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VOL 40 NO 37 SEPTEMBER 11 – SEPTEMBER 17, 2021 FREE 39 YEARS YOUR VOICE
Hesitancy in the age of COVID-19 By Vivian Nguyen NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Sean Li Cheah comes from a family of medical professionals, and for her entire life, she’s been surrounded by the practice of science and medicine. Still, she chose to not get the COVID-19 vaccine. “I believe in science,” said Cheah. “But because our body can produce antibodies, I believe that my natural antibodies are more reliable than whatever could be available in a human-made vaccine.” Cheah is one of many people locally and across the nation who are questioning or speaking out against the vaccine. Although their reasons vary and are deeply personal, this demographic is becoming increasingly more vocal about their hesitation or opposition. “It’s easy to oversimplify and collapse see HEALTH on 9
‘Shang-Chi’ blasts records with Labor Day weekend debut
Joshua Liao, UW Medicine internal medicine physician
Courtesy of Parkview Services
AAPIs face housing crisis
By JAKE COYLE AP FILM WRITER NEW YORK (AP) — On what’s traditionally one of the sleepiest weekends at the movies, the Marvel film “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” smashed the record for Labor Day openings with an estimated $71.4 million in ticket sales, giving a box office reeling from the recent coronavirus surge a huge lift heading into the fall season. The Friday-to-Sunday gross for “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” Marvel’s first film led by an Asian superhero, ranks as one of the best debuts of the pandemic,
trailing only the previous Marvel film, “Black Widow” ($80.3 million in July). Overseas, it pulled in $56.2 million in key markets such as France, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, and Japan. As of press time, “Shang Chi” has made close to $150 million globally. The Walt Disney Co. opted to release “Shang-Chi” only in theaters where it will have an exclusive 45-day run. The strong opening of “ShangChi”—forecasts had been closer to $50 million—was a major relief for Hollywood, which had seen jittery releases the last few weeks during see SHANG-CHI on 9
Cecilia Yap (left) and Shirley Xu (right), two HUD-certified housing counselors recently hired by Parkview Services.
By Mahlon Meyer NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) are facing housing emergencies both as renters and as homeowners, according to agencies that provide support. Reasons for the crisis, which has exploded over the last several years, include burgeoning housing prices, the increasing scarcity of affordable housing, cultural barriers, and the continuation of redlining, albeit in a different form. Social service providers predict the expiration of federal moratoriums on evictions and foreclosures, coupled with the end of certain Covid-related social security benefits, will cause a “landslide” of housing disasters for
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AAPIs. “Due to the limited supply of public housing, a lot of our clients are renting from individual homeowners,” said Karia Wong, Family Resource Coordinator at Chinese Information and Service Center (CISC). CISC helps immigrants apply for housing. It also provides information to seniors and families for housing information and assistance. “During the past 18 months, housing markets are skyrocketing upwards across the country, including most of the popular communities for AAPI immigrants. As a result, there is an increasing number of AAPI renters who need to look for housing because see HOUSING on 10
COMMUNITY NEWS Man injured in CID shooting 3
AT THE MOVIES “Shang-Chi”: blends action, authority, and authenticity 5
PUBLISHER’S BLOG Learning to live with Covid and thrive 6
SPORTS The Layup Drill 7
412 Maynard Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98104 • t. 206.223.5559 • f. 206.223.0626 • editor@nwasianweekly.com • ads@nwasianweekly.com • www.nwasianweekly.com
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39 YEARS
SEPTEMBER 11 – SEPTEMBER 17, 2021
■ NAMES IN THE NEWS
A groundbreaking ceremony was held on Aug. 28 for the first traditional Korean garden in Washington state. Hanwoori Korean Garden at 550 Southwest Campus Drive in Federal Way will be a symbol of unity between Federal Way and the city’s sister city of Donghae in South Korea. Site plans include a pagoda, an open courtyard, a traditional Korean pavilion, and flower beds. There will also be seasonal gardens, a stone waterbed, a Jangdokdae, and serenity stones. The 13,000-square-foot garden sits between the Panther Lake Trail and the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center and is funded in part by matching grants from the Port of Seattle. Completion is expected in 2023 or 2024.
2 Hawaiians appointed to DOI positions
President Joe Biden’s appointment of two Native Hawaiians to the U.S. Department of the Interior could influence federal policy for Hawaii’s Summer Sylva
Photo by Assunta Ng
Celebrate Little Saigon
Owning It Part II art exhibit
Nguyen, as well as Anh Nguyen and Stephanie Mai. It runs through January 2022.
Editorial excellence winners Photo by George Liu
Hanwoori Korean Garden groundbreaking on Aug. 28
Indigenous people and other Pacific Islanders. Summer Sylva, who is currently head of the Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation, was appointed on Sept. 1 as senior advisor for Native Hawaiian affairs. Keone Nakoa Keone Nakoa, the Washington, D.C., bureau chief for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, has been appointed deputy assistant secretary for insular and international affairs.
Photo by Assunta Ng
State Sen. Wilson’s Facebook page
Korean garden groundbreaking
Little Saigon summer street festival
Friends of Little Saigon hosted the summer street festival, Celebrate Little Saigon, on Aug. 28 and 29. The festival is an annual celebration of Vietnamese food, culture, and community.
Owning It Part II
Friends of Little Saigon has launched its second art exhibit, Owning It Part II, which explores how artists have owned their perspective, identity, and power in the face of xenophobia, hate, and racism. This exhibit features three local artists of Vietnamese descent, including former Northwest Asian Weekly editor Stacy
From left: Lee Nacozy, Assunta, Ruth, and Dylan Priest
Northwest Asian Weekly publisher Assunta Ng and editor Ruth Bayang were named as recipients of Real Change’s annual Editorial Excellence award. Real Change Managing Editor Lee Nacozy said, “We deeply appreciate the work [Assunta and Ruth] have done recently and have done for years as journalists serving Asian communities.” Real Change’s mission is to provide opportunity and a voice to low-income and homeless people while taking action for economic, social, and racial justice.
