ASIAN OUTLOOK November 2020 Vol. XXXIX, Issue 1
Rap is a Martial Art • Microaggressions from Karey • AO x HKES Winners
Volume XXXIX, Issue 1
contents ASIAN OUTLOOK
featured 8 | Microaggressions from Karey | Michelle Pao 15 | Rap is a Martial Art | Michael Messina 26 | AO x HKES Art Competition Winners |
editorials 4 | Asian Representation in Cinema | Zachary Yu
18 | Spotlight on: Best of 2020 | Shirley Dong and Ashley Zhang
6 | Elections and Representation | Sandra Deng
20 | Your Bias is a Robot?! | Justin Roman
10 | Bullying | Jasmine Lau
22 | Yellow | Andrew Eng
13 | Mindgarden | Thamid Islam
23 | Forest Sonnet | Zachary Lahana
14 | Reinvigorate | Anita Liu
24 | Lazy Fried Rice Recipe | Alison Cheung
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conscience 29 | Hair Love | Elis Maia Gadelha
34 | Rain | Kelly Chen
30 | Paradox Wannabe Cover | Paradox
35 | Primary | Grace Moon
32 | Appalachian Borders | Evan Lau
36 | Autumn in my Happy Place | Celeste Pietrzak
33 | Lion Traveler | Elis Maia Gadelha
38 | Dive | Anita Liu
Front cover photo by Bloombergquint.com
letter from the editor... Dear Readers, What a semester it has been! So much has happened in the past few months both in our own student lives and in our country at large. As a quick recap: in August, Joe Biden announced his running mate as Kamala Harris; in September, Mulan 2020 was released; in October, they confirmed Amy Coney Barret as the newest Supreme Court Justice; and now, in November, Biden and Harris won the election. While the release of the Mulan live action film may seem like an outlier, this film is much more related to American politics than one might think. Mulan (2020) was promised to be full of representation, but instead, Disney merely used the Chinese actors to conceal the lack of diversity behind the cameras. Beyond this, Disney even went out of their way to thank the CCP and the Xinjiang province for their aid in the film’s production. This essentially supports the regime that holds the Uighur people in concentration camps.
ASIAN OUTLOOK EXECUTIVE BOARD FALL 2020 President Vice President Editor-in-Chief Conscience Editor Secretary Copy Editors layout editors
Event Coordinator Videographers Publicity Chair Podcast Manager Audiographers Outreach Chair
Justin Roman Ashley Zhang Michelle Tan Celeste Pietrzak Shirley Dong Alison Cheung Lily Tang Courtney Fu Anita Liu Grace Moon Samantha Wing Sabrina Qiu Claire Choi Mike Natrella Grace Chen Sherry Dang Samuel Atkin Jasmine Ku Emma Shen
EDITORIAL POLICY
The Mulan live action is a warning. Representation goes far beyond simply seeing an Asian face on the screen. Representation means diversity both on camera and behind the scenes. Representation needs to be handled with care and respect. We need it to be able to stand up for change. Similar to how Mulan (2020) wasn’t necessarily a win for the Chinese community, the same can be said about Biden and Harris’ victory. Although their win seems to promise change for the better, we have no way of knowing the future for certainty. What their election into office does show, however, is our ability to make a change. We need to use this momentum to continue the fight for equality in America. The rights and livelihood of the LGBTQ+ and Black community are still in jeopardy, and we must hold the upcoming presidency accountable.
Asian Outlook is the art, literary and news magazine of the Asian Student Union of SUNY’s Binghamton University. Originally conceived and created to challenge, redefine, re-imagine and revolutionize images and perceptions associated with Asians and Asian Americans, Asian Outlook also serves to protect the voice of those in the minority, whether by ethnicity, gender, and/or political orientation. All matter contained within these beautiful pages do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial board. Asian Outlook reserves the right to edit submissions and publish work as deemed appropriate. Prospective contributors are encouraged to discuss their work with the editors prior to submissions. All submissions may be submitted as e-mail attachments to ao.editor@gmail.com.
When your dreams for a better future falter, I hope that you can remember this edition. I hope that this magazine edition not only gives you the information you need to make a change, but also provides you with the representation you need to feel seen and valued. Thank you for picking up a copy! :)
Uninvited contact with writers and contributors is strictly prohibited. Please direct all questions, comments and complaints to ao.editor@gmail.com.
Michelle Tan Editor-in-Chief
CONTACT POLICY
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Vol. XXXIX, Issue I 3
Asian Representation in the Cinema
By Zachary Yu
A
Jakob Owens/ Unsplash
mong my favorite childhood television shows that encompass Spongebob Squarepants, Drake & Josh, and a handful of others, it’s clear that Avatar the Last Airbender is an odd man out. It isn’t necessarily because of its superb character development or suitable mix of action and humor in an overall somber story line. “Four nations lived together in harmony” - the premise of balance of powers and cultural identity that even inspired a sequel in The Legend of Korra - draws from Asian civilizations that include Japan, China, and Tibet. At the time I didn’t contemplate it, but it’s unfortunate that it was and to this day remains one of the few American shows of its kind. In current society, Asians are framed as “the model minority” that consists of nerds, doctors, and tiger parents - the group that grinds its way to success. Not only does this imply that other minorities are less hardworking, but it incorrectly classifies Asians into one homogeneous group with identical qualities when in reality, there are a variety of individuals with their own history and hardships. The media plays a dominant role in delegating racial bias, and it’s disconcerting how Asians are viewed as diligent while lacking leadership qualities. Starting from a young age, personal identity is heavily influenced by film and television. Asian children will subconsciously note a lack of representation as a dissuading indication of absence in the cinematic workplace. Admittedly, Asians rarely assume lead roles in film and television and this is reflected in many aspects of life. In the past few years, however, notable progress has been made especially with the success of Crazy Rich Asians and Fresh Off the Boat. Although Hollywood is depicting the Asian American community with more authenticity than ever before, there’s still notable work to be achieved. Content creators should write Asian characters that defy stereotypes even if they’re apparently “positive.” They should also hire more Asians in behind-the-scenes positions; those with experience can add essential nuances and make their interactions more realistic. The things we see on screen are much more than entertainment. Films and shows impact mental health, identity, and race relations. Content creators and decision-makers have a chance to use this powerful medium in a more productive manner, and there’s no better time to do it.
