AMCULT 301: "A/PIA History and the Law" Thursdays 6-9 Winter 2013 University of Michigan

University of Michigan Winter 2013 Course Guide is now available for students to view.  I'll be team-teaching AMCULT 301: "A/PIA History and the Law" Thursdays 6-9 with the lawyers and activists who were there during the Vincent Chin case and Internment Redress and Reparations movement. Only place in the country you can take a course re Vincent Chin case with the folks who were there. Even I get chills every time I hear them talk about it. Send your Umich students. 

school / college class search

You Wear the Costume, I Wear the Stigma | BlogHer

thanks to Grace Hwang Lynch for the shoutout and linkto onBlogHer! connects to my article on Chicago is the World on Halloween costumes and Psy ♥ it always comes back to Psy ♥ What do you think about Big Bird Gangnam Style!

click on link for article: You Wear the Costume, I Wear the Stigma | BlogHer

This Halloween: Dress classy. Dance cheesy. We're a Culture, not a Costume. - NAM EthnoBlog

As Halloween nears, whenever I teach late, I come home to find a different cast of characters galloping triumphant through my house, including Howl’s Moving Castle, pirate vs. ninja, kung fu masters, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Steampunk, Goth Lolis, and more. A raucous combination of cosplay and Halloween, the spirit is festive, the creativity fun, the details impressive. Last week, even my old prom and wedding dresses were both trotted out and Steampunked. “Don’t you kids have homework to do?”

And the background music in our house these past few weeks has been Psy’s “Gangnam Style” with its driving beat and in all its many variations (UC Berkeley Style, Michigan Style, Gundam Style, My Little Pony Style, Umma Style, Lungi Style, Klingon Style, Mitt Romney Style).

click on link for whole article at New America Media: This Halloween: Dress classy. Dance cheesy. We're a Culture, not a Costume. - NAM EthnoBlog

Relishing Real World Halloween Costumes - NAM EthnoBlog

You don't want to miss the annual UM Halloween concert tonight! Here's an old article about how much fun it is. Keep an eye out for hello kitty gangnam style... :)

click here for whole article in New America Media: Relishing Real World Halloween Costumes - NAM EthnoBlog

International Conference on the Phillipines at MSU

Tomorrow: ICOPHIL-9: The Philippines and the World The Ninth International Conference on the Philippines at Michigan State University, East Lansing, October 28-30, 2012. All events on the opening day of the conference, Sunday October 28, are free and open to the public. 

International Conference on the Phillipines

150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation today

University of Michigan commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation today.

Upcoming Events

Chicago is the World » This Halloween: Dress classy. Dance cheesy. We’re a Culture, not a Costume.

As Halloween nears, whenever I teach late, I come home to find a different cast of characters galloping triumphant through my house, including Howl’s Moving Castle, pirate vs. ninja, kung fu masters, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Steampunk, Goth Lolis, and more. A raucous combination of cosplay and Halloween, the spirit is festive, the creativity fun, the details impressive. Last week, even my old prom and wedding dresses were both trotted out and Steampunked. “Don’t you kids have homework to do?”

And the background music in our house these past few weeks has been Psy’s “Gangnam Style” with its driving beat and in all its many variations (UC Berkeley Style,Michigan Style, Gundam Style, My Little Pony Style, Umma Style,Lungi Style, Klingon Style, Mitt Romney Style).

For several weeks, which is unheard of in internet time, folks have been loving and discussing and parodying Korean rapper Psy’s music video, “Gangnam Style.” With its cool style and critical social commentary and fun dance moves, it is now the most viewed YouTube video ever. I love what Asian Americans in particular have been doing with “Gangnam Style,” although I am also wary that some of its crazy popularity might rub a little too close for comfort to laughable Asian male stereotypes—is the mainstream laughing at or with Psy?

