PRSRT STD U.S. Postage Paid Permit No. 746 Seattle, WA
VOL 34 NO 43
OCTOBER 17 – OCTOBER 23, 2015
Con-artist CityGuru head faces questions for unpaid debts
COMMUNITY Sleepless in Seattle » P. 9
FREE 33 YEARS YOUR VOICE
Grant supports ethnic businesses
Concern and discussion about $210,000 funds allocation
Photos by John Liu/NWAW
Drew Morrison
By Jason Cruz Northwest Asian Weekly Unpaid vendors, unpaid charities, and unanswered questions. CityGuru founder Drew Morrison is a sought after man but not in a good way after his upscale, socialite party business failed to deliver on its promises. {see MORRISON cont’d on page 15}
Recognized! White House introduces Filipino American History Month
Brian Surratt, director of Economic Development for City of Seattle (left) and Trong Pham, president of Vietnamese Chamber of Commerce
Taylor Hoang
By Peggy Chapman Northwest Asian Weekly
could assist and contribute to the minority business community. EBC, which was formed in Dec. 2014, sent in the RFP Jan. 2015, and was awarded a $210,000 grant. There were nine submissions. EBC, formed by a group of ethnic business owners, spearheaded by Taylor Hoang, owner of Pho Cyclo Café, describes itself as a coalition that “represents immigrant and minority-owned businesses in the Seattle area and provides support services and resources to enhance and sustain business.” The coalition currently offers a website “Ethnic Seattle,” tenant improvements, advocacy work, and offering marketing services. The marketing services including helping businesses
Members of the business community and representatives from the Ethnic Chambers of Commerce, Seattle Metro Chamber of Commerce, and the City of Seattle met with the Ethnic Business Coalition (EBC) at Hing Hay Co-Works Oct. 9 The meeting was arranged in response to an open letter from the Ethnic Chambers of Commerce requesting more information about EBC and a discussion about how the Chambers could contribute. EBC is 501(3) nonprofit organization funded by the City of Seattle Office of Economic Development (OED). The OED sent out a request for proposals (RFP) for organizations who felt they
{see ETHNIC BUSINESSES cont’d on page 15}
UW appoints Cauce as president The University’s first woman and openly gay president
For the first time, the White House marked the presidential recognition of the month of October as Filipino American History Month. On October
It takes 154 years for the University of Washington to select a woman president. Ana Mari Cauce is the first woman, the first Latina, and the openly gay president of the University. The UW Regents announced Cauce as the 33rd president of the University on Oct. 13th. Cauce is known as an insider, beginning her employment as UW faculty since 1986. Cauce became interim president in March 2015, having previously served as provost and executive vice president.
{see FILIPINO MONTH cont’d on page 13}
{see CAUCE cont’d on page 15}
Dr. Dorothy Cordova and Mel Orpilla of FANHS at the White House Celebration of Filipino American History Month
By Ador Pereda Yano Northwest Asian Weekly
Photo by George Liu/NWAW
By Assunta Ng Northwest Asian Weekly
Ana Mari Cauce
The Inside Story NAMES People in the news » P. 2
■
WORLD Nobel Prize winner » P. 4
ON THE SHELF Graphic novels » P. 7
A&E Korla Pandit: Disguise » P. 10
412 Maynard Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98104 • t. 206.223.5559 • f. 206.223.0626 • info@nwasianweekly.com • ads@nwasianweekly.com • www.nwasianweekly.com
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OCTOBER 17 – OCTOBER 23, 2015
■ names in the news Gallardo appointed Interim UW Vice President for Minority
AES open house
University of Washington Interim President Ana Mari Cauce and Interim Provost Jerry Baldasty have appointed Gabriel Gallardo as interim vice president for minority affairs and vice provost for diversity, was effective Aug. 3. Gallardo succeeds Sheila Edwards Lange who accepted the position of Gabriel Gallardo interim president at Seattle Central College. A strong advocate for student success in higher education, Gallardo has served in administrative roles with the UW Office of Minority Affairs and Diversity (OMA&D) for nearly two decades.
Lieu’s statement on becoming the largest immigrant group Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D | Los Angeles) issued the following statement in response to a new Pew Research Center study projecting that Asian Americans will become The United States’ largest immigrant group by 2055. “…Immigrants always have been, and always will be, the Congressman Ted W. Lieu engine that drives our nation forward. From the workers who built our railroads to the actors and actresses who entertain us to the entrepreneurs who start companies, immigrants invigorate and energize our nation. “As an immigrant myself, I wake up every day thanking this remarkable country for inventing and sustaining the American dream. To be an immigrant is to be American.”
Photo by Assunta Ng/NWAW
Asian Counseling and Referral Service (ACRS) held its annual gala, A Culinary Journey, on Saturday, October 3 at The Westin Bellevue. Over 500 community leaders, elected officials, ACRS supporters and volunteers took part in a benefit dinner featuring remarks from U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (WA), client stories and an on-stage cooking demonstration by Chef Melissa King, Top Chef Season 12 Finalist. With Presenting Sponsor Comcast, this year’s gala raised over $200,000 and highlighted stories from and about ACRS clients in their own words.
Honoring Filipino veterans
Dr. Connie So (Senior Lecturer, AES), Dr. LaShawnda Pittman (Assistant Professor, AES), Dr. Juan Guerra (Chair, AES), Dr. Gabriel Gallardo (Interim Vice President, Interim Vice President for Minority Affairs & Vice Provost for Diversity)
The American Ethnic Studies (AES) department at the University of Washington celebrated its 30th anniversary Oct. 12 with an open house. AES houses African American Studies, Asian American Studies and Chicano Studies. Students can major in the three specific areas or be a generalist (comparative American Ethnic Studies). The department was created by the communities of color in Seattle, San Francisco, and Los Angeles during the 1960s Third World Strike. The programs were generally created in 1970. The consolidation of the programs was in 1985.
