Rise: A Pop History of Asian America from the Nineties to Now

by Jeff Yang, Phil Yu, Philip Wang

Overview

Notes From Your Bookseller

A magical tour through the past three decades (and more) of Asian American history and culture, a journey of sweat, tears, sacrifice, inspiration, disappointments, innovation and breaking through. Chock full of discoveries and hidden histories, told with a visual panache that keeps us turning pages, Rise is a celebration and revelation, a vastly important American story, and undeniably a blast to read.

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

One of Barnes and Noble's Best History Books of 2022 * Finalist for the CALIBA Golden Poppy Award * A Goodreads Readers Choice Nominee

"Hip, entertaining...imaginative."—Kirkus, starred review * "Essential." —Min Jin Lee * "A Herculean effort."—Lisa Ling * "A must-read."—Ijeoma Oluo * "Get two copies."—Shea Serrano * "A bo2ok we've needed for ages." —Celeste Ng * "Accessible, informative, and fun." —Cathy Park Hong * "This book has serious substance...Also, I'm in it."—Ronny Chieng

RISE is a love letter to and for Asian Americans—a vivid scrapbook of voices, emotions, and memories from an era in which our culture was forged and transformed, and a way to preserve both the headlines and the intimate conversations that have shaped our community into who we are today.

When the Hart-Celler Act passed in 1965, opening up US immigration to non-Europeans, it ushered in a whole new era. But even to the first generation of Asian Americans born in the US after that milestone, it would have been impossible to imagine that sushi and boba would one day be beloved by all, that a Korean boy band named BTS would be the biggest musical act in the world, that one of the most acclaimed and popular movies of 2018 would be Crazy Rich Asians, or that we would have an Asian American Vice President. And that’s not even mentioning the creators, performers, entrepreneurs, execs and influencers who've been making all this happen, behind the scenes and on the screen; or the activists and representatives continuing to fight for equity, building coalitions and defiantly holding space for our voices and concerns. And still: Asian America is just getting started.

The timing could not be better for this intimate, eye-opening, and frequently hilarious guided tour through the pop-cultural touchstones and sociopolitical shifts of the 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, and beyond. Jeff Yang, Phil Yu, and Philip Wang chronicle how we’ve arrived at today’s unprecedented diversity of Asian American cultural representation through engaging, interactive infographics (including a step-by-step guide to a night out in K-Town, an atlas that unearths historic Asian American landmarks, a handy “Appreciation or Appropriation?” flowchart, and visual celebrations of both our "founding fathers and mothers" and the nostalgia-inducing personalities of each decade), plus illustrations and graphic essays from major AAPI artists, exclusive roundtables with Asian American cultural icons, and more, anchored by extended insider narratives of each decade by the three co-authors. Rise is an informative, lively, and inclusive celebration of both shared experiences and singular moments, and all the different ways in which we have chosen to come together.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780358508090
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	03/01/2022
Pages:	496
Sales rank:	349,543
Product dimensions:	7.70(w) x 9.30(h) x 1.30(d)

About the Author

JEFF YANG has been observing, exploring, and writing about the Asian American community for over thirty years. He launched one of the first Asian American national magazines, A. Magazine, in the late '90s and early 2000s, and now writes frequently forCNN, Quartz, Slateand elsewhere.  He has written/edited three books—Jackie Chan’s New York Times-best-selling memoir I Am Jackie Chan: My Life in Action; Once Upon a Time in China, a history of the cinemas of Hong Kong, Taiwan and the Mainland; and Eastern Standard Time: A Guide to Asian Influence on American Culture. He lives in Los Angeles, CA.

PHIL YU is the founder and editor of the popular Asian American news and culture blog, Angry Asian Man, which has had a devoted following since 2001. His commentary has been featured and quoted in the The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, NPR, and elsewhere. He lives in Los Angeles, CA.

PHILIP WANG is the co-founder of the hugely influential production company Wong Fu Productions. Since the mid 2000s, his creative work has garnered over 3 million subscribers and half a billion views online, as well as recognition from NPR and CNN for its impact on Asian American representation. He lives in Los Angeles, CA.

