Why it's OK for an Asian American actor to play an idiot

JASON MENDOZA is not too bright, but people love him.

“He’s not your typical hardworking nerdy Asian stereotype,” Manny Jacinto says of his role in The Good Place. “He is the complete opposite and it pushes forward a sense that not every Asian is going to be smart and hardworking.”

The writers wanted the character to be easy, going and simple minded because they noticed that "there are no dumb Asians in mainstream media," the Filipino/Canadian actor tells Mochi in an interview. Jacinto is no dummy.

Jason is "not defined by his ethnicity, so you don’t hear him speak Tagalog or Mandarin or whatever it may be. He’s really, at the end of the day, a person, just like any other individual,” says Jacinto.

In contrast to Jason, Jacinto has apparently given some serious thought about his good fortune landing the role in a hit series.  “I want to be able to inspire the next kid, the young kid, to have somebody to look up to in a sense, that they can be this or be that,” he says. “That was the biggest part for me—for Asian males specifically to not just be an Asian nerd or an Asian martial artist.”

“It really kills me how Asian males are being emasculated, especially in TV and film,” he says. “I’ve definitely been a victim of discrimination and that’s one of the biggest reasons that I stay in this game—so I can change that.”

“Bottom line: We are actors first. We are creators first. We are artists first,” he says. ”And by taking hold of that identity rather than being an Asian actor, we can do a lot more.”

This doesn't mean his background gets erased or ignored — just the opposite. Jason Mendoza gets to be Filipino/Canadian, and a huge Blake Bortles tan who has a fondness for EDM and favors the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars. Like all of us, Jacinto and the character he plays are the intersection of a lot of weird and wonderful things. Why shouldn't TV show all of that?

Representation matters, Jacinto tells GQ magaine. "Seeing someone like you, with your skin color, spiritual background, age, sexual orientation, or disability is no small thing. It can inspire, change minds, and move people to act. Every role on every show gives Hollywood another chance to get it right. Not just for top talent, but for the children ... (and adults) watching and wondering if anyone sees them too."

In one episode, Jason laments to a costar played by Kristen Bell, “Everyone here thinks I’m Taiwanese. I’m Filipino. That’s racist. Heaven is so racist.”

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The Oscars talk about DACA, diversity, representation in the media -- and fear

Lupita Nyong'o and Kumail Nanjiani: 'We're Dreamers.'

THE ACADEMY AWARDS staged last Sunday (March 4) was so-o-o l-o-o-ng (over three hours) that it would have been easy to miss or forget this video clip featuring artists, including Pakistani/American comedian Kumail Nanjiani, talking about representation in the movies.

A lot of division in our country these days is emanating from "straight, white guys" who are afraid of the demographic changes sweeping over the U.S.

That fear, which could be very tangible for white dudes, is  all in their imagination. It doesn't help that the man in the Oval Office is sowing and nurturing that fear.

As Nanjiani says in the video, "Some of my favorite movies are by straight white dudes about straight white dudes," he said. "Now, straight white dudes can watch movies starring me and you relate to that. It's not that hard. I've done it my whole life."

The basic message of the video is that though the face of America is changing, there's really nothing to be afraid of guys. Really!

Speaking of "representation," Nanjiani was apparently the Asian/American of the day. (Director: We need an Asian American. Producer: Call Kumail!) 

When it came time for Nanjiani, along with Lupita Wyong'o, to presented the Oscar for Achievement in Production Design, they used their presentation to send a powerful message to the recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, also known as Dreamers.

The ceremony took place the day before the DACA program ― which protects undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children― had originally been set to expire. 

“Like everyone in this room and everyone watching at home, we are dreamers,” Nyong’o said before announcing the nominees for achievement in production design. “We grew up dreaming of one day working in the movies. Dreams are the foundation of Hollywood, and dreams are the foundation of America.”

Just before the Oscar nominees were announced, Nanjiani interjected, “to all the Dreamers out there, we stand with you.” The crowd erupted in applause. 

The actors also poked fun at their own experiences as immigrants, with Nyong’o joking that both of their names are impossible to pronounce and Nanjiani revealing that his real Pakistani name is actually Chris Pine.

Nyong'o, who was born in Mexico City and raised in Kenya and Pakistani/American Nanjiani.

“I’m from Pakistan and Iowa, two places that nobody in Hollywood can find on a map,” Nanijani added.

Trump in September announced he was disbanding DACA, which lets hundreds of thousands of young undocumented immigrants stay in the U.S. and gave Congress six months to come up with a legislative resolution. Congress failed to come up with a bipartisan solution because Trump wanted to tie the Dreamers to passage of his radical reform of immigration laws.

Because of a recent Supreme Court decision, the program continues to exist, but i Dreamers― still remain in limbo over their futures due to Congress’ ongoing debate on immigration reform.

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Muslim iashion blogger told, 'You don't sound American'

SCREEN CAPTURE / WGN

Honda Katebi, right, was taken by surprise by the political turn of an interview on fashion.

ASAM NEWS

A FEATURE INTERVIEW with a fashion blogger took a sudden turn to a more controversial topic on WGN in Chicago Feb. 14.

News anchors Robin Baumgarten and Larry Potash were interviewing fashion blogger Hoda Katebi, who is an Iranian/American, about the intersection of fashion and politics.

Potosh then made the transition from Katebi’s upbringing in Oklahoma to her views on the Middle East political situation.

“Let’s talk about nuclear weapons,” Potash said. “Some of our viewers might say we cannot trust Iran. What are your thoughts?”

Katebi chuckled nervously and appeared stunned by the question.

At first Hoda Katebi appeared surprised by the question,
but she recovered nicely and turned the interview into
a learning moment.

Nonetheless she answered it, moving seamlessly into issues saying many might questions whether the U.S. can be trusted, making references to American imperialism and colonization in the Middle East.

To that, Baumgarten responded “A lot of Americans might take offense to that. You’re an American, you don’t sound like an American.”

“That’s because I've read,” Katebi responded, not missing a beat. She brought up the slavery of Blacks to the United States to the genocide of the indigenous people of the U.S.-Native Americans.

Katebi expanded on her thoughts about the interview in her blog, JooJoo Azad.

“The double standards is mind-blowing,” she said. “Not to mention that what, then, must an American 'sound like'? Are they saying that Americans must not question their government, must see the world in black & white, and chose simplicity over nuanced understandings? But furthermore, what an incredibly loaded statement to say to a visibly Muslim woman on live TV, pushing every stereotype of 'other,' 'foreign,' and 'incompatible with America' that Muslims are so systematically characterized as–and therefore used as justification to commit violence against, both here and abroad. If a white person said the same things as I did I guarantee you their 'American-ness' would not have been questioned.”

Baumgarten has since apologized for her question after callers and tweeters brought the faux pas to the station's attention.

Watch the entire interview, which has gone viral:

In an interview in Glamour magazine, Katebi says she shouldn't have been surprised by the questions, because in hindsight, the interview exposed assumptions about Muslim women she's faced for years. "It was a very powerful moment because you’re telling someone who’s visibly Muslim on live TV, for a large audience, [that she] doesn’t sound American? That of course perpetuates all sorts of biases: Always being foreign, always being other, always being incompatible with the West."

Katebi added that the TV interview should be a learning opportunity, in more ways than one. "Something I learned first and foremost is that we really should not let ourselves normalize micro-aggressions in any form or sense," she says. ... I really just want people to understand that this happens all the time. I want people to think about the larger issue."

(Views From the Edge contributed to this article.)

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