Welcome to your weekly dose of Saturday Link Roundup! This week is full of surprises… or are they?

Minority births in the US are increasing and women are playing video games; a documentary about a Japanese-American Black Panther is being made and a Sikh man has graduated from Army officer school. Reality is upending the so-called “conventional wisdom”– what will happen next?

• Minority births on track to outnumber white births– via Hope Yen of Yahoo News/Associated Press

• Inside the Minds of Girl Gamers– via Gillian Reagan of Business Insider

CableTV network Lifetime conducted a year-long, in-depth study to go inside the minds of women gamers. The study, “She’s Got Game: Women & Gaming Study” busted some stereotypes about women and gaming, pointing out that women actually play more frequently than men, especially online. Contrary to the stereotype that women play games to be social and casual, the study found that 83% of women gamers like to play on their own, and that about half of the women gamers surveyed were competitive gamers.

• The Bachelor/Bachelorette White Elephant– via Thea Lim of Racialicious

Why is The Bachelor reality show series so uniformly white? What does it say about America’s acceptance of interracial dating? Representation of people of color on television and in romance? What can be done to make the series more diverse and what would the implications of that be?

• The Japanese American Black Panther– via Nalea J. Ko of Pacific Citizen

• Study finds median wealth for single black women at $5– via Tim Grant of Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

This link comes from The Hathor Legacy:

Women of all races bring home less income and own fewer assets, on average, than men of the same race, but for single black women the disparities are so overwhelmingly great that even in their prime working years their median wealth amounts to only $5.

The article compares different demographic groups to each other and considers the possible reasons behind this phenomenon.

• Disney restyles ‘Rapunzel’ to appeal to boys– via Dawn C. Chmielewski and Claudia Eller of the LA Times

• Zoe Saldana : Center Stage– via Luke Crisell of Nylon Magazine

Nylon features actress Zoe Saldana on her cover this month, and the magazine interviews her about Hollywood casting.

“When they say ‘We want to go white,’ they have a very smooth way of saying it, and the recent one is the word traditional,” Saldana said. ” ‘Oh, you know, you’re just not what we were looking for, your skin is a little darker.’ Compared to what?! My skin is just my skin. It’s dark if you compare it to someone who’s lighter.”

• One Kid’s Take on “The Last Airbender”’s Casting Fail– via Corrina Lawson of Wired.com- Geek Dad

GeekDad blogger Corrina Lawson asked her 16 year old daughter to explain why she and her siblings feel “nearly all the creative decisions in converting the cartoon to the movie have been the wrong ones.”

“Avatar already has a huge core audience,” her daughter writes. “They do not have to draw in additional people through some sort of race-wipe, because their target age already loves the show and they could take the “risk” of casting ethnically appropriate actors to the characters, and there would not be any real problem.

“Instead, they have alienated the fans in a way that is not only racially inaccurate and offensive, but untrue to the characters or archetypes.”

• UC Regents tackle intolerance, hate crimes on campus– via Sue Fishkoff of Not In Our Town

• 1st Sikh in decades graduates Army officer school– via Michelle Roberts of Yahoo! News

Welcome to another edition of the Saturday Link Roundup! This week, we ask: seen anything good on TV lately?

Even as the number of gay characters on television are increasing, how many of these characters are represented by gay performers? Why’s the South Asian guy always on the sidelines? What is Tom Hanks saying about Japan and Islam?

• Gay actors: an open and shut closet – via James Mottram of The Independent
  
  
  James Mottram explores why Hollywood now openly depicts gay characters in its movies, but still won’t give big chances to gay actors. Mottram writes: “Right now, if you’re a straight actor in Hollywood, it’s great to be gay.” Another case of a failure for Hollywood to understand that while anyone can play a role, there’s value in an actor representing his or her community.
• Asian American Commercial Watch: All American Mom, Daughter & Boyfriend in Target Ad – by John of 8Asians
  
  8Asians spotted this ad from Target, featuring an all-American family – who happen to be of Asian descent. Check it out: an ad where Asian Americans aren’t trussed up in samurai gear, doing kung fu, or solving math problems.
• Always the Sidekick – via Sepia Mutiny
  
  Sepia Mutiny writes about how South Asian faces are becoming increasingly common in American media – but rarely in the spotlight. The rise of “ensemble cast” entries is heartening, but where are the full-on South Asian representing shows that are found in Britain and elsewhere abroad? Could be there’s hope just over the horizon…
• Decolonizing the Imagination – by Zetta Elliot of The Horn Book
  
  “I learned early on that only white children had wonderful adventures in distant lands; only white children were magically transported through time and space; only white children found the buried key that unlocked their own private Eden.”
  
