Growing up, I didn’t see many Asian-Americans in media. I was restricted to watching PBS shows or whatever my parents wanted to watch, so I only really knew of the typical kung fu kings, Jackie Chan and Jet Li. Nowadays, shows like Fresh Off The Boat and Dr. Ken feature more Asian-Americans, give me hope in showing more diversity in entertainment, beyond a sidekick or stereotype.
During The Comedy Comedy Festival this past weekend, I was introduced to the talented comics in the Asian-American community. The schedule was filled with stand-up, improv (long and short form), script readings, and workshops. More importantly, it provided a place for Asian-Americans to perform in Los Angeles.
Saturday’s secret special guest was the exuberant Margaret Cho. Since it was Jenny Yang’s (producer of the festival and co-founder of Disoriented Comedy) dream to have Margaret Cho headline a show, it was inspiring to see that dream come true.
There’s a quote that goes, “Every time you are able to find humor in some difficult situation, you win.” I’m still figuring out what’s so funny with my own challenges, but I am grateful for the shared laughter and encouragement from those grinding through to find their own success.