Thank You Wong Kim Ark. What's Next? Just Naturalized Citizens Born In Brown Countries?

First, let's thank Wong Kim Ark. Without him, or trying to right the wrongs of slavery--which is kind of like the firework stores trying to sell you ear muffs for puppies and babies to protect their ears from the booms they sell you), the Fourteenth Amendment wouldn't be as solidified as it is.

Or mostly is...

Or I mean...is it?

This new executive order (https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/protecting-the-meaning-and-value-of-american-citizenship/) challenges the Fourteenth Amendment taking away citizenship to those born by parents who were undocumented immigrants, or to those who had temporary status like a student, work, or tourist visa.

It's trying to take away one of the fun magic tickets that make America Truly Great. Not Fake Great. But Truly Great.

Ask anyone anywhere and they will tell you that for the longest time, the slogan of America has been "In America you can achieve your dreams. You can be anything you want to be."

Come to America.

We value freedom. We're dreamers. We believe everyone has a say. 

At least overall...because we all know the fine print on the American Dream.

But it's like even that fine print is going away.

It's like you don't even get the contract. 

Or won't be able to if this order goes through.

Some people will say it's overreacting and that there's nothing wrong with not giving citizenship under the policies of that act, but consider this:

Two people are here on work visas (because they're smart and our companies want them here..) and they decide to date, go out to dinners, museum trips, a good movie. Maybe they take a trip down the coasts--they spend money, pay taxes, help out other people. 

And then, well, you know--a baby's born! 

Like...who's gonna claim the baby now? Don't we want that baby? 

Nobody is saying anything about the parent's countries. 

But don't we at least want to call dibs on that baby? 

Don't we want those baby resources? 

Stay in America. Study. Raise a family. Buy stuff. Pay taxes. Contribute to society. Do it again.

And without a lot of paperwork?

I say get those baby dibs.

Retro Summer Sofronio Vasquez Tunes

 

Just feels like some of you may need this retro clip during these hard times.

Shine on.

Apply Now: The Mike M. Masaoka Fellowship

From the PR:

The Mike M. Masaoka Fellowship Fund was established in 1988 to honor Mike M. Masaoka (1915-1991) for a lifetime of outstanding public service in promoting justice, civil rights, and human dignity. The Masaoka Fellowship is designed to develop leaders for public service, particularly at the national level, and provides fellows the unique opportunity to be placed in a Congressional office where they gain firsthand knowledge of policy creation.

The fellowship is housed in the D.C. office of a member of the U.S. Senate or the U.S. House of Representatives. The length of the fellowship is decided upon by the selected fellow and by the Congressional office and can last from 6 months to over a year. Specific duties in the office vary depending on the Congressional office and on the Fellow’s experience and knowledge of Congressional functions.

Priority Deadline: July 7, 2025, at 11:59 PM HST.

Tentative Start Date: Early October 2025. Fellowship term for this cycle will be dependent on the office placement, with an additional month to support the JACL National Convention.

https://jacl.org/mike-masaoka-congressional-fellowship?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=7671f939-5404-4d30-84fa-62f9481f1a8b

Asian American Action Fund + Representative Derek Tran

From the Asian American Action Fund

2025 JACL National Convention

 

Get all the information down at: https://jacl.org/2025-national-convention

From Huy Quoc Phan To Tuan Thanh Phan: It's Just A Collective WTF To The Trump Administration

Huy Quoc Phan and his family (via Amy Phan via USA Today)

Nothing this administration does surprises me anymore. 

I mean, just absolutely nothing.

Even forgetting about what the U.S. did in Vietnam and the pact it had with Vietnamese refugees like Huy Quoc Phan:

"For decades, both the Republican and Democratic administrations protected Vietnamese refugees such as Phan from deportation, citing their specific status as war and displacement survivors. This protection was given to approximately 8,600 Vietnamese who arrived prior to 1995, when the U.S. and Vietnam normalized relations. Vietnam did not take back deportees from this group, and the Biden administration effectively ended such removals.

