MLK's Impact / Asian Allergies / Greenlander Asians
How much do we really know about the figures who shaped our world?
The Rebel Yellow Issue #20: The Power of Legacy
How much do we really know about the figures who shaped our world? A 2023 study found that 1 in 4 Asian Americans know little to nothing about Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech. Yet, King’s work laid the foundation for many rights and opportunities that Asian Americans benefit from today. In this issue, we explore how his legacy continues to inspire activism, solidarity, and the fight for justice across communities.
Plus: The unexpected TikTok exodus, a historic wildfire speech from Rep. Dave Min, and the rise of Learner Tien at the Australian Open.
How Martin Luther King Jr. inspired Asian Americans
A Pew Research Center study in 2023 revealed a startling statistic: 25% of Asian Americans know either “not much” or “nothing at all” about Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech.
This lack of familiarity stands in sharp contrast to King’s profound impact on Asian Americans, from catalyzing civil rights legislation that reshaped immigration to inspiring cross-racial solidarity. Today — on Martin Luther King Jr. Day — we remember his contributions to our community.
Pushing for progress
King’s leadership in the civil rights movement influenced pivotal changes in the country’s laws, such as the following:
Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965: This act dismantled the racially biased quota system, paving the way for increased Asian immigration to the U.S.
Voting Rights Act of 1965: While the original act broadly prohibited racial discrimination in voting, later amendments, particularly in 1975, specifically addressed language-based voting assistance, enabling Asian Americans to vote in their native languages.
End of interracial marriage bans: Struck down by the 1967 Loving v. Virginia decision, this ruling enabled interracial relationships and families to thrive.
Learning from the Black radical tradition
King’s broader vision of justice transcended racial boundaries, resonating deeply with Asian American activists. In his 1967 “Beyond Vietnam” speech criticizing the Vietnam War, King described the U.S. government as “the greatest purveyor of violence in the world today.” His denunciation of militarism and racism encouraged communities of color to examine the intersections of imperialism and oppression. For Asian Americans, this critique hit close to home, as American foreign policies devastated their ancestral homelands.
Mark Tseng-Putterman, a historian of Asian American community politics, contextualizes this solidarity in a 2017 Medium article, noting how Black internationalists like Angela Davis and Muhammad Ali linked struggles against militarism abroad to systemic racism at home. This intersectional lens inspired Asian Americans to forge connections between their migration histories and U.S. imperialism.
Spiritual and philosophical resonance
Hak Joon Lee, a Korean American theologian, regards King as a “God-sent teacher” who helped him navigate his racialized identity. In a 2019 op-ed for Inheritance magazine, Lee notes that King’s approach mirrors jazz — a collective, improvisational art form that celebrates individuality while fostering collaboration.
This perspective extends to activism. Lee emphasizes that “Asian Americans still face the huge task of exploring Asian American identity in its complexity and plurality, of exploring conversation with rich Asiatic religious cultural traditions, and of measuring and arranging our relationships with other racial groups.” King’s model, he notes, offers a “third way” between divisive identity politics and post-racial idealism.
The “Beloved Community”
King’s vision of the “Beloved Community” — a society grounded in justice, inclusivity and love — is an inspiration to Asian American activists. The concept has encouraged the creation of multicultural coalitions aimed at dismantling systemic racism. As a philosophy, it highlights the interconnectedness of all struggles, emphasizing that unity and collaboration are essential for meaningful change.
Beyond this, King’s principles significantly influenced the formation of Asian American identity during the civil rights era. His dedication to dignity and nonviolence provided a template for Asian Americans to assert their rights in a nation that often marginalized them. This influence is evident in the establishment of Asian American advocacy organizations that paralleled the Black civil rights movement.
International solidarity
King’s anti-imperialist stance also resonated deeply with Asian American communities, particularly those affected by U.S. military actions abroad. His opposition to the Vietnam War and critique of American foreign policy galvanized Asian Americans to connect their own migration histories with the broader struggles against imperialism.
This solidarity extended to support for global decolonization movements, with King’s speeches inspiring Asian Americans to engage in activism that addressed both domestic and international issues. By linking the impacts of militarism abroad to systemic racism at home, King’s legacy offers a powerful reminder of the global stakes in the fight for justice.