Table of Contents

Introduction viii

Before

Before: An Essay Jeff Yang 1

Who's Asian American? 10

When Inclusion Can Turn into Erasure 16

The Asian American Syllabus: 1980s and Before 19

Undercover Asians: 1980s and Before 23

Original Synth: The Anthems of Young Asian America 26

Twelve Court Cases That Shaped Asian America 28

The Propaganda Family Tree 32

Why Vincent Chin Still Matters 34

How to Yellowface 36

Yellowface: In the Beginning 37

Miss Saigon, but Not Forgotten 41

The Miss Saigon Family Tree 44

The Asian American Playlist: 1980s and Before 46

Where the Heart Is: Asian Ethnic Enclaves 49

Asian American Atlas 56

Founding Fathers and Mothers: 1980s and Before 60

Stuff Asians Like 62

1990s

The 1990s: An Essay Jeff Yang 65

Asian Americans on Campus 80

The Asian American Syllabus: 1990s 84

Sa-I-Gu 1992: Remembering the Los Angeles Riots 87

The Long Dark Shadow of "Me Love You Long Time" 93

Asian American Food Glow Up 94

Asian Americans Dot Com 96

How to "AZN" 100

Asian Avenue, Annotated 103

The Style List: 1990s 106

Generasian Gap: 1990s 108

Speed Racers 110

The Asian American Playlist: The 1990s 114

Setting Sail on the Love Boat 118

Spaces: Asian Home 120

Boba Triumphant 124

The Joy Luck Club Remembered 126

How the Golden Age of Hong Kong Cinema Gave Us Hope 133

Bollywood Saved Us 136

Awesome Asian Bad Guys 140

Reflections on Mulan 142

After Connie 147

When Asian American Indie Features Suddenly Mattered 150

It All Began with Margaret Cho 152

What's Funny?: 1990s 157

The Asian American Yearbook: The 1990s 158

Spaces: Asian Grocery Store 160

Founding Fathers and Mothers: 1990s 164

Anime of the People 166

Yellowface in the 1990s 170

DISGRASIAN: 1990s 172

Undercover Asians: 1990s 174

RISE: A Poem 176

2000s

The 2000s: An Essay Phil Yu 181

Suburbasia 196

"Dis-Spelled" 198

Spaces: The Boba Shop 200

The Asian American Syllabus: 2000s 205

9/11: Remembering a Tragedy and the Dark Days That Followed 209

Spin Doctors: How Filipino American DJs Turned the Tables on Hip-Hop 214

Stepping into the Cypher: Asian American Rappers 217

MC Jin's Greatest Spits 221

The Trials of Dr. Wen Ho Lee 224

Tomorrow Never Dies 226

Animasians: The Cartoon Characters That Shaped Our Kidhood 234

Harold and Kumar 239

Spaces: The Asian American Film Festival 240

Elevated or Appropriated? 246

"Asian Night": The Asian Party Scene 248

The Style List: 2000s 252

Generasian Gap: 2000s 254

The Asian American Reality TV Hall of Fame 257

William Hung Does Not Need Your Sympathy 261

The Asian American Playlist: The 2000s 263

Bhangra Is the Beat 267

The Dance Crew Revolution]p270

Tops of the Tube: Pioneers of Asian American YouTube 272

The Musicians: A YouTube Playlist 275

Founding Fathers and Mothers: 2000s 276

The Do-Over 278

Spaces: Finding Our Religion 280

What's Funny: The 2000s 285

The Wonderful World of White Saviors 286

Yellowface in the 2000s 289

The Asian American Yearbook: The 2000s 292

DISGRASIAN: 2000s 294

Undercover Asians: 2000s 298

2010s

The 2010s: An Essay Philip Wang 301

The Asian American Playlist: The 2010s 315

Hashtag #ASIANAMERICA 320

Remembering Linsanity 322

The Asian American Syllabus: 2010s 326

Tops of the Tube: Asian American YouTube Crosses Over 330

The Seven Stages of PSY 334

Clawing Back at Tiger Mom 335

This Isn't Even My Final Form: The Evolution of Asian Memes 338

Appreciation or Appropriation? 342

Hallyu Like Me Now 344

Generasian Gap: 2010s 346

The Style List: 2010s 348

Asians All the Rave 350

Spaces: A Night in Koreatown 352

LOVE, Asian American Style 356

What's Funny?: 2010s 359

The FAQ About Apu 362

#StarringJohnCho 365

Fresh Off the Boat: A Retrospective 368

Three Kings 382

The Road to Crazy Rich Asians 388

Spaces: University Culture Fest 392

Founding Fathers and Mothers: 2010s 396

Asian Celebrity Chefs 398

The Asian American Yearbook: The 2010s 402

Gaming While Asian 404

Coming Out in Public 406

DISGRASIAN: 2010S 408

Undercover Asians: 2010s 410

Yellowface in the 2010s 412

It's a Bird … It's a Plane … It's Asian Superheroes 414

Beyond

Beyond: An Essay Jeff Yang Phil Yu Philip Wang 419

Black and Asian: A Conversation 425

After "Asian August": A Conversation 430

Spaces: Life During COVID 432

The Essential Awkwafina 12-Pack 440

Tomorrow, the World: Talking with the Founders of Subtle Asian Traits 442

BTS: Inside the American ARMY 445

