In December 2000, Philadelphia slam poetry duo Michelle Meyers and Catzie Vilayphonh made their television debut as Black Hair, Brown Eyes, Yellow Rage, semifinalists on “Russell Simmons’ Def Poetry Slam.”
More than seven years later, they’ve dropped the Black Hair and Brown Eyes, but Yellow Rage continues to challenge mainstream misconceptions of “Asianness.”
At a glance
Yellow Rage will perform in the Gerlinger Lounge Saturday night at 7 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 and APASU co-director Sothreaksa Keo encourages people to get there early, since there are only 150 seats. The event is “very free,” Keo said.
“So what, you tried dim sum and den some on the menu? So what, you’re a fan of Lucy Liu? So what you read ‘The Joy Luck Club,’ too? That makes you an expert on how I should look?” they said in “Listen Asshole,” just one slam poem they will perform in the Gerlinger Lounge Saturday night.
Yellow Rage discusses stereotypes, human trafficking and the “exotification” of Asian women, among other issues the University’s Asian and Pacific American Student Union want to bring to the University’s collective attention.
“They’re speaking about something very needed in the Asian community and I want to share that with my community at the U of O,” said APASU co-director Sothreaksa Keo. “I really like how they’re like, ‘Hey, that’s not the truth. That’s how the media wants you to see it, but that’s not the way (all Asian people) are.’”
APASU executive member Laura Fong, who is also the editor of the group’s annual Off-Yello magazine, added, “I think they’re making social commentary on how Asians are treated in the media. It’s a voice not often represented in the media. To see them so angry, especially as young women, is empowering, I think.”
Fong, who is half Asian, said she can relate to Meyers, who is also half Asian, and the constant scrutinization of her ethnicity.
“Usually I get the question of, ‘What are you? Oh, you’re Asian?’” Fong said.
Keo said that while some people may be turned off by Yellow Rage’s strong language, she admires their bluntness.
“If you want to make a political statement or defy stereotypes, you’ve got to be up front about it,” she said.
She added that the event, Yellow Rage’s performance followed by a question and answer panel, isn’t only pertinent to Asian students.
“It could be applied to all communities of color so we’re hoping to get a lot of people at the event,” Keo said. “I really want to bring a lot of communities together on campus for this dialogue. I really want to challenge people and their way of thinking.”
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