However, all alarms went off when I realized that Psy is going to be a huge Halloween costume this year. In the Los Angeles Times article announcing Psy’s new clothing line with Jill Stuart, also came the announcement that Halloween costume companies were putting together Gangnam Style Halloween costumes: “Party City said it has costume accessories in stock to pull off a “Gangnam Style” costume. ‘We expect this to be a HUGE costume trend this year,’ spokeswoman Ressa Tomkiewicz wrote in an email.”

click on link for whole article: Chicago is the World » This Halloween: Dress classy. Dance cheesy. We’re a Culture, not a Costume.

"What do you mean you don't vote? How can you not vote?" - NAM EthnoBlog

We came up over the rise as the highway curved and my breath caught in my throat. The Washington Monument. The Jefferson Memorial. So beautiful and serene in the morning mist.

My uncle was driving me into Washington DC for the day, and I suddenly realized that I have not been here since I was a child. I quickly flashed through my memory of our family photo albums and I recalled that photo of me and my cousins and aunties standing on the steps of the National Zoo after seeing the pandas. My brother was in a stroller, so I must have been nine, at most ten. “I don’t think I’ve been here since that last family reunion in 19-when-was-it?” Could it be? My uncle and I flipped through our collective memories of family reunions past. We recalled another family reunion for my grandparents’ 50th wedding anniversary, but that was in suburban Maryland, so we never went into the city.

But Washington always seems so present; like the cousin you never see but whose mom constantly keeps you up-to-date.

click on link for whole article: "What do you mean you don't vote? How can you not vote?" - NAM EthnoBlog

Blacklava link to frances kai-hwa wang imaginary affairs chapbook

On Friday, I was introduced to a poet as "a poet." So exciting to be called a poet! (Sorry Dad, I know it's not the best get rich slow scheme). Still, people are still steadily buying my book, and you can too! 

Purchase Frances Kai-Hwa Wang's new book of prose poetry and short short stories, "Imaginary Affairs--Postcards from an Imagined Life" here:

Blacklava - frances kai-hwa wang imaginary affairs chapbook

Writing class today: "Writing with Style, Finding your voice"

I am teaching today at Washtenaw Community College, "Writing with style, Finding your voice." Here's the class doing a timed writing exercise about a photograph I borrowed from my friend, Jyoti Omi Chowdhury. Next class coming up in December: "Jumpstarting your memoir."

Chicago is the World » “What do you mean you don’t vote? How can you not vote?”

idealistic musings, washington adventure stories, shoutouts to get out the vote folks:

We came up over the rise as the highway curved and my breath caught in my throat. The Washington Monument. The Jefferson Memorial. So beautiful and serene in the morning mist.

My uncle was driving me into Washington DC for the day, and I suddenly realized that I have not been here since I was a child. I quickly flashed through my memory of our family photo albums and I recalled that photo of me and my cousins and aunties standing on the steps of the National Zoo after seeing the pandas. My brother was in a stroller, so I must have been nine, at most ten. “I don’t think I’ve been here since that last family reunion in 19-when-was-it?” Could it be? My uncle and I flipped through our collective memories of family reunions past. We recalled another family reunion for my grandparents’ 50th wedding anniversary, but that was in suburban Maryland, so we never went into the city.

But Washington always seems so present; like the cousin you never see but whose mom constantly keeps you up-to-date.

click link for whole article: Chicago is the World » “What do you mean you don’t vote? How can you not vote?”

"We're a Culture not a Costume" poster campaign by Ohio University's Students Teaching Against Racism in Society (STARS)

Remember last year's great "We're a Culture not a Costume" poster campaign by Ohio University's Students Teaching Against Racism in Society (STARS)? They're back! This year's message: "You wear the costume for one night. I wear the stigma for life." Six powerful new posters. http://www.ohio.edu/orgs/stars/Poster_Campaign.html

Poster Campaign

Race Still Matters in Higher Education Admissions from Asian Law Caucus

from Asian Law Caucus http://www.asianlawcaucus.org/wp-content/uploads/InfographicAffAction_10-08-2012.png

Understanding Race Project October Community Conversations: The Timeline of Privilege with La'Ron Williams

Tonight and Tomorrow: Understanding Race Project October Community Conversations: The Timeline of Privilege with La'Ron Williams. Join us as we create a "timeline" of privilege by recounting history. Special attention will be paid to our local area. La'Ron Williams is an Ann Arbor based activist and cultural storyteller. Bring an open mind, your voice, and a friend. 