  Author Zetta Elliott discusses her influences and why she writes speculative fiction. Definitely an illuminating read, with powerful insights into how her experience growing up as a reader of color has influenced her – and what she strives for in her own novels.
• If I had all the money in the world, I’d remake BETTER LUCK TOMORROW with WHITE PEOPLE – by David and Philip of You Offend Me You Offend My Family
  
  Offenders David and Philip re-imagine history. What if director Justin Lin had taken a deal to produce Better Luck Tomorrow with Caucasian actors? What would the film be like without being rooted in Asian American culture, faces, and performers? Many times, Asian American directors and creators are pressured to alter their vision to match a studio’s conception of an America from before desegregation. This is the sort of thing that happens when they accept such deals.
  
  The team at You Offend Me You Offend My Family deals with these issues in a hilarious and spot-on post.
• ‘The Pacific’s’ Tom Hanks: The right wing’s new boogeyman – via Patrick Goldstein of the LA Times
  
  
  Many conservative commentators are attacking Tom Hanks for his remarks comparing the rising “yellow peril” of the World War II era with anti-Muslim sentiment in the United States. LA Times writer Patrick Goldstein investigates. We don’t agree with a lot of Goldstein’s commentary, but it’s nonetheless an extremely illuminating look at how a media machine can demonize an entire people – and how easy it is to view things in (forgive the terminology) black and white.
• Why I’m a REALLY angry Native in Canada right now… – by Jessica Yee of Racialicious
  
  Racialicious correspondent Jessica Yee talks about the state of affairs for Native Canadians. If you’re not aware of the huge issues currently confronting this community, please take a look – the author eloquently and passionately tackles the problems faced by a people struggling to make it, when no one wants to listen.
• south philly high asian students testify on assaults – via Phil Yu aka Angry Asian Man
  

  The failure of the South Philadelphia school district continues. This week, students and their families spoke out about the continued inaction, incompetence, and indifference of officials charged with the safety and education of our nation’s youth.

• Stop The Whitewashing Of Book Covers – via The Cubicle Chick of The Fresh Xpress
  
  The Fresh Xpress takes a look at the Liar whitewashing controversy. FXP looks at a wide range of issues, so it’s great to see them take an interesting media representation. If you missed all the commotion about Liar, this piece is absolutely worth a read.

Welcome to another edition of the Saturday Link Roundup! This week, we take a look at what our children are learning about race.

How is our educational policy affecting our kids? What do they learn from the dolls they’re given or the games they play? And what are the youth of the nation doing to try to shape their future?

• Disparities in Academic Achievement Among Different Asian Ethnic Groups – by Jeff of 8Asians
  
  8Asians blogger Jeff takes a look at an upcoming education report that puts the reality of the Asian American education experience into perspective with new research and solid numbers. Do all kinds of Asian Americans do great in school? Do all Asians look the same – and perform the same?
• Did Nobel Winner Obama forget about Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders? – via Oiyan Poon of APAs for Progress
  

  Oiyan Poon of APAs for Progress asks why Asian Americans were ignored when President Obama contributed his Nobel Prize money to various scholarship foundations in the United States. Not all Asian Americans groups, or Asian Americans, excel in academics – educational opportunities are not readily available to all and it’s important that Asian Americans not be overlooked.

• WHO ASKED US?—Young People on Budget Cuts and Their Futures – via New American Media
  

  On March 4th 2010, young people, parents and teachers in more than 30 states marched to protest budget cuts to public education. The demonstrations were particularly widespread in California, where massive budget cuts have crippled elementary schools, high schools, community colleges and universities.

  Three young people–in Fresno, San Francisco and San Jose–speak to how the budget cuts are affecting them and why they supported the massive protests.

• Final Fantasy XIII: New game, same colors? – by Bao Phi of the Star Tribune
  
  Bao Phi – activist, poet, and the original nerd of color – takes a look at Final Fantasy XIII. He asks hard questions that have been on the minds of many nerds of color. Why do Japanese video game characters so often have European features, cultural backgrounds, or names? Why don’t video game bloggers or gamers in general care to talk about race issues?
• A Charlie Chan Film Stirs an Old Controversy – by Pradnya Joshi of The New York Times
  
  From the fine folks of Hyphen Magazine, we caught wind of this piece on a revival of a Charlie Chan documentary. It’s a 42-year-old documentary that is catching a lot of attention from Asian American activists across the nation. Charlie Chan’s remembered for perpetuating and popularizing a number of Asian stereotypes, but the documentary sees the series as a celebration of Hollywood cinema.
• Black Barbie Sold for Less Than White Barbie at Walmart Store – via Alice Gomstyn of ABC News
  
  Walmart has stirred up controversy by marking black barbie dolls down to half the price of white barbie dolls. Including commentary from a variety of racial experts, this incident sparked off discussion that recalls the famous doll test of yesteryear – and how children of color today perceive themselves in modern America.
• What color Is my avatar? – by Jeff Yang of SF Gate
  

  Jeff Yang looks at the range of avatars generally available to players – and how limited players of color, and children in particular, may feel in their choices. What does this mean, especially for black and Hispanic gamers who may find their representations lacking – or stereotyped. And what heroines can female gamers look forward to playing?
  
