This year, it was again my privilege to give welcoming remarks to the filmmakers of the annual 72 Hour Shootout filmmaking competition, a 3-day filmmaking extravaganza that aims to promote and support underrepresented voices in the entertainment industry.  Every year, the competition focuses on a theme and, this year, we looked at words and why they matter so very much.  Here is a copy of the remarks on the topic and if you'd like to watch, just click here!
***
Thanks and welcome filmmakers!  Every year we at the Film Lab choose a couple of themes to focus on for the Shootout.  This year we delved into what it means to be “essential” or “integral to” a society and how words can impact that perception of belonging.  The impact of simple words can have a dramatic impact on groups within a society.  An obvious example we’ve all seen is how the use of phrases like “Kung flu” and the “Chinese Virus” have influenced anti-Asian hate crimes across the country from beatings to stabbings to shootings.  Conversely, we’ve seen how phrases like “Black Lives Matter” and “Stop Asian Hate” have galvanized people to come together to support equality and inspired people to find empathy for others.  In looking at words in our language and how we use them, we were struck by the prevalence of what I call a language of domination or subjugation in our common vernacular.  That’s a mouthful.  What do I mean by that?  We often hear the phrases “kill it,” “slay it,” “crush it.”  We’re all familiar with the idea of coming, seeing and conquering.  That was what Columbus did, right?  And he’s such a role model?  So, is it a good thing?  This quest for domination, even at the expense of others, written into our very slang? 
 
Essentially, what we’re seeing is a use of our language that values destruction over construction and – as we all should know by now – words matter.
 
Rather than crushing, killing, slaying, or conquering (your films), what about creating?  Collaborating?  Learning? Building? 
 
Instead of hunting, slaughtering and domination (over your cast and crew), what about cooperating?  Nurturing?  Stewardship?  
 
What if we were to re-frame the foundation of our own narrative as constructive rather than destructive?  As one of casual kindness instead of casual cruelty?  What if we were to place value on the positives instead of the negatives? This year’s theme will invite you to do just that.
 
One last thing we touched upon in thinking what it means to be essential in a society – to truly belong – is also who our heroes are, how a hero is defined, whether a hero is valued or essential.  Going back to words and phrases, we also often hear the phrase “Don’t be a hero” (take care of yourself), which ties into this  language of domination, in a sense, by encouraging a self-centered, rather than a compassionate, outlook.  We challenge you to think about words and phrases and how you use them.  Think about it critically.  And we ask, that, for just 72 hours, you be heroes, take risks, be bold, and be courageous with your films.  After all, if you’re not, then what’s the point?  Most of all, though, have fun!  So, good luck.  Go create some game-changing films.  No pressure or anything.

youtu.be/e_H1IbF9aQI

5 April 2021 
 
To Brynn Putnam:
 
Several weeks ago, I noticed one of your fitness instructors using casually racist language in her classes on the Mirror.  The language, mocking Asian Americans, whether intentionally or not, came right on the heels of the Atlanta murders of multiple women of Asian descent.  They are also occurring in the context of a groundswell of anti-Asian violence, harassment and intimidation based on the usage of “mere” words and phrases, like “Kung flu.”   Words have power and, as NBC pointed out recently, anti-Asian jokes have gotten a pass for so long “[b]ecause of the country’s long history of scapegoating and othering people of Asian descent, [and] the lack of diversity in the upper echelons of the media and entertainment industry.”[1]
 
In your case, one of your instructors (not of Asian descent – none of your instructors or any front-facing Mirror staff appear to be of Asian descent) was screaming “HIYA HIYA HIYA” while doing pseudo “kung fu” kicks in a manner that, especially coming right off the Atlanta shootings, made me cringe.  This kind of “kung fu” “hiya” language has long been used as a way to mock and demean Asians.  In a recent case a friend sent me, a conservative church had a video in which someone acted similarly to your instructor and, as soon as it was pointed out that this was racist, the church apologized and took it down. There are many, many cases on this subject and I’ve attached a link to a court case that’s on point as just one example.[2]  
 
This kind of casual mockery of Asians is degrading and sad.  The fact that Mirror amplifies it to all its members by publishing it and livestreaming it – repeatedly – legitimizes it, normalizes it and makes it ok to mock a marginalized community.  
 
It is such a small, easy thing to fix.  I myself have, in the past, been told certain phrases were inappropriate and I was grateful for the lesson and stopped using them.  I thought I would tell the instructor and she would be courteous and professional and use a different word like “bam” or “pow.”  Accordingly, when this first happened, I put a private note to the instructor into the app to notify her that this language could be viewed as offensive and pointing out the context – both in terms of (1) the rising anti-Asian violence in the country based on words and rhetoric like the words she uses, (2) the Atlanta murders which left many Americans – both Asian and not – deeply disturbed and saddened, and (3) the fact that LuLuLemon, Mirror’s parent company, has a history of anti-Asian actions they’ve had to apologize for from their comments about it being “funny” that Japanese people can’t pronounce the company’s name to their appalling “bat-fried rice” anti-Asian, COVID-related shirts.[3]  
 
Not only did I receive no reply, your instructor doubled down on her HI YA’s and invited, in later classes, the audience to join in and scream HIYA HIYA with her while doing fake karate kicks.  It seemed like a very unprofessional, passive aggressive response to a heartfelt request for compassion and empathy.
 
After the language continued with seemingly elevated gusto, I went ahead and contacted Mirror support on March 30, 2021.  I bcc’d you on that message, which is re-printed below.  I received no reply.  The fact neither Mirror nor the instructor seem to care about this at all shows just how deeply ingrained this type of “causal mockery” is and the fact your platform lacks Asians means there’s no counterpoint.  When people like me speak up, we are ignored and, worse, outright ridiculed.  
 
My (white, male) significant other was one of the people I bcc’d on my March 30th email to you and your support team.  He reached out independently to Mirror to reiterate that, particularly in today’s polarized atmosphere in which people of Asian descent have been spit on, beaten and even killed, that this type of casual demeaning of Asian people is not acceptable.  Within 24 hours, Mirror tech responded to him (they did not cc me or email me or call me) that they would take down “the” (even though there were actually multiple classes) class and give your instructor “sensitivity” training.  What “sensitivity training” is was not explained.
 
I was disappointed that Mirror did not see fit to respond to me at all, however, I hoped that they/you were sincere in the effort to create an open, welcoming and inclusive environment.  They/you were not.  On April 2nd, the same instructor put forth another live class, streamed out to many people, in which she continued her HIYAs.  I lost count of how many times she yelled it.  This is, at best, incredibly unprofessional.  As a public-facing company, your words and the words of your instructors have influence and meaning to many people, giving your instructor’s racially demeaning language wide exposure.  If you double, triple and quadruple down on that racist language – as you have – then you’re telling your audience it’s ok to make fun of Asian people, you’re saying there is no accountability.  As the gatekeeper, the buck stops with you.  You’re responsible and I ask again: will you simply continue to ignore or even promote the instructor and her language further, as Mirror is currently doing?
 
This may seem like a very little thing.  In some ways it is: it is just a tiny phrase used, in the least racist sense, to imbue energy to a move.  It could easily be stopped and changed to an equally energetic but less racist word like “bam” or “pow.”  Given the easiness of the fix, why is it so critical to you and your instructor that she NOT stop using the phrase?  Why has she doubled down on something that should be a simple, professional, courteous, easy fix?  
 
