A list of blog posts follows for your review.
I look forward to hearing from you! Thank you for your support!
Friday, December 7, 2012
The Year in Review
In 2012, Blasians Defined has published 17 posts and launched a shop. I appreciate your taking the time to share in this journey of discovery about the blasian experience. I would also like to take this opportunity to encourage you to participate in this journey. If there are stories that can supplement and build on the posts that have already been published, please make a comment, so that I can pursue those leads. If there are stories that you would like to see developed on the blog, please comment. This blog is meant to support your ideas and engage your thoughts. Your ideas are valued!
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Blasian to Star in Nick At Nite Pilot
Nick At Nite has announced a new show called Instant Mom. The show will star
Tia Mowry and is about a 25-year-old party girl who
marries an older man with kids and becomes an “instant mom”. Sydney Park has been cast as the eldest child and only daughter, Gabrielle (Gabby).
 |
| Syd & mom, Kelly |
Instant Mom will premiere on Sunday, September 29, 2013. Check it out at Nick Mom TV.
UPDATED
Monday, September 2, 2013
Saturday, October 6, 2012
Blasian Presidential Campaign Merchandise
Whether you support Barack Obama or Mitt Romney, you can get your presidential gear at the Blasians Defined shop. Election 2012 is less than a month away. Most orders ship in 24 hours. Support your presidential candidate and Blasians Defined! Shop the "Blasians for Obama" or "Blasians for Romney" collections at the Blasians Defined Cafe Press Shop.
Monday, September 3, 2012
Two New Blasian Reality Show Stars Debut Today!
A new reality TV show featuring two blasians premieres Monday, September 3 at 11 PM ET/PT on Oxygen. The ethnically diverse cast of Oxygen's Girlfriend Confidential: LA includes Eva Marcille (Puerto Rican / African American), Nikki Chu (Jamaican / Chinese / Canadian), Denyce Lawton (Korean / African American), and Kelly Marie Dunn (Korean adoptee). The new series follows these beautiful and successful friends, as they help one another navigate the tumultuous waters of love and celebrity life against the backdrop of the Hollywood entertainment industry.
Actress Denyce Lawton is best known for starring in the series, Tyler Perry’s House of Payne. She has been the face of many advertising campaigns and has a number of television and film credits. Born in Seoul, South Korea, Lawton is the middle child of three children, with an older half sister, who is full Korean, and a younger brother, who is also Korean-African American. Her parents met when her father was stationed in Seoul with the US Army. As a child, she lived a military life, traveling around the world. She has lived in Germany, Kansas, Japan, North Carolina, New Jersey, and Washington, DC.
Denyce with her mother and father.
 |
| Eva, Nikki, Denyce, & Kelly |
Nikki Chu is a high-profile design diva. She is a dynamic interior and product designer and practices her love for art with her own company, Nikki Chu Design. She is considered the virtual “it girl” of style. The name "Nikki Chu" is synonymous with all that is fabulous. Nikki Chu is a brand in which luxury has no limits and her style is in a class of its own. Her flare for interior design has been showcased on E! Entertainment, HGTV, VH1, and the Fine Living Channel. Born and raised in Toronto, Canada, Nikki is of Jamaican Chinese heritage.
Nikki with her mother and father.
 |
| Denyce's "Made in Korea" tattoo |
Actress Denyce Lawton is best known for starring in the series, Tyler Perry’s House of Payne. She has been the face of many advertising campaigns and has a number of television and film credits. Born in Seoul, South Korea, Lawton is the middle child of three children, with an older half sister, who is full Korean, and a younger brother, who is also Korean-African American. Her parents met when her father was stationed in Seoul with the US Army. As a child, she lived a military life, traveling around the world. She has lived in Germany, Kansas, Japan, North Carolina, New Jersey, and Washington, DC.
Denyce with her mother and father.
Selected Sources:
* Oxygen, "Girlfriend Confidential: LA".
* HalfKorean.com: An online community for mixed-race Koreans, "Interview - Denyce Lawton".
Thursday, August 30, 2012
The Newest Blasian Reality TV Star...
Dina Ruiz Eastwood!
Dina Eastwood began starring in a reality television series on the E! network about her life called Mrs. Eastwood & Company in May of 2012. The show focuses on the lives of Dina, wife of actor/director Clint Eastwood, and their daughters, Francesca and Morgan. Mrs. Eastwood manages the six-person a cappella group Overtone, who also live with the Eastwoods in their Carmel-by-the-Sea, California mansion. The season finale aired on July 23rd.
Television news anchor Dina Ruiz* was assigned an interview with Clint Eastwood in 1993. Three years later, the couple married in a surprise private ceremony planned by the groom. Following the birth of the couple's daughter, Morgan, in 1996, Dina left her anchor spot at KSBW-TV.
While in South Africa with her husband for the filming of Invictus, Dina discovered Overtone. The group sang the soundtrack for the 2009 film. Dina was so impressed by their talent and potential that she relocated the entire sextet to California and has been managing them ever since.
In the Spring 2007 issue of Carmel Magazine, Dina spoke about growing up multiracial. –
" I was the darkest kid at my elementary school. I used to get called 'nigger' in grade school. I had a real problem with my looks until I was about 20. Now everyone is mixed. It's no big deal. My dad is black and Japanese. And my mom's Irish, German and English."
* Although Dina's family name is Hispanic, she is not Hispanic at all. Dina's father was adopted by a Portuguese American / Puerto Rican family named Ruiz.
Selected Sources:
* E! Online, "Mrs. Eastwood & Company".
* Dina Eastwood, Twitter.
* Carmel Magazine, "The Simple Things: Dina Eastwood Prefers Substance Over Style", Spring 2007.
Dina Eastwood began starring in a reality television series on the E! network about her life called Mrs. Eastwood & Company in May of 2012. The show focuses on the lives of Dina, wife of actor/director Clint Eastwood, and their daughters, Francesca and Morgan. Mrs. Eastwood manages the six-person a cappella group Overtone, who also live with the Eastwoods in their Carmel-by-the-Sea, California mansion. The season finale aired on July 23rd.
Television news anchor Dina Ruiz* was assigned an interview with Clint Eastwood in 1993. Three years later, the couple married in a surprise private ceremony planned by the groom. Following the birth of the couple's daughter, Morgan, in 1996, Dina left her anchor spot at KSBW-TV.
