Fall 2023 Asian American Media Activism in Boston

Items

• Media Education Project, 1983-1993
  This is a study that delves into the complexities of how news is framed and presented, exploring the impact of bias and perspective on journalism. Smith examines how factors such as culture, ideology, and personal experiences influence the way news is reported and perceived. The study encourages readers to critically analyze news sources, questioning the inherent subjectivity that colors the way information is presented to the public. Through this analysis, Smith prompts a deeper understanding of the nuances involved in news production and consumption, highlighting the importance of diverse perspectives in shaping a more comprehensive understanding of current events.
• ["AH YING"], 1986
  A flyer advertising a 1986 AARW showing of Ah Ying at Coolidge Corner Theatre. It has quotes from positive reviews of the movie, and highlights that it is from Hong Kong. This is one of many showings of significant Asian films that the AARW hosted over the years.
• Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week
  Color photograph that depicts performers at an event at the Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week dated between May 6th-13th, 1989.
• Asian Pacific American Directory, 1990-2007
  This directory is a vital snapshot of the diverse Asian and Pacific American communities across the state of Massachusetts. It features businesses, cultural organizations, and profiles of influential individuals, capturing their contributions to Massachusetts in 1998-2000. It also shows the organizations and associations related to Asian Americans.
• Asian Pacific Calendar, 1980
  A black-and-white calendar from 1980 that highlights Asian and Pacific culture. The calendar is comprised of 12 documents (1 per month) ranging from illustrations and photographic images of cultural traditions such as the Lunar New Year, stories told such as the story of Chol Soo Lee, acknowledgment of International Working Women’s Day, poems, and social justice movements, to name a few. Overall, this is an acknowledgement of the hardship and perseverance Asian and Pacific Islanders have overcome while continuing to be proud of their heritage and culture.
• To Live in Peace... Responding to Anti-Asian Violence in Boston
  This report, prepared by the Asian American Resource Workshop's Civil Rights Project, provides an in-depth analysis of anti-Asian violence in Boston during the mid-1980s. It documents the experiences of Asian American community members, explores the root causes and social dynamics of this violence, and suggests strategies for community response and empowerment. Notably, the report highlights the significant role of the Asian American Resource Workshop in community mobilization and advocacy for civil rights, serving as an important historical document on Asian American activism and social justice efforts in Boston.
• Bilingual Education Rally at Massachusetts State House, 1986
  Color photograph of a large rally outside the Massachusetts State House for bilingual education. Protestors are holding yellow signs in English and Vietnamese, including one that reads, "Portuguese Parents Want Bilingual Education." Some of the protestors are looking at the photographer and smiling.
• Articles on Boston Chinatown, 1971-1987
  This museum publication is a 1985 pamphlet guide created by the Harvard East Asian Program at The Children’s Museum, Boston. This material aims to educate visitors about Boston’s Chinatown and Chinese grocery stores. First introduced in the exhibit “A Market in China,” displayed at The Children's Museum in Boston, “A Visit to Chinatown” thoughtfully prepared visitors for their Chinatown experience, offering preparation tips, suggesting engaging activities, providing a detailed map of the area, and sharing practical advice for shopping in Chinese grocery stores. Hand-drawn illustrations, such as spices, Chinese-style shoes, a Cantonese Dim Sum restaurant, and so on, are included throughout the text to better immerse readers in the traditional Chinese culture. Although initially aimed at educating children about Chinese culture and food, the contributors and creators thought it would be helpful to anyone interested. The pamphlet marked a significant effort in cultural education and community engagement, reflecting the rich historical context detailed in various articles about Boston's Chinatown from 1971 to 1987.
• The Asian American Comic Book: Wen-Ti Tsen, undated
  Color photograph of Wen-Ti Tsen working on The Asian American Comic Book at his desk. Tsen is wearing a beige sweater and jeans. He is facing toward the camera and smiling slightly. With his right hand, he is holding a pen above one of the pages of the comic.
• China Film Week, 1982-1983
  Cover of a pamphlet about the Chinese Film Week presented by the American Film Institute. It introduces several Chinese traditional films, such as Third Sister Liu, Second Spring Mirroring the Moon, Two Stage Sisters, Bus Number3, and Song Of Youth.