In other ways this “little” phrase is a big thing.  Words have power.  The use of words and phrases like “kung flu” in public ways by public personas have put us as a country in a place where people are viciously attacked and some are dead now, for no reason other than their racial background.  Is this something you and Mirror want to be a part of?  
 
It's all these so-called tiny aggressions, casual mockery and demeaning phrases that build up over time.  Our complacency with them creates the groundwork for the legitimization and normalization of much more egregious racist and sexist behavior.
 
I reached out to other people of various genders and racial backgrounds to get their thoughts on this, including Mirror users, and I’m copying a few examples below for you so you can see how words affect people and why. 
 
 
Sincerely,
Jennifer

From a black male:
I'm very sorry that you experienced this incident and are having to deal with the aftermath. Personally, I think you should be very annoyed.
 
First, there is the initial lack of sensitivity of the instructor. What the hell?! We're in the year 2021! People know that kind of stuff is inappropriate. They know that is a racial stereotype that has no place in contemporary society. And that is especially so in this recent environment when Asians and Asian Americans have been scapegoated and under attack.
 
Second, it's infuriating how the instructor doubled and tripled down on her behavior after you (politely) complained. How unprofessional! If she didn't know she was being racist before -- and she should have -- she knew she was being racist after both of your messages. What kind of person keeps up that type of behavior (and with more enthusiasm) after she is informed it makes one of her customers -- and likely many of her customers -- uncomfortable in a racial way? What a repugnant woman! I recently read of a church video that did this exact same thing, only it was a youth pastor dressed up in kung fu garb and making the "hi-ya!" sounds while giving a lesson. The video had been on the church's website for some time, and an Asian American person eventually discovered it and complained. The church immediately took the video down and apologized. It was a ridiculous video to have on its website in the first place -- and it's really sad that it had to be an Asian American who recognized and complained about how problematic it was -- but at least the church recognized its error and responded to the complaint. And this was a conservative church. How could a corporation that focuses on fitness and wellness have a worse response?!
 
Third, it is incredibly insulting -- and delves into racist and sexist territory -- when two of your messages about the incidents are ignored but your white male husband's message is acknowledged and acted upon. What is this company Mirror and what is its owner LuLuLemon? What is the company culture that they would handle this series of incidents like they did? The voice of an Asian American woman means nothing and can be neglected, but it's only when a white male gets involved that they feel compelled to respond and do something? And again, this happened against the backdrop of this painful national moment we're in regarding Asian American identity and presence and safety!!!
 
So no, you're not being overly sensitive. You're not overreacting. This is exactly the kind of thing that must be addressed. Most of the racism that affects our society is not big actions like that horrifying mass shooting in Georgia. Most of it is the little stuff like this. But it's these kind of little incidents that contribute to an atmosphere that makes the Georgia shootings and the violent attacks on Asians and Asian Americans possible.
 
I think you shouldn't stop at your letters. You should make more of it. The initial incident could have been easily addressed and handled with everyone going forward satisfied. But the company chose a different path with an abysmal response that showed an endorsement of racism and sexism, and they should be made to answer for it.

From an Asian male:
I fully agree with your discomfort with the Mirror instructor using such an outdated, stereotypical, cartoonish Oriental yell for her workout. I literally have not heard "hi yah" outside of children's animation for decades. I don't think you're being touchy. The instructor's continued "hiyahs" sure sounds like an "F-U, you can't tell me what to do." And Mirror's single response makes them sound like a company run entirely by rich white men, completely deaf to any other non-rich-white-male. They can shove their sensitivity training right back up their ass.
 
From a white female:
Oh my gosh, I would be livid! Sexism and racism all wrapped up into one ugly package. I'm so sorry that happened. It's just unacceptable and infuriating. I do not think you are over-reacting.
 
For what it's worth, I would blast them on social media about both racism and sexism, probably separately because we all know that some people can't process two ideas at once, plus if you combine the two, at least one issue won't be addressed. And they both need to be addressed. Loudly and in a huge way. I'd go to Facebook, Twitter (an especially satisfying platform for getting companies to pay attention, I've found), Instagram. I would likely also add in a letter to Brynn Putman and Calvin McDonald, and I'd reach out to other women you know who have Mirror subscriptions and who are of Asian descent to "encourage" the company to pay attention. I hope I'm not overstepping; I'm only letting you know what I would do, but I can't speak to your experience, and I don't mean to or want to take over with my anger. 
 
On a side note, their support seems abysmal in that they clearly didn't really even read your email. Their "ticket takers," for lack of a better term, seem to be going off a script and not capable of using their brains outside of that script. Never a good thing when companies get to that point, as it shows a complete lack of engagement with its customers and a tone-deafness relating to customer concerns.
 
Excerpt from a longer note from a journalism professor who is also a person of color:
I now take micro-s more seriously than before because I truly believe they contribute to "the groundwork for the legitimization and normalization of much more egregious racist and sexist behavior." And I don't want to be complicit.
 

Related Emails:
 
---------- Forwarded message --------- 
Date: Tue, Mar 30, 2021 at 7:09 PM 
Subject: Music and video crashing related plus racism or micro aggressions 
To: Mirror < hello@mirror.co>
 
 
Hi Mirror Tech Support.  Yes, the tech problems persist.  Rather than repeating them ad nauseum, if you could review my ticket(s), that would be helpful.  The last month-plus without musical audio was free of the usual video crashes.  When the music finally returned, so did the retrying, buffering and crashing, which is why I created a new ticket suggesting the two issues might be related(?)  
On an unrelated note, I’d really appreciate someone speaking to one of your Mirror instructors, [Name redacted], about microaggressions directed against Asian Americans.  Right in the wake of the Atlanta shootings and in the context of an overwhelming rise in anti-Asian violence and racism in this country, she is doing her moves with “HI-YA” fake “Kung Fu” exclamations and noises.  It’s cringe-worthy and, at best, tone deaf.  Given the additional context that LuLuLemon (your parent company) is well known for past anti-Asian actions (for example: https://nextshark.com/chip-wilson-lululemon-japanese-pronunciation/ and https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/lululemon-apologized-after-its-art-director-posted-bat-fried-rice-n1188831) and the fact that Mirror has not a single instructor of Asian descent – even your Tai Chi class is taught by a white man – this probably went unnoticed.  It is, however, a classic micro-aggression (see court cases on this point and other resources, below).  [Name of Instructor redacted] may have no clue she’s engaging in race-based, prejudice-oriented speech, but that doesn’t change the fact that she is.  Given LuLuLemon’s history and the fact you are an Asian-free company – at least for your front-facing instructors - maybe take this seriously?  These are some good resource to start with:
https://asiasociety.org/sites/default/files/inline-files/Resources%20for%20Combating%20Anti-Asian%20Racism.pdf
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/anti-racism-resources-support-asian-american-pacific-islander-community-n1260467
https://www.apa.org/ed/schools/primer/race-hate
And for more on the subject:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8220873/Chinese-NHS-worker-wins-30-000-racial-discrimination-claim-colleague-Kung-Fu-noises.html; https://www.thehrdirector.com/legal-updates/legal-updates-2020/mimicking-chinese-accent-making-kung-foo-noises-racial-harassment/ (MAKING KUNG FOO NOISES WAS RACIAL HARASSMENT); https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/jan/11/british-chinese-racism
 
https://www.tmz.com/2020/10/29/maskless-woman-kung-fu-attack-canada-racist-outburst/
 
If you've gotten this far in the email, thanks.  And, if you're looking for a substitute word that connotes hitting or kicking energetically but isn't racist, what about a super hero-esque POW or WHAM?  No race baiting there.  
 
