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Asian Pacific American Heritage Month 2011

Asian Pacific Heritage Month - Page Banner

 

May 2011

WETA Television celebrates Asian Pacific American Heritage Month with programs throughout the month that spotlight the culture and history of Asian Americans.

WETA is committed to presenting programs reflecting the diversity of our community.

See below for:

 

WETA's Asian Pacific American Heritage Month brochure lists this month's special programming.
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Programs airing on WETA Television

The programs below are listed in alphabetical order. All shows are broadcast on TV 26. Many of the shows are also simulcast on WETA HD.

 

1421: The Year China Discovered America? - 480x360

1421: The Year China Discovered America?

Sunday, May 15 at 3 pm

This film examines the sailing exploits of the legendary Zheng He, the gigantic Ming fleet of junks he commanded for more than 30 years, and the theory that He and his fleet rounded Africa, entered the Atlantic Ocean and reached America before Columbus.

See all broadcast times and channels »

Independent Lens: Anatomy of a Springroll - 280x210

Anatomy of a Springroll

Saturday, May 7 at 11:41 pm

This award-winning documentary follows one man's journey to reconcile his Vietnamese roots with his current American life. In 1973, Paul Kwan's father bribed a customs official to allow the youngest of his 24 children to flee the political chaos that was Saigon. Now, living in San Francisco 20 years later, Kwan looks to the language of food to best reconcile his past. From Independent Lens.

See all broadcast times and channels »

Independent Lens: Beetle Queen Conqures Tokyo_Horiz4x3

Beetle Queen Conquers Tokyo

Sunday, May 22 at 12:39 am

A film explores the history of Japan’s love affair with bugs, uncovering Japanese philosophies that shift perspectives on nature, beauty and life. From Independent Lens.

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Independent Lens: Bhutto_Horiz4x3

Bhutto

Sunday, May 15 at 1:00 am

A film spotlights the first Muslim woman elected to lead an Islamic nation, former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, who was assassinated in 2007. From Independent Lens.

See all broadcast times and channels »

China From the Inside - 480x360

China From The Inside

Sunday, May 22 at 2 pm

China is at a critical point in its history — it is richer and stronger than ever, but the clash between economic policies and the Communist political agenda complicates the lives of many of its citizens. China from the Inside includes perspectives ranging from those of the powerful to the powerless, the scholars and the uneducated, and the supporters and detractors of today's China. It does not shy away from China's many contradictions, with scenes from some of the most breathtaking places on the planet as well as the most polluted.

See all broadcast times and channels »

Globe Trekker - Season 9 - 300x225

Globetrekker

Sunday, May 8 at 5:30 pm (Central China)
Sunday, May 15 at 5 pm (Micronesia Sun)
Sunday, May 22 at 6 pm (Sri Lanka & Maldives)

Globe Trekker continues its epic journey around the planet, transporting viewers to unforgettable destinations and introducing them to the local people. The popular series hosts include Megan McCormick, Ian Wright, and Justine Shapiro.

See all broadcast times and channels »

Heart_Strings_Ukulele_480x360

Heart Strings: The Story of the Kamaka 'Ukulele

Sunday, May 22 at 12:11 am

For nearly 100 years, Kamaka and Sons, in their tiny shop in Honolulu, have crafted the instrument that has become the gold standard for 'ukuleles worldwide.

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Most Honorable Son - 480x360

Most Honorable Son

Sunday, May 15 at 11:33 pm

After the Pearl Harbor attack, Nebraska farmer Ben Kuroki volunteered for the U.S. Army Air Corps. He would become the first Japanese-American war hero, surviving 58 missions as an aerial gunner over Europe, North Africa and Japan.

See all broadcast times and channels »

Independent Lens: Na KamaLlei:The Men of Hula_Horiz4x3

Na Kamalei: The Men of Hula

Sunday, May 1 at 11:33 pm

A film explores male roles in the Hawaiian hula tradition, past and present. From Independent Lens.

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Patsy Mink: Ahead Of The Majority_480x360

Patsy Mink: Ahead of the Majority

Monday, May 23 at 12:03 am

This film spotlights the political journey of Patsy Mink, who in 1965 became the first Asian-American woman and woman of color in the United States Congress. Seven years later, she ran for the U.S. presidency and co-authored Title IX, the landmark legislation that opened up higher education and athletics to America's women.

See all broadcast times and channels »

Secrets of the Dead: China’s Terracotta Warriors_Horiz4x3

Secrets of the Dead: China’s Terracotta Warriors

Wednesday, May 4 at 10:00 pm

Led by archaeologist Agnes Hsu, Secrets of the Dead shows that the Chinese may have Henry Ford beat by more than 2,000 years with their own assembly line used to produce the 8,000-strong Ghost Army.

See all broadcast times and channels »

The Story Of India - Taj Mahal_480x360

The Story of India

Sunday, May 1 at 2:30 pm (Parts 1, 2 and 3)
Sunday, May 8 at 2:30 pm (Parts 4, 5 and 6)

Michael Wood’s fascinating journey through the history of the Indian subcontinent, the first history of India on western television, chronicles the incredible richness and diversity of its peoples, cultures and landscapes; outlines the originality and continuing relevance of its ideas; and relates some of the most momentous and moving events in world history.

See all broadcast times and channels »

Wings Of Defeat_480x360

Wings of Defeat

Sunday, May 8 at 11:30 pm

What were the Japanese Kamikazes thinking just before crashing into their targets? Filmmaker Risa Morimoto interviews surviving Kamikaze pilots, retracing their journeys from teenagers to doomed pilots. From Independent Lens.

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Jack Soo_Horiz4x3

You Don’t Know Jack Soo

Saturday, May 21 at 11:45 pm

This program profiles American entertainer, Jack Soo, an Oakland native who became the first Asian American to be cast in the lead role in a regular television series “Valentine’s Day” (1963) and later starred in the popular comedy show “Barney Miller” (1975-1978).

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WETA education resources

  • Colorín Colorado
    Check here for books, activities, and a variety of resources and ideas for ELL educators for celebrating family traditions and the rich diversity of Asian and Pacific Americans.

Community resources

Advocacy and Associations

Arts and Culture

News Outlets and Media

Educational Resources and Scholarships