Actor and activist George Takei will host what ABC is calling its first-ever primetime special celebritating the accomplishments and diversity of the Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities.
Together as One: Celebrating Asian Americans, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage-A Soul of a Nation Presentation will air Friday, May 27 at 8pm Eastern/7 Central on ABC.
Among those featured will be actress and comedian Margaret Cho, directors Daniel Kwan of Everything Everywhere All at Once and Jon Chu of Crazy Rich Asians, actors James Hong and Gedde Watanabe of Mulan, TV host Carrie Ann Inaba of Dancing with the Stars and Tiyar Sircar of The Good Place.
Also profiled will be Mina Fedor, a 13-year-old Korean American who turned her anger about the attack on her own family into activism for Asian American history to be taught in schools.
Viewers will see the story of Karen Kwan, a descendant of a Chinese American transcontinental railroad worker and member of the Utah House of Representatives, who is fighting to preserve Asian American history.
Jan Lee is a third-generation Chinese American working to protect New York’s historic Chinatown.
Filipino activist Kalaya’an Mendoza, is a community organizer with Nonviolent Peaceforce working to build allyship and solidarity in the AANHPI community and other racial groups.
We’ll also hear from AANHPI women about the alarming rise of anti-Asian attacks, particularly against women.
Paula Akana, of Friends of Iolani Palace, will speak to the attacks on Native Hawaiian culture and how her community is reclaiming their power and rights.
ABC anchor/reporters Juju Chang, Eva Pilgrim and multiplatform reporter Ashan Singh will join the program along with KITV4 anchor Lei U’i Kaholokula.
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