While in South Africa with her husband for the filming of Invictus, Dina discovered Overtone. The group sang the soundtrack for the 2009 film. Dina was so impressed by their talent and potential that she relocated the entire sextet to California and has been managing them ever since.
In the Spring 2007 issue of Carmel Magazine, Dina spoke about growing up multiracial. –
" I was the darkest kid at my elementary school. I used to get called 'nigger' in grade school. I had a real problem with my looks until I was about 20. Now everyone is mixed. It's no big deal. My dad is black and Japanese. And my mom's Irish, German and English."
  |
| LEFT: Dina's dad, Michael RIGHT: Dina's mom, Mary Lou |
* Although Dina's family name is Hispanic, she is not Hispanic at all. Dina's father was adopted by a Portuguese American / Puerto Rican family named Ruiz.
Selected Sources:
* E! Online, "Mrs. Eastwood & Company".
* Dina Eastwood, Twitter.
* Carmel Magazine, "The Simple Things: Dina Eastwood Prefers Substance Over Style", Spring 2007.
Saturday, August 11, 2012
Blasian American Olympians
As we commemorate the end of the Games of the XXX Olympiad, let us recognize blasians who have represented Team USA throughout the history of the Olympics.
Tai Babilonia
Figure Skating
With partner Randy Gardner, Tai Babilonia was the 1979 World Champion and the gold medalist at the US Figure Skating Championships in 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, and 1980. Randy and Tai competed in the 1976 and 1980 Olympics. They were medal favorites at the 1980 Winter Olympics but were forced to withdraw due to an injury to Gardner.
Tai was the 1st figure skater of African American descent to win US and World titles. Her mother was African American, and her father was part Filipino and part Native American (Hopi Indian).
Sheila Hudson
Track & Field
Sheila Hudson (Korean-African American) dominated the triple jump in the US for years. She started competing at age 10, took a 2-year hiatus from competition when her family moved to Korea, and returned to track and field in high school. She represented the United States at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. Sheila was the only American to reach the finals in the first Olympic triple jump competition for women and finished 10th.
Tora Harris
Track & Field
Tora Harris was a four-time National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Outdoor Track & Field All-American (1998, 1999, 2001, 2002) and an NCAA Indoor All-American in 2002. Tora was the number 1 ranked high jumper in the United States, according to Track & Field News, in both 2002 and 2006 and was among the top 10 every year from 2001 through 2009. He was a member of the United States team at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens.
His mother, Susan (Su-Chen), is Taiwanese, while his father, who passed away in 2000, was African American. His parents made him take Chinese lessons when he was young, and he attended first grade in Taiwan. Tora speaks fluent Mandarin Chinese. His language skills made him very popular at the 2001 World University Games in Beijing, China, where he won a bronze medal.
Selected Sources:
* Tai Babilonia, Official website.
* HalfKorean.com: An online community for mixed-race Koreans, "Prominent People - Sheila Hudson".
* USA Track & Field, Tora Harris.
Tai Babilonia
Figure Skating
 |
| Tai with her skating partner, Randy |
With partner Randy Gardner, Tai Babilonia was the 1979 World Champion and the gold medalist at the US Figure Skating Championships in 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, and 1980. Randy and Tai competed in the 1976 and 1980 Olympics. They were medal favorites at the 1980 Winter Olympics but were forced to withdraw due to an injury to Gardner.
Tai was the 1st figure skater of African American descent to win US and World titles. Her mother was African American, and her father was part Filipino and part Native American (Hopi Indian).
Sheila Hudson
Track & Field
Sheila Hudson (Korean-African American) dominated the triple jump in the US for years. She started competing at age 10, took a 2-year hiatus from competition when her family moved to Korea, and returned to track and field in high school. She represented the United States at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. Sheila was the only American to reach the finals in the first Olympic triple jump competition for women and finished 10th.
Tora Harris
Track & Field
Tora Harris was a four-time National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Outdoor Track & Field All-American (1998, 1999, 2001, 2002) and an NCAA Indoor All-American in 2002. Tora was the number 1 ranked high jumper in the United States, according to Track & Field News, in both 2002 and 2006 and was among the top 10 every year from 2001 through 2009. He was a member of the United States team at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens.
His mother, Susan (Su-Chen), is Taiwanese, while his father, who passed away in 2000, was African American. His parents made him take Chinese lessons when he was young, and he attended first grade in Taiwan. Tora speaks fluent Mandarin Chinese. His language skills made him very popular at the 2001 World University Games in Beijing, China, where he won a bronze medal.
Selected Sources:
* Tai Babilonia, Official website.
* HalfKorean.com: An online community for mixed-race Koreans, "Prominent People - Sheila Hudson".
* USA Track & Field, Tora Harris.
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Blasian Olympians Worldwide
Ding Hui
Volleyball
CHINA
In April 2009, the Chinese Volleyball Team announced the 18 members of the men's national volleyball team for the 2012 Summer Olympics. Among them was Ding Hui, the 1st black athlete on a Chinese national team. While Ding is the 1st mixed-race athlete to play on a national team, a number of foreign players play in China’s professional football and basketball leagues, and foreign coaches have worked with China’s national teams.
Nicknamed "Xiao Hei" or "Little Black", by his team mates, Ding Hui is the son of a South African father and a Chinese mother. A native of the east China city of Hangzhou, he speaks Mandarin and the Hangzhou dialect. He is a Chinese national and was raised by his single mother, Yu Jianxiu. Ding never met his father, who left China before he was born.
Ding Hui's selection has stirred up some racial prejudices among his countrymen. Commentators have noted that he has a "pleasant and perky nature" and is talented at "singing and dancing". On Chinese internet forums, he has been lauded for the "whiteness" of his teeth and the "athleticism of his genes".
China's black population is tiny. However, the black population is growing rapidly. One predominately African suburb in the southern city of Guangzhou is referred to as "Chocolate City". Since 2003, when China started pouring investments into Africa, there has been a significant movement of Africans in the opposite direction. Hopefully, as China's population becomes more diverse, future minority athletes will be recognized for their skills and performance, rather than their heritage.
Chletzie Lee
Figure Skating
Chletzie was named to the Australian team, competing as one of the youngest Australians on the 2010 Winter Olympic team at the age of 16. At the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, she qualified 18th in the short program, scoring 52.16 (her career personal best score), and finished in 20th place overall. She is working towards a spot in the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia.
Her father is Chinese and was born in Bangladesh, and her mother was born and raised in Louisiana and is African American.
