july 15, 2015 international examiner

INTERNATIONAL EXAMINER July 15, 2015 – August 4, 2015 — 1

FREE EST. 1974 — SEATTLE VOLUME 42, NUMBER 14 — July 15, 2015 – August 4, 2015

THE NEWSPAPER OF THE NORTHWEST ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN COMMUNITIES. FIND YOUR INSPIRASIAN.

PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGEPAIDSEATTLE, WAPermit No. 2393

Seattle’s Asian Pacific Islander newspaper for over 40 years First and third Wednesdays each month.

UndocumentedAPIs no longer Alone In struggle

| PAge 6

2015 Pacific Reader Part II | 2 ARC Dance aims for accessibility | Page 10

2 — July 15, 2015 – August 4, 2015 INTERNATIONAL EXAMINER

Please share your concerns, your solutions, and your voices. Send a letter to the editor to [email protected] with the subject line “Letter to the Editor.”

YOUR OPINION COUNTS

IE OPINION

IESTAFF

Established in 1974, the International Examiner is the only non-profit pan-Asian American media organization in the country. Named after the International District in Seattle, the “IE” strives to create awareness within and for our APA communities. 409 Maynard Ave. S. #203, Seattle, WA 98104. (206) 624-3925. [email protected].

IE BOARD OF DIRECTORSRon Chew, President

Gary Iwamoto, Secretary Maria Batayola, Treasurer

Arlene Oki, At-Large

ADVERTISING MANAGER Lexi Potter

[email protected]

BUSINESS MANAGEREllen Suzuki

[email protected]

CREATIVE DIRECTORRyan [email protected]

OPERATIONS MANAGERJacob Chin

[email protected]

EDITOR IN CHIEFTravis Quezon

[email protected]

ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR Izumi Hansen

[email protected]

ARTS EDITORAlan Chong Lau

[email protected]

HERITAGE EDITORJacqueline Wu

[email protected]

CALENDAR EDITOR Nina Huang

[email protected]

PROOFREADERAnna Carriveau

LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER Keoke Silvano

CONTRIBUTORS Sharon Maeda

Susan Kunimatsu Roxanne Ray Yayoi Winfrey

Frank Abe Linda Anuasasan

Adrienne Ip Bruce Fulton Jasmin Eng

Shawn Porter

$35 a year, $60 for two years—24 in-depth issues a year! Go to www.iexaminer.org and click on the “Subscribe” button or mail a check to: 409 Maynard Ave. S. #203, Seattle, WA 98104.

Have the IE delivered to your doorstep

International Examiner409 Maynard Ave. S. #203

Seattle, WA 98104

Tel: (206) 624-3925Fax: (206) 624-3046

Website: www.iexaminer.org

By Sharon MaedaSpecial IE Columnist

In Washington’s Asian Pacific Islander American communities, half of us don’t count! That’s one way of putting the disturbing truth that only 50 percent of all eligible APIAs are even registered to vote.

If we’re not registered, we can’t vote in local, state, or national elections. If you didn’t register, you were not able to vote for the first African American president. If you’re not registered, you can’t help decide who is best to make decisions about our children’s education. We can’t decide whether we want to support funding for affordable housing, libraries or public transportation as well as mayors, council members, legislators, judges, and more.

It’s not all our fault. It’s no wonder that 47 percent of the APIA electorate doesn’t identify as a member of either Democratic or Republican parties. There has never been a comprehensive effort by either party to recruit and register voters in APIA communities.

In my family, I can’t remember anyone telling me I had to register to vote; it was automatic like going to school or brushing teeth. There was this community sentiment that, as Japanese Americans, we needed to vote to ensure that we elected people who would not put us in concentration camps again.

I do remember the big celebration when my paternal grandfather became a naturalized citizen. And, the first time he went to vote, my sister and I—both in elementary school—got to go with him. He lifted us up, one at a time. I don’t remember whether I pulled the curtain shut or actually pulled the lever to vote. But, that image is ingrained in my brain. Today, I am a perfect voter—meaning I vote in every election. If all the eligible APIA folks actually registered and voted, we would become a formidable force in electoral politics. And, you better believe we would see officials more often than just during election cycles when they want our donations and our votes.

There are many APIAs in Washington who come from countries and cultures

where there is no such tradition of democracy. I’ve been told that the words “vote” and “democracy” do not exist in some Asian languages.

And, then there are barriers, especially to new Americans. First is language. Ballot initiatives are written in such a complex manner that even we English speakers have trouble figuring out the text. Especially when we have to vote “no” if we mean “yes.” King County Elections director, Sherril Huff, has cited the high cost of translation as the reason that Martin Luther King Jr. County will not translate voter pamphlets into more than the federally required Chinese and Vietnamese. Huff is not running for re-election. Here’s a great chance to elect a King County Elections director who is more responsive to language issues.

There’s no question that Washington is not the new Jim Crow South where all

kinds of barriers are being put into place in an orchestrated manner.

But, much closer to home, the ACLU and allies had to go to court. Last year, the federal court ruled that Yakima violated the Voting Rights Act by the manner in which they had drawn the city council districts, thus denying equal access for Latinos.

And, while the first district elections for Seattle City Council has an array of diverse candidates, there’s only one district that is “majority minority,” District 2, which covers the Rainier Valley, International District, and Beacon Hill where the vast majority of people of color live.

Today, there’s a flurry of voting rights efforts going on. From exploring non-citizen voter participation to advocacy for ballots and voting materials in additional languages. The legislature continues to wrestle with a voting rights bill, despite failing again this session. But language and systemic barriers and cultural histories cannot account for the astounding and shameful lack of APIA voter registration.

I’ve heard community folks say it doesn’t matter who gets elected. Yet, we all are passionate about the issues that affect our job, health and safety, or family. It’s time to be part of the solution by registering and becoming an informed voter. If we registered just 25 percent more APIAs in Washington, we could change the outcome of local elections. If not for you, do your family and community a favor. Register to vote. If you’re already registered, find a neighbor, friend, or family members and help them

get registered; if all of us did that, we would be at 100 percent.

APIA leaders are involved in very exciting national voter education and participation campaigns. APIAVotes, a national voter participation organization, has joined forces with Seattle’s Asian Pacific Islander Americans for Civic Engagement (APACE) to increase voter participation in Washington. And, for the first time, health and human service organizations are able to provide patients and clients with voter registration materials. Ethnic-specific voter participation efforts are learning from the Korean Voters Association and others in decades past. Check with your trusted community service agencies like Asian Counseling and Referral Service (ACRS), International Community Health Services (ICHS), and others. Or go directly to: https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/myvote/

ACRS and Asian Pacific Islander Coalition (APIC) and its partners are intensifying voter engagement efforts and taking the community’s civic engagement to the next level. ACRS recently hired Monica Ng as their Civic Engagement Manager to assist ACRS and APIC partners in voter engagement efforts. Stay tuned for training opportunities on voter registration and voter education efforts such as candidate forums and ballot parties.

We cannot remain at 50 percent. Too much is at stake. Our communities matter and our voice will grow stronger with every new APIA voter!

It’s time for APIA voters to be a part of the solution


IE COMMUNITY

Your family can play in our yard all summer long.

2015 S E A T T L E M A R I N E R S

MARINERS.COM/SPECIALS

UPCOMING EVENTSJamie Moyer Mariners Hall of Fame DaySaturday, August 8 1:10 p.m. vs. Rangers

TICKET SPECIALSFamily NightsGrab the gang for a night out at beautiful Safeco Field during select Monday games and get select View Level tickets for one low price. Courtesy of BECU.

Family Packages On select Tuesdays and Wednesdays Safeco Insurance and the Mariners invite you to do more with a specially-priced package that includes a ticket, hot dog and Pepsi soft drink.

For tickets, (888) SEA-HITS, Ticketmaster Ticket Centers, or

Safeco FieldAlderwood Mall

Downtown Seattle (4th and Stewart)

Bellevue SquareSouthcenter Mall

Also at MarinersTeam Stores:

Announcements

IE News Services

This year’s Chinatown Seafair Parade, a sanctioned Seafair event, will feature lion and dragon dances, martial arts, the Seattle Chinese Girls Drill Team and more. The parade route starts at 8th Avenue South and S. King Street, travels north, then west on 5th Avenue, ending south on South Weller Street. For more information, go to http://www.seattlechinesechamber.org/events-programs/seafair-parade.

Chinatown Seafair Parade

takes to the streets July 19

Dinner features history of

Chinese miners, railroad workers

An event called the “Chinese American Pioneer Dinner: Pig Feet, Olives, and Salted Fish” features an 11-course dinner accompanied by an interpretive lecture on the food and history of the Chinese miners and railroad workers. Artifacts from the era will also be on display for viewing. The historical menu is based on excavation from various Chinatowns and Chinese railroad and mining sites.

Chinese American Pioneer Dinner happens Saturday, August 8 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Four Seas Restaurant, 714 So. King St., Seattle, WA. Cost is $50.00 per person. To purchase tickets, visit http://cacaseattle.org/dinner-tickets.html.

Danny Woo community

garden awardedFour times each year, PCC Natural

Markets awards a $1,000 grant to a school or nonprofit that exemplifies the spirit of our local community. PCC’s second grant of 2015 has been awarded to InterIm Community Development Association’s Danny Woo Community Garden. The garden operates a space in the International District where elders can

practice farming and gardening from their cultural heritage, as well as teach youth about these cultural histories, while introducing them to gardening.

The PCC grant will specifically be used for more cooking classes as part of the Children’s Garden program as well as help to provide more local and organic produce.

Candidates are being sought for an open position on the International Special Review District Board, the official board that reviews façade alterations, signs, new construction, changes of use, and street improvements within the International Special Review District (ISRD) located in the Chinatown/International District. An elected position (Position #3—Business Person, Property Owner or Employee) will become vacant effective August 1, and in accordance with the Board’s Rules and Procedures, is filled through a Mayoral appointment.

Individuals who live in the District, serve as a member of a community organization within the District, or demonstrate active interest in the community and in historic preservation are encouraged to apply. The appointee will complete the remainder of the elected term which ends November 30, 2016. The applicant must reside in the city of Seattle.

Applicants should send a letter of interest and resume by Monday, August 10. Electronic submissions are preferred, if possible.

Email your letter and resume to: [email protected]. Please reference International Special Review District Board in the subject line.

To submit a paper copy, address it to: Rebecca Frestedt, International Special Review District Board Coordinator, Seattle Department of Neighborhoods, P.O. Box 94649, Seattle, WA 98124-4649.

The City of Seattle said it is committed to promoting diversity in the city’s boards and commissions. Women, persons with disabilities, sexual and gender minorities, young persons, senior citizens, persons of color, and immigrants are encouraged to apply.

Candidates sought for

International Special Review District Board


IE COMMUNITY

Crystal Mountain Resort is best known as a skiers paradise, but it’s more than just that. It’s memories waiting to be created. It’s family hikes, horseback rides, and never-ending photo opportunities. It’s scenic gondola rides and a gourmet lunch or dinner at what feels like the top of the world. It’s Mt. Rainier bigger and more beautiful than you’ve ever seen it.

Crystal Mountain Resort is located just 6 miles from the Northeast entrance to Mt. Rainier National Park. Keep the mountain magic going and stay the night. Conveniently located hotels, condos and cabins make for a perfect relaxing or adventurous getaway. Visit website for schedule and hours.

Let’s connect: CrystalMountainResort.com CrystalMountainWashington CrystalMt

Get an Altitude Adjustment at Crystal Mountain Resort

Open Daily June 27-Sept. 20, 2015

By Izumi HansenIE Assistant News Editor

Debadutta Dash arrived in Seattle 14 years ago, fi ve years after coming to the United States from India, and made a home here. He’s worked or volunteered in public service most of his life. Currently, he serves on economic and social service boards including Asian Counseling and Referral Services (ACRS) and the Washington State Commission on Asian Pacifi c American Affairs.

