Asian Descent

From K-Pop to Hamnet: The Incredible Range of Asian American Talent in This Year’s Oscar Race Asian American and Asian-diaspora filmmakers are in the hunt in this year’s Acadamy Awards race. If you thought Chloé Zhao was done winning after Nomadland , think again. The Chinese American director is back with Hamnet , snagging two of the night’s biggest honors: a nomination for best director and another for best adapted screenplay. She’s officially the second woman ever to be nominated for directing twice, and she’s doing it on her own terms, bringing heart-wrenching literature to life...

Asian American and Asian-diaspora filmmakers are in the hunt in this year’s Acadamy Awards race. #oscars #academyawards #asianamerican #aapi #hamnet #kpdh

Asian and Asian American Authors Lead 2026 National Book Critics Circle Finalists The National Book Critics Circle (NBCC) has announced its finalists for the 2026 awards, highlighted by Asian and Asian American voices across nearly every category. As reported by The American Bazaar , the shortlist reflects how diasporic perspectives and Asian narratives have become increasingly central to America’s literary landscape. Prominent nominees include Vietnamese American author Viet Thanh Nguyen for his work in criticism, To Save and to Destroy , and Japanese American novelist...

The National Book Critics Circle (NBCC) has announced its finalists for the 2026 awards, highlighted by Asian and Asian American voices across nearly every category. #asianamerican #aapi #books #novels #nationalbookciticscircle

‘KPop Demon Hunters’ makes history with two Golden Globe wins KPop Demon Hunters has been dominating since it dropped on Netflix last June. Still, it’s nice to see it also get some recognition and awards love. The beloved animated movie snagged Best Animated Feature at the 2026 Golden Globes this week, and EJAE, the absolute powerhouse behind the hit "Golden”, took home Best Original Song, accompanied by her songwriting team. EJAE made history as the first Korean-American to take home that trophy. But it was what she said that really made an...

KPop Demon Hunters has been dominating since it dropped on Netflix last June. Still, it’s nice to see it also get some recognition and awards love. #kpdh #goldenglobes #kpopdemonhunters #ejae

New State Laws Are Shaping AAPI Education in America A push to mandate Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AAPI) history in K-12 public school curriculums is gaining traction across the country with the hope of one day meaningfully integrating AAPI experiences into the breadth of America’s historical narrative, as per a recent Associated Press (AP) article . AAPI history has almost completely been absent in the U.S. education system, creating a significant gap that allows racial stereotypes to otherwise persist in ignorance....

A push to mandate Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AAPI) history in K-12 public school curriculums is gaining traction across the country. #education #aapi #asianamerican

Remembering Christine Choy: A Pioneer of Asian American Documentary Film Documentary filmmaker Christine Choy recently passed away at the age of 73, as reported by The 19th . Her death marks the end of an extraordinary career spent bringing much needed attention to marginalized voices and systemic injustice. While her filmography included over 85 works, Choy is perhaps best remembered for the 1987 documentary, Who Killed Vincent Chin? , which tackled the murder of Chinese American autoworker Vincent Chin and became a landmark work exposing anti-Asian racism and...

Documentary filmmaker Christine Choy recently passed away at the age of 73. Her death marks the end of an extraordinary career spent bringing much needed attention to marginalized voices and systemic injustice. #christinechoy #documentaryfilm #aapi #asianamerican

Lucy Liu’s New Film ‘Rosemead’ Confronts Mental Health Stigma Rosemead , the new film starring and produced by Lucy Liu, is a dramatic turn for the actress that’s getting some serious attention for its dialogue about a topic often shrouded in silence: mental health stigma in immigrant families. In the film, set in the Chinese American community of Rosemead in the San Gabriel Valley, Liu portrays Irene, a mother dealing with both her own terminal illness and her teenage son Joe's diagnosis of schizophrenia. Liu opened up about the heart of the movie in...

