Yale! AASA’s big political event for the semester is famous Asian American activist Helen Zia. If you haven’t heard of her, you will in these next two weeks. She’s going to be giving a Masters Tea and Conversations Dinner on April 23rd, so stop by! Want to know more? Jin Kim, our Co-Political Action and Education Chair, PC’11, has more:
In February, the Political Action and Education Committee (PAEC) of the Asian American Students Alliance hosted a screening of ‘Who Killed Vincent Chin’, a documentary that recounts the 1982 brutal murder of Vincent Chin by two white men in Detroit, Michigan. Although the murder was a hate crime, the attackers received light sentencing because it pre-dated hate crime laws in the United States. The documentary featured an interview with Ms. Helen Zia, who played a crucial role as a social activist to bring justice in Chin’s murder case. Ms. Zia’s outspoken attitude immediately drew the audience’s attention, and many attendees at the screening expressed extremely strong interest and enthusiasm to have a chance to speak to Ms. Zia about her experiences.
In celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in April, PAEC is pleased to have Ms. Zia as our guest speaker. At a Berkeley master’s tea on Thursday, April 23rd, Ms. Zia will shares her personal observations and stories about bringing diverse communities together for social justice. We believe that Ms. Zia’s experiences as an Asian American activist who has actively
participated in various civil rights movements will attract a diverse group of students with various backgrounds and interests.
Ms. Zia was born in New Jersey to first generation immigrants from Shanghai, China. She entered Princeton University in the early 1970s and was a member of its first graduating class of women. As a student, Zia was among the founders of the Asian American Students Association. She was also a vocal anti-war activist, voicing her Opposition to U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War, and a firm believer in feminism.
Her articles, essays and reviews have appeared in numerous publications, books and anthologies. Ms. Zia has been outspoken on issues ranging from civil rights and peace to women?s rights and countering hate violence and homophobia. In 1997, she testified before the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights on the racial impact of the news media. Last February, she led a demonstration in San Francisco protesting California’s recently enacted discriminatory legislations against the LGBTQ community, and she testified before the California Supreme Court following the demonstration.
She currently resides in the California Bay Area with her partner. The pair was married in San Francisco in 2004 and again in 2008.
The Berkeley master’s tea featuring Ms. Zia will take place at 4 pm on Thursday, April 23rd. The tea will be followed by an intimate dinner/conversation event at 6pm at the Asian American Cultural Center, 295 Crown Street.
