A 94. A 94?! There, on my final 8th grade report card, my Algebra grade had dropped from a 98 to a 94. F&*#!!!!! No doubt, my bum was going to feel some heat when I got home that night. I, like most other Vietnamese children growing up in America, experienced some sort physical or verbal consequence because my grades weren’t good enough. I had made a careless … [Read more...] about An “Educated” Spanking
An-My Lê Wins MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship
The MacArthur Fellowship is kind of a prestigious thing. You get $500,000 doled out over the course of 5 years, with no strings attached. It's meant to provide the financial freedom for people who "show exceptional creativity in their work and the prospect for still more in the future"--an artistic and scientific license of sorts. You can't apply for a MacArthur Fellowship, the … [Read more...] about An-My Lê Wins MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship
What OneVietnam is and Why it Matters
What is OneVietnam? OneVietnam is an online network that allows people to fund projects in their homeland and see the impact right away. Projects can be funded with as little as $1. In return, donors get to see their money go to work building the places they grew up in through constant updates, pictures, and videos. We were funded by Ford Foundation in 2010 and were … [Read more...] about What OneVietnam is and Why it Matters
Facekini & Asian Aversion to Tan Skin: a Precursor to Racism?
The newest trend on the beaches of China is the "face-kini," a mask that covers the entire face, save the eyes, nose, and mouth. It's a not-so-attractive accessory that screams a message louder than a simple fashion faux-pas: Asian people hate dark skin. From ubiquitous caps to umbrellas on sunny days, we are taught to avoid the sun at a young age. Fair skin equates to … [Read more...] about Facekini & Asian Aversion to Tan Skin: a Precursor to Racism?
Olympic Silver Medalist Marcel Nguyen, and Me
From diaCRITICS comes this piece by diaCRITIC Jade Hidle , who gives us an Olympic take on Vietnamese identity using Marcel Nguyen, the Olympic silver medalist in gymnastics, as the launching point. At the same time, Hidle turns inward and and gives us a beautiful reflection on her own struggles as a mixed Vietnamese. diaCRITICS is the leading blog on Vietnamese diasporic arts … [Read more...] about Olympic Silver Medalist Marcel Nguyen, and Me