Yvonne Kanazawa (金沢 イボンヌ)
Track & Field
JAPAN
Although Yvonne Kanazawa grew up in Sacramento and trained and coached at California State University, she competed for Japan. "I was born in Japan. My mom is Japanese. So, I have Japanese citizenship only. I'm not a dual-citizenship person. So, I had no choice but to compete for Japan, and it worked out pretty well," Kanazawa said.
Yvonne is an 8-time national champion in the 100-meter hurdles with 6 records to her name. In 1996, she became the first female sprinter in 32 years to make an Olympic team in Japan. A Japanese record holder, she again competed for Japan at the 2000 Olympics. She was a semi-finalist at the Summer Olympics in Sydney and retired from competition in 2004.
Selected Sources:
* Wall Street Journal: China, "China Welcomes Chinese-African Player to National Team", April 14, 2009.
* Cheltzie Lee, Official website.
* Yvonne Kanazawa, The Study of Racialism.
Volleyball
CHINA
In April 2009, the Chinese Volleyball Team announced the 18 members of the men's national volleyball team for the 2012 Summer Olympics. Among them was Ding Hui, the 1st black athlete on a Chinese national team. While Ding is the 1st mixed-race athlete to play on a national team, a number of foreign players play in China’s professional football and basketball leagues, and foreign coaches have worked with China’s national teams.
Nicknamed "Xiao Hei" or "Little Black", by his team mates, Ding Hui is the son of a South African father and a Chinese mother. A native of the east China city of Hangzhou, he speaks Mandarin and the Hangzhou dialect. He is a Chinese national and was raised by his single mother, Yu Jianxiu. Ding never met his father, who left China before he was born.
Ding Hui's selection has stirred up some racial prejudices among his countrymen. Commentators have noted that he has a "pleasant and perky nature" and is talented at "singing and dancing". On Chinese internet forums, he has been lauded for the "whiteness" of his teeth and the "athleticism of his genes".
China's black population is tiny. However, the black population is growing rapidly. One predominately African suburb in the southern city of Guangzhou is referred to as "Chocolate City". Since 2003, when China started pouring investments into Africa, there has been a significant movement of Africans in the opposite direction. Hopefully, as China's population becomes more diverse, future minority athletes will be recognized for their skills and performance, rather than their heritage.
Chletzie Lee
Figure Skating
AUSTRALIA
Chletzie was named to the Australian team, competing as one of the youngest Australians on the 2010 Winter Olympic team at the age of 16. At the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, she qualified 18th in the short program, scoring 52.16 (her career personal best score), and finished in 20th place overall. She is working towards a spot in the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia.
Her father is Chinese and was born in Bangladesh, and her mother was born and raised in Louisiana and is African American.
Yvonne Kanazawa (金沢 イボンヌ)
Track & Field
JAPAN
Although Yvonne Kanazawa grew up in Sacramento and trained and coached at California State University, she competed for Japan. "I was born in Japan. My mom is Japanese. So, I have Japanese citizenship only. I'm not a dual-citizenship person. So, I had no choice but to compete for Japan, and it worked out pretty well," Kanazawa said.
Yvonne is an 8-time national champion in the 100-meter hurdles with 6 records to her name. In 1996, she became the first female sprinter in 32 years to make an Olympic team in Japan. A Japanese record holder, she again competed for Japan at the 2000 Olympics. She was a semi-finalist at the Summer Olympics in Sydney and retired from competition in 2004.
Selected Sources:
* Wall Street Journal: China, "China Welcomes Chinese-African Player to National Team", April 14, 2009.
* Cheltzie Lee, Official website.
* Yvonne Kanazawa, The Study of Racialism.
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Blasian Americans at the 2012 Olympics
As we celebrate the beginning of the Games of the XXX Olympiad, let us recognize the blasians representing Team USA in London this summer.
CONGRATS TO LIA, KYLA, & PAIGE – Blasian Olympic medalists for Team USA!
Lia Neal
Born in Brooklyn, New York, Lia’s father, Jerome, is African American, and her mother, Siu, is from Hong Kong. At age 17, she is the 2nd woman of African descent to make the US Olympic swim team.
Kyla Ross
Gymnastics
Kyla was born in Honolulu, Hawai'i and currently lives in Aliso Viejo, California. Her father, Jason, is Japanese and Black, and her mother, Kiana, is of Filipino and Puerto Rican descent. Her look reflects the multi-racialism of Hawaii. "We call it the quadruple effect," says her father.
Kyla earned the 2nd-highest score on the uneven bars at the 2012 Olympic trials. Nicknamed “Mighty Mouse,” Ross, 15, is the youngest person on Team USA’s gymnastics roster. According to the Olympic format, each team selects 3 gymnasts for each of the 4 apparatuses in the final – balance beam, uneven bars, vault, and floor. Kyla performed on the beam and the uneven bars. On Tuesday, July 31, the US women captured the gold medal with an overall score of 183.596.
To learn more about Olympic medalist, Kyla Ross, go to her official website.
UPDATED
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
A native of Sturgis, South Dakota, Paige currently resides in Miami, Florida. Born in Abilene, Texas, she was adopted when she was just 4 days old. Her parents also adopted children from South Korea and Saint Lucia. Paige is half Filipino and half African American (with a little Spanish and Japanese on her Asian side), and she likes to call herself "Blasian".
Paige is looking forward to her first Olympics after defeating 2004 silver medalist Nia Abdallah to earn a spot on the 2012 roster. Nicknamed "McFierce", she is the youngest member of the US national team, having just graduated high school in January 2009.
Since turning 18, Paige has sought to connect with her biological roots. She has an older brother, who she has already met. She also has a half-brother and a half-sister, and she has spoken to her biological mother. Paige plans to meet all of them after the Olympics.
Paige represented the USA in the 67 kg women's taekwondo event. In the preliminary round, Paige secured a surprise defeat over Sarah Stevenson of Team Great Britain, 5-1. She went on to win a bronze medal by defeating Franka Anić of Slovenia 8-3.
UPDATED
Saturday, August 11, 2012
Selected Sources:
* New America Media, "Asian American Athletes Represent U.S. at 2012 Olympics", July 25, 2012.
* Mas TaeKwonDo, "Paige McPherson hopes to bring home a gold medal", July 25, 2012.
* The Epoch Times, "Lia Neal, Olympic Star Rising from Brooklyn", July 5, 2012.
* The Madeleine Brand Show, "SoCal gymnast Kyla Ross brings poise, nerves of steel to London Olympics", July 11, 2012.