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YOUR VOICE
■ COMMUNITY NEWS
SEPTEMBER 11 – SEPTEMBER 17, 2021
asianweekly northwest
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Man injured in CID shooting
Photo credit: Seattle PD
Police are investigating after a man was shot and injured in the Chinatown-International District (CID) on Labor Day morning. At 5:14 a.m. on Sept. 6, 911 callers began reporting gunshots near the I-5 overpass at South Jackson Street. Soon after, a caller at 8th Avenue South and South King Street reported he was with a man who had been shot in the arm. Police arrived and immediately began providing aid to the victim, including applying a tourniquet to his
arm. The man was transported to Harborview Medical Center in stable condition. Based on a blood trail left by the victim, police located the shooting scene just north of the 900 block of South Jackson Street, on a trail into an encampment alongside the easternmost lanes of the I-5 northbound collector distributor. Police recovered several shell casings from the scene and from the shoulder of the highway.
Crime scene on South Jackson near I-5 on Sept. 6.
Jury convicts Singh of immigration fraud A federal jury in Seattle convicted Harbans Singh, 38, of Kent, of three federal felonies related to false statements he made on a visa application and during an asylum interview. The jury deliberated for about two hours following the two-day trial before reaching a verdict, according to a Sept. 3 U.S. Department of Justice news release. According to records filed in the case and testimony at trial, Singh was arrested twice in November 2014 in the U.K. for three instances of sexually touching young
girls while riding on a public bus. Just six days after his second arrest, Singh applied for a visa to travel to the U.S. On his visa application, he stated that he had never been arrested for a crime. Based on that false statement, Singh was granted a visa, and traveled to the U.S. in January 2015. Singh did not board his return flight to the U.K. In July 2015, Singh applied for asylum in the U.S. In his asylum application, Singh failed to disclose anything about the sexual assault charges in the U.K. Then, in a September 2017 interview, Singh again denied, this time
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under oath, having ever been arrested or charged in the U.K. While Singh was in the U.S., he was convicted in absentia in the U.K. of the crimes related to illegal touching of minors. He was sentenced, in absentia, to one year in prison. Singh has been in immigration custody since his arrest in July 2020. The charges are punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
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16 MING-MING TUNGEDELMAN AT SEATTLE INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT ROTARY Via Zoom - Free 11:30–12:30 p.m. seattleidrotary.org HELPINGLINK’S COMPASSION OVER HATE VIRTUAL GALA 7 p.m. RSVP at https://bit. ly/3BUBXcl
17 JCCCW SPEAKER SERIES: HIDDEN HISTORIES OF NIKKEI SPORTS 7 p.m. Register at jcccw.org/speaker-series
18 ASIA PACIFIC CULTURAL CENTER CHUSEOK CELEBRATION 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Skansie Brothers Park 3211 Harborview Dr, Gig Harbor Or online at facebook.com/
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24 SEATTLE ASIAN ART MUSEUM FREE FIRST FRIDAY 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Seattle Asian Art Museum Free admission Advanced registration required volunteerparktrust.org/event/ saam-free-fridays/all
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OCT 1-24 TASVEER SOUTH ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL Northwest Film Forum tasveer.org
7 DOUG BALDWIN AT RENTON ROTARY CLUB 12-1:30 p.m. Fairwood Golf and Country Club, Renton $20
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SEATTLE ASIAN ART MUSEUM FREE FIRST FRIDAY 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Seattle Asian Art Museum Free admission Advanced registration required volunteerparktrust.org/event/ saam-free-fridays/all/
VANCOUVER ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL Vancouver, BC, Canada vaff.org
14 CRAZY WOKE ASIANS, ONE NIGHT ONLY 7:30-10 p.m. Unexpected Productions Improv $25 unexpectedproductions.org
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23 NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY’S UNITY IN VOICES EVENT, BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN BLACK AND ASIAN COMMUNITIES 5-7 p.m. Joyale Seafood Restaurant, Seattle (Also a virtual event) Free admission with proof of vaccination nwasianweekly.com
29 SEATTLE ASIAN ART MUSEUM 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Seattle Asian Art Museum Free admission Advanced registration required volunteerparktrust.org/event/ saam-free-fridays/all/
ASIA PACIFIC CULTURAL CENTER’S 25TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION 5:30 p.m. Greater Tacoma Convention Center asiapacificculturalcenter.org
26 SEATTLE ASIAN ART MUSEUM FREE FIRST FRIDAY 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Seattle Asian Art Museum Free admission Advanced registration required volunteerparktrust.org/ event/saam-free-fridays/all
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The only weekly English-language newspaper serving Washington’s Asian community. The NW Asian Weekly has one simple goal: “To empower the Asian community.” The Editorial Board reserves the right to reject any advertisement, letter or article. Subscriptions cost $40 for 52 weeks of the NW Asian Weekly and $30 for 52 weeks of the Seattle Chinese Post. The NW Asian Weekly owns the copyright for all its content. All rights reserved. No part of this paper may be reprinted without permission. 412 Maynard Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98104 • t. 206.223.5559 editor@nwasianweekly.com • ads@nwasianweekly.com • www.nwasianweekly.com
YOUR VOICE
■ AT THE MOVIES
SEPTEMBER 11 – SEPTEMBER 17, 2021
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“Shang-Chi” blends action, authority, and authenticity
By Andrew Hamlin NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Simu Liu, who stars as Shang-Chi, was born in China, immigrated to Canada as a child, got a business degree, and worked as an accountant before getting laid off. He then set his sights on acting. Awkwafina, who plays Katy, Shang-Chi’s best friend (and possibly more), grew up halfChinese and half-Korean in Queens, New York, studied classical music and jazz, then leapt to fame by rapping about various intimate body parts. The two actors might seem like a strange pairing. But that’s okay, since their two characters seem a strange pairing, and the entire film, the latest addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, staggers along on mismatched segments. Currently playing local theaters, the final result could’ve played stronger with its comedy better blended with its action, and the deeply plaintive motivations driving the plot. It succeeds well enough, on the durability of its characters, and its themes. The Shang-Chi character dates to late 1973, created for Marvel by writer Steve Englehart and artist Jim Starlin, both white. The movie, much to the credit of its studio honchos, puts Asian faces both in front of and behind the camera. Half-Japanese director Destin Daniel Creston helms the project, and he co-wrote the script with Chinese American Daniel Callaham, and Andrew Lanham. The movie begins with some backstory, a trip through the backstory of Xu Wenwu (played by Tony Leung), who fell so deeply in love with an enchanted lady fighter, Ying Li (Fala Chen), that they both agreed to give up magic, to raise children. The story may or may not be just a fable told by Ying Li to her children, though. The present-day narrative finds Shang-Chi and Katy parking cars for a living. Katy endures her nagging family,