Tuesday, October 16 from 6-9 

pm, Arrowwood Hills Cooperative, Community Center, 2566 Arrowwood Trail, Ann Arbor
and/or
Wednesday, October 17 from 11 am-2 pm, Peace Neighborhood Center, 111 N. Maple Rd., Ann Arbor

In anticipation of the February-May 2013 display of the traveling exhibit RACE: Are we so different?, the U-M Museum of Natural History is offering a continuing series of monthly community conversations to provide an opportunity for learning, sharing, discussion, and planning for larger scale dialogues, community action projects, and/or educational events.

Check www.UnderstandingRaceProject.org for other announcements. RSVP to UnderstandingRaceProjectRSVP@umich.edu to ensure enough handouts and refreshments.

Last chance to register to vote!

Register to vote! From 18 Million Rising:

Another bunch of state voter registration deadlines are happening this week, including Nevada -- an important battleground state with the fastest growing APIA population in the nation. Hurry up and register to vote!

18MillionRising | Activating Asian America

Finding good people good friends at Blacklava.net - NAM EthnoBlog

My article at New America Media's Ethnoblog: 

It always comes back to people.

A few years ago, then-graduate student Kate Agathon invited me to be the keynote speaker at Purdue University’s inaugural Asian American Studies conference. Kate Agathon is so warm and engaging that she was able to put together some of the most amazing folks in Asian America, including blogger AngryAsianMan.com Phil Yu, Blacklava founder Ryan Suda, R&B singer-songwriter Dawen Wang, spoken-word poet Kelly Zen-Yie Tsai, Turtlist Media’s Jason Lee, as well as several academics.

Spending a day together talking about the issues that were important to us and how we came to those issues, comparing our different approaches, was powerful. Blacklava.net started out as a surfwear retailer, but quickly evolved into an online store for all things Asian American (including my chapbook). I remember realizing that although Ryan Suda’s medium is T-shirts with pithy sayings that reflect the Asian American experience (i.e. “Asian is not Oriental,” “I speak English,” “I suck at math,” “I will not love you long time”), he and I are actually doing very similar things.

click on link for whote article: Finding good people good friends at Blacklava.net - NAM EthnoBlog

Part 2 of Writing Ethical Wills and Finding your Voice this weekend WCC Lifelong Learning

Part 2 of Writing Ethical Wills and Writing with Style Finding your Voice this weekend at Washtenaw Community College. October 13 and 20. Register today!

LifeLong Learning @ WCC › Browse All Classes › Writing & Literature

"Miso for Life" Anthology cover art

I will have a musical love story in the anthology, "Miso for Life" from A Melting Pot of Thoughts.  Release on December 8, 2012. Hair Stylist: Alee Cao Peggy Lee. Make-up Artist: Beth Guerra. Stylists: Chika Nomura, Sueko Oshimoto, Kentaro Jake Terauchi. Phographer: Quinn Bui. Model: Soo Yeon Lee. — at Access Group Media. 

More information at https://www.facebook.com/AMeltingPotOfThoughts

"writing with style, finding your voice" class at WCC Today

Teaching "writing with style, finding your voice" today at Washtenaw Community College. will be test-driving a new writing assignment: Write a love letter in 160 characters or less.

One of my students wrote me a love poem today! And it even rhymed! So sweet!

http://www.wccnet.edu/lifelong-learning/browse/view/category/writing-literature/

Chicago is the World » Finding good people good friends at Blacklava.net

It always comes back to people.

