Author Talk: Jeff Yang and Phil Yu, "Rise"

"A History of Asian America from the '90s to Now"

Attend in person or online. A bestselling writer/CNN commentator and the "Angry Asian Man" blogger discuss their exciting new mixed media book. Co-sponsored by AAPI Montclair at the Vanguard Theater.

A hybrid event: attend in person at the Vanguard Theater (180 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair) or livestream on Zoom. MASKS ARE REQUIRED THROUGHOUT THE EVENT. Theater opens for seating at 6 p.m. Please arrive on time. We will be giving out numbered waiting list tickets on the day of the event and seating them at 6:35 p.m. 
Please note that the space is on the second floor, and walking up stairs is required. On street parking is available as well as in the nearby TD Bank and Lackawanna Plaza parking lots. 

This event will be recorded.  While the recording will focus solely on the presenter, the voices and statements of those in attendance, and occasional brief glimpses of attendees, may appear in the recording, particularly those who ask questions, engage the presenter, or otherwise actively participate. By attending this program, you acknowledge and consent to the Library recording in this manner, and to the Library distributing the recording through its website and other social media outlets.

This program is sponsored by the Montclair Public Library Foundation and AAPI Montclair. To support other great library programs, click here to donate. 

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Jeff Yang has been observing, exploring, and writing about the Asian-American community for over thirty years. He launched one of the first Asia- American national magazines, A. Magazine, in the late '90s and early 2000s, and now writes frequently for CNN, Quartz, Slate and elsewhere.  He has written/edited three books—Jackie Chan’s New York Times-best-selling memoir I Am Jackie Chan: My Life in Action; Once Upon a Time in China, a history of the cinemas of Hong Kong, Taiwan and the Mainland; and Eastern Standard Time: A Guide to Asian Influence on American Culture. He lives in Los Angeles, CA.

Phil Yu is the founder and editor of the popular Asian American news and culture blog, Angry Asian Man, which has had a devoted following since 2001. His commentary has been featured and quoted in the The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, NPR, and elsewhere. He lives in Los Angeles, CA.

Philip Wang is the co-founder of the hugely influential production company Wong Fu Productions. Since the mid 2000s, his creative work has garnered over 3 million subscribers and half a billion views online, as well as recognition from NPR and CNN for its impact on Asian American representation. He lives in Los Angeles, CA. (Philip Wang will not be at the event.)

ABOUT THE BOOK

RISE is a love letter to and for Asian Americans--a vivid scrapbook of voices, emotions, and memories from an era in which Asian American culture was forged and transformed, and a way to preserve both the headlines and the intimate conversations that have shaped the community into what it is today.

"Hip, entertaining...imaginative."—Kirkus, starred review * "Essential." —Min Jin Lee * "A Herculean effort."—Lisa Ling * "A must-read."—Ijeoma Oluo * "A book we've needed for ages." —Celeste Ng * "Accessible, informative, and fun." —Cathy Park Hong *

ABOUT THE CONVERSATION PARTNER

Michelle Germinario founded and leads AAPI Montclair’s book clubs for the organization’s 600+ members. She is a high school English teacher who has also taught at the college level. Germinario is a first-generation Vietnamese American and the proud daughter of a refugee. A resident of Montclair, she was recently featured in the Bergen Record about her activism and biracial identity.

Upcoming events