She, Rose: An Interview with Kelly Marie Tran 448

The Math of Andrew Yang 452

A Sign of Things to Come 454

It's an Honor Just to Be Sandra: An Interview with Sandra Oh 458

The First Action Hero 462

Afterword 466

Contributors 468

Acknowledgments 471

Index 472

Credits 484

Editorial Reviews

★ 10/11/2021

Cultural critic Yang, Angry Asian Man blogger Yu, and filmmaker Wang take readers on a riveting tour through pop cultural milestones of the 1990s to the 2010s, when the children of the wave of Asian immigrants who came to America after the passage of 1965’s Hart-Celler Act were confronted with “the job of trying to fill in the blank of what it meant to be Asian American.” In graphic essays and conversations with artists, the authors reflect on how, for decades, finding success as an Asian American “meant making sure you could appeal to white audiences... compromising who you were.” From the racially motivated murder of Vincent Chin in Detroit in 1982 to more recent reflections on the racial implications and random violence toward Asians perpetrated by those who falsely believe that Covid-19 is a “Chinese disease,” they illustrate the obstacles Asian Americans have come up against and brilliantly juxtapose them with stories of how those barriers have been thwarted (Grey’s Anatomy and Killing Eve fans will appreciate behind-the-scenes details of how Sandra Oh landed her roles on those shows). Interspersed throughout are amusing memes featuring K-pop sensation BTS and quirky depictions of Asian grocery stores and boba shops. This celebration of Asian American culture is as revelatory as it is entertaining. (Jan.)

Publishers Weekly

An eclectic work that colorfully observes seemingly everything…the book is a tome dedicated to what Asian America has looked, felt and sounded like in the past 30 years…The book, then, is not only a celebration but also a way to set the record straight.” — San Francisco Chronicle

 “'RISE' is a homage to the seminal moments in sports, politics and entertainment that came to define contemporary Asian American culture…A buffet of offerings awaits the reader" — NBC News

"More than a cool primer or a pop history, this essential compendium documents Asian American culture from the 90s through today. Let the record stand, it’s an honor to be us."  — Min Jin Lee, author of Free Food for Millionaires and Pachinko, a finalist for the National Book Award

“What a Herculean effort by Phil, Phil and Jeff to put together such a terrifically entertaining and massively comprehensive read. Not only was it illuminating to learn about how Asian Americans have contributed to pop culture over the last thirty years, it made me feel so proud at a moment when so many of us have been questioning our belonging in America.”   — Lisa Ling, host of CNN's This is Life with Lisa Ling

“Rise is a book like no other. It is informative, entertaining, thoughtful, beautiful, and full of love. It has literally expanded my idea of American culture and American history. I cannot imagine that anybody could pick up this book and not be immediately engrossed and ultimately benefited. This book is a must-read for anybody and everybody.”  — Ijeoma Oluo, author of So You Want to Talk About Race and Mediocre

"Rise is a smart, funny, entertaining book. It makes you feel smarter for having read it without ever making you feel dumb for not already knowing the information inside. Get two copies because the first copy is definitely gonna get swiped off your coffee table by one of your friends."  — Shea Serrano, author of Hip-Hop (And Other Things) and Movies (And Other Things)

"Playful, wide-ranging, and informative, Rise is a book we've needed for ages. If you think you already know, it'll teach you tons you didn't. If you don't know anything, get reading: it's a perfect introduction to the wildly diverse and ever-evolving Asian American community."   — Celeste Ng, author of Everything I Never Told You and Little Fires Everywhere

"Rise is an accessible, informative, and fun compendium on Asian American pop culture and politics from Harold and Kumar to Asian dance crews to Black/Asian relations today. This book made me nostalgic for the 90's while reminding of ugly moments in American history like the racial profiling of scientist Wen Ho Lee. Jeff Yang, Phil Yu and Philip Wang offer us a vivid and readable tour of Asian American representation.”  — Cathy Park Hong, author of Minor Feelings

