As I Am: Asians in America
I love radio, especially public radio. When I was in college, I’d listen to the local public radio stations (KUOW, KPLU, KEXP, and when KEXP was KCMU) religiously. These days, I’m fond of Radio Boston on WBUR. Unfortunately, I can’t simultaneously listen to shows like This American Life, Fresh Air, All Things Considered, Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me while I work. I do have a day “job” that allows me to listen to the radio, but I don’t listen at work because I can’t focus on my work—I become enthralled with the stories and interviews. Life is full of interesting people with interesting stories.
Recently, a team of people at the Institute for Asian American Studies at UMass-Boston teamed up with WUMB Public Radio to produce a pilot for a radio program about Asian Americans called As I Am. After seeing cancellations of American radio and TV shows focusing on Asian Americans (Pacific Time and AZN TV), I am delighted that a new Asian American radio program is being produced and hopefully will hit the airwaves on a public radio station near you. It will also appear on Public Radio Exchange. The pilot contains fascinating stories about diverse Asian Americans from around the United States.
Hosted by journalist/activist Helen Zia, the pilot program can be downloaded from the show’s website and you can download an MP3 from there. You can read more about the pilot at the Transracial Korean Adoptee Nexus.
Boston Progress Radio had a small part in the production of the show. I had the privilege of being asked to provide As I Am with music to play between stories. That’s right, even the music in the show is composed or performed by Asian Americans. See if you can figure out the names of the songs! If you’ve been listening to our online radio station, you should have no problem figuring them out.
Also, it might be good to add that the producers of the show just won the 2008 Outstanding Special Program Award from the American Women in Radio and Television Gracie Allen awards.
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