Category Archives: History

3 Years Later: Recovery Continues from 2011 Tohoku Japanese Quake and Tsunami

In 2011, when news struck of the quake and tsunami, I remember watching in horror as video footage began broadcasting on NHK. As it turned out, the quake was just a precursor to more horrific disasters to come. The tsunami … Continue reading

Posted in Current Events, History, Observations | 1 Comment

The Koga System – An Asian American Martial Art

Years ago when  I saw a policeman on the TV news restrain a protester using an Aikido sankyo grip, I thought to myself, “where did the cop learn that technique?”  Only after reading an obituary did I found out.   Johnny … Continue reading

Posted in Education, History | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Remembering 228: My First Lesson at the Taiwanese American Foundation (TAF) Summer Camp

This piece was written for the youth participants and alumni of the Taiwanese American Foundation (TAF), the oldest summer conference serving people of Taiwanese heritage. It was originally published at the TAF website and has been republished here with permission. … Continue reading

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Fred Korematsu Day Celebration 2014 – Congressman Mike Honda & Jose Antonio Vargas

To view and access the video index of the program, view the video directly online at YouTube here (in the About section). Last month, I had the honor to attend the annual Korematsu Day Celebration organized by The Korematsu Institute … Continue reading

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My Visit to San Francisco’s Angel Island Immigration Station

Immigration Station. Click on image to expand (for all images for this post). Click twice for full size. Back in November, I had a chance to take a tour of Angel Island and the Immigration Station there, located in the … Continue reading

Posted in Discrimination, History, Local, San Francisco Bay Area | 1 Comment

8$: Under the American Sun – Camp Roxas Film Project

8$ is a series which occasionally highlights interesting crowdfunding projects. Every day, the 8Asians team is inundated by many worthy pitches. We are unable to highlight every one that comes our way, or even the ones we might individually support. … Continue reading

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Massacred For Gold: The Chinese in Hells Canyon

MASSACRED FOR GOLD Trailer from Morris Hill Pictures on Vimeo. In 1887, a group of Chinese miners were killed not only for their gold but out of pure hate–not only were they shot and robbed of their gold, but they … Continue reading

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When You and Your Parents Don’t Speak the Same Language–Literally

Recently on the Washington Post, Daniel Chen was interviewed about his life and the linguistic barriers that made him and his parents veritable strangers in their own home. He’s currently studying Mandarin Chinese at college to try to bridge this … Continue reading

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Remembering Asian American Veterans: Stories from the Library of Congress Veterans History Project

“I could not believe I was coming home to the same reception I received twenty-three years before, following World War II. This time I was not the enemy, but I was there saving lives, perhaps their loved ones.” Carolyn Hisako … Continue reading

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Hari Kondabolu’s Columbus Day Wish

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlFyn1Ip6q4 This came out a year ago for Columbus Day, but it’s still as good today… From Totally Biased: Over 500 years later and Christopher Columbus is still the bane of Indians everywhere (and we mean everywhere). Never one to … Continue reading

Posted in Comedy, History | 1 Comment

Asia, Not the West, Leading the Way for Female Leaders

Modern mainstream thought places “progress” in the hands of the west. After all, human rights, Democracy, the Enlightenment, Philosophy, English, and soccer all came from Europe and spread around the world. Ignoring the atrocity of colonialism, the modern world of … Continue reading

Posted in Discrimination, Education, History, Observations | Tagged , | 26 Comments

The Resiliency of Food and Culture

When slaves were kidnapped and forced into servitude in the United States before 1808, in an extreme case of involuntary assimilation, they were forced to give up their culture. Speaking in African languages was forbidden, everyone was converted into Christianity, … Continue reading

Posted in Food & Drink, History, Observations | 2 Comments