Dr. Rory Ong, Washington State University Associate Professor in Comparative Ethnic Studies, guest speaker at South Seattle Community College’s Rainbow Fest, Wednesday, May 20, 2009.

Dr. Ong discusses the role(s) that Asians and Pacific Islanders came to represent in the American Imagination through popular culture, primarily film and television.  The standard stereotypes have been, and still are, the passive or humorous supportive side-kick (the good) and the subversive and immoral fiend (the bad). The difficulty has been in establishing or creating popular alternates that challenge these imaginary norms.  What are the ways in which Asian and Pacific Islander representation in the American imaginary are to be recast?

Dr. Ong’s participation is part of an AANAPISI grant team effort to promote the new AA with API Studies emphasis, and encourage our community college students to consider ethnic studies as a major that can lead to careers in a range of fields including social work, international business, law, government and politics, education,  and even hospitality.