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16 Books Asian American Authors And Literary Leaders Are Recommending Right Now
Your reading list should be like your meals: Varied, colorful, and satisfying. And more often than not, putting together a well-balanced TBR list requires actively seeking out diverse voices that excite, inspire, and educate you in new ways. To help you in your search, prominent Asian American authors and literary leaders sent in their suggestions on the best books to read right now.
Top 10 best Vietnamese Restaurants According to Yelp!
Check out the best places to grab lunch or dinner!
Inside OKC’s Asian District
The Growth of a Cultural Capital
In one of the great stories of Vietnamese mythology, a carp is the only fish that successfully leaps over a series of gates, and as a reward, is transformed into a dragon. Unlike destructive serpents in Western mythology – think St. George, Beowulf, The Hobbit – Eastern culture views the dragon as an auspicious symbol of prosperity and power, and because of its association with rain, also of life and abundance. The carp becomes a dragon because it was persistent because it succeeded in its efforts.
Oklahoma City Is Becoming a Hotspot for Vietnamese Food
Oklahoma City’s culinary reputation was cemented in 2007, when Fortune magazine declared it the nation’s fast-food capital, with the highest number of “heavy users” of the burger and chicken joints year after year.
OKC Asian District: Oklahoma City Guide By Passport To Eden
If you’re spending a long weekend in Oklahoma City, try to add the Asian District to your itinerary (the food alone is worth a nighttime stop).
How Vietnamese Refugees Spent 40 Years Rejuvenating An Oklahoma City Neighborhood
He said he helped resettle nearly 7,000 Vietnamese families in Oklahoma City -- a refugee community that helped transform the area now known as the Asian District, centered around Classen and NW 23rd.
Photo by: Jacob McCleland
This So-Called Flyover City Is Having a Serious Cultural and Culinary Renaissance
Not part of the Midwest, often excluded from the Southwest region, and too far West to be part of the Southern belt, Oklahoma as a whole has been easy to overlook for too long. It's the middle, defined. To the unknowing, it conjures dusty tumbleweeds, Pioneer Woman devotees, and Rodgers & Hammerstein pastiche. In reality, it's a place where a robust, thriving population of Vietnamese immigrants has brought a welcomely delicious, affordable treasure trove of Southeast Asia to this slice of middle America.
Fun Facts
Did you know that the preferred means of transportation in Vietnam is by Motorbike?⠀As many as 45 million can be found in the country!
The gorgeous city of Kyoto in Japan is home to 1,600 temples and is full of historical buildings and sites. Kyoto’s population totals nearly 1.5 million people and is considered the cultural capital of Japan.
Where did chopsticks originate from?
While used as a primary utensil throughout Asia, they date back to China over 5,000 years ago! It is believed they began (in their earliest form) as sticks or twigs used to remove food that was cooking in pots. Chopsticks spread to Korea, Japan, and Vietnam by 500 AD.
Chinese calligraphy is an important staple of Chinese culture. This calligraphy's unique history dates back over 1,000 years. This beautiful art form takes place by turning Chinese characters into images with a brush. This involves a combination of emotional expression and mental preciseness.⠀
Red Envelopes are a symbol of good luck in Chinese culture! They are to bring prosperity and happiness to their recipient! These envelopes are usually filled with money and there are rules to be followed when giving and receiving envelopes.⠀
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The envelope should be given and received with both hands, and not be opened in front of the person giving the envelope.
Other Cultural Organizations To Connect To
NAAAP OKC
The National Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAAP) is a non-profit professional organization that promotes the career advancement and leadership development of Asian American professionals in all fields through networking, respecting Asian multiculturalism, and supporting diversity and community service.
Asia Society of Oklahoma
Asia Society of Oklahoma was organized in the spring of 1985 immediately following a successful Asian Pacific Heritage Week by the Asian Pacific Islanders of Tinker Air Force Base. ASO welcomes people of various backgrounds and heritages in support of the ASO mission:
To further knowledge of Asian heritage and culture.
Vietnamese American Community of Oklahoma City
Vietnamese Americans Community of Oklahoma City is a nonprofit organization that is located in Oklahoma City. Our goal is to unite the people into one voice, to preserve our traditions for future generations, and to promote friendship through understanding.