This past May, the International Ex-aminer awarded Dash with Entrepreneur of the Year at the 23rd Annual Commu-nity Voice Awards.

The International Examiner caught up with Dash to talk about his run for City Council, just as the primaries near on August 4.

International Examiner: Can you talk a bit about why you decided to run for council?

Dash: I have been living in the North Seattle district 5 for almost 14 years now. My daughter went to Olympic View Elementary School and now she’s going to the University of Washington. I am also at the same time involved with many community services in the area of human and social services and economic. After 14 years I’ve found I need to bring that advocacy into the policy making. There has been so many long standing issues in social justice and economic disparity that has not been happening in a long time and I want to bring that experience.

IE: What do you believe are the most pressing issues for Asian Americans? Why?

Dash: The biggest issue for the API community or any community is affordability. Most of us are working class people and affordability has gone beyond most of our reach. When I moved into Seattle in 2002—at that time when I compare it with right now—there’s a drastic change in affordability in the city.Civic engagement. We are lucky to

have a few community leaders but it is still not enough. We need to have it on a policy making level. We’ll keep on raising voices but I belong to the advocacy community and I’ve been doing promoting. But how many decisions have been taken on the city, county, or state level to listen to that advocacy. We have maybe thirty global cities but not a single one with India.The cultural component is also

important because the awareness level is so low we need to bring that to the forefront. The representation of API community in local government.[Dash additionally spoke of housing

as a “big issue, big in rental and

big in homelessness” and economic development for small and medium businesses at “the policy making level of the city.”]

IE: Why do you believe API representation is so low in local politics?

Dash: Civic engagement is pretty low everywhere because of language and cultural awareness. We never speak up. When we promote our community we need to promote newer community. Everyday you fi nd newer communities coming. The API community is really diverse.

When you look at ethnic diversity throughout the state, we have the greatest diversity. Even when you look at India, there are many different languages spoken. We have not been able to reach all API community in the state. We’ve been represented by a few communities like Japanese and Chinese, but very few of the other communities are being represented. We need to have active engagement through empowerment to have community outreach.

IE: Seattle is facing increasing pressures of housing affordability. The Seattle Times obtained a recommendation from Housing Affordability and Livability Advisory that suggests getting rid of single-family housing zones. What is your take on this recommendation?

Dash: Seattle must go up vertically because horizontally is not possible because we don’t have the land mass here. You need to expand vertically and this happens in any major, huge city. People may be a little scared. “What is going to happen to city of Seattle?” But nobody can stop that change. It will become messier and messier if we don’t go vertically.[Building] needs to be in a sensible

way. Up zoning is a must, but that’s not a solution. Rent control alone will not be successful, but it will be necessary. It will be helpful if it’s measurable. I’m not saying that upzoning is the solution, but it’s part of the solution.

To read the entire interview, visit iexaminer.org.

Dash takes aim at economic development, affordability

Debadutta Dash (center) with wife wife Dr. Itu Mohapatra (right) and daughter Ina Dash (left). • Courtesy Photo

Community activist Frank Irigon was a recipient of the 2015 Unsung He-roes Award at the 2015 OCA Nation-al Convention in San Francisco from July 2 to 5. Frank joined the OCA-Greater Seattle board four years ago.For over four decades, Francisco “Frank” Irigon has advocated for people of color, especially Asian Pa-cifi c Americans. He has represented OCA at monthly meetings with the Asian Pacifi c Islanders Coalition, Asian Pacifi c Directions Coalition, and Minority Executive Director Co-alition. Outside of his work for OCA-Greater Seattle, Frank also assisted several local entities by: drafting Ar-ticles of Incorporation and By-Laws for the American Polynesian Orga-nization to help them obtain 501(c)(3) status, scheduling/facilitating meetings between elderly residents of Seatac and Terry Davis, of Com-cast’s Franchising & Government Affairs, following complaints about poor customer service, and schedul-ing/facilitating meetings with Asian American MWBEs with the Port of Seattle and City of Seattle. Frank’s efforts and dedication has increased the chapter’s visibility and status in the community, greatly contribut-ing to advancing OCA’s mission. • Courtesy Photo


IE COMMUNITY

Growing up in a small town in Eastern India, I never could have imagined I would one day take two congressmen, the Lieutenant Governor and others on trade missions to India.

I immigrated to the United States in 1996 with advanced degrees, but could only fi nd a job as a bus boy. Through patience and persistence, I built a life of service and bringing people together to solve real problems.

Drawn to the diversity and openness of Seattle, my family and I have been living in the Olympic Hills and Lake City neighborhoods since 2001.

Now I am driven to give back to the communities and neighborhoods that have helped me and my family thrive.

I’m ready to use my lifetime of experience bringing people together to help us build a better North Seattle.

I ask you for your support and your vote. Please return your ballot by August 4.

LET’S BUILD A BETTER NORTH SEATTLEPaid for by Friends of Dash, P.O. Box 25441, Seattle, WA 98165 VOTE4DASH.COM

DEBADUTTA DASHSeattle City Council | District 5

the bart harvey waiting list is open again, but only for a short while. Any low-income person 62 years of age or older is welcome to add his or her name to the waiting list by completing and submitting a pre-application. People with disabilities and homeless seniors are welcome. Download the pre-application form from the web-site of the Low Income Housing Institute—

www.lihi.orgbart harvey apartments

430 minor avenue n [at republican]

south lake union, seattle

ad for international examiner : : 4 .87 5" x 6.25"final : :9 july 2015

t wo consecu tive insertionsprovide tearsheets for both

questions? scot t freu tel : : 206-250-7487

The Bart Harvey

Announcements

IE News Services

The Stone House Café will be hosting a pop up dinner with celebrity Chef Sam Choy and his team from Pokè to the Max. Chef Choy is known as one of the founding contributors of “Pacifi c Rim Cuisine” and is also proclaimed as the “Godfather of Pokè.” He is a James Beard Award winning chef that has designed menus for the likes of American Airlines, along with various restaurants around the world. On Tuesday, July 21 Choy and his team

will be cooking island style food as part of a six course meal, which will include a variety of pokè including fresh ahi tuna from the island of Kona, fresh northwest ingredients and sweet goodies.

This dinner is a one night only event and tickets can be purchased at brownpapertickets.com. Seating is limited.

Island style dinner stars Sam Choy

Fred Akira Shiosaki to

speak July 25World War II veteran, environmental

advocate, and retired public servant Fred Akira Shiosaki, 91, will be the featured speaker at the July 25 Omoide (Memories) program sponsored by the Japanese Cultural and Community Center in Seattle (JCCCW). Shiosaki’s presentation is a

continuation of the JCCCW’s monthly programs featuring artists, writers, historians, and personalities from the Nikkei community. The public is invited. The program

starts at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 25 at the JCCCW Building, 1414 Weller Street S. Following Shiosaki’s presentation, the monthly writing workshop, “Writers Read” will occur from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. For more information, contact [email protected].

Artist Roger Shimomura speaks at the Legacy of Justice at Hirabayashi Place Preview Party on July 2, 2015. • Photo by Jacqueline Wu


IE NEWS

By Jasmin EngIE Contributor

In December 2008, a girl woke up and found out her parents were not returning home. She’d always known that her family was different but it was never a big deal. What had started as a two-week vacation to a wedding turned into six years living half a world apart, the distance nursed by daily Skype calls made a country away. Our girl, who wishes to be called Miss Anonymous, is a student, a granddaughter, and an activist. She is also one of many undocumented Asian and Pacific Islander immigrants who live and strive for the American Dream in the United States of America.After Miss Anonymous’ parents went

to Fiji, her country of birth, her family found out Miss Anonymous’ mother had overstayed her VISA and was no longer allowed entry to come back to the United States. Miss Anonymous’ parents stayed a year in Fiji, then moved to Canada to be closer to their children, a total of six years away from the United States. Miss Anonymous’ grandmother, an

undocumented immigrant, fills the role left behind by her parents. Miss Anonymous’ grandmother works a 12-to-24-hour shift with little pay and no social security benefits waiting. Her wages keep the family together. Miss Anonymous’ grandmother took a job a caregiver, ushering elderly patients, some who are as old as she. Occasionally Miss Anonymous’ grandmother will be gone an entire week just to make ends meet for the family. As undocumented youth, Miss Anonymous and her brothers had even fewer options prior to recent immigration reform efforts. Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals

(DACA), which provides exemption from deportation, is a two-year renewable permit geared toward undocumented youth like Miss Anonymous and her younger brothers. DACA is a federal program, initiated by the Obama administration in June 2012. By enrolling in the DACA program, doors are opened for applicants to tap into certain financial aid programs to pursue higher education, get a social security number, a driver’s license, find employment, and protection from deportation. Before DACA there was the DREAM Act (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors), an act that was first introduced in August 2001 and has failed to pass. The DREAM Act was supported by many young undocumented adults and allies who went by the name, “Dreamers.” While the DREAM Act had been fought for over the span of ten arduous years, with many of the Dreamers reaching the age of 35, the momentum gave way to create DACA and assist undocumented youth, such as Miss Anonymous, who arrived at the country before their 16th birthday.

Undocumented APIs no longer alone in struggleFAIR! campaign uncovers undocumented immigrant stories

“First there is the emotional weight of being separated from our parents,” Miss Anonymous said. “Next, is the financial burden put on my grandmother to keep the household together. Last, is the fear of being deported at any given moment.”For Miss Anonymous, the daily grip

of being undocumented still has its hold as her brothers are still saving up money to pay for their DACA application fee. Her parents are still in Canada, a country that is close, but never close enough. Her grandmother is still working, paying her taxes as she always has for the last 20 years she has been in the country, but she will not have the opportunity for deportation relief, a social security number, or a work permit like Miss Anonymous and her siblings.One major challenge for undocumented

Asians and Pacific Islanders is the lack of recognition and services to the community, said Marissa Vichayapai, Fearless Asians for Immigration Reform (FAIR!) Campaign Director and Asian and Pacific Islander DACA Coordinator of 21 Progress. The FAIR! campaign was developed to address the lack of eligible APIs applying for the DACA program. With the campaign’s recent launch, outreach to the undocumented API community is well underway but there are still many barriers that need to be overcome, Vichayapai said. “The API community is so diverse

and each ethnic group has its unique challenges,” Vichayapai said. “So the success of the campaign weighs on our ability to learn and quickly adapt our messaging and strategy to fit each in the most culturally appropriate way.” Vichayapai also described how the

struggle for certain Pacific Islanders distinguishes itself. There is a fiercely larger uphill battle for the undocumented Pacific Islander community due to their comparatively lower social capital,

higher rates of poverty, and the general misperceptions about the prevalence of this issue. Vichayapai said that while Pacific Islanders are often included in the undocumented API discussion, they are not commonly identified as one of the ethnic groups in need and therefore outreach efforts are usually directed elsewhere. In contrast, one ethnic group that has

received much attention, for example, are Chinese immigrants. Vichayapai goes on to state, the undocumented Chinese community is one of the largest and fastest growing. In Washington State, undocumented Chinese immigrants rank third, making up 18 percent of undocumented APIs. However, Chinese immigrants also have one of the lowest DACA application rates. But even with focused outreach, and receptive human service providers, there are still unique challenges. Generally speaking, there is a certain level of distrust in government systems. However, this distrust seems to be even higher in the undocumented Chinese immigrant community, Vichayapai said. Although each level of identity for

undocumented API’s carries its own intricacies and challenges, expressing the need for resources to support undocumented APIs can commonly be met with false perceptions such as the model minority myth, the stereotype that all members of Asian ethnic groups have above average socioeconomic success and require no government assistance.For Ellen, a DACA recipient who asked

