Melissa Borja, France Kai-Hwa Wang, and Roland Hwang participated in a panel discussion on May 8 entitled "Asian Americans: The Detroit Story," sponsored by Detroit Public TV and APIAVote Michigan. Timed with the release of the new PBS documentary series Asian Americans, panelists spoke about contributions that Asian Americans have made to Michigan and the challenges they continue to face, especially as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Frances Kai-Hwa Wang began the program with a poem that combined personal reflection with recent news headlines. Roland Hwang was recognized as one of the key activists in the aftermath of the 1982 murder of Vincent Chin, and directed the audience towards important resources for reporting anti-Asian bias. Melissa Borja summarized the newest research on anti-Asian bias in the context of the coronavirus, and urged viewers to follow the lead of wonderful A/PIA student organizers at U-M who call for solidarity with black, Latinx, and indigenous communities.
The A/PIA Studies Program at the University of Michigan continues to be an active contributor to the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities in southeastern Michigan and beyond.
