Asian America: August 2014

Compiled by Mary Tablante

1) Vietnamese American Becomes Brigadier General

Fort Hood, Texas—On Aug. 6, Col. Viet Xuan Luong became the first Vietnamese American to be promoted to brigadier general.  In 1975, Luong and his family fled Vietnam to come to the U.S. as political refugees and Luong began his military career after graduating from the University of Southern California.  From 2006 to 2008, Luong commanded combat troops in Iraq and commanded troops in Afghanistan from 2009 to 2010. Luong serves the 1st Calvary Division in Fort Hood as the deputy commander of maneuvers.

2) Smithsonian Launches APA Book Club

The Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center began the BookDragon Book Club in August to highlight APA authors. The first book the club read was “Pioneer Girl” by Bich Minh Nguyen. Each month, Smithsonian APA will post videos, opportunities to chat with the author and more. On the first Tuesday of every month, a new book title will be announced and on the last Tuesday of each month, the club will hold a virtual conversation. The BookDragon Book Club is partnering with HapaMama blogger Grace Hwang Lynch. Go to smithsonianapa.org/bookdragon/bookclub to find out what the club is reading each month.

3) Asian Americans Spend More Money on Music, Study Shows

A Nielsen report entitled, “Listen Up: Asian-American Consumers and Music,” shows that Asian Americans spend more money on music than other groups at an average of $112 per year, about $7 more per year than the average consumer. The study notes that online digital music is particularly popular among Asian Americans. Spotify is twice as popular with Asian Americans as the total market. Additionally, Asian Americans purchase an average of $20 on music gift cards per year, which is double the rate of the average consumer. The full report can be downloaded at nielsen.com.

4) First Indian American Player Signs NBA Contract

Sacramento, Calif.—Sim Bhullar, 21, became the first person of Indian descent to sign a deal with the NBA when he joined the Sacramento Kings in training camp, reported ESPN. The owner of the Kings was also the first Indian-born majority owner in the NBA. Bhullar stands at 7-foot-5 and is the tallest player in the NBA, where they average height of players is around 6-foot-7. Bhullar played with New Mexico State University for two seasons. He is a two-time MVP of the Western Athletic Conference and helped New Mexico State reach the NCAA Tournament.

5) Project Documents Hmong American History

Fresno, Calif.—In order to mark 40 years of Hmong migration from Laos and Thailand to the U.S., an exhibit is in the works about Hmong American personal experiences and culture that will be displayed in Fresno and Sacramento in 2015. The exhibit will highlight the achievements of Hmong Americans through displaying photographs, fine art and more artifacts. This summer, the project is in the research phases and is looking for sponsorship and volunteers. Go to hmongstory40.org to learn more.

6) Employment Rate among Young Asian Americans Decreases

A study from the U.S. Department of Labor, “The Asian American Labor Force in the Recovery,” revealed that unemployment among Asian Americans aged 16-24 grew from 6 percent in 2007 to 21.6 percent in July 2010. The report said although Asian Americans are in general less likely to be unemployed compared to other groups, it is more likely for Asian Americans to experience a longer duration of unemployment.

7) Organizations and Individuals Protest ‘Brownface’ HBO Show

A change.org petition has garnered more than 11,000 signatures in response to the HBO Australia-based television series “Jonah from Tonga,” which depicts a white actor in brownface who plays a teenage boy of Tongan descent. The Japanese American Citizens League also released a statement declaring they are disturbed that HBO would agree to air a racist and offensive show, saying scenes from the show misrepresent Tongan culture. All of the teenage boys in the show are low achievers and the main character Jonah exhibits traits of ignorance, violence and sexual aggression. The petition describes the show as deeply offensive to Tongan culture, a culture that focuses on respect and family instead of the negative traits portrayed in the series.

8) Anna May Wong Biopic Planned

A Shanghai-based film company, Fundamental Films, is developing a movie about Anna May Wong, the first Chinese American movie star.  Producers are in talks with Chinese actress Fan Bingbing to portray Anna, reported Variety. Anna May Wong started acting in silent films at age 17 and transitioned to talkies. Her big break was playing a Mongol slave in 1924’s “Thief of Baghdad.” Wong was often cast in stereotypical “Dragon Lady” roles in the U.S., which motivated her to move to Europe to continue acting. The film is planned to be distributed in China.

9) Chef Roy Choi Filming New Show for CNN

Korean American chef Roy Choi will be getting his own show on CNN entitled “Street Food.” Choi became famous in Los Angeles in 2008 for his Korean taco food truck, Kogi. Since then, Choi became a culinary advisor Jon Favreau’s movie “Chef, “published a book, “L.A. Son: My Life, My City, My Food,” and has opened a string of restaurants in Los Angeles. A premiere date for the show has not been set.

10) James Shigeta Paved Way for Asian American Actors

Film and television actor and singer James Shigeta died in Los Angeles on July 28. In 1960, Shigeta won a Golden Globe for Most Promising Male Newcomer after his film debut in the 1959 crime movie “The Crimson Kimono.”  Shigeta was well-known for co-starring in “Die Hard” and “Flower Drum Song,” and was one of the first Asian American actors to be a romantic lead in a movie. He also voiced General Li in Disney’s “Mulan.” Shigeta was a third generation American born in Honolulu, attended New York University and served during the Korean War by entertaining troops. He was 85.