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Posted on Tuesday, September 23rd, 2014 at 7:35 pm.

Written by Anna

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The landscape of #TaiwaneseAmerican writers looks SO different in 2021 than it did when @tafestival first launched… https://t.co/3oaPD1y585 4h ago
RT @tafestival: A Mandarin preview of #SFTACF Thanks, @KTSF26! See you all online on May 8 for the 2021 Taiwanese American Cultur… https://t.co/SxghMUNroE 4h ago
RT @MOFA_Taiwan: It takes #AllHandsOnDeck to tackle the climate crisis & create a new plan of environmental action. On #EarthDay2021… https://t.co/WTpFISmF9L 38 mins ago

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From Minnie Sun: “Rejection of a geographic labe

From Minnie Sun:
“Rejection of a geographic label for a virus that did, indeed, spread from China, is not to ignore that fact. It is not acquiescence to the Chinese government's failure to notify proper authorities, censorship of key information, and silencing of dissidents. Holding responsible parties accountable and not further harming Asians in the West are not mutually exclusive; rather, it is doing the Asian diaspora a disservice to not acknowledge the significance of our words, no matter our intention. Especially for those in a position of authority––governmental agencies, politicians, and community leaders: perennial refusal to recognize the consequences of anything shy of explicit racism is recklessness that borders immorality.” Full article linked here and in bio: https://english.cw.com.tw/article/article.action?id=2962

SF BAY AREA: For the very first time in San Franci

SF BAY AREA: For the very first time in San Francisco, activists from Burma, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Thailand plan to hold a Milk Tea Alliance Rally together to highlight their common struggle for freedom on Saturday, April 24, 2021, 1-3PM, at the Embarcadero Plaza in San Francisco, California. The event is jointly organized by the Free Burma Action Committee (FBAC), the Northern California Hong Kong Club, San Francisco Hong Kongers, Thai Rights Now, @taiwaneseam_org and Taiwanese American Federation of Northern California. As suggested by the term coined by the netizens, the Milk Tea Alliance describes the solidarity movement among the activists from Asian countries struggling for freedom, democracy, and human rights. The movement takes on a sense of urgency lately due to the political turmoil and persecutions of activists in Burma, Hong Kong, Thailand, and beyond. Masks are required and social distancing protocols will be observed; TAFNC will distribute Made in Taiwan face masks on site. FB event info linked here and in bio: https://fb.me/e/2lZ0gJKel?ti=icl

“In Taiwan, coconut-flavoured corn crisps are se

“In Taiwan, coconut-flavoured corn crisps are seen as good-luck charms that ensure high-tech machines co-operate. But why? People see these crisps as amulets – or good luck charms – that, if used properly, will ensure that technology behaves well and doesn’t break down. They place bags of this humble snack, known as ‘Kuai Kuai’, on or around vital machines in many of the island’s laboratories, banks and even hospitals to ensure the machines continue to do their jobs.” Hope Ngo for @bbcnews • full article linked here and in bio — https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20210414-the-good-luck-snack-that-makes-taiwans-technology-behave

The Taiwanese American Scholarship Fund (TASF) is

The Taiwanese American Scholarship Fund (TASF) is offering a grant opportunity to all eligible Taiwanese American Student Associations (or similar student groups affiliated with a college/university) spearheading an anti-Asian hate project in collaboration with other community groups.⁠⠀
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Projects can include advocacy for racial justice across racial lines, campaigns to urge colleges and universities to take action, and other measures to raise awareness and protect Asian and Pacific Islanders on college campuses and their communities.⁠⠀
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Established in 2014, TASF focuses on providing financial assistance to economically-challenged Taiwanese American youth. Its mission is to assist all Taiwanese American youth to have the opportunity to pursue higher education and build the foundation for a better future. To learn more, please visit: https://tascholarshipfund.org/

In honor of #nationallibraryweek, we're revisiting

In honor of #nationallibraryweek, we're revisiting this lovely piece by Cindy Lee (@genesandtonic) about receiving a letter from her childhood librarian @clevelandpubliclibrary and all the memories it evoked: ⁠
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"The library provided more than activities and books; the librarians would tip off my mom when interesting new books arrived, so she often brought home wondrous new worlds for me to explore." ⁠
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Read the full story (traditional Chinese translation available), here and in bio: http://www.taiwaneseamerican.org/2020/08/at-home-in-the-library-my-taiwanese-american-story/

