Frank Chow: Asian- American Political Pundit

I'm a year late and I hate myself for it. Today while looking for one of the Minority Militant's classic screeds, I stumbled upon his passing. From his family's GoFundMe : Keon Enoy Munedouang (August 17, 1980 - May 4, 2016) was a Navy veteran and a writer who lost his life last week at the age of 35. He immigrated as a child from Laos as a refugee. Keon enlisted as a young man in the U.S. Navy, achieving the rank of SK2. Upon receiving his honorable discharge, he became a writer and an activist, connecting with others through his spoken and written words. As a writer and activist, Keon's influence was huge. He was known among his peers for his sharp wit, courage, and sensitivity to the less fortunate. He always stood up for those who had no voice. His work inspired a fellow writer and activist to organize the Banana Conference, which eventually became V3Con, the largest Asian American social media conference in the world. Keon leaves behind his mother, three ...

Thahn Tan has an article about fighting Asian stereotypes and that's all well and good. She believes that in order to dispel the idea of Asians being the Model Minority and other stereotypes we need to look at the data. I encourage you to read it. One thing that comes up in Tan's article and that has been bothering me lately, is the mischaracterization of a joke. During the Oscars Chris Rock made a cheap and hack joke about Asian accountants using kids as the punchline. It sucked, the kids were cute and ruined the foolishness of the joke with their cuteness. Yeah, Rock screwed up and did the very thing he criticizes. The AAPI community was in flames. Then members of the community went too far as they also were aghast by a joke told by Sacha Baron Cohen. Tan explains : ... actor Sacha Baron Cohen made a cringe-inducing reference to “very hardworking, little yellow people with tiny” private parts. Thanks, Hollywood. As if we needed more reminders that the powers that be...

I woke up this morning to some clinking and clamoring in the kitchen. The next thing I knew I was presented with dark chocolate pancakes in bed. Sometimes these Hallmark holidays work out in a man's favor. I'm truly a lucky guy. Hope your Valentine's Day goes just as well! Here are your highlights: Encouraging jobs report The GOP has gone overboard, Trouble for Hagel nomination Tesla v. the NYT A love song by Rhye Pelosi House Speaker again? Whimsical bridge A new documentary, Don't Stop Believin' Chow!

It's been a busy busy week. We have a big sale on at work and I've been working 6am to 4pm pretty much the past couple of days. I'm exhausted...on top of that I decided, like the genius I am, to begin working out four days a week. No pain no gain. Here are your highlights: Ahead of the SOTU Teachers Unions pushing to the president support voter rights The manhunt for Christopher Dorner , crazy ex-cop and cops shooting the wrong people... Childhood awesome, Calvin & Hobbes A huge blizzard on its way to the East Coast On drones and self-defense Duke University Kappa Sigma "Asian" party , racist and not funny. I knew I hated Duke for more than one reason. On a similar note, a customer came into work the other day and two white women told me they were having a "China" party at work. They asked me for Chinese beer and anything to mix that would be "Chinese." It took everything in my personal being not to ask them what they meant by...

Asian Pacific American for Progress are asking for your opinion, who are the top Progressives in the AAPI community. The announcement : To commemorate the first year of the Obama Administration and what can arguably be an era of progressive politics, APAP is rolling out with another Top 10 list! To close out 2009 APAP is giving a shout out and much needed accolades to the "top Asian Pacific American progressives" of 2009. This is a call-out to community leaders, workers, students, college grads, faculty, staff, government officials, Hollywood, the private sector, etc. who are working tirelessly in advancing progressive values and representing our communities. A panel of progressive peers from APAP will serve as reviewers to evaluate your submissions. If your submission is selected as one of the top 10 progressives of 2009 then they will be featured at the end of the year on Asian Pacific Americans for Progress. Aside from highlighting the dedication of the work being done in ...