This email message is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message. If you are the intended recipient, please be advised that the content of this message is subject to access, review and disclosure by the sender's Email System Administrator.
 
 
 
-----------message:
 
From: MIRROR Member Experience < hello@mirror.co> 
Date: March 29, 2021 at 5:06:26 PM EDT 
Subject: Re: Music and video crashing related? 
Reply-To: hello@mirror.co 
 
Hi there, 
 
We wanted to check in to see if you have additonal questions we can answer for you! If so, can you please let us know so we can assist as soon as possible? 
 
Looking Forward, 
Team MIRROR 
 
Contact Us: 
888-288-1588 (everyday 10am-6pm ET, or by appointment) 
Schedule Time With Us 
 
FAQs

• Technical Support: View common troubleshooting steps including connecting to your Mirror and pairing Bluetooth devices
• General Support: Learn more about Mirror functionality and get account assistance
• Fitness Support: Email us to schedule a call with a Fitness Specialist or find your perfect workout

---------- Forwarded message --------- 
From:  MIRROR Member Experience  <hello@mirror.co> 
 
Thanks for reaching out! Our MIRROR Guides are not working today but will be back tomorrow, September 8th, to answer your inquiry. We are currently receiving higher than normal volumes -- thank you for your patience! While you wait, you may reference our  User Manual or see below for some helpful resources. If you require technical assistance, you may schedule a call with a Technical Expert here. Appointments are available M-F 10:00AM - 9:00PM EST or Weekends from 10:00AM - 6:00PM EST. 
 
Quick Reference Guide:
 
About MIRROR

• How much does the Mirror cost?
• When will my Mirror arrive if I order today?
• Where can I learn more about MIRROR?
• Do you ship internationally?
• How does the 30-Day Risk-Free Trial work?

Delivery & Installation 

• Can I receive installation with my delivery?
• Will my Standard Warranty stay intact if I self install my Mirror?
• What precautions are your logistics partner taking in light of COVID-19?

Using Your Mirror

• Where can I download the MIRROR App?
• I am having trouble setting up my Mirror
• How can I add users to my account?
• Should I turn my Mirror off when not in use?
• How do I pair my Bluetooth headphones & speaker with my Mirror?
• How do I pair my Heart Rate Monitor with my Mirror?

Account Set Up

• How can I update the email associated with my account?
• How can I update my billing information?
• How can I reset my password?

 
 
Looking Forward,   
The MIRROR team 

---------- Forwarded message --------- 
From:  MIRROR Member Experience  <hello@mirror.co> 
 
Thanks for reaching out! Our MIRROR Guides are not working today but will be back tomorrow, September 8th, to answer your inquiry. We are currently receiving higher than normal volumes -- thank you for your patience! While you wait, you may reference our   User Manual  or see below for some helpful resources. If you require technical assistance, you may schedule a call with a Technical Expert  here.  Appointments are available M-F 10:00AM - 9:00PM EST or Weekends from 10:00AM - 6:00PM EST.  
 
Quick Reference Guide:
 
About MIRROR

• How much does the Mirror cost?
• When will my Mirror arrive if I order today?
• Where can I learn more about MIRROR?
• Do you ship internationally?
• How does the 30-Day Risk-Free Trial work?

Delivery & Installation 

• Can I receive installation with my delivery?
• Will my Standard Warranty stay intact if I self install my Mirror?
• What precautions are your logistics partner taking in light of COVID-19?

Using Your Mirror

• Where can I download the MIRROR App?
• I am having trouble setting up my Mirror
• How can I add users to my account?
• Should I turn my Mirror off when not in use?
• How do I pair my Bluetooth headphones & speaker with my Mirror?
• How do I pair my Heart Rate Monitor with my Mirror?

Account Set Up

• How can I update the email associated with my account?
• How can I update my billing information?
• How can I reset my password?

 
 
Looking Forward,  
The MIRROR team  
 
 
On Tue, Mar 23, 2021 at 1:59 PM wrote:
Music is back after a month plus wo it BUT w the return of the music came the return of the retrying/buffering and/or crashing of the workouts . Related?? 
 
Sent from my iPhone - expect typos and other iPhone related mayhem.

 
 
-- 
 
This email message is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message. If you are the intended recipient, please be advised that the content of this message is subject to access, review and disclosure by the sender's Email System Administrator.
 
 
-- 
 
This email message is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message. If you are the intended recipient, please be advised that the content of this message is subject to access, review and disclosure by the sender's Email System Administrator.
 
 


[1] https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/jay-leno-asian-jokes-gotten-pass-long-rcna578

[2] https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8220873/Chinese-NHS-worker-wins-30-000-racial-discrimination-claim-colleague-Kung-Fu-noises.html; https://www.thehrdirector.com/legal-updates/legal-updates-2020/mimicking-chinese-accent-making-kung-foo-noises-racial-harassment/ (MAKING KUNG FOO NOISES WAS RACIAL HARASSMENT); https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/jan/11/british-chinese-racism
https://www.tmz.com/2020/10/29/maskless-woman-kung-fu-attack-canada-racist-outburst/
 

[3] : https://nextshark.com/chip-wilson-lululemon-japanese-pronunciation/ and https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/lululemon-apologized-after-its-art-director-posted-bat-fried-rice-n1188831)

​Every year around this time I start receiving my SAG screeners, stock up on my beloved Cado mint chip ice cream and start movie watching!  This year, I moved beyond the screeners to investigate films that I thought were truly special and, while I am no critic, thought it would be fun to share with you a shortlist of my favorites:
 
     1.     The More Than Frybread Movie

I do not know how I missed the More Than Frybread movie before. I was looking for a fun, contemporary movie over the #Thanksgiving break that had a Native American dominated cast and this one came up. It is freakin' hysterical. I laughed so hard I nearly cried. The only caveat I have is that afterwards I ate, like, a loaf of bread (not to mention several pints of Cado) because the movie makes you kind of hungry.  You'll understand when you watch it.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pto1xNsk98o
 
     2.     Woman at War

This is an amazing film I missed when it first came out but finally saw: Woman At War.  I am ashamed to say this is the first Icelandic-Ukrainian movie I've seen and now I know I should check out more. Halldóra Geirharðsdóttir, the lead actor, is AMAZING. This is another one of those fabulous films like A Call To Spy, more on that below, in which a woman leads with absolute perfection and we get the privilege of seeing the story through a lens breathtakingly different from the typical Hollywood basic vanilla. I never thought I'd see a comedy tackle such a serious issue (issues, really) in this kind of refreshing, dazzling way.  A must see.   https://www.womanatwarfilm.com/

     3.     Gunda

Gunda is my #1 favorite documentary of the year.  It is gorgeously shot – a treat for the eyes – and takes us all into another’s world, which is really the point of entertainment media, right?  To be able to see something we perhaps never before imagined from a perspective we may never before have imagined either.  By turns, hysterically funny and devastatingly heartbreaking, this is one of those never-to-be-forgotten films.  https://thevore.com/film/97041/
https://www.gunda.movie

     4.     A Call to Spy
 
I have read a lot of books about WWII and I was nervous about A Call To Spy but it did not disappoint. I absolutely loved it. Bravo Radhika Apte, Sarah Megan Thomas and all the amazing cast and crew! It was so refreshing to see a movie about women spies that was about their minds, souls and actual spy craft, not about falling in love with some man or getting saved by some man.  https://youtu.be/3qpXI6n6Ea0

And from the SAG screeners:

1. Minari

As someone who spent a part of my childhood in the rural (ish) Midwest, as virtually the only non-white American in my school, it was refreshing to see another non-white American family in a similarly rural homogenous town.  The film was very realistic, authentic and genuine.  There isn’t  much malice or racism in this film, though there is ignorance and kindness.  It’s a refreshingly fun dive into an aspect of American life not often seen in mainstream media.