But President Trump's second year in office has seen a dramatic reversal. The government has redoubled efforts to deport criminal immigrants, even long-standing favorites. "With President Trump and (DHS Secretary Kristi) Noem at the helm, ICE is continuing to safeguard Americans by arresting and removing criminal aliens," replied Tricia McLaughlin, an assistant secretary at the Department of Homeland Security."

Huy Quoc Phan served his time for the crime he committed. At 17, he rightfully spent the next 15 years behind bars for the robbery he was involved in that left a shopkeeper dead. 

He did his time. 

And now he spends more time, doing time in a Louisiana detention center, because the Trump administration is rolling back all the safeguards for refugees.

"We feel we got abandoned again," Quyen Mai, executive director of the Vietnamese American Organization, stated. Legal scholars and historians insist that the U.S. government committed to safeguarding refugees such as Phan, who now stand to be returned to a land they hardly know, with few resources and extreme uncertainty."

It's despicable. 

But sadly not surprising for this administration.

And They're Getting Deported To...South Sudan?

In the case of Tuan Thanh Phan (pictured left), he was ready to be deported. 

He knew he was going to be deported.

And he already did his time of 25 years.

But he thought it would be back to Vietnam.

Not the South Sudan.

It's inhumane (via NPR): 

"Is it okay for the government then to turn around and destroy their lives and the lives of their families, just because those individuals at one time committed a crime for which they've already been convicted, they've already served their sentence?" said Matt Adams, the legal director at the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, one of the groups suing the administration over the flight to South Sudan and deportations to other so-called third countries.

"It's just a complete renunciation of our justice system," he said.

Greg Chen, senior director of government relations for the American immigration Lawyers Association, said the difference from prior administrations includes the kinds of countries this White House is negotiating with.

"The principle in law is that it needs to be a safe country for that person to be removed there," said Chen, whose nonpartisan organization represents immigration attorneys and law students.

The State Department gives the South Sudan a clear "Level 4: Do Not Travel".

Really? 

So while the US has fought against corruption and regimes around the world--touting itself as more humane--this is what we do now?

We can't even deport people to somewhere at least semi-decent?

We don't give them any due process even though it is court ordered?

And So They Wait

So Huy Quoc is doing more time away from his wife and children and Tuan Thanh is--well who the hell knows where he's at now?

Where is due process?

Where is humanity?

And will we ever get it back? Will other countries and communities ever look at the US the same again?

I can't say nor can I say what will happen in the end.

But I do think, at the very least, we know who the real monsters are and where they can take us, and that it's not making American great in any way shape or form.

Read more at
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com//news/international/us/we-feel-we-got-abandoned-again-the-story-of-vietnamese-refugees-in-trumps-deportation-firing-line/articleshow/121464545.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cp

Ryan Coogler, Sinners, Grace, And That Moment

There's been a lot of talk about Sinners - an awesome movie - and the character Grace (as well as the Asian American representation). Here's a clip with Coogler himself talking about Grace and "that moment" (spoilers).

Here is Ryan Coogler himself telling y’all not to misinterpret *that* moment with Grace https://t.co/tJrxxiUCiH pic.twitter.com/zFfyPR17iF

— Kar (@karlogan_) April 30, 2025

First, let's just make sure everyone heard that--the intentions and the reasoning behind what Grace did.

Second, let's just take a moment to listen to it again.

I feel like that should shed A LOT of light on the decision--and it did help move the plot along--but ultimately Grace didn't get anything she really wanted from this--she died.

She died killing her handsome as hell husband Bo. 

She was a mom, and when I think about it, I don't think anyone else there had living children--and she did what she did because of the moment, because it was that maternal instinct. 

From the interview I think Coogler really wanted to show some of the history of Chinese Americans down south which is emblematic in many ways of the roles Asian American played--that middle ground between races at times--and then make Grace a complex character within an already complex set of characters--because they were all, like the title says, Sinners.

Far from perfect and making the right decisions.

That All Being Said...

I do think it's fair to question the fact of having an Asian American character looking to break trust in the community of POC at the juke joint. No matter what the intent, the outcome and the action does get to be discussed, and from an Asian American perspective, I will understand if someone who's from the AAPI community didn't like Grace's representation. 

As Asian Americans who still do not get the parity that exists for others in areas like film and entertainment, we do get that right and that voice.