“Finally the book on Asian American pop culture that needed to be made. Don't be fooled by the fun, accessible presentation format because this book has serious substance on the criminally undertold but hugely essential contributions Asians have made to American culture. Also, I'm in it.”   — Ronny Chieng, senior correspondent on The Daily Show

"Illustrations, graphs, and text make this tour of history and Asian American excellence a book I didn’t know I needed but was glad to discover, and a welcome counterpoint to “explainer” nonfiction...All charmingly and engagingly illustrated." — Marie Myung-Ok Lee, O Magazine, "10 Must Read Books for AAPI Month"

"A hip, entertaining book, as imaginative in its presentation and stories as the generation it portrays."  — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“Well-researched…and pure fun...This gorgeous, entertaining book takes readers on a fun trip through Asian American pop culture history from the 1990s through the 2010s.”  — Shelf Awareness

From the Publisher

"More than a cool primer or a pop history, this essential compendium documents Asian American culture from the 90s through today. Let the record stand, it’s an honor to be us." 

Min Jin Lee

"Illustrations, graphs, and text make this tour of history and Asian American excellence a book I didn’t know I needed but was glad to discover, and a welcome counterpoint to “explainer” nonfiction...All charmingly and engagingly illustrated."

Marie Myung-Ok Lee

"Playful, wide-ranging, and informative, Rise is a book we've needed for ages. If you think you already know, it'll teach you tons you didn't. If you don't know anything, get reading: it's a perfect introduction to the wildly diverse and ever-evolving Asian American community."  

Celeste Ng

Finally the book on Asian American pop culture that needed to be made. Don't be fooled by the fun, accessible presentation format because this book has serious substance on the criminally undertold but hugely essential contributions Asians have made to American culture. Also, I'm in it.”  

Ronny Chieng

Rise is a book like no other. It is informative, entertaining, thoughtful, beautiful, and full of love. It has literally expanded my idea of American culture and American history. I cannot imagine that anybody could pick up this book and not be immediately engrossed and ultimately benefited. This book is a must-read for anybody and everybody.” 

Ijeoma Oluo

'RISE' is a homage to the seminal moments in sports, politics and entertainment that came to define contemporary Asian American culture…A buffet of offerings awaits the reader"

NBC News

"Rise is an accessible, informative, and fun compendium on Asian American pop culture and politics from Harold and Kumar to Asian dance crews to Black/Asian relations today. This book made me nostalgic for the 90's while reminding of ugly moments in American history like the racial profiling of scientist Wen Ho Lee. Jeff Yang, Phil Yu and Philip Wang offer us a vivid and readable tour of Asian American representation.” 

Cathy Park Hong

What a Herculean effort by Phil, Phil and Jeff to put together such a terrifically entertaining and massively comprehensive read. Not only was it illuminating to learn about how Asian Americans have contributed to pop culture over the last thirty years, it made me feel so proud at a moment when so many of us have been questioning our belonging in America.”  

Lisa Ling

"Rise is a smart, funny, entertaining book. It makes you feel smarter for having read it without ever making you feel dumb for not already knowing the information inside. Get two copies because the first copy is definitely gonna get swiped off your coffee table by one of your friends." 

Shea Serrano

An eclectic work that colorfully observes seemingly everything…the book is a tome dedicated to what Asian America has looked, felt and sounded like in the past 30 years…The book, then, is not only a celebration but also a way to set the record straight.

San Francisco Chronicle

An eclectic work that colorfully observes seemingly everything…the book is a tome dedicated to what Asian America has looked, felt and sounded like in the past 30 years…The book, then, is not only a celebration but also a way to set the record straight.

San Francisco Chronicle

★ 01/01/2022

The history of Asians in America is a complicated matter. As journalist Yang, blogger Phil Yu, and producer Philip Wang point out in their new book, it's possible to trace this history back to at least the 1760s, but the umbrella term of Asian American didn't exist until 1968. Instead of focusing on the long history of exploitation and exclusion, Yang, Yu, and Wang turn to look at the last three decades with a focus on the advances that have been made in entertainment and politics. The result is a remarkable collection of stories from Asian Americans: a mix of essays, interviews, comics, playlists, and more. The book focuses on major moments in pop culture—including Margaret Cho's All-American Girl and I'm the One That I Want, Disney's 1998 Mulan, Boba tea, Better Luck Tomorrow, and Fresh Off the Boat. To provide additional nuance, the authors also invite contributors to discuss the problems of gathering so many cultures under one name, be it "Asian American" or "AAPI." VERDICT This rich, balanced collection provides a dazzling history of late 20th and early 21st century pop culture in the United States, and the lasting impact of Asian Americans. With a visually stunning layout, the book is an essential read.—John Rodzvilla

Library Journal

★ 2021-10-12
A fun and informative book about the explosion of Asian American culture in recent decades.