     2.     Nomadland
Nomadland, like Gunda, allowed me a glimpse of a life very different from my own.  It was a breathtakingly visceral mix of grief and freedom. Chloé Zhao and Frances McDormand are a powerhouse duo. I've decided I am going to be in a film with them. They don't know that yet....but I am sure they'll be cool with it. #Inspiration
www.WatchNomadland.com

     3.     Promising Young Woman
Saw my SAG Screener for Promising Young Woman and, after all I’d hoped for as a huge fan of writer/director Emerald Fennell (Killing Eve), I was not disappointed. For all of – I think many – of us who have experienced or witnessed something similar to what our protagonist or her best friend did, this film will hit a very raw nerve. For all the surreal shots and candy colors, it is very, very real. The long, silent scream for help echoes so many we have been ignoring for way too long. And the end was one I’d never, ever expected.  https://youtu.be/7i5kiFDunk8
 
If you’re looking to kick back, relax, and have some popcorn (or Cado mint chip), these films are a wonderful way to spend an evening in.  If you watch, I’d love to hear your thoughts and feedback on my picks!

White supremacists claim theirs is a master race, better by far than any far.  White supremacist groups have embraced violence against non-whites or whites who don't conform to their ideologies to such an extent that the FBI has issued numerous warnings about their plans for "killing minorities, particularly African-Americans and Jews" and their "toxic blend of ideology, dangerous rhetoric and embrace of violence has made [them] a top priority for the agency [the FBI]." (NYT, FBI, FN. 1)

​The funny thing about white supremacy, though, is that it comes from a place of absolute inferiority.  If one genuinely believes that his race is so vastly superior to all others, then the "lesser" races are no threat to him.  They are but grains of sand before a great and mighty ocean or ants before a lion - nothing to be concerned about; nothing to waste time plotting against.  The ocean does not destroy the sand anymore than the lion concerns herself with annihilating ants.  It is only because the white supremacist actually knows that he is no ocean and no lion and because he believes, deep down, in his inferiority that he perceives the other races as a threat and therefore seeks to do all within his power to weaken and harm them.  The white supremacist seeks to disempower those not like him because he is afraid of his weakness, perceives threats everywhere and does not have the ability to compete without an extreme and unfair advantage, which is what he concerns himself with trying to obtain.

FN. 1: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/22/us/white-supremacy-the-base.htmlFBI danger white supremacy

https://www.fbi.gov/news/testimony/confronting-white-supremacy

It's hard to believe, however, for eight years now I have been privileged to give welcoming remarks at the Film Lab's annual 72 Hour Shootout filmmaking competition launch party.  The competition helps bring exposure, mentorship and exhibition opportunities to filmmakers from groups traditionally underrepresented in mainstream media, with a focus on Asian Americans.  This year, the competition added an additional award category for LGBTQ filmmakers.   Here is a copy of my welcome to this year's filmmakers:

Hello from the virtual 72 Hour Shootout Launch Party red carpet!  It’s my pleasure to welcome you to the launch of our 16th 72 Hour Shootout filmmaking competition!
 
Throughout the history of our country, our stories – and by “our,” I mean groups frequently underrepresented, marginalized or ignored by mainstream entertainment media like Asian Americans and others of color – our stories have often been erased or re-framed by the dominant majority.  Our history, if told at all, has been told through a lens not our own, one that is ofttimes distorted or altogether false.
 
During times of crisis/pandemic, like this, the narrative can become even more polarizing and dangerous.  We at the Film Lab knew that now, particularly, the stories of traditionally underrepresented Americans need to be amplified and so, despite everything, the 72 Hour Shootout goes on – albeit as it never has before: with extremely enhanced safety guidelines and as the 1st ever #IsolationEdition.  Times are challenging and the Shootout’s new parameters are challenging, however, for 16 years now, incredible filmmakers like you have risen to the challenge to use your art to effectuate positive social change.  I have no doubt in your ability to do so again.  Good luck!

Watch the program here

Press Release here
 

This one will give you a ton of Vitamin A, antioxidants and is soothing on the tummy - boo yah!  

You Will Need:
4 carrots (the regular-sized ones; not baby carrots)*
1/3 cup raisins**
1 3/4 cup millet flour***
3 T chia seeds mixed with 9 T water
Pinch of vanilla powder
2/3 cup molasses, maple syrup OR monk fruit powder****
Pinch ground ginger
Pinch cloves
Pinch cinnamon
1 3/4 t baking soda
1/2 t lemon juice

Directions:
All you need to do is toss the ingredients in a blender in the order they're listed above and bend them until smooth.  Pour the mixture into a 9" loaf pan that you've lightly greased with a little bit of olive or avocado oil.  

Put it in the (pre-heated) oven at 350 F for 35 - 40 minutes.  Let it cool for 10 - 15 minutes before digging in or frosting.  See below for a note on frosting.  You can garnish the cake with frosting and/or some ribbons of carrot from the peeler and a sprinkle of nuts, such as walnuts (high in Omegas),  if you like them!

Note:  If you'd like to do a traditional cream cheese frosting, just mix a container of Kite Hill's almond milk cream cheese with 1/2 cup of plain almond milk yogurt and a few spoonfuls of monk fruit extract to taste.  You can also add a pinch of vanilla powder.

Ingredients notes:
*Carrots: good source of beta carotene, fiber, vitamin K1, potassium, and antioxidants
**Raisins:  raisins can aid digestion, boost iron levels, and keep your bones strong.
***You can use other flours, however, I chose millet because it's gluten free, wonderful for people with a lot of sensitivities, anti-inflammatory, rich in minerals like calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and selenium as well as essential vitamins like folate, pantothenic acid, niacin, riboflavin, and Vitamins B6, C, E, and K.
****In choosing between these 3 sweeteners, they all have different benefits.  The molasses (use blackstrap, unsulphured) is full of antioxidants, calcium and iron and the maple syrup has more minerals and antioxidants than honey while having fewer calories (than honey), however, both molasses and maple syrup have, well, calories, so they should be used in moderation.  If you really want to keep the calories low, opt for monk fruit, which has 0 calories.  You could try Stevia for 0 calories as well, although, when I tried this recipe with Stevia, it had a bit of an aftertaste that I didn't love.  Experiment and see what suits you best.

As pretty much everyone knows, the COVID-19 pandemic is keeping most of us in our homes, physically distancing ourselves from others.  As an actor, being in isolation has been challenging.  I have, like so many other artists, lost work.  I have friends worried they won’t be able to buy food or pay next month’s rent. While I have little to offer as far as getting more income, I have been able to figure out ways to create and to use my skillset to give back to the community right now.  

