Guy Aoki facts for kids

Guy Aoki (born May 12, 1962) is an American civil rights activist. He is the leader of the Media Action Network for Asian Americans (MANAA), which he co-founded in 1992. He is also a contributing columnist for the Rafu Shimpo, and debates publicly on Asian American issues.

Media appearances

During the 1980s, Aoki was part of the production staff for the American Top 40 radio program.

In 2017 Aoki appeared in "One Nation, Under Comedy", the fourth episode of CNN's documentary program The History of Comedy.

Views on positive media developments

Aoki has praised Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle and its sequel for using Asian actors in leading roles as "relatable..regular guys.”

Aoki has also praised the 1950s television comedy Bachelor Father for prominently featuring Asian actors and storylines, including "feisty" comedian Sammee Tong and Victor Sen Yung, the scheming "Uncle Charlie," "a slick, Americanized character. I thought it was great that way back in the ’50s, audiences saw a Chinese American who acted just like anyone else."

Campaigns against media

Aoki is concerned with negative portrayals of Asians in the media and has launched several organized campaigns to highlight his views.

Nightline

The opinions shared about Korean-Americans, and the lack of Korean American interview subjects drew criticism from Aoki, who stated that the episode was not responsible journalism. Later episodes included the Korean-American perspective.

Rising Sun

Aoki and MANAA protested the 1993 film Rising Sun before, during, and after release. Aoki was concerned that the villainous behavior on the part of the Japanese antagonists in the film would promote negative stereotypes of Asian Americans, observing that Internment of Japanese Americans began with media demonization.