History

Black and white photo of Jessica Hagedorn from 2020s, with text that reads, "Jessica Hagedorn Five Facts by Jade Boldenow," on a brown background.

5 FACTS ABOUT JESSICA HAGEDORN

By Jade Boldenow

March 31, 2023


In celebration of the prolific Filipina American multidisciplinary artist and the upcoming 30th anniversary of her debut anthology Charlie Chan is Dead: An Anthology of Contemporary Asian American Fiction, here are five facts to get to know more about Jessica Hagedorn.


PHOTO BY JESSICA FALLON GORDON.

Photo of the book Where I'm Coming From on a dark table. The book cover is in tones of black, white, yellow, and red.

WHERE I'M COMING FROM, THEN AND NOW

By Christine Pasalo Norland 

January 25, 2023


Bring out the bouquets! This new collection by cartoonist Barbara Brandon-Croft proves that her pioneering comic strip is as fitting and funny today as it was when it appeared in mainstream syndication from 1991–2005.

DVD cover of the 2002 film Whale Rider, featuring a still of Paikea played by actress Keisha Castle-Hughes when she was a tween and a whale swimming through the ocean.

WHALE RIDER: 20TH ANNIVERSARY 

By Christine Pasalo Norland 

May 18, 2022 


Our free May 2022 Word Search activity centers this moving intergenerational story of family, community, and acceptance. Released in 2002, the film is adapted from the novel Whale Rider by Māori author Witi Ihimaera. 

Color profile image of prima ballerina Maria Tallchief looking up and out of the right corner of the thumbnail. Her dark hair is styled in a chignon. She is wearing a bejeweled crown.

TALLCHIEF: PRIMA BALLERINA

By Christine Pasalo Norland 

January 24, 2022 


Learn more about New York City prima ballerina Maria Tallchief and watch a video of her performing in 1954 as the Swan Queen in Swan Lake.


1954 NEWSWEEK COVER IMAGE FROM LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.

Black and white photo of Brazilian composer and musician Antonio Carlos Jobim in his 50s or 60s. He is wearing a light collared shirt and is looking off to the right of the photo.

THE BOSSA NOVA OF JOBIM

By Christine Pasalo Norland 

January 20, 2022 


A brief profile of the late Brazilian composer Antônio Carlos Jobim and a Spotify playlist featuring 17 of his songs, including "The Girl from Ipanema" and "Wave."


IMAGE FROM IMDB.

Banner on a concrete light post on the campus of San Diego State University. Text on the banner says "You are learning on Kumeyaay land." The text is on photo of a dirt trail with a view of brush, trees, and distant hills.

WE ARE ON NATIVE LANDS

By Christine Pasalo Norland 

November 12, 2021 


Native American & Indigenous students, faculty, and staff at San Diego State University host a series of events throughout November to celebrate Native American Heritage Month 2021, including a conversation with Tongva writer, illustrator, and comics artist Weshoyot Alvitre.

IMAGE FROM SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY TWITTER FEED.

Production still of brown-skinned character Zelda interviewing a colorful, multi-armed ghost named Chete at a table in a Korean BBQ restaurant. Chepe is in the center, flanked by Zelda to the left and a brown-skinned character on its right. On the table are bowls of kimchi and steamed white rice, and a Fisher Price-like voice recorder and microphone.

CITY OF GHOSTS

By Christine Pasalo Norland 

October 20, 2021 


Why more people should watch and fan the popular Netflix animated series by creator Elizabeth Ito.

IMAGE COURTESY OF NETFLIX.

Cast onstage behind microphones and sheet music stands. A transparent photo of Larry Itliong at a United Farm Workers meeting is superimposed on top of the cast photo so that his image lightly appears above the musical cast.

LARRY: A NEW MUSICAL

By Christine Pasalo Norland 

October 12, 2021 


The creative team behind the musical about Filipino American activist Larry Itliong is raising funds towards the production's premiere at the historic Brava Theater in San Francisco.

Round color photos of Black cartoonists Barbara Brandon-Croft, Bianca Xunise, and Steenz are layered over the bottom of a black and white photo of Black woman cartoonist Jackie Ormes, all appearing on a purple background. Text in light purple says, "Celebrating Jackie Ormes. Live stream, Thursday, October 28, 2021, 7:00 p.m. EST."

WATCH THE REPLAY!

By Christine Pasalo Norland 

October 9, 2021 


Hello Barkada and Women in Comics Collective International (WinC) present "Celebrating Jackie Ormes," a free virtual panel that took place on Thursday, October 28, and features cartoonists Barbara Brandon-Croft, Bianca Xunise, and Steenz. Replay link in the article!

Dots & Boxes game sheet next to a potted succulent.

CENTERING THE LATINX DIASPORA

By Christine Pasalo Norland 

September 15, 2021 


September 15 marks the start of Latinx Heritage month! Please join us in learning about artists and creative writers from the Latinx, Xicanx, and Hispanic diaspora and how they continue to impact arts and culture as a whole.

Cartoonist and illustrator Jay Paul Jackson, wearing a dark double-breasted suit with pinstripes. Circa 1940s. Taken in black and white.

5 FACTS ABOUT JAY PAUL JACKSON

By Christine Pasalo Norland 

September 10, 2021 


Learn about the late cartoonist, illustrator, and graphic artist who was born 116 years ago today.

PHOTO FROM FLYINGCARSANDFOODPILLS.COM.