And in Sinners, Asian Americans were looked at just like the Black community from a vampire's perspective--blood and life.

In some ways too it's contrary to a lot of things from a communal perspective--sacrifice for the community and family. Sometimes we have to let people go or leave them behind so some people can stay alive and keep on living. Just think about the decisions on who had to be taken and who had to be left behind during the war in Vietnam.

You do the hard things so community can live on. 

I will say for me, I understand the character of Grace though doing what she did, because there may be no community for her in the sense of her family dying or possibly begin murdered. 

She was in a no-win situation and while she was being comforted and told by the others they will all help make sure her daughter is safe--it was still after the night. 

She had no guarantees. 

What would you do?

So then...

As I write this I do think it would have been great if someone like an Annie or maybe Pearline, would have coalesced with Grace in solidarity as a woman or mother and would have said the magic words to start the fight right before Grace was about to and then they locked eyes. 

To me it would have handled this situation from that perspective.

But I do believe we get to be complex. We get to be any characters we want to be,

Or at least we should.

But I also know nothing exists inside an Ivory Tower, and the fact that some of this dialogue is happening tells us how far we still need to go.

I also believe that there is some underlying racism when it comes to Grace's character and how it's being used as a talking point to stereotype and "other" Asian Americans as being the "model minority", sell-outs, allies to Whites Only, or just plain prejudiced against the Black community.

It tells you how we're still looked at in some ways. 

-----

No matter what I said here or what you may think of what I said here--go see Sinners. 

And stay till the very very very last end.

Sarah Teng And Photographing Iraq

 

Thought this was interesting and great to see the highlight here of photographer Sarah Teng. From the video description:

Photographer Sarah Teng (  / sarah.teng  ) spent nine days in Iraq, immersed in the culture with camera in hand. When she mentioned to friends and family that she was heading to Iraq, the reactions were a mix of surprise and concern. Questions like, “Is it safe?” and “Why Iraq?” were common. But as a photographer driven by curiosity and a desire to capture unique experiences, Sarah saw Iraq as an opportunity to explore a land rich in history, culture, and resilience. It did not disappoint. Read the full article (including gear list): https://petapixel.com/2025/05/19/phot...

Great article with all the gear and thoughts on the landscape, where she went and what lenses she used. 

George Floyd, AANHPI Heritage Month, Self Care (For You Activists), And Being Salty

I'll be honest in saying that I just needed to stay away from the blog and not do anything "normal" last month for some of the normal things that I would typically normally do. 

Usually I would post on it being our month and doing anything we wanted, because it was our month.

I probably would have made a post on George Floyd and the 5th anniversary of his murder and death. 

And a slew of other posts.

But I just needed a break for a bit because I wasn't even sure if we're going to have a month anymore, and I just didn't feel like reaching into the dark pit of what this administration is turning our country into--to pull out everything I know I can be posting about.

It's that fatigue. It's that thought of wondering what use does any of it make, in combination with trying to center myself because I have other things in my life too that I need to focus on in addition to community and giving back. 

Many times all those pieces of my life feed off each other. There really is some synergy.

But other times--they do not. 

And I hit walls. I need an energy boost.

So sometimes I just have to take a break from this or other community minded projects in my life. And that's okay I've realized as I've gotten older because it really is a marathon, and at the same time, sometimes you have to do that self care and just not do what you normally would do in order to get back to normal again--whatever normal means to me at the time.

Take the time you need for you especially if you are engaging in community or activism work because it's easy to say you need to, or say we know we need to--

But it's another thing to actually do it, or do it without feeling guilty.

So take it from me--don't worry about it. 

It will all be here when you get back.

NEA Cuts + Help Out Theater Mu

We know what the current administration is up to these days--trying to bring down communities of color, immigrants, Diversity Equity And Inclusion--and in doing so, has cut many grants and funds that would go to programs and organizations which are all about DEI and helping to make safe spaces and platforms for marginalized voices to be heard.

One of those is Theater Mu in the Twin Cities which was founded in 1992  by Dong-il Lee, Rick Shiomi, Martha B. Johnson, and Diane Espaldon as an arts organization dedicated to bringing Asian American voices to the Twin Cities theater community. It is now one of the largest Asian American theater companies in the U.S. and is the largest in the Midwest.

