Whatcom READS presents Slanted Eyes: The Asian-American Experience at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 10 in the Lecture Room at the Bellingham Public Library.
Join us for a powerful, interactive presentation by counselor and Emmy award winning former broadcast journalist Sam Louie exploring cultural issues that confront Asian Americans today. This free presentation is open to the public and is co-sponsored by Humanities Washington.
The Asian-American experience
From the racist to the innocuous, issues of culture, ethnicity and discrimination are consistent and prevalent themes for Asian Americans. Histories, traditions and cultures vary greatly between different Asian groups, making the experience of confronting stereotypes and others’ preconceived ideas of “Asian” challenging. In this interactive presentation, counselor and former broadcast journalist Sam Louie uses spoken word poetry to guide audiences to better understand the depth of cultural issues that confront Asian Americans today.
A Tale for the Time Being
This presentation is hosted by Whatcom READS to highlight key themes in this year’s book selection A Tale for the Time Being, by bestselling author Ruth Ozeki. This brilliant, unforgettable novel follows the diary of Nao, a teenage girl who was born in Japan, raised in California, then transplanted back to Japan at age 16. She and her family deal with issues of family honor, shame and the sense of being “different” from the majority. It is an inventive, beguiling story of our shared humanity and the search for home. More about A Tale for the Time Being.
A Tale for the Time Being author Ruth Ozeki is scheduled to visit Whatcom County March 3-5, 2016 at events scheduled throughout the area. For details, visit www.whatcomreads.org.
About Sam Louie
Sam Louie, MA, is a licensed mental health counselor with a private practice in Seattle specializing in addictions and multi-cultural issues. An Emmy Award recipient and published poet, he is a former broadcast journalist who has researched, produced, and reported on a number of stories related to ethnicity, addictions and psychotherapy. More about Sam Louie: An interview with Humanities Washington SPARK online magazine.
About Whatcom READS!
Whatcom READS! is a county-wide program that encourages everyone to read and discuss the same book. It is organized by the public and academic libraries of Whatcom County and Village Books, with funding from the Friends of the Bellingham Public Library and the Whatcom County Library Foundation. For more information, visit www.whatcomreads.org