“A Culinary Journey” at ACRS
Honorees
In recognition of Filipino American History Month, members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), including U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono and Representatives Tulsi Gabbard (HI) and Mark Takai (HI), held a press conference announcing support for legislation awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to Filipino Veterans of World War II. “Filipino World War II veterans served this country with unquestioned loyalty and admirable courage,” said Maj. Gen. Antonio Taguba (Ret), chairman of the Filipino Veterans Recognition and Education Project. “They risked their lives to secure democracy and freedom and ensure a better life for generations of Americans. It’s now America’s turn to thank our brave heroes and recognize their sacrifice and service to this country.”
33 YEARS YOUR VOICE
OCTOBER 17 – OCTOBER 23, 2015
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asianweekly northwest
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OCTOBER 17 – OCTOBER 23, 2015
■ world news
Secret project wins Chinese scientist a Nobel By Didi Tang Associated Press
BEIJING (AP) — The time could not have been more hostile for Chinese scientists. Research came to a virtual halt and intellectuals were routinely persecuted. But Tu Youyou, then a 39-year-old researcher, was summoned to join a secretive military project during the Cultural Revolution to find a cure for malaria for soldiers in North Vietnam. “It was a task given by the government. When you are entrusted with an assignment, you do your best,” said Tu, whose husband was then serving time in a re-education labor camp for intellectuals. Indeed, she did well. In 1971, Tu successfully extracted a substance from sweet wormwood that was an effective cure for the tropical disease and, 44 years later, received a Nobel Prize in medicine for it this week. She is the first Chinese scientist to win a Nobel Prize in science for work done in China and the first Chinese woman to win any Nobel Prize. The unusual circumstances aside, the isolation of the anti-malarial substance, artemisinin, like most scientific discoveries, resulted from a huge amount of trial and error, Tu recalled in an interview with The
Tu Youyou
Associated Press on Wednesday. “Before I joined the team, lots of work was done but nothing was found,” said Tu, who had been trained in both Western and traditional Chinese medicine and joined the secret group, Project 523, in 1969. Set up in 1967 and named for the date it was created, the project aimed to find a cure for malaria in North Vietnam, which was at war with South Vietnam and the United States and was losing its soldiers to the disease. By
then, some types of malaria had developed resistance to the drug chloroquine. For two years, Tu and her team investigated hundreds of possible treatments for malaria mentioned in ancient Chinese texts. When the team moved to the sweet wormwood, they had to figure out what part of the plant and which stage of its growth might provide an active compound. Attempts at extraction using hot water and ethanol were unsuccessful, but Tu drew inspiration from the fourth century pharmacist Ge Hong, who — in a short line of text — suggested soaking a handful of wormwood in water and then drinking the juice to treat malaria. “It occurred to me that high temperatures could have destroyed the (anti-malaria) activity,” said Tu, who switched to using ether at lower temperatures to extract the active ingredient. That was a crucial step in eventually identifying artemisinin, say Louis Miller and Xinzhuan Su, two researchers at the U.S. National Institutes of Health who grew curious about who should be credited with discovering artemisinin when Miller received no answer to the question at a scientific meeting in Shanghai in 2007. The two then delved into the history of the discovery of artemisinin and concluded Tu should get the major credit.
Tu brought the plant into the project, discovered the low-temperature method for extraction, conducted the first human trial, and was involved in determining its molecular structure, Su said of their findings after reviewing files, including classified documents. “You can see a line, very clear, of her work from the beginning to the end,” Su said. By then, Tu had been recognized in China as a discoverer of artemisinin, but usually as part of a team. “All honor goes to the team, and such is China,” said Tu. She appeared light-hearted on Wednesday about having been snubbed for membership by the prestigious Chinese Academy of Sciences. Although the Chinese public is celebrating her award, the international recognition comes as a slight to China’s science establishment, which excluded Tu from the country’s elite circle of scientists, prompting the partyrun People’s Daily to question whether the process of induction into the academy is fair. “I don’t want to talk about it anymore. I don’t want to apply anymore,” Tu said. “Let it be that I am not a member of the academy.”
AP science writer Malcolm Ritter in New York contributed to this report.
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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 $30 for 52 weeks of the NW Asian Weekly and $25 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 info@nwasianweekly.com • ads@nwasianweekly.com • www.nwasianweekly.com
33 YEARS YOUR VOICE
The annual election for the International Special Review District (ISRD) Board is a little over a month away. There are three positions open this year: One position open for a Business Person, Property Owner or Employee and two positions open for a Resident, Tenant or Community Participant. Date of the election: Tuesday, November 17, from 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Election location: Bush Asia Hotel, IDEA Space meeting room (409 Maynard Avenue S., basement level) The deadline to register to vote is Friday, October 16. The deadline to nominate a candidate is Tuesday, October 20. Copies of the election notice, registration and nomination forms can be downloaded from the ISRD website at: htt p://seattle.gov/neighborhoods/ preservation/id.htm. A copy of the Board election procedures is available by request. Forms must be received by the dates listed above. Mailing address: Department of Neighborhoods PO Box 94649, Seattle, WA 98124-4649 Submit in person: Seattle Municipal Tower, 700 5th Avenue, Suite 1700 (17th fl.). In order to vote on November 17th, voters must be registered at least thirty
(30) days prior to the election. Once you are registered, you do not need to register again unless you have moved or your voter category has changed. To confirm your registration status or request a voter registration form, please contact the Board Coordinator at the number below. The special character of the Chinatown/ International District is recognized and protected by City Ordinance. In 1973, the International Special Review District Board was created to preserve, protect and enhance the cultural, economic, and historical qualities of the area and, in particular, its unique Asian character. The Board reviews both changes to individual businesses and changes that may impact the entire district. To preserve this special character, the ISRD Board must review and approve all uses including use of the public sidewalks, new construction, and changes to building exteriors within the district, including signs or new paint colors or security gates, before installation or construction. The Board is comprised of seven members, five elected by the community and two appointed by the Mayor. Board members serve two-year terms.
OCTOBER 17 – OCTOBER 23, 2015
Additional information about the ISRD can be found at: http://www.seattle.gov/ neighborhoods/preservation/id.htm.