Upholding his vision
To honor King’s legacy, Asian Americans must confront uncomfortable truths within their communities. Tseng-Putterman highlights the need to reject the “white conservative” appropriation of King’s words and to challenge intra-community complicity in systemic racism, such as opposition to affirmative action or police accountability. As late author and scholar Gary Okihiro poignantly reminded us: “Asians, it must be remembered, did not come to America; Americans went to Asia. Asians, it must be remembered, did not come to take the wealth of America; Americans went to take the wealth of Asia. Asians, it must be remembered, did not come to conquer and colonize America; Americans went to conquer and colonize Asia. And the matter of the ‘when and where’ of Asian American history is located therein.”
The future lies in building coalitions rooted in shared struggles. “A time comes when silence is betrayal,” King declared in his 1967 speech. For Asian Americans, breaking that silence means standing in solidarity with marginalized communities, dismantling systemic inequalities and embracing the “beloved community” as a guiding principle.
TikTok is back. Will its “refugees” return from RedNote?
The arrival of American “refugees” to the Chinese app RedNote amid TikTok’s impending ban has ignited a significant cultural exchange in the past week. But as President Donald Trump vows to restore TikTok, the exodus now looks to be short-lived. Adding to the uncertainty, China’s stringent censorship policies are already proving to be a barrier for many new users.
Against the Great Firewall
Over the past week, RedNote, known in China as Xiaohongshu, topped the U.S. App Store charts as TikTok users sought refuge from the anticipated Sunday ban. Often described as a mix of Instagram and Pinterest, RedNote became an unexpected bridge for cultural exchange between U.S. and Chinese users.
Sadly, the cultural honeymoon may be doomed from the beginning. RedNote’s censorship policies — driven by China’s strict internet regulations — have caused frustration and a rude awakening among many new arrivals. Below are some examples, as per CNN:
A user identifying as non-binary had their post about LGBTQ+ inclusivity removed within hours, sparking outrage and a decision to leave the platform.
Posts about the Japanese anime “My Hero Academia,” which is censored in China for references to wartime history, were also removed.
Fitness enthusiasts found their content flagged as sexually suggestive, with one user lamenting, “Why can’t I post photos of my fitness and abs?”
What China is saying
The Chinese government has taken a measured approach to the surge of U.S. users on RedNote. Guo Jiakun, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated (per the South China Morning Post), “We believe that no matter what platforms you use, it’s a personal choice and we encourage and support people-to-people exchanges.” However, Guo stopped short of addressing whether China would strengthen censorship of foreign content, highlighting the nation’s stance on maintaining sovereignty in its digital space.
Meanwhile, Chinese state media has framed the influx of U.S. users as a testament to the country’s cultural appeal. A People’s Daily commentary reportedly lauded RedNote’s popularity as evidence of China’s “profound historical and cultural accumulation.”
Still, some Chinese users voiced concerns over RedNote’s identity being diluted. Others warned that stricter moderation of English-language content was inevitable.
Charlie Smith (a pseudonym), cofounder of GreatFire, an anonymous China-based organization that tracks the country’s internet censorship — and helps local users get around it — drew a stark comparison between recent events and the broader issue. “The removal of TikTok from mobile app ecosystems is a bit like Chinese censorship 10 years ago — using brute force to prevent access to certain platforms,” Smith told The Rebel Yellow. “But China has made tremendous advancements in subtle censorship, to the point that users don’t even realize that censorship has taken place.”
What Trump is saying
On Sunday, Trump announced plans to issue an executive order delaying TikTok’s ban, pending negotiations to secure U.S. ownership. The announcement coincided with TikTok’s brief outage, which was quickly reversed. In a statement, TikTok thanked Trump for providing “clarity and assurance” to service providers, allowing the platform to resume operations.
While Trump’s intervention offers temporary relief, legal experts caution that it could face challenges. Alan Rozenshtein, an associate professor of law at the University of Minnesota, told the New York Times, “There’s no good path here from a rule of law perspective.”
What’s next
As TikTok regains its foothold in the U.S., the quick RedNote “vacation” highlights the complexities of cross-cultural exchanges in a tightly controlled digital space. “It’s not a foregone conclusion that RedNote will suddenly enjoy TikTok’s success and popularity,” Lindsay Gorman, managing director of the German Marshall Fund’s technology program, told NBC News. “Actually gaining the traction TikTok has is rare. And the size of the national security threat is really proportional to the size of the user base.”
Smith urged Xiaohongshu’s new users to continue testing the limits of censorship, describing it as an essential tool to expose the boundaries of Chinese authorities’ control. They also reminded them of the bigger picture.
