Four Asian Americans awarded national arts medals

Honored at the White House, from left: Mindy Kaling, Joan Shigekawa, Vera Wang and Amy Tan.

Four Asian American creatives were awarded with national medals for the arts or humanities at the White House Tuesday:

Actor and producer Mindy Kaling, fashion designer Vera Wang and film producer Joan Shigekawa were each awarded the 2021 National Medal of Arts, while author Amy Tan was given a 2021 National Humanities Medal.

“We’re a nation, a great nation, in large part because of the power of the arts and humanities. That’s stamped into the DNA of America,” President Biden said during the ceremony in the East Room. “Today … (we) continue the legacy of awarding two of our nation’s highest honors to 23 extraordinary Americans,” that included celebrities such as rocker Bruce Springsteen, singer Gladys Knight  and actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus.

"The work of our honorees is as diverse as the nation that celebrates with them today," said Biden. "But — but common threads weave them together in many ways in the very fabric of America: the pursuit of excellence, the drive to create, the yearning to connect, and the boldness to be truthtellers, bridge builders, and change seekers."

He introduced Mindy Kaling, "The first woman of color to create, write, and star in a primetime sitcom, she empowers a new generation to tell their stories with their own irreverence and sincerity. The daughter of Indian immigrants ..."

About fashion designer Vera Wang, Biden said: You’re one of the greats, Vera. You really are. And I know your dresses always look beautiful on my wife, God love her. (Laughter.) Your designs are timeless. Her vision, her influence in industry. Her business became an empire. A name that’s synonymous with artistry, excellence: Vera Wang.

Biden evoked laughter when he stumbled on the last name of Joan Shigekawa. When Shigekawa helped him with the pronunciation, Biden, "I have trouble pronouncing. You can call me 'Bid-en.'"

"Shigekawa," he corrected himself. "Your contributions to art in America is legendary and is lasting. And the head of the National Endowment for the Arts, she’s lifted rural and urban artists, created programs for military families, and helped measure how the art grows the economy — arts grow the economy. And she proves that art makes our country stronger.

Amy Tan, the fourth Asian American awardee was introduced, "The daughter of Chinese immigrants, Amy Tan’s books capture the courage, the pain, and the joy — and the joy — of the immigra- — of the immigrant experience, and how their legacy and memory fulfill the promise of America for all Americans."

The National Medal of Arts is the highest award given to artists and arts patrons by the U.S. president. The National Endowment for the Arts oversees a nomination process on behalf of the White House.

The National Humanities Medal, on the other hand, honors an individual or organization “whose work has deepened the nation’s understanding of the human experience, broadened citizens’ engagement with history or literature, or helped preserve and expand Americans’ access to cultural resources.”

After the ceremony, Kaling messaged her fans via social media: "Yesterday, I went with my family to receive the medal at the White House," Kaling wrote in the post. "To hear the President speak about my parents, their journey to the United States, my late mother's dreams for me, and the power of comedy to make people understand each other was almost too much to take in. It didn't feel real!"

National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Chair Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD, said, “The National Medal of Arts recipients have helped to define and enrich our nation’s cultural legacy through their life long passionate commitment. We are a better nation because of their contributions. Their work helps us see the world in different ways. It inspires us to reach our full potential and recognize our common humanity."

The full lists of awardees can be found here and here.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow @DioknoEd on Twitter.

Amy Tan has a message for racists

WARNING! Harsh language ahead!

TWO AMERICAN women were waiting in line at a gas station to buy eggs and milk when a Border Patrol agent asked them for their ID's and questioned them for 40 minutes.

What were they doing to warrant this interrogation? They were speaking Spanish.

Ana Suda and her friend are furious at the encounter that occurred in Montana.  What's infuriating is that it's lentirely legal.

Although the practice is more common near the border with Mexico, ICE gents have the power to stop anyone they suspect is in this country without documentation if they are within 100 miles of any border. In this case, the border in question is the one shared with Canada, which was 35 miles away.

Legal or not, Joy Luck Club author Amy Tan thought the agent's actions and the fear that foreign languages stirs up with monolingual Americans was out of line and not in the tradition of our country's values.

She used social media to convey her video message in Spanish (except for the two last words.) She also provided a translation:

After a few responses from people who were offended by her use of street language, Tan followed up with this message:

The women spoke Spanish, but it could just as well have been Tagalog, Cantonese, Vietnamese or any one of the scores of languages used in Asia. The incident occurred in Montana but it could just as well have happened in Buffalo, NY, or San Diego. Technically, the East and West coasts are borders so ICE could argue that rule might applies to New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami, Boston and and a host of other coastal cities.

Note tin the CNN interview above that Suda says an agent told her that Canadians speaking French are not stopped and questioned by ICE. Clearly, a case of racial profiling.

How in the world did ICE get this Gestapo-like authority?  Apparently, the Supreme Court, dominated by Republican-nominated justices, approved the law. See what happens when we're not paying attention?

Instead of being offended by two words - no matter how harsh - Americans should be offended by the actions of ICE.
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