Watch East of Main Street: Asians Aloud

East of Main Street: Asians Aloud is a documentary film released in 2010 that explores the experiences and perspectives of Asian Americans living in the United States. The film features a diverse cast of individuals from different backgrounds, including Yan Kit, Mariana Leung, Mollie Thao, and Kelly Tsai, who share their personal stories, challenges, and triumphs.

The film opens with a brief history of Asian Americans in the United States, dating back to the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which prohibited the immigration of Chinese laborers. This sets the stage for the broader narrative of the film, which is to explore how Asian Americans have navigated and continue to navigate existing social and cultural barriers.

As the film progresses, we see each featured individual share their unique experiences with discrimination and racism, as well as their struggles to reconcile their Asian heritage with their American identity. We see how each individual has found their own path to success, whether it be through the arts, business, or academia. We also learn about the different challenges they have faced and how they have overcome them.

One of the film's featured individuals is Yan Kit, a playwright and theater director who started her own theater company to help give Asian American performers a platform to showcase their talents. She shares her journey of how she left her job as a corporate lawyer to pursue her passion for theater and the challenges she faced starting her own company.

Another featured individual is Mariana Leung, a fashion designer and blogger who discusses her struggle to find her place in the fashion industry as an Asian American. She talks about how she uses her platform to advocate for greater diversity and representation in the industry.

Mollie Thao, another featured individual, is a spoken word artist and activist who shares her experiences growing up as a Hmong American and the importance of sharing her story to help shed light on Hmong culture and history.

Finally, Kelly Tsai is a poet and performer who speaks about her experiences with racism and discrimination as an Asian American woman. She also speaks about her passion for storytelling and how she uses her art to tackle issues of race, gender, and equality.

Overall, East of Main Street: Asians Aloud is a powerful and poignant documentary that sheds light on the experiences and struggles of Asian Americans in the United States. Through the personal stories of its featured individuals, the film highlights the continuing need for greater representation and diversity in all areas of American society. It is a must-watch for anyone interested in issues of race and social justice in the United States.