Photo by John Liu/NWAW
■ briefly Committed to the Chinatown power community? outage affects Nominate and vote for the ISRD businesses
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A power outage hit Chinatown International District on its busy hours last Sunday lunch from noon to after 6 p.m. Several blocks were affected including S. King St., Jackson St., Weller, Maynard Ave. S., and 12th Ave. S. At least 50 businesses were closed during the outage; some opened later when power resumed. Businesses closed during the outage included Uwajimaya, Shanghai Garden
Restaurant, Jade Garden Restaurant, Mongolian Hot Pot, Mike’s Noodle House and many other restaurants. Despite the outage, some business remained open such as Yummy Bakery, A Piece of Cake, and others. The cause of outage was due to equipment failure, according to the Seattle City Light website. About 3000 locations (households and businesses) suffered from the power outage.
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OCTOBER 17 – OCTOBER 23, 2015
■ COMMUNITY calendar THU 10/15 WHAT: King County Assessor’s Office to demo new community data portal WHERE: Hing Hay CoWorks, 409B Maynard Ave. S., Seattle WHEN: 3:30-4:30 p.m. INFO: 206-296-7300
FRI 10/16 WHAT: SCIDPDA 40th Anniversary Party WHERE: Wing Luke Museum, 719 S. King St., Seattle WHEN: 5:30 p.m. RSVP: scidpda.org/newsevents/40th-anniversarycelebration
WHEN: 1-4 p.m. DONATION: $5 INFO: restoringthelight.com
TUE 10/20 WHAT: “Immigration and Nationality Records Review” WHERE: Seattle Public Library, 1000 Fourth Ave., Level 4, Washington Mutual Foundation Meeting Room 1 WHEN: 7-8:30 p.m. INFO: 206-386-4636 WHAT: Women Entrepreneurs Fall Fireside Chat WHERE: Hing Hay Coworks, 409B Maynard Ave. S., Seattle WHEN: 5:30-8 p.m.
SAT 10/17
THU 10/22
WHAT: Ethnic Heritage Council Workshops WHERE: South Bellevue Community Center, 14509 SE Newport Way, Bellevue WHEN: 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. REGISTER: info@ ethnicheritagecouncil.org by October 15
WHAT: “Fateful Ties: A History of America’s Preoccupation with China” WHERE: UW, Ethnic Cultural Center WHEN: 5:30-6:30 p.m. COST: Free INFO: 206-543-5401
WHAT: Documentary Screening, “Restoring the Light and The Search for General Tso” WHERE: Rainier Valley Cultural Center, 3515 S. Alaska St., Seattle
WHAT: Poetry Reading and Experimental Music Performance WHERE: Purlieu Hall, International District, 102 S. Jackson St., Seattle WHEN: 7 p.m.
THU 10/22 THRU SUN 10/25 WHAT: Free medical, dental and vision care WHERE: KeyArena, 401 First Ave. N., Seattle INFO: seattlecenter.org/ patients
TUE 10/27 WHAT: U.S. and the Rise of Asia, a program in celebration of the career of Kenneth B. Pyle WHERE: UW, Kane Hall 225, Seattle WHEN: 3:30-5:30 p.m.
WED 10/28 WHAT: Sunset on Third Street, the second of a 2-part series of Japanese movies in collaboration with the Consulate-General of Japan in Seattle WHERE: Seattle Keiro, 1601 E. Yesler Way, Seattle WHEN: 2 p.m. RSVP: lasami@ nikkeiconcerns.org, 206-7266501 WHAT: Union Jobs Fair WHERE: South Seattle College, Georgetown Campus, 6737 Corson Ave. S., Seattle WHEN: 4-8 p.m.
33 YEARS YOUR VOICE
■ on the shelf
OCTOBER 17 – OCTOBER 23, 2015
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Fantasy, story, and history through graphic novels
By Samantha Pak Northwest Asian Weekly
Just So Happens
By Fumio Obata Harry N. Abrams, 2015 Yumiko lives in London but she was born in Japan. It has been many years since she left Japan and she has established a new life in England: She has a good job at a successful design firm and has a gallery show of her art, friends, and a good man she plans to marry. Things are going well for Yumiko until one day, her brother calls her with the news that their father has died. Still in a state of shock, Yumiko travels back to Tokyo. Upon her arrival she finds herself thrown back in a culture that has seemed so far away for so long. From the different rituals she and her family perform as part of her father’s funeral, to the motions she goes through from day to day as part of Japanese life, Yumiko begins to question where she really belongs — Japan or England. In addition, Yumiko must also find a way to deal with all of the things she has left unsaid and never shared with her father. While “Just So Happens” is mostly a story about a young woman dealing with her father’s death, it also explores themes of identity and familial pressure as we
discover how much courage it really took for Yumiko to move to London and pursue her dreams. Not only was she moving to another country — where she knew nobody — she was also moving away from her family to start a career they did not exactly approve. “Just So Happens” is a graphic novel with a complex story and Obata is able to tell it with a minimal use of words. The real story is in his artwork. From the devastation we see on Yumiko’s face when her father’s death finally hits her, to the scenes of a
bustling London or peaceful Japanese pagoda, readers are able to get a true sense of Yumiko’s life as it stands. We feel her sadness, her confusion and her loneliness.