Nylon Deng (鄭南榕) was a Taiwanese journalist,

Nylon Deng (鄭南榕) was a Taiwanese journalist, founder of "Freedom Era Weekly," and pro-democracy activist. This day in 1989, he set himself on fire to protest against the authoritarian regime of KMT and their suppression of free speech. ⁠
In 2017, April 7 became designated national “freedom of speech day" in his memory, and to raise public awareness of the importance of free speech in Taiwan's democracy.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) has set

The Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) has set up a relief fund following the train crash near Taroko Gorge in eastern Taiwan on Friday (April 2). The incident, which involved a train smashing into a truck outside a tunnel, claimed 50 lives. As the investigation continues, the government is asking for donations to go toward the treatment of the injured and financial support for the families of the victims. TAFNC is organizing a group donation among those living in the United States to the relief fund. They are a 501(c) non-profit and will provide receipts for tax deductions upon request. 100% of donations will be given to the fund. Learn more about the fund here and in bio: https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4168161

Sergeant Yihyjh Lang “Eddie” Chen's story is c

Sergeant Yihyjh Lang “Eddie” Chen's story is chronicled in the book, “The Long Road Home,” written by ABC News correspondent Martha Raddatz. It was later adapted into an eight-episode miniseries by National Geographic in 2017, in which Taiwanese American actor Kenny Leu portrays Chen: ⁠
“I knew all the facts about Eddie…the beloved Taiwanese American leader…the Asian man who, despite having accented English and faced the stereotypes, was the big brother to these American country boys. He was always smiling, and the man who these young boys went for guidance or a laugh. After all these years, as I witness these grown men weep with joy…my heart now understands too.”⁠
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Learn more about Sgt. Chen's life and legacy in this edition of the @tapdc newsletter, linked here and in bio: https://tacl.org/event-spotlight-tap-dc-wreaths-across-america/

IT'S NATIONAL POETRY MONTH! And we've got a few id

IT'S NATIONAL POETRY MONTH! And we've got a few ideas for celebrating:⁠
(1) If you're a middle school, high school, or college student - consider submitting original work (including poetry!) to the Betty L. Yu and Jin C. Yu Creative Writing Prizes, which closes on April 18. Guest judges include Charles Yu and Shawna Yang Ryan. ⁠
(2) Read or listen to work by Taiwanese and Taiwanese American poets! While not every Taiwanese American poet is represented here, we have a few suggestions:⁠
(from L-R)⁠
- FRONTIER TAIWAN: An Anthology of Modern Chinese Poetry⁠
- OBIT by Victoria Chang⁠
- MAP OF AN ONION by Kenji C. Liu⁠
- BOOK OF CORD by Leona Chen⁠
- THE EDGE OF THE ISLAND by Chen Li⁠
- Spoken word poetry by Kelly Tsai @kellytsai_nyc⁠
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Most of these book can be purchased at our affiliate bookshop (some proceeds benefit us at no additional cost to you): https://bookshop.org/shop/taiwaneseam_org

This year's tomb sweeping weekend feels particular

This year's tomb sweeping weekend feels particularly heavy as we remember the many, many loved ones we've lost recently.⁠
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I'll share on a personal note that I'm deeply appreciative of how we have cultural touchpoints like this that confront death, and how they help us navigate our grief more visibly and openly. As this festival proves to me, these rituals can become as cheerful as they are comforting. ⁠
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You can learn more about the tomb sweeping festival here (from Taiwan News): https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3395718⁠
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Clarissa Wei @dearclarissa for @vittleslondon: “

Clarissa Wei @dearclarissa for @vittleslondon: “Revenge Eating” in Taipei:
“Five years ago, the taxi driver would have likely expressed shock that I wanted to stay in Taiwan, and would cite low wages, threat of war, and a lower standard of living as good enough reasons to leave. Yet it is Taiwan’s universal healthcare and pandemic-free borders, not its food, which have convinced people that it’s not such a sleepy place after all. Taiwan’s ability to maintain normalcy in the midst of a global pandemic is part of a wider trend, in which the balance of power between the East and West is shifting. So much of the immigrant experience in the Western world is based on the notion that the West is inherently better than the East. It was on this assumption that our families uprooted our lives, moved to an entirely different country, and learned a new language. The pandemic has reversed that assumption, leaving many people questioning or abandoning their preconceptions about Western models of development – namely, that individualism is better for society than public cooperation.” Read her newsletter edition here and in bio: https://vittles.substack.com/p/revenge-eating-in-taipei