Elections Electionsand andRepresentation Representation
Elections and Representation By Sandra Deng
T
his issue’s theme of representation is fitting, considering that I am currently writing this piece in the midst of election season. With everyone being bombarded with voting campaigns, from pop-ups on social media to news outlets reporting on the polls, it is nearly impossible to escape thinking about the 2020 presidential elections.
But amidst all this talk about voting, how does it work? Like most modern day countries, the United States has a democratically elected leader. Every four years, a nationwide election is held to determine our next president. How the voting works, however, is largely dependent on which state you live in. For example, all states have different voter registration laws, with North Dakota being the only state that doesn’t require it at all. Unlike most modern day democracies, the United States uses the Electoral College system to determine its president, as opposed to a simple popular vote. Each state is assigned a certain number of representatives, which is reflective of the amount of seats they hold in Congress. Rather than vote for the president directly, citizens are actually voting for who they want their representatives to vote for. So why is the process so convoluted? Why can’t the president simply be chosen based on who the most citizens voted for? The Founding Fathers cemented this system into the Constitution on purpose. Firstly, they didn’t trust the American people, who were largely uneducated at the time. Thus the Electoral College was to consist of educated men, who would be able to elect the best candidate for the country. Secondly, news travelled slowly back then. The Founding Fathers knew that things could drastically change in the days leading up to Election Day, things that could sway the votes of citizens, and that news of these changes might not reach the ears of voters in time. If anything important changed by the time the Electoral College arrived at the capital to officially submit their votes, they would be able to make the decision they thought would be best for their citizens. Finally, the Founding Fathers couldn’t possibly have foreseen our modern political party system, where partisanship has drastically changed elections.
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Glen Carrie/ Unsplash
Although this system is confusing and outdated, what’s the harm? Since each state gets the number of electoral votes equal to its seats in Congress, smaller states have disproportionately more say in the presidency. After doing all the math, this means that in California, over 700,000 people share one electoral vote. Whereas in Wyoming, one electoral vote is split between less than 200,000 people; so a citizen of Wyoming has more say in the presidency than a citizen of California. This disproportionate representation has resulted in five presidents that did not win the nationwide popular vote: Presidents Adams, Hayes, Harrison, Bush, and Trump. With all of this in mind, what can we do to get proper representation? The first thing that comes to mind is to simply eliminate the Electoral College. However, this would require an amendment in the Constitution, a feat that is very difficult to achieve. To circumvent this logistical nightmare, many states have started to sign onto the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact. This compact is an agreement among the states to simply delegate their electoral votes to whichever candidate wins the national popular vote. But the issue with this solution is that it will only work if a majority of the Electoral College agrees to do it, and while many have signed on, the agreement is still missing 74 electoral votes. So what else can be done? A potential solution would be ranked voting. Otherwise known as ranked-choice voting, this system allows voters to rank their preference of candidates. If the candidate that received the most first place rankings doesn’t make it past the majority threshold needed to win, candidates at the bottom of the race will be eliminated. Then, those who voted for the candidates at the bottom will now have their votes given to their second choice. Ranked voting can be combined with a proportional voting system, which would allocate electoral votes depending on the popular vote. In non-presidential elections, proportional voting can also still allow the minority party to still hold some seats in the government and have a voice. Combined, the two systems could help to eliminate the two party system and result in a more ideologically representative government without having to tackle the issue of amending the Constitution. There are many other systems that can improve representation in the United States, but regardless of what steps the country will take in the future, it is clear that we must initiate this change. Although Election Day would have passed by the time you read this, local elections occur every year, with federal seats available every two years. As important as the presidency is, important changes (like the ones just mentioned) happen at the state and local level. For more information on what I’ve discussed, I suggest watching Vox’s “Whose Vote Counts, Explained” documentary on Netflix, and CGP Grey’s “The Sneaky Plan to Subvert the Electoral College for the Next Election” video on Youtube.