who insists she should make something better of herself. Shang-Chi, who goes by the Americanized moniker “Shaun,” prefers not to discuss his family. And they might have kept on their merry way, making just enough money for rent, food, booze, and their beloved karaoke, if not for the supernatural world, filled with
fighters, monsters, mythical creatures, and even a fasttalking Wenwu imposter (Sir Ben Kingsley, in one of the film’s better comic turns). Soon Shaun is Shang-Chi once more, off to find his estranged sister Xu Xialing (newcomer Meng’er Zhang, in a dynamic turn that should make her a star in her own right). Michelle Yeoh also shows up, lending her own quiet power, dignity, and fighting chops to the soup. Considered as its component parts, the whole works well enough. I laughed when I was supposed to laugh, pondered when I was supposed to ponder, and misted up at a few plaintive points. Liu and Awkwafina share a chemistry which propels them through the action but leaves them vulnerable, and believable, in the quieter and funnier moments. Leung, tasked with playing tough, confident, and ruthless, then totally undone by weaknesses he never saw coming, manages those changes with the ease, and the depth, of the old pro he is. Another trip through the word processor might have helped the overall structure, though. Large globs of the funny stuff pile up, then an abrupt change to action. After 20 minutes or so of all-in, it’s time to get serious. No deal breakers in this swirl, but more smoothing out and mixing could have helped. The Ten Rings themselves made their debut in the very first Marvel Cinematic Universe film, 2008’s “Iron Man.” “Iron Man 3,” released in 2013, found Kingsley cast as the fake version of Wenwu (although Kingsley, oddly enough, is half-Indian). Those diversions worked tolerably well, but how satisfying to see a whole narrative displayed with confidence, authority, and the authenticity of Asian faces. Andrew can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.
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39 YEARS
SEPTEMBER 11 – SEPTEMBER 17, 2021
■ PUBLISHER’S BLOG Learning to live with Covid and thrive By Assunta Ng NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Last summer, I had predicted life would be back to normal by this September. I had imagined myself traveling on a Nile cruise, being mesmerized by the pyramids, sipping a glass of freshlysqueezed orange juice, and celebrating that the virus is under control. But I was wrong. Not only has Covid not been defeated, it is very much alive with all kinds of variants. The number of deaths and infections have climbed lately. Hospitals are now fully occupied with Covid patients on ventilators and medical professionals who are exhausted. They have begged people to wear masks and get vaccinated because the hospitals are overwhelmed. Stuck at home and going nowhere, I have every reason to be upset. I have every right to be mad at those who are anti-mask and spread fake theories about vaccines. I should, but I choose not to. The storm that was once inside me had subsided months ago. I am not about to give in to the virus or to be affected by those who are insane. It is easier said than done. But I am practiced at looking at bad news from a distance and not letting it affect me. Make use of the pandemic to pursue better things in life. I told my staff member Nancy about this blog topic. “But you have written about this before,” she said, “how to make good use of the pandemic.” “There is a difference,” I explained. “I wrote earlier with the assumption that the virus is going to end soon. Now, it looks like Covid will be here for a while.” My new philosophy is, we have to teach ourselves to live with uncertainties for a while. How do we embrace ambivalence without feeling lost? I don’t have all the answers. But I can share with you some of my coping mechanisms.
Accept the inevitable
It’s obvious that masks will be here for a while, even after Covid is over. Get used to it, even if you hate masks. Stay away from people who don’t wear masks. There are other undesirable trends, such as social distancing. If there are crowds, you should have your mask on. I didn’t believe in masks at the beginning of Covid. It’s now recognized as a tool to save lives, and can make the difference between life and death. Masks are now my companion. To make it fun, I even bought fashionable masks, some with sparkling fake diamonds and customized
masks to match my outfits. The other issue is vaccines. We may need to get vaccinated every year. I don’t mind that either. I am glad none of my family members have objected to vaccines. This is a contentious topic among families, friends, and co-workers in the workplace. For some businesses, the office has become obsolete. Representing our image, success, and hard work, the Northwest Asian Weekly’s office has been graced by visits from governors and many elected officials, and Olympians such as Apollo Ohno and Michelle Kwan. Now, it’s closed and visitors are not welcome. Some people might be sad at how Covid destroyed everything. Yet, I am content because we have accomplished the impossible. Our office is merely a symbol of our success, it doesn’t show our real work. I am more proud that my team is able to pull together a product every week without fail—a fresh issue of the Asian Weekly and Seattle Chinese Post, in print and online, throughout the pandemic and without coming into the office.
Remote work has given our freelance writers the freedom to work on their other jobs. The flexibility has allowed my people to fulfill their dreams. My editor Ruth has traveled more than ever before. So far, she has already made 10 trips, including Hawaii, Mexico (twice), Jamaica, California (numerous times), Michigan, and Las Vegas (twice). As long as you have a laptop and internet connection, you can work from anywhere in the world. One time, she even covered a local candidate’s Zoom press conference from Mexico. The fact is, the pandemic has given us choices and the benefit of “time.” Through remote work, we save a lot of time so we can take care of other essential things in our daily lives. In the past, procrastination was my way of dealing with essential tasks, and I even pretended those tasks didn’t exist. With fewer distractions at home than in the office, my employees and I get a lot more done than before.
