Adventures in Multicultural Living: Balancing family and friends, public and private at Chinese New Year's - AnnArbor.com

From ACJ Advisory Board Member Frances Kai-Hwa Wang:

Posted: Jan 30, 2011 at 6:12 AM [Today]

I woke up early on the first Sunday of the year and stumbled about my kitchen, dirty dishes from New Year’s Eve still piled up, thinking that I should call Mr. Aramaki in a thinly-veiled attempt to get invited to Oshougatsu (Japanese New Year’s) at his house or to get him to invite me to tag along with him to the Shimouras’ Oshougatsu. I think about this every year on New Year’s Day as I do not really know where else to go. I am not enmeshed in the Japanese American community here as I am in California. Japanese New Year’s is big, going from house to house, eating oneself into oblivion on ozoni, sushi, sashimi, tempura, gobo, namasu, mochi…

Then (sound effect of a record screeching to a halt), I realized that it was Jan. 2, and I had missed New Year’s Day completely.

Doh!

But that’s ok. I still have Chinese New Year’s on Feb. 3 this year.
Of course, that is what I always say about my Christmas letter that never gets out, “I’ll send it out at New Year’s.” Then Chinese New Year’s (February)…Tibetan New Year’s (March)…Nepali New Year’s (April)…

click on link for more: Balancing family and friends, public and private at Chinese New Year's - AnnArbor.com

Adventures in Multicultural Living: The legacy of the Vincent Chin case for the Asian American civil rights movement and all of us - AnnArbor.com

Posted: Jan 2, 2011 at 6:12 AM [Today]
I recently had the honor of participating in the installation of the State Bar of Michigan’s 34th Michigan Legal Milestone Plaque, “From a Whisper to a Rallying Cry,” which recognizes the many legal changes that have come about because of the Vincent Chin case and benefit all of us, including minimum sentencing guidelines, victim’s impact statements, the importance of sentencing hearings, recognition of the risk that goes with changes in venue, as well as the role of this case as the catalyst for the Asian American civil rights movement.

Outgoing Mayor of Ferndale Craig Covey, who also installed an accompanying Vincent Chin memorial plaque by the City of Ferndale, recognized the struggles for equality throughout American history by “almost every group that has made this place home” including Native Americans, African Americans, Chinese Americans, Irish Americans, Catholics, Jews, Muslims, gays and lesbians, and said:

"Equal justice in America is not a given. It is not a guarantee…rather…it is a constant struggle. It takes vigilance and effort and energy. We must always strive toward fair and equal justice, knowing that it may never be fully achieved."

click on link for more: The legacy of the Vincent Chin case for the Asian American civil rights movement and all of us - AnnArbor.com

34th Michigan Legal Milestone plaque commemorates Vincent Chin case www.legalnews.com

By John Minnis
Legal News

There never will be justice for Vincent Chin, but a Michigan Legal Milestone plaque on Woodward at Nine Mile will make sure he is never forgotten.
In the early 1980s, the American economy was in a recession, and American automakers were especially hard hit. Japanese imports were making inroads into the American market. “It’s because of you … that we’re out of work,” Chin’s attackers said at the time.

click on link for more www.legalnews.com/oakland/1004154/

Adventures in Multicultural Living: "Did you eat means I love you" Deciphering our families at Christmas - AnnArbor.com

from American Citizens for Justice Advisory Board member Frances Kai-Hwa Wang in AnnArbor.com:

A few days before Christmas last year, I cheekily signed off an email to family and friends, “I’ve got a date with Robert Downey, Jr. on Christmas day.”

My mother was pleased to hear that I was going to be with friends on Christmas day since I could not go home, and she asked my brother if he knew anything about my new friend, Robert Downey, Jr.

My brother told her that Robert Downey, Jr. was an actor.

My mother worried about the low income and job insecurity of actors.

My brother explained that Robert Downey, Jr. was not that kind of actor, and that his movie, Sherlock Holmes, was opening Christmas Day.

Oh.

Gotta love our parents.

click on link for more: "Did you eat means I love you" Deciphering our families at Christmas - AnnArbor.com

additional media coverage of vincent chin plaque installation

AngryAsianMan.com!
http://blog.angryasianman.com/2010/12/new-plaque-commemorates-vincent-chin.html

Chicago Tribune (AP)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-mi-chinmemorial,0,581915.story

great thorough article that begins with quotes from Van Ong the nurse on duty that night and six photos:
A Rallying Cry: Vincent Chin's Death and the Birth of A Movement - Ferndale, MI Patch

Speeches from Vincent Chin case Legal Milestone Plaque Installation

Links to the speeches and content at the Vincent Chin case 34th Michigan Legal Milestone Plaque Installation Ceremony, December 22, 2010, Ferndale, Michigan

Covey's Corner: Full Text of the Mayor's Remarks, Vincent Chin Memorial:
Covey's Corner: Full Text of the Mayor's Remarks, Vincent Chin Memorial

Full Text of Frances Kai-Hwa Wang's Remarks: The facts of the Vincent Chin case and the activism that followed

link to content of Roland Hwang's remarks:
The legal changes that occured because of the Vincent Chin case

link to content of State Bar Association of Michigan Janet Welch's remarks: Michigan Legal Milestones

Full text of both plaques:
Milestone Plaque Wording

Plaques honoring Vincent Chin case unveiled in Ferndale

Media coverage of installation of Vincent Chin case 34th Legal Milestone Plaque by State Bar of Michigan on December 22, 2010, Ferndale, Michigan

Channel 7 WXYZ tv: a great video story here, with interviews with two of Vincent Chin's friends and part of Frances' speech:
Plaque honoring murdered Asian man, Vincent Chin, unveiled in Ferndale

Detroit News article with video (with summary of case) by AAJA member Ankur Dholakia:
Vincent Chin memorial unveiled in Ferndale | detnews.com | The Detroit News

The AP! Fabulous photos:
Ferndale memorial unveiled to honor Vincent Chin - Times Union

Michigan Radio print article:
MICHIGAN RADIO: Michigan Asian Americans, lawyers honor Chin (2010-12-22)

Great summary with key quotes from Oakland County Daily Tribune and Macomb Daily:
Legal milestone in Ferndale marks Vincent Chin fatal beating case - dailytribune.com
same article as above:
Legal milestone in Ferndale marks Vincent Chin fatal beating case - macombdaily.com

Observer Eccentric Newspapers:
Ferndale roadside plaque honors memory of hate-crime victim | hometownlife.com | the Observer & Eccentric Newspapers and Hometown Weeklies

AngryAsianMan.com!
http://blog.angryasianman.com/2010/12/new-plaque-commemorates-vincent-chin.html

Chicago Tribune (AP)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-mi-chinmemorial,0,581915.story

great thorough article that begins with quotes from Van Ong the nurse on duty that night and six photos:
A Rallying Cry: Vincent Chin's Death and the Birth of A Movement - Ferndale, MI Patch

Legal News
www.legalnews.com/oakland/1004154/

Articles that ran before the ceremony:
Great Detroit Free Press article with quotes from Roland Hwang, Jim Shimoura, Mayor Craig Covey, and Van Ong who was the emergency room nurse-on-duty at the hospital when they brought in Vincent Chin that night, as well as a summary of the legal changes the occured:
Vincent Chin's beating death spurred changes in Michigan law | freep.com | Detroit Free Press

Patch.com article with photo of workers installing the plaque:
Ferndale To Honor Vincent Chin, Asian Pacific American Movement - Ferndale, MI Patch

more links to other articles coming soon.