Vol. XXXIX, Issue I 7
Microaggressions from K By Michelle Pao
2
020 is almost over and I cannot remember what happened yesterday because I have been stuck in the same routine for the past year: I wake up, check my Google calendar, begrudgingly do the morning spiel of freshening up, and Zoom to class (literally checking into class at the last minute). But I do remember events that occurred quite frequently this year. I remember my friends losing loved ones, my father losing his job yet still remaining hopeful and cheering me on to finish my senior year strong, and most vividly, I remember being faced with microaggressions. I never thought I would be subjected to these situations, especially in Binghamton where I thought people adopted some sweet Southern hospitality. “No one here would take a jab at me because of what my eyes look like or my race,” I thought. I was wrong. During the spring semester when everyone on campus was mandated to leave, I was a junior living in University Plaza. Having to drop off an important document on campus, I went to the bus stop. Wearing my trench coat, winged eyeliner, baroque style earrings and mask, I felt unstoppable. Beside me a few feet away, there was another young man waiting for the bus. He was Caucasian. The bus rolled around soon enough and I got on after him. He sat in the back of the bus while I chose to sit in front of the exit to maintain social distancing. Towards the middle of the bus was an elderly Caucasian woman. Let’s call her Karey. Karey seemed to be a frequent passenger- she was comfortably and openly talking to the bus driver even though there was a plastic divider to minimize contact. She started rambling how everything was China’s fault- that they sent spies to the U.S. and this is the second time China has created a virus. This did not bother me. What bothered me was how she kept turning around every so often to look at me as she said this out loud. What bothered me was the driver chuckling at her comments. What bothered me was what she said when she left. As she was about to step out the exit, she paused, turned around and said “Filthy animals” aloud, presumably alluding to the Chinese, but also taking a jab at me
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for my Asian face. There were three people left on the bus: the young man, the driver and me. We rode in silence to campus. To say the least, I was pissed off and thrown off. Fuming in my head, I was furiously tapping on my phone, informing my friends of what had just happened. As the bus was pulling up to University Union, the bus driver shouted, “Wait, Miss!” With the young man having gone off the bus already, I walked to the center of the bus where the plastic divider was. As I was on one side, he was on the other. Thinking about this now, there was so much symbolism at this instance. He asked if I heard Karey say something. He apologized on her behalf and told me how he never expected something like this to come from Karey. I did not expect him to care, as he was Caucasian as well, but with him realizing
she paused, turned “Filthy animals” a alluding to the C taking a jab at m fac
what had happened, I sta misjudging him and from unethical behavior as wel a bit late. Meanwhile I tri okay, and that quarantine for everyone. Remember when I said th standing on opposite side think this is the divide be
Karey (the Retired Karen)
d around and said aloud, presumably Chinese, but also me for my Asian ce.
arted to tear up from m him noticing Karey’s ll as calling it out- albeit ied to assure him it was e was a confusing time
here is symbolism in es of a plastic barrier? I etween others and
Photo from The Urban Institute
Asians. Having white skin is like a barrier from the rapidly increasing microaggressions that occur today. The negative rhetoric put out to add fuel to the discrimination of Asians in the beginning of 2020 simply cannot be ignored. Our very own president of the United States and our Secretary of State Mike Pompeo both referenced the coronavirus by the terms “Chinese virus” and “Wuhan virus.” Without a doubt, microaggressions and hate speech increased after those phrases were uttered by these figures. Now it’s time to recount another microaggression, but this time in my predominantly Italian neighborhood. As my sister and I were walking past an elderly woman, but making sure we left enough space amongst ourselves to respect social distancing, she barked, “Yeah that’s right, walk faster”
to our faces. Cue me furrowing my brows and asking my sister if I heard her correctly. When she confirmed what had happened, I wondered why these microaggressions I faced were happening, and why I seemed to be the easy target for these frail elderly women. Would they have done it to my father who is larger? Would they have said it to my plump grandmother who doesn’t know English? Perhaps not. Maybe their mindset is based on the expired notion that Asian American women are quiet and keeping their heads down. Well, lo and behold, there I was, the perfect target for them! I may have played into the stereotype as I did not want to cause a scene, but I truly wanted to ask what her intentions were. It is affirmative. 2020 has everyone on edge. From the elderly Karens you pass by on the street to the students juggling their mental health with Zoom classes while paying for the “college experience,” we all have been affected by this pandemic; there is no doubt about that. Yet, just because some politicians tossed out harmful phrases, that does not make it acceptable to hurl microaggressions at innocent bystanders . If you have experienced an attack, I urge you to put your safety first, calmly educate them if you would like to, and fill out an incident report. There is a form by the Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council which keeps confidential records of the incidents to assist, educate and advocate for the AAPI community.* As these reports are quantified, so will the voices of our minority. Let us remember that 164 Republican members of Congress rejected the legislation that denounces hate incidents toward Asian Americans during the pandemic. My hope for 2021 is that you and I won’t stand still when we see a microaggression occurring. Make others aware that the *https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/ unsolicited behavior is 1FAIpQLSefH2Mq_zowEGcB4h5rnot acceptable. Be the 06BXX2aX3IBGfAENmEZDXUktCfPEeQ/viewform bigger person.