to be identified by only her first name, the image of the model minority student is a false perception of her true identity. A Fortune 500 company intern, Rainier Scholar, and university student studying science and political science, Ellen is well on her way to a bright future. On first glance, it might be so easy to assume her journey was effortless. But when Ellen

graduated from high school, she was not accepted to any of the fourteen colleges she applied for. Ellen was ineligible for any financial aid or a significant percentage of private scholarships, and had to apply as an international student in her own country. Although Ellen saw the United States as her home, the lack of papers saw her as undocumented.Ellen stayed in bed for three days the

morning she found out she had been waitlisted early on in the notification period from one of the colleges she applied to. “I thought that if I could find even one

college willing to invest in me, it would prove that I have value and could perhaps one day justify staying in this country,” Ellen said. “But on the day I received my first letter [from the college that waitlisted her], I had realized that all of the effort I had put into making myself a competitive candidate for college had all turned out to be meaningless.”Unlike Miss Anonymous, Ellen was

unaware of her undocumented status as a Chinese immigrant until she reached elementary school. Ellen described how she eventually found out. Ellen’s school was hosting a program with fun prizes for those who attended. All Ellen needed was a quick form for her parents to sign. A young Ellen arrived eager to school the next day, form in hand, showing it to a parent volunteer of the school’s program. The parent volunteer, who happened to be the mother of one of Ellen’s friends, looked at the blank space for the social security number or alien registration number and gently asked Ellen if she had one of those numbers. Ellen recalled her mother’s words from the night before, that she didn’t need one of those numbers. Ellen shook her head at the parent. That was the first time Ellen realized, she was not like her classmates.“I think at the time it wasn’t immediately

obvious to me that I was an undocumented immigrant, but I was old enough to tell that I was different and very likely doing something wrong by just being here,” Ellen said.For both Ellen and Miss Anonymous,

telling the story of their struggles as an undocumented immigrant has been a first step in achieving their American Dreams.“I had never thought about coming out

to other people about my status, not even to friends that I have had for a decade now,” Ellen said. “But I hope that through the organization [FAIR!] I would be able to offer help and support to other people in the same situation and perhaps be more open about myself along the way.”Both Ellen and Miss Anonymous

shared their stories with Vichayapai who they met through FAIR!’s outreach efforts. FAIR! is the only campaign providing

FAIR!: Continued on page 7 . . .

Mixed status family: Lefiti Qiolevu (undocumented grandparent/guardian), Mary Kele (U.S. citizen), and Amy Kele (DACAmented). Originally from Fiji and tired of silent waiting for immigration reform. This family is ready to share their story and want other Asian and Pacific Islanders to join them. • Courtesy Photo


IE NEWS

outreach and services to undocumented APIs in Washington State. Through FAIR!’s resources and partnerships, DACA eligible APIs receive access to free DACA screenings, immigration attorneys, financial assistance, DACA-related resources, and a personal advocate. With few options and resources, scams

targeting undocumented APIs became increasingly prevalent. Vichayapai recalls stories of APIs being charged up to $600 dollars for DACA application forms that are free to download on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ website. “There is a lot of work that needs to

be done, trust that needs earning, and damage that needs repairing. For too long, the undocumented API community has been overlooked and underserved. Undocumented APIs need to know they are not alone. The journey to relief is a long and tiring one. I’m here to make sure that for those who are eligible for relief, people don’t lose steam or hope in the final hours,” says Vichayapai. In doing this effectively, the FAIR!

campaign has to stay vigilant. Vichayapai said: “We are continuously reassessing needs within each ethnic group and modifying our efforts to meet each community where they are at.” One such effort taken was the launch of the It Should Be FAIR! DACA Application Scholarship program, which helps APIs meet the $465 dollars needed to submit their DACA application.Today, Miss Anonymous’ undocumented

brothers are among the first APIs who will benefit from the campaign’s efforts. “I’ve been working with the brothers for over a month now,” Vichayapai said. “There have been many people invested in seeing that they successfully enroll in the DACA program and we’re excited to say that their applications will be in the mail before the end of July.” The FAIR! campaign is sponsored

by 21 Progress, the creator of the Build Your Dream program, the only interest-free, fee-free micro-loan program for undocumented immigrants in the nation.

DACA eligible applicants in Washington State who qualify for a loan receive the $465 dollars needed to submit their DACA application. The FAIR! campaign was proposed after noticing a distinct lack of APIs applying for the loan and for DACA. “In Washington State, 26 percent of the

undocumented community are originally from an API country,” Vichayapai said. “It’s really striking to me as to why the community is so underserved and under acknowledged.”Miss Anonymous said she is frustrated

by media representations of undocumented immigrants, which strips them of their unique, and individual journey.“It’s not fair for those people to

generalize us into one big group,” Miss Anonymous said. “Yes, we share similar challenges, but how we got to where we are today is different. Details are not the same in any two stories.” Miss Anonymous said she is hopeful for

this upcoming September when she will hear the decision about DAPA (Deferred Action for Parent Accountability). DAPA grants deferred action status to undocumented immigrants who have lived in the United States since 2010 and have children who are American citizens or lawful permanent residents. Deferred action is not full legal status, but in this case would come with a three-year, renewable work permit and exemption from deportation.Through 21 Progress’s Fearless Asians

for Immigration Reform campaign (FAIR!), Miss Anonymous said she has been empowered with knowledge about undocumented APIs and immigration policies for DACA and DAPA. She said she imagines a future where people see undocumented immigrants as not so different from themselves.Miss Anonymous has some advice for

undocumented youth: “Remember that you do deserve to be here and that each and every one of us has something very special to contribute to this great country we call home.”

To find out more about 21Progress, Build Your Dream, or FAIR!, visit 21Progress.org.

. . . FAIR!: Continued from page 6

FAIR! in the community with resources, info, and providing initial DACA screenings. • Courtesy Photo

Marissa Vichayapai of 21 Progress speaks to members of Seattle’s Tongan community about DACA and other immigration policies on July 11, 2015. • Photo by Shawn Porter

By Shawn PorterIE Contributor

While dialogue on immigration policy in the United States often centers around the Latino community, an effort is being led in Seattle to reach out to undocumented Asian and Pacific Islanders.There are 1.3 million members of the

AAPI community nationwide who are undocumented, with the demographic in Washington state alone representing over 25 percent of those who are undocumented.Seattle’s Tongan community gathered

for an informational forum conducted at the 9th Avenue SW United Methodist Church in Seattle on Saturday July 11. Tonga is a Polynesian sovereign state made up of more than 170 islands in the South Pacific.Hosted by 21 Progress and its program

Fearless Asians for Immigration Reform (FAIR!), the forum covered the basic qualifications needed and steps to take when applying for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) as well as other programs not yet implemented.“We need to support our communities,

strengthen our communities, we’re going to be really strong,” said Marissa Vichayapai during the presentation. Vichayapai is the Asian and Pacific Islander DACA Coordinator of 21 Progress and FAIR! Campaign Director.Meant for individuals who came into

the country as children, the DACA program has so far allowed 700,000 individuals, who met a specific set of guidelines, to request consideration of deferred action from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).For millions of undocumented youth,

DACA offers a pathway to receive higher education, a social security card, a driver’s license, protection from deportation, and a work permit. Those

DACA: Forum reaches out to Seattle Tongan community

who receive the deferred action will not be placed into removal proceedings or removed from the United States for a specified period of time unless under special circumstances that warrant the termination of an individual’s eligibility. DACA applicants must meet requirements such as having come to the U.S. before reaching their 16th birthday, having lived continuously in the U.S. since June 15, 2007 up to the present, and more.Vichayapai assured those who attended

the forum that unless an applicant’s case involves a criminal offense, fraud, or a threat to public safety, the U.S. government will not refer applicants to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for the purpose of deportation.An important part of the FAIR! program

is the availability for free legal counseling provided by Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP) for any member of the community with questions or concerns about their eligibility and, if DACA eligible, review of an application before submitting.“We recommend that before you submit

your application, you see a professional attorney or legal service program,” said Vichayapai, “and then the attorney will be able to advise whether or not you should submit your application.”A special speaker at the forum was

Amy Kele, an 18 year old who applied for and was granted DACA status. Through her success she has already received her social security number, worker’s permit, and is starting school at the University of Washington Bothell this fall.“Of course, the biggest relief is not

having the fear of being deported, so I can pursue my dreams and contribute back to this country,” Kele said.The strict guidelines in place for DACA

leave many undocumented individuals in the community ineligible and looking for answers as to how they might be able to become legal citizens in the future.

DACA: Continued on page 8 . . .


IE NEWS

Another program put forward by President Barack Obama, Deferred Action for Parent Accountability (DAPA), would grant deferred action status to undocumented immigrants who have lived in the United States since 2010 and have children who are American citizens or lawful permanent residents. However, an injunction issued by the Federal District Court for the Southern District of Texas in February 2015 blocked the executive order. A decision on DAPA is expected later this year.“It’s good to understand the DACA

program because pieces of this program were used as a model for DAPA. Meaning, it provides some context for DAPA, a program that has yet to be implemented,” said Vichayapai.Another proposed program affected

by the injunction from the Texas judge is

. . . DACA: Continued from page 7 expanded DACA, which would simply eliminate the upper age cap requirement for DACA. Expanded DACA applicants would not have to be under 31 in order to apply.There are many prerequisites required

in order for an individual to qualify for the currently implemented version of DACA, and the same goes for any future DAPA or expanded DACA applicants.Vichayapai said that even if programs

aren’t taking applications yet, there are things one can do to make sure they’re as ready as can be for when the time comes, including collecting evidence needed to prove eligibility, saving money, and seeing an immigration attorney for a free screening.“Don’t lose hope. DACA was once a

dream for so many people, and it took a lot of years for it to get to ths place it is today,” Vichayapai said. “There are so many people who are fighting and will continue to fight.”

Here are the facts. 50 percent of AAPIs eligible to vote are not registered. We are the worst of any ethnic grouping. African Americans and women fought hard—some even died—for their right to vote. And, we lament that elected officials don’t always take us seriously. We could impact the outcome of elections at local, county, and state levels if we all were registered and voted. DEMOCRACY IS NOT A SPECTATOR SPORT! The next election is the August 4th primary where Seattle City Council races will narrow down to the top two candidates, among other important primary elections.

REGISTER NOW

The deadline to register online has passed but in person registration is open until July 27.

July 27: Deadline to register in person at one of these locations:

The API Vote Now is the time to act

DOWNTOWN SEATTLE

King County Administration Building500 4th Avenue, Room 440Seattle, WA 98104Phone: 206-296-VOTE (8683)Toll-free: 800-325-6165 Weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., 2 to 4:30 p.m.

KING COUNTY ELECTIONS OFFICE:

919 SW Grady WayRenton, WA 98057-2906Phone: 206-296-VOTE (8683)Toll-free: 800-325-6165Weekdays 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

The King County Elections facility is located in Renton at the intersection of SW Grady Way and Powell Avenue SW. The facility is located north of I-405.

IE News Services

For the latest, most up to date event info, sign up for the FAIR! Newsletter or visit www.ItShouldBeFair.com. If you have questions, contact FAIR! at [email protected] or call (206) 578-1255.

JulyFAIR! Tongan DACA & DAPA Community Forum

July 11 from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. First Tongan United Methodist Church (9001 9th Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98106). Open to public, food and childcare provided. Tongan interpreter available.

General Intake Workshop–NWIRP July 15. Northwest Immigrant Rights

Project (NWIRP) (615 Second Ave., Ste. 400, Seattle, WA 98104). Call (206) 587-4009 to schedule an appointment.

Build Your Dream—DACA Loan Application Workshop

July 18 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. 21 Progress (409 Maynard Avenue South, Seattle, WA 98104). Register at: www.21progress.org/byd.

FAIR! DACA Screening—Pista Sa Nayon

July 26 from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Seward Park Amphitheater (5900 Lake Washington Blvd. S, Seattle, WA 98118)Open to public.

