Escape From Plan A

Recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that mixed-race Americans are one of the fastest growing racial category in the United States (and a particularly young demographic as well). A popular idea argues that the “beigeing” of America will naturally lead to decreased racism, but is it more complicated than that? Special guest Sharon H. Chang (author, photographer, and activist) and returning guest C.S. Taniguchi share their experiences with Oxford Kondō on what it’s like to grow up mixed-race Asian and what their thoughts are on the future of mixed-race America. Intro/Outro Music: "Two Slow Dancers" by Mitski Intro Voice Track: Barack Obama on his biracial heritage from "Being Multiracial in America | The New York Times" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21H9lA6MLHM) TWITTER: Sharon (@sharonhchang) C.S. (@c_taniguchi) Oxford (@oxford_kondo) REFERENCED RESOURCES: "Raising Mixed Race" by Sharon H. Chang: https://www.amazon.com/Raising-Mixed-Critical-Viewpoints-Society/dp/1138999466 "Hapa Tales and Other Lies" by Sharon H. Chang: https://www.amazon.com/Hapa-Tales-Other-Lies-Memoir/dp/1732484708 Black? White? Asian? More Young Americans Choose All of the Above: https://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/30/us/30mixed.html The Race and Gender Fails Of “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before”: https://sharonhchang.com/2018/11/27/the-race-and-gender-fails-of-to-all-the-boys-ive-loved-before/ SUBMISSIONS AND COMMENTS: editor.planamag@gmail.com

Teen, Mark, and Jong are joined by special guest Ray (a data scientist currently in Norcal and friend of Plan A)to discuss the homicides of Fufai Pun and Kheong Ng-Thang. We compare this incident with Vincent Chin’s famous murder and compare their respective responses from the community. We also question whether anger must come with a productive outlet or not. Intro Voice Track: CBS New York report on the hammer attack in Sheepshead Bay on 1/16/2019 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZDMWkD318Y) Outro Music: "For The Prey" by Bambu (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRTQPVGZ1Pc) TWITTER: Teen(@mont_jiang) Mark(@snbatman) Jong (@calicoarse) Ray (@raydeng) REFERENCED RESOURCES: New Article on the Brooklyn Hammer homicides of Ng Tan Kheong and Fufai Pun: https://abc7ny.com/2nd-person-dies-after-nyc-restaurant-hammer-attack-/5095729/ Reappropriate's Twitter thread on the Brooklyn Hammer homicides of Ng Tan Kheong and Fufai Pun: https://twitter.com/reappropriate/status/1086126026130767874 Masculinity vs. “Misogylinity”: what Asian Americans can learn from #UCSB shooting | #YesAllWomen: http://reappropriate.co/2014/05/masculinity-vs-misogylinity-what-asian-americans-can-learn-from-ucsb-shooting-yesallwomen/ SUBMISSIONS AND COMMENTS: editor.planamag@gmail.com

C.S. Taniguchi, Diana, Mark, and Teen talk about the incredible influence that Japanese culture has had in America over a long period of time. From architecture, food and literature, to how we declutter our lives. Why does Japan hold such cultural sway over Americans? And is this a good or bad sign? Intro Music: Isle of Dogs OST Intro Voice Track: Matthew Weiner discussing the Mad Men character Bertram Cooper Outro Music: Ghost in the Shell OST (the real one) TWITTER: C.S. Taniguchi: @c_taniguchi Diana: @discoveryduck Mark: @snbatman Teen: @mont_jiang SUBMISSIONS AND COMMENTS: editor.planamag@gmail.com

Self-awareness and self-reflection are crucial elements to any good discussion. While Asian guys have legit gripes, that doesn't mean they always express them in the right way or that they're always blameless. Oxford, Filip, Jong, and Mark run an audit of straight Asian male behavior and attitudes to get an assessment of what needs improvement. Intro/Outro Music: "It G Ma" by Keith Ape Intro Voice Track: Ned Flanders from the Simpsons Episode "The Trouble With Trillions" TWITTER: Oxford (@oxford_kondo) Filip (@filipgwriting) Jong (@calicoarse) Mark (@snbatman) Contact us at: editor.planamag@gmail.com

With the skyrocketing popularity of the Subtle Asian Traits Facebook groups and its many offshoots like Subtle Asian Dating and Subtle Curry Traits, the persistent and unresolved gender issues among Asian Americans (and other Asians in Western countries) have inevitably come to the forefront. Oxford, Filip, Sammi, and Jay take a look at the discussions that have been popping up and ask whether these spaces can avoid the problems that have plagued other Asian online spaces in the past. Intro Voice Track: “The Asian-Australians behind ‘Subtle Asian Traits’” by Bohdee (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQ6U8-wFeA0) Outro Music: “Queen of Queens” by Miss Ko TWITTER: Oxford (@oxford_kondo) Filip (@filipgwriting) Jay (@lithiummano) REFERENCED RESOURCES: How 'Subtle Asian Traits' Became A Global Hit: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/11/world/australia/subtle-asian-traits-facebook-group.html 'Subtle Asian Traits' And 'Subtle Asian Dating' Are Raising Good Questions: https://planamag.com/subtle-asian-traits-and-subtle-asian-dating-are-raising-good-questions-a1501bb82544 Inside EastMeetEast, the Controversial Dating App for Asians That Raises Thorny Questions About Identity: https://www.gq.com/story/eastmeeteast-asians-only-dating-app An Rong Photographs Asian Couples In Love: https://i-d.vice.com/en_us/article/d3bjmv/an-rong-photographs-asian-couples-in-love Priyanka Chopra A 'Scam Artist'? - The Cut's Racist Rant Is Pathetic:https://www.huffingtonpost.in/2018/12/05/the-new-york-magazine-s-rant-against-priyanka-chopra-is-a-new-racist-low_a_23609257/