I’ve begun volunteering to do voiceover to read news for the blind and disabled, which I am able to record from my home studio. Not only does this keep me in practice, it helps others who might otherwise have difficulty accessing this information.  I’ve also been hard at work with my production team creating PSAs and other COVID-19 related content to try to help inform (and even amuse!) the greater community while we streamline systems to allow us to film, edit and score these pieces even while in isolation from one another.  I’m not alone in these efforts!  As part of some of the work I have been doing, I was introduced to an incredible woman named Angela Chan who started the Cre8sian Project, which is aimed at highlighting the accomplishments of Asians in the Arts, as well as Asian females in the arts.  She kindly agreed to an interview and I think her words will inspire you:

1.  In a short paragraph, please tell us a little about yourself, your background and your work.
 
I am a music director, pianist, writer, composer, lyricist, and vocal coach! I grew up as a classically trained competition pianist. I competed for years growing up until my piano teacher had a stroke when I was a sophomore in high school. At the time I was in concert band, marching band, and was starting to get into jazz band, so I sort of strayed away from classical music for a bit. When I was a senior, I didn't really know what I wanted to do with my life. I didn't really want to be a classical pianist, but I wasn't good enough at jazz to major in it, so I went back to classical to get into college and got into the University of North Texas as a classical piano major. It wasn't until my second year of college that I discovered musical theater. I had never been exposed to theater much growing up, but once I did my first show, I knew there was something special about it! I loved every aspect of musical theater, so I delved into it as much as I could! After graduating from college I was fortunate enough to go out on tour with a bunch of broadway shows, "South Pacific," "The Sound of Music," "Cats," and "Phantom of the Opera," and have performed in all 50 states, plus Puerto Rico, Canada, and Mexico! In 2006 I moved to Las Vegas, where I was fortunate enough to play in a bunch of the broadway shows on the Strip; "Phantom: The Las Vegas Spectacular," "Lion King," "Spamalot," and "Jersey Boys," to name a few, as well as work for Cirque du Soleil, The Las Vegas Philharmonic, and the Nevada Ballet Theatre! In 2011 I co-wrote a musical called "Legacy of the Tiger Mother." It was my first foray into writing, but I ended up self producing it and it played in theater festivals in New York, the Adelaide Fringe Festival in Adelaide, Australia, and the San Francisco Fringe Festival, where we won a "Best of the Fringe" award! Since then I've composed music and/or lyrics for 3 more shows. I am also heavily involved in a non profit called Positively Arts, which uses the arts to empower, educate, inspire, and heal. I help them with vocal coaching students who can't afford to take lessons, give masterclasses, and perform for their two big performances every year: Arts in Action and Get Launched, which is a mentorship program that pairs students with professional performers! In addition to this I also became a Notary Public and a registered wedding officiant in Clark County, so I can marry anyone that wants to get married! (I have even married people in a t rex costume! lol). Currently I am the Assistant Bandleader/Keyboard 1 at "Le Reve The Dream" at Wynn Las Vegas and I do a lot of vocal coaching and audition prep for actors and singers. My newest project, The Cre8sian Project, has been an idea that's been floating around my head until last year, when I made the decision to make this idea a reality. As I developed it, I knew I wanted it to be centered around showcasing the strengths of Asians and Asian females in particular, and over the course of the last year the characters and the ideas developed as we went along, and the result is The Cre8sian Project, which is aimed at highlighting the accomplishments of Asians in the Arts, as well as Asian females in our industry, with a portion of the proceeds  benefitting non profits who promote Asians in the arts and arts education programs!
 
2.  What are the most challenging and most rewarding aspects of your work and why? 
 
Some of the things I find most challenging are having to work with inefficient processes. I spend a lot of time prepping for every job I do to make sure that when the time comes to execute work, I've made it as efficient as possible, foreseen problems that can arise and navigated around them, so when I'm working in an environment where I can see a lot of inefficiency going on, or time being wasted, it's really hard for me to sit back when I know I'm not in charge and can see solutions to the chaos! On the other hand, I love volunteering with Positively Arts and getting my fellow musicians at Le Reve involved with their events! It's always super rewarding to be able to share our love and knowledge of music with students who are enthusiastic and who truly love and benefit from these experiences! There is nothing better (for me) than to help a student find their "voice" for the first time!
 
3.  How do race and/or gender and/or diversity play into your work?
 
I don't know if race has really played much into my work (other than there aren't very many Asian musicians in the musical theater world), but I sometimes feel like gender has worked against me sometimes. It's very difficult for a women to compete for Musical Director positions in the theater world. Not a lot have done it, and you have to be really up your game at least 200% to stay in the game.
 
4.  What are the best and worst things that have happened to you, within the context of race or gender issues in the arts or just generally, and what did you learn from them?
 
I've never been good at learning languages, and I think in the context of race, I've always felt some condescension from Chinese people (in particular) because I didn't learn to speak Chinese. My grandmother was from a small village in China and her dialect isn't widely spoken, so when I was going to Chinese school as a small child, my struggles were very real trying to learn a language everyone else already knew. I remember going to the wrong class one day, and the teacher was speaking Chinese very rapidly. She saw the deer in headlights look on my face and asked me a question in Chinese. When it was obvious I had no idea what she said, she very loudly said in front of the class "You know nothing! Go back to the beginner class!" I gathered my things and went to the bathroom and cried until it was time for my parents to pick me up. I had so many experiences like that at Chinese schools that I eventually begged my dad not to make me go anymore. I had to cry to him for 3 hours straight before he agreed that I could stay home and study with him. I think because of this I struggled a little more with proudly identifying as an Asian because I was treated so badly. It was hard to find Asian Americans that were like me where I grew up; Chinese kids that only spoke English. I know that look well when an Asian person asks me if I speak Chinese, and the disappointed look when I tell them that I don't speak Chinese, except now I can just shrug and say "at least I play the piano," and laugh it off. 

 
5.  If you could share a single sentence of advice or insight for others, particularly those in arts or in the entertainment business, what would it be?
 
Never stop learning, never stop trying and make sure if you want to be in this business, that you truly love your craft. The second you decide you already know enough is the day your downfall starts. And without love, all of this becomes just work.
 
6.  Do you think artists have an obligation to create diverse and/or morally and socially conscious content?  Is art always a form of activism?  Should it be?  Why or why not?
 
I don't know if we necessarily have an obligation to create socially conscious content. I think that a lot of interesting content comes from the clash between the morally conscious against the immorally conscious. I don't always think art is a form of activism, unless you make it, and sometimes it turns out that way without you meaning for it to. For me, art is about storytelling. How do we tell the story to make it relevant? How do we make it relatable. Sometimes there isn't a purpose for it that aligns with an activist strategy, although sometimes they do. And our content is always our opinion, our take on how we view things. I think it depends on where our individual fights are taking us.

7.  What is the most sage lesson you have learned that can translate into advice for others?
 
Learn from your mistakes. And learn from other's mistakes too. It cuts down on so much wasted time when you already know something doesn't work so you can spend more time focusing on other better solutions.
 
8.  Does your advice change at all if I ask you to focus on women and/or minority filmmakers?  If so, why and how.
 
I don't think it does. I think forming a strategy is so important, but definitely applicable to everyone.

9.  What is the single most fun moment you've experienced in your work (and you create female Asian superheroes so there have got to be a lot of fun moments!) ?
 
