Rolling Stone’s “250 Greatest Songs of the 21st Century So Far” features 17 songs by 16 Asian and Asian-heritage artists — less than 7% of the list. Highlights include BTS’ “Spring Day,” Mitski’s “Your Best American Girl,” and M.I.A.’s “Paper Planes.” While the recognition marks progress, it also underscores ongoing underrepresentation of Asian artists in […]

Throughout Oct. 22–26 at the Asian Arts Initiative, “Living Museum: Philly Asian Futures” features nine Asian American artists presenting immersive works that imagine the future through dance, sci-fi, music, and ritual. Inspired by story circles with Asian elders, the project explores themes of identity, trauma, and hope. It concludes with a community dinner and roundtable […]

Susan Ahn Cuddy (1915–2015) was the first Asian-American woman officer and first female gunnery officer in the U.S. Navy. Born in California to Korean independence activists, she joined the Navy after Pearl Harbor to honor her father’s fight against Japan. Ahn broke barriers in a male-dominated, racially prejudiced military, training pilots and serving in Naval […]

Filipino American NBA coach Erik Spoelstra has been named head coach of the U.S. men’s national basketball team, succeeding Steve Kerr after Team USA’s gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. A longtime Miami Heat coach with two NBA championships (2012, 2013) and multiple Finals appearances, Spoelstra becomes the first Asian American to lead the […]

A bronze statue of Yung Wing (1828–1912), the first Chinese student to graduate from an American university, was donated to Yale’s Sterling Library by his hometown of Zhuhai, China, marking the 150th anniversary of his 1854 Yale graduation. In 1877, he donated over 1,200 books, establishing Yale’s first Chinese Collection and inspiring the first U.S. […]

Shimon Sakaguchi, Mary Brunkow, and Fred Ramsdell won the 2025 Nobel Prize in Medicine for discoveries leading to new autoimmune and cancer treatments. Sakaguchi found that regulatory T-cells prevent immune attacks, while Brunkow and Ramsdell showed that the FOXP3 gene is vital for their formation. Their work has inspired new drug trials to boost the […]

Asian American actor Conrad Ricamora makes his West End debut at the RepresentAsian concert in London, advancing his mission to expand Asian representation in theater. Through his initiative The Right To Be There, he funds scholarships for young Asian artists and calls for more inclusive casting. Ricamora is filming “The Devil Wears Prada 2,” “The […]

A new documentary, “Along Comes Larry: The Larry Ramos Story,” by Emmy winner Rick Quan, highlights Larry Ramos, a Kauai-born Filipino American who became the first Asian American Grammy winner. Born in 1942 in Waimea, Ramos gained fame early, later joining The New Christy Minstrels, winning a Grammy, and performing with The Association on hits […]

Hutong and Joomak are elevating Asian cuisine in New York City. Hutong redefines Chinese fine dining with meticulous dishes like its flambéed Peking Duck and artful desserts. Joomak blends Korean, Chinese, and American influences through a refined tasting menu inspired by Chef Jiho Kim’s childhood flavors. Both challenge traditional perceptions and highlight New York’s multicultural […]

Silent War: Asian American Reckonings with Mental Health by Changfu Chang follows Asian American families confronting mental health stigma, cultural barriers, and discrimination. Featuring families coping with loss and depression, and voices like journalist Michelle Li and therapist Amrinder Singh, the film highlights struggles tied to the model minority myth and anti-Asian hate during COVID-19.  

Jeff Chang’s Water Mirror Echo redefines Bruce Lee as a central figure in Asian American identity. Born in San Francisco in 1940, Lee faced racism in Hollywood but used his films and philosophy to challenge injustice and promote self-determination. Drawing on family archives, Chang highlights Lee’s enduring impact as both a cultural icon and a […]

Connie Chung, the first Asian American and second woman to anchor a major U.S. network news program, spent three decades with NBC, CBS, ABC, and CNN. Promoting her memoir, she voiced concern about opinion-driven journalism and setbacks to diversity and inclusion. Chung reflected on breaking barriers in a male-dominated industry and inspiring Asian Americans, noting […]