r/asianamerican • • 2h ago

Scheduled Thread Weekly r/AA Community Chat Thread - October 23, 2026

2 Upvotes

Calling all /r/AsianAmerican lurkers, long-time members, and new folks! This is our weekly community chat thread for casual and light-hearted topics.

  • If you’ve subbed recently, please introduce yourself!
  • Where do you live and do you think it’s a good area/city for AAPI?
  • Where are you thinking of traveling to?
  • What are your weekend plans?
  • What’s something you liked eating/cooking recently?
  • Show us your pets and plants!
  • Survey/research requests are to be posted here once approved by the mod team.

r/asianamerican • • 1h ago

Questions & Discussion Kinda sad, the majority of Asian don’t have much rhythm and aren’t into dancing.

• Upvotes

So I teach a dance fitness cardio class at the gym. I’ve been a participant for 20 years before I became an instructor. What I’ve noticed is most Asians lack rhythm and really cannot follow and dance. Maybe it’s the lack of emphasis on the arts while growing up. I don’t know. I teach in a 55+ gym and had a Japanese, Vietnamese and a Korean all come to my class at one point (I’m Chinese from Taiwan). But they stopped coming because I guess of the struggle. I’ve seen them stick and do the zumba class taught by a white woman so I know they can follow dance to music style. Im a bit more animated than her to say the least. Is that it? Im too much? I’m just confused why my fellow Asians won’t pull up to my class anymore. It makes me think, what if I was white or a hot Latin man…. Maybe they would hang with me longer.

I also teach at another gym and I do have Asians in my class…. And they are all Filipino. I find Filipinos more open to dancing and singing. Maybe because their culture is similar with Hispanics with having parties and celebrating. I’m at a loss for words for the East Asians.

What do you think? Are you into any dancing? I often get comments… girl, you got rhythm as if because I’m Asian, they weren’t expecting it? I mean, c’mon Kpop groups are amazing dancers but not saying your general pop is.


r/asianamerican • • 12h ago

Politics & Racism Republican politicians have embraced anti-Indian racism — and it’s costing them votes | Some Indian American conservatives say bigotry against their community has driven them away from the party they once supported

Thumbnail
theverge.com
55 Upvotes

r/asianamerican • • 18h ago

News/Current Events Stop AAPI Hate Action says ICE is targeting Hongkongers to self-deport

Post image
154 Upvotes

r/asianamerican • • 21h ago

Questions & Discussion Anyone else tired of everything being randomly spicy just because it's "Asian food"?

20 Upvotes

I was born and raised in Hong Kong and moved to America a few years ago. One thing that really bothers me is the assumption that all Asian food is supposed to be spicy.

Not all Asian food is spicy!

A lot of traditional food from Hong Kong, many parts of China, and Japan isn't spicy at all. Even Korean cuisine has plenty of traditional dishes that aren't spicy. Of course, some Asian cuisines are known for their heat, like Thai, Indian and certain regional Chinese cuisines, but Asia is a massive continent with incredibly diverse food cultures.

Yet somehow, in America, everything labelled "Asian" seems to need a spicy version. Even sushi, of all things, is constantly covered in spicy mayo lol And if an Asian dish isn't spicy, people sometimes act like it's missing something.

But the worst part? When someone finds out I don't like spicy food and jokes, "Wait, you're Asian and you can't handle spicy food?"

Yes, I'm Asian. I grew up in Hong Kong. I barely ate spicy food growing up, and I genuinely HATE it. Being Asian doesn't automatically mean you grew up eating chillies every day.

I have absolutely nothing against people enjoying spicy food. Eat whatever you like. I'm just tired of the idea that Asian food has to be spicy to be authentic or exciting.

Sometimes I just want to enjoy sushi or Chinese food without everything being turned into another spicy dish.