Rosemead, the new film starring and produced by Lucy Liu, is a dramatic turn for the actress that’s getting some serious attention for its dialogue about a topic often shrouded in silence: mental health stigma in immigrant families. #mentalillness #lucyliu #rosemead #aapi #asianamerican

Simu Liu Says Hollywood’s Asian Representation is 'Appalling' Barbie actor Simu Liu, known for his starring role in Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings , recently sparked a viral conversation after taking to social media to call out the film industry's systemic prejudices and "appalling" lack of Asian representation. Liu's comments followed a Threads post (below) lamenting the absence of Asian men in romantic comedies. In his powerful statement, Liu wrote: "Put some Asians in literally anything right now. the amount of backslide in our...

Barbie actor Simu Liu, known for his starring role in Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, recently sparked a viral conversation after taking to social media to call out the film industry's systemic prejudices and "appalling" lack of Asian representation. #hollywood #asianamerican #aa

Awkwafina Explores Asian American Cuisine in Apple TV's New Culinary Adventure Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning actor and comedian Nora Lum, better known as Awkwafina, is heading to the kitchen, and she’s taking viewers along for the ride. Apple TV recently announced it is developing a new eight-episode unscripted food series titled The Unlikely Cook with Awkwafina , with the star both headlining and executive producing the show. The series is described as a personal, cross-country culinary adventure that will see Awkwafina exploring the dynamic world of...

Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning actor and comedian Nora Lum, better known as #Awkwafina, is heading to the kitchen, and she’s taking viewers along for the ride. #appletv

CNN Reports Surge in Anti-Indian Hate Across the Far Right Indian Americans, including public figures like Vivek Ramaswamy and FBI Director Kash Patel, are now being openly targeted by racists in political corners of the internet. According to CNN , what was once the rants of a bunch of fringe radicals has moved right into the mainstream, with xenophobic slurs, calls for deportation, and attacks against both race and religion now made openly. This wave of hostility doesn’t just come from typical anti-immigrant rhetoric. Commenters on social media...

Indian Americans, including public figures like Vivek Ramaswamy and FBI Director Kash Patel, are now being openly targeted by racists in political corners of the internet. #indianamerican #racism #immigration #h1bvisas #aapi #asianamerican

KPop Demon Hunters Star Admits She Once “Hated That I Looked Asian” Arden Cho, the voice of Rumi in Netflix’s animated smash hit KPop Demon Hunters , has recently shared a personal struggle that’s probably familiar to many Asian Americans who grew up without seeing themselves reflected in media. In an interview with the BBC World Service’s Global Women series , Cho spoke about her childhood in Texas and the self-reflected racism she battled. “I hated that I looked Asian,” she admitted to the BBC. “That I didn’t have blue eyes and blonde hair, because that’s...

Arden Cho, the voice of Rumi in Netflix’s animated smash hit KPop Demon Hunters, has recently shared a personal struggle that’s probably familiar to many Asian Americans who grew up without seeing themselves reflected in media. #kpdh #kpopdemonhunters #ardencho #aapi #asianamerican

New Streaming Channel Focusing on American Asian Stories Launches on Amazon Prime JoySauce, a streaming network and multimedia hub aimed specifically at the AAPI community and its allies, is looking to shift the spotlight toward joy, celebration, and candid storytelling for the "American Asian" audience. The network’s launch and mission were detailed in an exclusive report by The Hollywood Reporter . Founded by serial entrepreneur and GeekWire chairman Jonathan Sposato, JoySauce was conceived to focus on "more celebratory stories." Sposato has noted that while narratives...

JoySauce, a streaming network and multimedia hub aimed specifically at the AAPI community and its allies, is looking to shift the spotlight toward joy, celebration, and candid storytelling for the "American Asian" audience. #joysauce #amazonprime #aapi #asianamerican

From Crazy Rich Asians to Wicked: Why Director Jon M. Chu Says Identity Is Hollywood's Next Blockbuster It’s a familiar story, especially if you’ve spent your life navigating two worlds: the pressure to achieve success in the American system, often by subtly downplaying the parts of yourself that make you different. For years, we’ve heard that message loud and clear. Blend in. Fit in. That’s why listening to director Jon M. Chu talk about his career is so fascinating. The guy who gave us Crazy Rich Asians is now bringing Wicked (with the sequel Wicked: For Good coming out on November 21) to...

