Category Archives: politics

Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) blog, blog, boxing, diversity, Filipino, news, politics, race, sports

Emil Guillermo: (VIDEO) Jamie Foxx will sing “Star Spangled Banner” at tonight’s PacMay fight; Will he mock Manny and do it in a Filipino accent? He did on ESPN’s First Take. Was it a racial slur?

May 2, 2015 Amok

Accent is a big deal.

It’s one thing for a Filipino to make fun of it.

But it’s quite another for Jamie Foxx to do it on national television. Take a look at this video of ESPN’s “First Take.”

Funny or racial slur?

No different than the non-written rules for the use of “N” word by non-blacks.

If you’re not Filipino, it’s a slur.

Given how politically correct ESPN has been on making fun of accents and racial remarks (remember the “chink in the armour” references regarding Jeremy Lin?),I don’t know how they could allow this on their air.

And there’s the super self-righteous Stephen A. Smith yucking it up.
He’s been suspended for insensitive remarks. Bill Simmons has too.

And yet on the day before the big fight, there’s this on ESPN?

That’s an outrage, folks.

Shows no respect for Pacquiao, the 90 million people of the Philippines, or the 3.4 million Filipinos in America.

Let’s see if ESPN at least takes producers to task for their judgment. And let’s see if Foxx continues to mock Manny and all Filipinos by continuing to do his shtick.

An apology is in order.

CHECK OUT THE NEW HOME FOR THE AMOK COLUMN: www.aaldef.org/blog

LIKE and FOLLOW us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/emilguillermo.media

And FOLLOW my latest tweets on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/emilamok

Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) blog, blog, diversity, news, politics, race

Emil Guillermo: The one book you need to read this Asian Pacific American Heritage Month? Ron Takaki’s “Strangers from a Different Shore.” Better yet gift it to someone…

May 1, 2015 Amok

Others don’t know our history. But even some Asian Americans don’t know our history.

Recently, I picked up two used copies of Ron Takaki’s “Strangers from a Different Shore,” and gave them to my kids.

I must have purchased at least a dozen copies of the book in my lifetime and given them as gifts.

Hey, that’s a good idea. Almost better than a “Happy AAPI Heritage Month” card.

Give Takaki’s book. If you’ve read it, re-read it.

It’s the basic story of all of us Asian Americans.

When Ron died, I wrote this:

http://www.amok.com/blog/remembering-ron-takaki-the-man-who-put-asian-pacific-americans-into-historical-context-for-the-academy/

CHECK OUT THE NEW HOME FOR THE AMOK COLUMN: www.aaldef.org/blog

LIKE and FOLLOW us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/emilguillermo.media

And FOLLOW my latest tweets on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/emilamok

blog, boxing, Filipino, politics, race, sports

Emil Guillermo: Who broke the stare pose first? Pacquiao? Mayweather? Was that really Round One? Oh, fight already…

April 29, 2015 Amok

n the televised “stare off” in the Mandalay Bay, the two fighters went face-to-face.

Pacquiao always look like he is holding back a grin. Mayweather looks like a killer. I see Pacquiao blink a few times during the staredown. Floyd is stone-faced.

But who breaks down the whole pose first?

I see Pacquiao move in. He is always moving, like in his fights. And then Mayweather moves toward Pacquiao. That’s when Pacquiao breaks off, turns to the cameras and smiles.

So who broke down first?

I just don’t think it’s as definitive as ESPN commentator Teddy Atlas believes, that Pacquiao broke down first and lost a “psychological edge.”

But Atlas has his bias toward Mayweather and thinks Floyd’s straight right will come in get the left-handed Pacquiao in the head when the Pacman exposes himself while overreaching with his straight left.

Possible. But Manny says he’s preparing different strategies for Mayweather, who will have to deal with Pacquiao’s quickness and mobility.

Manny isn’t a straight-up boxer. He creates new angles, comes from out of nowhere. Mayweather is more stationary, counterpuncher.

He’ll have to move to catch Pacquiao in order to beat him.

CHECK OUT THE NEW HOME FOR THE AMOK COLUMN: www.aaldef.org/blog

LIKE and FOLLOW us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/emilguillermo.media

And FOLLOW my latest tweets on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/emilamok