CONGRATS TO LIA, KYLA, & PAIGE – Blasian Olympic medalists for Team USA!
Lia Neal
Swimming
 |
| Lia with her parents, Siu & Rome |
Born in Brooklyn, New York, Lia’s father, Jerome, is African American, and her mother, Siu, is from Hong Kong. At age 17, she is the 2nd woman of African descent to make the US Olympic swim team.
Lia competed in the 4x100-meter freestyle relay at the 2012 Summer Olympics. She won the bronze medal on Saturday, July 28, with Missy Franklin, Jessica Hardy, and Allison Schmitt, behind Australia and the Netherlands. The team finished with a total time of 3:34:24, an American record.
To learn more about Olympic medalist, Lia Neal, go to her official website.
To learn more about Olympic medalist, Lia Neal, go to her official website.
Kyla Ross
Gymnastics
 |
| Kyla with her parents, Kiana & Jason |
Kyla was born in Honolulu, Hawai'i and currently lives in Aliso Viejo, California. Her father, Jason, is Japanese and Black, and her mother, Kiana, is of Filipino and Puerto Rican descent. Her look reflects the multi-racialism of Hawaii. "We call it the quadruple effect," says her father.
Kyla earned the 2nd-highest score on the uneven bars at the 2012 Olympic trials. Nicknamed “Mighty Mouse,” Ross, 15, is the youngest person on Team USA’s gymnastics roster. According to the Olympic format, each team selects 3 gymnasts for each of the 4 apparatuses in the final – balance beam, uneven bars, vault, and floor. Kyla performed on the beam and the uneven bars. On Tuesday, July 31, the US women captured the gold medal with an overall score of 183.596.
To learn more about Olympic medalist, Kyla Ross, go to her official website.
UPDATED
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Paige McPherson
Taekwondo
Taekwondo
A native of Sturgis, South Dakota, Paige currently resides in Miami, Florida. Born in Abilene, Texas, she was adopted when she was just 4 days old. Her parents also adopted children from South Korea and Saint Lucia. Paige is half Filipino and half African American (with a little Spanish and Japanese on her Asian side), and she likes to call herself "Blasian".
Paige is looking forward to her first Olympics after defeating 2004 silver medalist Nia Abdallah to earn a spot on the 2012 roster. Nicknamed "McFierce", she is the youngest member of the US national team, having just graduated high school in January 2009.
Since turning 18, Paige has sought to connect with her biological roots. She has an older brother, who she has already met. She also has a half-brother and a half-sister, and she has spoken to her biological mother. Paige plans to meet all of them after the Olympics.
Paige represented the USA in the 67 kg women's taekwondo event. In the preliminary round, Paige secured a surprise defeat over Sarah Stevenson of Team Great Britain, 5-1. She went on to win a bronze medal by defeating Franka Anić of Slovenia 8-3.
UPDATED
Saturday, August 11, 2012
Selected Sources:
* New America Media, "Asian American Athletes Represent U.S. at 2012 Olympics", July 25, 2012.
* Mas TaeKwonDo, "Paige McPherson hopes to bring home a gold medal", July 25, 2012.
* The Epoch Times, "Lia Neal, Olympic Star Rising from Brooklyn", July 5, 2012.
* The Madeleine Brand Show, "SoCal gymnast Kyla Ross brings poise, nerves of steel to London Olympics", July 11, 2012.
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Blasian Olympic Medalists
Bryan Clay
Track & Field
Bryan Ezra Tsumoru Clay - often referred to as the "World's Greatest Athlete" - was born to a Japanese mother (Michele Ishimoto) and African American father (Greg Clay) and raised in Hawaii. He won the silver medal at the 2004 Olympics in Athens and went on to win the gold medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. Bryan is among the very few decathletes to hold 2 Olympic medals.
Bryan had his eyes set on a third. He had hoped to become the only decathlete to win 3 Olympic medals. Bryan Clay - the reigning Olympic decathlon gold medalist - was eliminated from the London Games after stumbling in the 110-meter hurdles at the U.S. track trials on Saturday, June 23, 2012.
To see him in action, check out this Olympic highlights video of Bryan Clay.
Peter Westbrook
Fencing
The 1st Blasian American Olympian was Peter Westbrook. The child of an African American father (Ulysses) and a Japanese mother (Mariko), Peter was harassed by other children because of his mixed race. His mother paid him $5 to attend local fencing classes. She wanted to divert his attention to a sport that was similar to the style of Samurai fighting that she was familiar with in Japan.
Peter Westbrook was a member of 6 American Olympic teams – 1976 in Montreal, 1980 (US boycott of Moscow games), 1984 in Los Angeles, 1988 in Seoul, 1992 in Barcelona, and 1996 in Atlanta. He won the bronze medal in Individual Sabre at the 1984 Olympics. In 1992, he was selected to serve as flag bearer for the closing ceremonies, an honor conferred by a vote of that year’s Olympians. He was the oldest member of the fencing team at the 1996 Olympics.
One of the first prominent biracial fencers and the first African American to medal in fencing, Peter began the Peter Westbrook Foundation in 1991. The Foundation provides inner city children with access to fencing and works to guide them away from gang activity. It is hailed as one of the most successful inner city sports programs in the country.
To learn about Peter Westbrook and his not-for-profit organization, visit www.PeterWestbrook.org.
UPDATED
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Track & Field
Bryan Ezra Tsumoru Clay - often referred to as the "World's Greatest Athlete" - was born to a Japanese mother (Michele Ishimoto) and African American father (Greg Clay) and raised in Hawaii. He won the silver medal at the 2004 Olympics in Athens and went on to win the gold medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. Bryan is among the very few decathletes to hold 2 Olympic medals.
Bryan had his eyes set on a third. He had hoped to become the only decathlete to win 3 Olympic medals. Bryan Clay - the reigning Olympic decathlon gold medalist - was eliminated from the London Games after stumbling in the 110-meter hurdles at the U.S. track trials on Saturday, June 23, 2012.
To see him in action, check out this Olympic highlights video of Bryan Clay.
Peter Westbrook
Fencing
The 1st Blasian American Olympian was Peter Westbrook. The child of an African American father (Ulysses) and a Japanese mother (Mariko), Peter was harassed by other children because of his mixed race. His mother paid him $5 to attend local fencing classes. She wanted to divert his attention to a sport that was similar to the style of Samurai fighting that she was familiar with in Japan.