AugustFAIR! DACA Screening & Presentation—Filipino Community Health Fair

August 1 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Filipino American Christian Church (8713 220th St SW, Edmonds, WA 98026) Open to public.

Build Your Dream—DACA Loan Application Workshop

August 8 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. 21 Progress (409 Maynard Avenue South, Seattle, WA 98104) Register at: www.21progress.org/byd.

FAIR! DACA Screening—Vietnamese Heath Fair

August 8 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. New Vietnamese Martyrs Catholic Church (6801 S 180th St, Tukwila, WA 98188). Open to public. Vietnamese interpreter available.

FAIR! Korean DACA-DAPA Info Session

August 15. Location & Time: tbd. Visit www.itshouldbefair.com for up-to-date info. Open to public. Korean interpreter available.

September Build Your Dream—DACA Loan Application Workshop

September 12 from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. 21 Progress (409 Maynard Avenue South, Seattle, WA 98104). Register at: www.21progress.org/byd.

Legal Clinic—FAIR! & South Asian Bar Association of Washington

September 23 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Khalsa Gurmat Center (16940 116th Ave SE, Renton, WA 98058. No appointment needed. First come, first serve.

FAIR! DACA Screening—South Asian Health Fair

Date: tbd. Visit www.itshouldbefair.com for up-to-date info.

OctoberBuild Your Dream—DACA Loan Application Workshop

October 10 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. 21 Progress (409 Maynard Avenue South, Seattle, WA 98104). Register at: www.21progress.org/byd.

FAIR! DACA Screening & Presentation—Korean Community Health Fair

October 17. Location & Time: tbd. Visit www.itshouldbefair.com for up-to-date info. Open to public. Korean interpreter available.

FAIR! DACA Screening—South Asian Health Fair

Date and time: tbd. Visit www.itshouldbefair.com for up-to-date info.

Upcoming events for UndocUmented immigrants

FAIR!: DACA Scholarship

IE News Services

The It Should Be FAIR! DACA Scholarship is a monthly award given to three chosen individuals. The scholarship is designed for first-time Asian and Pacific Islanders who are eligible and ready to submit their Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) application, but has not done so yet. With the support of FAIR!, all awardees are expected to submit their application within seven days upon receiving funding. If you’re thinking about DACA, and unsure if you qualify or should apply, contact [email protected] to connect with someone who can help you start on the application process. For info on how to apply, visit http://21progress.org/fairscholarship.


IE ARTS

DONATE to NAFCON’S

Typhoon Relief Program

For info on how to donate,

visit nafconusa.org.

By Susan KunimatsuIE Contributor

Roger Shimomura is a man on a mission. A third-generation Japanese American, he lived through the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II and the rac-ist attitudes that persisted in its aftermath. As a renowned artist and honored educator, he has made it his job to tell those stories and change those attitudes. Four decades of work from his continuing crusade are on view at the Tacoma Art Museum in Roger Shimo-mura: An American Knockoff.As a very young child, Shimomura

spent three years in the Minidoka intern-ment camp, returning to a still-segregated Seattle after the war. At the University of Washington, he took the full four years of ROTC officer training, despite his total lack of interest in the military, to vindicate the sacrifices of his uncles who fought in World War II but were barred from becoming of-ficers. Following his military service and a brief stint as a graphic designer, Shimomura left the Pacific Northwest to earn a Master’s degree in fine art and joined the faculty at the University of Kansas where he taught for 35 years. As an artist, he was influenced by Pop artists like Andy Warhol and the comic books that he loved as a child; developing the colorful, flat, graphic style that charac-terizes his work.In Kansas, Shimomura found himself cul-

turally isolated. Hardly a day passed without meeting someone who couldn’t believe that an American face could have Asian features. Shimomura has cited one encounter as piv-otal: a farmer at an auction complimented his English and asked where he and his par-ents were born. Unconvinced by their U.S. birthplaces, the farmer continued to regard him as Japanese and, on hearing that he was an artist, asked if he painted “them gishy girls” in “kimonas.” In a 2013 interview for the Smithsonian Institution, Shimomura said, “I decided that I would go home and do a painting about this. I got a book called the Coloring Book of Japan, and it was about ukiyo-e woodblock prints.”Three prints from that first series, Oriental

Masterprint #2, #3, and #5 (1973–74) parody Japanese woodblock prints: traditional gei-shas rendered in Shimomura’s signature comic book style. In a quartet of prints from 1987-88, Pop Art icons Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor mingle with geishas, one in a kimono printed with smiley faces.Shimomura’s exploration of Japanese

themes led to a nexus of American history, personal history, and art. His grandmother had kept decades of diaries in Japanese. Around 1980, he began having the diaries translated into English, starting with De-cember 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor Day. “I knew right away that there was going to be a lot of information there that would lead to new work,” he recalled. Over the next 30 years, he produced four major bodies of work: paintings, prints, and performances based on his grandmother’s account of the Intern-ment.“We knew that we would have to prepare

ourselves to talk about the Internment,” said

Rock Hushka, Tacoma Art Museum’s Cu-rator of Contemporary and Northwest Art. “It’s hard, because of the subject matter. We were not under any illusions that this would be a fun, easy exhibition.” For Japanese im-migrants and their American-born children, their incarceration was a source of shame. Shimomura’s generation proved more will-ing to confront the Internment. Viewing his grandmother’s account through his own lens, he has produced images of great beauty and irony.The earliest of the Internment paintings

continue in the ukiyo-e style. Diary, Janu-ary 1, 1943 (1983) depicts a New Year’s Day celebration in camp, transformed into a fantasy of stereotypes: women in kimo-nos serving Japanese food. Minidoka No. 5 (442nd) (1979) appropriates the grid format that newspapers used to display photos of World War II dead, but these casualties from the all-Japanese 442nd Regimental Combat Team are portrayed as samurai. Later works are more literal depictions of camp life and the contradictions posed by the Internment. In Classmates (2007), two smiling school-girls eat apples, the Japanese girl behind barbed wire, the Caucasian girl outside the fence. A large triptych, American Infamy #5 (2010) is an aerial view of a concentra-tion camp; dark figures of soldiers loom in the foreground, their guns pointed inward at the camp’s occupants. Halloween (2011) is an ironic coda to the Internment: a group of Caucasian children in masks gang up on one of their own in a yellow-faced slant-eyed mask. “When we got back from camp,” Shi-momura recalled, “we played a game called ‘Kill the Jap.’ We always argued over who would be the Jap. You hated to be that Jap ‘cause you’d always lose.”Many of the paintings in An American

Knockoff are self-portraits. “Far too many American-born citizens of Asian descent continue to be thought of as only Ameri-can knockoffs,” Shimomura explains. “This

latest series of paintings is an attempt to ameliorate the outrage of these misconcep-tions by depicting myself battling those stereotypes, or in tongue-in-cheek fashion, becoming those very same stereotypes.” Many of his opponents and alter egos are the beloved cartoon characters of his youth, cultural symbols he came to question as an adult. He takes on Mickey Mouse and Su-perman; he becomes Dick Tracy and Goofy. In the Chinese Imposter series, he tweaks non-Asians’ inability to distinguish between Japanese and Chinese. In General Shimo-mura #2 (2012) he asks, what if the ultimate American hero, George Washington had been Asian? (See Gilbert Stuart’s portrait of Washington in the museum’s Haub Family Gallery of Western Art.)“Artists teach us, lead the way in many

ways, and we trust them to take us to really difficult places. Roger has done that over and over again,“ Hushka says, when asked to reflect on Shimomura’s impact. “He’s been able to leave a body of work ... that really speaks of the importance of memory and the importance of not letting something like [the Internment] happen again. He’s left us with this document that points us to a way of treating one another that I think is really important.”

Roger Shimomura: An American Knock-off is at the Tacoma Art Museum through September 13. Exhibition and catalog is produced by the Washington State Uni-versity Museum of Art. Roger Shimomura will lecture on Sunday, July 19 at 3:00 p.m. as part of TAM’s American Matsuri Free Community Festival. For more information visit www.TacomaArtMuseum.org or call (253) 272-4258.

Roger Shimomura will also appear with Gary Faigin at Pop Goes the Melting Pot on Wednesday, July 15 at 7:30 p.m. Downstairs at Town Hall. $5.

Roger Shimomura takes on American history

Amer.Vs.Chinese by Roger Shimomura (cropped)


IE ARTSD

orot

hea

Lang

e ph

oto,

War

Rel

ocat

ion

Aut

horit

y 19

42 -

1945

Treasured possessions become symbols of home as two Puget Sound women struggle to maintain a sense of place during displacements related to World War II. This world premiere includes interactive pre- and post-show experiences to deepen your understanding of the situations and characters depicted in the opera.

In English with English Subtitles.Featuring members of Seattle Symphony Orchestra.

AN AMERICAN DREAMAugust 21 & 23

Jack Perla Jessica Murphy Moo

MCCAW HALL206.389.7676800.426.1619SEATTLEOPERA.ORG

PRODUCTION SPONSOR: TRUE-BROWN FOUNDATION

WORLD PREMIERE— INSPIRED BY TRUE STORIES FROM THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21 AT 8:00 pm

SUNDAY, AUGUST 23 AT 2:30 pm

By Roxanne RayIE Contributor

The Seattle Center has long made a home for ballet, with Pacifi c Northwest Ballet in residence at McCaw Hall. Now, they will be joined by contemporary ballet, presented by ARC Dance Company, who will present their Summer Dance program in the Leo Kreielsheimer space at the Bagley Wright Theatre. ARC Dance was founded in 1999 by dancer and choreographer Marie Chong to

expand Seattle’s ballet scene. “In 1999 there were not many opportunities for dancers to perform contemporary ballet in settings with professional production values with the exception of Pacifi c Northwest Ballet and Spectrum Dance Theater,” Chong said. “I wanted to create a forum for the many talented dancers in the Seattle area who did not necessarily fi t into the solely modern dance scene.” Chong believes contemporary ballet allows it to be more

accessible to today’s audiences. “Contemporary ballet uses classically-trained dancers who also have the ability, often, with years of experience, to dance in ways which are outside of the strict confi nes of the purely classical form,” she said. “It is a union of the ballet foundation used as the point of departure for exploration in to all kinds of other dance movement.” Chong’s work seems to have inspired others, while challenging

her own company to grow. “As more opportunities emerged among a growing number of other small groups, ARC has focused on increasing the quality of its performances by hiring stronger, better-trained dancers and more accomplished choreographers,” she said. “To do this required increasing our budget so we could attract them. So the biggest challenges have had to do with raising more money offering them travel and higher pay to come to Seattle to work with ARC.” In this Summer Dance program, Chong hopes to showcase a wide variety of

contemporary ballet. “ARC is known for presenting a selection of very different dance works on the same program so that audiences don’t get bored by too much repetition from too many dances being too similar in the show,” Chong said. To achieve that goal, Chong is presenting favorites from the ARC Dance repertory as

well as several new works choreographed by guest artists. “I commissioned new works from Ilana Goldman, Travis Guerin, and Edwaard Liang because they are ‘very current’ dance makers and each one has a unique dance background and creative approach,” she said. “I wanted to bring these artists’ work to Seattle in the ‘ARC format’—a small, strong, well-trained, and versatile group of dancers performing in the accessible and intimate setting of the Leo K. Theatre.” Chong receives a lot of support from her choreographers. “I wanted to come and

choreograph for ARC Dance because I believe in Marie’s vision and what she wants to bring to Seattle with this program,” said choreographer Edwaard Liang. Liang is looking forward to experimenting. “I want to challenge myself and do

something more contemporary and use music that I ordinarily wouldn’t use,” he said. As a fellow dancer and artistic director himself, Liang also supports Chong’s wider

work. “As a dancer, I always faced an internal struggle of trying to fi t in and fi guring out my artistic voice through my body,” he said. “As a choreographer, it’s completely different.” Liang describes the process of choreography as a search for equilibrium. “It’s

balancing out the external and internal, learning how to bring out the most in dancers and learning how to use this medium of dance to express emotions, stories, and the intangible.”The role of the artistic director then functions as part of a tripod, together with dance

and choreography. “Learning how to manage people and learning to be okay with people not always liking you or your choices, you learn to become a steward for the organization and company,” he said. As Chong continues to steward ARC Dance toward its 20th anniversary in a few

years, all of this work supports Chong’s initial impetus for pursuing dance. What excites her is the “ability to capture visceral emotion that transcends language and impact the audience through the immediacy of live performance.”Chong expects to continue working in the ARC tradition. “I am always seeking new

repertoire for ARC,” she said. “It is also very important to foster the creation of new work in the art form in general.” She adds: “The dancers and choreographers both benefi t from the creative process,

and we hope the results also spark audiences’ imaginations and emotions.”

