May is Asian Pacific Americans Heritage Month. You are invited to participate in a number of interesting and informative events:
Discrimination and biases towards Asians is not new. But the escalation of crimes and attacks targeting Asians is unprecedented. And was the shocking, unprovoked killing of 6 Asian Americans in spas and gyms in Atlanta, Georgia in any way associated with the exotic, sex symbol stereotyping of Asian women in movies?
Hence May, traditionally the National Asian Pacific Americans Heritage Month, has taken on a whole new significance. This is the special time that we need to build bridges and help others to learn about the history of Asians and erase the single-dimension stereotypes that Hollywood has created for Asians. We hope that we can build a more harmonious and understanding community. Asian Americans are Americans, and the Asian American history is part of the American history. The racism and xenophobia experienced by Asian Americans should never have happened to any Americans, and should not be tolerated by any Americans. We are all part of the weaving fabrics of America, not any more, not any less.
Free Movie: Minari
Long aware that movies are great tools to educate, the Asian Health Institute (AHI), together with the APA Systemwide Alliance (APASA) and the Office of Diversity and Outreach (ODO), are offering the free screening of Minari, and using storytelling as a powerful educational tool to showcase the journey of a first-generation Korean American family. It is a moving story – get your Kleenex box ready!
The free screenings will be offered on 5/14, with a post film discussion to follow on 5/18. The movie screening will have limited seats, and will be offered on a first-come, first-serve basis for the UCSF community first. Additional seats will be given to the community at-large.
Sign up for 5/14 6-9 pm screening of Minari: Please click , or copy and paste into your browser. (You will receive further information when you sign up.)
One ticket for one email address. Tickets are non-transferrable, and will be sent to you by the streaming film distribution company (A24 Films) on 5/13/2021 if your sign up is accepted. Please note that not all sign ups get the ticket as we expect tickets to run out quickly.
Post Film Discussion – 5/18/2021 – Zoom link to be sent out later.
PBS Asian Documentary
We will also use the PBS documentary – a 5-part series to help bring the history of Asian Americans again to the forefront for all to revisit and learn more about the history of Asians in America. We hope that you will watch one episode of the PBS documentary weekly, and give some time and space to appreciate where we were and where we are. Are we in a better place now?
1st Episode: BREAKING GROUND
Description from PBS: In an era of exclusion and U.S. empire, new immigrants arrive from China, India, Japan, the Philippines and beyond. Barred by anti-Asian laws they become America’s first “undocumented immigrants,” yet they build railroads, dazzle on the silver screen, and take their fight for equality to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Click HERE to watch, or copy and paste into browser: https://www.pbs.org/weta/asian-americans/episode-guide/episode-1-breaking-ground/
2nd Episode: A QUESTION OF LOYALTY
Description from PBS: An American-born generation straddles their country of birth and their parents’ homelands in Japan and Korea. Those loyalties are tested during World War II, when families are imprisoned in detention camps, and brothers find themselves on opposite sides of the battle lines.
Click HERE to watch, or copy and paste into browser: https://www.pbs.org/weta/asian-americans/episode-guide/episode-2-a-question-of-loyalty/
3rd Episode: GOOD AMERICANS
Description from PBS: During the Cold War years, Asian Americans are simultaneously heralded as a Model Minority, and targeted as the perpetual foreigner. It is also a time of bold ambition, as Asian Americans aspire for the first time to national political office and a coming culture-quake simmers beneath the surface.
Click HERE to watch, or copy and paste into browser: https://www.pbs.org/weta/asian-americans/episode-guide/episode-3-good-americans/
4th Episode: GENERATION RISING
Description from PBS: During a time of war and social tumult, a young generation fights for equality in the fields, on campuses and in the culture, and claim a new identity: Asian Americans. The war’s aftermath brings new immigrants and refugees who expand the population and the definition of Asian America.
Click HERE to watch, or copy and paste into browser: https://www.pbs.org/weta/asian-americans/episode-guide/episode-4-generation-rising/
5th Episode: BREAKING THROUGH
Description from PBS: At the turn of the new millennium, the national conversation turns to immigration, race, and economic disparity. As the U.S becomes more diverse, yet more divided, a new generation of Asian Americans tackle the question, how do we as a nation move forward together?
Click HERE to watch, or copy and paste into browser: https://www.pbs.org/weta/asian-americans/episode-guide/episode-5-breaking-through/
Two Town Halls
More details and Zoom links will be announced later this month.
5/27 5:30 – 7 pm – Panelists will be UCSF faculty (3) and UCSF students (3)
5/28 noon – 1 pm – Panelists will be UCSF Health’s senior Asian administrators
Contact ahi@ucsf.edu for more information.
Do a short survey – What are your thoughts on being an Asian nowadays?
Support the advocacy work of our UCSF students and the Asian Health Institute
Please help by doing a short survey (~1-5 mins) if you identify yourself as “Asian”.
We are collecting perspectives on the individual “Asian” American identity, which is often neglected or invisible, as “Asian” experiences are often condensed in one monolith. Please share your perspectives with us as a response to the recent anti-Asian attacks. In turn, we plan to share a summary of the anonymous findings from your responses in the upcoming API Heritage Month (May). Thank you!
Please click here for the instructions and the anonymous survey: https://ucsf.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4PdJ78tM8Ux8pwi
Inquiries? – Please contact alice.tang@ucsf.edu or billy.zeng@ucsf.edu. Thanks for your support and time!
———————————————-
Anyone who wishes to sign up for the AHI listserv please send an email to ahi@ucsf.edu and put in the subject line: “Add email to listserv”.