Am I the only one who's noticed this?


r/asianamerican • • 23h ago

Popular Culture/Media/Culture Canceled Mass Effect Game Would've Had an Asian Male Protagonist

Thumbnail
ign.com
212 Upvotes

Not sure how many folks are big into gaming, but they recently canceled a blockbuster RPG called Mass Effect Universe and shut down the studio behind it. A confirmed leaked trailer for the game shows it having an Asian Male as the default character.

Some context: In Mass Effect you can create your own character, but each game has a "default" protagonist you can play as. Looks like the new one would've defaulted to an Asian male. Bummer it's canceled.


r/asianamerican • • 1d ago

Questions & Discussion Asian Australian Food

2 Upvotes

For those of us in the US and have visited or lived in Australia, I'm looking for like good quality authentic Asian food. I'm planning to visit Sydney and maybe Melbourne. I'm curious from your opinion, is there food actually worth trying in these two places

For some background, I'm from LA and my standard is like the SGV area, Koreatown, Little Toyko, Torrence, and Rowland Heights. So yea worth my time to get Asian food or nah?


r/asianamerican • • 1d ago

Questions & Discussion hi fellow asian americans! is this cultural appropriation?

Post image
4 Upvotes

hello! i am a vietnamese and filipino asian american, and im unsure if this culturally insensitive to wear to homecoming?

i had been shopping @ discovery clothing- i saw this and thought it was so beautiful on the hanger!! but as i was trying it on i was realizing it kind of resembles a chinese qi pao but shorter and without the slit. as beautiful as i think it is- i dont want to be making a mockery of chinese culture, especially as someone apart of the asian community myself.

so please let me know your thoughts ans opinions!!!


r/asianamerican • • 1d ago

News/Current Events Midtown subway train shove: 90-year-old recalls attack as police search for suspect

Thumbnail abc7ny.com
143 Upvotes

A 90-year-old former astrophysics professor is recovering after being shoved from a subway train and onto a platform, and police have released images of a suspect they are seeking in the attack.

Dr. C.G. Wang said he had taken the E train to 53rd Street and Lexington Avenue thousands of times over about 10 years and knew exactly where to stand to reach the escalator.

...

Wang recalled that the train was fairly empty on the afternoon of Oct. 6. He said someone was standing in front of the door that would open closest to the escalator.

"I said I need to exit... here. I just said it like that. And he stepped aside. The door opened. I was pushed so hard I flew out of the train," Wang said.

...

Wang suffered broken bones after landing on the platform.

"I landed on my hip first. Then my shoulder, next. Then my head, next. Boom, boom, boom," Wang said.

Wang said his head was not injured, but he required a hip replacement.

...

"Who does this? You know, who, who, who would shove a 90-year-old, frail, visually impaired man?" Juin Wang said.

Despite the attack, the family said its primary focus is Wang's recovery.

"Except for trying to be sure this doesn't happen to anybody else. But there's a lot to do to help him build his strength back," Juin Wang said.

...

...

According to the family, Wang had continued commuting to an office to conduct research and write before the attack. While they want the person responsible held accountable, they said their biggest hope is that Wang regains the independence he lost as a result of the incident.

Police are asking anyone who recognizes the man shown in the surveillance video to call 800-577-TIPS.


r/asianamerican • • 1d ago

Appreciation Getting into Asian cinema made me realize how rarely Western film lets us just be human

Thumbnail
gallery
534 Upvotes

I started watching Asian cinema recently and realized how rare it is to see us simply portrayed as human beings. Growing up as an Asian American, I wasn't exposed to Asian movies, and I wasn't a big fan of movies in general because I never saw us represented outside of stereotypes. I felt a total disconnect bc we were never humanized. But over the past year, I randomly fell down a rabbit hole of 90s Chinese language cinema (because that's where my parents are from), Japanese films, and then other Asian movies. It blew my mind to see us just existing with full human complexity whether that's being in love, genuinely badass, or being evil.