  Perhaps more to the point: what are children internalizing about themselves and others as they play video games?

• Guess What? Women Buy More Movie Tickets Than Men – by Melissa Silverstein of Women & Hollywood
  
  The mantra has been that white males are the audience that Hollywood really needs to target.
  
  This week, Women&Hollywood reports on a Motion Picture Association of America study that found that “a higher percentage of women than men are moviegoers in all categories of frequency.” Women buy 55% of movie tickets. “In the coveted demographic of 18-24, women make up 3.4 million filmgoers while men make up 3.1 million. Suck on that Hollywood!”
  
  Meanwhile, a recent USC study found that 70% of speaking characters in movies are male.
• Women of Color and Wealth – The Scope of The Problem – by Latoya Peterson of Racialicious
  
  Latoya Peterson begins a series studying the wealth gap that women of color experience. The median wealth of single black women in America is $5. “To put it another way, single black and Hispanic women have one penny of wealth for every dollar of wealth owned by their male counterparts.”
  
  Keep following Racialicious.com for the continuing series. Part 2 was posted on Friday.

Welcome to another edition of the Saturday Link Roundup! This week, we focus on everything entertainment: from the Hollywood box office to the fashion runway, where we can find Asian American talent – and where it’s strangely absent.

• Outlook for studios depends on hits, cuts – via Georg Szalai and Paul Bond of The Hollywood Reporter
  
  The report looks at Paramount’s profitability. The Last Airbender is a tentpole, “too-big-to-fail” movie that Paramount needs to be profitable to succeed.

  Analyst Michael Nathansan forecasts that Paramount’s 2010 film revenue will “decline 7%, as Paramount will be challenged to match the success of its 2009 summer blockbusters” and says that Paramount’s profits will likely “decline 16% this year.”

• Fewer Models Of Color Work New York’s Fashion Runways – via Jenna of Jezebel
  

  Jezebel has tracked runway model diversity for a few seasons now. In the Fall 2009 fashion season, they found that “of 4,095 turns on the runway, only 662 went to models who weren’t white. That’s barely 16%.”

• Refugee board judge sought sex, court told – via Peter Small of The Star
  
  Via Angry Asian Man, we found this story about a Canadian judge who tried to coerce a South Korean woman into having an affair with him, in return for authorizing her asylum request. Ji Hye Kim was seeking refuge from her home country, where she suffered under an abusive father.
  
  However, Kim bested judge Steve Ellis: she recorded their conversation and Ellis now faces criminal charges. Score one for strong women fighting crooked systems.
• Aasif Mandvi’s Comic Talents Shine in ‘Today’s Special’ – via Lisa Tsering of India West
  
  Aasif Mandvi is interviewed about his movie “Today’s Special,” which will open the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival. He was also interviewed about his role as Commander Zhao in “The Last Airbender.”
  
  “I haven’t seen any of the movie yet, just the trailers,” he told India-West in a phone interview. “But it looks pretty exciting. It’s a big action movie, and at times, I felt more like a stuntman than an actor.”
• Asia’s 25 greatest actors of all time – via La Carmina of CNN Go
  
  CNN lists the greatest 25 Asian actors of all time! We’re all hoping for the day we can see lists with Asian American faces – but we still love watching Asian nationals on the big screen.
• Missing: Asian-American pop stars – via Mireya Navarro of The New York Times
  

  The New York Times reports on the dearth of Asian American solo pop stars. Perspectives from Asian American artists as well as executives in the music industry.
  
  “A talent executive with a major label, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak for his company, said he knew of no “inherent bias” against singers of Asian descent and said he was at a loss to explain why so few make it to the top.”
  
  Uh huh. The article goes on to point out that the most recognizable solo Asian American artist is hardly flattering–it’s William Hung.
  
  Bonus: Check out the Asian American group Legaci (pictured above).

• And the Oscar winner is most likely to look like this… – Carolyn of Remodelminority.com
  
  Carolyn writes: “According to the article, the Academy tends to favor American actors (compared to British nominees). Also the BBC states that 93% of male winners have been white. Female winners tend to be younger than their male counterparts and according to the article, nearly half of the actresses won for a romantic film role.”

