2 Montclair Events Will Celebrate Asian American Civil Rights Icons
MONTCLAIR, NJ — AAPI New Jersey will be hosting events in Montclair this May that celebrate two icons of the Asian American civil rights movement: Helen Zia and Corky Lee.Here’s what you should know about Zia and Lee, according to the nonprofit:HELEN ZIA – Helen Zia is a writer, journalist and Fulbright Scholar who has been outspoken on issues ranging from human rights to countering gender and hate violence and homophobia. Her latest book, “Last Boat out of Shanghai: The Epic Story of the Chinese who Fled Mao's Revolution,” was an NPR best book and shortlisted for a national PEN AMERICA award. Her first book, “Asian American Dreams: The Emergence of an American People,” reveals the contemporary civil rights struggles of Asian Americans. She coauthored “My Country Versus Me” with Taiwanese American nuclear physicist Wen Ho Lee, who was falsely accused of being a spy for the People's Republic of China. The daughter of Chinese immigrants, Helen was Executive Editor of Ms. magazine, and is the founding board co-chair of the Women's Media Center. Her work on anti-Asian violence has been featured on Amanpour & Co., Lisa Ling's This is Life, Soledad O'Brien, and various news programs and documentaries, including the Oscar-nominated film, "Who Killed Vincent Chin?" In 2010, Helen was a witness in the federal case decided by the U.S. Supreme Court on marriage equality. She attended Princeton University on a full scholarship, was a member of its first graduating class of women and has received honorary doctorates from the University of San Francisco and the City University of New York Law School. Helen quit medical school to work as a construction laborer, an autoworker, and a community organizer, until she discovered her life’s work as a journalist and writer.CORKY LEE – Corky Lee (1947-2021), a native of Queens, New York, was an activist-photographer who for fifty years documented Asian American communities and movements for social justice. His photographs were published in The New York Times, New York Daily News, and Asian American Weekly, among other outlets; were featured in forty books; and on display in the National Portrait Gallery of the Smithsonian Institute and the Oversea Chinese History Museum in Beijing. Two recent films, scheduled to air on PBS, chronicle Lee’s life and work: Jennifer Takaki’s “Photographic Justice: The Corky Lee Story” (2022) and Curtis Chin’s “Dear Corky” (2022).HELEN ZIA SCREENINGOn Thursday, May 23 at 7 p.m., Zia will make her first public appearance in her home state of New Jersey in six years following a screening of the Academy Award-nominated documentary “Who Killed Vincent Chin?” at The Clairidge in Montclair.Directed by Renee Tajima-Peña and Christine Choy, the documentary probes the implications of the murder of Vincent Chin, a Chinese American who was beaten to death by an automotive worker who would never serve a day in jail for the crime.Taylor Jung of NJ Spotlight News will moderate a conversation about the impact of the historic hate crime on the Asian American community, and its parallels and lessons that are still relevant today.K-12 teachers who attend this screening and Q&A will receive three hours of professional development credit, a free copy of the Vincent Chin Legacy Guide for classroom use, and a special gift bag courtesy of Teach Asian American Stories, organizers said.Tickers are required, but the event is free. Reservations can be made online here.The screening with Helen Zia is a collaboration with POV, the award-winning independent non-fiction film series on PBS (www.pbs.org/pov). It is presented by AAPI New Jersey, Montclair Film, and the AAPI Caucus Montclair State University, in partnership with Bnai Keshet, Chinese American Community of Fort Lee, the Episcopal Church of St. James, Friends of the Howe House, Glen Ridge Diversity and Inclusion Association, Institute for Teaching Diversity and Social Justice, Learn AAPI History Project, Livingston AAPI, Livingston Committee for Diversity and Inclusion, Montclair African American Heritage Foundation, Montclair History Center, Montclair Public Library, Out Montclair, Ridgewood AAPI Alliance, SOMA Cross Cultural Works, SOMA Action Racial Justice Committee, St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Teach Asian American Stories, Temple Ner Tamid, Union Congregational Church, and United Asian Voices of West Orange. Accommodations for Zia were donated by The George Montclair.CORKY LEE BOOK LAUNCHOn Friday, May 17, AAPI New Jersey and OCA-New Jersey will partner with the estate of Corky Lee and the Montclair Art Museum to host the New Jersey launch of the groundbreaking book, “Corky Lee’s Asian America.”In honor of AAPI Heritage Month, panelists Chee Wang Ng, Glenn Magpantay, and Shirley Ng will join a conversation moderated by Mayuri Chandra on the significance of Lee’s work to Asian American history and activism. Featuring never-before-seen photographs alongside Corky’s most renowned images, the book encapsulates his lifelong commitment to documenting moments of inclusion, resistance and ethnic pride, organizers said.The program will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a screening of Curtis Chin’s documentary, “Dear Corky,” and a panel discussion beginning at 7 p.m. Following the discussion, guests can explore a captivating pop-up exhibition showcasing Corky’s iconic photos.To register, visit: https://aapimontclair-bloom.kindful.com/e/corky-lees-america (tickets are $10 for general admission and $5 for Montclair Art Museum and OCA-New Jersey Members).Send local news tips and correction requests to [email protected]. Learn more about advertising on Patch here. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site. Don’t forget to visit the Patch Montclair Facebook page.The article 2 Montclair Events Will Celebrate Asian American Civil Rights Icons appeared first on Montclair, NJ Patch.
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