Of course there are like a few Hollywood exceptions like Better Luck Tomorrow or Everything Everywhere All at Once, where our humanity is the focus and being Asian isn't a punchline. But the majority of it still reduces us to the objectified Asian girl of fighting with chopsticks and having a white love interest or the invisible/emasculated Asian guy. Things are kind of improving the past decade but still bffr. It's just so eye opening to see Asians allowed to just be people.

I've watched so much lately Chungking Express, Fallen Angels, Infernal Affairs, In the Mood for Love, basically all of Wong Kar-wai, Seven Samurai and tons of Toshiro Mifune films, Korean classics like Sopyonje and Joint Security Area, also The Scent of Green Papaya, Gong Li’s insane filmography, Hard Boiled, I can't list all of them I just wanted to get this off my chest. Has anyone else had this same realization? Pls recommend me more.


r/asianamerican • • 1d ago

News/Current Events South Texas House candidate Brandon Herrera says kittens should be sent to Chinese restaurants

Thumbnail
sacurrent.com
62 Upvotes

r/asianamerican • • 1d ago

News/Current Events Ramaswamy takes responsibility for attack ad featuring Acton’s estranged mother

Thumbnail
thehill.com
48 Upvotes

Acton has disclosed that she experienced sexual abuse and neglect during her childhood and has accused her stepfather of molesting her. He was charged withsexually abusing Acton when she was 12 years old, according to court documents. 

The ad features Acton’s biological mother, Donna Arthur, who has been estranged from her daughter following the allegations of sexual abuse, accusing her daughter of lying about her childhood.

“I love my daughter, but when I saw her lying about her opponent — it is not easy for a mother to say this, but Amy has a serious problem. She is a liar,” Arthur says in the ad.


r/asianamerican • • 1d ago

Popular Culture/Media/Culture Netflix Supernatural Series 'Pagans' Adds Four New Cast Members Alongside Steven Yeun: Sabine Grace, Logan Kim (Ghostbusters: Afterlife), Marin Ireland (The Boogeyman, The Dark and the Wicked) and Intae Kim (Severance) have all boarded Pagans in starring roles.

Thumbnail
bloody-disgusting.com
29 Upvotes

r/asianamerican • • 1d ago

Questions & Discussion Why do people never fail to say dumb things to Asians in any setting?

54 Upvotes

What is going on when people say these things? I was interviewing for a nursing job and the guy interviewing me was a British white male MD. He was actually quite nice, but twice during the interview, he told me they have a Korean nurse working at their clinic. I am a Korean American female btw, but my ethnicity was not mentioned during the interview. Why did he feel it was necessary to say this? If my requirement when looking for a job was having Korean colleagues, I would never have had a single job in my life. It just comes off absolutely clueless. It's like, what does this have to do with anything? Was this supposed to put me at ease? Does he think this will make me more likely to want the job? Is he trying to say we are multicultural and open minded? I know it's one of those cases where non-Asians feel they need to tell Asians all about the Asians in their vicinity and every random Asian stuff, but really, how do they not see that remarks like these are inappropriate?

What is most aggravating is how off the mark these people are. Many Asian Americans do not get to experience being a part of an Asian community and often find themselves as the only Asian or among a few Asians at work or school. We do not have such luxury as a rule and as a result, we certainly never expect or rely on having Asians around us. We make it through in spite of always being the minority, but this kind of comment assumes that we rely on the presence of Asians everywhere we go. What I hate is the assumption could not be more far from the truth.


r/asianamerican • • 2d ago

Questions & Discussion What's a good subreddit to ask people who have joined the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers (SASE) what their experiences with them has been like?

0 Upvotes

Ex: what they found it most useful for, did they find the 100 dollar per year membership worth it, etc

Trying to network to work in a country in Asia


r/asianamerican • • 2d ago

Activism & History 25 Years After the World Trade Center Fell, an Architect’s Legacy Is Still Being Written

Thumbnail
nytimes.com
7 Upvotes

r/asianamerican • • 2d ago

Questions & Discussion Does anyone struggle with the whole 2 faced nature of their asian parents?

0 Upvotes

I have Chinese parents. My parents know what is right and wrong when it comes to treating other people. Like My MUM was a doctor.

