From the F. A. D. archives: “I’m not full American because I’m not white”

On By Feminist Asian Dad

This piece appeared in slightly different form on HuffPost’s Parenting channel back in June 2017.

What’s more American than corn flakes, the Fourth of July, and Uncle Sam?

These lyrics came sweetly from the lips of my seven-year-old daughter as we awaited a ranger program last summer at the Grand Canyon. They’re from a song that she learned at school, and it seemed especially fitting that she was singing them at that most American of landscapes in northern Arizona. But what she said next quickly shattered the moment.

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A Fun (and Kinda Deep) Convo with My Teen Daughters about “KPop Demon Hunters”

On By Feminist Asian Dad

This transcript of my conversation with my daughters has been edited for length, clarity, and many uses of the word “like” – of which there are still almost 50 occurrences. Here’s a key to the abbreviations:

FAD = me, Feminist Asian Dad. 

JJ = my older daughter, a college sophomore. I call her JJ here because in Mandarin Chinese, 姐姐 (Jiě Jie) means “big sister.” 

MM = my younger daughter, a high school junior. I call her MM here because 妹妹 (Mèi Mei) means “little sister.” 

WARNING: Major spoilers for the Netflix movie KPop Demon Hunters follow.

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The Government’s Defunding My Beloved Public Radio Station Hurts.

On By Feminist Asian Dad

As many of you know, I have been involved in several ways over the last ten years with the largest of Southern California’s local public radio stations – 89.3 FM KPCC, now known as the multi-platform news outlet LAist. I am absolutely gutted by the presidential and congressional actions to take back previously approved monies to fund public media, including LAist, National Public Radio (NPR), and the Public Broadcasting System (PBS). It is a devastating blow that will force numerous layoffs nationwide and make thoughtful reporting and useful programming in the radio, television, and online spheres even more rare than it is now.

Continue reading “The Government’s Defunding My Beloved Public Radio Station Hurts.” →