Kelly Tsai: “Black, White, Whatever”


Self-described spoken word artist Kelly Zen-Yie Tsai, has recently released, in collaboration with others, a video version of “Black, White, Whatever…”:

“…a witty spoken word poetry call to arms for politicians everywhere to stand up for underrepresented communities, like the Asian Pacific Islander American community and all those who fight to have their voices and lives heard OUT LOUD!”

As an amateur videographer, I’m always impressed with low budget productions that can break through the clutter and make an impression on audiences. It takes a lot of effort to not only write, but edit and add effects.

Here’s also an interesting and in-depth interview with Tsai, “The Art of the Other and the Politics of Whatever: A Conversation with Kelly Tsai” on the making of the video, as well as her thoughts on this year’s election and demographic based politics. Tsai was at the 2008 DNC / APIAVote Gala where she performed two spoken word pieces.

Take a look at the video and let us know what you think! Asian Americans shouldn’t be defined as “whatever!”

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About John

I'm a Taiwanese-American and was born & raised in Western Massachusetts, went to college in upstate New York, worked in Connecticut, went to grad school in North Carolina and then moved out to the Bay Area in 1999 and have been living here ever since - love the weather and almost everything about the area (except the high cost of housing...)
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