This morning PBS and WETA announced a new five-part documentary series on Asian Americans, scheduled to broadcast in May 2020 for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.
The series is helmed by a team of Asian American filmmakers, including the Academy Award-nominated series producer Renee Tajima-Peña (Who Killed Vincent Chin?). Asian Americans looks at the significant role of Asians Americans in shaping US history and identity from the first wave of Asian immigrants in the 1850s.
“As America’s home for documentaries, PBS is committed to telling stories that illuminate and celebrate the rich diversity of our country,” said Paula Kerger, PBS President and CEO. “We are proud to share this important series with our audiences, and to deepen understanding about the extraordinary impact of Asian Americans on our national identity.”
PBS is making this a comprehensive Multiplatform initiative that will consider what it means to be a US citizen. Sharon Percy Rockefeller, President and CEO of WETA, said, “Following our previous series, The Jewish Americans, The Italian Americans and Latino Americans, WETA remains committed to revealing the significant stories of the entire American people.”
“We are proud to support the Center for Asian American Media for the important work they do bringing programs about the Asian American experience to public media and audiences across the country,” said Pat Harrison, CPB president and CEO.
“We are proud to have WETA as a partner on this milestone series, which weaves the histories of many Asian American communities within the broad sweep of American history,” said Stephen Gong, Executive Director of the Center for Asian American Media. “These are American stories: stories of resilience in the face of racism, of overcoming challenges as refugees from war and strife, of making contributions in all sectors of society: business, technology, military service, and the arts. These Asian American experiences and voices provide a vital foundation for a future fast approaching, in which no single ethnic or racial group defines America, in which shared principles will define who we are as Americans.”
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RE: PBS & WETA announce Asian Americans 5 part doc: Interesting that Latinos and Asians get lumped together, whereas anglos get ethnic-specific categories…yeah we all look the same, right? Within these two categories are a myriad of diverse and ethnically distinct stories…shameful to throw us into a common basket, when we have few things in common, besides….all looking alike, right?