Peter Westbrook was a member of 6 American Olympic teams – 1976 in Montreal, 1980 (US boycott of Moscow games), 1984 in Los Angeles, 1988 in Seoul, 1992 in Barcelona, and 1996 in Atlanta. He won the bronze medal in Individual Sabre at the 1984 Olympics. In 1992, he was selected to serve as flag bearer for the closing ceremonies, an honor conferred by a vote of that year’s Olympians. He was the oldest member of the fencing team at the 1996 Olympics.
One of the first prominent biracial fencers and the first African American to medal in fencing, Peter began the Peter Westbrook Foundation in 1991. The Foundation provides inner city children with access to fencing and works to guide them away from gang activity. It is hailed as one of the most successful inner city sports programs in the country.
To learn about Peter Westbrook and his not-for-profit organization, visit www.PeterWestbrook.org.
UPDATED
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Blasians in the Congo
In the 1970s, the Japanese had operations in the Democratic Republic
of the Congo (formerly Zaire) to
invest in mining projects in the mineral rich region of Katanga.
This area is known for its abundant
deposits of copper and cobalt. According to the US Geological Survey, the Katanga province in the
south of Congo contains 4% of the world's copper and 1/3 of its cobalt reserves.
Over a 10-year period, more than 1,000
Japanese miners worked in Zaire. The
Japanese businessmen had relationships with native Congolese women. Some of these
relationships resulted in children. Most of the mixed race progeny died soon after birth. It is said that Japanese taboos led to the children being poisoned in the local mining hospital or sometimes even killed by the fathers themselves.
This practice forced many native Katangan women to hide their half-Japanese children. To protect their children, they did not give birth in the hospital and raised their children in rural, remote areas. Thus, many of the surviving children of these Japanese/Congolese relationships do not have birth certificates. The survivors have formed an association and are now seeking compensation
and closure from both the Congolese and Japanese governments.
Today, the Chinese run
the furnaces where minerals are processed. The Congolese government
granted mineral concessions in Katanga province to a consortium of
Chinese companies in 2008. Six billion US dollars was invested in the
construction and rehabilitation of roads and the construction of two
hospitals and universities. An additional three billion US dollars was
invested in mining operations. Approximately 90% of Katanga's processing plants are owned by Chinese nationals.
As another Asian country capitalizes on the wealth and riches of this small African nation, there exists the possibility of mixed race relationships and the potential of another generation of blasians in the Congo. Hopefully, they will have a happier story to share.
For more about mixed race people in the Congo, check out the FRANCE 24 story on "Katanga's forgotten people".
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Blasian Reality TV Stars
Lou Jing – who gained fame as a reality show contestant in China – got me thinking about Blasians on reality TV. There haven't been that many. While Asians are rare, half Asians are few and far between. Half-African American, half Asian reality stars are even more infrequent. There have been 3 blasian reality stars – Melissa Howard, Lisa Wu, and Kimora Lee.
Melissa Howard (Filipino-African American) became the 1st blasian reality star in 2000 on MTV's Real World: New Orleans. She went on to appear in other reality TV shows, including Real World / Road Rules Challenge and Battle of the Network Reality Stars. Now Melissa Beck, she is married to Glassjaw guitarist, Justin Beck, and has a daughter, Shalom Mazie.
Previously married to R&B singer Keith Sweat, she was married to NFL linebacker Ed Hartwell, while on the show. They divorced in 2011.
With a Korean-born Japanese mother and an African American father, Kimora was often a target of bullying and teasing as a child because of her height (5'10" by age 10) and her mixed heritage. Her mom enrolled her in modeling classes when she was 11 years old, and Kimora was discovered at the age of 13.
Kimora married mogul, Russell Simmons, in 1998. They officially separated in 2006. She has been with Djimon Hounsou, a Benin-born Oscar-nominated actor, since 2007.
 |
| Melissa on Real World (2000) and with her daughter (2011) |
Melissa Howard (Filipino-African American) became the 1st blasian reality star in 2000 on MTV's Real World: New Orleans. She went on to appear in other reality TV shows, including Real World / Road Rules Challenge and Battle of the Network Reality Stars. Now Melissa Beck, she is married to Glassjaw guitarist, Justin Beck, and has a daughter, Shalom Mazie.
 |
| Melissa's parents – Maurice "Shorty" & Narcisa "Mercy" – at the MTV Studios |
Lisa Wu appeared in the first two seasons (2008-2009) of The Real Housewives of Atlanta. Her mother is of Afro-Caribbean descent, and her father is Chinese.
 | |||
| Lisa Wu's parents |
Previously married to R&B singer Keith Sweat, she was married to NFL linebacker Ed Hartwell, while on the show. They divorced in 2011.
 |
| Lisa Wu and her sons Jordan, Justin, & EJ |
Kimora Lee – better known as a model and former wife of Russell Simmons – has starred in the reality television series, Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane, since 2007. The most famous blasian reality star, she details her daily life with her three children and her husband, model/actor Djimon Hounsou.
 |
| Kimora and her mother, Kyoko Perkins |
With a Korean-born Japanese mother and an African American father, Kimora was often a target of bullying and teasing as a child because of her height (5'10" by age 10) and her mixed heritage. Her mom enrolled her in modeling classes when she was 11 years old, and Kimora was discovered at the age of 13.
Kimora married mogul, Russell Simmons, in 1998. They officially separated in 2006. She has been with Djimon Hounsou, a Benin-born Oscar-nominated actor, since 2007.
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| Kimora and her children, Kenzo, Ming, & Aoki |
While there are many who view reality TV as a less-esteemed genre of television, it can be an excellent platform to share varying perspectives and provides exposure to different types of people and ethnicities. Reality television is a unique opportunity to potentially see and connect with people who have similar stories.
Selected Sources:
* Melissa Beck, tumblr.
* The Real Housewives of Atlanta, "Lisa Wu Hartwell".
* Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane, "Kimora Lee Simmons".
Selected Sources:
* Melissa Beck, tumblr.
* The Real Housewives of Atlanta, "Lisa Wu Hartwell".
* Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane, "Kimora Lee Simmons".
Friday, April 13, 2012
Blasian Singers in Asia
Jing's Chinese mother had a relationship with an African American man, to whom she was not married. Lou Jing has never met her father. Raised in Shanghai, she is fluent in Mandarin and Shanghainese and identifies as Shanghainese. After receiving hurtful comments online following her television appearances, she questions her place in China. One post read, "Ugh. Yellow people and black people mixed together is very gross."
