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Asian Americans Series on WXXI World

Asian Americans Series on WXXI World

Tue, 08/25/2020 - 4:00pm - Wed, 09/02/2020 - 5:00pm
WXXI World

A new PBS series explores the impact of Asian Americans, the fastest-growing racial/ethnic group in the United States.

Asian Americans, a new five-part documentary series that examines what the 2010 U.S. Census identifies as the fastest growing racial/ethnic group in the United States. Told through personal histories, Asian Americans explores the impact of this group on the country’s past, present, and future. The series re-airs August 25, August 26, September 1, and September 2 at 4pm on WXXI-World.  Originally aired Monday, May 11 and Tuesday, May 12 ,2020 at 8 p.m. on WXXI-TV. 

Airing on WXXI World:

Part 1 Breaking Ground on August 25 4pm

Part 2: A Question of Loyalty on August 26 4pm

Part 3: Good Americans on September 1 at 4pm

Part 4: Generation Rising on September 2 at 4pm

Led by a team of Asian American filmmakers, including Academy Award®-nominated series producer Renee Tajima-Peña (Who Killed Vincent Chin?, No Más BebĂ©s), Asian Americans examines the significant role of Asian Americans in shaping American history and identity, from the first wave of Asian immigrants in the 1850s and identity politics during the social and cultural turmoil of the twentieth century to modern refugee crises in a globally connected world.

Accompanied by robust educational, engagement, and digital components, this groundbreaking initiative will bring a new perspective to the American experience. Partnering with Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Los Angeles, the series will aim to expand audience reach and engage diverse perspectives through targeted community events, impactful education initiatives and integrated digital content.

More Programming and Local Stories at: WXXI Asian-American Pacific Islander Heritage Site 

Watch the trailer:

Episode Descriptions:
Episode 1 – Breaking Ground
 
In an era of exclusion and U.S. empire, new immigrants arrive from China, India, Japan, the Philippines and beyond.  Barred by anti-Asian laws they become America’s first “undocumented immigrants,” yet build railroads dazzle on the silver screen, and take their fight for equality to the U.S. Supreme Court.
 
Episode 2 – Question of Loyalty
 
An American-born generation straddles their country of birth and their parents’ homelands in Japan and Korea.  Those loyalties are tested during World War II, when families are imprisoned in detention camps, and brothers find themselves on opposite sides of the battle lines.
 
Episode 3  - Good Americans
 
During the Cold War years, Asian Americans re simultaneously heralded as a Model Minority, and targeted as the perpetual foreigner.  It is also time of bold ambition, as Asian Americans aspire for the first time to national political office and a coming culture-quake simmers beneath the surface.
 
Episode 4 – Generation Rising
 
During a time of war and social tumult, as young generation fights for equality in the fields, on campuses and in the culture, and claims a new identity: Asian Americans.  The war’s aftermath brings new immigrants and refugees who expand the population and the definition of Asian America.
 
Episode 5 – Breaking Through
 
At the turn of the new millennium, the national conversation turns to immigration, race, and economic disparity.  As the U.S. becomes more diverse, yet more divided, a new generation of Asian Americans tackle the question, how do we as a nation move forward together?

More about the film: 

Led by a team of Asian American filmmakers, including Academy Award®-nominated series producer Renee Tajima-Peña (Who Killed Vincent Chin?, No Más BebĂ©s), Asian Americans examines the significant role of Asian Americans in shaping American history and identity, from the first wave of Asian immigrants in the 1850s and identity politics during the social and cultural turmoil of the twentieth century to modern refugee crises in a globally connected world. This five-part series premeired May 11, 2020 on WXXI-TV.

Special thanks to our community partner: 

Major funding for ASIAN AMERICANS is provided by Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB); Public Broadcasting Service (PBS); Wallace H. Coulter Foundation; Ford Foundation/JustFilms; National Endowment for the Humanities; The Freeman Foundation; The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations; Carnegie Corporation of New York; Kay Family Foundation; Long Family Foundation; Spring Wang; and California Humanities.

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