Vol. XXXIX, Issue I 9
Bullying
Photo from ABC news
By Jasmine Lau
Bullying. No one knew she was bullied, especially not her parents. At home, she was already yelled at enough for not being smart enough. At school, she was bullied for being different, She was bullied for speaking a different language. She was bullied for being the new kid at school. She was bullied for being stupid. No one spoke to her. She was the new kid not because she wanted to be, But because she had to move. Moving meant transferring schools. She was so used to her old school where all of her friends were. There was simply no one she knew at this new school. You may say, “She could have just made new friends there.” That’s not the case if the people don’t want to be her friend. She spoke to them even though she was shy. She spoke to them even though she was reluctant to. She wanted to be their friend because she felt that was the right thing to do. But her efforts were all done in vain. She was only eight-years-old and she had to go through
10 ASIAN OUTLOOK
a series of exclusions from her new school. You may say her case doesn’t sound that extreme, but it took a toll on her school life. When you’re eight-years-old you think about what you can do after school or how well you should do in class to satisfy your parents. Except for her. She had to satisfy her parents on another level. She didn’t want to be a burden for her parents— They had just moved to a small place. Her parents were worried whether they could afford to buy a house instead of staying at the place they were now. She knew she should not worry them at this time but she couldn’t help it. Being bullied like that— she couldn’t bring herself to tell her parents that. She kept her feelings to herself and told no one. It really showed when she was taking her exams in school. She did so poorly on every exam that her parents were afraid she would not even pass the third grade. Her mom often yelled at her when she was doing her homework to do better to be better.
Her mom was the one who taught her all of the math homework, the science homework, and even the English homework, despite her mom not speaking the best English. That was how bad she was doing in school. You probably think that elementary school is so easy, that third grade was a really easy grade to pass. To her, it was the grade that changed her life. Her parents were so worried that she couldn’t pass the third grade, that they put her in a tutoring class every weekend. She felt so bad for being so stupid. They already were on a budget for money and she had to waste her parent’s money on going to tutoring classes. She tried her best in the tutoring classes, but nothing was going well. Nothing had changed. The once-in-a-while yelling from her mom turned into daily yelling about why she was so dumb. It turned into her constantly crying herself to sleep. Her brother was doing really well in this new school and he made a lot of friends. Her mom asked her why she couldn’t be like him. She couldn’t answer her because she didn’t know the answer. She never knew the answer to anything.
Photo from jcomp from freepik
Vol. XXXIX, Issue I 11
You may already know that this girl is me. I’m not saying you have to pity me because that’s not what I want. I want you to know that bullying comes in any form, for any reason. After that experience, I took many precautions in meeting new people; I hated meeting new people for a long time. I decided it was best to choose my friends wisely and not repeat the same incident again. That’s why my circle of best friends consists of only three people. It’s the sense of distrust I have towards meeting new people that puts me in a bad position, but I don’t really mind that. As long as I’m doing what I want to do, I don’t care what other people say about me. I still haven’t told my parents about the bullying incident. Well, that’s because there really is no need for them to know anymore; It’s in the past and I’ve grown from it. However, I’m not saying everyone can grow from an experience like bullying. It’s not something everyone can handle emotionally. Everyone’s different and the act of bullying is simply wrong. If you see someone getting bullied, help them out. They probably have the same feelings I had: a sense of loneliness and fear. They just want a friend, and having one friend can go a long way.
Image from freepik
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MindGarden By Thamid Islam
I grew up kind of a loner. I was the weird kid in elementary school who never really hung out with people. Later in life, it felt like friends would come and go as I often moved from one friend group to another. I didn’t really feel like I had many people I could rely on and would want to go through my problems alone. I felt almost angry because I didn’t know how to process my emotions, and I couldn’t pinpoint why I was sad all of the time despite not having anything specific to justify this sadness. It wasn’t until I was 15 when I discovered bands from the early 90’s grunge scene that I found music that truly spoke to how I felt. These bands were a bunch of guys who weren’t afraid to talk about what sad things they were going through while playing really heavy metal/punk guitar riffs. Chris Cornell of Soundgarden was the main songwriter that, in retrospect, really represented what kind of mindset I had at the time and what I still feel sometimes. The song “The Day I Tried To Live” is just about doing your best to get out of your depression, and trying to put on a smile to go out and face the day. The problem is, even though you do your best to try to feel normal, you end up feeling the same as you did before and you question if that effort was wasted. Despite the depressing lyrics, the song still holds an optimistic meaning, saying that it’ll just take one more time around to get it right. Even though this song sounds really simple, it definitely cuts deep for me. It really felt like there was someone who kinda got it, who just felt worthless and depressed and almost helpless, but was trying their best to process it. It was comforting to say the least, and it made things a little bit easier for me.
Photo from The Vulture
VVol ol..XXXIX, XXXIX,IIssue ssueII 13
“REINVIGORATE”
Alexandru Acea/ Unsplash
By Anita Liu The cruelest month approached without warning, Lost amongst the chirps of birds this morning Are whispers of lovers long gone, relations almost too severed to amend. Petals of plucked roses floating in the fickle wind, Faint pants echo in my ears, bloodshot eyes look into mine. When I look at the polaroids of you and I, what do I expect to find? Can’t forget how you sounded when we were laughing on your living room floor, What do I expect when I see those white painted wooden doors, the ones I can’t visit anymore? Tie up my feelings with pink ribbon and put them in an envelope addressed “RETURN TO SENDER,” But how could I ever forget a kiss so firm yet tender? Saw you in the corner of my eye, had to pretend that I didn’t mind, When I stare at my phone at night, what do I expect to find? Maybe it’s my blind ambition, or maybe it’s your sweet renditions, Is it possible for lost love to return to fruition? Words saturated with the plush cuddle of reborn love, Your arms wrap around me better than any glove, I try to lock away my heart, afraid of how it could end, But you convince me to sit on the kitchen floor, grab a thread and begin to mend, You make my heart beat faster and faster, and when push comes to shove, I guess I can’t hold back my singing heart and growing love. Washed down my worries with the taste of tequila lingering on your feverish lips, Walking down busy streets with your hand on my hip, Life makes you feel old but young love makes you feel alive again, The way you look into my eyes I know we could never be just friends, Your hands in my hair as my fingers nervously trace your bends, Salvaged a love I never thought I would be able to amend. Allison Heine/ Unsplash
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Rap Is a Martial Art A Cross Cultural History of Kung Fu, Hip Hop, and Activism
By Michael Messina
Artist Rap is a Martial Art in his music video “John Wick”
“Shaolin Kung Fu chose me, I chose rap” stated Philippe Prosper, better known by his rap name Rap is a Martial Art (RMA). As a Haitian American immigrant, professional rapper, and international Shaolin Kung Fu Grandchampion, RMA embodies the often overlooked stitches connecting Asian American and Black American cultures. A look at RMA’s popular “Adidas Originals” video finds him rapping with his signature style of dizzying rhyme schemes and crisp striking techniques. “I am Liu Kang’s hands meets the Wu-Tang Clan,” he boasts, further referencing the connection between hip-hop and Kung Fu. This connection, however, runs deeper than words and weapons, flows and films. In a present that includes such tumultuous race relations, an examination of this cross cultural past may help inform how we approach an uncertain future.
