of our great country and a defining force in the soul of our Nation. As artists and journalists, doctors and engineers, business and community leaders, and so much more, AA and NHPI peoples have shaped the very fabric of our Nation and opened up new possibilities for all of us. 

I am proud that they serve at the highest levels of my Administration, including Vice President Kamala Harris, Ambassador Katherine Tai, Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su, and Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Arati Prabhakar, who make this country a better place each and every day. This year, we are also celebrating the 25th anniversary of the White House Initiative and President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders, who work across government to advance equity, opportunity, and justice for AA and NHPI communities.

I have always believed that diversity is our Nation’s greatest strength. That is why I launched the first-ever National Strategy to Advance Equity, Justice, and Opportunity for AA and NHPI Communities. This strategy works to harness the full potential of these communities — from combating anti-Asian hate to making government services accessible in more languages. 

To ensure the legacies of AA and NHPI peoples are properly honored in the story of America, I signed historic legislation that will bring us closer to a National Museum of Asian Pacific American History and Culture. I also issued a Presidential Memorandum to consider expanding protections for the Pacific Remote Islands to conserve this unique area’s significant natural and cultural resources and honor the traditional practices and ancestral pathways of Pacific Island voyagers, and I signed the Amache National Historic Site Act to establish a memorial honoring the 10,000 Japanese Americans who were unjustly incarcerated there during World War II. 

Throughout my time in office, the First Lady and I have hosted celebrations at the White House that highlight the incredible diversity of AA and NHPI communities, like Diwali and the first-ever White House Lunar New Year celebration. This year, to ensure that the full diversity of AA and NHPI communities is seen and valued as new policy is being made, we updated the Federal Government’s standards for collecting data on race and ethnicity for the first time in over 25 years. 

Meanwhile, we are creating new opportunities for AA and NHPI communities by building an economy that works for everyone, including investing in AA and NHPI small businesses and entrepreneurs. Since I took office, the Small Business Administration provided over $22 billion in loans to AA and NHPI entrepreneurs. We have seen the results: During my Administration, we achieved the highest Asian American employment and entrepreneurship rates in over a decade.

Last year, the First Lady and I witnessed the absolute courage of the Native Hawaiian people and Hawaii’s Asian American and Pacific Islander communities when we visited Maui in the wake of the devastating fires. The destruction upended so many lives, and yet the community showed up ready to help rebuild stronger than before. My Administration has their backs — we are committed to making sure Maui has everything the Federal Government can offer to heal and build back better and as fast as possible. Throughout these efforts, we remain focused on rebuilding the way the people of Maui want to build by respecting sacred lands, cultures, and traditions.

Racism, harassment, and hate crimes against people of AA and NHPI heritage also persist — a tragic reminder that hate never goes away; it only hides. Hate must have no safe harbor in America — that is why I signed the bipartisan COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, which makes it easier for Americans to report hate crimes, and I also hosted the first-ever White House summit against hate-fueled violence. We are also working to address the scourge of gun violence, which takes the lives of too many AA and NHPI loved ones. I signed the most significant gun safety law in nearly 30 years. My Administration has taken actions to expand background checks and fund efforts to strengthen red flag laws to keep Americans out of harm’s way. There is still so much to do, and I continue to urge the Congress to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.

Our Nation was founded on the idea that we are all created equal and deserve to be treated equally throughout our lives. We have never fully realized this promise, but we have never fully walked away from it either. As we celebrate the historic accomplishments of AA and NHPIs across our Nation, we promise we will never stop working to form a more perfect Union. 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 2024 as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. I call upon all Americans to learn more about the histories of the AA and NHPI community and to observe this month with appropriate programs and activities.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirtieth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
 

– President Joe Biden (Signed)

Survey: ANHPI still mostly unseen, unrecognized and unrewarded in the US

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

Only 2% of Americans named Vice President Kamala Harris when asked to name a famous Asian American, according to a just recent report.

In addition, a majority of Americans (55%) are unable to name a single event or policy related to Asian Americans, says the 2024 The Asian American Federation (TAAF) report.

Four years after TAAF's original finding made waves, more than half of all Americans (52%) still can’t name a single famous Asian American.

Apparently, the unprecedented Oscar awards to Everything Everwhere All At Once last year, including Michele Yeoh's Best Actress award, failed to register with non-Asians. Nine percent of the respondents named Jackie Chan, who is not even American); 5% wrote down Bruce Lee even though he died over 50 years ago.

Understanding how people view Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPIs) continues to be crucial to building a world where AANHPIs are safe, feel belonging and have pathways to prosperity, said the TAAF's STAATUS Index, the only nationally representative survey that reveals sources of influences on perceptions about the AANHPI community and how harmful stereotypes may persist and evolve over the years.

The TAAF survey uncovered the most pressing issues AANHPIs are facing today. Key results include:

• Americans don’t think hate toward Asian Americans has increased, but Asian Americans disagree.

• Only one-third of Americans think hate towards Asian Americans has increased. Perceptions that Asian Americans are treated fairly in the US have risen steadily since 2021.

Meanwhile, over the past 12 months: 32% of Asian Americans say they were called a slur, and 29% say they were verbally harassed or verbally abused.

The numbers are even higher for some subgroups. For example, Southeast Asian Americans report higher incidences of being called a racial slur (40%), verbal harassment or abuse (38%), and threats of physical assault (22%) over the last 12 months.

• 41% of Asian Americans think they are likely to be the victim of a physical attack and 59% of Asians Americans think it is at least somewhat likely that they will be a victim of discrimination in the next 5 years because of their race, ethnicity, or religion

• Because of discrimination, violence, and lack of representation, only 38% of Asian Americans completely agree they belong, and even fewer feel they are fully accepted.

• Asian Americans are least likely to feel strongly that they belong, and also least likely to feel that they are accepted for their racial identity in the US.

• 38% of Asian Americans completely agree that they belong, while only 18% completely agree that they are accepted in the U.S. for their racial identity.

• For Asian Americans who feel they aren’t fully accepted or don’t fully belong in the US, social media (34%), and workplaces, neighborhoods, and schools/colleges/universities (all 31%) feel the least welcoming.

• For Asian Americans who don’t feel they belong or are accepted, 60% pointed to previous experiences of discrimination and/or violence and 37% said they don’t see people like them in positions of power.

Respondents to the TAAF survey say racism towards Asian Americans will decrease by improving education, boosting visibility, and increasing opportunities to interact.

The top three ideas respondents offered for decreasing racism are to teach the history of Asian Americans in K-12 schools and colleges (41%), increase visibility of Asian Americans in American society (41%), and provide more opportunities to interact with Asian Americans (39%).

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.