April 19, 2004

• -TOURING-

  
  
  

  This month has been a bit hectic traveling to Universities since it’s nearing Asian American Awareness month along with the fact that everyone’s cramming in their programming before the end of the school year.

  
  

  I had a great time at John Hopkins University (Thanks Esther, Mike, Rena and Angela!) I got treated to some really good Afghanistan Food and in the morning some of the students brought me breakfast to my hotel room because they’d knew I’d be hungry–real thoughtful!  Scarfed down my breakfast and then shot on over to UMBC and had some good Pho after my workshop with John, Sue, Rick and Don.  (Can you tell I only do these gigs just to sample the food nationwide?)  I heard a good tug-of-war ensued when I left my half drunken water bottle in John’s car after they dropped me off at the airport.
  

  
  

  Next stop this week is Colorado State (April 22).  And then I’m excited to be reunited with my boys Roger and Sung to speak at The Univ.of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (April 27) – we hardly ever get to do these things together anymore due to our schedules–so if you’re there, you’re getting a 3 for 1 deal!  (Although it sucks that I’m going to look like a freakin’ midget next to those two!  Roger’s 6’1″ and Sung’s 5’11″ –what freaks of nature, those aren’t normal Asian Men heights!)  And then I’m off without them to speak at Virginia Tech (April 28) and then to NYC to emcee the Asian Pacific American Heritage Festival in Union Square Park (May 2)–it’s going to be huge!  10,000 people just listening to great Asian American performers and eating good food–it’s free admission!  And while I’m on the East Coast, I’ll then hop on over to speak at Dartmouth University (May 5).  So if you’re in any of those areas, stop by and say “Hi” and let me know that my Xanga sent you!

  
  
  

  -BLACKLAVA-

  
  

  In one portion of my speaking engagements, I talk a little about the Asian American Community needing to take a stand on certain issues when the times are right (ex: the most recent Details Magazine “Gay or Asian” article.)  About a year ago, our community made a huge uproar over Ambercrombie and Fitch’s offensive shirts (Two Asian men in straw hats and buck teeth washing shirts saying “Two Wongs Make it White”).  Not only did the company yank them off the shelves but it sent a reminder to the American public that something like this was not ‘okay behavior’ (well, up until the Details article and William Hung) and that we would not just sit back passively like good ole ‘lil Asians. 

  
  
  

  
  

  
  

  One of my favorite shirts that came as a result of sending this message was from my friend Ryan Suda’s company Blacklava (www.blacklava.net).  I’ve known Ryan since ’97 when we were touring around with a theatre company and it’s great to see that his shirts focusing on the AA experience/issues  is starting to take off.  He really doesn’t need a plug from me because I think a bunch of my readers already know about his shirts — but check them out if you don’t.  I so want to wear this one in an A&F store.

  
  
  

  Below is another shirt that perfectly encapsulates me.  And anyone who really knows me can vouch for that.  When I play Blackjack in Vegas, one hand is on the table asking for a “hit” the other’s below the table adding it all up.       

  
  
  

   

  
  
  

   

  
  
  

   

  
  
  

   

  
  
  

   

  
  
  

   

  
  
  

   

  
  
  

  And this one below is one that I would like to wear in the mid-west for some of the red-necks I encounter. 

  
  
  

  

  
  
  

  There are so many others that are great:  Asian is not…Oriental, No on Prop 54, S.W.M. and he just printed up a Details Magazine shirt that will be on the site soon.  All are very stylish that you can wear outside as cool shirts but they also force people to pause and think for a bit without hitting them over the head about it.  Check ‘em all out at www.blacklava.net and tell them Parry’s Xanga sent you!  

  • 11:32 pm
  • 32 Comments