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| Lou Jing and her mother |
This situation shows how far behind China is in moving beyond its monocultural ideal image of itself. As China emerges as a world power, it is vital that its people open up their minds to the multicultural contexts that exist in other countries and that is also slowly becoming a reality in China. The lack of awareness in the comments directed toward Lou Jing clearly demonstrates the long way that China has to go to better interact and understand the diversity beyond its borders.
While China is struggling to deal with this mixed race person in their midst, neighboring countries, Japan and Korea, have already been coping with public figures with black ancestry for some time now. A very popular singer in Japan right now, who happens to be blasian, is Crystal Kay. She's actually black and Korean, like Yoon Mirae (Tasha Reid), who is successful in Korea. While it's not easy being biracial - especially half black - in Asia, it used to be a lot more difficult. In Korea, Insooni helped pave the way.
 |
| Yoon Mirae |
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| Crystal Kay |
Born to an African American father and Korean mother in 1957, Kim Insoon was born soon after the Korean War. In the 1960s, multiracial Koreans were an extremely new phenomenon and suffered extreme discrimination. Insooni began performing in the late 1970s, receiving more attention for her appearance than her talent. She has now been making music for over 30 years.
Insooni is a musical legend in Korea, and the difficult situations she experienced as a biracial person in a monoracial country served her well. Mixed race Koreans have become much more common, but Insooni's childhood must have been indescribably tough. Compared to being black in Korea, the trying times and insensitive criticism of the entertainment world surely seemed simple to endure.
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| Kim Insoon at 15 years old (1972) |
Insooni's success has made the possibility of a career in the public sphere a realistic goal in Korea and serves as an excellent example across East Asia. She's a hero for blasians across the ocean too.
 |
| INSOONI |
Selected Sources:
* NPR, "Mixed-Race TV Contestant Ignites Debate in China", November 11, 2009.
* CNN World, "TV talent show exposes China's race issue", December 21, 2009.
* Connections (Pearl S. Buck International newsletter), "Coming Full Circle With Korean Singer Insooni and Daughter Jasmine", Fall/Winter 2011.
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Blasian Chart Toppers in the US
For the longest time, as far as I knew, there had never been a
blasian American singer – until Amerie came out in the early 2000s.
When I found out she was Korean-African American, I decided to support
her before I even heard her music. It was such a novelty to purchase
the music of someone who had the same parentage as me.
Born to an African American father (Charles Rogers) and a Korean mother (Mi Suk), Amerie's first language was Korean, and she lived in South Korea for 3 years as a child.
Amerie's debut album was released in 2002, and her debut single, "Why Don't We Fall in Love" peaked at #23 on the Billboard Hot 100.
There have been a few other blasian singers since Amerie, but had there been incognito blasians recording in the US before Amerie hit the music scene wearing her ethnicity on her sleeve? Then I discovered Sugar Pie DeSanto – the 1st blasian chart topper.
Sugar Pie DeSanto was born Umpeylia Marsema Balinton. She is the daughter of an African American mother and a Filipino father. As a child, she spoke English and Tagalog and still speaks a little Tagalog with family.
In 1960, DeSanto's single "I Want to Know" reached #4 on Billboard's R&B chart. This was her biggest hit and her highest charting hit.
A blasian hit singer over 50 years ago. Who knew?
Selected Sources:
* Intermix.org.uk: A website for the benefit of mixed-race families and individuals, "Amerie's Happy to Talk About Ethnicity", September 1, 2008.
* San Francisco Bay Guardian, "Gimme a Little Sugar", March 12, 2003.
 |
| Amerie & her mother |
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| Amerie's name tattoo in Korean |
Born to an African American father (Charles Rogers) and a Korean mother (Mi Suk), Amerie's first language was Korean, and she lived in South Korea for 3 years as a child.
Amerie's debut album was released in 2002, and her debut single, "Why Don't We Fall in Love" peaked at #23 on the Billboard Hot 100.
There have been a few other blasian singers since Amerie, but had there been incognito blasians recording in the US before Amerie hit the music scene wearing her ethnicity on her sleeve? Then I discovered Sugar Pie DeSanto – the 1st blasian chart topper.
Sugar Pie DeSanto was born Umpeylia Marsema Balinton. She is the daughter of an African American mother and a Filipino father. As a child, she spoke English and Tagalog and still speaks a little Tagalog with family.
In 1960, DeSanto's single "I Want to Know" reached #4 on Billboard's R&B chart. This was her biggest hit and her highest charting hit.
A blasian hit singer over 50 years ago. Who knew?
Selected Sources:
* Intermix.org.uk: A website for the benefit of mixed-race families and individuals, "Amerie's Happy to Talk About Ethnicity", September 1, 2008.
* San Francisco Bay Guardian, "Gimme a Little Sugar", March 12, 2003.
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Korean Basketball League Ethnic Draft
As we experience the excitement of Jeremy Lin and his meteoric rise in the NBA, I reflected on the limitations of racial diversity in Korea, my mother's homeland. It's always been a reality to me that my opportunities in Korea would be limited due to my biracial status. Koreans revere the idea of their country being monoethnic. However, the Korean War (1950-1953) threatened the country's homogenous status. Since then, there have been mixed race Koreans in Korea and around the world.
Three years ago, a professional sports association in Korea initiated an action to incorporate biracial Koreans for the first time. The Korean Basketball League held an "Ethnic" draft. The 10 professional basketball teams in Korea agreed to allow foreign players with a Korean parent to play in the Korean Basketball Leagues as signed players. What's more, the draft allowed these foreign players with Korean ties to not be considered "foreign players". (There is a limit of 1 foreign player per team.) While it was not without controversy, the draft was a huge step toward the acceptance of diversity in Korea.
The inaugural KBL draft for "ethnic Korean players" was held in February of 2009. To be defined as "ethnic Korean", the player had to verify that his biological father or mother had previously held Korean citizenship and had since gained foreign citizenship. A copy of the Korean parent's family register document or Korean passport had to be presented.
In the 2009 “Ethnic” draft, 5 players were selected ― Tony Akins (전태풍 / KCC Egis), Eric Sandrin (이승준 / Samsung Thunders), Greg Stevenson (문태영 / LG Sakers), Kevin Mitchell (원하준 / KT&G Kites), and Chris Vann (박태양 / KT Sonic Boom) ― and 4 of them were blasian. The draft was held again in 2010 and 2011. In 2010, only 1 player was selected ― Jarod Stevenson (문태종 / ET Land Elephants), Greg Stevenson's older brother. No players were selected in 2011.