Vol. XXXIX, Issue I 15
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Whd8GATlU3o https://www.vox.com/culture/2018/10/4/17788566/awkwafina-crazy-rich-asians-oceans-8-snl-unruly-woman https://consequenceofsound.net/2020/03/wu-tang-clan-lullaby-album/
Black Communities & Kung Fu
Grindhouse cinemas, theatres playing lowbudget action and exploitation films throughout the ‘70s, boasted a variety of Kung Fu films often featuring themes of racism and colonialism, themes that many young Black Americans could relate to. Films such as “Enter the Dragon” eventually saw a more explicit victory for Black representation as the legendary Bruce Lee costarred alongside Jim Kelly, a famous Black film actor and accomplished martial artist in his own right. Later, 1985’s “The Last Dragon” saw a mostly Black cast and crew paying homage to the martial arts films of the preceding decades’ with a fight film steeped in Black culture. Of course, one of the most famous examples of Kung Fu and hip-hop emerged from these theatres, an example that would become an American cultural icon… and they ain’t nothing to fuck with. After viewing the Hong Kong action film “Shaolin and Wu-Tang,” a group of nine New York emcees became a foundational milestone in hip-hop culture: the Wu-Tang Clan. A major influence on RMA, Wu-Tang Clan saw the appeal of honor and combat apparent in many martial arts films and translated it to hip-hop. “Overcoming oppression and spreading the culture [was] the united theme of that whole sequence of films,” said RZA, WuTang leader and hip-hop icon, “it resonated with me.” Indeed, in an era where the Black Power and Civil Rights Movements exposed and challenged the racist status quo, many comparisons were drawn between fiction and reality. RZA felt these similarities. “The element that resonated with me was people being oppressed by the government and young people wanting to make a difference… I guess around the same time, I was becoming conscious of black consciousness and the struggles of the ‘60s and the ‘70s. Realizing the differences in the world of how we’re treated.”
Picture of group Wu Tang Clan
Picture of Artist Awkwafina
Asian Communities & Hip-Hop
Just as Black culture has participated in traditionally Asian culture, Asian Americans have also expressed their experiences through Black genres. 2 Live Crew, an East Coast rap duo, is often cited as the earliest prominent Asian American force in hip-hop. Other influential Asian American voices include LA’s Far East Movement, Koreatown’s Dumbfoundead, New York’s Awkwafina, and Florida’s MC Jin. Though not strictly Asian American, one would be remiss not to mention the 88 Rising label definitively staking its claim in the modern music landscape. However, no hip-hop act better defines the connection between Asian and Black experiences than one particular California based label advocating for community organization through its artists and music. “Through the scope of Black music I am Bam,” raps Jonah Deocampo, a musical artist performing under the name “Bambu”. A community organizer and founder of the Beatrock Music label, Bambu represents the impoverished Filipino American community exposed to drug and gang culture in certain regions of California. They now push an especially progressive message for institutional change that includes solidarity with other minority groups. Ruby Ibarra, perhaps the largest name on the label, contributes a guest verse on a recent Bambu release, stating “My community is dying… While all of y’all focused on Asian representation, I’m yelling Brown lives, Black lives liberation.”
Rap Is a Martial Art
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Rap Is a Martial Art
Black & Yellow Rappers and filmmakers, however, are not the only Asians to aid other minority communities in need. In fact, there is a rich history of cross-community support throughout the twentieth century in the United States. Grace Lee Boggs is perhaps the best example of this, a Chinese American woman and key figure in the Black Power movement. Yuri Kochiyama, too, comes to mind, a Japanese American who shares a birthday with Malcolm X, worked for the same progressive causes as Malcolm X, and held Malcolm X in her arms as he passed away. Perhaps a more useful historical reference for a college publication, would be the student actions at San Francisco University and University of California in the late 1960’s. During a period of political turmoil, cultural upheaval, and identity crises along with many societal cleavages, minority students banned together on these key campuses to demand their history and struggles gain greater educational representation in the classroom. Spearheaded largely by Black students and organizations, the movement accumulated support from other cultural groups as well as faculty members. Curriculums were drawn from scratch, funding was demanded, and phrases like “third world solidarity” and “third world liberation front” were abound. Though administrations appeared responsive to student wishes, little action was taken. What resulted at San Francisco State was the longest student strike in U.S. history. After a five month period of picket lines, loudspeakers, class interruptions, rallies, and police brutality against students, administration met student demands. The results of these student efforts can be felt in schools across the country, including in the existence of Binghamton’s Africana Studies Department and Asian / Asian American Studies Department. In fact, another notable result of this movement is the popularization of a simple yet incredibly powerful term largely taken for granted today: Asian American.