In the past 30 years, there has been a wave of successful Asian-background artists, writers, actors, bloggers, and entrepreneurs who were born in America or arrived here when young. Until 1965, write Yang, Yu, and Wang, there were limits on the number of (legal) immigrants from Asia; for years after that, most arrivals were fleeing poverty or persecution. They focused mainly on building lives for their families, but the next generation showed an energetic, outward-looking diversity. This book—a collection of essays, interviews, illustrations, and even some comic-book pages—reflects that broad range. There are maps showing where Asian communities have developed and timelines indicating the key steps in overcoming social barriers. There is no question that there has been painful discrimination in the past, and it still exists, but great progress has been made. The authors examine the concept of “yellowface,” where White actors played Asians, mainly as caricatures, and several essays look at the roots of racism. In the 1990s and 2000s, Asian countries were beginning to export culture: anime, movies, fashion, and music. That did much to break down anti-Asian sentiment, and the internet provided another springboard for Asian Americans to dive into the cultural currents. There is a difficult duality in the position of coming from one culture and growing into another, although it provides a heightened sense of observation of both sides. The image of the divided self often finds expression in comedy, and the comments from Asian American stand-up comics are hilarious, made more so by the thread of poignancy in the mix. Finding the balance between the future and the past is a continuing journey, and, as for most travelers, the crucial question is what you choose to take with you and what you leave behind.

A hip, entertaining book, as imaginative in its presentation and stories as the generation it portrays.

Kirkus Reviews

09/01/2022

There's no disputing that Asian and Asian American popular culture is a powerhouse in the United States. K-pop is all over the radio, movies like Crazy Rich Asians are blockbusters, and television shows featuring Asian American actors are smash hits. But how did we get here? Years of struggle and hard work—much of it overlooked. Journalist Yang, blogger Phil Yu, and producer Philip Wang, along with a team of writers, chronicle the rise of Asian American popular culture, with a focus on 1990 to the present. Each section takes a deep dive into a specific time period, with extensive coverage of music, television and movies, fashion, dance, and news. The tone varies from irreverent to serious, and the content includes essays, interviews, poetry, lists, and profiles. A team of eight Asian American narrators capably handles this wide variety of content, adjusting the pacing to suit the tone of each individual piece. The sole drawback to the audiobook is that listeners miss out on the illustrations in the print edition, which include comic strips, portraits, and pull-out panoramas—all drawn by Asian American artists. VERDICT This heartfelt and entertaining chronicle serves as a showcase for exceptional Asian American audiobook narrators. A must-listen for pop culture buffs.—Nanette Donohue

Library Journal - Audio

A full cast of Asian-American narrators take listeners on a vibrant and thought-provoking journey through Asian-American pop cultural history. Journalist Yang, blogger Yu, and producer Wang’s fun and poignant history is recounted through multilayered essays, playlists, and interviews. With deftness and conviction, the narrators alternate between playfully celebrating Asian-American accomplishments and thoughtfully reflecting on the challenges that Asian-Americans, including notable actors, writers, and politicians, have encountered. These challenges continue even now, as demonstrated by the continued suspicion of Muslim and Sikh Asian-Americans and the escalation of anti-Asian hate crimes during COVID-19. While some listeners may miss the maps, illustrations, and other visual elements found in the print version, all will be moved by this illuminating and authentically told history. S.A.H. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine

APRIL 2022 - AudioFile

A full cast of Asian-American narrators take listeners on a vibrant and thought-provoking journey through Asian-American pop cultural history. Journalist Yang, blogger Yu, and producer Wang’s fun and poignant history is recounted through multilayered essays, playlists, and interviews. With deftness and conviction, the narrators alternate between playfully celebrating Asian-American accomplishments and thoughtfully reflecting on the challenges that Asian-Americans, including notable actors, writers, and politicians, have encountered. These challenges continue even now, as demonstrated by the continued suspicion of Muslim and Sikh Asian-Americans and the escalation of anti-Asian hate crimes during COVID-19. While some listeners may miss the maps, illustrations, and other visual elements found in the print version, all will be moved by this illuminating and authentically told history. S.A.H. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine

APRIL 2022 - AudioFile