Wicked: For Good Director Jon M. Chu asked himself: “What is the movie that I can only make? What’s the thing that scares me the most? And the thing that scared me the most was my cultural identity crisis, talking about being an Asian American.” #wicked #crazyrichasians #aapi

Top 10 Asian American Television Actors These actors have truly defined modern television. Whether on network, cable, or streaming, each of them has earned acclaim by finding iconic roles while also achieving a lasting cultural impact. These actors haven't just found fame. They’ve genuinely moved the needle for representation on the small screen. 1. Sandra Oh Golden Globes. Emmy nominations. Sandra Oh has built a career around defining roles, whether as the fierce Dr. Cristina Yang on Grey's Anatomy or the complex Eve Polastri on...

These actors have truly defined modern television. Whether on network, cable, or streaming, each of them has earned acclaim by finding iconic roles while also achieving a lasting cultural impact. #television #emmy #asianamerican #aapi

KATSEYE and HUNTR/X 2026 Grammy Noms Could Make History Nominations for the 68th Grammy Awards were revealed this week, and music fans everywhere were greeted not only by some familiar names but by what could mark a turning point in how the music industry recognizes women in global pop, particularly those from the Asian American and Asian diaspora. As ABC News reported, the 2026 Grammy nominations highlight women from K-pop and K-pop-inspired acts in several major categories. The fictional K-pop girl group from Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters...

The recently announced 2026 Grammy nominations highlight women from K-pop and K-pop-inspired acts in several major categories. Both HUNTR/X and KATSEYE have a chance make history. #grammyawards #huntrx #kpdh #kpop #katseye #aapi #asianamerican

How a Chinese Immigrant Shaped the Look of One of Disney’s Most Iconic Films Disney’s 1942 classic Bambi defined an entire generation, and after years of re-releases on home video, in theatres and on streaming, you probably have no problem picturing its dreamy forest filled with soft pastels, drifting mist, and sunlight melting through trees that look more like a painting than a cartoon. You might be surprised to learn this beautiful, ethereal look came from the vision of one man: Tyrus Wong, a Chinese-born artist whose name appeared in the credits simply as a...

You might be surprised to learn the beautiful, ethereal look of Disney's Bambi came from the vision of one man: Tyrus Wong, a Chinese-born artist whose name appeared in the credits simply as a “background artist.” #bambi #disney #tyruswong #asianamerican #aapi

John Cho on Finding Himself as an Asian American Artist Before the fame, before Harold & Kumar and Searching , John Cho was just a college student trying to find his place in the world. In a recent interview about that time in his life, he shares that transferring to UC Berkeley was “the first independent, proactive thing that I did for myself,” a decision that marked a turning point for him. Once there, he suddenly felt a freedom he hadn’t known before. Surrounded by students from all walks of life, he realized he could explore who he was...

Before the fame, before Harold & Kumar and Searching, John Cho was just a college student trying to find his place in the world. #johncho #ucberkeley #asianamerican #aapi

Moving Documentary Recognizes the “Godfather of Asian American Media” The documentary film Third Act is more than a biography retrospective. It's a profound, intimate exploration of art and activism, as well as the complicated beauty of a father-son relationship. Directed by Tadashi Nakamura, the film shines a spotlight on his father, Robert A. Nakamura, a figure who "Generations of artists call… 'the godfather of Asian American media,'" but who his son simply calls "Dad". Initially conceived as a career retrospective, the film evolves into something deeply...

The documentary film Third Act is more than a biography retrospective. It's a profound, intimate exploration of art and activism, as well as the complicated beauty of a father-son relationship. #robertnakamura #tadashinakamura #thirdact #aapi #asianamerican

KPop Demon Hunters 2: The Good, The Bad, and The Spider-Verse? Did you, like everybody else on the planet, fall head over heels for KPop Demon Hunters ? Then get ready for some good and not so good (bad) news. The good news is that KPop Demon Hunters 2 is happening! Yay! The bad news? You're gonna have to wait a while. SlashFilm , citing a Bloomberg report, says that the animated sequel is going to be released in 2029. That’s four years after the original’s debut, which means we'll be twiddling thumbs until the end of the decade for the return of our...