Summer Dance at the Center runs from July 16 to 25, at Leo Kreielsheimer Theatre, 155 Mercer Street, Seattle. For more information, visit http://www.arcdance.org/shows-events/arc-dance-company-in-summer-dance-at-the-center/.

Summer Dance continues ARC tradition, showcases variety

Edwaard Liang


IE ARTS

Vote Bruce HarrellSeattle City Council District 2

Paid for by Friends of Bruce Harrell | P.O. Box 21208 Seattle, WA 98111 | 206-817-5155

-International Examiner Reader's Choice Award

“Favorite Member on the City Council”

By Yayoi L. Winfrey IE Contributor

Justice reaches a new level of absurdity in this Indian drama that unravels much like a documentary. Written and directed by Chaitanya Tamhane, Court is the filmmaker’s first foray into feature-length narratives following a successful theatrical career. Despite his youth (only 28-years old) and relative inexperience (only two previous shorts), Tamhane creates a powerful and poignant piece, telling his story in an unhurried and uncomplicated fashion.In the opening scene, what appears to

be a harmless elderly man stands onstage backed by a small band of musicians. Singing rhythmic songs infused with defiant protest lyrics, he’s suddenly rushed by police and arrested. His crime? He’s accused of previously singing a song that urged the taking of one’s life rather than submitting to the constant grind of poverty in his caste-conscious country. Blamed for abetment of suicide of a sewerage worker, the singer, Narayan Kamble (Vira Sathidar), is then forced to endure unbelievably cumbersome and incomprehensible court proceedings.The bulk of the film is about his trial,

or rather trials as each hearing is extended

for the most ridiculous reasons, giving the viewer a horrifying look at Mumbai’s failing legal system. For most of the movie, the audience is subjected to the outlandishly lengthy judicial process. Citing archaic 19th century British laws and often misinterpreting them, the court shows little sympathy for the baffled defendant, a 65-year old Dalit folksinger. A series of delays, misplaced documents, and piles of paperwork all help perpetuate the cycle of inconclusiveness and creates a farcical atmosphere.Tamhane’s narrative also includes

intriguing scenes that take viewers beyond the courtroom to follow the major characters in everyday situations. Seeing the private lives of the lawyers and judge add considerable dimension to their courtroom personalities. Surprisingly, the fervent public prosecutor Nutan (Geetanjali Kulkarni) is nothing more than the chief cook and bottle washer in her home where she prepares meals

for her unappreciative family. When the impassioned and empathetic defense attorney Vinay Vora (Vivek Gomber) is badgered by his parents to get married, he rudely invites a male guest, who stops by unexpectedly, to eat dinner with them. Meanwhile, Judge Sadavarte (Pradeep Joshi) hosts a backyard barbecue where he advises a young relative to consult a numerologist and change his child’s name.The caste system is also blatantly

tackled through the characters, such as the upper caste defense attorney defending the lower caste protest singer, while the middle-class Marathi prosecutor takes a hard stance against him. Of course, His Honor lives in a privileged world far removed from all of theirs.As for the dead sewerage worker

Subodh (Shirish Pawar) who entered a manhole without wearing protective gear, his place in the hierarchy is evident by the job he held. Drinking alcohol to mask the stench of the sewers, he may or may not have intentionally died. Called to testify, his young widow Sharmila Pawar (Usha Bane) is too traumatized to decide.Although the film’s primary message

emphasizes ways in which justice is not served, there’s also a significant

component that addresses the lack of free speech. In fact, the original version was censored in India and a re-cut edition was released there. With a lean script and minimal subplots, the film’s focus is on the cast who displays versatility with its interchange of Marathi, Hindi, English, and Gujarati languages. Using mostly first-time actors, Tamhane is able to create characters that are fresh and believable. Real-life magazine editor and folksinger Sathidar as Kamble is especially genuine in his role as a baffled, but determined victim of the skewered legal system.Forget about the typical flamboyant

courtroom dramas in most movies. This one behaves like real life with its spotlight on a long, drawn-out and impossible to navigate institution. Although Kamble’s trial itself is the ultimate expression of ludicrousness, the most preposterous declaration occurs in a scene where the judge tells a defendant her case won’t be heard that day—because, he says, she’s wearing a sleeveless blouse and that’s against the rules. So much for justice served.

‘Court’ begins showing in Seattle at the Northwest Film Forum on July 31. For more information, visit nwfilmforum.org.

Court a powerful, poignant feature film about injustice

Court


IE ARTS

5 Part

II

By Frank AbeIE Contributor

The appearance of the fi rst new edition of John Okada’s No-No Boy in nearly 40 years offers the chance for re-evaluation of his work. As someone with a long connection with the novel, I fi nd there’s much to like about the new edition—and one thing profoundly wrong.After more than 100,000 copies in 13

printings, the University of Washington Press has republished this foundational work along with fi ve others in its “Classics of Asian American Literature” series, with new covers and introductions. First, the good. The new cover

illustration refl ects a lot of thought. I’ll miss the menace of the 1976 design by Bob Onodera of San Francisco, with the fl ags of the United States and Imperial Japan peering from the eyes of draft resister Ichiro Yamada’s surly face, partly because Bob based it on a photograph of myself taken the year before at the Asian American Theater Workshop. He designed the title with Army stencil font against a brown background that suggests the texture of a paper grocery bag of the kind used at Yamada grocery.Illustrator and cartoonist Jillian Tamaki

of Toronto, whose own family was interned in Canada, gives the new cover the feel of one of her celebrated graphic novels and cartoons, a look that will draw in a new generation of readers. Seen in profi le, the downcast distress in Ichiro’s expression updates the anguish of the unseen Ichiro clenching his fi sts to his face in the original 1957 Charles Tuttle hardback designed by M. Kuwata.The type has been completely reset.

Designer Thomas Eykemans arranged his cover title to create what he calls a “tense visual ‘X’ that pulls the eye to the center before expanding outward,” while also suggesting the colors in the U.S. and Japanese fl ags. The new edition wisely retains the

1976 Introduction by Lawson Inada and the Afterword by Frank Chin, which continue to bookend the novel for readers unaccustomed to the facts of forced incarceration.

Still the Great Japanese American TragedyA look at the new edition of John Okada’s No-No Boy

Inada’s piece captures the personal thrill of rediscovering the book and setting in historical context its republication by CARP, the Combined Asian American Resources Project. Chin’s biographical essay, “In Search of John Okada,” frames the mystery surrounding our Seattle author and fi rst revealed the heartbreak surrounding the burning of his unfi nished second novel. This afterword has been cribbed endlessly by two generations of students and scholars, and to this date continues to document the few known facts about Okada’s life.In her new

i n t r o d u c t i o n , novelist Ruth Ozeki echoes this theme of yearning to know more about the author. Addressed as a letter to Okada, she strives to connect across the divide of time with him and his recreation of the postwar C h i n a t o w n /I n t e r n a t i o n a l District: “It’s Japantown noir, a demimonde of broken dreams, fallen heroes and brawling drunks ...”So here’s the problem with this new

edition: At the end of the Preface, someone added the name “John Okada,” as if he had signed it as a statement from the author.

This attribution never existed in the original Tuttle hardcover overseen by Okada, or the CARP paperback reprint. It was not authorized by the Okada family. It interrupts the dream woven by Okada’s fi ction, and violates Okada’s artistic intent.At a time in 1957 when America

actively worked to forget the war and the still-recent memory of American concentration camps, the Preface

spectacularly draws the uninitiated into Okada’s imaginary world through a montage of unvarnished scenes from the reality of postwar Japanese America. As Floyd Cheung of Smith College notes, part of Okada’s art throughout No-No Boy lies in modulating a variety of different voices—the drunk in the tavern who “never thought much about the sneaky Japs,” the hooker who got “two bucks a head” from the Japanese boys, the Jewish merchant

who “cried without tears for the Japanese, who, in an instant ... had taken their place beside the Jew.” The fi nal voice

in the Preface is that of a Nisei translator fl ying in the belly of a B-24, whom we hear in a terse exchange with a “blonde giant from Nebraska.” When asked how, with his family in camp, he could volunteer for the Army, the Nisei replies, “I got reasons,” and his thoughts go to his friend Ichiro who refused the draft

until his family was freed. This passage ends the Preface and leads directly to Chapter One and Ichiro’s arrival by bus at King Street Station, with the cognitive dissonance of a narrative shift to Ichiro’s voice.Signing the Preface with Okada’s name,

Cheung agrees, “brings it into the realm of autobiography. But it’s not. It’s part of the novel, a product of his imagination.” He adds, “The signature seals what Philippe Lejeune called the ‘autobiographical pact.’ I’m not sure that Okada would have wanted that.”Generations of scholars have carelessly

misread the Preface and believed that Okada was inserting himself into it. But

he’s not. The bit with the Nisei translator is certainly based on Okada’s experience as a radio message interceptor, but he erases any doubt as to what’s fact or fi ction by having the translator reveal that his family is imprisoned in Wyoming. The Okada family, like most from Seattle, was evicted to Minidoka, Idaho. The Preface is part of the fi ction. It’s

not autobiography. Okada’s “signature” is a jarring and misguided addition that disrupts the narrative and should be removed from future editions. This editorial problem aside, No-No

Boy continues to hold up today, 60 years from its initial publication. As geography, it’s a Rosetta Stone through which we can decode and piece together the bits of WW2 Seattle that survive for us today, from the rescued Wonder Bread sign on Jackson Street to the parts of Maynard Alley that will remain after demolition of the Wah Mee Club.The book is still the great Japanese

American tragedy, whose power and authenticity derives from the unexpressed rage of his generation that Okada pours into his characters. He holds nothing back, and tries to please no one. After “two years in camp and two years in prison,” the resister Ichiro Yamada returns to fi nd his Seattle community shattered and its people divided. Parents mourn sons lost in battle; veterans return maimed and succumb to their wounds; resisters are blamed and ostracized; a woman abandoned by her soldier husband fi nds comfort in Ichiro’s arms; his mother goes mad when forced to admit Japan lost the war and drowns herself.By novel’s end, Ichiro walks slowly away

from a fi nal violent confrontation that leaves one dead and another a drunken, sobbing mess, desperately searching in his mind for some kind of redemption from everything he’s seen—white racism, Pearl Harbor, and the war; mass eviction and incarceration based solely on race; and his own resistance that led him only to prison and social ostracism. Ichiro takes it all in, rendering him unable to pursue his American dream, and unwilling to settle for an easy answer.

OKADA: Continued on page 13 . . .


IE ARTS

Aspiring journalist?The International Examiner needs news interns to assist with editorial duties, production, and reporting. Hereʼs your chance to learn practical and hands-on skills in newswriting, editing, proofreading, web design, social media, layout, and breaking news reporting. Weʼre looking for dedicated people with their hearts set on learning and putting what they learn to practice. Flexible hours.

Please send a letter of interest and your resume to editor@iexaminer.

org with the subject “IE News Intern.”