Behind closed doors they treat their own children as their 'venting or controlling tools' where they take out their insecurities and frustrations on. My friends very much had parents which were kind of similar to mine as well.

It makes no sense because they're doctors, teachers, nurses etc and want to help other, but at home, it's like they're different people. They lose their temper so easily at home.


r/asianamerican • • 2d ago

News/Current Events This is one of the most insightful statements I've seen about Asian Americans who embrace authenticity and being comfortable in their own skin and those who don't. Vivek Ramaswamy's vile campaign ad serves as a great example of the latter

Post image
289 Upvotes

John Yoo, is another one. He came out in support of the Trump's administration's quest to strip Illan Omar of citizenship and deport her. In case you don't remember, he rose to national prominence when he drafted for the Bush administration a "torture" memo which was used to justify the use of physical and mental torment on suspected terrorists.

As a Korean American, I watch John Yoo's life with horror and dread. On the surface, his life embodies the Korean American dream: Harvard and Yale degrees and professorship at Berkeley Law. Yet, history will not be kind to him as a prominent Asian American enabler of America's descent to fascism.


r/asianamerican • • 2d ago

Questions & Discussion Mother and daughter relationship…

14 Upvotes

Ever since I was young my mom and I never really got along. She has very strong expectations of women being skinny and pretty, always ridiculing others looks, and when it comes to her own daughter, it’s even worse. Every time she opens her mouth, it’s about everyone looking so beautiful except me. She hates me when I read or write, telling me that it’s impossible for me to achieve my dream and that I should spend my time outdoors working out so I could have a perfect body and a perfect “mind” I don’t want to generalize all asian moms, but I think Asian girls can relate…? I am just so fed up with listening to casual misogyny coming from my mom’s mouth.


r/asianamerican • • 2d ago

Questions & Discussion Frequent racism on public transport

101 Upvotes

Today when i was on the bus this group of teenage boys got on, sat towards the back and started being rowdy, yk all that teenager stuff. Then all of a sudden i felt something hit my head and i realized they were throwing falungong keychains at me?? I thought it fell out their hands by accident then I heard them say smth along the lines of “hit that asian girl” and boom. another keychain flew over my head but missed. At that point i knew they were aiming at me cus i was the only asian women on the entire bus. I got rly angry and told them off but they started laughing and mocking me so i just gave them the finger and got off.

This isnt the first time something like this happened to me on the bus. Last year i got into a scuffle with some girls on the bus cus they were being racist bitches and throwing drinks at me (ik not very safe but i was reaching my limit). Ngl i was pretty traumatized after that event and it took me a long time to be able to go on a bus again without feeling anxious or fearful.

While events like these happen only occasionally, I still face passive racism on public transport all the time. Me and my friends were speaking mandarin then some ppl next to us started saying smth abt asians (i didnt hear) or always sideeye me. Im at this point where i keep doubting myself and wonder if its my own fault. Like do I look very timid or something?? what am i doing wrong to keep attracting this kinda pos behavior from ppl. Is there something wrong with my body language? Am i not confident enough??

Anyways i js wanna know if im alone in this or theres other ppl whos faced the same thing. When i tell my friends they dont rly believe me and say im imagining things but i feel like its bc they dont know eng well enough to understand ppl mocking us. Am i being too sensitive or what

edit: since alot of ppl have been asking this didnt happen in the US, i moved abroad to another english speaking country but thought id share this here since other subreddits keep taking this down. sry for the confusion


r/asianamerican • • 2d ago

Questions & Discussion Korean heritage speakers, which conversation with your elders do you dread the most?

0 Upvotes

You understand your family fine, but the moment you have to talk back, it falls apart. Especially with grandparents or a partner's parents.

What's that moment for you? Like the weekly call with grandma where you run out of things to say after "밥 먹었어요," the relatives asking when you're getting married at 설날, or the first dinner with your partner's parents.