“If TikTok returns to the app stores today, as is likely, and before users get lost again in the app’s algorithm, please remember that what you experienced over the past weekend is what citizens of China, Iran, Russia and many other places in the world experience 24/7,” Smith said. “People are punished for even expressing opposition to censorship. The censorship that has been felt in America is just the tip of the iceberg. Please continue to challenge and test censorship, at home and abroad.”
Sen. Dave Min slams calls for conditional California wildfire aid as “un-American” in 1st floor speech
In his first floor speech as a member of Congress, Representative Dave Min (D, CA-47) strongly criticized proposals to attach political conditions to federal disaster aid for Southern California, calling the move “un-American,” “despicable” and “pathetic.” His remarks on Thursday come as a debate intensifies over Republican-led efforts to impose stipulations on relief funding following the devastating wildfires that have ravaged the region.
About the aid: A day after the wildfires began, President Joe Biden approved a major disaster declaration for Southern California on Jan. 8, unlocking various forms of federal assistance. This aid encompasses programs designed to support individuals, businesses and local governments in their recovery efforts. It includes grants for temporary housing, home repairs and replacement of essential household items. It also covers unemployment assistance for those who lost jobs due to the fires, crisis counseling, legal aid and assistance with medical, dental and funeral expenses.
What GOP lawmakers propose: With Donald Trump poised to control Los Angeles wildfire aid after he is sworn in as the 47th U.S. president today, concerns have mounted over how future disaster relief will be handled under his administration. House Republicans, led by Speaker Mike Johnson (R, LA-4) and Senator John Barrasso (R, WY), have been pushing to tie conditions, including forest management reforms and linking disaster aid to an increase in the federal debt ceiling.
Republicans argue that California’s forest management practices have contributed to the severity of the wildfires, making reforms a necessary requirement for receiving aid. Some lawmakers also see disaster relief as a bargaining chip in negotiations over raising the federal borrowing limit.
Consequences for future aid efforts: Min, who represents Orange County, urged his colleagues to consider the precedent such action would set for future disaster relief efforts. “What is being proposed right now, in tying conditions to aid, is un-American. It is despicable. It’s pathetic,” Min stated. “We have never done this before. And I urge my Republican colleagues to think about the precedent they will be setting if they set political conditions on this aid. Because the next time a disaster strikes, it could be your district.”
Min underscored the urgency of providing immediate relief to those affected by the wildfires, describing the destruction as “a biblical-level disaster.” He pointed out that communities across the country, regardless of political affiliation, have historically come together in times of crisis, including after hurricanes, tornadoes and other natural disasters.
Other Dems push back: Democratic lawmakers and California officials have opposed the proposal, arguing that disaster relief should remain apolitical and focused solely on aiding victims in need. Senator Alex Padilla (D, CA) condemned the idea, stating, “Mother Nature does not distinguish between red states and blue states. And neither should our disaster response efforts or our recovery efforts.”
Representative Salud Carbajal (D, CA-24) echoed this sentiment, criticizing the effort to “hold hostage” aid for struggling families. “What makes these families different from families we have helped after hurricanes, tornadoes, or floods in other states? To suggest that we should hold hostage the aid we give American families — families who have lost everything — is wrong and un-American,” he said.
The broader Implications: While conditions are common in certain federal aid programs — such as student financial assistance — disaster relief has traditionally been treated differently, with an emphasis on rapid response and recovery. “People are struggling,” Min implored during his speech. “Thousands of firefighters are exhausted. We need your help.”
California firefighter who lost his home to wildfire finds his wedding ring
Amid the rubble of his burned-down home, Pasadena fire engineer Chien Yu found a symbol of hope: his wedding ring. The heartwarming discovery came as Yu and his wife, Kim, sifted through the remnants of their Altadena residence, which was destroyed in the devastating Eaton Fire.
The moment, which was captured on video, shows Yu’s joy and relief as he retrieves the ring, a glimmer of positivity amid overwhelming loss.
An unsung hero
Yu, who has served as a firefighter for years, was on the front lines battling the same wildfire that consumed his home. The fire forced him to make an impossible choice: after ensuring the safety of his wife and their two sons, he reported directly to work to help save his community. The family’s neighborhood, including their children’s school, was reduced to ashes.
“We worked all night, worked really hard. We tried,” Yu told KABC. One by one, homes succumbed to the blaze.
“When you’re trying to fight fires and it’s your own home, there are no words. It’s just unbelievable,” he added.