Wrapping Up RMA spoke repeatedly about compassion and care for others when discussing how to build a bridge between Asian and Black people. “I’m far from an expert, but they’re all communities that I love,” he stated. “That love of martial arts from the black community and the love of hip-hop from the Asian community is kind of a funny trade off… I wish that mutual respect and love would go beyond art forms… We’re supposed to love… I think it always comes down to love and compassion.” RMA also speculated some possible tension between the two communities stemming largely from a difference in experiences, from Asian Americans feeling left out of the discussion regarding racism. Indeed, the model minority myth has been used as a weapon of separation since World War II, a wedge driven between the Asian American community and the Black / Latinx community to complicate solidarity efforts under the sinister guise of compliments for Asia America. Despite these historic challenges, the history of Bruce Lee and Jim Kelly, Wu-Tang Clan and Beatrock Music, and San Francisco University and University of California prove that solidarity is possible. In fact, as Asians4BlackLives trends and K-Pop fans dismantle racist WhiteLivesMatter hashtags, solidarity in activism is happening now. As we reflect on this rich past of culture and activism, let us carry this inspiration into the genuinely troubling near and far future. I urge every Asian American to take intentional steps towards understanding and connecting with other minority communities. At a university, student organizations provide extremely convenient avenues to do so. Attend an event with a few friends. Attend an event on your own. Talk to one new person every time. Be intentional about the media you consume. Be conscious of the differences between Black and Asian American struggles while also realizing the similarities; both differences and similarities should serve to inspire.
“History is not the past. It is the stories we tell about the past. How we tell these stories triumphantly or self-critically, metaphysically or dialectally - has a lot to do with whether we cut short or advance our evolution as human beings.” -Grace Lee Boggs Vol. XXXIX, Issue I 17
an elaborated playlist of all your favorite underground artists
FOLLOW
by Shirley Dong and Ashley Zhang
Honesty
Pink Sweat$
Known for his love for pink sweatpants, Pink Sweat$ is back with another album following the success of his first single, “Honesty.” His pop soul sound is especially highlighted in his latest banger, “At My Worst.”
Neverland Holland
When in Summer, I Forget About t.. Yaeji
Chosen Family Rina Sawayama
Using a blend of acoustic and electronic elements, this song pays tribute to her LGBTQ+ sisters and brothers who oftentimes have to find their own place of belonging. May this song be an invitation to find their “safe place” so they can be themselves.
Ugly
Deb Never
we fell in love in october girl in red
Medusa
Kailee Morgue
summer 18 ASIAN OUTLOOK
keshi
Her debut song “Medusa” uses cinematic elements with dreamy alternative pop to present a different take on the mythological creature and popify the wrong turn of relationships. The balance between light and dark tell a story, much like in “Discovery,” “Ghost of Mine” and “Unfortunate Soul.”
BEST OF 2020 Curious
Hayley Kiyoko
Becky
Aminé
Known for his hit song, “Caroline,” alternative rapper Amine uses clever lyrics to discuss racial issues growing up. In “Becky,” he touches upon his own interracial relationship experiences during his youth.“Limbo” also describes the difficulties in growing up and the meaning of life.
Ready Yet
Sasha Sloan
Prune, You Talk Funny Gus Dapperton
American singer and songwriter Gus Dapperton is known for his unique fashion sense and catchy tunes. His song, “Of Lacking Spectacle,” was featured on 13 Reasons Why’s soundtrack album. His second album, “Orca,” dropped on September of this year!
Love and Run Lexie Liu
My Favorite Clothes RINI
Inspired by Daniel Caesar and Frank Ocean, Melbourne-based producer RINI sings about finding love and the beauty of life. Following the rise of his EP, “After the Sun,” RINI continues to create masterpieces like his other singles, “My Favorite Clothes” and “Emerald.”
Sofia
Clairo
Mariposa
Peach Tree Rascal
Today’s Mood CHEEZE
Composed of Dom, Isaac, Tarrek, Joseph and Jorge, the group creates alternative hip-hop songs with elements of funk, jazz and R&B. Their hit single, “Mariposa,” is about letting go of your insecurities and improving as an individual. In 2020, they released their newest single, “Deer.”
Vol. XXXIX, Issue I 19
Your Bias is a Robot?!
