Asian Fortune Your source for all things Asian American
Compiled by Mary Tablante
1. Malala Releases Memoir; Visits White House
Malala Yousafzai, the youngest person ever to be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for her work advocating for girls’ and women’s education, released her memoir, I Am Malala, on Oct. 8. The release date marks one year after a Taliban gunman shot Yousafzai when she was riding a bus home from school in Pakistan. Yousafzai, 16, also visited the Obama family at the White House on Oct. 11. During the visit, Malala expressed her concerns to the president about drone strikes and also told the president that she hoped for better government cooperation between the United States and Pakistan.
2. Filipino American History Will Be Added to Schoolbooks
LOS ANGELES—The State Board of Education in California will soon be required to teach students from grades 7 to 12 the history of Filipino Americans in the farm labor movement. California Gov. Jerry Brown signed the legislation to include this aspect of Filipino American history in textbooks statewide. First generation immigrants Philip Vera Cruz and Larry Itliong were among those who founded the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee, a group that fought for better wages and conditions for farm workers. The committee eventually merged with Cesar Chavez’s United Farm Workers.
3. NASA Mistakenly Bans Chinese Students from Conference
NASA acknowledged its mistake after they rejected Chinese national students and researchers from attending a November conference in the San Francisco Bay area. NASA Chief Charlie Bolden said the mistake was because of a misinterpreted law passed by Congress. The law is meant to provide national security and prohibits NASA funds to be used for collaborating with China and prevents NASA from hosting Chinese visitors at its facilities. However, the law did not apply to this particular conference, reported The Guardian.
4. Miss Saigon Sparks Protests, Petitions
MINNEAPOLIS—More than 200 people protested at the opening night of Miss Saigon at Ordway Theatre in Minnesota. The protesters object to the racism, colonialism and romanticizing of human trafficking that the musical portrays. Before the opening night, 18 Million Rising, a campaign that focuses on Asian Americans, posted a petition online entitled “Don’t Buy Miss Saigon.” One activist, Bao Phi, also started “Our Truth Project,” a Tumblr (dontbuymiss-saigon.tumblr.com) that compiles peoples’ photos and real stories that counter the portrayals in Miss Saigon.
5. George Takei Speaks at National Press Club
Washington, D.C.—Actor and activist George Takei, 76, spoke about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights at the National Press Club on Oct. 18 during a luncheon. Takei, whose most famous role was Sulu on Star Trek, came out as being gay in 2005. He is also an advocate for Japanese American rights. The actor joined the 30th anniversary celebration of Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Los Angeles on Oct. 11 and received the Positive Image Award for positively representing Asian Americans in media.
6. Amardeep Kaleka to Run for Congress
MILWAUKEE—Amardeep Kaleka, the son of a Wisconsin Sikh who was killed last year after the shooting at the Sikh Temple in Oak Creek, Wis., intends to run for Congress, challenging Paul Ryan. Kaleka, 35, will run as a Democrat and is a strong advocate for gun control. He wants to run to bring transparency back to Washington, Kaleka told the Associated Press. Kaleka’s father, Satwant Singh Kaleka, was fatally wounded at age 65 while protecting others from the attack.
7. Park Renamed to Honor Filipino American
Maui, Hawaii—On Oct. 17, a park in Maui was renamed to honor Richard “Pablo” Caldito, Sr., the first elected Filipino American in the U.S., according to Maui TV News. Caldito served on the Board of Supervisors, which is now called the Maui County Council, from 1956 to 1972. Caldito died two years ago at age 98. Richard “Pablo” Caldito, Sr. Park is located in Waihe’e, Maui, Hawaii.
8. Rock Band Attempts to Register Name ‘The Slants,’ Gets Rejected
Portland, Ore.—A rock band wanted to reclaim an ethnic slur by registering their band name The Slants, but the Trademark Trial and Approval Board rejected the request. The board’s reason for the rejection was because of a section of the Lanham Act that prohibits registration of a term that disparages people, beliefs or national symbols. The group was founded in 2006 and is an all-Asian American dance-rock band.
9. Hmong Celebration Shooting Wounds Five
Tulsa, Okla.—Five people were wounded after a shooting that happened during a Hmong New Year’s festival in Tulsa. Boonmlee Lee, 21, and Meng Lee, 19, were arrested in connection with the shooting and faced five counts each of shooting with the intent to kill as well as firearm charges, according to CBS News. CBS also reported that the two are cousins. Witnesses said there were around 200 people at the celebration.
10. Missing Filipino American Hunter Found After 19 Days
Redwood City, Calif.—A 72-year-old Filipino American deer hunter was found after surviving 19 days lost in the wilderness. A group of hunters found Gene Penaflor in the Mendocinco National Forest in Northwestern California after he had been separated from his hunting partner on Sept. 24. Penaflor recounted that he walked too far from the road and lost consciousness after hitting his head during the hunting trip. He survived by making a fire and hunting squirrels. Penaflor returned home on Oct. 12 and as of Oct. 14, he was surrounded by family and recovering at a hospital.
11. ‘Revealed: In Search of Bruce Lee’ Brings Theater to Chinatown
SEATTLE—Asian American theater group SIS Productions performed an original production throughout October that uses Chinatown as their theatrical space. In the play Revealed: In Search of Bruce Lee, the audience joins the actors on a walking tour around Seattle’s Chinatown as the actors perform events that are inspired by Bruce Lee’s life. The performances were free and ran through Halloween.
12. Asian American Resource Center Opens in Austin
Austin, Tex.—The Asian American Resource Center opened in Austin on Sept. 28 after being in the works for seven years. In 2006, voters approved a bond to create a cultural space for Austin’s Asian American community. The community will use the center to host Asian culinary classes, tai chi and yoga classes and more workshops for both children and adults, according to the Austin American-Statesman. The center also features a library that includes books about Asian history, a conference room, an assembly hall and a computer lab.