A fighting spirit
The family’s determination to rebuild has been met with an outpouring of community support. A GoFundMe campaign organized by Garrett Madrigal has so far raised over $247,000 to help them recover.
“We want to thank you all from the bottom of our hearts for your incredible support and generosity during this tough time…Your kindness has meant the world to our family, and words can’t even begin to express how much we appreciate you all,” Madrigal wrote on behalf of the family in an update.
Still, the situation has not been easy, especially for Yu’s two children. “They do have moments, like when my wife puts them to bed,” he told CNN. “They’ve talked about, you know, like, ‘I want to go home. I want to go back to school.’ And unfortunately, we live right next to the school. So that fire took the school too.”
The big picture
The Eaton Fire is one of several blazes fueled by drought and high winds across Los Angeles County. As of Sunday, the wildfires have claimed at least 27 lives and scorched over 45 square miles (117 square kilometers). The Yu family’s loss is just one story among thousands.
Meanwhile, over 82,000 residents remain under mandatory evacuation orders, while another 90,000 are on high alert. Thousands of firefighters continue to battle the flames, often risking their own lives and homes in the process.
Vietnamese American Learner Tien’s historic Australian Open run ends in fourth round
Vietnamese American qualifier Learner Tien, 19, saw his historic run at the Australian Open come to an end with a fourth-round loss to Lorenzo Sonego in Kia Arena at Melbourne Park on Monday. Despite the defeat, Tien made history as the youngest man to reach the Australian Open fourth round since Rafael Nadal in 2005. He secured his place in the tournament's history books by defeating Frenchman Corentin Moutet 7-6(10) 6-3 6-3 on Saturday.
Tien's impressive run at the Australian Open started with a grueling five-set win against Camilo Ugo Carabelli in the first round, followed by a stunning upset against world No. 5 Daniil Medvedev in the second round. He is the second-youngest American man to reach the fourth round at the Australian Open in the Open Era, after Pete Sampras who achieved the same feat at age 18 in 1990.
Tien's performance has guaranteed him a spot in the top 100 of the ATP rankings for the first time in his career. This will likely grant him direct entry into future Grand Slam tournaments, eliminating the need to compete in qualifying rounds.
“I came here not really having any expectations. Just, honestly, coming here to play my first Australian Open," Tien shared. "Not really having a specific goal of result that I really wanted to leave here with or anything like that. So to have the run that I did is surreal, and honestly, probably a few weeks that I'll remember for the rest of my career.”
Born in Irvine, California, to a math teacher mother and a lawyer father, Tien started playing tennis at the age of 5 and quickly rose through the ranks. At 16, he won the USTA Boys' 18s National Championship, earning a wildcard entry into the 2022 US Open, where he made his Grand Slam debut.
No unanimous vote for Ichiro Suzuki’s induction into Japan Hall of Fame
Ichiro Suzuki, one of the greatest hitters in baseball history, was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame on Thursday. While the former Seattle Mariners and Orix BlueWave star was recognized in his first year of eligibility, he was not a unanimous choice, as he only received 323 out of 349 possible votes, amounting to 92.6% support.
Greatness recognized
At the ceremony at Tokyo Dome, Suzuki reflected on his career and future: "I'm extremely grateful to be welcomed into the Hall of Fame. My big goal now, and my motivation, is meeting the children who will lead the future. As long as I can move, I want to be involved in baseball and contribute to Japanese baseball."
"I questioned what many people considered to be conventional wisdom, and made the most important decisions on my own," Suzuki reflected. "A big factor behind my success has been trusting in my own intuition rather than the opinions of others."
Pundits weigh in
While some fans online expressed surprise at the 51-year-old's omission from certain ballots, longtime Japanese baseball reporter Jim Allen explained that no player has ever been unanimously selected in Japan. "This is not an indictment of those 26 voters who didn't support Ichiro," Allen said. "Ichiro was going to go in without a struggle, and there are many deserving candidates on the ballot."
Suzuki’s induction into the Japanese Hall of Fame comes ahead of next week's announcement of the U.S. National Baseball Hall of Fame class, where he is widely expected to be a first-ballot selection. According to voting tracker Ryan Thibodeaux, every known ballot for the U.S. Hall has included Suzuki.
