A few years ago, I attended the inaugural Banana Conference for Asian American bloggers in Los Angeles, where I met a gentleman who was a fan of the Asian American blogosphere. He said of my blog writing (www.fighting44s.com), “You guys were great. You spoke to my demographic, which is highly underserved, heterosexual Asian men.” We shared [...]
The late journalist, Robert C. Maynard once wrote that as a nation we are divided along the fault lines of race, class, gender, geography and generation. To provide a more nuanced understanding of the racial divide, Maynard believed that journalists are compelled not only to acknowledge their existence but also discern their consequences. Never [...]
Did you know that in elementary school, African American students are nine times more likely to get short-term suspensions than white students in Seattle Public Schools? This information comes straight from the school district itself in a 2008-2009 report. One member of Seattle Young People’s Project (SYPP) was suspended more than twenty times between [...]
BY CHIO SAETEURN AND MARIA BATAYOLA IE Contributors Chio Saeteurn is a Got Green Community Organizer and Maria Batayola is a long-time community activist, writer and principal owner of Jump Start, an organizational development firm. Got Green members and job trainees at a Spring 2011 press conference. The green movement wants us to save [...]
Before writing this column, the IE Editor in Chief reminded me that this issue would focus on the passionate opinions of others. Given my propensity to have passionate opinions, I am grateful that Diem provides me more regular opportunities and column space to share them with you. Trying to choose a topic to write about [...]
For the Asian and Pacific Islander (API) community as well as other immigrants in Washington State, the current redistricting process is not just about lines on a map, but about our children’s futures. For too long, politicians have ignored the voices of our people, leaving many of our community members disenfranchised and cynical about our [...]
The revolution WILL be on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. In 1970, when the late Gil Scott-Heron first recorded his poem, “The Revolution Will Not be Televised,” he could not have imagined how media technology would change. By the time he died earlier this year, Scott-Heron knew that digital technology had already changed how information is [...]
Growing up as a person of color in the United States usually means enduring racial stereotypes. In my experience, I’ve had people joke about “rice rockets” and been racially profiled as a “gangster youth” by schools I have worked in. I’ve also been asked to interpret languages I don’t speak, explain cultural traditions like [...]
In September 2011, a protest movement called “Occupy Wall Street” appeared across the United States. Responding to a call by the anti-consumerism group Adbusters, protestors began congregating at what Adbusters called “the financial Gomorrah of America”: Wall Street, New York City. Soon, similar protest “occupations” mushroomed in many other cities from Washington DC to Seattle [...]
Every Halloween Jameelah tries to drag me to do something scary. Last year, it was a haunted maze, where actors dressed as serial killers ran at us with chainsaws while strobe lights flashed in the background. It was really frightening — that we paid $25 each and waited for an hour in line. “You’re no [...]
I learned recently that in the Vietnamese culture there is a concept called “squishing the bread.” Basically, you’re a baker who makes bread, and you notice that customers like your competing neighbor’s bread better. But instead of improving the quality of your bread, you sneak over and squish your neighbor’s bread so they’re worse than [...]
Our annual Fall Arts Guide is always a fun issue to put together. Or, maybe it’s because our Arts Editor does most of the work. The IE has produced the Fall Arts Guide for about thirty years, a remarkable accomplishment owed to our Arts Editor, Alan Lau, and his dedication to the local API arts [...]
San Francisco is Seattle on steroids. I recently returned from a group trip to the Bay Area city and was surprised to enjoy a sense of home away from home. Although the city is on a grander scale than ours and possesses unique characteristics such as its picturesque narrow Victorian-style homes on steep hills and [...]
Today, I read an article in the Huffington Post, arguably the second finest news source online after the IE, about psychopaths and how to recognize them. This is very important information to know. The world is full of psychos, and if we can’t recognize them, then whom are we going to invite to Tea [...]
NEW YORK, N.Y.—The lives of 10 million New Yorkers had been interrupted, again, but this time it was not about terrorism, but the wrath of Hurricane Irene. Thousands fled the city only a few hours before Mayor Michael Bloomberg ordered a mandatory evacuation for urban dwellers in low-lying areas along the water and shut down [...]
Like a lot of other business owners, I am always looking for ways to get more customers in the door. Recession or no recession, when more people know you’re there and what you have to offer, it’s a lot better than being silent and expecting people to come and buy something. Obviously, in retail, we [...]
As children, my parents expected my brothers and I to work. If only that meant basic chores known to every child — dish-washing, dusting shelves, and sweeping floors. An allowance, of course, was unheard of — Asian kids never received one. Instead, my parents owned a small Asian grocery store in Eastern Washington. And for [...]
I met Michael in 1996 when I wrote a feature story on him for Robinson Newspapers. We were in the parking garage of the non-profit health organization PATH (Program for Appropriate Technology in Health). The garage had been converted into a dining room, with round tables decorated with flowers and candles for a fundraising event. [...]
To the Editor, To the Editor, Medicaid is one of the most important programs the nation has. It is in existence to serve our most vulnerable and underrepresented populations; to give them heath care coverage when they wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford it. In a political climate where the only option [...]
Left to right: Morm Nhim, Ken Chheng Lang, State Senator Steve Conway, Phouk Hoeung, Rithy Morm. The women represent textile, building trades and hotel/tourism unions, as well as the Cambodia Women’s Movement Organization. On July 28, the Washington Fair Trade Coalition held a press conference to close the loop on the global apparel supply chain. [...]
The Vietnamese concept of ‘que huong”, or home village, is strong in Vietnamese culture. When making acquaintance with someone, a common question is, “que o dau?” or “where’s your home village?” Usually, it’s a tiny little place, where everyone knows everyone. Jameelah and I are in my village, Don Duong, where mist covers the base [...]
Meet this edition’s InspirAsianal IE Reader — spotlighting you, the readers of the Examiner! Our non-profit news enterprise has shared the stories of our community for over 35 years — thanks to the support and readership of thousands of people like you. This is our way of showing gratitude and shine the light on our [...]
I have spent 20 years working on public safety issues with the community and Seattle Police Department in the Chinatown/International District. We battle typical urban drug and crime problems as an urban neighborhood. I have learned fighting these problems demands constant vigilance and diligence on the part of the entire community. The cycle of negative [...]
Trapped in abusive relationships with nowhere to go, many women find few alternatives to that life or feel forced to remain with the abuser. A nonprofit started by Au Nguyen, 31, provides the escape for these domestic abuse victims and their children. The organization is committed to connecting people in need of transitional housing with [...]