Did you, like everybody else on the planet, fall head over heels for KPop Demon Hunters? Then get ready for some good and not so good (bad) news. The good news is that KPop Demon Hunters 2 is happening! The bad news? You're gonna have to wait a while. #kpopdemonhunters #kpdh #asianamerican #aapi

DreamWorks’ Forgotten Island Puts Filipino Mythology Front and Center DreamWorks Animation’s upcoming feature Forgotten Island is shaping up to be something pretty special. The film stands out not only for its story rooted in Philippine mythology but also for who’s telling it. Hollywood has made some progress on Asian representation, but full-length animated features drawn from specific Southeast Asian cultures have been almost nonexistent. As Rolling Stone Philippines noted, it’s “the first international film by a major studio to highlight Filipino stories.”...

DreamWorks Animation’s upcoming feature Forgotten Island is shaping up to be something pretty special. The film stands out not only for its story rooted in Philippine mythology but also for who’s telling it. #forgottenisland #dreamworks

Zohran Mamdani Makes History as NYC’s First Muslim and South Asian Mayor Zohran Mamdani has been elected as New York’s 111th mayor, as reported by CNN . Born in Uganda to Indian parents, including celebrated filmmaker Mira Nair, and raised in NYC, Mamdani has become the city’s first Muslim mayor, its first of South Asian heritage, and its youngest in more than a century. For New York’s immigrant and South Asian communities, Mamdani’s win felt personal. The 34-year-old democratic socialist from Queens leaned into his story as an American Muslim and the son of...

Zohran Mamdani has been elected as New York’s 111th mayor. Born in Uganda to Indian parents and raised in NYC, Mamdani has become the city’s first Muslim mayor, its first of South Asian heritage, and its youngest in more than a century. #zohranmamdani #nyc #newyork

Yonsei and the Power of Remembering Japanese American History Actress and filmmaker Rachel Michiko Whitney is turning her family’s layered, often unspoken history into art with her moving documentary short, Yonsei (a term that means fourth-generation Japanese American). The film has been traveling its way through the festival circuit, and Whitney sat down with Deadline to talk about what it means to honor your past while also working to create something entirely new. What started as an attempt to tell her mother’s story as a Japanese American actress...

Actress and filmmaker Rachel Michiko Whitney is turning her family’s layered, often unspoken history into art with her moving documentary short, Yonsei. #documentary #yonsei #rachelmichikowhitney

Top 10 Books That Redefined What It Means to Be Asian American Asian American literature has gone mainstream. Finally. What started as a few trailblazing voices has become a full-on literary movement reshaping how our country understands family, identity, and belonging. Here are ten books that didn’t just tell great stories. They changed the culture. 1. The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan (1989) Amy Tan’s interwoven tales of Chinese immigrant mothers and their American-born daughters gave voice to an experience that millions recognized but had rarely seen...

Asian American literature has gone mainstream. Finally. What started as a few trailblazing voices has become a full-on literary movement reshaping how our country understands family, identity, and belonging. #books #novels #fiction #aapi #asianamerican

How Asian American Enrollment Is Reshaping Harvard After the End of Affirmative Action Harvard’s student body is beginning to look different these days. And it isn’t by accident. Recent data reveals a clear trend. Asian American enrollment is on the up, while the number of Black and Hispanic students is falling. The Times of India called it Harvard’s “diversity in flux,” a change in the makeup of our universities. Now some are sending out an alarm. The Harvard College admissions data for the class of 2029 showed a mix of 11.5 percent Black students, 11 percent Hispanic, and 41...

Harvard’s student body is beginning to look different these days. And it isn’t by accident. Recent data reveals a clear trend. Asian American enrollment is on the up, while the number of Black and Hispanic students is falling. #harvard #affirmativeaction #admissions

Are Democrats Taking Asian American Voters for Granted? When DNC Vice Chair Shasti Conrad told Fox News , “We lost ground with many of our communities … The Asian American community was one of them,” she wasn’t just criticizing a struggling campaign in one state. Her words landed like a challenge, but with echoes that sound far beyond the 2025 gubernatorial election happening in New Jersey. Conrad pointed out a sharp shift that began in 2024: “Where we found … more votes that did go towards [Donald Trump] … there was a dip in the support for...