Reframe our perspectives
The good side of the pandemic
Our country is facing many crises, and my inconvenience is small compared to those who are suffering from the virus and Covid-related tragedies, and those who have been impacted by the recent calamities. First, close to a million people in Louisiana have no power, water, and gas because of Hurricane Ida. Countless people watched in horror as their homes vanished overnight, and are now stranded in shelters. What a mess it was in the aftermath. Added to their tragedy is the oppressive heat of close to 100º in Louisiana. And here we are in the Greater Seattle area, as we have escaped natural
The pandemic has led to innovations by nonprofit organizations, as I wrote last week. It has trained us to be flexible and resourceful. What can we do to make the best out of this Covid chaos? At the beginning of the pandemic, I didn’t think the Northwest Asian Weekly could survive. But we kept going, seizing every opportunity we could from grants to loans. We produced more special issues than before the pandemic. We created opportunities when there wasn’t much to begin with. It was just an idea and we were able to create each issue from scratch to something beautiful. These opportunities existed only because of the pandemic. For us, we don’t require our employees to have office hours as long as they can get their work done. What guides us every week to publish on time is our deadline. It’s amazing that our employees and writers have rarely missed their deadlines. Their resourcefulness and sense of responsibility to get the job done, no matter what obstacles they face, won us an impressive number of journalism awards during the height of the pandemic.
disasters like hurricanes and wildfires in Nevada and California. Our temperature has been wonderful in the 70s, pleasant, warm, and sunny. When I looked out the window last week, the sky was clear blue with heavenly, wavy clouds. It was quite a sight. Compared to Louisianans, who are forced to deal with fierce hurricanes year after year and contemplating moving away, we Seattleites have been more than blessed. Our weather has been dry lately, and I wish we had some rain. Then I watched network news and saw the rainstorms on the East Coast last week. It flooded many cities and killed a number of people. I called my cousin living in New Jersey. “Cousin, are you okay?” I asked. “Yes,” he said. “It rained so hard for six days that my office had to shut down. It has no power. We haven’t been going anywhere because of Covid, not just because of the rain.” Wow, it’s wonderful that I am able to walk in a park every day, enjoying the late summer weather. And my cousin isn’t even grumbling. What’s important to him is that his family is safe at home,
everyone has been vaccinated, and they all have jobs. After hanging up the phone, I just told myself, “Life is still good…I am so fortunate.”
Stop blaming
It’s okay to rant from time to time. But don’t waste too much time in hateful and useless thoughts because it will make you depressed. Spending your time in constructive thinking and action is good therapy. What are constructive actions? Thinking about what you can do for others is the beginning for constructive thoughts and actions. It doesn’t take a lot to light up someone’s day. The other day, I saw someone cleaning the streets in the Chinatown-International District (CID). It’s so filthy, I pity those cleaners. So my husband and I gave them $2. They were so happy and their smiles were big. So far, we have given to five cleaners. If you don’t want to give them money, just say, “Thank you for your work.” It shows that you recognize their contributions. Try to understand other people and their motives. You don’t have to win every argument. I usually don’t argue or criticize friends who have already made up their mind. I listen and respect their views, but I stick with my beliefs. You may share Dr. Jill Biden’s words in an essay for Time magazine when talking to those who are against vaccines. “We must remember that our enemy is the virus, not one another.” I have learned that every person has their strengths and weaknesses. Just let me learn their merits and I am the ultimate winner. You don’t have to win every battle. Also, you have a choice and you don’t have to be friends with everyone.
Improve your quality of life
I have written about self-care before. And it’s useful to remind everyone to use your time wisely for better health. With remote work, we have gained the “gift of time” to exercise, take breaks, eat regularly, and sleep well. While working in the office, I never remember to keep myself hydrated. But at home, I get up after working every half an hour for a sip of water, stretching, eating a snack, or listening to some music. My body is much less stressed these days. Before Covid, I shopped once or twice a week. What I ate was not usually fresh. I aimed for convenience instead of my health. Now, I shop for fresh produce, see BLOG on 11
SEPTEMBER 11 – SEPTEMBER 17, 2021
YOUR VOICE
■ SPORTS
asianweekly northwest
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The Layup Drill
AP Photo/John Locher
AGE SHOWS IN PACQUIAO LOSS
AP Photo/Frank Franklin II
OSAKA LEADS IN PAY, FALTERS ON COURT
Manny Pacquiao getting hit by Yordenis Ugas in a welterweight championship boxing match on Aug. 21.
Manny Pacquiao returned to the ring two years after his last appearance. He was set to fight top contender Errol Spence, Jr. in August, but an eye injury caused Spence to withdraw. Wanting to keep the date and fight, Pacquiao took on Cuban Yordenis Ugas, who was scheduled to fight on the undercard but stepped up to be in the main event. Unfortunately for Pacquiao, Ugas was a much bigger opponent than Spence, with better reach to keep Pacquiao’s flurry of punches at bay. In the end, Ugas dominated the bout with Pacquiao looking
Leylah Fernandez and Naomi Osaka shake hands after Fernandez defeated Osaka on Sept. 3.
