How do Chinese grocers in the Jim Crow South complicate America’s binary paradigm of race?
Ganden: A Joyful Land
Likened by Buddhists to the Vatican City, Ganden is considered the most influential monastery of Tibetan Buddhism. Monks lived in the monastery for more than 500 years before a brutal invasion drove them to India. GANDEN: A JOYFUL LAND is a look at the lives and remembrances of the remaining generation of monks to have studied at the monastery in Tibet where the Dalai Lama’s lineage began.
The Accused: Damned or Devoted?
Powerful cleric Khadim Rizvi has one mission: to preserve blasphemy laws in Pakistan - they prescribe a death sentence for disrespecting the Prophet Muhammad. He is running for the country's highest office to carry out his goal, silencing anyone who tries to change the law with death. The film follows the rise of Rizvi’s push for power as people who have been accused, are just pawns in his game.
Blurring the Color Line
BLURRING THE COLOR LINE follows director Crystal Kwok as she unpacks the history behind her grandmother’s family, who were neighborhood grocery store owners in the Black community of Augusta, Georgia during the Jim Crow era. By centering women’s experiences, Kwok poses critical questions around the intersections of anti-Black racism, white power, and Chinese patriarchy in the American South.
While Asian Americans have faced a double pandemic of COVID-19 and anti-Asian racism, the rise of solidarity efforts within Asian American and other BIPOC communities gives us moments of joy, resilience, and hope as we rebuild our lives. The series of seven documentary shorts move beyond the pandemic and reflect the complexities of Asian American experiences in this critical moment.
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 AAPI 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. From America ReFramed, Doc World, Pacific Heartbeat and more, watch new films and exclusive extras on WORLD, the PBS app and YouTube.
Discuss and engage on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram using the hashtags #AANHPI, #AAPIHeritageMonth and #AAPIFilms and tagging us @worldchannel. Subscribe to our newsletter and YouTube for more features including events and interviews.
