Guy Aoki facts for kids

Guy Aoki was born on May 12, 1962. He is an American civil rights activist. He leads the Media Action Network for Asian Americans (MANAA). He helped start MANAA in 1992. Guy Aoki also writes for the Rafu Shimpo newspaper. He often debates about important issues affecting Asian Americans.

Guy Aoki's Media Work

In the 1980s, Guy Aoki worked on the American Top 40 radio show. This show played popular songs.

In 2017, he appeared in a CNN documentary. The show was called The History of Comedy. His episode was titled "One Nation, Under Comedy."

Praising Positive Media Portrayals

Guy Aoki has praised some movies and TV shows. He likes when they show Asian Americans in a good way.

Movies with Asian American Stars

Aoki liked the movies Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle and its sequel. He praised them for having Asian actors in main roles. He said the characters were "relatable" and "regular guys." This was important because it showed Asian Americans as everyday people.

Bachelor Father TV Show

He also praised the 1950s TV show Bachelor Father. This show featured Asian actors and storylines. It included comedian Sammee Tong and Victor Sen Yung. Victor Sen Yung played "Uncle Charlie." Aoki thought it was great that the show featured a Chinese American character who acted like anyone else.

Campaigns Against Negative Media

Guy Aoki is concerned about how Asian people are shown in media. He has led several campaigns to speak out against negative portrayals.

Los Angeles Riots and Nightline

In 1992, there were riots in Los Angeles. Korean-American businesses were often targeted. Guy Aoki was upset with early news coverage by ABC News Nightline. The show interviewed Black leaders about conflicts with Korean Americans. Aoki felt the show did not include enough Korean American voices. He said it was not responsible journalism. After his criticism, later episodes did include the Korean-American point of view.

Protesting Rising Sun Film

Aoki and MANAA protested the 1993 film Rising Sun. They were worried that the Japanese villains in the movie would create bad stereotypes of Asian Americans. Aoki pointed out that negative media images had led to the Internment of Japanese Americans in the past.

Sarah Silverman Controversy

In 2001, Guy Aoki spoke out against a joke by comedian Sarah Silverman. She used an offensive ethnic slur during an interview on Late Night with Conan O'Brien.

Silverman had explained that a friend suggested writing a racial slur to avoid jury duty. She said she decided to write "I love [the slur]" instead. Aoki stated that there was "no excuse" for such a term to be on TV. He said it was very offensive to people of Chinese descent. NBC and Conan O'Brien apologized. Silverman, however, did not. She later said she thought Aoki was seeking publicity.

Silverman and Aoki later appeared together on Politically Incorrect. Aoki explained that such slurs should not be used casually. He said it makes their use seem acceptable. He compared the slur to other offensive words. Aoki agreed that satire can be good. But he felt Silverman's joke risked people thinking she was actually racist.

Banzai TV Show Controversy

In July 2003, MANAA protested the British TV show Banzai. The show was a spoof of Japanese game shows. It aired in the U.S. on the Fox Network. MANAA said the show used demeaning stereotypes of Asians. About 20 members of the group protested outside a Fox event. Aoki said, "This is like an Asian minstrel show." Fox responded that the show was satire and "tongue-in-cheek." Fox offered to add a warning at the start of the show. But Aoki said MANAA wanted the show not to be broadcast at all.