By Jeanne SakataDirected by Jessica Kubzansky

The true story of Gordon Hirabayashi

By Mahesh DattaniDirected by Agastya Kohli

Co–presented with Pratidhwani

All available on the ACTPass!COMING SOON TO ACT

acttheatre.org | 206.292.7676 | 700 Union Street, Downtown Seattle

Jul 24–Aug 9

Jul 17–Aug 16Ill

ustr

atio

n by

Bar

ry B

lank

ensh

ip

It may say something about our current sensibility that recent attempts to adapt this novel to the stage or screen consistently veer toward the easy answer of a love-conquers-all scenario involving Ichiro and Emi, the abandoned wife. But Okada places their fi nal romantic encounter 40 pages and two chapters from the end of Ichiro’s journey. Through his brilliant organization of the material, Okada states clearly his artistic intent. He refuses the idea of a happy ending. Love is not enough. As Ichiro might say, “the problem is bigger,” and Okada makes it clear it is something that Itchy will have to fi ght through for years to come.At the time he wrote, Okada could not

foresee how the Sansei would grow to

take up the mantle of justice for the camps and redress, and make sense of the camp resistance. He could only hope something was coming. In the darkest part of the night for postwar Japanese America, even as Ichiro thinks and probes for answers not only for himself but for all those in his world, he can see “a glimmer of hope ... a faint and elusive insinuation of promise.” And in that precise balance, and in the rigor of Ichiro’s arc, lies the greatness of this novel.

No-No Boy stands the test of time. It’s still the great Japanese American novel.

Frank Abe is producer/director of the award-winning fi lm, Conscience and the Constitution, and is conducting further research into John Okada and his work.

. . . OKADA: Continued from page 12

By Donna MiscoltaIE Contributor

I can no longer. These words are Taguchi Hiro’s motto. This incomplete sentence is what defi nes him, he says. And yet he describes the period at the end of it as “vibrating,” signifying the possibility of completion. Or better, a revision of this refrain that constantly haunts him.In I Called Him Necktie by Milena

Michiko Flasar (translated by Sheila Dickie), 23-year-old Taguchi Hiro is a hikikomori—a shut-in who never leaves his room and avoids all human interaction. The book’s glossary says that between 100,000 and 320,000 young people suffer from the condition, caused in large part by the enormous pressure to conform and achieve in school and society. As the book opens, Taguchi

has just begun to venture out of his room, which he refers to as a cave. Giving in to a yearning to feel the warmth of the sun, Taguchi makes his way to the park that he had known as a child, the one his mother used to bring him to. He wishes to be a child again. “To look with eyes full of amazement.”When he sees a salaryman, a company

worker, settle onto the bench opposite his, he is, despite his aversion to interacting with the world around him, curious and observes the man carefully. I observed him like a familiar object,

a toothbrush, a washcloth, a piece of soap, which all at once you see for the fi rst time, quite separate from its purpose.Taguchi’s two years in isolation, while

diminishing his ability to communicate with the world, has nonetheless heightened his ability to observe and feel it. It has imbued his thoughts with a sensibility that is both elemental and lyrical.A fl eeting glance at his watch, then he lit

a cigarette. The smoke rose in ringlets. That was the beginning of our acquaintance. A sharp odor arose in my nose. The wind blew

the smoke in my direction. Before we had exchanged names, the wind introduced us to each other. And so the relationship with Ohara Tetsu,

who has recently been fi red from his job, begins, born of sympathy and circumstance. Soon they are trading stories and divulging secrets. With no quotation marks around dialogue and few dialogue tags, there are some brief moments of uncertainty for the reader in the beginning. But soon the transitions are, if not seamless, at least recognizable. Flasar’s intent may be to nearly merge the stories and voices to refl ect what Taguchi realizes one day as he stands alone on the train platform

surrounded by people: We must all, every one of us, relate to one another.Taguchi confesses to his new

friend that “at fourteen I had already achieved mastery in studiously ignoring the pain of others.” Testsu, whose necktie, bento box, and brief case are the accoutrements or, rather, the trappings of a salaryman, reveals

secrets of his own. But he offers wisdom as well, gained from his more mature years and the choices he has made. “We are unfree, all of us. With every decision we take we become less free.”Having established a connection, the two

extract a promise from each other, one that is meant to release them from the prison each has created for himself as a result of secrets and betrayals. But only Taguchi will have a chance at a new beginning, a new motto.While the characters and story are set in

Japan, it’s an easy leap across borders and languages to other modern industrialized countries that engender a sense of isolation. If one is lucky there will be the chance encounter with another human being that can lead the way out of darkness. The universality of the theme is refl ected in the author’s own straddling of cultures. Milena Michiko Flasar is a writer of Japanese and Austrian descent who lives in Vienna. Her lovely, poetic novel about Japanese society is translated from German to English.

Necktie transcends languages


IE ARTS

By Linda Lau Anusasananan IE Contributor

At 77, when many people her age shy away for technology, Lorraine Witte seeks new challenges. After buying a new iMac in 2006, she embarked on a mission to master this new wonder machine through classes at the Apple Store. Now after nine years of classes, she has written an eBook, A Pot of Rice to the Wonders of Wonton, available now on iBooks for iPad and Mac. Look for a Kindle version of the book at http://amzn.com/B00Z2Z3UB4. This eBook offers 30 recipes for her

favorite food—wontons—with helpful interactive videos that show six ways to fold these Chinese dumplings. Her book production partner and former Apple trainer, Josimar King, shot and embedded the videos into the cookbook which makes learning how to fold these dumplings so easy. It is just like having a cooking teacher right by your side. Interspersed through the pages, read

Witte’s fascinating life story from growing up in Hawai‘i to Chinese immigrant parents in the 1940s to becoming an author in the 21st century.

L.L. Anusasananan: Why produce your fi rst book as an eBook?

Witte: An eBook was a choice my business partner and I decided to do. It seemed daunting that a publisher would support an unknown writer for my fi rst book. However an electronic had defi nite advantages like the videos we could include that would not be available in another medium.

Anusasananan: I was especially impressed with your life story. Your father seemed to play a strong role in your character development. What wisdom did you learn from your father?

Witte: Gosh the fact that he cared about me in his own Chinese father’s way was the beginning of my worth. Remember I was a girl child. He said “You should learn everything, you will not be sorry”. So I watched and followed him around, watched everything he did especially his hands.

The Chinese Lady: eBook shares stories about life and wontons

Anusasananan: How did you get starting in teaching cooking?

Witte: As a stay-at-home mom I wanted to be busy. So a teacher at Sherman Oaks School asked if would teach them Chinese cooking. They knew I cooked because I started an enrichment class for the kids after school and wontons were easy and fun for the children. Their little palms were as big as a wonton skin ... from there it progressed to more teaching at gourmet stores, developing food products that led to fancy food shows and food consulting.

Anusasananan: You were a Hollywood actress in your youth. Now you have your own YouTube channel, “The Chinese Lady.” How do you apply your acting skills to your cooking videos?

Witte: Well just thinking back in time, the lessons learned have helped me in many ways in my cooking videos. I am always aware of the camera but then you train yourself not to follow it. I trust the cameraman do his job. Focusing on the dialogue, food placement and being very natural is key to a good video. Having fun and being authentic as you can is also important. The difference for my food videos compared to a written script is that I am the constant actor/person who must perform as a professional chef and to be absolutely knowledgeable about the material in that day’s shoot. In other words doing research and knowing what to do in front of the camera takes practice but the more I do it, the better our videos are.

Anusasananan: How has the percep-tion of Chinese food changed since the days when you were “Miss Chun King,” spokes person for the huge company that sold prepared Chinese food?

Witte: In 1964 there were very few Asian products in the marketplace. Chun King noodles which were crispy were available in cans in most supermarkets. The average non-Chinese person would not be that familiar with Asian products unless it was soy sauce. Now the average supermarket has shelves of Asian food and sauces from all over the world. We’re talking almost 50 years ago. Chinese food is defi nitely bought, eaten and enjoyed by such a universal audience nowadays. Food culture has grown into a full time passion. I speak for the Californians and New Yorkers, people on both coasts of the U.S.

Anusasananan: Why do you love wontons?

Witte: I have loved wontons my whole life. My love stems from an emotional and nutritional level. My fi rst recollection was eating them at home then at my father’s Chinese restaurant. In time wontons would lead me toward the food industry. Wontons are omnipresent in my freezer because I love the taste and texture of these bite-sized morsels. They are easy to prepare and I have never met a person who did not love them when served in my home.

Anusasananan: What are your favor-ite wontons in the book?

Witte: There are 30 wonton recipes and I love all of them but maybe my few favorites would be the very fi rst, Master Wontons with Pork and Shrimp, Napoleon Wontons, Butternut Squash with Basil Wontons, Mushrooms with Shallots and Prosciutto and Chicken with Garlic Chives Siu Mai.

For more information, visit www.lorrainewitte.com. Click on the links under “Latest Releases” on her website to download a free sample, or to purchase A Pot of Rice to the Wonders of Wonton for only $4.99 on iBooks for iPad and Mac. Or visit itun.es/us/iR2uX.l.

Lorraine Witte. • Photo by Josimar King

Above left: Chicken Pot Sticker. Above right: Butternut Squash with Sage and Bacon. • Photos by Josimar King. Food styling by to Lorraine Witte and Josimar King


IE ARTS

By Adrienne IpIE Contributor

Huang Fan is somewhat of a modern icon in his native Taiwan. Since 1979, he has written a number of award-winning essays, short stories, and novels. Yet none has been translated for Western audiences, despite Huang’s impressive career, until recently. Zero and Other Fictions is Huang’s English-language debut and represents his best previously published short work. The stories in this collection are

insightful, funny, and moving. Huang is a versatile writer, but not versatile simply for its own sake. Instead he utilizes both classical and postmodern elements to heighten his thematic objectives and to illuminate his characters’ predicaments.In “Lai Suo,” for example, Huang

employs a jarring time-shift narrative to illustrate his title character’s personal and political disillusionment over a thirty-year period. Playing with chronology is not a gimmick for Huang, but a way of knowing his characters. Lai Suo is a man who has vaguely witnessed political upheaval in Taiwan and yet is not a full participant in his own drama. He is mortal in the cruelest sense of the word—he struggles to keep up with his own disappointments as time and history pass him by: “Time was short! He had to hurry up and think…. Now, what time did he wish to recall? His childhood or youth, his marriage or his baffl ing middle age? There were just a few words of resentment for this life of his—‘Handing in a blank page.’” For better or worse, Huang’s characters

operate within a larger political landscape, one that infl uences, justifi es, and controls their actions. In his preface, John Balcom does a wonderful job of providing a historical context for Huang’s stories, which are informed—as he explains—by Taiwan’s transition from Japanese hegemony to authoritarian rule and, fi nally, to its rising economic prosperity and subsequent political maturation.“The Intelligent Man,” which deals

with success as a domestic nightmare,

exemplifi es Huang’s skill as a social satirist. The Taiwanese businessman of the title, Yang T’ai-sheng, amasses three wives in three locales as he builds his mini-empire. When the wives begin to clash, Yang conducts his own diplomatic summit by bringing them together in neutral territory, with predictable but hilarious results. The story is smartly written, reminiscent of early Philip Roth, and amusing in its comic absurdity. Huang takes that sense of absurdity one

step further. “How to Measure the Width of a Ditch” is his self-referential experiment in metafi ction that comments on the writing process, the meaning of language, and the changing face of modern Taiwan. It is the perfect narrative vehicle for the larger points the author is trying to make, but the collection’s weakest piece. In the science fi ction novella Zero,

Huang focuses on the dehumanizing nature of political control. His doomed hero, Xi De, is methodically subsumed, and ultimately consumed, by an all-knowing totalitarian state. Zero reads like Huang’s clichéd variation of a dystopian future, one that has been imagined by countless other writers. In many respects it is. Yet Zero gains a quiet strength as it approaches its inevitable conclusion and is largely redeemed by Huang’s deliberate pacing and style (not to mention Balcom’s exemplary translation). Huang’s use of science fi ction in Zero,

metafi ction in “Ditch,” and existential displacement in “Lai Suo” serve a larger purpose. In each of these stories, Huang seeks to distinguish his characters from their hopeless circumstances and imbue them with what appears to be—but never fully is—self-awareness. This fruitless but noble search for self-truth and inner peace is a fate shared by many of his characters. For readers unfamiliar with Huang, Zeroand Other Fictions provides an ideal introduction to his work—it is challenging yet accessible and, above all, the product of a highly capable writer. It is no wonder he is such a revered literary fi gure in Taiwan.