A few years ago, then-graduate student Kate Agathon invited me to be the keynote speaker at Purdue University’s inaugural Asian American Studies conference. Kate Agathon is so warm and engaging that she was able to put together some of the most amazing folks in Asian America, including bloggerAngryAsianMan.com Phil Yu, Blacklava founder Ryan Suda, R&B singer-songwriter Dawen Wang, spoken-word poet Kelly Zen-Yie Tsai, Turtlist Media’s Jason Lee, as well as several academics.

Spending a day together talking about the issues that were important to us and how we came to those issues, comparing our different approaches, was powerful. Blacklava.net started out as a surfwear retailer, but quickly evolved into an online store for all things Asian American (including my chapbook). I remember realizing that although Ryan Suda’s medium is T-shirts with pithy sayings that reflect the Asian American experience (i.e. “Asian is not Oriental,” “I speak English,” “I suck at math,” “I will not love you long time”), he and I are actually doing very similar things.

click for whole article: Chicago is the World » Finding good people good friends at Blacklava.net

Events - Asian & Pacific Islander American Vote - Michigan

APIAVote-Michigan event today: A Community on the Rise: Asian Pacific Islander Americans in Metro Detroit Today Friday October 12 2:30-5:00 pm. Keith Center for Civil Rights, Wayne State Law School

Events - Asian & Pacific Islander American Vote  - Michigan

Storified by RJ Lozada re Jeremy Lin

I have been Storified! in RJLozada's curated timeline of articles about the myriad of responses to Jeremy Lin. (I am on page 2): http://storify.com/rjlozada/jeremy-lin-and-asian-america-2-0-interpretations-m

Chicago is the World » Finding good people good friends at Blacklava.net

My article this week in ChicagoIstheWorld.org.

It always comes back to people.

A few years ago, then-graduate student Kate Agathon invited me to be the keynote speaker at Purdue University’s inaugural Asian American Studies conference about Asian American Identity in the Midwest. Kate Agathon is so warm and engaging that she was able to put together some of the most amazing folks in Asian America, including blogger AngryAsianMan.com Phil Yu, Blacklava founder Ryan Suda, R&B singer-songwriter Dawen Wang, spoken-word poet Kelly Zen-Yie Tsai, Turtlist Media’s Jason Lee, as well as several academics, all with Midwestern (and many Chicago) ties.

Spending a day together talking about the issues that were important to us and how we came to those issues, comparing our different approaches, was powerful. Blacklava.net started out as a surfwear retailer, but quickly evolved into an online store for all things Asian American (including my chapbook). I remember realizing that although Ryan Suda’s medium is T-shirts with pithy sayings that reflect the Asian American experience (i.e. “Asian is not Oriental,” “I speak English,” “I suck at math,” “I will not love you long time”), he and I are actually doing very similar things.

However, since Ryan Suda’s shirts go out into the world one person, one day at a time, he probably reaches more people (and certainly very different people) than I actually do. lol.

click on link for complete article: http://chicagoistheworld.org/2012/10/finding-good-people-good-friends-at-blacklava-net/Chicago is the World » Finding good people good friends at Blacklava.net

"Inside Out" Nancy Wolfe Painting Exhibition Gallery Reception

Kerrytown Concert House will be hosting an opening reception for Nancy Wolfe's painting exhibition, "Inside Out" on Wednesday, October 10, 2012, 5:00-7:00 pm. This exhibit will run through November 5. Kerrytown Concert House is located at 415 N. 4th Avenue, Ann Arbor, 48104. (734) 769-2999. www.kerrytownconcerthouse.com.

Nancy Wolfe writes, "My paintings are my visual connection to language, my love for poetry, how a word turns into a visual exploration and conjures up “my inside out” Each painting is a n
ew adventure, a shape that becomes earth’s terrain, a figure, a letter, a word, a whisper, a relationship. At the beginning, I take the lead, and then the painting leads me."