Hm, this is a tough one! lol I always try to have fun whenever I'm at work, so I'm always happy to do silly things like show up in a trex costume, or play a little musical joke while we're having to vamp if we have technical issues during a show! During a production of The Music Man I was conducting, the percussionist was a well known joker and was always trying to "get" us during the show. He had a train whistle he played at one point during the show, and he always blew it as hard as he could until he doubled over because he had no air left. So one day I secretly passed around sharpies and cardboard to all the musicians in the pit and asked them to write a "rating number" on it, and when he went to play his train whistle that show, he came back up for air and saw everyone holding up their ratings signs at him and laughing!! lol 
 
10.  What is the single most obnoxious moment you've experienced in the arts industry?
 
Is there ever really just one? I don't know that I can answer this question without getting in trouble . . . lol 
 
11.  What lies ahead for you?
 
Who knows where this crazy world will take me! I hope to keep growing as a performer and teacher, and keep bringing the arts to children of all ages! But I'm also not opposed to completely changing directions and having a totally different life. I supposed that's the beauty of living in an unpredictable world!
 
12.  What does the phrase "Ethical Is Beautiful Be Beautiful" mean to you and your work, if anything?
 
To me that phrase means to always do right by everyone. I always try to treat everyone I work with respect and let them know how much I appreciate them. Kindness is always free, but it's one of the greatest tools a leader can utilize. Even through the worst of situations (kind of like the state of the world we live in now), people, if they're treated right, will still have the strength to follow a good leader, one they feel sees and hears them, and knows their worth. I think it means always having people's best interests at heart, because then people never feel cheated by you, and with that you can create a strong trust among your peers.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS IF YOU'D LIKE TO CONNECT WITH ANGELA:
 
www.AngelaChanMusic.com
www.TheCre8sianProject.com
www.TigerMotherTheMusical.com

​Sweet “Sashimi” on Protein “Crispy Rice”
 
Ok, so the “sashimi” is cruelty-free and thus fish-free and the “Crispy Rice” isn’t rice but rather nutrient-dense teff, however, this is packed with healthy goodness and really visually stunning if I do say so myself.  It does take practice, though, so if your first one isn’t perfect just try again. The teff “Crispy Rice” is the trickiest – mostly in terms of getting the frying time just right.  With that said…
 
You’ll Need:
Fresh whole papaya
Teff (an Ethiopian grain that is protein-rich)
Olive or Avocado Oil
Optional: miso paste, carrots, ginger, red shiso leaves
 
Directions:
 
The Protein “Crispy Rice”
Bring 2.5 cups of vegan vegetable broth or water (optional: add in a pureed carrot, 1 t ginger powder and a scoop of miso paste) and 1.5 cups teff to a boil.  
 
Reduce the heat to medium low and simmer 15 minutes, uncovered.
 
Lightly spritz an 8”x8” pan with olive or avocado oil and pour the teff mixture into the pan. REFRIDGERATE FOR FOUR (4) HOURS.
 
The Sashimi
I peel papaya funny. I lop off one end to make it flat, balance the papaya on the flat side and slide a sharp knife down the side to peel off the skin.  After you do that, you can peel off sashimi- esque pieces from the sides of the papaya – this is your “sashimi.”  It will look a lot like salmon.
 
Putting It Together
Once the 4 hours of refrigeration time has passed, take out the pan of teff, which is now cool and firm and cut it into small sushi-rice-like rectangles.  Fry these cakes in a pan until crispy – it generally takes about 5 minutes per side.
 
Place the papaya sashimi atop the protein “crispy rice” and (optional) garnish with shiso leaves. You can also try a bit of soy sauce or coconut aminos as a light sauce / dipping option.
 
Why It’s Awesome
Not only is it super cool to look at, but it’s just fun and unique.  The teff is a great whole grain with lots of protein, fiber, magnesium, zinc, calcium, and more.  Your body can break it down easily, it’s gluten-free and anti-inflammatory. Win!  Papaya is also awesome because it is rich in Vitamin C, fiber and anti-oxidants.  DOUBLE WIN!

I love hot cocoa on a cold day and since it is now January and definitely cold - at least on the East Coast of the U.S. - I want to share my favorite "healthy" hot chocolate recipe with you.  It has loads of antioxidants, protein, fiber, you know, all the good stuff:

You will need a blender.  In it, toss:

3 teaspoons of hemp seeds (shelled, please, or you will have a very gritty drink.  Provides protein, fiber and general joy)
1 cup warm very warm water
1 teaspoon maca powder (for energy)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla powder
1/2 teaspoon Ceylon cinnamon
Pinch ground cloves
1 1/2 teaspoons cacao powder (fun fact: the processing of the cacao bean into powder actually gives you MORE antioxidants - one of the few instances in which processing actually makes a food healthier)
1 teaspoon of stevia or monk fruit extract for calorie-free natural sweetness
Pinch cardamom (anti-inflammatory)

Blend this all until frothy.  

Pour into your favorite mug.

Curl up with a good book in your favorite fuzzy socks and enjoy.  Bliss!

I was really craving spinach artichoke dip and it’s tough to find a delicious vegan version, however, I found this one and had to share because it’s a really satisfying comfort food!  It's not exactly "healthy," per se, however, it's definitely cruelty-free and it's healthIER than the dairy-heavy versions, which have a lot more fat.


 
You’ll need:
2 t olive oil
10 oz. baby spinach leaves
2 t chopped garlic
8 oz. almond milk cream cheese (I like Kite Hill’s)
1/3 cup plain coconut yogurt 
1/3 cup nutritional yeast
3 T vegan cheddar style cheese (I like Miyoko’s) and/or 2 T chickpea miso (to taste)
1 cup coconut milk
½ t salt
1 14 oz. jar artichoke hearts
¼ cup bread crumbs (I toasted 2 slices of brown rice bread and crushed them into crumbs for this)
 
Directions:
Preheat your oven to 425 F.
 
Heat the oil in a frying pan and add the spinach and garlic, sautéing for about 1 minute until the spinach gets wilty, and then set aside to cool.
 
Separately, mix the almond milk cream cheese, coconut yogurt, nutritional yeast, Miyoko vegan “cheddar” (and/or the chickpea miso) until well combined (I use a blender for this). Fold the spinach mixture and the artichokes into this and transfer the whole thing to a baking dish.
 
Stir together your bread crumbs with a tiny bit of oil and sprinkle over the mixture in the baking dish.
 
Bake for approximately 15 minutes. It will bubble when it’s ready.
 
Enjoy with chips, pita, whatever you want.  Yum!

I love playing with essential oils and making DIY products ranging from skin care to household cleaners, which I've blogged about several times already.  I have recently discovered some new oils that I want to share with you that are pretty amazing:

Break Outs
Black cumin seed oil.  I use organic only.  You can apply it directly to a blemish and, while it doesn't vanish overnight, it does vanish very quickly and it seems to minimize redness as well.  This also works for clogged pores.  If you have to wear a bunch of makeup for a film shoot, a play or a photo shoot, an event, or whatever and your skin feel just awful and congested afterwards, this is your go-to.  My favorite go-to for black cumin seed oil is Madre Nature because it is in a tinted glass bottle (the tint protects the oil from degradation caused by light exposure and the glass is so much better for the oil and the earth than plastic) .  It is also USDA organic AND very reasonably priced.  Check them out at madrenature.com.

If you need a carrier oil for oily skin, jojoba oil is perfect.  It isn't heavy and it's very soothing.

