Racebending.com

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)