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Fertile Ground

At this moment, our broader Asian American movement is faced with a decision. Will we keep a privileged few among us safe through hate crime laws and increased policing or will we fight for true safety and freedom for all of us?

By 18 Million Rising Staff

  • The author (center) holds an image of Zainichi Korean “Comfort Woman” survivor Song Shing-do halmoni, with Yuri Kochiyama (bottom right) at a 2005 protest in front of the Japanese Consulate in San Francisco. Also pictured: renowned Zainichi human rights activist Shin Sugok and Zainichi scholar of Ethnic Studies Kyunghee Ha.

    Remembrance as Resistance: 'Comfort Women' and the U.S. Pivot to Asia

    ideas • Jun 27, 2016 • By Miho Kim Lee

    Emerging U.S. military strategy in Asia has led to implied endorsement of Japan's denial of its WWII 'Comfort Women' system. The legacy of elders who broke the silence against Japan's wartime sexual slavery system is a call for Asian Americans to fight militarism and state violence with a transnational movement of remembrance, resistance, and solidarity. Read More

  • Phil Yu, Jenny Yang, and others gather around a table to host an episode of Angry Asian America on ISATV, and hub of Asian American independent media content.

    What Opening the Set-Top Box Means for AAPI Representation

    culture • May 27, 2016 • By Mark Tseng Putterman

    AAPIs know all too well the limited opportunities that cable TV provides for nuanced and diverse representation. Unlocking the set-top box and integrating cable and streaming video programming could help us access more content that speaks to our identities and experiences, and provide a larger audience for AAPI content creators. Read More

  • A graffiti stencil on a building wall depicts seven shadowed figures holding protest signs that together read: 'FREEDOM: speech, thought, religion, expression, assembly, choice, association.'

    To the next POTUS: For communities of color, encryption is a civil right

    communities • May 11, 2016 • By Steven Renderos and Mark Tseng Putterman

    In a political moment of heightened xenophobia, profiling and over-policing, encryption has become a key civil rights protection for targeted communities. Read More

  • A group of South Asian American protestors outside, smiling, holding signs with messages like 'Tone down police aggression' and It could be my grandpa! (sad smiley face)'

    Towards a Selfish Solidarity: Building Deep Investment in the Movement for Black Lives

    ideas • Apr 28, 2016 • By Sasha W.

    The need for a deep and selfish solidarity of South Asians with #BlackLivesMatter became nationally visible last year. Sureshbhai Patel, an Indian man visiting America to care for his grandson, was mistaken for “a skinny Black man” by a neighbor who called the cops. When the cops could not communicate with him, because Mr. Patel does not speak English, one officer brutally slammed Mr. Patel into the ground, leaving him partially paralyzed. The police were called on Mr. Patel because he was mistaken for “a skinny Black man;” he was brutalized, beaten to the point of literal paralysis but not killed, because he was understood to be Indian and immigrant. Read More

  • Block letters on a black background: 'Fighting for the future of our youth should UNITE us. It's time to show REAL LEADERSHIP. Support Affirmative Action. Support Equal Opportunity.'

    Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Community Organizations Stand Up for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education

    communities • May 10, 2015 • By Juliet Shen

    Those who are truly committed to equal educational opportunity should demonstrate real leadership and reinvest in higher education throughout the nation to expand access, affordability, equity, and student success. Decades of disinvestment in higher education across the country have made college less accessible for all students, especially students of color. We call for unity in standing up for the future of our youth and realizing the promise of equal opportunity for all in the United States. Read More

  • Celebrity chef Eddie Huang, wearing a New York Knicks hat, camo jacket, and hoodie, stands in front of a graffiti-covered wall.

    'Got U Boo' and Other Things to Leave in High School

    identities • May 5, 2015 • By Jason Fong

    Eddie Huang’s tweets show that he believes himself to be above anyone who dares challenge him and denigrates their opinions by implying that they are trying to ride on his coattails. It’s convenient for him to attack anyone who dares challenge his position as someone seeking attention or wanting to date him because this can also be a deterrent against other critics. And with this line of 'reasoning,' he can deflect attention from his poor communication skills and onto the person trying to ask an honest question. Read More

  • Tina Fey, in a sleeveless white top and black skirt, and Amy Poehler, in a purple dress and blue necklace, grimace awkwardly as they stand on either side of Margaret Cho, dressed in a faux North Korean military uniform, wearing white pancake face makeup, leering into a microphone.

    The Meemao Monster

    culture • Jan 11, 2015 • By Kao Kalia Yang

    My daughter pointed to the television set. She was fascinated by Margaret Cho. Maybe she recognized someone that looked a little like her mother? Maybe she recognized someone that sounded a little like her mother when my Hmong accent grew thick? My daughter turned to me. She pointed back at the television. She said, “Meemao”…monster. Read More

  • Mark Wahlberg, clean shaven and wearing a suit and tie, smiles as he is lit from the front against a black background. The photograph is of his shoulders and head, and he is in 3/4 profile.

    8 Things Mark Wahlberg Can Do To Atone For His Crimes

    culture • Dec 7, 2014 • By Cayden Mak

    I’ve read a lot of feedback over the past couple of days about our petition to Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick to reject Mark Wahlberg’s pardon request. The most interesting feedback was the thought-provoking stuff: specifically, let’s assume, for sake of argument, that Wahlberg has changed in the past 25 years. If that’s true, what could Wahlberg do to earn our trust, blessing, and goodwill? Read More