Ms. Marvel Volume 1: No Normal Written by Willow Wilson, Illustrated by Adrian Alphona Marvel, 2014
In this first installment of Marvel’s “Ms. Marvel” reboot, we meet Kamala Khan, a 16-year-old Pakistani American girl from
Jersey City who is obsessed with and idolizes Captain Marvel — the original Ms. Marvel, Carol Danvers. As this marks the beginning of Kamala’s adventures as a superheroine, we see how she first receives her superpowers: A weird and mysterious fog blankets her hometown one night and all of a sudden, she’s able to change her appearance and size. We also see Kamala’s first act of heroism as she saves one of her classmates from drowning. {see SHELF cont’d on page 15}
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OCTOBER 17 – OCTOBER 23, 2015
■ community NEWS
Honoring dreamers
Visionaries with ground-breaking ideas and efforts
At one point, the stage, filled with Asia Pacific Cultural Center (APCC) members and supporters dressed in various traditional Asian and Pacific Islander dress, mirrored the packed, top-floor banquet room at China Harbor Restaurant alongside Seattle’s Lake Union. KING 5 and Northwest Cable News anchor Sula Kim, the event’s master of ceremony, greeted attendees to the Northwest Asian Weekly and Northwest Asian Weekly Foundation’s Visionary Award Gala on Oct. 9. The event honored eight individuals, such as Aegis Living founder and CEO Dwayne Clark and University of Washington’s Business and Economic Development Center founding director Michael Verchot, for their creative ideas and professional accomplishments. It also recognized two local, trailblazing organizations. “Tonight, we are honoring dreamers,” said Assunta Ng, owner and publisher of the Northwest Asian Weekly and Seattle Chinese Post. “They dream about the impossible.” Similar to Seattle’s jazz-club scene in the 1940s, Chera Amlag and Geo Quibuyen’s talent for blending hip-hop, spoken-word performance art, and community organizing carry on the city’s tradition of improvisation. As co-owners of the monthly pop-up restaurant, Food & Sh*t, they’ve expanded
Photo by George Liu/NWAW
By James Tabafunda Northwest Asian Weekly
From left: APCC Executive Director Lua Pritchard, Bernie Louie, Patsy O’Connell, Lorraine Yu, Sarah Baker, Ravi Ramineni, Dwayne Clark, Chera Amlag, Geo Quibuyen, OCA President Jacqueline Wu, Angelo Salgado, Michael Verchot
their passion to include creating Filipino American food and offering desserts online at the Hood Famous Bakeshop. Sarah Baker has a passion for bringing communities of color together and more recently, the parents, friends, and family of lesbian, gay, and transgender Asians and Pacific Islanders. The North Seattle College student body president and president-elect of the Seattle
chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League said, “Putting together an Asian Pacific Islander LGBTQ conference did not require courage. It required a blind sense of determination.” “Individuals living their lives in silence because they don’t have support from their family or community, that takes courage. Hearing these stories inspires me to make a difference.”
She said, “By forming bonds and creating stronger communities, we can and will change the world.” As founder and president of Sirius 6, Lorraine Yu started her consulting business in 2009 and has built it into a multimillion dollar company. It now provides brand advocacy, training, and a Learning {see VISIONARY cont’d on page 12}
33 YEARS YOUR VOICE
OCTOBER 17 – OCTOBER 23, 2015
■ community news
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Sleepless in Seattle warms street corners
Following its initial success last year, Sleepless in Seattle is planning to deliver more sleeping bags and care packages this year to the homeless community in the hopes to warm up the city’s street corners. Led by its 24-year-old founder Eddie Wang, the team aims to raise $75,000 between now and Nov. 6 through an Indiegogo crowdsourcing campaign as well as corporate donations to support its “Big Give” event on Nov. 21. “One common misconception about homeless people is that they are unapproachable,” Wang said. “In personally initiating conversation with hundreds of homeless people over the years, I’ve found the vast majority of these encounters to be positive experiences.” Inspired by his experience working with the homeless community as a social work major at the University of Washington, Wang started Sleepless in Seattle in 2014 shortly after he graduated from the university. The mission of the organization is to bring together a team of volunteers to care for the immediate needs of homeless persons in King County through the use of sleeping bags, while raising the awareness on the challenges faced by the homeless communities. “I realized that my job is not to judge but to simply show compassion,” said Wang who makes an effort to talk and share meals with the homeless people in his free time. “He (a young homeless man) mentioned that he’d gone through 20
Photo provided by Eddie Wang
By Jocelyn Moore Northwest Asian Weekly
... with more than sleeping bags
Volunteers help distribute sleeping bags
foster home placements by the time he was 18. If I had gone through 20 foster home placements, there would be no chance I could’ve integrated myself as a ‘functioning member’ of society—let alone graduate college and reach any of the other traditional milestones we associate with success.” Ben Nilsen initially started working with Wang last year on some video project s for the launch of the campaign. He said his involvement as a videographer has completely changed his thinking on the homeless community and has developed a
genuine desire to help them. “This was a new thing for me, and so at first it was awkward and uncomfortable, to be honest,” said the 20-year-old Nilsen. “Some of them didn’t want to be filmed. We just asked for permission and most were fine with it when we told them what we were doing.” Nilsen said he met Wang through a mutual friend from church and did not know a lot about Wang until the day they went to shoot the Sleepless in Seattle video. “It’s been an eye-opening and humbling experience to work with him,” Nilsen said. “I have never seen someone as boldly walk up to anyone, much less homeless people, and talk to them. He didn’t ignore them, and he didn’t give them money. He sat down with them, listened to their life stories, and even held their hands while praying for them.” Wang said his beliefs as a Christian and his cultural background have helped shape his views toward the homeless communities. “The common denominator I’ve found among homeless people in Seattle I’ve talked to is broken relationships in their lives,” said Wang whose parents are Taiwanese. “In Asian cultures, it seems as if the family unit is more committed to these ties, even if it’s just for reasons of ‘saving face’.” Such insight has led Wang to develop Sleepless in Seattle around a paradigm of friendship. “People need sleeping bags, but they also just need a friend who will acknowledge and bring out the best in them,” Wang {see SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE cont’d on page 14}
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OCTOBER 17 – OCTOBER 23, 2015
■ arts & entertainment
Korla Pandit
Disguising identity: From Black to Indian
By Andrew Hamlin Northwest Asian Weekly
Two hands hold a large censer. A voice speaks of wisdom and rubies. A deep, slightly scraggly voice. The action fades-in to a man in a turban with a jewel mounted between his eyes. Fixing his eyes upon the camera, Korla Pandit begins his act. And his act was the Hammond Organ, augmented with a Steinway piano to his right. Playing mostly organ, occasionally piano, sometimes one with each hand, Pandit played for fifteen minutes on Los Angeles’ KTLA-TV from 1949 until 1951. He did not rock and roll and he did not get down and dirty with the blues, but he flitted easily between all other types of music, playing popular tunes, show tunes, traditional, and ethnic music from around the world. He was one of the first television stars, but he never spoke on camera. The narrator off-screen was someone else. And Korla Pandit had reason to never speak. Speaking might have given away his secret. John Turner’s film “Korla” covers the organist’s life from start to finish, but not in that order. He starts with the censer, the myth, the exotica (for Korla Pandit was a pioneer of “exotica”) and goes considerably into Pandit’s keyboard skills combined with his elegance and mystery, his easy way of wining over an audience. Pandit’s work grew popular with folks who ironically were into tiki torches and vintage cocktails,
folks who wanted to overlook rock and roll or step into a time machine and come out back before rock and roll first rolled. But Pandit’s work, cheesy as it could get, transcended kitsch. He knew how to play to the camera and reach his audience through the camera, with his galvanizing eyes bolstered with the glinting jewel, the white of the turban combined with the milk chocolate of his skin. He hammered down Hammond keys with the heel of his hand, his palms, and even his forearms. He took chestnuts such as “Over The Rainbow” and gave them fresh illumination with rapid runs, melancholy swells, doubletime breaks, and piano intermezzos. Pandit never admitted to anyone that he was not actually Indian—not from India or elsewhere. He was not from the Far East or the Near East. He was born John Roland Redd, in St. Louis in 1921.