Tennis star Naomi Osaka is the highestpaid female athlete ever, according to a recent report by Forbes. The 23-year-old has earned $37.4 million in the last 12 months from prize money and endorsements—$1.4 million more than Serena Williams, the previous high-water mark for women’s
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pay. Osaka is touted as one of the most marketable athletes in the world. She has used her platform to speak out on civil rights and mental health. Osaka has had a tumultuous summer as she pulled out of the French Open and Wimbledon to focus on her mental health. However, she returned to Tokyo for the Olympics and lit the Olympic flame at the opening ceremonies. As she represented Japan in the Summer Games in tennis, she lost in the early rounds of the tournament and did not medal. Osaka returned to competitive play at the U.S. Open this September, but was ousted in an upset in the third round to 18-year-old Filipino Canadian Leylah Fernandez. With her loss, Osaka spoke to the media and indicated that she may take an extended time off from the sport. JEREMY LIN LANDS IN HOSPITAL
Former NBA basketball star Jeremy Lin is out of the hospital after contracting COVID-19. He became infected despite being fully vaccinated. Lin was traveling back to China from the United States and tested positive while he was in quarantine. Lin played for the Golden States Warriors’ G League affiliate this season in an attempt to return to the NBA. His playing career is currently up in the air, although he indicated that he would return to China to play. In a social media post on Aug. 9, Lin pleaded for others to get the vaccine. While he first indicated that the symptoms were mild, Lin spent 30 days in a Chinese hospital combating COVID-19. On Sept. 2,, he posted on social media that he had tested negative and thanked the frontline workers in China who “live in the hospital for
a month at a time without leaving or seeking family and quarantine for 14 days before goin (sic) home.” SOCCER TEAM POSTS RACIST PICTURE
Twitter snapshot
Welcome to another edition of The Layup Drill. This month, we take a look at a variety of news involving Manny Pacquiao, Naomi Osaka, and Jeremy Lin.
slower and affected by the continued jabs and counterpunching of Ugas. Ugas won by unanimous decision. At the end of the fight, Pacquiao was not sure if he’d return to boxing. At age 42, Pacquiao did not look like the same boxer that entered the ring two years prior. While Pacquiao has a political career and the possibility of becoming the president of the Philippines, a couple days after the fight, he was more willing to return to the ring. “In my heart, I want to continue to fight,” Pacquiao told Sports Illustrated.
From Jeremy Lin’s social media
By Jason Cruz NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY
Italian soccer club Juventus apologized after a tweet was posted on its women’s team’s official account, showing a player drawing back their eyes with their fingers while wearing a red training cone on her head. The post also included emojis that mimicked the eye-pulling gesture. The social media post was taken down after over 20 minutes of it being live. It received backlash for “blatant racism.” The team apologized for the tweet, but did not respond to questions as to why and how the picture was allowed to be posted. This is not the only time that a team has posed with racially insensitive overtones toward Asians. In 2008, Spain’s Olympic basketball team all posed with their fingers near their eyes to mock Asians in a promotional photo. Pau Gasol, an NBA basketball player, apologized for the pose and stated that it was not supposed to be offensive but funny. GOLD MEDALIST LEE PICKED TO COMPETE ON DANCING WITH THE STARS With the victory, come the spoils. Olympic gold medalist gymnast Suni Lee will be starting her college career at Auburn University this year. It is expected that she will take advantage of the new rules allowing collegiate athletes to profit off of their name, image, and likeness. see LAYUP DRILL on 10
A unique breathtaking experience of light and music with four identical 35-minute shows every hour. When: Friday, Sept 10
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Celebrate Black Lives Matter Festival Outdoor festival of local Black art, music, and talent. When: Saturday, Sept 18
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Welcome Back Week Outdoor Concert Dance in the grass as you enjoy live outdoor music from local artists at our Welcome Back Week Finale event! When: Sunday, Sept 19 Where: Seattle Center Mural Amphitheatre Scan this QR code or visit seattle.gov/COVIDrecovery for more information on all the events.
KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON NOTICE TO BIDDERS Sealed bids will be received by the King County Procurement Services Section through the County’s E-Procurement system for the following listed bids. Instructions on how to submit a bid electronically, view any current bid opportunities, express interest, communicate with the Buyer via Message app and/or successfully submit a bid through the E-Procurement system prior, and more are provided on the County’s website: https://kingcounty.gov/procurement/registration King County encourages minority business enterprise participation. King County does not discriminate on the basis of disability in its programs, services, and employment opportunities for persons with disabilities. KC000323 OPENS: 10/12/2021 Snow Removal Equipment
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asianweekly northwest
SEPTEMBER 11 – SEPTEMBER 17, 2021
■ NATIONAL NEWS Marvel’s ‘Shang-Chi’ jabs, flips Asian American film cliches By TERRY TANG and MARCELA ISAZA ASSOCIATED PRESS LOS ANGELES (AP) — Like a lot of Asian actors, Simu Liu has played the nameless guy who can do martial arts but inevitably loses out to a more skilled white guy. It was one of his very first stunt jobs. “Yeah, I took my paycheck and I went home. I didn’t really complain about it,” said the Chinese-Canadian actor. “But then, you look at the bigger picture and you look at the opportunities that are available to Asian performers. You see that yeah, past a certain point, there really isn’t that deeper representation.” Now, it’s Liu’s time to take out baddies and be No. 1 on the call sheet. He is taking on the titular role in Marvel Studios’ first Asian-led superhero flick, “Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings.” The highly anticipated movie has all the bells and whistles of a Marvel tentpole—huge fight sequences, dizzying stunts and sweeping locales. While Shang-Chi can high-fly kick and punch any opponent, is the “master of kung fu” powerful enough to make Hollywood finally bury tired story tropes and support projects by actors and filmmakers of Asian descent? The movie, directed and written by Asian Americans, centers on trained assassin Shang-Chi trying to live an ordinary life in San Francisco. Awkwafina and comedian Ronny Chieng also star. The original comic book was inspired by the popular ’70s kung fu films. It pays homage to those but also strives to bring humanity outside of the action. Liu, known for the sitcom “Kim’s Convenience,” won the role for his acting chops, not karate chops. “It’s his comedy. It’s his ability to show simultaneous strength and vulnerability,” said director Destin Daniel Cretton. “It’s his humanity that breaks stereotypes.” The martial arts movie genre has been a double-edged sword for Asian Americans
