more from Jon Jang:

more from jazz musician Jon Jang, reprinted with permission:

Just for the record, excuse the pun, all of the Asian American musicians who were on my recording ,Are You Chinese or Charlie Chan?, not only became leaders and recorded their first recording after this recording and the only time the five of played together, but were the same or close to the age of Vincent Chin: Glenn Horiuchi was two months older than Vincent and not on the recording, Mark Izu and Jon Jang a year apart from Vincent, Francis Wong, Fred Ho and Anthony Brown two years. It revivifies a new meaning to the statement,"It could have been me." According to Emeritus Professor Olly Wilson, the nascent awareness of institutionalizing of African American music studies came forth during a conference after the assassination of Martin Luther King on April 4, 1968.

What strikes me are the parallels between all those who were 27 at the time, and this new generation of young activists who are now 27. I'm honored and humbled to stand in between these conversations.

Jon Jang on "Are You Chinese or Charlie Chan?" #iamvincentchin

From jazz musician Jon Jang, reprinted with permission:

My personal statement about the murder of Vincent Chin on my second recording Are You Chinese or Charlie Chan? in 1983. This is the first and only recording that has Jon Jang, Francis Wong, Fred Ho, Mark Izu and Anthony Brown. After this recording, all of the Asian American musicians on this recording made their first recording as a leader: Fred (1985), Mark (1992), Francis (1993), Anthony (1996).The confluence of different struggles such as Redress & Reparations, Vincent Chin, Pilipino national movement (Marcos passing in 1986), anti-immigrant legislation, etcJon Jang & the Pan Asian Arkestra formed in 1988.

Listening to Jon Jang's 1984 "Are you Chinese or Charlie Chan"

Listening to Jon Jang's 1984 "Are you Chinese or Charlie Chan" tonight. Wow.

Are you Chinese or Charlie Chan? Charlie was a white man.
With his two buckteeth and his eyes pulled back,
Vincent Chin lies dead from his racist attack.
Are you Chinese or Charlie Chan? Charlie was a white man.

More at: The Sound of Struggle: Black Revolutionary Nationalism and Asian American Jazz | Loren Kajikawa - Academia.edu