The “exotic” persona came partially from his wife, a white lady Beryl June DeBeeson, and partially from a film the future Pandit’s sister appeared in—a film featuring a black man disguised as an Indian. With a turban and a jewel. And the fascinating, damnable thing was that passing for Indian worked wonders for him. He was no longer a black man, but he was one of the first black men to have his own TV show. His birth certificate lists him as “colored”; his death certificate asserts he was “white.” His family appears to have gone along with his fake background, although his wife and older son have since died, and his younger son, for whatever reason, does not appear in the film. He exploited the exotic background story for his own ends and to that extent must
be deemed selfish. But not solely selfish. Many black people who could, passed for white. And as Pandit/Redd demonstrated, passing as anything was preferable to being black. He preached the universal language of music. He was a fraud, but he was a spiritual optimist. And as Carlos Santana remarks, he opened vortexes. Anything seemed possible when he pressed the keys. Any dimension, any identity. Any form. Any triumph. For more information “Korla,” visit /www. korlapandit.com. Andrew Hamlin can be reached at info@ nwasianweekly.com.
33 YEARS YOUR VOICE
■ editorial
OCTOBER 17 – OCTOBER 23, 2015
OPINION
Viet Cong? Really? Band name causes controversy
Viet Cong. That is the name of the band that will be performing Oct. 16 at Neumos in Seattle. The art-rock /post-punk band’s name refers to the military force that fought the south Vietnamese government and the US during the Vietnam war, infamous for atrocities against both Vietnamese and Americans. It is a name that can be deeply offensive and hurtful to the Vietnamese American community. Where does a name, a band name, cross the line? Music, artistic expression, is one of the outlets for free speech. Shouldn’t we be allowed this? However, we should consider: The band is from Calgary, Canada. No one in the band is Vietnamese. The band members are four Caucasian men. None have direct experience with anything Vietnamese-related. There is no statement or purpose behind the choice of the band’s name. The controversy erupted when Viet Cong gave a Guardian interview which revealed the naivete that went into their name. During rehearsal, the bassist was bouncing around while playing, and “kind of shooting his bass like a gun. Band member Mike Wallace said: ‘All you need is a rice paddy hat and it would be so Viet Cong.’ We stopped on that sentence and thought it was a good idea…” Neumos, the venue, has responded: “Since originally booking this tour, the band has announced that they are changing the name. This Seattle show is one of the last shows that the band will play while using this name as they finish their tour. We recognize the musicians performing under the name Viet Cong as artists. As artists they have clearly chosen a controversial name. We recognize all correspondence we have received in response to this as sincere and legitimate; we have forwarded all emails of concern and/or protest directly to the band’s agent and manager. We hope the artist will speak
directly to those of you who wrote to express your concerns.” But more than a morality judgment or free speech issue, it is perhaps an issue of ignorance. The band stated: “While we don’t take any concerns about the name lightly, we feel it is important to let you know that we never meant to trivialise the atrocities or violence that occurred on both sides of the Vietnam war. We never intended for our name to be provocative or hurtful.” There will be a peaceful protest at Neumos at Friday, Oct 16, 6:00 PM, 925 E Pike. Gei Chan, community activist encourages support to stand with the Asian community against racism in any form.
Canadian post-punk band Viet Cong
KING COUNTY REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS ADVERTISEMENT King County is requesting Proposals from qualified firms interested in providing multidisciplinary engineering services to the Road Services Division for non-federally funded projects on a work order basis. The Request for Proposals, all addenda and current document holder’s list are available at http:// www.kingcounty.gov/procurement. The County will not mail, ship or fax RFPs and addenda. Interested firms must register with the County at time of download and ensure that a valid contact email address is given. Notification of addenda will be sent to the registered email address. Failure to register will result in the Proposer not being notified of any addenda, which may result in rejection of the proposal. The County may award up to two (2) contract(s) with a maximum price of $500,000 (each). Each contract will have an initial period of performance of one (1) year. The County reserves the right to amend the contract duration in one (1) year increments up to a maximum of three (3) years, if funds remain. Contract Title: Work Order Multidisciplinary Engineering Services for Road Services Division Number: E00377E15
Proposals due: November 5, 2015 Time: 12:00 p.m. Pre-proposal Meeting: October 21, 2015 Time: 10:30 a.m. Location: King Street Center, 201 South Jackson, 5th Floor, Conference Rooms Harappa and Cloaca Maxima, Seattle, WA SUMMARY OF WORK: Services may comprise a wide range of engineering and related services including, but not be limited to civil engineering for roadway designs; structural engineering; hydraulic, hydrologic and drainage engineering; geotechnical engineering; traffic engineering; environmental engineering; landscape architecture and irrigation design; value engineering; subsurface utility engineering; surveying; historic preservation studies; public involvement; information technology (IT) services; communications; and services during construction. SUBCONSULTANT OPPORTUNITIES: Provided for informational purposes only, following are subconsulting opportunities that may be available on this Contract: geotechnical, traffic, environmental, landscape architecture and Irrigation design, value engineering, subsurface utility engineering,
surveying, historical preservation studies, and public involvement SCS UTILIZATION REQUIREMENTS: The Consultant shall ensure that at least 10% of the Total Price for all executed Work Orders, as amended, shall be performed by King County Certified SCS Firms over the life of the Contract. Evaluation points for meeting and/or exceeding the SCS utilization requirements will be provided to each Proposer responding to this requirement. King County will not evaluate the proposal and will not execute a contract with a Proposer who does not commit to meet at least the SCS utilization requirement as stated above. QUESTIONS: Questions concerning this solicitation should be directed to Ken Curl, Contract Specialist via email at ken.curl@kingcounty.gov or via telephone at 206-263-9322, TTY Relay: 711. The Proposer may be requested to submit the question in writing. No verbal answers by County personnel will be binding on the County. This information is available in alternate formats for individuals with disabilities upon advance request by calling 206-263-9400, TTY Relay: 711.