for decades. Bruce Lee, who was born in San Francisco, is credited with bringing Hong Kong kung fu films to non-Asian audiences because of his jaw-dropping martial arts prowess. But for many Asian American males, it’s still an unfortunate rite of passage to be mockingly called Bruce Lee or Jackie Chan or asked about knowing karate. “When I moved over to California from Hawaii, it was the first time that just a random person in a bar just, you know, lightly and jokingly called me Bruce Lee,” Cretton said. “I love Bruce Lee. He is awesome. The only problem is that’s all we had.” In fact, a national survey commissioned by nonprofit Leading Asian Americans to Unite for Change in the spring found 42% of 2,766 adults polled could not name a current famous Asian American. The next two most popular responses? Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee. Phil Yu, who comments on Asian American pop culture on his longtime “Angry Asian Man” blog, also co-hosts a podcast, “They Call Us Bruce.” Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan themselves were never the problem, he said. It was the way Hollywood ran with the formula. “It does feel like martial arts, the concept as it’s been distorted through a Western lens, is used to pigeonhole us, to make us
39 YEARS
about a young Asian immigrant who shuns his father’s wishes to live his own life in America. “Shang-Chi” is the latest in a cluster of martial arts-theme productions with Asian actors front and center. “Snake Eyes,” with “Crazy Rich Asians” star Henry Golding and based on the “G.I. Joe” character, opened in July. That movie also starred Andrew Koji, who is the lead in the HBO Max series “Warrior.” “Shang-Chi” comes at a time when Asian Americans are looking for escapism but also to feel more visible. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Asians and Asian Americans have been targets of racebased verbal and physical assault because the virus was first reported in China. All the actors in “Shang-Chi” have used their platform to speak out or donate money. Like rom-com “Crazy Rich Asians” three years ago, “Shang-Chi” has more pressure than most of its fellow MCU movies. It’s that pressure that somehow the future of Asian-led projects is tied to box office success. “We’re always seen as the ‘other,’” said Jodi Long, who plays Mrs. Chen in the movie. “I just don’t think we’re considered sometimes. I think this movie hopefully will change that because it’s our first Asian superhero. We have a lot of heroes in our Asian American community.”
feel smaller and to mock us,” Yu said. In “Shang-Chi,” “when you have a movie that is nearly all Asian ... or almost every face is Asian, you have room for everyone to serve a different narrative purpose.” Another cliche narrative that persists is the mystical Asian mentor who trains a white protagonist in martial arts. The white pupil then gets to be the savior back home in the U.S. It’s a story that Marvel drew backlash for when, in 2017, they cast a white lead in their “Iron Fist” Netflix series. The “Shang-Chi” team assures that their foray into the Marvel Cinematic Universe is something that speaks to the Asian American experience. The high-octane adventure is ultimately a family drama
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SEPTEMBER 11 – SEPTEMBER 17, 2021
YOUR VOICE HEALTH from 1 this idea of why other people don’t get the vaccine and write them off,” said Joshua Liao, an internal medicine physician at UW Medicine, behavioral scientist, and associate professor at the UW School of Medicine. The issue of vaccination is often more complex, he said, and influenced by specific factors like an individual’s community and preferences. Information dissemination—like where you read your news, someone sharing an opinion on a local or national mandate, or a news article sent to you—can also play a major role in determining someone’s vaccination stance. “There are a lot of reasons why people don’t get the vaccine,” said Liao. “Not all reasons to remain unvaccinated refer to hesitancy. It’s how we disseminate information [about vaccines] that’s important. And hesitancy is not necessarily due to misinformation, but more about how we interpret data based on the community, resources, or environment around us.” Vaccine hesitancy, he said, is more about the perceived barriers that an individual mind creates. “[A position of hesitancy] is a greyer area, which is different from those who have the vaccine, or even people who are definitely not getting it because they believe they’re immune and healthy,” he said. “We’ve heard people say, ‘I’m waiting until it’s fully approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) before getting it.’ I don’t consider that hesitant. This is the posture of someone who plans to get the vaccine when they feel it’s right for them.”
Vaccine conversations among family and friends
“If people get the vaccine, they should externalize it in conversation,” said Liao. For Cheah, who’s 41 years old and based in Olympia, her circle consists of people who have and haven’t gotten vaccinated. Some were required to get it as a prerequisite for work, while other family and friends Sean Li Cheah chose not to and preferred, like Cheah, to rely on their natural antibodies to fight the virus should they contract it. Cheah also had family and friends who tested positive for COVID but recovered without issue. Regardless of their vaccination status, Cheah hasn’t felt pressure from her network to get it. Vaccinated people in her life also haven’t swayed her to reconsider getting the vaccine. She does, however, feel indirect pressure from the state and her broader community. Although Cheah doesn’t work—she’s a stay-at-home mom and teaches piano as a hobby—and acknowledged she doesn’t face the same vaccination mandates that some employers require, indoor mask mandates still encroach on her personal liberties. Social gathering mandates also limit her ability to connect with friends, causing her to feel trapped in what she can and cannot do freely. “I’m worried about being ‘caught,’” she said about not wearing a mask in certain situations. “It’s the wrong worry. I want to go out without a mask and hang out with my friends.”
Based on Liao’s experience, if people know or see someone in their social circle that has gotten the vaccine, it creates salience that isn’t there if people aren’t talking about it. “If these conversations aren’t happening in their social circles, but heard only in the news or from official sources, it’s a big detriment,” said Liao. “We need to encourage people to talk in their communities and natural settings about their personal experiences.”