DEADLINE EXTENDED: The deadline for the inaugural

DEADLINE EXTENDED: The deadline for the inaugural Betty L. Yu and Jin C. Yu Creative Writing Prizes, established by author Charles Yu in honor of his parents, has been extended to APRIL 18, 2021. ⁠
Due to popular request, junior high and middle schoolers may enter; they will be considered with the high school applicants. ⁠
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Submissions may be in any literary genre including fiction, poetry, personal essays or other creative non-fiction. Submissions must be sent via Google Form and must be received by April 18, 2021 11:59 PM PT (extended deadline). In order to be eligible, submissions must be from writers of Taiwanese heritage (or writers with other significant connection to Taiwan), or have subject matter otherwise relevant to the Taiwanese or Taiwanese American experience. ⁠
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Learn more here (and linked in bio): http://www.taiwaneseamerican.org/2021/02/national-book-award-winner-charles-yu-establishes-prize-for-young-taiwanese-american-creative-writers/

From @_aurorarorua: A Chinese-language resource in

From @_aurorarorua:
A Chinese-language resource introducingn the concepts of white supremacy, colorism, and their contributions to anti-Asian violence.
為響應 #stopasianhate 我想透過此篇短文簡單的探討種族主義、白人優越主義及膚色主義在亞洲國家中顯現的方式。臺灣(和其他亞洲國家)雖為種族同質性相當高的國家，但不代表我們的社會不受白人優越主義及種族主義的影響。此篇僅作最基礎的FAQ問答，以下附上中文資源及連結，歡迎參考，更深入了解此議題，也歡迎大家跟身旁的家人朋友分享相關資訊。 Hello friends, I’ve seen a lot of great English language resources on #stopasianhate and anti-Asian racism in the past few weeks in light of the Atlanta shooting. Being an Asian woman who has had the privilege of living both in and outside of Asia, I'd like to talk about anti-Asian racism and how it relates to white supremacy and colourism. Though Taiwan (where I’m from) and most east Asian countries are relatively ethnically homogeneous, racism and white supremacy still manifest in the persistent colourism present in our social culture, beauty standards, and almost every other part of life. I wrote this as a very basic introduction to the concepts of white supremacy and colourism, because I haven't seen a lot of Chinese language resources on the topic, and I think it's important for there to be accessible information that we can share with our friends and family to spark conversations about this very important issue. More Chinese language resources can be found here (and linked in bio): tinyurl.com/stopaapihateCL I also encourage everybody to follow and, if possible, donate to the tagged organisations who do great work in raising awareness on anti-Asian racism and advocating for equality. #stopasianhate #stopaapihate

We know the Atlanta shootings have affected Asian

We know the Atlanta shootings have affected Asian Americans especially deeply. As NY Assemblymember Yuh-Line Niou @yuhline_niou put it so eloquently:⁠⠀
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“The women who died, they look just like me. They look like my mom, they look like my aunties, they look like my sister, they look like my niece, they look like us.” ⁠⠀
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AND (not but!) we believe that justice requires attention to the circumstances that make some groups particularly vulnerable. Taking note of our distinctions shouldn't discourage empathy; but they can make us more meaningful allies and advocates. Asian American women confront a particular misogyny that cuts across racial divides; immigrant massage workers and sex workers face working conditions daily fraught with danger and the possibility of violence. ⁠⠀
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The flattening of key characteristics weakens the power of collective concern. (1) People shouldn't have to share the exact narratives of our close friends and family to be worthy of dignity.⁠ (2) Anti-Asian racism should not be conflated with geopolitical concerns about CCP accountability. ⁠⠀
Our nuance and specificity can protect the people who need it most. ⁠⠀
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We know you are in pain. We hope we can be part of the community that heals you. ⁠⠀

In an op-ed for Los Angeles Times, Charles Yu writ

In an op-ed for Los Angeles Times, Charles Yu writes:⁠
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"Dehumanization cuts across race, sex, gender, religion. It has long affected Black and brown and Indigenous Americans, LGBTQ and other marginalized communities. As Asians in America, we should not be satisfied with being part of someone else’s story, some grand narrative handed down to us. I hope we can strive to tell our own stories, and to use whatever platform or ability we have to also amplify the stories of other marginalized people who seek the same thing." ⁠
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Read his full piece, linked here and in bio: https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2021-03-21/asian-americans-assimilation-hatred-dehumanization⁠
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Feature photo by Jason Leung (@xninjason)

About

Founded in 2006, TaiwaneseAmerican.org is a web portal site highlighting many of the interesting people, events and organizations that make up Taiwanese America. It is both a volunteer-driven website and a non-profit organization that intends to connect and promote those who identify with the Taiwanese identity, heritage, or culture. By establishing our niche within the broader Asian Pacific American and mainstream communities, we hope to collectively contribute to the wonderful and diverse mosaic that America represents.

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