Welcome to another edition of the Saturday Link Roundup! This week, we take a look at the racial tensions at UCSD, Sifu Kisu showcases Perris Aquino’s talent on YouTube, and a blogger takes a hard look at what Toph’s character really means to viewers with disabilities.

• UCSD Student Suspended For Hanging Noose – via CNN
  

  Ever since a UCSD frat held a “ghetto-themed” party in “honor” of Black History Month – including references to fried chicken, watermelon, and the “n-word” – the campus has been ablaze with controversy. Continuing along that theme, a UCSD student left a noose in the campus library “with the intent to terrorize,” according to the police report. More following the link.

  Black students make up just 1.3% of the UCSD student body. Since the original incident, Filipino American Professor Jody Blanco released this statement encouraging solidarity with the black community. Absolutely worth the read.

• Sifu Kisu with Perris Aquino – via Sifu Kisu on lokhopkuen’s YouTube
  

  Longtime followers of Racebending.com will remember Perris Aquino, a pre-teen Asian American professional martial artist and budding actor who auditioned for Aang and didn’t even receive a call back.

  Fans of Avatar: The Last Airbender should also be familiar with Sifu Kisu, who was the martial arts consultant of the animated series. (Kisu was not hired for the film adaptation.) Sifu Kisu recently uploaded a youtube video that is a collaboration between him and Perris Aquino! It’s an amazing display of Aquino’s talents.

• Loin cloths and rubbed noses . . . why would anyone be offended? – via Nicole Jeffery of The Australian
  
  Just a little follow up on the Russian Ice Dancing team of Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin. They did go on ahead with their “aboriginal” themed dance, which Australian aborigine leaders have repeatedly called offensive, particularly for it’s lack of authenticity and the brown body suits worn by the skaters.
  
  Their routine failed to wow the judges or the crowd. The pair was rank first going into the performance, but dropped to third place after the execution of the performance.
• The Last Airbender trailer: Avatar it ain’t – via Anna Pickard of The Guardian
  
  The Guardian pokes fun at the latest The Last Airbender trailer for it’s rampant use of cliches and special effects. From the perspective of someone who has no context about the film other than the trailer…
• TV writers settle age discrimination suit – via Dave McNary of Variety

  A ten year old class action anti-discrimination lawsuit gets Hollywood’s attention! In the Television Age Discrimination Litigation, 165 TV writers over the age of 40 filed suit against 24 networks, production studios and talent agencies. They claimed that talent agencies did not want to represent older writers, and networks and producers did not want to hire them.

  Although attorneys for the defendant networks, producers, and agencies denied allegations of ageism, they also conceded that it would make more sense to settle than to go duke it out in court. The class-action settlement calls for payment of $70 million to affected writers.

• Media portrayal of Disability and Martial arts (a personal statement) – via bbrutlag of the Feministing Community
  

  Blogger bbrutlag at the Feministing Community writes about her experience as a Martial Artist with Cerebral palsy. She began taking karate classes as a kid to help with her balance and equilibrium and now has two black belts.

  bbrutlag takes what she calls the “Super-crip” archetype to task, including taking a critical look at the character of Toph.

• Depardieu rejects ‘too white’ claim – via MSN Movies
  

  An update on the Alexandre Dumas casting controversy. Actor Gerard Depardieu was asked about his casting to play Alexandre Dumas in a biopic. Depardieu, a blonde and Caucasian actor, said “the debate over his role as The Three Musketeers writer in the big-budget production L’Autre Dumas is ‘ridiculous’ and ‘unnecessary.’” He also said the issue is “not interesting” and “not a problem”.

  Dumas was a 19th century mixed race author who faced discrimination during his time for being of Afro-Caribbean descent. In 2002, his body was exhumed and reburied in the French Panthéon. During the ceremony, then French President Jacques Chirac explained that due to racism, Dumas had not been buried in the Pantheon when he died.

• Alaska village among Native communities reclaiming ancient traditions banned by missionaries – via Rachel D’Oro of Los Angeles Times
  

  A century ago, traditional Inupait Eskimo dancing in Alaska was outlawed by white American Quaker and Russian Catholic missionaries. Today, villages in Alaska are slowly breaking away from the belief that traditional dancing is ‘evil’ and reclaiming their traditions.’ Inupait Alaskan Americans communities are re-learning how to dance!

Happy New Year, Racebending.com readers! Here’s another Saturday link roundup.