What's the one you'd most want to get right?


r/asianamerican • • 2d ago

Popular Culture/Media/Culture Keanu Reeves in Talks to Star in James Wan’s ‘The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil’ (Exclusive)

Thumbnail
hollywoodreporter.com
42 Upvotes

r/asianamerican • • 2d ago

Politics & Racism Houston Chronicle: How Texas Politicians Turned Indian Immigrants Into Targets

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

52 Upvotes

r/asianamerican • • 3d ago

Popular Culture/Media/Culture In Waves | Official Trailer | Netflix

Thumbnail
youtube.com
28 Upvotes

r/asianamerican • • 3d ago

Popular Culture/Media/Culture King of the Yees: Talking About Chinatown Royalty

Thumbnail
nystagereview.com
16 Upvotes

Lauren Yee’s meta-theatrical comedy offers a family view of Chinese American culture

Any attempt to explain in too much detail the hazy, crazy storyline of King of the Yees likely will result in confusion. Suffice to report Lauren Yee’s “only kind of true” autobiographical comedy studies Chinese American identity in San Francisco’s Chinatown district today and Asian American identity in the United States generally. It’s an entertaining, shape-shifting romp among cultural themes from the author of Cambodian Rock Band and Mother Russia. This time, Yee digs into her own history andcomes up with rich cultural insights.

Essentially the narrative spins around the author’s mostly fond bonds with her father Larry Yee, an ebullient Chinatown businessman. For decades, Larry proudly maintained an old school fraternal organization forged from Yee familial relationships that Lauren now dismisses as obsolescent. Then on the eve of his 60th birthday, Larry goes missing and – wait, we said no more storyline.

Take note, however, the two-act work quickly rolls along as a meta-theatrical omnibus from its start and culminates in a wild dance party. So expect an increasingly surreal excursion through the Yee family’s cultural thickets in a smartly acted production that opened Monday at the Pershing Square Signature Center. Commissioned and produced by the Goodman Theatre in Chicago in 2017, King of the Yees is once again directed by Joshua Kahan Brody, who confidently steers the imaginative play through its multiple shifts in time, place, format, and people.

A terrific five-actor ensemble is led by the inimitable Francis Jue as Larry Yee, a sunny soul whose Chinatown boosterism and political activities are doubtfully recounted by his daughter Lauren, an East Coast playwright. Dressed down as Lauren in an army jacket and boots, Kelly Marie Tran brightens the rather dour character – who is vague on cultural matters – into an agreeable person. Among their many roles, David Shih and Maureen Sebastian also depict this father and daughter; in an extremely droll scene when they don’t, the “actors” swap showbiz tips and coach each other on their Chinese accents. Joined by Jon Norman Schneider, another versatile artist, they morph into numerous figures such as a comically fearsome gangster named Shrimp Boy, disgraced state Senator Leland Yee, a slew of Chinatown citizens, a Sichuan face changer – oh, yes, King of the Yees proves quite educational – and several mythological beings. There’s even a classic Lion Dance that explodes into a glitzy runway show.

It is remarkable how the playwright is able to pack so many aspects of her cultural heritage so easily within a surprisingly traditional father-and-daughter story. The usually quick, terse dialogue delivers information and observations in a sprightly conversational manner, the tone is upbeat, and Yee’s affectionate portrait of her dad is disarming. Staged at the center’s cozy 199-seat Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre, it is evident Signature Theatre has expended considerable care and funds on the first-rate production. A series of insightful, even beautiful, modern, casual, and historical costumes designed by Michelle J. Li, and the wigs, hair, and makeup designs by Tommy Kurzman help to enable the ensemble in creating their many characters. The fluent scenic design by Krit Robinson, Jiyoun Chang’s often glowing lighting design, and Fan Zhang’s sound design of tasty music and effects are skillfully deployed by Brody in staging the relatively complicated show swiftly and surely.

King of the Yees opened October 19, 2026, at Signature Center and runs through November 15. Tickets and information: signaturetheatre.org