The Way Forward

Rising Up was not the only film with East Asian American stereotypes that CAAAV protested against in 1993[1].  In February, Falling Down premiered in which Michael Douglas plays a recently unemployed Defense contractor that reasserts his masculinity by traveling across America fighting gangs of Black, Latino, and Asian American teens.  Additionally, CAAAV was waging a public awareness campaign on the rising star Mark Wahlberg's hate crime record[2]. In 1986, he harassed a group of African and Asian American teenagers. In 1988, he attacked two Vietnamese Americans, including Johnny Trinh, an army veteran. Wahlberg was convicted for the latter and only served 45 days in jail. By 1993, Mark Wahlberg was establishing his career in Hollywood as a serious actor and sex symbol. CAAAV public actions led to him issuing a public apology soon after[3].

The protest against Rising Up occurred in the same context of America's working-class economic anxiety and a desire for Hollywood whitewashing of hate crimes against Asian Americans.  While the movie was successful at the global box office, grossing 107 million against a 40 million budget[4].  The protest continued a conversation around Asian American representation in the film industry till today. 

As Sociologist Nancy Yeun Wang wrote, "Despite having a long historical presence in the United States, many communities of color continue to be perceived as recent arrivals and foreigners. Asian Americans and Latinos are the fastest-growing racial/ethnic groups in the United States because of continued immigration streams and higher birth rates......The exclusion of actors of color from American roles is rooted in racism. Whether relegating Latino and Asian American actors to foreigner roles or denying them American roles based on their accents, Hollywood clearly makes it difficult for actors of color to play American characters."[5] The more Asian Americans are associated with their ancestral country of origin and not the United States. The less opportunity all Americans have to embrace peoples beyond their skin color.

[1] Editorial. “Rising Sun! Rising Hate!”  CAAAV The Voice. Page 4. Fall 1993

[2] Editorial. “CAAAV Dumps Marky Mark: Urges Calvin Klein To Follow Suit!”  CAAAV The Voice. Page 4. Spring 1993

[3] Ibid. Page 4

[4] “Rising Sun”. Box Office Mojo. Accessed May 4, 2021. http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=risingsun.htm

[5] Yuen Wang Nancy. Reel Inequality: Hollywood Actors and Racism. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press. 2016. Page 83, Page 84