• “Ethnic, Ethical, and Excellent” – by Latoya Peterson of Racialicious
  
  
  A look back at “Soul Train” – entertainment with a mission and a purpose. The idea that entertainment can aspire and achieve, can inspire and represent.
• SuperBowl Ad features Doritos Samurai Throwing “Ninja Stars” and Swinging “Nunchucks” – by Jozjozjoz of 8Asians
  
  
  You might have missed this one – distracted perhaps by a nefarious thirty seconds involving a dramatic accented voice and a landscape peppered with Inuit window dressing – but 8Asians sure didn’t. Check out the Doritos Super Bowl spot and their reaction.
• Sentence in ‘nip tipping’ called soft – by Tom Godfrey of Toronto Sun
  
  From Angry Asian Man, we found this news article about “nip tipping.” A Canadian man was sentenced to just two years in prison after a brutal hate crime on Asian Canadian fishermen that left one man paralyzed for life. In laying down the sentence, the court acknowledged the racial motivations behind the attack – which apparently did not carry enough weight to meet the prosecution’s suggested sentence of eight to ten years.
• Vietnamese New Year celebrations in Orange County, California – by Giang Nguyen of CNN
  
  Did you miss the Lunar New Year? Don’t fret – CNN has a photo collage from Orange County, showing off how the Vietnamese American community rang in the Year of the Tiger.
• Study: TV May Perpetuate Race Bias – by Alice Park of Time Magazine
  
  Most people regard watching television as a passive activity. You sit, you watch. Occasionally, you change the channel. But a new study reveals that even this passive diversion may lead to actively damaging effects, particularly when it comes to issues of race.
• Gérard Depardieu sparks racism row over role as mixed-race Dumas – by Charles Bremner of Times Online
  
  
  In France, there is uproar over the casting of a white actor to play Alexandre Dumas, a French national hero with mixed African blood. Professionals and activists are upset over this “missed chance … to celebrate ethnic diversity in France and remind the world of the writer’s origins.” (Dumas’ father is pictured above)
• Censorship is un-America Ferrera – by Dorothy Snarker of After Ellen
  
  
  The Ugly Betty star talks candidly about her new film role and the difficulties women of color face in Hollywood in a new interview with Bust magazine. America also talks about the difference between a white (code: normal) movie, versus a movie with two Latino actors (code: ethnic) and the frustrations she’s felt from being denied a role just on the basis of her skin colour.
• What is it about Movies Called Avatar and Race? – by Cindy Au of Geekosystem
  
  
  A really cool article on Geekosystem that describes the coverage of the Airbender casting controversy by Topless Robot and Salon.com. The post draws from several sources. It’s nice to take a step back and see how the controversy looks from the outside.
• How to Raise Racist Kids – by Jonathan Liu of Wired.com/GeekDad
  
  GeekDad blogger Jonathan Liu discusses how many parents believe that not mentioning race to their children will create color-blind children who will treat their peers with equality. The opposite is true.
• 5 Tips for Talking About Racism with Kids – by Sasha Emmons of Parenting.com
  
  Parenting.com interviews Dr. Beverly Tatum, president of Spelman College and author of Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? And Other Conversations about Race, about parents and other adults can discuss race and ethnicity with children.
  
  “For many parents, the race talk is as difficult as the birds and the bees talk. Dr. Tatum attributes this awkwardness to a lack of communication about race in many of our own childhoods. ‘There are concerns about saying the wrong thing and sounding racist, even if that is not the intent.’ says Dr. Tatum.
• Searching for Asian American Actors on TV – by Linda of 8Asians
  
  
  8Asians looks at the television landscape and asks: where are the Asian Americans? It could be a breakout year for minority actors, after several years of decline for media diversity. But the going’s still tough for performers of color.

Welcome to another edition of the Saturday Link Roundup! This week we’ve got statistics on online interracial dating, a mother’s take on The Last Airbender casting, and Roger Ebert wondering what’s up with this year’s Valentine’s film.

• My Race-Based Valentine – by Jenée Desmond-Harris of TIME Magazine
  

  TIME Magazine reports on how personals sites show how race affects dating choices. The anonymity of online dating combined with easily tabulated statistics shows stark differences in how men and women react to people of different races.

• How I Became an Anime Fan—Not a Racebender – via Martha Nichols of Salon.com
  

  Martha Nichols, a parent of an eight year old boy adopted from Vietnam, talks about how her family fell in love with “Avatar: The Last Airbender” only to be disappointed in the casting of the film adaption. She explains how the show has a particular meaning for her blended and adoptive family, and how the casting symbolizes “why Asian adoptees often feel like honorary white people.”
  