Evaluating pros and cons
SHANG-CHI from 1
Kumail Nanjiani. Bob Chapek, Disney’s chief executive, earlier called the theatrical release of “Shang-Chi” “an interesting experiment”—a label that Canadian actor Simu Liu, who plays Shang-Chi took exception with. “We are not an experiment,” Liu wrote on Twitter. “We are the underdog; the underestimated. We are the ceiling-breakers. We are the celebration of culture and joy that will persevere after an embattled year.” At the recent exhibitor convention CinemaCon, where some studios pledged faith in the big screen, Disney didn’t make a presentation and instead simply screened “Shang-Chi.” Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, the film is based on a relatively little-known comic and features a largely Asian or Asian American cast, including Tony Leung, Awkwafina, and Michelle Yeoh. Audiences and
rising COVID-19 cases driven by the delta variant. “‘Shang-Chi’ is the ultimate confidence-builder for the theatrical movie industry,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for data firm Comscore. “This was a very important film. This was the first Marvel movie that’s opened exclusively theatrically since ‘Spider-Man: Far From Home’ in July 2019. ‘ShangChi’ is a real testament of the power of a theatrical-first strategy to drive huge numbers of moviegoers to the multiplex.” Disney has so far declined to telegraph its future theatrical intentions, including for its next Marvel movie, “Eternals” (due out Nov. 5) starring Gemma Chan and
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Liao conceded that holding intimate conversations isn’t a silver bullet to resolve vaccine hesitancy or awareness. “I believe it’s always been a multi-pronged approach,” he said. Talking about vaccination with your circle is a crucial component, but we need an array of solutions to encourage vaccinations. For many people, the news and media play a pivotal role in swaying people in a specific direction.
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Cheah believes the media should focus more on calming the public down. “Why isn’t there more media coverage of people who recovered from the virus naturally?” said Cheah. Instead of fear mongering, she said, the media should highlight people who successfully fought the coronavirus with their natural antibodies in addition to promoting how people can stay healthy and build a strong immune system—an essential strategy that she believes will help people fight the virus naturally. Even now that the FDA has approved the Pfizer vaccine, Cheah expressed concern over the potential side effects. “No, I’m still not ready to take the vaccine because of side effects such as heart inflammation, pericarditis, myocarditis, and death. The side effects of the vaccine are greater to me than contracting COVID-19.” She also expressed skepticism over the role of Scott Gottlieb— former FDA commissioner and now on the Pfizer board of directors. When it comes to risk, Liao said people should strive to make appropriate comparisons. “Every time we make a decision, we’re always creating a reference point,” he said. “Vaccination doesn’t completely protect someone from COVID—even vaccinated people can get it,” he said. “But when you stack COVID risks and negatives versus vaccine risks and negatives, [and the protection that vaccines confer,] it’s clear what’s the better choice.” “The problem is that people don’t make that comparison [using that reference point] all the time though—people compare the risks to how they are now. They’re not comparing negatives to negatives. Instead, some people are comparing the positives of not getting the vaccine to the negatives of not getting it.” “The wrong comparison can contribute to hesitancy,” he said. Vivian Nguyen can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com. This health series is made possible by funding from the Washington Department of Health, which has no editorial input or oversight of this content.
critics have heartily endorsed it. It has a 92% fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes and an “A” CinemaScore from moviegoers. The success of “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” came on a typically quiet weekend for Hollywood—one that would never normally feature the premiere of a new Marvel movie. The previous record over Labor Day weekend was $30.6 million for 2007’s “Halloween.” But the pandemic has upended once-orderly release schedules. “Shang-Chi” drove moviegoing overall not to just radically higher levels than the pandemic-marred Labor Day weekend last year, but far above attendance in 2019.
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39 YEARS
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HOUSING from 1 their landlords have decided to sell their properties for greater profits,” said Wong. Parkview Services is the largest nonprofit in the state and one of three agencies in King County that is authorized by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to help homeowners facing foreclosure. They provide one-on-one assistance and work with lenders to modify their loans. Loren Shekell, mortgage default manager, recently hired two Chinese mortgage counselors as a response to the growing demand for AAPI services. Since 2018, the need for Chinese and Korean interpreters has surpassed that for Spanish, said Shekell. But she found that the intricacies of explaining foreclosures and how to work with banks to interpreters took an inordinate amount of time, and oftentimes the interpretation would still be faulty. Shekell consulted with CISC who told her that it was harder for AAPI homeowners to trust someone who didn’t speak their language or come from their culture. “They would often prefer to go to a family member,” she said. So she made the decision to hire AAPI mortgage counselors and train them, understanding that it takes about a year to master the job. Her first hire, a Korean mortgage counselor, was so popular that she soon had 65 LAYUP DRILL from 7 In addition to the numerous sponsorship deals and opportunities, Lee has been chosen to participate on ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars.” The show pairs celebrities with dancers and they are judged every week on their performance.
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clients. Now one third of her team of counselors is AAPI. Their work mostly involves hammering out deals with banks so that homeowners can keep their dwellings, often through extending the repayment term or lowering the interest rate. In some cases, they find rescue grants or loans for their clients. They sometimes work with a client for over a year and a half to find a solution. With the expiration of the federal moratorium on evictions and foreclosures and the end to Covid-related unemployment relief, Shekell is expecting a landslide of new cases on top of the current increase. The recent flurry of AAPIs needing housing assistance underscores the continuing inequities that forestall homeownership by marginalized groups in the first place. Historically, marginalized communities were denied mortgages throughout the 20th century. A particularly grievous example occurred after World War II when the GI Bill promised mortgages to all veterans but ended up stealing the taxes of veterans of color in order to subsidize mortgages for white veterans, helping to build a white middle class, according to the book, “When Affirmative Action was White,” by Columbia University professor Ira Katznelson. Such disparities are exacerbated by the massive increase in housing prices in the Seattle area—which was over 14% this last year, according to Zillow. One client of Parkview, who asked for
anonymity, recently obtained a rescue loan, allowing her to save her condo from a surprise special assessment. She said she felt she was being targeted by her HOA to force her to sell. The condo is near a new light rail station that is fueling a massive increase in housing prices. The rise in housing prices is also forcing immigrants out of their accustomed neighborhoods. “Since immigrants tend to stay in the communities they are familiar with, it becomes more and more challenging for them to remain in those same communities where they have a sense of belonging,” said Wong. Another underlying factor to the crisis is the lack of affordable housing, say social service agencies, which leaves AAPI clients, particularly immigrants, desperate when they need it the most. “The biggest housing challenge for immigrants is lack of immediate affordable housing when people need it the most,” said Wong. “The average wait time for public housing varies from a few years to over 15 years, depending on the location. In addition, with the average home price in the area, it becomes an almost-mission-impossible for our clients to purchase a home in their ideal communities.” Cultural barriers also contribute to housing problems. Shekell said that some small Asian businesses she has encountered have never done
a profit and loss statement. Then, when they find themselves confronting foreclosure from a bank, it becomes difficult to play catch up. Just speaking a different language or not knowing the credit system can make it difficult for immigrants to get home loans, said Wong. As a result of such barriers, particularly the lack of affordable housing, immigrants and other AAPIs often find themselves trapped in desperate situations, such as domestic violence. “Because of the shortage of public or affordable housing, there has been an increase in domestic violence, so there are quite a few victims we serve that are forced to stay with their families or friends,” said Wong.
