First Vote

By: Jennifer Vintzileos

As part of the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival and PBS’s America ReFramed series, “First Vote” gives viewers a look into the life of Asian Americans and how their vote has impacted the United States. Through speaking with Asian Americans in such states as Ohio and North Carolina, Director Yi Chen provides us with not only differing viewpoints at the current state of government but one unifying theme—voting matters.

In the beginning we learn that Asian Americans did not have the right to vote or become U.S. citizens until 1952. Fast-forward to today where they are one of the fastest growing racial groups and are set to become the largest immigrant group by 2055. In the 2016 election they accounted for five million of the votes with one-third of them being new voters. But being voters is where the similarities end, as we meet Asian Americans from both ends of the political spectrum starting from the Summer of 2017 up to the 2018 Elections.

Through interviews with Lance Chen, Assistant Professor at the University of Dayton and Sue Googe, a GOP politician and Chinese immigrant who lives in North Carolina, we learn that there is a faction of Asian Americans who enthusiastically support the Republican party. On the other side of the spectrum we get to meet Kaiser Kuo, co-founder of the Sinica podcast, his wife Fan Zhang and Jennifer Ho, a Professor at University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill. Kuo looks to take an active part in spreading the word about Democratic value, Zhang is trying to adapt to American culture as best she can and Ho makes it her purpose to teach her students about using their voice.

Yi Chen’s debut feature documentary is a strong one out the gate and her subjects provide perspective about politics that many have not considered – with immigration, with the Communist Party and core values of many Asian Americans. Lance Chen and Sue Googe may show off their NRA stickers and give full support to the Republican values, yet Googe then shares how her favorite President was John F. Kennedy and wishes that the Democratic Party would return to that era. And while Jennifer Ho makes it obvious that she does not support the current administration, she will also not impose her own political leanings onto her students. Their voices matter based on their own values, not hers. The interviewees did not blindly follow a party; they did their homework and gave thoughtful answers to their views. As a viewer I found that I gained understanding of all sides, whether or not I agreed with them.

Ultimately, “First Vote” is a great lesson in acceptance and common ground. Where we meet some strong voices from both sides of the spectrum, they all acknowledge that utilizing your voice to vote is of the utmost importance. It is how we make changes. And the 2018 election proved that, as the 116^th Congress is now the most diverse in history with 20 Asian American and Pacific American members elected—proof that voting makes a difference!

“First Vote” is available to watch on the World Channel website: https://worldchannel.org/episode/arf-first-vote/