  The article talks about how her son’s questions about the mature themes depicted in “Avatar:The Last Airbender” led to complex family discussions, and why it’s so important for parents to “challenge racism, unconscious and otherwise, and to name it for what it is.”

• ‘American Indian 101’ encouraged representation – by Eva Thomas of Indian Country Today
  
  An overview of a panel held last November about representation of Native Americans in the media. The gathering involved many prominent writes and creators in Hollywood, including the showrunner of “Saving Grace” and the makers of the documentary “American Century.”
• New Crayons: What’s New Our Our Shelves – via Color Online
  

  Color Online shares some of the new novels they’ve stumbled upon that feature protagonists of color. Definitely worth a look if you’re trying to find something new to read.

• Your suffering is not worth losing sleep over – via Florence Ringo Discussion Blog
  
  A wonderful response to Topless Robot’s post encouraging people who combat bias, ignorance, and racism to “settle down.”
• Valentine’s Day Review – by Roger Ebert
  

  Acclaimed film critic Roger Ebert takes a hard look at the film Valentine’s Day – and takes it to task for its typical vanilla casting. Where, he asks, are the other faces of love in American society. Where is the color in this film about relationships?

• ‘Faces of America’ reveals family ties – by Matea Gold of the Los Angeles Times
  
  Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. created a documentary, “Faces of America,” a genealogical project for PBS. The documentary uses historical archives and cutting edge genetic research to trace the ancestry of American celebrities including Stephen Colbert, Meryl Streep, Kristi Yamaguchi, Eva Longoria and Yo-Yo Ma.
  
  “No matter what laws of segregation, the one thing that DNA shows is that when lights came down, we were all getting down,” Gates said. “We are all mulattos.”
• My Race-Based Valentine – by Andrea Plaid of Racialicious
  

  In case you somehow missed the John Mayer debacle, Racialicious correspondent Andrea Plaid runs us through the numbers. What exactly did he say? Does it mean anything? Are his words isolated or do they represent something about how Americans view blackness – and black women?

• “Ethnic, Ethical, and Excellent” – by Latoya Peterson of Racialicious
  

  A look back at “Soul Train” – entertainment with a mission and a purpose. The idea that entertainment can aspire and achieve, can inspire and represent.

Welcome to another Saturday Link Roundup! This week’s topics feature issues on gay rights, the first Asian-American to be appointed deputy chief in San Jose, and other race and minority issues.

• Black stars don’t mean Hollywood is color-blind – by Michael Ventre of MSNBC.com
  
  An interesting take on the current situation for black actors in Hollywood. The article approaches it from different angles, so make sure to weigh the different interviewees and sources through the lens of your own experiences – and what you know about Hollywood production practices.
• ‘It opened my mind,’ Says Soprano – by Madalina Hubert of Epoch Times
  

  Native Canadian singer Lois Lane was very taken with a show by the Shen Yun Performing Arts company. In this interview, she describes the resonance she felt between Asian and First Nation cultures.

• Top Ten African-American Characters in Sci-Fi – by Lonnie Morgan of GeekDad/Wired.com
  
  Lonnie Morgan’s ten picks for top African American characters in science fiction. Looks like Star Trek series dominate the list. Unfortunately, the author and a lot of the early commenters seem to focus on sci-fi as a way to show a truly “race-neutral” future… but is that what we really want?
• Seeing Ourselves in the Media – by Lori of MANAA Blog
  MANAA blogs about the latest Facebook meme, which asks Facebook users to post celebrities they resemble in their profile pictures.
  
  “Something you might NOT have noticed is that people of color haven’t really been playing along. Why not? Maybe because when they try to think of celebrities who look like them, the list is just too small.”
• San Jose police chief chooses Vietnamese-American as new deputy chief – by Sean Webby of MercuryNews.com
  
  Vietnamese American Phan S. Ngo was appointed deputy chief of the San Jose Police Department – the highest ranking Asian American officer in the nation.
  
  San Jose is home to the largest population of Vietnamese in any city outside of Vietnam, but recent acts of police brutality have led to distrust between law enforcement and the community.
  
  Ngo’s appointment is a step in the right direction – but he is the only nonwhite member of the command staff and the force remains only 2.8% Vietnamese American (less than 1/3rd of what one would expect by city demographics).
• Racist attacker ordered to pay $130,000 compensation – by Christopher Harshawardhana Mitchell of Eurasian Sensation

Blogger Christopher Harshawardhana Mitchell gives us his take on an Australian hate crime. A group of Caucasian men beat an Asian-Australian man in an unprovoked attack. Mr. Chia suffered a broken leg, partial facial nerve palsy, and was on crutches for over half a year.

