If you haven't seen it on the website already, check out our awesome conference postcard, designed by our Blaaager Tian:
Hosted by Regie Cabico, curated by Artistic Director Taiyo Na, with music by resident crowd mover DJ Boo, and brought to you by the Sulu Artist Network, the Sulu Series, named after Sulu of Star Trek - the first Asian American character to venture into unknown galactic quadrants - and a remote island in the Philippines, features Asian American performers in music, spoken word, video and multidisciplinary performances from the local and national scenes.Sulu Series begins at 9 PM. Tickets are $8 reg price, $5 student discount.
David, Nhu-Y, and I will be there, along with some NYCAASC-ers (say hello!).
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The Aftermath
Well, it was awkward to sit in the second row with a pencil and paper at hand (especially when I got up with the rest of the audience and "danced"); but at least I got good notes!
For some reason, Regie Cabico didn't show; but Taiyo held his own by telling personal stories of each artist before they came on the stage ("When I first met Magnetic North, I was like, 'Man, who are these kids?' Then I heard them perform and knew why they're so big -- they put such heart into the mic.").
Here's the lineup (with the songs that I wrote down):
- Ishle Yi Park
- Taiyo Na, Jason Kao Hwang, Vudoo Soul, DJ Boo, Craig Chin: "Love Is Growth" "Lovely to Me (Immigrant Mother)"
- Fay Chiang
- Vong Pak
- Conchita Campos: "Runaway Day"
- Craig Chin: "Skeeball"
- Kelly Tsai
- Magnetic North: "Within The Rhythm" (previously "Drift Away")
- El Gambina w. Marie - "Sunny Days"
- DJ K-Swift
- MISNOMER(S)
- Koba & DJ Boo
No, it's not too late to say so -- I just finished my third essay in two days. I also swore not to go near another computer again; but that obviously didn't happen.
March is ending and April is fast approaching, which means that the Blaaagers will be busy busy busy. Here are some events organized by AAA (with other groups) to look out for:
- Sun 4/6, 9 AM - James Room, Barnard Hall
Chinese Adopted Siblings Program for Youth (CASPY)
An all-day program designed to let Chinese youth adopted by non-Chinese families to get back in touch with their heritage. There will be counselors, food, and performances from various Asian performing groups on campus (Lion Dance, Chinese yo-yo, etc).
Collaborator: Taiwanese American Students Association (TASA).
Director: David (AAA Community Chair) and Janice Liu (TASA Community Chair)
Information: www.columbia.edu/cu/tasa/caspy - Sat 4/12, 9:30 AM - Kimmel Center, NYU
New York City Asian American Student Conference (NYCAASC)
A kick ass, day long, FREE conference featuring Dennis Chin as Keynote Speaker and over thirty APA activists, artists, entertainers, academics, and entrepreneurs as panelists / workshop leaders / entertainers. Our list of fame includes: John C. Liu, Heather Park, Timothy Huang, Gary Okihiro, and Phil Yu (Angry Asian Man). This year's theme is Redefine.
Collaborators: CU APAAM, CRAASH (CUNY Hunter), CUNY Baruch, Fordham University, and NYU AHM.
Co-Directors: Francis Bermisa (NYU), Agnes Chung (NYU), Nhu-Y, and myself
Information: www.nycaasc.om - Fri 4/18, 8 PM - Roone Arledge Auditorium, Alfred Lerner Hall
CultureSHOCK:Exposure
Our yearly "variety" show, known for its relatively low price tickets and brilliant off-campus acts (admittedly, the argument of whether our show is really "cultural" or not drags on forever). This year's performances include: Raw Elementz, Lion Dance, Stone Forest Ensemble (Jie-Song!), Magnetic North (Hip-Hop/R&B duo of "Drift Away" fame), and more. This year's theme is Exposure. Look out for racy advertisements.
Director: Laura Chin (AAA Social Chair)
Information: www.aaacolumbia.org
In response to our outcry against the CU Boulder column, The Blaaag and the AAA listserv received a very warm email from a certain Chris Dahmen. The letter is printed below for your reading pleasure, spelling/grammatical errors, ignorance, hate and all.I am a student at the
AAA's friends at Nodutdol are putting together a vigil in K-town over spring break. They've invited any of us to speak or give a statement; if you're interested, write to theblaaag@gmail.com.
March 19 Koreatown Vigil to Commemorate the 5th Anniversary of the U.S. Invasion of Iraq
Wednesday, March 19, 2008, 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Plaza in front of Woori Bank, c/o 32nd St and 6th Ave, Manhattan
March 19, 2008 marks the beginning of the 6th year of war and occupation, senseless death and massive destruction.
Bush says
For more information - 718 335 0419
I really don't have time (in the midst of studying for a midterm) to write an extensive post about this recent blogging phenomena I just found out from Racialicious, but you just have to check this out...
Recently three (maybe more?) blogs inspired by Stuff White People Like have popped up online. These blogs include: Stuff Asian People Like, Stuff Black People Love, and Stuff Educated Black People Like.
