From romantic love stories to animated films, expressions of APIDA (Asian, Pacific Islander, Desi American) power in film have become far more centered around the value of the character over anything else. In the past, we have been given characters that fall within a limited scope of stereotypes.…
While Sawtelle, or “JapanTown,” is already a hot spot for Asian food amongst UCLA students and other Westside locals, Tofu Ya is an overlooked gem that deserves recognition. When walking down the strip of restaurants, it is easy to glaze over the small restaurant set in a simple…
Dear Asian Youth (DAY) is a non-profit organization and literary magazine that aims to empower the Asian community. According to their website, their goal is to “uplift marginalized communities through education, activism, and celebration.” The organization was founded by 16-year-old student Stephanie Hu in order to create a…
In the past decade, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) have gone from being the least represented community among voters to having the greatest increase in voter turnout. In a Pacific Ties article titled “Events raise voter awareness in API community,” published in the Fall 2010 issue, writer…
I still remember the first time that I saw Mo, or Mohini Banarjee, on Disney Channel’s Lemonade Mouth. This was the first time that I ever saw an Indian character on television who was not the socially awkward, nerdy sidekick of the white main characters. She was confident;…