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OCTOBER 17 – OCTOBER 23, 2015
{VISIONARY cont’d from page 8} Management System. Prior to being a business owner, she helped create the first Asian Pacific Leadership Development Conference at Microsoft in 2006. She and her husband Toni are also American Kennel Club breeders of Labrador retrievers. “So what I learned from that is: Don’t be a stranger,” she said. “You don’t know the people you’re going to meet here at this event, and at the table next to you. You have the chance to learn more about them and have them learn more about you.” Seattle Sounders FC sports scientist and performance analyst Ravi Ramineni’s ideas rely on using heart-rate monitors and global positioning system technology on team players. The resulting information can then be used by team coaches to help achieve success on the soccer field.
As Ramineni’s presenter, Sounders FC sports science and performance manager Dave Tenney said, “He had actually taken up a spot in the very center of the practice field on a daily basis with the Sounders. Their practice didn’t start until Ravi said it was okay to start.” The Greater Seattle chapter of OCA Asian Pacific American Advocates is an organization that stands up for civil rights and social justice for the Asian American and Pacific Islander community. Presenter Connie So, chapter vice president and University of Washington senior lecturer, said she was proud to be part of the organization’s board. “We work well collaboratively, are friends, and most of all, we are all committed to our community.” Representing 47 distinct countries since 1996, the APCC exists as the only Asian and Pacific Islander cultural center in Pierce County and has many active partnerships with other
community organizations. Both the APCC and its founder and board president Patsy O’Connell were honored. O’Connell’s presenter, APCC executive director Lua Pritchard, spoke clearly and sincerely about her friend as well as O’Connell’s volunteer work over the last 19 years. She said, “No matter what your definition of success is, you cannot succeed without first trying! That’s exactly what Patsy did.” On O’Connell’s vision of what should happen, she said, “As an artist, she went through life experiences that gave her the inspiration to imagine the future with a dream of Asia Pacific people coming together, in one place … and most of all, respect one another as an Asia Pacific people.” James Tabafunda can be reached at info@nwasianweekly. com.
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33 YEARS YOUR VOICE
■ astrology
13
OCTOBER 17 – OCTOBER 23, 2015
For the week of October 17–October 23, 2015 By Sun Lee Chang
Rat — Are you starting to get nervous as you continue to wait for an answer? You must be patient for there is not much to be gained from rushing the process.
Dragon — As usual, you are too modest to take full credit for what you have accomplished. For once, accept the kudos that are due.
Monkey — Does it feel like you are missing part of the story? Go with your hunch and you may find a whole host of details were not disclosed to you before.
Ox — An astute observer and student, you know enough to realize that what seems easy actually takes a considerable amount of skill.
Snake — If you can anticipate a problem ahead, then by all means do what you can to avert it. Usually, it just means taking a simple precaution.
Rooster — There are a lot of loose ends right now floating around. As you diligently tackle them one by one, you should end up with a neat bundle.
Tiger — Some free time between appointments will allow you to catch up on pressing items, if you use it judiciously.
Horse — From your vantage point, things seem to be looking up. As you move forward, the view will only get better.
Dog — A minor controversy has been stirred into the mix while you were looking away. No need to fret, as you know just how to iron it out.
Rabbit — Too many changes at once can be hard to handle. Try to establish a regular routine until you get through the transition period.
Goat — You are on a roll and there is no stopping you now. As the action heats up, pace yourself so that you don’t lose steam.
Pig — Don’t worry about the mess as you begin your task. Creativity isn’t always going to come out cleanly, but do tidy up when you are done.
What’s your animal sign? Rat 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008 Ox 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009 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 Rooster 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005 Dog 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006 Pig 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007
*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.
{FILIPINO MONTH cont’d from page 1} 2nd, the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders sponsored an event in Washington DC to celebrate the history of Filipino Americans and their various contributions to this country’s development. October commemorates the anniversary of the first documented presence of Filipinos in America. On October 18, 1587, Filipino members of a Spanish expedition led by Pedro de Unamuno landed on an island off the coast of what is now Morro Bay, California. Based on this historical research, the celebration of October as Filipino American History Month was initiated in 1991 by the late Dr. Fred Cordova, Co-Founder of the Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS) whose national office and archives are located in Seattle. His wife Dr. Dorothy Cordova, also co-Founder and currently Executive Director of FANHS, attended the celebration at the nation’s capital and read a message from President Barack Obama during the event. In his message, President Obama joins the celebrants “in reflecting on the struggles and victories of the many Filipino Americans who have shaped our Nation. Generations of Filipino Americans have lent their unique voices to the vibrant diversity of origins, cultures, and communities that make America what it is.” The president
especially honored the thousands of Filipino Americans in the military who have fought for the United States and the Filipino American farm workers in Delano, California who helped change the labor movement in this country. This year, FANHS is celebrating three fifty-year anniversaries that signify key “tipping points” in the history of Filipino Americans. During the event, FANHS Board of Trustees President Mel Orpilla mentioned three historical markers: the Immigration & Nationality Act of 1965 which ushered the largest wave of Filipino immigration to the US; second, the start of the Delano Grape Strike of Filipino American farm workers led by Larry Itliong that was later joined by Cesar Chavez and Mexican farm workers to form the United Farm Workers union; and finally, the Vietnam War that was also fought by young Filipino Americans during a traumatic period in US history. During the White House celebration, Jason Tengco, the Deputy Director of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, acted as the master of ceremony. Speakers included Nani Coloretti, the Deputy Secretary of US Housing and Urban Development and the highest ranking Filipino American in the Obama administration. Other administration officials also speaking at the event were Maria Contreras-Sweet, the Administrator of the US Small Business Administration; Leon Rodriguez, the Director of US Citizenship and
Immigration Services; and Vice Admiral Vivek Murthy, the US Surgeon General. Senator Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, the only Asian American in the US Senate, also attended the celebration. She has co-sponsored, along with Congressman Mike Honda of California, a bicameral resolution in the US Congress to recognize October as Filipino American History Month. A panel of Filipino American trailblazers shared their perspectives during the event. Moderator Billy Dec, a member of the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders led a discussion with Cristeta Comerford, the White House Executive Chef; Apl. de.ap, co-founder of Black Eyed Peas group; singer Cassie; Geena Rocero, transgender model and founder of Gender Proud; actor comedian Jo Koy; and Ronnie del Carmen, Director at Pixar Animation Studios. Performances by the Filharmonics and Pilipino American Cultural Arts Society were featured during the event. Apl.de.ap and Jessica Reynoso provided the musical finale to the celebration. Ador Pereda Yano nwasianweekly.com.
