Asian American Leading Man?

Sometimes I have an imagination that completely runs away with itself. This morning, as I was washing dishes, Janelle Monae's The Chase began playing. There is a moment where her leading man is speaking in awe of all her talents and abilities. As I was imagining the scene in my mind a question popped up in my head, "What race is this dude?!" I assumed he'd be black, but what if, in a potential music video, they chose a white man to play her leading man? Then I thought, "Whoa, what if they chose and Asian American dude to play the lead role?! What would happen if there were more Asian American leading men in romantic roles with women of different races?" Seems like that could do so much for the piss poor image Asian American men are challenged with today. And I'm telling you, there are some fly Asian American brothers out there that get NO PLAY in the media. If you know bout them in real life, you're like, part of a secret society or something...or you live on the West Coast. No offense, East Coast fam!
At the same time, the media is superficial in its structure, so we shouldn't need those media positions to affirm the flyness of our men, because they are...full stop. I'm just saying though...what if...?

The Womens

The recurring theme over the past year has been about the women in my life. From New York to Manila to Boston to ilo ilo City to Houston to D.C. to the Bay, the women i have been surrounded by are simply amazing.

Their energy and love sustain me.

For a long time, i've been meaning to highlight the work and lives of the women who have inspired me so as to honor them. it's an overwhelming thought, though, trying to profile the enormity of my sisters, mothers, etc. so for now i simply want to acknowledge all the ladies who have had an impact on me and who are doing amazing things in the world.

i love you.

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao

Finally got finished with Oscar and enjoyed my time with him thoroughly. if you haven't read the book, i highly recommend it -what a read. Diaz's tone throughout the story is just golden. Very funny with some real great stuff underneath and within the humor.

There are two really dope parts of the book that I wanted to highlight. The first is the quotation that Diaz uses in the beginning from a poem by Derek Walcott called, "The Schooner Flight." I had never heard of Derek Walcott before and thought that the lines Diaz picked for the introduction of the book were genius:

"Christ have mercy on all sleeping things!

From that dog rotting down Wrightson Road

to when I was a dog on these streets;

if loving these islands must be my load,

out of corruption my soul takes wings,

But they had started to poison my soul

with their big house, big car, big-time bohbohl,

coolie, nigger, Syrian, and French Creole,

so I leave it for them and their carnival-

I taking a sea bath, I gone down the road.

I know these islands from Monos to Nassau,

a rusty head sailor with sea-green eyes

that they nickname Shabine, the patois for

any red nigger, and I, Shabine, saw

when these slums of empire was paradise.

I'm just a red nigger who love the sea,

I had a sound colonial eduation,

I have Dutch, nigger, and English in me,

and either I'm nobody, or I'm a nation."

The second part comes from the the last few lines of the story:

"Maybe, she said, you could call it life.) He wrote: So this is what everybody's always talking about! Diablo! if only i'd known. The beauty! The beauty!"

While the whole book was wonderful, those last lines really represent how i feel about life right now. i'm blessed beyond imagination, and it's the most beautiful thing i could ask for.

Through Thick and Thin

I'm so thankful for the women in my life who have been there through thick and thin. This week I'm blessed to be able to chill with two ladies I've known since about sophomore year in college. Through both special and sorry moments, we've been there for each other -they've especially been there for me. Soon, H will be off to Ethi and Mar is going Harvard!! I am super proud of both of them and I'm so happy to just be able to listen, talk, and be together. As we get older, these moments come up less and less, so when we have them they shine even brighter than before.

Simmering!!

Damn!! Only four posts in June. i'm slacking! (Excuse the lack of a capitalized i's, my keyboard is messed up.) Though the school year is technically over, i'm still grinding with job apps, checkin in with students while i'm still in the area, and sweating profusely with this heat. Don't get me wrong, anything is better than a New England winter, but wow.

i have some updates and some new projects that i'm working on. Hopefully, i'll be able to update on those soon. i also finished both Ten Little indians and interpreter of Maladies. My current piece of literature is The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao and seriously reading, reflecting, and applying Pedagogy of the Oppressed.

Updates may be slow because of computer access, but don't fear, i shall be writing non stop, old skool pen and paper steez!! Holler!