COLORBLIND: Jason Chu’s Poem Response to the La Jolla Playhouse

By Edward | Monday, July 30, 2012 | 2 Comments

Thanks for visiting 8Asians, a blog about Asian American issues. If you find this interesting, subscribe to the RSS feed, visit our Facebook Page or add us on Twitter!

Check out this amazing spoken word piece by Jason Chu that comments on the La Jolla Playhouse casting controversy, as well as that of the obstacles Asian and Asian American actors when trying to be seen in the Hollywood system. Here’s what he said about how the piece came to be:

Over the past several days, I’ve been frustrated by the insensitive casting decisions & stubbornness of the La Jolla Playhouse – and encouraged by the honest dialogue that’s followed within the Asian-American community. This incident is merely one of many – including the controversial “Racebending” of The Last Airbender – and this recurring theme deserves to be aired and engaged with within our community.

Categories:

Current EventsEntertainment

NOTE: 8Asians.com is a community, and we thank you for being a part of it. While we welcome and appreciate differences in opinion, if you're rude or you're promoting spam, we have a right to edit or delete your comment. Read our comment policy for more information.

If you see a comment that violates the 8Asians.com comment policy, you may flag the comment by mousing over the comment and clicking "FLAG."

Facebook Comments (Beta)

hapappa

I actually cried listening to this. He said it really well and in such a short amount of time.

That stupid La Jolla Nightingale play is a total joke. Someone even asked the director if he would cast a White person as an African monarch, and he didn’t answer, which means “no”. So how is that different from what they are doing with White guys playing Chinese emperors?
WhiskeyJunkie

This message NEEDS to be repeated endless times, until ingrained.
STOP supporting media that does not support you! Media that insults, mocks, degrades, stereotypes, feminizes, demonizes us, and that does not balance the scale with the positive is unworthy of attention. Hit them in their wallets!
This message must extend to our overseas consumers as well.
Start UNIFYING and BUILDING your own systems of employment and power bases.
Reliance on ‘others’ is a scam. You’ll only get modest rewards, while truly enriching those that laugh at you.
A little mentioned, yet vital issue, is… STOP EXPLOITING one another!
It’s bad enough when other people exploit, undercut, and underpay you- Why are we doing it to ourselves?
Spread the word…

8 Asians