Dry Skin
Moringa, Petitgrain and Açaí oils are heavenly.  Petitgrain has a very distinctive smell - kind of woodsy - which people either love or hate.  I love it, but definitely smell before you buy just in case.  I mix coconut oil, rosehip oil and açaí for a super moisturizing and yummy smelling soother for face or body (coconut oil is heavy for the face so if you tend toward oily or combo skin, use jojoba or grapeseed as a carrier oil instead).  I mix Moringa and coconut oil as a heavy duty moisturizer for really dry skin.  Petitgrain is great for moisture and as a wound salve for little cuts and scrapes.  You can mix it with a carrier like apricot oil to strengthen your skin as well.

You can also make a body scrub with 3 parts oil and 1 part salt.  Rub it on dry skin pre-bath or shower and then rinse off.  Silky skin awaits. 

Wrinkles
Baobab and Rosehip!  The tiniest amount goes a long way.  Just tap a teeny tiny bit where you need it.  

Last night, I had the incredible privilege of being honored by the New York City Mayor, Bill DeBlasio, and the First Lady, Chirlane Irene McCray, as the official honoree of the annual Asian Pacific American Heritage Celebration at Gracie Mansion for my acting and activism work.  I spoke to a crowd of about 1000 people at the ceremony and, afterwards, several people asked if they could have a written version of the remarks I made.  I only spoke for about 3 minutes and the remarks are quite short, however, for those who would like them in written form, here they are:

Thank you so much to the Mayor, First Lady and all the incredible City staff behind this event for this tremendous honor.  I am truly humbled. I also in awe of your courage in giving someone who is both an actor and a lawyer a microphone.  Any other actors and lawyers out there?  Ok, you know why!  We’re terrible like that - we’ll just talk forever and ever.  Don’t worry.  I won’t do that to you today.  I’d just like to draw some attention to one area that is near and dear to my heart and that is representation – specifically Asian American representation – in entertainment media.  I run the Film Lab, a non-profit, that provides resources and production content that highlights Asian Americans, women and others of color.  We particularly focus on Asian Americans because unlike most other racial groups, as our population percentage has increased, our representation on TV and in movies has not followed.  In fact, in many years our visibility on screen has actually declined.  We remain largely unseen and movies like “Crazy Rich Asians,” are, sadly, still the exception and not the rule.  If we are seen at all, it is too often as the “Other,” the “Fresh Off the Boat” newcomer, or any one of a number of other tired stereotypes.
 
Now, there’s a lot going on in the world today and whitewashed entertainment may seem trivial, but I submit to you that it is actually critically important. Entertainment media is the method by which we, as a society, leave our history and tell the world who we are as a people.  When the mainstream media stereotypes, marginalizes or erases us, it creates widespread societal perception that we are not Americans, not equal, and that we do not belong.  The reality is this is our country.  Asian Americans have fought and died for the United States since the War of 1812.  But regardless of whether our families came here in the 1812 or in 2012, this is our home and we belong here.  We should not and do not need to ask permission to be seen or heard. And that’s the really exciting part about running the Film Lab – the ability to reclaim our story; create and support entertainment content that returns us – and others of color – to the story that we belong in.  To the story that is our story, too.
 
The Film Lab is small and we operate on a shoe-string budget, staffed primarily by volunteers, but I like to think we provide more resources and content to the community than organizations with 10x our budget.  And that is because of the great hearts of our volunteers.  If you’d indulge me just a moment – some of the Film Lab staff are here today and I’d like to ask them to stand.  They are the backbone of the Lab and nothing it accomplishes could be done without them.  This team has a lot of heart although sometimes, of course, it can feel like we’re pushing against a brick wall, which is why recognition like this is so incredible and so meaningful.  I am truly grateful to Mayor DeBlasio and the First Lady for this honor and to all of you for your support in ensuring that our faces, voices and stories are heard and seen, not just as whispers in the corner, but as shouts from the center of the stage.  So, keep shouting everyone and thank you very much.

Gracie Mansion
May 9, 2019

​Imagine you are a female in a bar and some drunk guy keeps pushing your chair and bumping you and pushing you and then he finally escalates to actually touching you, brushing against you and being obnoxious.  Now imagine the guy is a white guy in nicely pressed business casual clothes, accompanied by a second – not obviously drunk – white guy in equally pressed business casual clothes, who is waving his Platinum AmEx around and ordering bottles of Moet.  You are wearing jeans and have had nothing to drink.  Finally, it’s all too much and you ask the guy to stop touching you. Both white men stare at you aggressively and the drunk one grabs your forearm tightly and sneers, “I would NEVER want to touch YOU” while he is – ironically – still clamping his fingers around your arm.  
 
What would you do?
 
This happened to me in the lobby of a Loews hotel in Atlanta, Georgia.  I reacted by jumping up and pushing the drunk man away from me. His friend, rather than apologizing for his handsy pal, remonstrated with me to “just let him order” and rolled his eyes at the (white) bartender and waved his AmEx and ordered more drinks, which the bartender promptly served him, while calling security over. Naively, I thought the arrival of the security guard meant assistance for me.  Not exactly…
 
So imagine you’re back in that bar and not 60 seconds has passed since you pushed the drunk guy away from you.  Imagine a security guard approaches you and tells you he will forcibly eject you if you don’t leave voluntarily, while the two white men laugh and the bartender continues to serve them drinks.  You haven’t had a drop to drink and have probably been present in the lobby bar for under 5 minutes total.  What would you do?
 
This happened, too.  I had no interest in being forcibly ejected so I walked myself to the front desk, followed closely by the security guard, and asked for the Loews manager and the Atlanta PD.  I explained exactly what had happened and the hotel manager looked confused and the security guard, well…
 
Imagine a tough, brawny security guard who weighs at least twice as much as you standing right in your face trying to stare you down.  Imagine him basically saying that the bartenders called him to remove you because the white guys looked “respectable” and were “good tippers” and had ordered lots of alcohol.  It didn’t matter that one had laid hands on you and you deserved to get kicked out for daring to push him away from you.  Then imagine a police officer from Atlanta Metro shows up…
 
All that happened as well. Luckily, this is where the story takes a turn for the better.  The Atlanta Metro Police Officer did what the security guard should have done; he calmly listened to my statement, politely asked me to wait and then went over to the white men and calmly listened to their statements.  He then determined the men were not credible and were posing a risk and he ejected them, professionally, from the bar.  
 
Now, imagine you’re still in the lobby and the drunk man shows up again and accosts you again and the security guard does not intervene.  The police officer has already left the vicinity and can’t help you.  The security guard thinks this is your fault and is furious the police officer defended you and ejected the drunk white man.  So, you start videotaping the drunk man on your phone, which scares him and he takes off and finally leaves the building for good.  
 
That all happened, too. What was even more amazing was that I was actually a guest at that hotel.  Although I complained multiple times, the hotel brushed me off.  Almost a full day passed before I got a call back from a manager and it wasn’t even the General Manager, Mark Castriota.  It was a housekeeping manager.  The whole situation reeked of sexism and racism.  Yes, the security guard was African American, however, merely being a person of color doesn’t protect you from having your own problematic biases against others based on race or gender or your perception of how “good a tipper” that person may be at the bar.
 