TRANSGENDER SOCCER PLAYER COMES OUT Japanese professional soccer player Kumi Yokoyama announced they are transgender where they play in the National Women’s Soccer League. The 27-year-old decided to reveal their gender identity while living in the United States. The identity is not legally recognized
in their native Japan. They made the announcement on another teammate’s YouTube channel. They indicated that they would like to live as a man after they finish their soccer career. The statement was praised by President Biden. In addition, their team, the Washington Spirit, announced support. “Thank you for showing the world it’s
ok to embrace who you are!” the team praised in a tweet. Yokoyama prefers the use of “they” and “them” pronouns. Yokoyama played for Japan in the 2019 Women’s World Cup.
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For general housing assistance, contact CISC at: 206-624-5633 or info@cisc-seattle.org If you are struggling making your mortgage payments or need guidance coming out of your forbearance program, contact one of Parkview’s HUD-certified housing counselors at 206-542-6644 or go to https://bit.ly/38OevRx. Mahlon can be contacted at info@nwaweekly.com.
Jason can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.
SOLUTION from SUDOKU on page 4.
SEPTEMBER 11 – SEPTEMBER 17, 2021
YOUR VOICE
■ ASTROLOGY
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Predictions and advice for the week of September 11–17, 2021 By Sun Lee Chang Rat—You are reluctant to add something new to your routine, but a small change could have big benefits.
Dragon—Your position could differ quite significantly from your partner’s. It is important to seek to understand the cause.
Monkey—While you have high hopes that the situation will resolve, there is no harm in planning for a different outcome.
Ox—Have your needs taken a backseat to others lately? Don’t be afraid to put yourself first more often.
Snake—A long search has yielded some promising results. You will know when you have found what you are looking for.
Rooster—If you take the time to ask the question, then by all means make sure to listen to the answer.
Tiger—From a distance, something might look more solid than it actually is. It is prudent to take a closer look.
Horse—Are you too focused on what could go wrong? Give some thought to the potential positive effects as well.
Dog—A recipe is just a starting point. Let your creativity take it to another level entirely.
Rabbit —Even with additional resources, it makes sense to keep track of what you are taking in versus expending.
Goat—Don’t expect others to wait for you indefinitely. There is a time limit beyond which the offer expires.
Pig—Following the same path as everyone else? Instead of assuming they know where they are going, blaze your own trail.
WHAT’S YOUR ANIMAL SIGN? RAT 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020 OX 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021 TIGER 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010 RABBIT 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011 DRAGON 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012 SNAKE 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013 HORSE 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014 GOAT 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015 MONKEY 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016 ROOSTER 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017 DOG 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018 PIG 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019
*The year ends on the first new moon of the following year. For those born in January and February, please take care when determining your sign.
BLOG from 6
or limitations when trying new things.
seafood, and meat every day. My energy is better than it was prepandemic. This is one of my new healthy habits, and I intend to keep it.
Creative living
Challenge my brain
Studies have found that when you do something new every day, you improve your brain. It’s called neuroplasticity. Some suggest learning a new word every day. That is not enough for me. You can challenge yourself to do something more. Instead of studying a word a day, how about memorizing a whole new song? It may take you longer, but it’s great training for your memory. Lately, I have been challenging myself to use my left hand. If you are right-handed like me, and you stop using your left hand, one side of your brain will become dormant. Lately, I have challenged my left hand to do more, including cutting, folding, and cooking. Every day, it gets easier. It’s difficult to eat left-handed with chopsticks or cut my toenails. It’s also rewarding to explore your own capacity
Inspired by articles on creative living, I have changed the way I shop and the products I buy. Skincare products at Nordstrom were my choice before Covid as I loved the samples the salespersons gave me. Now, I’ve changed to counter cosmetics and use a variety of brands. It’s so much more fun to experiment. Do one fun thing a day. My friend just shared with me how fun it was to go bar hopping. She and her relative tried three bars in one night. It’s not my kind of fun. But you can create your own excitement every day outside your home, especially if you have been inoculated. For fun, I volunteered to organize a CID tour for Rotarians, including visiting a boba tea shop and having dinner afterwards. This would support businesses in our community. You can organize your own hikes, karaoke hours, movie nights, lunches, and chess nights with friends or in your neighborhood. You can even go shopping with friends
to search for the most healthy foods in supermarkets or farmers markets. If you have a beautiful garden like my fellow Rotarian, a stunning Dahlia garden, you can invite your friends to come and
cut the flowers. You can develop your own list of fun. Assunta can be reached at assunta@nwasianweekly.com.
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SEPTEMBER 11 – SEPTEMBER 17, 2021
Why get the COVID vaccine now?
”Because after vaccination we can reduce the danger.” “These vaccines all have a scientific basis. It’s to protect yourself and others, and we should work as one. Vaccination is like “killing two birds with one stone”: you can protect yourself, your family, and even all of humanity.” - Alan The COVID vaccine is safe, easy and free. Go to kingcounty.gov/vaccine or scan the QR code to get informed and find a vaccination location near you. If you have a loved one who has questions about the COVID vaccine, talk with them about it. A conversation with you could save their life.
Alan
Chinese Information and Service Center Advisor
KingCounty.gov/vaccine
39 YEARS