Here's the rub. The KBL implemented a limit of 3 years on 1 team for ethnic Koreans. So, the players that were signed in the 2009 "ethnic Korean" draft are now required to participate in the 2012 draft. The native Korean players are not subject to this rule. Different signing rules apply to ethnic versus native Korean players. The rule was designed to balance the teams and prevent a monopoly on ethnic Koreans, who are often better than the Korean players. The idea is that having the ethnic Korean players continue on long-term with a single team could give too much of an advantage to one club.
Note that, when an ethnic Korean player is drafted, he has to become a Korean citizen. To sweeten the pot, the Nationality Act was revised in January of 2011 to allow foreigners with "outstanding talents" wishing to acquire Korean citizenship to maintain dual citizenship. Subsequently, the Korean Basketball League and the Korean Olympic committee have recommended that the government allow ethnic Koreans to play for the Korean national team.
While the KBL benefits from the skills of ethnic Koreans, the association has also been accused of discriminating against ethnic Koreans. The status of ethnic Koreans has been a point of contention since the initiation of the ethnic draft. If ethnic Koreans are also Korean citizens and are not considered "foreign players", why do different rules apply? Such regulations single out ethnic Koreans and defeat the concept of equal access to the League.
The 2012 KBL Pre-Draft Tryout and draft for "Ethnic Korean Players" will be held on May 7, 2012 in South Korea. Basketball players who are interested in becoming eligible to play in the KBL must apply by April 25, 2012 (Korea Time). More information is available on the Korean Basketball League website.
Selected Sources:
* Korean Basketball League, "Rules & Procedures".
* The Korea Times, "KBL Accused of Discrimination", January 9, 2012.
* The Korea Herald, "Half Korean Brothers Get Citizenship", July 21, 2011.
* HalfKorean.com: An online community for mixed-race Koreans, "KBL Ethnic Draft Feature".
Three years ago, a professional sports association in Korea initiated an action to incorporate biracial Koreans for the first time. The Korean Basketball League held an "Ethnic" draft. The 10 professional basketball teams in Korea agreed to allow foreign players with a Korean parent to play in the Korean Basketball Leagues as signed players. What's more, the draft allowed these foreign players with Korean ties to not be considered "foreign players". (There is a limit of 1 foreign player per team.) While it was not without controversy, the draft was a huge step toward the acceptance of diversity in Korea.
The inaugural KBL draft for "ethnic Korean players" was held in February of 2009. To be defined as "ethnic Korean", the player had to verify that his biological father or mother had previously held Korean citizenship and had since gained foreign citizenship. A copy of the Korean parent's family register document or Korean passport had to be presented.
 | |||
| Players selected in the 1st "ethnic Korean" draft |
In the 2009 “Ethnic” draft, 5 players were selected ― Tony Akins (전태풍 / KCC Egis), Eric Sandrin (이승준 / Samsung Thunders), Greg Stevenson (문태영 / LG Sakers), Kevin Mitchell (원하준 / KT&G Kites), and Chris Vann (박태양 / KT Sonic Boom) ― and 4 of them were blasian. The draft was held again in 2010 and 2011. In 2010, only 1 player was selected ― Jarod Stevenson (문태종 / ET Land Elephants), Greg Stevenson's older brother. No players were selected in 2011.
Here's the rub. The KBL implemented a limit of 3 years on 1 team for ethnic Koreans. So, the players that were signed in the 2009 "ethnic Korean" draft are now required to participate in the 2012 draft. The native Korean players are not subject to this rule. Different signing rules apply to ethnic versus native Korean players. The rule was designed to balance the teams and prevent a monopoly on ethnic Koreans, who are often better than the Korean players. The idea is that having the ethnic Korean players continue on long-term with a single team could give too much of an advantage to one club.
 |
| Greg & Jarod Stevenson |
Note that, when an ethnic Korean player is drafted, he has to become a Korean citizen. To sweeten the pot, the Nationality Act was revised in January of 2011 to allow foreigners with "outstanding talents" wishing to acquire Korean citizenship to maintain dual citizenship. Subsequently, the Korean Basketball League and the Korean Olympic committee have recommended that the government allow ethnic Koreans to play for the Korean national team.
While the KBL benefits from the skills of ethnic Koreans, the association has also been accused of discriminating against ethnic Koreans. The status of ethnic Koreans has been a point of contention since the initiation of the ethnic draft. If ethnic Koreans are also Korean citizens and are not considered "foreign players", why do different rules apply? Such regulations single out ethnic Koreans and defeat the concept of equal access to the League.
The 2012 KBL Pre-Draft Tryout and draft for "Ethnic Korean Players" will be held on May 7, 2012 in South Korea. Basketball players who are interested in becoming eligible to play in the KBL must apply by April 25, 2012 (Korea Time). More information is available on the Korean Basketball League website.
Selected Sources:
* Korean Basketball League, "Rules & Procedures".
* The Korea Times, "KBL Accused of Discrimination", January 9, 2012.
* The Korea Herald, "Half Korean Brothers Get Citizenship", July 21, 2011.
* HalfKorean.com: An online community for mixed-race Koreans, "KBL Ethnic Draft Feature".
Monday, March 5, 2012
Asians & Football
After spending some time thinking about Asians in the game of basketball in the US, I thought – what about football? It can be stated that – just as there are very few players of Asian descent who have played the game of basketball – the same can be said of professional football. In fact, most would assume there are no Asian football players. While the game of baseball is popular in Asia, and it's not unusual for players from China or Japan to play Major League Baseball, football remains an extremely American game, and Asian football players remain few and far between.
The 1st Asian professional football player was Walter Achiu, of Chinese and Hawaiian ancestry. He was one of the first minorities to play in any major American professional sports league. He played pro football for the now defunct Dayton Triangles in 1927 – 20 years before Jackie Robinson's debut in Major League Baseball in 1947!
After Achiu, Roman Gabriel (half Filipino/half Irish) was drafted in 1962. He was the 1st Asian American to start as an NFL quarterback. Then there wasn't another Asian football player until Eugene Yon Chong (Korean) was drafted in 1992.
The majority of professional football players of Asian descent have been of mixed heritage, and surprise, surprise, most of them were blasian. There have been 9 blasian pro football players, including 2 sets of brothers.
