Afghan Rockers Start New Musical Life in Oakland
Afghanistan's first rock band is called Kabul Dreams. A few years ago they were forced to flee Afghanistan after getting death threats. They've started a new life in Oakland. Now, with President Trump's second travel ban and a rise in hate crimes against Muslims, Kabul Dreams is hoping to build a cultural bridge, by bringing Afghan rock to California and the West.
Gritty New Film Explores Multicultural Friendship During the L.A. Riots
Next month marks the 25th anniversary of the Los Angeles riots that erupted following the beating of Rodney King. It was a pivotal time in race relations for L.A., and now, a new feature film called "Gook" explores the Korean-American perspective on the events of April 1992. Shot in stark blank and white, it won an audience award at Sundance, and screens this weekend at CAAMFEST, San Francisco's Asian-American film festival. We talk with Justin Chon, writer, director, and lead actor about the complicated inspiration behind his film.
They Fought for the U.S. in Laos. Now Many Older Hmong Battle Depression
President Trump's new travel ban suspends decisions on new refugee applications for 120 days. We hear about refugees in California who waited years for resettlement even after many of them helped the United States during the Vietnam War. Now, those aging refugees are battling a different problem.
'Remember That Your Mother Has Waged a Lifelong Battle'
This month marks the birthday of Cesar Chavez, California's iconic farmworker leader. To celebrate, the folks at the Henry Madden Library at Fresno State decided to help record and preserve some of the stories of Latino families in the San Joaquin Valley. They partnered with StoryCorps, and we're going to feature some excerpts from those interviews. We're kicking off that series with Graciela Martinez, a longtime farmworker activist who was Cesar Chavez's secretary for a while, and marched with Dr. Martin Luther King in Alabama. She appears in conversation with her son, Richard Herron.