Thoughts on BANANA Event from AArisings Perspective

[aarisings]

Thanks go out to Lac Su and Steve Nguyen for putting on the BANANA event in Los Angeles. They have lit the fuse and it will be interesting to see where it goes from here.

A couple of thoughts on the event.

Some things change, some things have not. Being around for awhile often gives a sense of perspective. I look back to the early 90s when participating in similar type events (obviously not bloggers but just APA issues in general) and still see some of the same issues discussed. That said though, I see more of a willingness to actually affect change now too. We just need to find the ways to convert the online passion into offline results.

I was also actually kinda surprised that even now Frank Chin and the Maxine Hong Kingston thing is still brought up so many years later. I was around when that was a fresh topic and it still has some life so many years later just amazes me regarding the power of Frank Chin.

Group dynamics are interesting. I'm a people watcher in general and always find it interesting to see how people network and “schmooze.” Myself, I suck at it. I've never felt comfortable in networking and if I do have to do it I usually have to prepare myself for days previous. I prefer talking to individuals or just small groups and establishing the personal connections and commonalities that have deeper meaning. Just me.

It would be interesting, at least to me, to see if any perspectives change in say, 20 years. As someone who saw the same kind of issues and anger brought up in the early 90s on the Cal and Stanford campuses during gathering of minds like at BANANA, I wonder how time and life changes affect perspectives. I know certainly for myself I'm mellower than my SFSU days some 20 years ago.

And finally, where does AArisings fit into all of this? Well, admittedly, AArisings is not really a blog so I might have been slightly out of place at the panel. Yes, I did do the personal blogging for many years in the mid-to-late 90s as well (some of you may remember that), but what role does AArisings have, if any, in this whole movement? In talking to Kevin Hsieh of Channel APA, I think we both felt similar – we're trying to affect change in an area we are passionate about. I would like to think that AArisings helps in some small way, at least, to shape how we are seen in the entertainment world so that my kids can see more diversified images out there.

A note for those at the after-party, sorry for bailing at the last second. I nearly got into a car accident on my way there and after circling the area numerous times looking for parking, I realized I was just too tired to really function well so I went to the hotel to check in and fell asleep (I am NOT a night person, at all). Sorry about that.

[neaato]

glad to finally meet you nelson!
*bows down
so glad you were at the event. big big big inspiration. hope i can have half the consistency that aa risings has!!

[aarisings]

On the long drive home, I mentally compiled some more random thoughts about BANANA:

Thanks to everybody who came up and said how AArisings inspired them early on. Seriously, I keep AArisings alive as a resource for you all.

The female representation on the panel was most excellent. 10 or even 20 years ago representation from the APA female perspective was certainly lacking on such panels and great to hear your voices expressed, particularly on a panel almost evenly divided in terms of gender.

Alcohol and panelists don't mix well. Anybody in attendance knows this first hand.

Gil Asakawa reminded me of a cross between Hawaii's Ryan Ozawa and playwright Philip Kan Gotanda. I definitely mean that in a good way too. Gil is quite the professional.

Phil Yu (aka angryasianman) seemed to be relucantly in the spotlight. I asked him how he was dealing with his "coming out" and he shrugged his shoulders and said "it was going to happen eventually, I guess." Funny thing was when we were taking seats, I ended up sitting next to Phil on his right and he whispered "I really should have gone to the bathroom before this."

Had some things in common with Julie from Kimchi Mamas. Her children nearly mimic the age of my own children and we swapped children personality stories and parenting styles. Children definitely become a topic that parents can often find common grounds with other parents.

Was glad that Ernie was on the panel because he brought a much needed perspective that might not have been brought up if he wasn't there.

I was extremely humbled by big WOWO's Byron Wong when he talked about AArisings and how useful he has found it over the many years. Keeps reminding me why I keep AArisings going - for all of you people out there! Thanks!

Lac Su had a certain quality about him that I admit I don't see very often. Some might call it an aura but I call it magentism and personality. It's a rare quality that I can say I've only seen in probably 10 people in my entire lifetime.

Meeting musician Dawen was great. Always enjoy meeting artists and my impression of him is he is very well spoken, intelligent, and driven! That should serve him well in the music industry.

And finally, Kevin Hsieh of ChannelAPA is someone I feel a strong sense to collaborate with. Don't be surprised to see fruit from a collaboration between AArisings and ChannelAPA soon!

[aarisings]

glad to finally meet you nelson!
*bows down
so glad you were at the event. big big big inspiration. hope i can have half the consistency that aa risings has!!

Thanks man. Great meeting you! Just remember, there are apps to fully automate what you want to do.