When DNC Vice Chair Shasti Conrad told Fox News, “We lost ground with many of our communities … The Asian American community was one of them,” she wasn’t just rehashing a tough presidential campaign loss back in 2024. She was issuing a very specific warning.

KPop Demon Hunters Sparks Major Merch Drop: Mattel Dolls Coming 2026 KPop Demon Hunters has captured streaming records, the zeitgeist, and the hearts and minds of die-hard fans everywhere. What started as a stylish, demon-slaying girl-power fantasy became a global phenomenon, even sneaking onto the Billboard charts this year. But the animated musical also caught Netflix flatfooted, leaving the streamer running to catch up. For years Netflix famously avoided diving into merchandising, but when KPop Demon Hunters exploded into a worldwide obsession, fans...

For years Netflix avoided diving into merchandising, but when KPop Demon Hunters exploded into a worldwide obsession, fans across the globe wanted dolls, collectibles, posters, anything HUNTR/X-related, except there wasn’t anything to buy. Now that’s officially changed. #KpopDemonHunters #Netflix

The First Asian American Rabbi on Finding Faith, Identity, and Radical Compassion Rabbi Angela Buchdahl has never fit neatly into anyone’s box. As the first Asian American to be ordained as both a rabbi and a cantor (and the first woman to lead New York City’s historic Central Synagogue in its 185-year history) Buchdahl spent her career expanding the idea of who gets to belong in Jewish life. Her new memoir, Heart of a Stranger , tells that story in full. Born in Seoul in 1972 to an American Jewish father and a Korean Buddhist mother, Buchdahl grew up in Tacoma,...

As the first Asian American to be ordained as both a rabbi and a cantor, Rabbi Angela Buchdahl spent her career expanding the idea of who gets to belong in Jewish life. #angelabuchdahl #judaism

Top 10 Asian American Social Media Influencers in 2025 Having influence means more than just counting the number of followers someone has on social media. It’s about shaping culture, building communities, and defining what authenticity looks like in the real world, too. From TikTok stars to business moguls, these Asian American creators have used their platforms to amplify representation, inspire creativity, and redefine what success looks like. Here are ten of the most powerful voices shaping the social media landscape today. 1. Bella Poarch —...

From TikTok stars to business moguls, these Asian American creators have used their platforms to amplify representation, inspire creativity, and redefine what success looks like. #influencer #socialmedia

NBC News Axes NBC Asian America Among Other Cuts in Restructuring NBC News recently laid off 150 staffers in what the company is calling a necessary restructuring tied to the split between NBC News and MSNBC, as reported by The Wrap and The Advocate . The team behind NBC Asian America, a group of dedicated journalists who spent years telling stories about our community that mainstream media often overlooked, was included in the layoff. For many of us in the Asian American community (and other marginalized groups) this move is more than just corporate...

NBC News recently laid off 150 staffers in what the company is calling a necessary restructuring tied to the split between NBC News and MSNBC.The team behind NBC Asian America was included in the layoff. #NBCNews #asianamerican #aapi

Merit and Opportunity in the Changing World of STEM According to recent commentary from the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), Asian students are a key component to...

According to recent commentary from the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), Asian students are a key component to addressing America’s shortage of STEM talent. #STEM #admissions #asianamerican #aapi

Erik Spoelstra Becomes First Asian American to Coach USA Men’s Basketball Erik Spoelstra has been named head coach of the U.S. men’s national basketball team , a breakthrough moment for Asian American representation. As the first coach of Filipino descent to lead Team USA, Spoelstra brings deep basketball credentials as head coach of the Miami Heat, taking the franchise to six NBA Finals and championships in 2012 and 2013. As of 2025, he is the NBA’s longest‑tenured head coach with one franchise. He will lead Team USA in both the 2027 FIBA Men’s World Cup and the...

The Miami Heat's Erik Spoelstra has been named head coach of the U.S. men’s national basketball team, a breakthrough moment for Asian American representation. #olympics #nba #erikspoelstra #asianamerican #aapi