Take a Vietnamese comedian and put him in a commercial with stereotypically Asian things and two hot white chicks. Funny or distasteful? Take a look. Yes, there are koi fish, stone lions, bamboo fixtures, traditional Asian architecture, and a short Asian man with a fobby accent. Although this borderlines distasteful, I find it more funny and empowering than anything. Kudos … [Read more...] about Is DirectTV’s New Commercial Witty or Just Plain Bad?
Jennie in Africa: When Being Asian Feels White
[VTP writer Jennie Le recently returned from Tanzania on a volunteer mission with United Students. Below are the reflections of a Vietnamese American woman's first experience of Africa.] I never thought I would ever say this, but I think I know what being white feels like. While this was not a thought that had crossed my mind before my trip to Africa (really, I don't spend my … [Read more...] about Jennie in Africa: When Being Asian Feels White
What You Should Know About Hepatitis B
[July 28, 2011 is the first World Health Organization-sponsored World Hepatitis Day. Asian Americans are disproportionally at risk for Hepatitis B in particular, reported NPR in 2010. To spread greater awareness of this issue, VTP is re-sharing this article by Jennie Le from earlier this year -- ed.] When I was a child, I lost someone close due to the compromising effects of … [Read more...] about What You Should Know About Hepatitis B
Maybe She’s Born With It, Probably It’s Maybelline: Modern Day Whiteface
I love watching makeup tutorials on YouTube. It's a great way for me to learn about makeup techniques and tools without having to take cosmotology lessons. Lately, I've been seeing a lot of makeup gurus shade and contour their faces so that they look white (try searching for "Asian Angelina Jolie Makeup"). Although most of them do this for the sake of costume, is this another … [Read more...] about Maybe She’s Born With It, Probably It’s Maybelline: Modern Day Whiteface
“How to Be Cool and Asian” According to White People
School has taught me not to trust most things I read on the internet. Experience has taught me not to trust most things I read anywhere. I'd say 99% of the incorrect information I read online just humors me since I know that info was probably written by an ill-informed person or an anonymous troll. However, there's still that 1% of internet content I peruse that still kind of … [Read more...] about “How to Be Cool and Asian” According to White People