To me, this story is primarily about gender, but race plays a role as well.  In 2011, nearly 1 in 5 women in the United States had been sexually assaulted.[1]  In 2014, the CDC reported 1 in 5 women have been raped.[2]  Globally, “[b]etween 15 and 76 percent of women are targeted for physical and/or sexual violence in their lifetime, according to the available country data. 
 
Quoting the Washington Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs:
 
•             Somewhere in America, a woman is raped every 2 minutes.3
•             National surveys of adults suggest that between 9-32% of women and 5-10% of men  report that they were victims of sexual abuse and/or assault during their childhood.
•             22% of victims were younger than age 12 when they were first raped, and 32% were between the ages of 12 and 17.4
•             The majority of male and female rape victims knew their perpetrator.5
Of surveyed college women, about 90%of rape and sexual assault victims knew their attacker prior to the assault.6
http://www.wcsap.org/how-often-does-it-happen
There is an incredible Jan. 24, 2017, piece in Aljazeera detailing the impact of the 2016 U.S. presidential election events on sexual violence.[3]The journalist argues that:
 
“[a] new far-right universe has come to power in the White House, and whether you listen to Jeff Sessions, nominee for Attorney General, or examine leaked Trump team proposed budgets, funding for the Violence Against Women Act will cease. That means 25 grants focused on "reducing domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking by strengthening services for victims and holding offenders accountable" will disappear.  And in scrapping The Violence Against Women Act, the new president, one who prides himself on being pro-police, will also be cutting grant programmes which teach law enforcement staff how to respond to domestic violence and sexual assault.
Trump's convenient demonisation of immigrants, minorities and Muslims will mask a real epidemic of sexual violence against women - largely perpetrated by white, middle-class men.  Think of the Vanderbilt University football players who gang-raped an unconscious young woman. Or former Stanford University swimmer, Brock Turner, found guilty of multiple felony counts including penetration of an unconscious person.”  There are many other news sources also detailing the far-reaching and significantly negative effects on women of having a high level politician openly bragging about sexually assaulting women and an administration that would repeal the Violence Against Women Act.[4]
 
Think, too, about the Kavanaugh hearings and confirmation and the devastating after-effects on many women (http://time.com/5413109/brett-kavanaugh-supreme-court-survivors-trigger-ptsd/).  This kind of thing has the power to shape our perceptions within our society and to direct how we perceive ourselves and others and how we think we “should” act within our society – in other words, is it normal and ok to grab a woman, like the man in the Lowes Hotel in Atlanta did, or not? 
 
But what about race?  Women of Asian descent, so often portrayed as sexual objects in entertainment media and as timid creatures who will be easy to dominate and who won’t tell anyone if they are attacked, often encounter a dangerous perception that can lead to higher incidences of sexual violence against them.[5]  
 
The drunk white man thought he could just bump me and grab me and it was totally fine.  The friend – who didn’t appear obviously drunk – legitimized and normalized his behavior by not stopping him, not intervening, and proactively defending him when his bad behavior was called out.  The bartender choosing the potential for big tips further normalized the man’s conduct by the eye rolling, by continuing to serve the men and by asking security to remove me and not the men.  Security and hotel management continued to enable, normalize and legitimize the bad behavior.   
 
Society tells us, as women and especially women of color, that we should be sweet and docile; that when a man – especially a white man – puts his hands on us, the default is that’s his right and, if we object to it, we ought to cry or cower or submit.  When we defy these cultural norms and stereotypes by, for example, pushing the man away, we are met with shock and hostility.
 
Personally, I think if a man puts his hands on you, you ought to break his hands and let him consider the time during which he rests them to mend to be considered a gift during which time he can reconsider the wisdom of his actions towards you.

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**Of course, I mean FIGURATIVELY break his hands ... maybe.  But seriously, SPEAK UP.  Men and observers, most of all.  This kind of thing is on you.  You ignore it, you just legitimized it.**

[1]http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/15/health/nearly-1-in-5-women-in-us-survey-report-sexual-assault.html

[2]http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/data-mine/2014/09/05/cdc-1-in-5-women-raped-often-by-someone-they-know

[3]http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2017/01/sexual-assault-time-trump-170124124914906.html

[4]See, e.g., http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2017/01/donald-trump-end-violence-against-women-grants,http://www.cnn.com/2016/10/14/politics/trump-women-accusers/,http://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/trump-and-the-truth-the-sexual-assault-allegations,http://www.refinery29.com/2017/01/137406/trump-violence-against-women-grants-cut

[5]See, e.g., http://www.countercurrents.org/bhargava060709.htm

I was buying crazy expensive "detox" and "energy" bars for long days when healthy eating was going to be tough (think generic craft services on set that were reaaally unhealthy (loads of animal products, fats, processed garbage, pesticides, etc.)).  I started thinking about the waste caused by all the plastic-y wrappers on each bar I ate and feeling bad about it.  So, I started experimenting with creating my very own and I finally have a perfect recipe to share.  You can make these in 10 minutes and you can store them for basically forever in the freezer, pop 'em in a glass jar or re-useable glass Tupperware to take to school, work, on the plane/train/car, wherever.  They're quick, yummy, easy, and give a nice clean boost of energy.  Basically, just throw all the ingredients listed below into a bowl, rub your hands with some coconut oil and knead all the ingredients together like they're a bread or a pizza crust.  Shape the well-combined mixture into a rectangle on a baking sheet lightly greased with coconut oil and pop it in the freezer.  When you're ready to eat them, just cut them into squares or rectangles like typical granola bars or go all creative and make circles or stars or go totally uncreative and just lop off however much you want to eat at that given time!

It's best to freeze them at least a half hour before eating them but I've eaten them right away and, as long as the nut or seed butter base I used was thick and gooey, instead of watery, they're still deliciously perfect.

You will need:

1.  1 cup quick organic oats

2.  4 T maple syrup OR stevia to taste (you can sample the batter as you make this; I recommend tasting as you go so you can adjust these measurements to suit your own tastes)

3.  1/8 cup organic cacao powder (I recommend Bright Earth's 100% organic cacao powder)

4.  1 T powdered organic vanilla

5.  1 T ceylon cinnamon 

6.  1/8 t cardamom

7.  1/4 t pink Himalayan sea salt

8.  1 cup creamy (or crunchy!) almond butter, peanut butter (withOUT palm oil - make sure the sole ingredient is peanuts), cashew butter, or other nut or seed butter of your choice.  

9. 1 T spirulina powder

10.  1 t L-ascorbic Vitamin C powder *optional (immunity and binds to heavy metals to help eliminate them)

11.  1 t carao syrup (to boost iron levels and athletic endurance) *optional

12.  A little coconut oil to grease the pan and to put on your hands to prevent the mixture from sticking to them while you knead it.

13.  3-4 dates

14.  A handful of raisins and/or shredded, unsweetened coconut

Other Optional Add-In's:
Apricots, figs or other dried fruits you like (each has its own health benefits - apricot for iron, cranberries for urinary and digestive health, dried tart cherries for their anti-inflammatory properties, etc.), crushed chlorella tablets for extra detox, walnuts for additional Omega-3's, MSM organic sulfur (to boost skin and joint health), the contents of a probiotic capsule for additional gut health benefits, etc.  For even more protein, add a scoop of Garden of Earth unflavored, unsweetened, vegan protein powder.  You can really create the perfect clean on-the-go meal to suit exactly what you need.  

For ease, I've put links to some of the harder-to-find ingredients below, however, you should be able to get most of these easily from any good health food store.

Enjoy!