• Newsletter, 1983-2012
  This is a newsletter published in February 1987. The collection of articles contributes to the fight for Asian American Studies, as well as the prevalence of Asian American voices on college campuses. On the cover page we see an illustration of a rally of students with a banner that says: "Education for Action." Among the articles are various illustrations of students and leading activists.
• An Asian American Calendar, 1979-1984
  This is a yearly calendar from 1979 which includes flippable pages for each month. Each month has Asian holidays and American holidays in the date boxes. The calendar also includes photos of Asian individuals and cultural holidays, such as a Korean rice farmer, as well as Korean Parade in LA, along with quotes from Asian Americans.
• Newsletter, 1983-2012
  This is a newsletter published in January of 1995. The collection of articles displayed in this newsletter discuss the inhumane laws Asian and Pacific Americans dealt with and fought against. The articles in this newsletter raise concerns about political policies that are unjust and impacting Asian and Pacific American communities.
• Sampan, 1990-2015
  This is Vol. XVI, No. 21 of Sampan newspaper, published on September 7th, 1988. Sampan is a bilingual Chinese/English newspaper focusing on the Asian community in New England. This issue discusses leadership in various Asian American organizations, as well as the state of art and infrastructure in Boston's Chinatown.
• Museum of Fine Arts Film Calendar, 1998 March-April
  A film calendar listing synopses and photos of films shown from March to April 1998 at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. The synopses of these films explore the struggles faced by the Asian American community, including issues of identity, the generation gap between Asian American parents and children, and the impact of the Japanese American internment on different generations. The film "My America (... or Honk if you love Buddha)," featured in the calendar, includes an interview with activist Yuri Kochiyama. She exposed the mistreatment of Japanese Americans at internment camps, where authorities refused to provide medical treatment to her father, who was recovering from ulcer surgery. This ultimately led to her father's demise.
• Newsletter, 1983-2012
  Black-and-white newsletter issued by the Asian American Resource Workshop in the spring of 1998. Covers events going on at the time, such as highlights of the AARW banquet, the premiere of "Kelly Loves Tony, and the 1998 Boston Asian American Film Festival
• Asian American History, undated
  This is a photograph taken by Corky Lee, who chronicled over five decades of Asian American life and culture. It depicts Chinese immigrant women working in a garment factory. The date and location of this photograph is not noted in the archive, but it is likely New York City in the 1970s.
• An Invisible Crisis: The Educational Needs of Asian Pacific American Youth (Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy), 1997
  Published in 1997, this document shines light educational obstacles confronted by Asian Pacific American youth, providing valuable insights into the needs and challenges within their community. The document's analysis contributes to a better understanding of the educational environment for this demographic, providing valuable information for policymakers, educators, and philanthropic organizations.
• Asian American Film Festival at Golden Leaf, 2006
  This photo captures a discussion at the Golden Leaf Lounge, following the 2006 Boston Asian American Film Festival. Filmmaker Allan Tong is seen answering questions from the audience and sharing insights into his filmmaking process. The film screened was Labo's Last Spin, a story about DJ Labo's final attempt to triumph in the world of turntable battling before his retirement. This event was part of a weekend-long celebration of Asian American arts, organized collaboratively by the AARW Film Festival Committee and the Boston Progress Arts Collective
• Suzanne Lee Speaking at Rally, undated
  Color photograph of Boston residents rallying for Long Guang Huang, a victim of police brutliaty in Boston's Chinatown. The large crowd can be seen holding signs campaigning for justice for Long including a partially visible cartoon of a policeman physically attacking a man amongst a crowd of crazed onlookers, and varying homemade signs in English and Chinese. This photograph was likely taken on June 19, 1985.
• [The Asian American Comic Book], 1992
  A black-and-white comic book designed and illustrated by Wen-Ti Tsen. The comic depicts four different stories, each focusing on some part of the Asian American community in Massachusetts. According to the afterword, the section titled "The Internee's Story" is adapted from Rosanna Yamagiwa Alfaro's play, Behind Enemy Line.