WEST MEETS EAST by Sunny Frazier
May is Asian-American and Pacific Islander Appreciation month. Jimmy Carter selected this month in 2009. Filipinos came ashore in 1587. The Chinese followed in 1778. One hundred years later the Koreans showed up. Samoans arrived during the Roaring 20’s. The Vietnamese came in 1912, years before we went to war in their country. After the Vietnam War, Fresno became the home of one of the largest population of Hmongs in the country. The Hmong New Year celebrated at the fair grounds is attended by over 100,000 people. But after the invasion of Covid, some Americans blamed Asians and sought revenge. Hmong women going to market. I love historical fiction. Up to now I’ve been focused on the Medieval history of Europe. I can recite the entire line-up of the Plantagenets, talk about the Tudor era but I wouldn’t go as far as James I. Italian and French timelines are a bit harder, especially the names. I steered away from Asian novels. I didn’t think I could relate. My cu...