The original ruling called for a paltry $1,000 fine. Four years later, all men remain free.
• Vanity Fair’s “New Hollywood” Issue Completely Lacks Diversity – by Joanna Douglas of Shine/Yahoo
  
  
  One thing magazines love to do is call dibs on who will be the new “It” celebrities in the year to come. Sometimes they pick stars whose careers are destined to take off, occasionally they make incredible calls with near-nobodies who later become A-listers, and usually the majority of their picks fade into oblivion. While we’d like to think celeb bible Vanity Fair puts a great deal of thought and planning into its annual “New Hollywood” issue, this year the editors really limited their scope when it came to choosing the next big stars. (Or perhaps they overemphasized the “Fair”? ) Every woman on its new cover is extremely thin and very, very white. Unless Vanity Fair considers one redhead to be diversity, we feel the need to cry foul.
• Why I Still Watch Lost – by Bao Phi of Racialicious
  
  As Lost enters its final season, Bao Phi – spokesperson for Nerds of Color everywhere – gives us the rundown on his complicated relationship with the show. A wonderful take on the show from an Asian American perspective – an honest look that examines Lost, warts and all.
• Saints Linebacker Fujita Tackles Gay Marriage – by Michelle Garcia of Advocate.com
  
  An interview with NFL star Scott Fujita, elaborating further on his stance supporting gay rights. The interview touches on other subjects and paints a picture of a socially responsible, thoughtful professional athlete. Definitely worth the read.
• My secret life under ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ – by Joan E. Darrah on CNN
  
  A retired naval intelligence officer explains what it was like to live under the shadow of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” A very insightful piece into what it’s like to live and work for the military as a gay American.
• Can Live-Action Avatar Live Up to the Cartoon? – by Meredith Woerner of io9
  
  An article on io9 wondering if the film will live up to the original, including a reference to Racebending. Check it out – and be sure to tell ‘em what you think in the comments. (as always, be POLITE and chill in your answers)

Welcome to another Saturday Link Roundup!

• Meet Melissa! Love Her Like We Do – by Erin Khue Ninh of Hyphen Magazine
  
  If you support greater Asian American representation in the media, then check out this video. It’s about a woman in Houston running an entire Asian American film festival on a shoestring budget of $1500.
  
  Pretty insane. Watch it at Hyphen, learn about her cause, and – as always – support!
• Do Blacks Only Earn Awards for Negative Roles? – by Ayinde Waring of the Washington Informer
  
  Over the years, African-American actresses have received increasing recognition for their contribution to Hollywood in film and television. There is growing concern, however, that the roles being recognized and lauded are ones that perpetuate stereotypes. A revealing examination of the state of black women (and men) in Hollywood.
• The 50 Most Racist Movies – via Complex.com
  
  With descriptions and accompanying YouTube videos, Complex.com runs down the 50 most racist movies, featuring blatant uses of black and yellow face and terrible stereotypes.
• Personal Essay: “Yo Soy Boricua” – by Lala Vasquez from I Am Lala
  
  Lala Vasquez discusses problems she has faced when speaking about her Puerto Rican culture. Her authenticity is often questioned because she doesn’t look like our common perceptions of who is and is not Latina. It’s good to see high profile people acknowledge the problems of race and culture.
• Hong Kong animation retells Conan and Leno tug-of-war – by Amy Nguyen of Absolutely Fobulous
  
  If you’ve been living under a rock, you may be unaware of the late-night talk show war that has been going on for the past two weeks.
  
  Although things seem to have settled down (sort of) amicably, the American media explosion was so huge it stretched across the Pacific… where a news organization decided to “help” Chinese-speaking viewers understand what was happening with some animated dramatization of events. Completely hilarious and worth a quick watch.
• Russian ice dance tribute to Aborigines offensive to Aborigines – by Maggie Hendricks of Yahoo News
  
  In recent Ice Dancing competitions, such as at the European Championships, skaters must perform an original dance representative of a country’s culture. Russian world figure skating champions Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin decided to perform a set themed to Austrailian Aboriginal culture.
  
  Elders from Aboriginal tribes condemned the set, saying the dance movements, music, and costuming were not from their culture at all. The Russian skaters wear dark skin-toned body suits and skate to music from a UK pop star of South Asian descent.
• Talking Race in America – by Kim Leung of Campus Progress
  
  Campus Progress contributor Kim Leung interviews Carmen Van Kerckhove, the founder of well-known blog Racialacious. One of the highlights of the article is when she describes the challenges she faces as a social activist dealing with racism.
• Picture This: Chromatic Comics Remixes Your Fandoms – by Arturo R. García of Racialicious
  
  Racialicious spotlights Chromatic Comics, which re-imagines media casting using people of color. Featuring Vanessa Williams as Emma Frost and John Cho as Multiple Man – definitely check it out for an entertaining look at what casting could be like… and as fine examples of talented and capable actors of color.
• Worst Network Pilot Season For Women? – by Nikki Finke of Deadline.com
  
  Only a few pilots written by women made it this year. Perhaps some of you Racebending.com readers should politely chime in on the article?