The most well-known blasian football player is Hines Ward. Born in Seoul, South Korea to an African American father and Korean mother, Young He Kim (김영희). Ward was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1998. He gained worldwide fame when he was named MVP in Super Bowl XL (2006), becoming the 1st Korean American and 2nd foreign born player to earn the award.
For the first time since he left the country as a 1-year-old, Ward returned to South Korea in 2006. He traveled the country, speaking out against biracial discrimination. In order to support reform regarding multiracial Korean children, he created the Hines Ward Helping Hands Korea Foundation.
In 2009, President Barack Obama established the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to improve the health, education, and economic status of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities. Ward was appointed as a member of the Commission.
After 14 years with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Ward retired from the NFL in March 2012. A 4-time Pro Bowl selection, Ward finished his Steelers career with 1,000 catches, 12,083 yards, and 85 receiving touchdowns. He helped Pittsburgh to 3 AFC championships and 2 Super Bowl wins.
Johnnie James Morton, Jr. and Chad Akio Morton are the sons of Johnnie Sr. (African American) and Katsuko (Japanese).
Johnnie was selected by the Detroit Lions in the 1994 NFL Draft and played for the team until 2001. He went on to play for the Kansas City Chiefs from 2002 to 2004 and ended his football career with the San Francisco 49ers in 2005.
Chad played for the New Orleans Saints in 2000, the New York Jets from 2001 to 2002, the Washington Redskins from 2003 to 2004, and the New York Giants from 2005 to 2006. He was released by the Giants in 2007.
Wesly Mallard is half Korean and half African American.
As a child, he attended Seoul American High School in Seoul, South Korea.
Mallard was drafted by the New York Giants in 2002 and remained with the team until 2004. He played for the New England Patriots in 2005, Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2005 to 2006, Denver Broncos in 2007, and Seattle Seahawks in 2008.
Will and Marcus Demps are the sons of William Sr. (African American) and Kye (Korean).
Will was signed by the Baltimore Ravens in 2002 and played for the team until 2005. He went on to the New York Giants in 2006 and played for the Houston Texans from 2007 to 2008.
Marcus was signed by the Detroit Lions in May 2006 but was released with a knee injury in September of the same year.
Patrick Chung was born to a Chinese-Jamaican father and an Afro-Jamaican mother. He is of 1/4 Han Chinese ancestry. Chung was drafted by the New England Patriots in 2009.
Marcus Freeman, a Korean-African American, was drafted in the 2009 draft by the Chicago Bears. He was waived on September 4. Freeman was signed to the Buffalo Bills practice squad on September 22. He was released in October. On November 4, he signed with the Houston Texans. Freeman retired due to an enlarged heart condition in May 2010. He is now a quality control assistant coach for the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Emmanuel Moody's is the son of an African American father and a Korean mother, Young Sun Chang. In July 2011, Moody signed with the Buffalo Bills. He was released in August.
UPDATED
Thursday, March 22, 2012
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| Dayton Triangles - 1920s |
The 1st Asian professional football player was Walter Achiu, of Chinese and Hawaiian ancestry. He was one of the first minorities to play in any major American professional sports league. He played pro football for the now defunct Dayton Triangles in 1927 – 20 years before Jackie Robinson's debut in Major League Baseball in 1947!
 |
| Roman Gabriel |
After Achiu, Roman Gabriel (half Filipino/half Irish) was drafted in 1962. He was the 1st Asian American to start as an NFL quarterback. Then there wasn't another Asian football player until Eugene Yon Chong (Korean) was drafted in 1992.
The majority of professional football players of Asian descent have been of mixed heritage, and surprise, surprise, most of them were blasian. There have been 9 blasian pro football players, including 2 sets of brothers.
 |
| Hines Ward |
For the first time since he left the country as a 1-year-old, Ward returned to South Korea in 2006. He traveled the country, speaking out against biracial discrimination. In order to support reform regarding multiracial Korean children, he created the Hines Ward Helping Hands Korea Foundation.
In 2009, President Barack Obama established the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to improve the health, education, and economic status of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities. Ward was appointed as a member of the Commission.
After 14 years with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Ward retired from the NFL in March 2012. A 4-time Pro Bowl selection, Ward finished his Steelers career with 1,000 catches, 12,083 yards, and 85 receiving touchdowns. He helped Pittsburgh to 3 AFC championships and 2 Super Bowl wins.
Johnnie James Morton, Jr. and Chad Akio Morton are the sons of Johnnie Sr. (African American) and Katsuko (Japanese).
 |
| Johnnie Morton |
Johnnie was selected by the Detroit Lions in the 1994 NFL Draft and played for the team until 2001. He went on to play for the Kansas City Chiefs from 2002 to 2004 and ended his football career with the San Francisco 49ers in 2005.
Chad played for the New Orleans Saints in 2000, the New York Jets from 2001 to 2002, the Washington Redskins from 2003 to 2004, and the New York Giants from 2005 to 2006. He was released by the Giants in 2007.
 |
| Wesly Mallard |
Wesly Mallard is half Korean and half African American.
As a child, he attended Seoul American High School in Seoul, South Korea.
Mallard was drafted by the New York Giants in 2002 and remained with the team until 2004. He played for the New England Patriots in 2005, Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2005 to 2006, Denver Broncos in 2007, and Seattle Seahawks in 2008.
 |
| Will Demps |
Will and Marcus Demps are the sons of William Sr. (African American) and Kye (Korean).
Will was signed by the Baltimore Ravens in 2002 and played for the team until 2005. He went on to the New York Giants in 2006 and played for the Houston Texans from 2007 to 2008.
Marcus was signed by the Detroit Lions in May 2006 but was released with a knee injury in September of the same year.
 |
| Patrick Chung |
Patrick Chung was born to a Chinese-Jamaican father and an Afro-Jamaican mother. He is of 1/4 Han Chinese ancestry. Chung was drafted by the New England Patriots in 2009.
 |
| Marcus Freeman |
Marcus Freeman, a Korean-African American, was drafted in the 2009 draft by the Chicago Bears. He was waived on September 4. Freeman was signed to the Buffalo Bills practice squad on September 22. He was released in October. On November 4, he signed with the Houston Texans. Freeman retired due to an enlarged heart condition in May 2010. He is now a quality control assistant coach for the Ohio State Buckeyes.
 |
| Emmanuel Moody |
Emmanuel Moody's is the son of an African American father and a Korean mother, Young Sun Chang. In July 2011, Moody signed with the Buffalo Bills. He was released in August.
UPDATED
Thursday, March 22, 2012
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