380. Jason Chu on AAPI Heritage Month
May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Joining me is my friend Jason Chu, a passionate activist, and a dynamic rapper whose music serves as a platform for social change. Together, we explore the often overlooked and hard truths of history, particularly concerning the AAPI community. In a world where solidarity is more crucial than ever, we discuss why understanding the full scope of history is essential. Despite the importance of these narratives, they often remain obscured or neglected in mainstream education. I’m deeply grateful to Jason for his invaluable insights and for enriching this conversation, from which I’ve learned a tremendous amount. Listen on as we confront the uncomfortable truths, celebrate the resilience, and advocate for the recognition and understanding that AAPI heritage deserves. For those that don’t already know: Jason Chu is a rapper and activist who speaks hope and healing in a hurting world, matching high-energy performances with hard-hitting lyricism. As a kid in suburban Delaware, he found a vocabulary for racial identity and liberation in hip-hop culture. He now tours extensively, bringing a clear and urgent voice to stages around the country and globally. Jason’s music has been heard in Valorant (Riot Games), American Born Chinese (Disney+), Joy Ride (2023), Warrior (HBO/Max), Mayans M.C. (FX), Kung Fu (The CW), Tetris Beat (Apple Arcade), Snowpiercer (TNT), and Wu Assassins (Netflix). As an expert on Asian American identity and hip-hop culture, Jason has spoken at colleges, conferences, and beyond Please check out his work on jason chu – Listener. Speaker. Storyteller. Follow Jason on social media: Instagram, TikTok I’ve been enjoying these conversations and hope you have too. If you have, please rate my podcast on your platform of choice and share it with others! If you would like to support with a donation to help keep this podcast going and support the work I do, you can become a patron of the show by visiting my website or http://Patreon.com/sifumimichan. For comments or suggestions reach out on social media @sifumimichan. Discussed in this episode: Black Panther Party Larry Itliong Wong Kim Ark vs. United States THE SIFU MIMI CHAN SHOW CREDITS Host: Mimi Chan