Aespa “Black Mamba”
H
ave you ever dreamed about what it would be like hanging out with your favorite band? Or what it would be like having them play at your own private concert? Well, it seems the largest K-Pop entertainment company in South Korea is providing a way for these dreams to be fulfilled in a VERY unusual manner. Lee So-Man, the founder of SM Entertainment, recently revealed his latest project: aespa & æspa. aespa is a new girl group that consists of four virtual and four human members. The virtual members share both the names and appearances of their real life counterparts, but they have more computerized voices. What is most notable about this new creation is that the human members are able to dance simultaneously with their avatars; this creates a shocking visual. So, how has the world of artificial intelligence found itself infiltrating the world of K-Pop? Lee So-Man claims that this shift towards AI is part of the next industrial revolution, citing COVID-19, various diseases, climate change, and more as the reasons why AI was created in the first place. He argues that its overall power and necessity will drive into all industries, including entertainment. In his defense, many technological advancements have already been incorporated into business
20 ASIAN OUTLOOK
By Justin Roman
UnitedKPop
dbkpop: K-Pop Database
models for the entertainment industry. SM’s BEYOND Live online concert has used Augmented Reality to enhance their existing groups’ stages by adding holographic displays that fit the theme of the performance. League of Legends, a popular video game, has created a virtual group, K/DA, which released a single and had a live performance in 2018. Both were so well received that they came back with a new performance and mini album just this month. As a final example, one of Korea’s largest telecommunications companies, SKT, made a hologram version of Red Velvet’s Wendy that can interact and converse with its users. With all of these strides towards more virtual entertainment, can they really live up to real people? In my opinion, aespa completely misses the mark for me. What makes following a group so meaningful is the connection you feel with the artists. It is the journeys they have been through, the hard work they put in every day, and, most importantly, the emotion they show on stage that captivates audiences around the world. Adding virtual members loses all three of these factors and replaces them with fake dialogue put together by a developer. I doubt people would rather see the virtual girls perform over the real girls, meaning one side will clearly be favored over the other. In addition, since the virtual girls are avatars of their real ones, any scandals that befall a real-life member will still have an affect on the virtual group! I cannot help but wonder if this is just a way to either draw attention to the real group or to create a cash cow for this global multimillion dollar industry. A more interesting premise would be to have the girls play unique and developing characters. If æspa were to use their music videos to establish intriguing characters, as a few other groups have done, it would give people more of a reason to tune in and interact with the virtual girls. Luckily, it seems that they might be alluding to some sort of story in the MY_KARINA teaser, and if that is true, I would really love to see SM push the boundaries with storytelling through original content and aespa’s music itself. In the end, I am curious to see what the reactions from the global audience will be. Will the group struggle to get out of the gates with such a new concept? Or will this be the beginning of a revolutionary new era in K-Pop. No matter which way it goes, I am looking forward to people saying “Your bias is a robot!?”
Vol. XXXIX, Issue I 21
Yellow
By Andrew Eng
To be Asian, what does it mean? Almond eyes, black hair, yellow skin— What is our place in this American machine? Will someone tell us, or will it come from within? Where will we find our place? Where can we belong? Will we ever find a space? Or are we doomed to be forever wrong? We are neither from here or from there So between our ancestors and our descendants, What will we be able to share? Will our tales be of the unknown or of the transcendent?
22 ASIAN OUTLOOK
Forest Sonnet By Zachary Lahana
The forest sits among her trees Building up her effigies She stops to taste the cooling air Letting it fill her hollow lair Obsidian crows dipped in gold To her work they do behold Humble deer and boasting fox Watch her dance among the rocks She lays upon the fallen leaves Their former lives are her bereaved With a mournful, anguished cry She casts her work into the sky To the trees she fades as a gentle glow For autumn is here, and we all must go
Image from @ szmigieldesign on Unsplash
Vol ol. XXXIX, Issue ssue I 23
LAZY FRIED RICE RECIPE By Alison Cheung
As college students, we all have our lazy moments. This is my first year living off campus, so my biggest problem due to being lazy has been learning how to feed myself. When it comes to figuring out what to make, I often find myself running into the problem of having no food in my fridge because I forgot to go grocery shopping the weekend before. As this has becoming a growing problem of mine, I’ve discovered out a few hacks that have helped me a lot: 1. Always having easy carbs to cook (pasta, rice, etc.)! 2. Buying loads of frozen veggies. 3. Buying eggs in bulk so that they are always an option, and because they don’t go bad quickly.
With these three rules of thumb, I’ve been able to consistently feed myself even when my fridge looks empty. The main recipe I find myself making is a quick vegetable fried rice, so I thought I’d share it with y’all!