Zero and Other Fictions an insightful, moving collection

The International Examiner website is now updated daily.

Visit iexaminer.org every day for unique, breaking, and evolving online content!

is looking for individuals interested in serving on the IE Board of Directors. Please send a letter of interest and a resume to [email protected]!

• •

• •

Current and former students of UW professor Connie So (center) pose for a photo at the International Examiner’s Community Voice Awards on May 21, 2015. • Photo by Keoke Silvano


IE ARTS

By Roxanne RayIE Contributor

Performance group Pratidhwani will again collaborate with ACT Theatre, presenting Mahesh Dattani’s Dance Like a Man. Following their participation in ACT’s

Central Heating Lab project in 2011, with Tania Hossain’s Mother in Another Language, Pratidhwani Drama Wing director Agastya Kohli considered that experience so positive that he felt the two organizations would work well together on a co-presentation. “I kept coming back to the idea of

producing Dance Like a Man in an intimate space like Bullitt Theatre,” Kohli said. “Fortunately for us, ACT was glad to have us back too.” This particular play presents a special

opportunity for Pratidhwani and for the artists involved. “Pratidhwani started as a collection of different ‘wings,’—Dance, Music and Drama,” Kohli said. “We have always been looking for projects where the wings could collaborate, and a number of years ago, we discovered Dance Like a Man as a potential show where our Drama and Dance wings could come together.” This is proving inspiring for the

performers, as well. “I am a dancer, a dancer trained in Bharatanatyam (the dance form depicted in Dance Like a Man) for close to 16 years,” said Tanvee Kale, who plays the daughter Lata and the

younger version of Ratna, “and who then gave up training after that because of the career line I chose.”Her role allows her to return to these

roots. “It never occurred to me to think of ‘dancing’ as a career,” Kale said. “So when I heard about Dance Like a Man and realized it plays around with characters whose lifeline and whose career is dancing, it naturally attracted me to want to be a part of it.” This production allows Kale to explore

what could have been an alternate life: “I am very happy and satisfi ed with the way my life has turned out now when I chose Software Engineering as a career path over dance,” she said, “but I do wonder at times, how different and what would my life have been had I chosen to dance for a living.” Performer Meenakshi Rishi has also

learned a lot about the world of dance in her role as the elder version of the mother, Ratna. “My character is complex and, at every rehearsal, I discover a new reason for why she says what she says,” Rishi said. “She is talented, but was unable to launch her own career without the help of the men in her life.” But gender relations are not the only

challenge for Ratna, as generational issues also arise. “She sacrifi ces everything to her career, but a family tragedy makes her refocus her energies on her daughter,” Rishi said. “One sees an almost ‘Svengali’-like obsession in Ratna as she manipulates to control her daughter.”

And yet Ratna presents many faces. “Although she maintains a very traditional household, doing all the housework, she still makes the important decisions regarding her daughter’s dance career,” Rishi said. “Someone recently described her as a ‘Dance Mom,’ and I would go further and describe her as dance-obsessed who does not hesitate to use any person—be it her own husband—to further her own ambitions.”Through rehearsal, Rishi has found

multiple layers and more complicated motivations in this mother fi gure. “As I repeatedly play her, I think that maybe she is not a Svengali,” Rishi said. “Maybe she is just a fractured person who is trying to validate herself as dancer and mother!” Adding to these familial complications

are the dual settings in which the story is revealed, which drew actor Abhijeet Rane, who plays the roles of father Jairaj as well as Amritlal, to this play. “The play is set in two different time periods, both of which were periods of upheaval in India but in different ways,” he said. “The political freedom that followed after gaining independence in 1947 was followed by a long period of cultural awakening as the country tried to fi nd its identity.” This cultural fl owering often led to

generational confl icts. “India’s political freedom was gained through the efforts of people who had been in many ways steeped in British culture and the youth of the time took on the challenge of reviving India’s cultural traditions,” Rane said. “With

Dance Like a Man a layered dive into a thrilling experienceno encumbrances, they defi ned India’s culture in their own right, often causing confl ict with the older generation. In some ways, this is the story of every country, as such upheaval could be compared to the turbulent 1960s in the U.S.” Amidst these political turmoils are the

individuals who live and survive them. “Exploring relationships between the characters in this play gives us a chance to refl ect on our own relationships,” director Kohli said. “Couples love each other. At the same time, sometimes, can’t help but hurt each other. We have ambitions, as do our partners. At times the two are mutually exclusive.” “During our rehearsals, we’ve been

having some great conversations regarding such confl icts and friction: Why do people stay together? When do they leave?” Kohli said. “Like any well-written play, Dance Like a Man has many layers, and constantly discovering new moments, diving even deeper into those layers, is a thrilling experience.”Kohli emphasized that the passionate

dance elements of this play don’t overshadow its dramatic punch. “It is a gut-wrenching, tear-jerker of a drama, that gets set up for the audience in the fi rst act as a light, funny play—almost a sitcom,” he said. “And you never see what’s coming.”

Dance Like a Man runs from July 24 to August 9 at ACT Theatre, 700 Union Street, Seattle. For tickets and more information, visit www.acttheatre.org/Tickets/OnStage/DanceLikeaMan.

By Bruce FultonIE Contributor

Author Don Lee has set himself a daunting task in The Collective, the successor to his Edgar Prize-winning Country of Origin (2004) and his second novel, Wrack & Ruin (2008). He has taken a well-worn topic—“the

way we were” in college and the years immediately after—but begins the novel at the chronological end of the story, with the suicide of one of the protagonists, Joshua Yoon. That he pulls it off is due in no small part to his ability to confound this reader’s expectations time and again. For example: The climax of the novel

involves a sexually explicit gallery installation by collective member Jessica Tsai that draws the attention of the city council. One of the council members, Vivaldo Barboza, inspects the installation, takes offense, and vandalizes it. When the narrator, Eric Cho, visits Barboza in an attempt to forestall a lawsuit and counter-suit, and learns of the immigrant experience they share (Barboza is a Portuguese immigrant from the Azores), I expected a rapprochement to follow, a tidy outcome. I was wrong. The meeting

degenerates into obscenities and ends in a stalemate. After which dissension destroys the collective, the three friends at its core go their separate ways, and Yoon becomes increasingly reclusive before throwing himself into the path of a speeding car during his daily jog.The collective is

an outgrowth of a friendship originating at college among Yoon, a Korean adoptee and aspiring writer; Taiwanese-American artist Tsai; and Korean-American Cho. It grows into a full-fl edged artists association in Cambridge, Massachuset ts—the members using art and literature to explore issues of race, gender, and class. The novel rings true in its account of life at a small college far from home and gathers steam as solidarity among the collective members coalesces around their ill-fated gallery exhibit.

The novel is richly populated with supporting characters who dispel the model minority mythology of contemporary Asian America: Mirielle

Miyazato, a recovering alcoholic; writer Esther Xing, a rival of Eric for Jessica’s affections as well as for the attention of a literary journal editor; Noklek Praphasirirat, a Thai refugee who is inducted into prostitution by collective member Jimmy Fung and who, after their arrest, immolates herself. Lee, moreover, has an excellent ear for dialogue. The result is a well-written novel with a deceptive fl ow, the author managing

time and again to insinuate small but telling surprises, consistent with a story in which stereotypes are constantly challenged by the collective members. The only discordant note to my ear is the

literary journal Palaver, and its editor, Paviromo, which immediately reminded me of the Paris Review and its longtime editor George Plimpton, a literary institution described with equal measures of bemusement and affection in Ben Ryder Howe’s My Korean Deli.

With this novel and Country of Origin,Don Lee joins Leonard Chang (The Fruit ‘n’ Food, Dispatches From the Cold) as one of the strongest voices testifying to the human costs of the collisions of race, ethnicity, gender, and culture both within and without the United States.

Keep up with the latest news, announcements, and info by following the International Examiner on Twitter @iexaminer and Instagram @internationalexaminer. And be sure to stop by our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/internationalexaminer.

CATCH THE IE ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Don Lee’s The Collective surprises, dispels stereotypes


IE NEWS

By Shawn PorterIE Contributor

With the sun shining and spirits high, Asian Counseling and Referral Service’s (ACRS) 25th annual Walk for Rice raised more than $207,000 in proceeds, which support ACRS Food Bank. As one of the most-used food banks

in King County, ACRS Food Bank is the only food bank in Washington that regularly provides food for individuals with Asian and Pacifi c Islander diets. Common cultural food including rice, tofu, eggs, and fresh vegetables are available to more than 5,500 people a year. Most of these individuals are seniors over 65 and children under 18.This year’s walk drew over a 1,000

community members to Seward Park in Seattle on June 27 to take part in the 2.5 mile walk and run.Attendees enjoyed clear weather

and good company while the opening ceremonies presented a cultural smorgasbord, from a traditional lion dance performance, set to booming drums, to a martial arts and weapons demonstration. Derek Wing of Bastyr University and

Thanh Tan from the Seattle Times emceed the walk and presented awards from ACRS to the Moriguchi family (team Niko Niko 17) and the Asian grocery and gift store Uwajimaya for the decades of support to the food bank.“Food donations from Uwajimaya have

made the food bank the special [place] it is for families of Asian American and

Pacifi c Islander backgrounds to fi nd foods they know from people they trust,” said ACRS Board President Vinod Nazareth. “Further, generations of the Moriguchi Family have formed fundraising teams for Walk for Rice, personally raising funds and promoting the needs facing the most vulnerable in our communities.” The Seattle Chinese Community Girls

Drill Team saw off the participants as they began the walk. Taiko drummers beat their drums as participants who ran, followed by those who took a more casual approach and walked, crossed the fi nish line. Featuring a culturally diverse and

celebratory atmosphere, many participants of all ages, including many senior participants like volunteer April Eng from

ACRS Walk for Rice fi ghts hunger—one grain at a time

the ACRS Club Bamboo program, return every year for the walk, which serves as the primary source of funds for the food bank. “Everybody’s invited,” said Eng.

“Everybody from the community period.”ACRS is a nationally recognized

nonprofi t organization offering a comprehensive selection of human services and behavioral health programs to AAPI in King County. As the 25th annual walk, this year’s event

refl ects the ACRS’s ability to connect the region’s businesses, colleges, community groups, individuals, and families looking to make a difference.Tbsseattle.org was this year’s top

fundraising team, raising over $30,000.

Many local sponsors including Group Health, City University of Seattle, and The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation also donated to ACRS. Centurylink is set to match $1 per pound

of food from part of the total donated. Last year, an additional $79,240.45 was donated through this match.Ellen Carruth was there on behalf of

City University of Seattle and says their group has been working for about four months raising money through different community activities.“Each year we do try to recruit student

body, recruit personnel from the university, and this year we’ve got about 20 folks on the team and we’ve raised over $2,000,” Carruth said. “It’s been a lot of fun. We did a bake sale at school to raise money for the walk.”In 2012, the USDA estimated that

405,000 Washington households struggled with hunger.The Walk for Rice was founded in 1990

by Herb Tsuchiya, his late wife Bertha Tsuchiya, and friend Sam Mitsui. The fi rst event took place on Beacon Hill where 45 walkers raised $1,800. When looking back on the fi rst years of the walk compared to where it is now, Mitsui reiterates the feeling of so many others in regards to the walk’s success.“The memory I always have, is the

generosity of the community,” stated Mitsui via a press release. “Because without them, this could never have happened … that always amazes me.”

