Groundbreaking Documentary Series Asian Americans Premieres May 11 & 12 on KQED

The most ambitious television chronicle of the Asian American story in the United States premieres as part of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month

San Francisco, CA; May 1, 2020 – Asian Americans, a new five-part documentary series from PBS, will premiere on May 11 and May 12 on KQED 9 in the Bay Area. The series examines the roles of Asian Americans, one of the fastest-growing racial and ethnic groups in the United States, in shaping America’s past, present and future.

The series explores the initial wave of Asian immigrants in the 1850s, identity politics during the social and cultural turmoil of the 20^th century and the current refugee crisis. It illuminates how a group of people — who were long excluded, faced racist policies and were considered outsiders – continue to persevere and remain resilient while pursuing the American Dream of opportunity and a better life.

Led by a team of Asian American filmmakers, including Academy Award-nominated series producer Renee Tajima-Peña (Who Killed Vincent Chin?, No Más Bebés), the series features powerful first-person stories and vivid historical accounts. And it raises an important question for all Americans: As the United States becomes more diverse yet more divided, how do we move forward together?

All five episodes of Asian Americans will premiere over two nights — Monday, May 11 and Tuesday, May 12, at 8pm on KQED 9 — with streaming available online at video.kqed.org and on the free PBS Video App. 

Virtual Live Event
Asian Americans: Evolution of the Asian American Voice
Tuesday, May 5 at 6pm
Free; RSVP link

Presented in partnership with PBS SoCal, this virtual event will offer a preview of Asian Americans and a discussion about the evolution of the Asian American voice.

Representations of Asian Americans in pop culture have a history of racist stereotypes and one-dimensional depictions that continues today. Join KQED and PBS SoCal to watch clips from Asian Americans, followed by a discussion moderated by SoCal Wanderer host Rosey Alvero and featuring series producer S. Leo Chiang and sociologist/pop culture expert Nancy Wang Yuen. This conversation will look at the history of Asian American representation in pop culture and media, and how Asian Americans have fought against these depictions to craft their own narratives and define a complex Asian American identity.

To RSVP for this free event and find more KQED events, visit kqed.org/events 

Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
Asian Americans is presented as part of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. To celebrate, KQED is delivering fascinating food for thought — as well as food for foodies —throughout May. On Saturday, May 9, explore the origins, history and impact of a dark time in our history in The Chinese Exclusion Act: American Experience. Visit Vietnam with San Francisco-based indie singer-songwriter Thao Nguyen and her mother in Nobody Dies: A Film About a Musician, Her Mom and Vietnam. And take notes as chef Ming Tsai dishes deliciousness on his cooking show on Sundays and Wednesdays, and Yan Can Cook does just that on Saturday mornings. For more information about these and other special Asian Pacific American Heritage Month programming, visit: kqed.org/heritage.

Support
Local support for KQED’s presentation Asian Americans generously provided by the Asian Art Museum. Engage with art at a distance through digital experiences that will keep your spirits up and the inspiration flowing. Bring the Asian Art Museum into your home by visiting asianart.org/museumfromhome.

Major funding for Asian Americans is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB); the Wallace H. Coulter Foundation; the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS); the Ford Foundation/Just Films; the National Endowment for the Humanities; The Freeman Foundation; The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations; the Carnegie Corporation of New York; the Kay Family Foundation; the Long Family Foundation; Spring Wang and California Humanities. 

About KQED
KQED serves the people of Northern California with a public-supported alternative to commercial media. An NPR and PBS affiliate based in San Francisco, KQED is home to one of the most listened-to public radio stations in the nation, one of the highest-rated public television services and an award-winning education program helping students and educators thrive in 21st-century classrooms. A trusted news source and leader and innovator in interactive technology, KQED takes people of all ages on journeys of exploration — exposing them to new people, places and ideas. www.kqed.org