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OCTOBER 17 – OCTOBER 23, 2015
{CAUCE cont’d from page 1} “She (Cauce) is my no. 1 choice,” said Kenyon Chan, chair of the 28-member presidential search committee and UW Bothell Chancellor Emeritus. “The Asian community would be happy (to have Cauce), she understand the issues facing the Asian community.” “I was hoping” that Cauce would be the one, said Vikram Jandhyala, UW’s Vice Provost for Innovation. He said he’s not surprised that she has been selected. Faculty has shown strong support of Cauce. Several top-rank UW officials including deans and members of the faculty senate gathered for the celebration reception at the President’s office, after the Regents’ announcement. They applauded as Cauce entered the room. They toasted to Cauce with champagne and shouted “speech!”. Cauce responded, “I love you all.” The other three finalists chosen out of 70 applicants paled in comparison to Cauce as the “best and most qualified,” according to Chan and other guests in the search committee. “She fits our needs,” stated Chan.
Lessons learned
Former UW President Michael Young, from Utah, left UW after four years for Texas A&M University in March for higher pay. Interim President Phyllis Wise, an Asian American, was discouraged to apply for the president’s job. One of the reasons Young was chosen, was because he told the UW regents that it would be his last job before retiring. The consensus among many in the community was that Young’s heart was never at UW, and he did not
have much for the University. This time, Cauce (while serving as interim president), was invited to apply. Cauce, 59, has established her loyalty as a Husky for decades.
Cauce’s rise
Raised in Miami after emigrating with her family from Cuba, Cauce earned degrees in English and psychology from the University of Miami and a Ph.D. in psychology from Yale University. During her UW career, Cauce has been appointed to various leadership positions, including director of the UW Honors Program, chair of American Ethnic Studies, chair of Psychology, executive vice provost and dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. For her teaching, scholarship, and advocacy, Cauce has received numerous awards, including the Distinguished Teaching Award in 1999. Cauce is a professor of Psychology and American Ethnic Studies, with secondary appointments in the Department of Gender, Women and Sexuality Studies and the College of Education. She maintains an active research program, focusing on adolescent development, with a special emphasis on at-risk youth. She is also a strong advocate for women and underrepresented minorities to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Cauce remains active in the classroom and continues to teach and mentor students. Assunta Ng can be reached at assunta@nwasianweekly. com.
{SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE cont’d from page 9} said. “Call me a romantic, but I can’t help but wonder what would happen if we simply acknowledged and treated each other as brothers, sisters, neighbors, and friends.” Sleepless in Seattle is partnering with ImageSource, Exxel, PointB, and Louder Rewards on obtaining a large amount shopping bags and care packages at heavily discounted prices for the Big Give event in November. “Helping others in need is important to me and all of my coworkers,” said Daniel Todd, the CEO of Influence Mobile which created the app Louder Rewards. “I have found Eddie to be a Godly man of conviction and purpose. I like to support people like Eddie as they work to improve the world.” Being a part of the IT industry, Todd believes the tech community has an opportunity to make a huge impact on the issue of homelessness. “We simply need to make helping as easy and straightforward as making ‘ice bucket challenge’ videos,” he said. “With hundreds of thousands of affluent workers we would have enough money and volunteers to accomplish everything needed.” Wang, Nilsen, and Todd all encourage the public to engage with the homeless community with an open mind. “One common refrain I’ve heard is that homeless people can feel invisible on the street when no one will even acknowledge them,” Wang said. “Even a simple nod of the head or ‘have a good day’ can mean a lot to someone who feels like a wallflower on the streets.” For more information about Sleepless in Seattle, visit indiegogo.com/ projects/sleepless-in-seattle-seattle-gives-back#/ Jocelyn Moore can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.