Che Sehyun gets walkers warmed up following a performance of his song “SOBEBA (So Breathe Easy and Be Aware)” on stage at the 2015 ACRS Walk for Rice on June 27. • Photo by Keoke Silvano

Announcements

IE News Services

Act of Faith: The Reverend Emery Andrews Story is a new fi lm that tells the story of an unsung hero who went above and beyond to assist Japanese Americans in Seattle during World War II. The documentary by Janice D.

Tanaka screens on Sunday, July 19 at the Japanese Baptist Church of Seattle at 2:00 p.m. at 160 Broadway, Seattle, WA 98122. For more information, visit www.seattlefi rstbaptist.org.

Act of Faith: Documentary tells story of unsung hero

in Seattle

Living Well Health Fair

happens July 25Nikkei Concerns and Seattle JACL

are hosting the 4th annual Living Well Health Fair on Saturday, July 25 at Blaine Memorial United Methodist Church, from 11:00 a.m. through 4:00 p.m. Admission is free.From delicious food to environmental

alternatives, learn how to improve health and wellness for you and your family.The event features inspiring speakers

and health tips, healthy cooking demonstrations, food samples, exercise demonstrations, free health screenings, free door prize drawings and more.For more information, visit

livingwellwithnc.wordpress.com.

40th Annual Pig Roast at Danny Woo garden on Friday, July 17On Friday, July 17, InterIm CDA’s annual

summer pig roast potluck gathering in the Danny Woo Community Garden returns to celebrate 40 years of this invaluable community resource.Things get started in the late afternoon

Friday. Drop by any time to say hello, enjoy food and company, and take an evening stroll through the garden. A short program will begin around 8:00 p.m.You can sign up to volunteer by visiting

http://tiny.cc/DWGpigroast.Here’s a brief timeline of what ot expect.

The pig will be picked up at and set up

will occur from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Friday. Prep happens from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.Pig roasting happens from 6:00 p.m.

Friday through 9:00 a.m. Saturday.Set up for lunch Saturday happens from

9:00 a.m. Lunch is served at 11:00 a.m. Saturday. Clean up begins at 1:00 p.m.

The International Examiner offi ce has moved to the heart of the International District in the Bush Hotel. Our new address is:

International Examiner409 Maynard Ave. S. #203

Seattle, WA 98104


Community Care Network of Kin On815 S Weller St, Suite 212, Seattle, WA 98104ph: 206-652-2330 fx: [email protected] www.kinon.orgProvides home care, Alzheimer’s and caregiver support, com-munity education and chronic care management; coordinates medical supply delivery for Asian/Chinese seniors and families in King County.

Kin On Health Care Center 4416 S Brandon St, Seattle, WA 98118ph: 206-721-3630 fx: [email protected] www.kinon.orgA 100-bed, Medicare and Medicaid certified, not-for-profit skilled nursing facility offering long-term skilled nursing and short-term rehab care for Asian/Chinese seniors.

Over 1,900 likes! www.facebook.com/internationalexaminer

IE COMMUNITY RESOURCE DIRECTORY

Get the planthat fits

Call Washington Apple Health at 1-855-WAFINDER (1-855-923-4633). Choose Amerigroup.

www.myamerigroup.com/

VNSF enables underprivileged students in Viet Nam to achieve success and happiness through education. We are looking for volunteers and board members to join the team and make a differ-ence in the lives of kids in Vietnam.

P.O. Box 16016 Seattle, WA [email protected] www.vnsf.org

Arts & Culture

[email protected] www.deniselouie.orgMulticultural preschool ages 3-5 years old. Now enrolling Private Pay full-day ($900/mo) and part-day classes ($500/mo) with locations at ID, Beacon Hill, and Rainier Beach.

3327 Beacon Ave S.Seattle, WA 98144 ph: 206-725-9740

Education

Housing & Neighborhood Planning

HomeSight5117 Rainier Ave S, Seattle, WA 98118ph: 206-723-4355 fx: 206-760-4210www.homesightwa.org

HomeSight creates homeownership opportunities through real estate development, home buyer education and counseling, and lending.

InterIm Community Development Association310 Maynard Ave S, Seattle, WA 98104Ph: 206.624-1802 Services: 601 S King St, Ph: 206. 623-5132Interimicda.orgMultilingual community building: housing & parking, housing/asset counseling, projects, teen leadership and gardening programs.

Asia Pacific Cultural Center4851 So. Tacoma WayTacoma, WA 98409Ph: 253-383-3900Fx: 253-292-1551faalua@comcast.netwww.asiapacificculturalcenter.orgBridging communities and generations through arts, culture, education and business.

Kawabe Memorial House221 18th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98144 ph: 206-322-4550 fx: [email protected] provide affordable, safe, culturally sensitive housing and support services to people aged 62 and older.

Address tobacco control and other health justice issues in the Asian American/Pacific Islander communities.

601 S King St.Seattle, WA 98104ph: 206-682-1668 website www.apicat.org

Asian Counseling & Referral Service3639 Martin Luther King Jr. Way S, Seattle, WA 98144 ph: 206-695-7600 fx: [email protected] www.acrs.orgACRS offers multilingual, behavioral health and social services to Asian Pacific Americans and other low-income people in King County.

National Asian Pacific Center on Aging Senior Community Service Employment Programph: 206-322-5272 fx: 206-322-5387www.napca.orgPart-time training program for low income Asian Pacific Islanders age 55+ in Seattle/King & Pierce Counties.

1601 E Yesler Way, Seattle, WA 98122ph: 206-323-7100 www.nikkeiconcerns.orgrehabilitation care | skilled nursing | assisted living | home/community-based services | senior social activities | meal delivery | transportation | continuing education | catering services

Legacy House803 South Lane Street Seattle, WA 98104ph: 206-292-5184 fx: [email protected] www.scidpda.org/programs/legacyhouse.aspx

Description of organization/services offered: Assisted Living, Adult Day Services, meal programs for low-income seniors. Medicaid accepted.

Senior Services

WE MAKE LEADERS

Queen Anne Station, P.O. Box 19888, Seattle, WA [email protected], www.naaapseattle.orgFostering future leaders through education, networking and community services for Asian American professionals and entrepreneurs.Facebook: NAAAP-Seattle Twitter: twitter.com/naaapseattle

Social & Health Services

Chinese Information & Service Center611 S Lane St, Seattle, WA 98104 ph: 206-624-5633 fax: [email protected] www.cisc-seattle.org

Creating opportunities for Asian immigrants and their families to succeed by helping them make the transition to a new life while keeping later generations in touch with their rich heritage.

International District Medical & Dental Clinic720 8th Avenue S, Seattle, WA 98114 ph: 206-788-3700email: [email protected] website: www.ichs.com

Bellevue Medical & Dental Clinic1050 140th Avenue NE, Bellevue, WA 98005ph: 425-373-3000

Shoreline Medical & Dental Clinic16549 Aurora Avenue N, Shoreline, WA 98133ph: 206-533-2600

Holly Park Medical & Dental Clinic3815 S Othello St, Seattle, WA 98118ph: 206-788-3500

ICHS is a non-profit medical and dental center that provides health care to low income Asian, Pacific Islanders, immigrants and refugees in Washington State.

Seattle Chinatown/International District Preservation and Development Authorityph: 206-624-8929 fx: 206-467-6376 [email protected]

Housing, property management and community development.

Executive Development Institute310 – 120th Ave NE. Suite A102 Bellevue, WA Ph. 425-467-9365 • Fax: 425-467-1244Email: [email protected] • Website: www.ediorg.orgEDI offers culturally relevant leadership development programs.

Professional & Leadership Development

Please mail a check for $35 to the International Examiner or donate to: 409 Maynard Ave. S. #203, Seattle, WA 98104.Thank you for your contribution.

ph: 206-624-3426 www.merchants-parking-transia.org

Merchants Parking provides convenient & affordable community parking. Transia provides community transportation: para-transit van services, shuttle services and field trips in & out of Chinatown/International District & South King County.

Social & Health Services

SUBSCRIBE TO THE INTERNATIONAL EXAMINER FOR

$35/YEAR FOR 24 ISSUES!

Senior Services

Horizon House900 University St Seattle, WA 98101 ph: 206-382-3100 fx: [email protected]

www.horizonhouse.orgA welcoming community in downtown Seattle, offering seniors vibrant activities, independent or assisted living, and memory care.

FAIR! ph: 206-578-1255 [email protected]

FAIR! provides undocumented Asians and Pacific Islanders with access to free immigration services, legal services & financial assistance, with translators available upon request.

Agape Senior Group Activity Center36405 Cedar St, Suite UTacoma, WA 98409ph: 253-212-3957 [email protected]

Japanese Language School for Children on Saturdays. Activities/Programs for all ages. Programs include Calligraphy Class, Chiropractic Taiso, iPad & Computer Classes, and more! Join us and make new friends!

IDIC is a nonprofit human services organization that offers wellness and social service programs to Filipinos and API communities.

7301 Beacon Ave SSeattle, WA 98108ph: 206-587-3735fax: 206-748-0282 [email protected]

Southeast Seattle Senior Center4655 S. Holly St., Seattle, WA 98118ph: 206-722-0317 fax: [email protected] www.sessc.orgDaytime activities center providing activities social services, trips, and community for seniors and South Seattle neighbors. We have weaving, Tai Chi, indoor beach-ball, yoga, dance, senior-oriented computer classes, trips to the casino, and serve scratch cooked lunch. Open Monday through Friday, 8:30-4. Our thrift store next door is open Mon-Fri 10-2, Sat 10-4. This sweet center has services and fun for the health and well-being of boomers and beyond. Check us out on Facebook or our website.

2500 NE 54th StreetSeattle, WA 98105ph: 206-694-4500 [email protected]

Working to prevent and end youth homelessness with services including meals, shelter, housing, job training, education, and more.


Check back for Sudoku in the IE every issue! Answers to this puzzle are in the next issue on Wednesday, August 5.

Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun

UNHEALTHY

MODERATE

GOOD

May

2014 2015

What does our air quality look like?

Visit pscleanair.org for a daily air quality forecast.

This June had plenty of winds and the best air quality we’ve had since we began monitoring last year.

The air monitor in the Chinatown-International District neighborhood showed one moderate day through June 25 and good air quality the rest of the month.

The main sources of air pollution in the neighborhood are cars and trucks driving on I-5 and I-90. Breathing high levels of this pollution can cause heart attacks, strokes, asthma attacks, and more.

Air pollution in the Chinatown-International District is highest during the morning hours. It is lowest in the early afternoons, so get outside and enjoy the day, especially during those breezy afternoons!

Last month’s review

Did you know?

Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar

UNHEALTHY

MODERATE

GOOD

2014 2015


UNHEALTHY

MODERATE

GOOD

2014 2015

International District Air Quality

Monthly Average


UNHEALTHY

MODERATE

GOOD

2014 2015

1701 Pacific Avenue Tacoma, WA 98402

TacomaArtMuseum.org 253-272-4258Tuesday – Sunday 10 am – 5 pmThird Thursday 10 am – 8 pm

Roger Shimomura, American in Disguise (detail), 2012. Acrylic on canvas, 34 × 34 inches. Collection of the Hallie Ford Museum of Art, Willame tte University, Maribeth Collins Art Acquisition Fund, 2014.031. Roger Shimomura—An American Knockoff has been organized and distributed t by the Museum of Art / Washington State University, Pullman, WA.

June 20 –September 13, 2015

Super Roger! Fighting Racism One Painting at a Time.

july 15, 2015 international examiner

Documents