With the verdict in the Harvard admissions lawsuit on the horizon, Escape From Plan A goes beyond the legalistic arguments involved to ask some big picture questions. Should Harvard seek racial diversity in its classes? If so, should it be more open about that instead of blaming Asian Americans for lackluster personalities? And why do Asian Americans repeatedly internalize and accept responsibility for racism we encounter? Join Teen, Oxford, and guest Kasie (from the Anthony Bourdain memorial podcast) as they delve into these difficult questions. Intro Song: Ten Thousand Men of Harvard Outro Song: "The Christmas Song" by Ella Fitzgerald Intro Voice Track: Harvard bar scene from "Good Will Hunting" TWITTER: Teen (@mont_jiang) Oxford (@oxford_kondo) Kasie (@kasefiles) REFERENCED RESOURCES: Students For Fair Admissions complaint: https://studentsforfairadmissions.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/SFFA-v.-Harvard-Complaint.pdf Harvard lawsuit documents supporting Harvard: https://admissionscase.harvard.edu/supporting-documents "Anti-Asian Bias, Not Affirmative Action, Is on Trial in the Harvard Case" by Jeannie Suk Gersen: https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-columnists/anti-asian-bias-not-affirmative-action-is-on-trial-in-the-harvard-case "Admitting Bias" by Aaron Mak: https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2018/10/harvard-admissions-lawsuit-trial-asian-american-discrimination-reports.html "I support affirmative action. But Harvard really is hurting Asian Americans." by Michael Li: https://www.vox.com/first-person/2018/10/18/17995270/asian-americans-affirmative-action-harvard-admissions-lawsuit "Louisiana School Made Headlines for Sending Black Kids to Elite Colleges. Here’s the Reality.": https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/30/us/tm-landry-college-prep-black-students.html "The Danger of Asian American Conformity" by Teen Sheng: https://planamag.com/the-danger-of-asian-american-conformity-116576c716f2 "Harvard and Edward Blum: Two Defenders of White Plutocracy": https://planamag.com/harvard-edward-blum-defenders-of-white-plutocracy-e7dae5e44d85

Teen, Jess, Jong, Oxford, and Mark ponder what every Asian American considers at some point: West Coast, or East Coast? They try to get beyond just who has better fast casual burgers, or London plane vs. palm trees, and into the social nuances of each coast. Things aren't always what they seem. Intro music: "California Love" by Tupac ft. Dr. Dre Intro voice track: The Fung Bros. on East Coast vs. West Coast Asians (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3woXoa-KQWA) Outro music: Going Back to Cali (Biggie Smalls) TWITTER: Teen (@mont_jiang) Jess (@cogitatotomato) Jong (@calicoarse) Oxford (@oxford_kondo) Mark (@snbatman)

Though less famous than siblings such as "Spirited Away" and "Princess Mononoke," Studio Ghibli’s "Whisper of the Heart" is nevertheless a masterpiece that explores the intense anxieties young people face when first trying to turn their artistic dreams into actual practice. In this special midweek episode, Oxford and Diana (a comedian/writer) lavish praise on this beautiful film and talk about how much the movie can mean to anybody who has dreams but is afraid to try because of fears of failure. Intro/Outro Music: "Whisper of the Heart Medley" by Yuji Nomi Intro Voice Track: Scene from "Whisper of the Heart" TWITTER: Diana (@discoveryduck) Oxford (@oxford_kondo) REFERENCED RESOURCES: Mike Hale's Studio Ghibli rankings: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/12/movies/ranking-studio-ghibli-movies.html Film School Rejects' Studio Ghibli rankings: https://filmschoolrejects.com/the-movies-of-studio-ghibli-ranked-from-worst-to-best-b480bffd7fb7/

Author Wesley Yang discusses 'Game Theory' and pick-up artistry coercion in the dating scene with Teen, Jong, and Mark. They explore the problematic nature of pursuing women as a game, women making the first move, societal labels for men, and the importance of diverse social circles for Asian men.

The term “emotional labor” may get thrown around too easily these days, but if you conceptualize Asians’ social role as providers of racial guilt-relief in the West, then what are all the things we do (or more importantly, don’t do) in service of playing that role? From having to assume leadership roles in families because of parents’ language barriers to having to shut up about constant racialized experiences, all these things take a toll if not spoken about. Oxford, Jess, Jong, and Diana open up about their experiences in order to remedy that silence. Intro/Outro Song: "Prism" by Seventeen Years Old and Berlin Wall Intro Voice Track: Bobby Lee on Asian Parents (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faIFb_vH9hY) TWITTER: Oxford (@oxford_kondo) Jess (@cogitatotomato) Jong (@calicoarse) Diana (@discoveryduck) REFERENCED RESOURCES: The Concept Creep of 'Emotional Labor': https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2018/11/arlie-hochschild-housework-isnt-emotional-labor/576637/ Women Aren't Nags — We're Just Fed Up: https://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/features/a12063822/emotional-labor-gender-equality/