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About The Asian reporter. (Portland, Or.) 1991-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 6, 2021)
The Asian Reporter Pacific Northwest News q Volume 31 Number 9 q September 6, 2021 q www.asianreporter.com Comic, Netflix staple Jo Koy talks race, rejection in memoir RACE & COMEDY. Comedian Jo Koy poses for a portrait in Los Angeles on March 2, 2021, to promote his book, Mixed Plate: Chronicles of an All-American Combo. Released in August, Mixed Plate is an ideal companion to Koy’s stand-up with its humorous — and at times painful — origin stories behind some of his most popular bits. The book shows how Koy’s mixed-race background ultimately shaped his brand of comedy and his determination not to give up on his childhood dream. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello) today’s world, but that underlying racism “baked into” the give up on his childhood dream. By Terry Tang comedy club circuit was acceptable in the early 2000s, “I’m not trying to pat myself on the back. It was a long The Associated Press according to Koy. How he went from there to being a road,” Koy said. “And when I finally got to this point in my ike many famous comics, Jo Koy had early struggles at comedy clubs. But, unlike them, the Netflix darling and having a movie deal with Steven career, I just looked at my manager. I was like, ‘Man, I half white and half Filipino comedian could only Spielberg is part of the career journey Koy, 49, tells in his would really like to tell people, you know, this struggle, and how hard it was to really get here.”‘ seem to book spots on ethnic theme nights like “Wonton new memoir. Mixed Plate: Chronicles of an All-American Combo, With the help of a writing partner, Koy, born Joseph Wednesdays” and “Asian Invasion.” “There’s a lot of comics that had to do it. I’m not just released in August, is an ideal companion to Koy’s Glenn Herbert, lays bare how he grappled with his saying Asians — Black people, Latinos, anyone that was stand-up with its humorous — and at times painful — mixed-race identity as a child growing up in Tacoma, ‘other’ had to do these themed shows. And it sucks,” Koy origin stories behind some of his most popular bits. The Washington. He doesn’t shy away from deeply personal book shows how Koy’s mixed-race background ultimately topics including an older brother with violent schizo- recalled recently. Segregating comics may sound bizarre and offensive in shaped his brand of comedy and his determination not to Continued on page 12 L Please report all hate crimes committed against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. <www.stopaapihate.org> <www.doj.state.or.us> <www.ReportHatePDX.com> The Asian Reporter 922 N. Killingsworth St. Portland, OR 97217 USA The Asian Reporter is published on the first Monday each month. COVID-19 VACCINE INFORMATION To learn more about COVID-19 vaccinations, reach out to https://vaccinefinder.org Oregon Call 211 or 1-866-698-6155 Visit covidvaccine.oregon.gov Washington Call (360) 236-4501 or 1-800-525-0127 Visit doh.wa.gov/coronavirus
