• by Ray Schultz , May 28, 2024

The New York Times is launching a series on the contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) to popular culture, funded by a grant from The Asian American Foundation.

The project will include immersive articles on how filmmakers, authors and other creators are depicting AAPI life. 

“We’re excited to explore how Asian American and Pacific Islander artists are crafting new American narratives through music, food, literature, film and television.” said editor Veronica Chambers, who is overseeing the project.

Also working on the series is Miya Lee, editor of Modern Love projects at the Times.

The first piece, “Found in Translation: Asian Languages Onscreen,” covers the use of Asian languages in American movies and TV. It features a visual design by Alice Fang, a New York Times graphics editor.

The Times notes that Asian Americans are the fastest growing demographic in the U.S. and that Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders are the third.

“The best way to fight anti-Asian hate is to create belonging and there is no better way to do that than through storytelling,” says Norman Chen, CEO of The Asian American Foundation.