Career milestones
Suzuki's career began in Nippon Professional Baseball with the Orix BlueWave, where he played from 1992 to 2000. He became a star in 1994, when he recorded Japan’s first-ever 200-hit season and won the first of three consecutive Pacific League MVP awards. He maintained a .353 career batting average in NPB before making his MLB debut with the Mariners in 2001.
Suzuki won both the American League Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player awards in his debut season while also leading the league in hits. He played 19 MLB seasons, accumulating 3,089 hits, 10 Gold Gloves and 10 All-Star appearances. Combined with his NPB totals, his 4,367 career hits are the most ever by a professional baseball player.
Asian American children more likely to develop allergies, study finds
A new Stanford University study has revealed that Asian American children, particularly those of Vietnamese and Filipino descent, are at a significantly higher risk of developing allergies compared to their white counterparts.
About the study: The study, published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, delved deeper into the specific vulnerabilities of different ethnicities by analyzing health records of nearly half a million children in Northern California.
About the findings: Filipino and Vietnamese children had the highest rates of food allergies, with prevalence rates exceeding 10% in some cases. Eczema was most common among Vietnamese (15.1%) and Chinese (12.6%) children, while asthma and allergic rhinitis affected Filipino children at disproportionately high rates. Multi-ethnic Asian children — those with one Asian and one non-Asian parent — also exhibited an elevated risk across all allergic conditions, suggesting a potential interplay between genetic and environmental factors.
The reasons behind these disparities remain unclear, but researchers speculate that factors such as immigration patterns, diet and acculturation may play a role. Additionally, genetic factors may contribute to the increased susceptibility to allergies among certain Asian American subgroups.
Why this matters: The researchers posit that by recognizing the unique allergy profiles of different Asian American groups, healthcare professionals can better diagnose, treat and prevent allergic diseases. Additionally, policymakers can allocate resources to address the specific needs of these communities.
For Asian American families, understanding and managing food allergies can be particularly challenging due to cultural factors and dietary preferences. Many Asian cuisines rely on ingredients that are common allergens, such as peanuts, sesame seeds and shellfish. This can make it difficult to navigate social events and family gatherings, as well as everyday meal planning.
So … why do Greenlanders look like Asians?
Have you ever wondered why the Inuit people of Greenland bear a striking resemblance to people of Asian descent? Research reveals that these similarities trace back to their ancient ancestry and their remarkable history of migration and adaptation.
Who are the Inuit people?
The Inuit people, composed of distinct groups like the Kalaallit Inughuit and Tunumiit, comprise the majority of the population in Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark. They are traditionally subsistence hunters, relying on marine mammals like whales, walruses and seals for sustenance.
They generally exhibit physical features that are commonly associated with East Asian populations. These include dark hair, dark eyes and a specific facial structure characterized by wider faces, high cheekbones and almond-shaped eyes. This observation leads to the question of why the Inuit, despite living in Greenland, exhibit these Asian traits.
Migration and ancestry
The ancestors of the Inuit are believed to have diverged from the Han Chinese over 20,000 years ago. Originating from Siberia (northern Asia) and other parts of Asia, they crossed the Bering Strait approximately 5,000 years ago, during an era when a land bridge connected Asia and North America. These migrants gradually moved eastward across present-day Canada and eventually reached Greenland around the 13th century.
Genetic factors
Genetic studies indicate that despite their divergence from their Han Chinese ancestors, the Inuit have retained certain genetic markers that link them to East Asians, such as specific HLA haplotypes. Other findings also point to the Inuit sharing a closer genetic relationship with Asians than with Indigenous groups further south in North America. This connection is further supported by the presence of type B blood in a significant percentage of Inuit, a characteristic absent in other Indigenous peoples of the Americas.
While the group has been shaped by a prolonged period of isolation to the Arctic environment, they have fewer genetic variants overall compared to other human populations, but the variants they do carry occur at higher frequencies.
Adaptation and evolution
Experts believe that environmental factors may have also influenced the Inuit's physical characteristics. Living in the Arctic for thousands of years has led to adaptations that helped them survive in the extreme cold, including a stockier build to conserve heat, smaller extremities to minimize heat loss.
Their wider, rounder faces and almond-shaped eyes are believed to help reduce the risk of snow blindness caused by the intense sunlight reflecting off the snow and ice. Traditional Inuit practices, such as using eye coverings, may have reinforced these adaptations over centuries.
The Inuit's resemblance to Asian populations is a compelling reminder of humanity's interconnected migration history. Today, they continue to thrive in their Arctic homeland, preserving their cultural traditions while adapting to the modern world.