In rural Pakistan, a mother and daughter build a school where deaf youth find voice and future.
In Search of Bengali Harlem
As a teen, Alaudin Ullah was swept up by the energy of hip-hop and rebelled against his Bangladeshi roots. Now a playwright contending with post-9/11 Hollywood’s Islamophobia, he sets out to tell his parents’ stories. IN SEARCH OF BENGALI HARLEM tracks his quest from mid-20th-century Harlem to Bangladesh, unveiling intertwined histories of South Asian Muslims, African Americans, and Puerto Ricans.
Surf Nation
In Hainan, China’s southernmost province, hundreds of athletes as young as 9-years-old train as part of the Chinese National Surf team. The young recruits, who have left their families, feel the pressure of failure. Over the course of two years, the film follows two of the country's top surfers, Alex, 17, and Lolo, 22, as they train, compete, and discover what they want their lives to be.
Chinatown Auxiliary
For decades, Chinese residents have patrolled Manhattan's Chinatown as NYPD volunteer police to protect the few blocks they call home while finding belonging in a foreign, unwelcoming country. From the savage tribulation in the '70s to “Asian Hate” during the pandemic, these stories remind us of the hope the U.S. represented to the tired, the poor, and the huddled masses yearning to belong.
Asian American, Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander Stories
Through hearing stories and watching films for and by Asian Americans, we're reminded of the breadth of the Asian diaspora; with cultures and traditions spanning the globe, Asian identity can mean many different things. This AANHPI Heritage Month, watch films that honor the struggles faced and celebrate the accomplishments of this vibrant community.
Throughout May, WORLD shares stories of AANHPI defiance, solidarity and humanity, from complex histories between Asian Americans and their Black neighbors in the Jim Crow-era South to short stories of family, identity and resilience. Watch new films and exclusive extras on WORLD, YouTube and the PBS app.
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok and join the conversation using the hashtags #AANHPI and #AANHPIHeritageMonth. Subscribe to our YouTube channel for exclusive filmmaker interviews and extras.
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