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 […]

UC Berkeley’s Ethnic Studies Department recently celebrated its 40th anniversary, highlighting its strong support for graduate students. Assistant Professor Long Le-Khac created a database of Asian American literature from 1971–2023, compiling 984 works by 783 authors. His team avoided imposing a single definition of “Asian American literature,” instead capturing its competing interpretations. Le-Khac stressed that […]

Korean American novelist Susan Choi has been shortlisted for the Booker Prize. Her nominated work is Flashlight, her sixth novel. The story begins with a seaside tragedy where a daughter survives, but her father vanishes. It unfolds into a sweeping family saga across Japan, the U.S., and North Korea. Themes of memory, identity, language, and […]

Arthur Sze, a UC Berkeley graduate and acclaimed poet, has been named the first Asian American U.S. poet laureate. Known for his translations of ancient Chinese poetry and 12 published collections, Sze plans to use his term to promote the translation of world poetry and inspire new writers. Throughout his career, he has taught in […]

Jessica Sanchez, 30, became the first Filipino American to win America’s Got Talent after performing Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars’ “Die With a Smile” in the Season 20 finale. She earned a standing ovation, the most public votes, and the $1 million prize. Two decades after first auditioning at age 10, Sanchez returned to the […]