About Nancy Wolfe: I am a studio artist and educator, and have been exhibiting my paintings since 1994. Since the summer of 2000 I teach a one-week intensive course called ‘The Visual Journal’ - Art as Idea, which I developed and teach for Eastern Michigan University. I also teach it for Wayne State University’s Art Therapy Department, Detroit, Michigan. I currently teach drawing at Washtenaw Community College. Private and small group lessons are available at my studio.

For more information, go to www.NancyWolfe.com.

http://www.kerrytownconcerthouse.com/index.php/events/event/inside_out_paintings_by_Nancy_Wolfe/

https://www.facebook.com/events/227057740754782/

http://annarborchronicle.com/events-listing/

http://www.annarbor.com/community/community_wall/inside_out_paintings_by_nancy_wolfe_gallery_reception_kerrytown_concert_house_wednesday_october_10_5_1/

http://upcoming.yahoo.com/event/10019563/MI/Ann-Arbor/Inside-Out-Paintings-by-Nancy-Wolfe-Gallery-Reception-Kerrytown-Concert-House-Wednesday-October-10-5-7-pm/Kerrytown-Concert-House/

African Time - NAM EthnoBlog

Reprinted from Ann Arbor Observer in New America Media's Ethnoblog:

Before you even walk into the gallery housing the African Art and the Shape of Time exhibit at the University of Michigan Museum of Art, you hear the driving drumbeat and techno music and sounds of the street. That drumbeat seeps into you and propels you through the gallery and through time, looking at the art of Africa with new eyes, new categories.

Americans do not always appreciate how large and diverse the continent of Africa is, with many different peoples, cultures, languages, and philosophies. Nor are we always aware of the Western and colonial lens through which we see other parts of the world. This exhibit looks at African art through a different lens, through the concepts of time, history, and memory.

click on link for whole article: African Time - NAM EthnoBlog

Writing Ethical Wills and Finding your Voice this weekend LifeLong Learning @ WCC

Writing Ethical Wills and Finding your Voice this weekend at Washtenaw Community College. October 13 and 20. Register today!

LifeLong Learning @ WCC › Browse All Classes › Writing & Literature

African Time - Ann Arbor Observer

Check out this cool new exhibit at the University of Michigan Museum of Art:

Before you even walk into the gallery housing the African Art and the Shape of Time exhibit at the University of Michigan Museum of Art, you hear the driving drumbeat and techno music and sounds of the street. That drumbeat seeps into you and propels you through the gallery and through time, looking at the art of Africa with new eyes, new categories.

Americans do not always appreciate how large and diverse the continent of Africa is, with many different peoples, cultures, languages, and philosophies. Nor are we always aware of the Western and colonial lens through which we see other parts of the world. This exhibit looks at African art through a different lens, through the concepts of time, history, and memory.

Drawn from several collections, the thirty works in the exhibit are organized around five themes that explore different ways of conceptualizing time: The Beginning of Things, Embodied Time, Moving Through Time, Global Time, and NOW.

click on link for whole article: African Time - Ann Arbor Observer

On Pvt. Danny Chen on Huff Post Live

thanks to the inimitable Jen Wang, I was able to take part in a panel discussion on HuffPost Live today (between cello/piano lessons and crew practice) on the Pvt. Danny Chen case with OCA-NY's Liz Ouyang and teen blogger @ErrieWirriams (both of whom are really great here). http://live.huffingtonpost.com/r/segment/504fdccc78c90a6f4000029b

Teaching Chinese with the Fung Bros.' 626 video

I used the Fung Bros.' 626 video tonight to teach my conversational Chinese class at Washtnaw Community College how to count on their fingers in Chinese, if you can believe.

Check out their video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3n3HQ9uge0g

LifeLong Learning @ WCC › Browse All Classes › Writing & Literature

I am teaching three writing classes this semester at Washtenaw Community College: Writing Ethical Wills, Jumpstarting your Memoir, Finding your Voice

LifeLong Learning @ WCC › Browse All Classes › Writing & Literature