I like to think of these blogs as "Stuff White People Like About Asian/Black/Educated Black People" blogs, which are kind of meta-parodies of defensive white people themselves.
But ironically, these are lists self-purportedly compiled by Asian/Black/Educated people themselves. I may be just wrong about the tone and intent of these blogs, but these are interesting things to think about - the self-parody of one's own culture/race/ identity. (Or they may actually be written by white people behind the strategically race-effacing interweb.)
Still, I think what changes when we see blogs like these spring up are the types of insight that they display. SWhitePL spoke to issues that illuminate white privilege - (things like Graduate School, which people of color disproportionately do not have the financial independence to pursue in lieu of making money.) The new blogs just make fun of aspects of their respective cultures; the SAsianPL blog just sheds light upon how, say, Asian people like rice. Why, we do happen to like rice.
What do you think? Thoughts in the comments.
Most Blaaagers don't like to take credit so voluntarily, but I think some of us might see when it's due. In my not-so-humble opinion, I think AAA's done enough positive, progressive events and initiatives to merit one of these babies, but it's up for you to decide!
So go over to the site, take a gander, and hopefully you'll think of some reason to nominate us for an award. Yay!
For those who don't remember, Max Karson at the University of Colorado at Boulder wrote an opinion piece recently, "satirically" calling for a war against Asians, based on an encounter with an Asian student.
Sign the petition against his hate speech here.
The Coalition for the Revitalization of Asian American Studies at Hunter (CRAASH) is underway in a campaign to strengthen the school's AAS program; they're also helping Columbia and NYU to plan the 2nd annual New York City Asian American Student Conference (NYCAASC). Our best wishes go out to CRAASH and their efforts. In solidarity!
They also have a kick-ass logo.
(Listen to CRAASH on Fallout Central here.)
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Students take a stand for Asian American studies
NEW YORK CITY, New York (February 27, 2008) – Students of the Coalition for the Revitalization of Asian American Studies at Hunter (CRAASH) are gearing up to host a conference, entitled "Strengthening Education: Empowering Asian American Studies" in April. It will take place at Hunter College and will address the need for support for Asian American Studies in higher education. The conference will feature notable speakers, panel discussions, and a proactive workshop. Students will propose actions that college administrators must implement in order to strengthen Asian American Studies programs. It will be open to all college students who wish to learn more about this issue that affects both the academic community of Hunter College and New York City.
The conference stems from the concerns of CRAASH, a student-led group formed in April 2007 in response to the inadequate conditions of the Asian American Studies Program (AASP). Students have led a campaign on and off campus to fight for the education that they were promised when they entered Hunter College. Initiatives include a petition of over 1,000 signatures, a feature article on the popular AngryAsianMan blog, a front-page story in the Hunter Envoy, a successful AASP event with director Justin Lin, and a Facebook group that has rallied support from over 300 members from Hunter and other colleges. CRAASH also had a full-page article in the East Coast Asian American Student Union newsletter, which was distributed to over 1,200 students from over 100 colleges at their recent conference. The core members will facilitate an activism workshop at the 2nd Annual New York City Asian American Student Conference at New York University. Eyewitness News Education Unit and AsianWeek magazine may potentially feature their efforts.
Currently, the AASP lacks sufficient financial, structural, and institutional support from both Hunter College and the greater CUNY administration, rendering it unable to flourish as a true academic program. Although there have been vague promises from Hunter administrators, CRAASH has yet to see actual results. This spring, CRAASH will be contacting media, Asian American organizations, and student associations at other universities to spread awareness of the inadequate state of the AASP and organize support for proactive initiatives. Most importantly, CRAASH aims to ensure increased funding for a greater variety of classes, a stable office, full-time faculty members, a permanent director to lead the program, and space to conduct events that will engage and benefit the Hunter community.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the San Francisco State College Strike, the longest student strike in American history that led the way for the development of ethnic studies. In keeping with the unwavering spirit of the strike, CRAASH hopes to illustrate that the fight for fairer representation of Asian Americans in institutionalized learning is not only significant, but also in demand. In order for future students to learn about a mostly forgotten legacy, and to inspire activism and pride amongst other students and their communities, CRAASH hopes for a secure AASP that will last far into the future. For a diverse college in New York City whose student population is 26 percent* Asian/Asian American, granting students the right to relevant and accessible education is the least Hunter College and CUNY can do.
About CRAASH:
CRAASH is dedicated to rejuvenating the Asian American Studies Program of Hunter College, as well as expanding the program to include a greater variety of courses. CRAASH aims to organize the Hunter community and spread awareness about the inadequate conditions of the AASP. Through petitioning, meeting with faculty, and promoting AASP events, we hope to educate the Hunter community about Asian American issues. To find out more, please contact us at HunterCRAASH at yahoo.com.
A little porno spoof starring David Henry Hwang, the guy behind the play Yellow Face and other such Asian American cultural works. Word is that the director of this movie Greg Pak is coming to our Intro to Asian American Studies class sometime this semester. Let's talk to him about this.