Just putting it out there, but I love the fact that I’m an ABC+k (American born Chinese with a bit of Korean). I mean, I didn’t when I was younger; I rejected my ethnicity for the longest time. I struggled to find my niche, my placement, and I didn’t see anyone that looked like me, that I could look up too. Fast forward a decade later, and here I am constantly soaking in my mother-tongue(s) and culture, utilizing all my skills to showcase others like me who have a gift that has either been ignored, or simply unknown to the “mainstream” audience.

Asian-Americans Re-create Iconic Magazine Covers (January, 24, 2017)

Buzzfeed is a guilty pleasure. When I have nothing to do, or even when I’m procrastinating, I’ll probably be watching some irrelevant two minute video or spend a minute on a quiz that tells me when I’ll have my first child via Disney quiz (I got 33 years old, which doesn’t sound too off, I guess). However, this week they came out with a video that resonated with me on another level. One thing that I’m all for is Asian-Americans (or just Asians, in general) in the “mainstream” entertainment industry, whether they’re actors, writers, directors, etc. BuzzFeed showed that there was a whole team who were able to speak about different experiences and perspectives that were unique to them. And I absolutely adored the fact that the variety of faces shown in the video, because Asians are not strictly Chinese, Korean, and Japanese. Asians include southern countries like Indonesia and Vietnam, as well as India. Also, look at how gorgeous and classy they all look!

Tablo X Gallant X Eric Nam (January 26, 2017)

Okay, so play this track first if you haven’t heard it yet and then come back. Back? I KNOW RIGHT? So not only is this what I’m going to call the collaboration of 2017 (a tad bit too early, but I’m not a music reviewer so whatever) but it’s a showcase that music is a language in it of itself. Gallant comes in the first verse with his amazing tone and quintessential smoothness. Tablo is always putting words together in ways that I can’t imagine, and here he is describing the double-edged sword of love. However when Eric came in with his verse, I literally had goosebumps. He hasn’t come out with a song so solid in the R&B genre (at least that I know of), but his vocals fit the genre and the lyrics so well. And he was born in Atlanta, so that's just the cherry on top.

Also, the shots and colors throughout the music video (that was shot in Hong Kong!) were very Wong Kar Wai, a HK movie director.

This was the collaboration that nobody knew they needed, but here it is, music to my ears.

U.S. Figure Skating Championship 2017 (January 14-22, 2017)

This past week was the U.S. Figure Skating Championship, which means national level athletes.

Now let me emphasize this: there were four events, and three of those four events were won by Asian-Americans.

Okay, let’s continue.

Karen Chen (17): Gold in the Women's Category

Karen Chen won her first national title after choreographing her short program herself. One thing that stuck with me was when the commentators were introducing Karen and mentioned that in an interview that, 'if the U.S. Championships were a movie, I'd be a quiet assassin.' In 2015, she had won bronze, but after had found herself in a rut, finishing in eighth place. I think just from her comment, you can see how much she has grown mentally and in confidence over the past few years.

Nathan Chen (17): Gold in the Men's Category

Nathan Chen won gold and has now been given the nickname "America's Hope." Not only is this his first national title, but he's also the youngest U.S. Men's champion in 51 years at the age of 17. Nathan not only showcased his artistic talents after years of dancing and musical acting, but he also a five quadruple jump, where it usually only consist of four. His technical score were already high than the previous contestant halfway through his routine, and one can only imagine how much more he can do by the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeong Chang, South Korea.

Maia (21) and Alex Shibutani (25): Gold in Ice Dancing

Maia and Alex have won their second consecutive title at the U.S. Skating Championship. They have performed all over the world, and are two-time World metalists. The ShibSibs (as they are adoringly called) have this chemistry and creativity that boosts their performances on another level. They were named in the U.S. team for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, and won 9th place. They even have a Youtube channel which gives a behind-the-scene look on what it's like to be a professional athlete. The ShibSibs are the ultimate sibling goals.

Honarary Mentions:

Dev Patel's Oscar Nomination for Lion (2016)

I believe, and please correct me if I'm wrong, but Dev Patel is the only Asian nomination for the Oscars this year. And I feel compelled to add in rapper Dumbfoundead's lyrics from his song Safe, "The other night I watched the Oscars, and the roster of the only yellow men were all statues."

This isn't to bring down anybody's creative work throughout last year, but it does draw attention to the lack of diversity in the Hollywood industry. This also isn't to bring down the efforts of other minorities in the industry who are making history. I believe that you can advocate and empathize on two different matters, because we (as humans) can have more than one feeling.

And that wraps up This Week in Asian-Americas Making History (it's a working title). I hope that I'll be able to diversify the content to showcase the diversity that Asians have to offer.

Cheers.