Here’s what you’ll need:
2 eggs White or brown rice A bag of mixed frozen vegetables Soy sauce Neutral oil Half an onion
And here’s how to make it: 1. Cook 2-3 cups of your rice of choice. 2. Dice half an onion. 3. Crack 2 eggs into a small bowl and mix them with a fork. 4. In a large pan set at medium heat, drizzle a little bit of oil. 5. Wait a few seconds for your oil to heat up then add your diced up onion in to cook until they look slightly translucent. 6. Add some frozen mixed vegetables to the pot (you can put however much you want depending on how healthy you’re feeling). 7. Pour about a tablespoon of water into the pan and put a lid on it to let the vegetables defrost for around 3 minutes. 8. Take the lid off your pan and mix the vegetables around with a spatula until all of the water you added in has evaporated. 9. Put the rice you made into the pan and use your spatula to break it apart and to mix it in with the onions and vegetables. 10. Once the rice is separated, lightly drizzle some soy sauce over the rice then start mixing it in with your spatula. Always start with a small drizzle to mix around, so that you can taste afterwards to see if you want to add more to make it saltier. 11. Once you have chosen your optimal saltiness and the soy sauce looks evenly incorporated into the rice, push the rice to the edges of the pan so that you form an empty circle in the middle of your pan. 12. Pour your eggs into this circle that you have created. Be sure to continuously mix your eggs with a spatula to begin to scramble them in the middle. 13. Once they are slightly scrambled but still moist, start mixing the entire pan so that the eggs are incorporated with the rest of the fried rice. 14. When everything looks well mixed, take a spoon or fork and enjoy! :)
24 ASIAN OUTLOOK
S C S C I N O N I O C C E E N N C E E
Vol. XXXIX, Issue I 25
DRAWING
AO x HKES ART COMPET
Dragon Girl By Kaysie Liang
26 26 ASIAN OUTLOOK OUTLOOK
ITION WINNERS TITION
Shrine
By Wenting Li
PHOTOGRAPHY VVol ol..XXXIX, XXXIX,IIssue ssueII 27 27
It Was Around This Time By Cody Lin
Between autumn and winter was a casket in her name and now I mourn its memory
What am I, if not these roots? These filial anchors life rafts in some foreign sea My ear attuned to her silence did not listen when she spoke and all was lost in the pyre smoke Mothers should know, they listen with their entire beings but remembering is also work To all my mother’s secrets will I see you later if not now as a cacophonous laugh or something more sleight like a transient whisper potentially stolen by the breeze
28 28 ASIAN OUTLOOK OUTLOOK
POETRY
On some mountain where the earth took her roots grow from where she sleeps
By Elis Maia Gadelha
I
Hair Love
have decided to make a fanart of the 2020 Academy Award-winning Short Animation called “Hair Love.� The short simply demonstrates representation in a very sweet and emotional matter, while showing a Black family dealing with some day-to-day struggles, but with a bittersweet turn in the end. To me, this is a powerful example of representation in the media because of how it is BIPOC centered, while also dealing with themes that are not necessarily tied to race and ethnicity. It is important and empowering to highlight how any human being can go through and beat any kind of struggle.
Vol. XXXIX, Issue I 29
PARADOX’S COVER OF
WANNABE WANNABE
Featuring Rachel Choi, Ayuko Ichikawa, Emilie Ng, Yuka Amma, Fuji Kashimada Filmed by Kai Higuchi
30 ASIAN OUTLOOK
BEHIND THE SCENES INTERVIEW WITH
PARADOX Q: What led your team to choose WANNABE? A:We decided to choose WANNABE because it is a song that came out recently in 2020 with a lot of hype around it. It is also by the group ITZY who is known to have very intricate and difficult choreography, so we thought this was a great challenge to showcase what Paradox has.
Q: How would you describe the message that viewers should get from the song? A: ITZY’s concept in general pushes the idea to be yourself and not let others
bring you down, so we also want to spread this positivity.
Q: Do you have a favorite memory from filming? A: A favorite memory from filming is when other people from the team came
to support us with the lights, music and camerawork; it really felt like a team effort.
Q: Is there any advice you would give to anyone who is learning to dance? A: One piece of advice is to take it slow and be patient. It takes a lot of practice
and time to get a dance right, so don’t be frustrated if you don’t succeed in a short amount of time. Also don’t forget to have fun with it!
Q: Where can we find more amazing content from Paradox? A: You can follow us on our instagram(@bingparadox), tiktok(@bingpara-
dox) and our youtube (Binghamton Paradox)!
Vol. XXXIX, Issue I 31
APPALACHIAN BORDERS By Evan Lau By Evan Lau
32 ASIAN ASIAN OUTLOOK
Elis Maia Gadelha
Traveler
NordWood Themes/Unsplash
Lion
Vol. XXXIX, Issue I 33 33
Rain
By Kelly Chen
https://unsplash.cAom/photos/ve-R7PCjJDk
https://unsplash.com/photos/VH7NuUbj104
34 ASIAN OUTLOOK
I M A R I M P R I . P . Y R . P AR RY RY A A M I M M I R I P PR PR Y. Y. R . R A Y A R M M I I M A I R M . P PR PR R A Y M R I R P PRIMARY.
I
By Grace Moon
had a falling falling out out with with my myrelationship relationshipwith withart artas asof ofrecently. recently.IIquestioned wondered if I was a true artist if my my artistic artistic ability ability and strength involved copying copying drawings drawings,and paintings. Conventionally, realistic painting is the easiest way to showing paintings. Conventionally, realistic painting is the easiest way to show one’s artistic artistic prowess. prowess,This and was I believe thiseasiest was also easiestmy way to prove my parents passion and interest. also the waythe to prove passion andtointerest to mythis parents. However, when However, I began exploring color and shape, and I noticed the resulting pieces reflected more of my personality. I began exploring color and shape, and I noticed that the resulting pieces reflected more of my personality. Just as Additionally, as thisto magazine is hopingintothe explore diversity in the current issue, my artistic exploration led this magazinejust is hoping explore diversity current issue, my artistic exploration has led me to desire tohas paint me to desire to paint people of color and also specifically Asians. While Asians have worked hard to become one of the people of color and also specifically Asians. While Asians have worked hard to become one of the largest demographics largest demographics in America, I believe Asians are still in Western pop culture.an As Instagram, such, I started in America, I believe Asians are still underrepresented inunderrepresented Western pop culture. As such, I started @ an Instagram, @moon.g.salt, to showcase my art and to express my artistic intentions.w moon.g.salt, to showcase my art and to express my artistic intentions. Vol. XXXIX, Issue I 35
Autumn in my
36 ASIAN OUTLOOK OK
happy place by Celeste Pietrzak
Vol. XXXIX, Issue I 37
Dive
By Anita Liu 38 ASIAN OUTLOOK
@asianoutlook
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