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{MORRISON cont’d from page 1} Morrison’s company offered subscriptions granting people access to special events, restaurants, and more. The company even offered philanthropic opportunities as its parties were branded as helping worthy causes like Susan G. Komen or Mary’s Place. However, vendors and charities are searching for Morrison as he has left a trail of unpaid debt leaving vendors that worked the functions and charities that were to benefit from the parties with nothing to show for them. The last known event for CityGuru was this past July as the company posted pictures on its Facebook page from this year’s Seafair in which CityGuru held a “Family Day” event. The event which CityGuru charged $35 per person or $100 for a family of four advertised that “full access to Seafair while having a private suite to spend the day.” There was no word as to how many people attended the event. The company’s twitter handle has not posted since early August and the company’s web site is no longer working. According to a United States Securities and Exchange Commission Form D, CityGuru is a corporation registered
{ETHNIC BUSINESSES cont’d from page 1} create individual websites through “Ethnic Seattle” and also helping with signage and print materials. The Seattle Ethnic Chambers of Commerce in attendance included representatives from the Korean American Chamber, Greater Seattle Chinese Chamber, King County Hispanic Chamber, and Greater Seattle Vietnamese Chamber. Markham McIntyre, a board member of EBC, who works with the Seattle Metro Chamber of Commerce. The questions and concerns brought up by the Chamber of Commerce were primarily: What is EBC’s selection criteria when it comes to choosing the businesses they help? How can the local businesses be notified of the services offered or be aware of the services? “We weren’t even aware of your existence,” stated David Leong, vice president of the Greater Chinese Chamber of Commerce. “We were caught by surprise,” stated Trong Pham, president of the Greater Seattle Vietnamese Chamber of Commerce. There was a large concern that the Chambers were not notified of EBC’s services or even of the coalition’s existence. Michael Sotelo, president of the King County Hispanic Chamber of
Saints
By Gene Luen Yang First Edition, 2013 The year is 1898, the country, China. A girl is born to a family, but because she is her mother’s fourth daughter, born on the fourth day of the fourth month, she is not given a name. After all, four is synonymous with death in Chinese culture. For the first eight years of her life, all she knows is that she was unwanted and is only known as Four-Girl. It isn’t until she discovers Christianity that she finds friendship and a name — Vibiana. “Saints” depicts the story of the Chinese Boxer Rebellion, which took place between 1899 and 1901. During this time, a group of Chinese people — the “Boxers” — came together to initiate an uprising against Westerners and in particular, the rise of Christianity in China. In “Saints,” we get a glimpse into this event in history
in Delaware and doing business in the state of Washington. It lists James Billmaier, Olin Nichols, and Andrew Morrison as its officers. However, Billmaier and Nichols claimed to not be current officers of the company. A recent judgment was entered against Andrew Morrison for $971,441.86 according to court documents filed in King County Superior Court. The monetary judgment stems from a 2009 real estate flipping business with Texas investor Gary Woolever. Court documents state that Woolever gave Morrison $425,000 from his retirement fund based on Morrison’s representation that he had been “involved in approximately 900 million dollars in real estate transactions.” Morrison would “provide the expertise and knowledge to buy, sell and rehabilitate real estate” according to the documents filed by Woolever’s attorney. In order to secure the transaction, Morrison signed a promissory note to secure the funds that he would be utilizing to invest on behalf of Woolever. Morrison defaulted on the promissory note according to Woolever’s lawyer. According to KOMO News, Morrison squandered the money in a variety of ways, none of which assisted in seeking a return on Woolever’s initial investment. After a lawsuit was filed against Morrison, it was discovered
Commerce commented that there were many small businesses in Hispanic neighborhoods that would benefit if they knew about the services. EBC responded they have volunteers and interns working on outreach, and that outreach is still an on-going and difficult process. The Chambers also emphasized they were working together as one unit and were disappointed they were not a part, or aware, of EBC’s formation. EBC responded that the formation of a nonprofit organization does not require notification, the RFP was a public call for proposal, and that the coalition’s goal is to help all ethnic businesses. Brian Surratt, Director of the OED, said he was pleased with the progress of EBC and stands by the City’s decision to allocate the grant to the coalition, and encouraged everyone to collaborate and continue working on EBC’s progression. Martha Lee, president of the Ethnic Chambers, said afterwards that her presence at the meeting, “is not the intended to steal her (Taylor’s) show. The chambers likes to give input, promote cooperation, extend a hand to help. We shouldn’t repeat or duplicate what others are doing. We want to support her. She does a good job.”
Samantha Pak can be reached at info@nwasianweekly. com.
that he never had a real estate license, a securities license, or contractor’s license. Morrison failed to live up to the promises of maintaining the business venture including not paying taxes. In addition to the recent revelation, Morrison has failed to pay vendors including models and emcees from chic soirees which promised to be on behalf of charities. Those charities claim that Morrison failed to come through on his promises as well. Many people who attended Morrison’s events under the impression that their money would be going to a good cause were wrong. Also, the charities that partnered with CityGuru and persuaded their followers to attend Morrison’s event with the belief that they were supporting a good cause found they were duped. Morrison has not surfaced and cannot be located by anyone. It’s unknown if Woolever will ever realize his $971,441.86 judgment let alone the multiple vendors and charities that are owed money from him. Jason Cruz can be reached at info@nwasianweekly. com.
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through the eyes of a “secondary devil,” or a Chinese person who has converted to Christianity. For Vibiana, the church wasn’t so much turning her back on her Chinese heritage as it was finding a place to belong after her Chinese heritage turned its back on her. The Boxer Rebellion is an event in history I admittedly don’t know much about and that is probably not unusual among many people. Yang introduces the subject to readers in a simple way—from the perspective of someone living it. And in the form of a graphic novel, we also get a visual of this point in history, making it more accessible to younger readers. “Saints” is part of a two-part set by Yang. The companion to this story is “Boxers,” which tells the story of the Boxer Rebellion from the perspective of a Boxer. After reading this first graphic novel, I am looking forward to learning about the other side of the story as I know many readers will be as well.
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And while having superpowers may be cool, it doesn’t change the fact that Kamala is still a teenager dealing with teenage things: parents who don’t understand, a friend who has the potential to become more than a friend (although she doesn’t seem to realize that yet), peer pressure, and the like. On top of this, Kamala also faces ridicule from her classmates because of her Islamic faith. But while being a Muslim is a large part of Kamala’s life — she attends mosque with her family and friends — “No Normal” shows that her religion is just one part of her life. The Khan’s family’s relationship with Islam is not so different from the portrayals we have seen of Christian families. Although, Kamala’s older brother is particularly devout, it appears he uses that as an excuse to not look for a job. In a world — the superhero world — that has been historically dominated by white males, it was refreshing to see a protagonist who is neither white nor male. By choosing a young Pakistani American girl to be the new face of one of their most popular characters, Marvel is showing
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OCTOBER 17 – OCTOBER 23, 2015
readers that anyone can be a superhero (or superheroine, in this case) and the hero of their own stories.
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OCTOBER 17 – OCTOBER 23, 2015