By tf-lawyer.com The Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) recently hosted a panel discussion to celebrate the launch of their latest exhibition, “Magazine Fever: Gen X Asian American Periodicals.” This engaging event brought together several founders of Asian American magazines from the 1980s and 1990s, allowing them to share their founding stories and discuss how these publications, which centered on pop culture, social issues, and lifestyle, helped integrate Asian perspectives into the mainstream dialogue.
While Asian communities have been part of the American landscape for centuries, it wasn’t until recent decades that the U.S. Census began to categorize “Asian” as a distinct demographic. The shift began in 1960 when respondents were first given the opportunity to self-identify their race, resulting in 980,000 individuals identifying as Asian.
In 1977, a directive from the Office of Management and Budget mandated that government agencies include demographic data on categories like “Asian or Pacific Islander.” This acknowledgment of Asians as a separate racial group in wider society aided in fostering a sense of unity within the community and underscored the need for self-advocacy. The 1980s and 1990s saw the rise of magazine publishing as a crucial medium, prompting Asian Americans to create publications that clearly asserted their voices and experiences within broader culture.
One notable publication, “Hyphen,” has been dedicated to social issues since its founding and operates on a voluntary basis, relying on the commitment of its editors and writers to keep it running on a shoestring budget. Founder Melissa Hung reflected on the impact of “Hyphen,” stating that it has served as an incubator for many Asian media professionals and often delivers coverage on relevant Asian community stories faster than mainstream media. “Our stories resonate beyond just the Asian community, with many pieces being featured later by major outlets like The New York Times,” she observed. Still, Hung acknowledged that while progress is being made regarding Asian representation in mainstream media, there’s a considerable journey ahead.
Lakán Angelo Ragaza, former editor of the Asian fashion magazine A.Magazine, emphasized that the 1990s marked a pivotal moment when Asian designers began gaining attention in the mainstream fashion world, which led to the inception of A.Magazine. He believes that today, Asian designers hold an important position in the industry.
Dr. Nancy Yao Maasbach, MOCA’s Executive Director, praised the commitment and tireless efforts of Asian media professionals, noting that these publications often operate independently of profit motives. Their proactive approach has played a significant role in shaping the self-identity of Asian Americans today.
Looking ahead, MOCA plans to showcase the founding stories of Asian magazines, along with original publication issues, from now until March 2025. The exhibition can be found at 215 Centre St. in Manhattan. MOCA welcomes guided group tours on Mondays and Tuesdays, while from Wednesday to Sunday, the museum is open to visitors from 11 AM to 6 PM, with Sunday hours extending to 11 AM to 4 PM.
