Category Archives: 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…

rontakakibook

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/

 

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

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

pacmay stare 1

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.

pacmay 2

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.

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Emil Guillermo: Asian Americans could unwittingly help decide the name fight for the Washington NFL football team.

The First Amendment is No.1 for a reason.

And yesterday it gave new life to the Asian American rock band, The Slants, and its  appeal to trademark the group’s name.

slants

But if The Slants win that battle, it could mean the First Amendment would also apply to the Washington NFL franchise trying to keep its name.

Read my piece here on NBCNews.com.

Listen to The Slants here.

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Emil Guillermo: Bruce Jenner has people talking, but does he represent the diversity in the trans world?

brucejennerRich people like Bruce Jenner can afford surgery and treatments.

But there are poor and working class trans people who aren’t covered by insurance and fear the price of their journey may be too high.

On top of that, I know trans people of color who fear discrimination and harassment every day.

It all makes Jenner such a poor spokesperson for the trans community.

His announcement is good for Jenner in Malibu, and his reality shows. But his trans reality isn’t what most people experience.

He’s hardly representative of the trans world.

See my column on trans diversity here.

 

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