For our sophomore Saturday Link Roundup, we include links in celebration of Dr. King’s struggle that we must continue, and discussions on whitewashing and race in the media.

• Dr. King Said More Than “I Have A Dream” – via Racialicious

A compilation of powerful quotes that remind you that Dr. King was a rebel who railed against the establishment.  Too often his words are used to justify and uphold the status quo.  Read, reflect, and remember on what he truly represented: progress and change through struggle.
• Talking Race in America – by Kim Leung of Campus Progress
  
  Campus Progress contributor Kim Leung interviews Carmen Van Kerckhove, the founder of well-known blog Racialacious. One of the highlights of the article is when she describes the challenges she faces as a social activist dealing with racism.
• The Forgotten Promise of Obama’s Race Speech – by Latoya Peterson in The American Prospect
  
  Racialicious blogger Latoya Peterson walks us through the minefield of America’s race dialogue. Why is it so hard for people to talk about race? Why does the race question bother America so much? And who decided that the solution to race bias was to become blind to it?
• Publisher whitens another heroine of color – by Kate Harding of Salon.com
  
  After our interview with author Justine Larbalestier earlier this month, publishing house Bloomsbury USA released another novel with another whitewashed cover.  Author Kate Harding guides us through an excellent analysis of the issues involved and articulates a powerful message on the power and responsibility of media.
  
  Update: Bloomsbury has withdrawn the cover following the controversy; will issue a new one. Kate Harding’s article is still worth a read for an overview of the issues involved!
• Dr. King, Race, Politics, and a Colorblind Society – by C.N. Le of Asian Nation
  
  Asian Nation is one of the most comprehensive websites on the Asian and Asian-American experiences by a true academic. This particular article discusses the current state of race relations; that we are not yet living in a colorblind society and acting like we’re colorblind today can do more harm than good.
• Health Risks for Minorities Trying to Look White – posted by big WOWO
  
  An Asian American take on a recent New York Times article. The NYT article is about literal whitewashing, a dangerous practice. The original focuses on the illegal selling of the creams, but barely touches on the sociocultural/economic reasons why many minority women use them.
  
  The big WOWO post provides a strong. Definitely worth a look, if nothing else than for the shocking image of a plastic surgery advertisement that “caters” to Asian American insecurities.
• Asians and Indians on TV – by Rob Schmidt of Blue Corn Comics
  
  We had the opportunity to speak with Rob Schmidt of Blue Corn Comics this past weekend.  Rob has been an outspoken advocate for Native American issues for many years and his publication, Blue Corn Comics, is a favorite among the Racebending.com staff.


We’re still cutting the interview footage together, but Rob took the time to write out his thoughts on some of the issues we discussed with him – from Asian American faces on television to the black-white dichotomy in American culture.  Check it out.

• NOCs (Nerds of Color) – by Bao Phi of The Star Tribune
  
  Slam poet Bao Phi describes his secret life as a “nerd of color,” describing the difficulties of growing up as a geeky outsider passionate about race issues. In his childhood, he dreamed of being a white superhero – and as an adult, he explores the absence of Asians in pop culture and the constant taboo of speaking about race. A must read.
• Am I “Retarded” for Making Asian-American Films? by Justin Lin of You Offend Me You Offend My Family
  
  In this post, Asian-American director Justin Lin (Better Luck Tomorrow, Fast & Furious) talks about the business viability of Asian American cinema, or rather lack thereof. He loses money with each Asian-American film he makes, but he is still somehow driven to make those films and tell those stories.
• Ten OTHER Things Martin Luther King Said – by Jay Smooth of Ill Doctrine
  
  In the same vein as the Racialicious list, here’s a short little video by famed advocate and all-around awesome guy Jay Smooth, founder of New York’s longest running hip-hop radio show. He quickly runs through some other things Martin Luther King Jr. said.
• Brit Hume: Only Christianity Can Save Tiger Woods – via Gwen of Sociological Images
  
  Brit Hume of Fox News remarks that Tiger Woods can solve his problems by rejecting his Buddhist faith and turning to Christianity.  This is an excellent example of how the media can promote certain ideas about what “normal” – or even “American” – means.  Includes two hilarious segments on Jon Stewart’s The Daily Show on Hume’s comments.
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