Author Archives: Mina

About Mina

I'm a compilation of lots of identities: japanese/hong kongnese immigrant, APIA, (fierce) womyn of color and third culture kid (TCK). And when I grow up, I want to be just like Yuri Kochiyama #BlueScholars

Why Richard Aoki Is Still A Symbol Of Solidarity

So if reporter Seth Rosenfeld was seeking tons of press attention for his new book about the FBI’s war on student activism during the 60s & 70s, he achieved his goal. One day before his book was published, Rosenfeld released … Continue reading

Posted in Current Events, History | 3 Comments

67 years Since Hiroshima And Nagasaki bombings

It’s been 67 years since the atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, on August 6th and 9th 1945 respectively. I’m usually with my family in Japan during this time, watching the ceremony at the Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima on the … Continue reading

Posted in History | 21 Comments

National Archives Reveals Story Of Immigration From 1880-1945

From NPR: “Deep inside the National Archives in Washington, D.C., old case files tell the stories of hundreds of thousands of hopeful immigrants to the U.S. between 1880 and the end of World War II. These stories are in the form … Continue reading

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Narratives of the Vietnamese War & Diaspora

Compelling stories and powerful images allow us to remember or learn our histories. Here are three different narratives of the Vietnamese diaspora experience, expressed through three different mediums: a memoir essay, chlorophyl prints, and a novel.

Posted in Books, History, The Arts | Leave a comment

Laughter Is The Best Medicine…For Racism.

Sometimes when the world seems just a little bit too overwhelmingly racist, I sit myself in front of the computer and surf the internet for good stand-up comedy. Because sometimes, when you encounter kinds of racism that seems to be … Continue reading

Posted in Comedy, Entertainment | 1 Comment

Our Favorite Asian American Hip Hop Discoveries

Artists who put their music out there for free are the most kick ass. They give us ways to appreciate music without buying into the consumerism/capitalism/monopoly that surrounds the music industry. (Here’s a great infographic about how the monopoly controls … Continue reading

Posted in Entertainment, Music | 3 Comments

Prenatal Non­discrimination Act That Targeted Asian Women Fails In House (Thankfully)

Back in December 2011, Congressman Trent Franks (in photo above, R-AZ) proposed H.R. 3541, the Prenatal Nondiscrimination Act (PreNDA). This bill would have imposed fines and prison time (up to five years) on doctors who perform abortions that are decided … Continue reading

Posted in Current Events, Discrimination, Politics | Leave a comment

Why I Continue to Support Rapper Loco Ninja

Jeff Chang (one of my heroes) showed to us that the world of commercial rap isn’t pretty. He once wrote with Dave Zirin that media oligarchs “twist an art form into an orgy of materialism, violence and misogyny by spending millions … Continue reading

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South Korea’s Adoption Day & the Transnational Network Of Families

According to this article from the Wall Street Journal, May 11th is Adoption Day in South Korea. The article interviews Jane Jeong Trenka, who was adopted from South Korea to the US. She currently works in South Korea as the president … Continue reading

Posted in Current Events, Education, Family | 1 Comment

Jeremy Lin’s Video Response To Stuyvesant High

So it looks like Jeremy Lin keeps his promises. Remember when he tweeted in response to the video that the kids at Stuyvesant High School made for him? In the video, the students had invited our beloved Jeremy to speak for … Continue reading

Posted in Entertainment, Sports | Tagged , | Leave a comment

The Media Portrayals Of LA Riots, 20 Years Later

April 29, 2012, marked twenty years after the LA riots. It’s been said that the media coverage at that time played a part in worsening the violence. In an interview about his documentary, Clash of Colors: The LA Riots of … Continue reading

Posted in Current Events, Discrimination, History | Tagged | 1 Comment