Here is their statement on losing their NEA grant for their show Fifty Boxes of Earth:

"On Friday evening, May 2, Theater Mu received notice that its $20,000 National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) grant for Fifty Boxes of Earth, which had its world premiere in March, was terminated because our production fell outside of "projects that reflect the nation's rich artistic heritage and creativity as prioritized by the president." 

Minnesota's Asian American is unique to the US. We are 56% SE Asian, the majority of whom came to the US after as a result of the wars in SE Asia 50 years ago. Over 54% of our Asian American community identifies as immigrant or refugees. To leave out these stories is to leave out a rich and vital part of what makes our Minnesota so special.

No matter the funding or political landscape, Theater Mu will not censor itself, nor will we change our mission of creating great performances born of arts, equity, and justice from the heart of the Asian American experience.

Ankita Raturi’s Fifty Boxes of Earth wove theater, puppetry, and choreography together; challenged xenophobia and transphobia; and centered love and hope. This is the type of art we will continue to uphold and produce.

After Theater Mu’s $20,000 NEA grant was revoked, our partners at the Venturous Theater Fund, a fund of Tides Foundation, graciously stepped up with an additional $15,000 grant.

With your help, we can recover the final $5,000. Will you be the one to help us reach our goal"

Read it in full and donate here: https://www.theatermu.org/news/2025/5/05/response-to-nea#gsc.tab=0

Simu Liu at THUNDERBOLTS* Premiere In London

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A post shared by Simu Liu (@simuliu)

Bustle x MAYBELLINE = 40 Asian Pacific Trailblazers AKA Face the Difference

 

"Co-created with Maybelline New York in honor of Asian Pacific Heritage Month, Face the Difference brought together 40 trailblazers shaping beauty, culture, and the arts to celebrate the broad spectrum of Asian Pacific beauty — something yet to be done at this scale. Olympic medalists traded stories with Broadway stars. TikTok icons swapped numbers with culinary giants. Eavesdropping between takes, there was no small talk — only genuine conversation about what it meant to grow up feeling invisible and how embracing heritage has fueled success.

Inspired by the 40 shades of Maybelline’s Fit Me Matte + Poreless Foundation, the shoot turned shade diversity into something deeper: a storytelling canvas. These 40 trailblazers didn’t show up to blend in. They came to show how their differences became their superpower. The portraits, layered with mirrored reflections and prismatic light, are more than visually striking — they’re symbols of nonlinear journeys, of strength shaped by nuance, identity, and pride. Because beauty doesn’t happen in spite of difference — it happens because of it. Each of these changemakers invites you into the distinct world they’ve created, where being seen is just the beginning."

--Read More at: https://www.bustle.com/beauty/face-the-difference-celebrating-asian-pacific-beauty

Jennie and Lisa + Met Gala 2025

Yes, I know, there are other things to be blogging about, especially since I have not been keeping up to my part of the bargain from a blogging perspective, but all that being said...everyone loves themselves some BLACKPINK at the Met...right?

Lisa + Maroon 5 + Priceless + WTH?

 

I think I'm still trying to figure this all out. 

On one hand I'm like Damn!

And then I'm also like What?

These spaces coexist.

Run Yunseo Chung. Run.

Dear Yunseo Chung,

I want you to run for as long as you need to,

Because you are caught in a maelstrom,

The likes of which you probably never thought you would be in,

Because you spoke your voice for people that had no voice,

Because your skink looks like mine,

Because you were born in another country like so many of us,

Because this country is turning its back on everything good it was built on--

To show its ugly and distorted face it so desparately wanted to--

Because it's afraid of you.

Because it's afraid of losing itself even though, 

We are not the molestors and abusers they are,

Even though we will let them walk in our world with their swords up against us,

Sometimes even showing compassion,

Because most monsters are created, 

Not born.

Maybe I should have said Hide Yunseo Chung. Hide.

Rest your wearied body and soul to recharge for another fight,

For another day which you do not deserve,

While others speak at a time when you cannot,

So one day, you can come back into the light.

Rest Yunseo Chung. Rest.