In October 1927, Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig played in Fresno, posing with Kenichi Zenimura (third from left, next to Ruth) and other Japanese American players during a barnstorming tour. That event is featured in “Baseball Behind Barbed Wire,” airing in May on PBS SoCal.
The series of will include portraits of George Takei and Toyo Miyatake.
PBS SoCal, Southern California’s flagship PBS station, announced April 9 a curated slate of content celebrating Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month.
PBS SoCal is dedicated to telling diverse stories highlighting Asian American history throughout the month of May with over 30 programs, starting with the Southern California premiere of the new 30-minute documentary “Baseball Behind Barbed Wire.”
Illuminating the hardships and resiliency of Japanese Americans incarcerated by the U.S. government during World War II, the film follows Japanese-born but Hawaiian-raised Kenichi Zenimura, a star baseball player in the 1920s who even played an exhibition game with Major League Baseball stars Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth.
In 1942 and following Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor, Zenimura became one of the tens of thousands of American citizens of Japanese ancestry forced from their homes and into concentration camps like the one in Arizona’s Gila River.
Stripped of their constitutional rights, their homes, businesses and dignity, 120,000 Japanese Americans were imprisoned in dusty, desolate camps, surrounded by armed guards and barbed wire. Ironically it was the all-American pastime of baseball that saved their sanity.
The film will air on PBS SoCal on Thursday, May 1, at 7 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.; on Saturday, May 3, at 9 p.m. and Wednesday, May 28, at 8 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus.
Additional new content for the month highlights creative cultural activism from two artist-turned-activists: Disney animator Tyrus Wong and acclaimed photographer Michael Jang.
On Monday, May 19, at 10 p.m. on PBS SoCal and Saturday, May 24, at 11 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus: The debut of the new “Independent Lens” documentary “Who Is Michael Jang?” The award-winning Chinese American photographer spent decades in relative obscurity before using street art tactics to share his hidden archive of photography, including candid celebrity shots and images of Chinese American family life.
On Tuesday, May 27, at 9 p.m. on PBS SoCal: The 90-minute “American Masters” program “Tyrus Wong” introduces viewers to the Chinese American visual artist who was one of the last artists from the golden age of Disney animation.
Friday, May 16, at 9 p.m. on PBS SoCal and Wedneday, May 21, at 10 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus: “Great Performances” presents “Yellow Face,” Tony winner David Henry Hwang’s comedy starring Daniel Dae Kim as an Asian American playwright who protests yellowface casting in the musical “Miss Saigon” only to mistakenly cast a white actor as the Asian lead in his own play.
Relevant encore presentations of PBS SoCal’s original Emmy-winning arts and culture series “Artbound” will air in May, which tell the influential stories of Asian American artists who played a pivotal role in shaping both the cultural identity of Southern California and its impact across the country.
The month-long broadcast of episodes includes topics ranging from Los Angeles’ burgeoning punk rock scene in the 1970s in “Chinatown Punk Wars” to the cultural influence of both the Asian American pop culture magazine as featured in “Giant Robot: Asian Pop Culture and Beyond” as well as the 58-year history of the longest running ethnic theatre in the U.S., as showcased in “East West Players: A Home on Stage.”
The 60-minute episodes of “Artbound” air throughout the month on Wednesdays at 9 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus.
Additional PBS SoCal original content is also featured throughout the month from series including “The Migrant Kitchen” and “Lot L.A.,” dedicated to a richer and more inclusive Southern California experience, helping residents understand and connect with diverse communities.
All PBS SoCal programs can be found on the free PBS Video App and are available to stream on the PBS SoCal website where digital resources dedicated to informing and educating the community on topics surrounding Asian American history can also be found.
Select content slated to air during Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month is listed as follows (*schedule subject to change):
“American Masters: Waterman Duke: Ambassador of Aloha,”Thursday, May 1, at 7:30 p.m. on PBS SoCal
The journey and legacy of five-time Olympic medalist and actor (and former L.A. resident from 1922-1930) Duke Kahanamoku, who broke swimming records and popularized modern-day surfing while overcoming racism.
“Lost L.A.: Three View of Manzanar: Ansel Adams, Dorothea Lange and Tōyō Miyatake,”Saturday, May 3, at 9:30 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus
During World War II, three renowned photographers captured scenes from the incarceration: outsiders Dorothea Lange and Ansel Adams and incarceree Tōyō Miyatake, who boldly smuggled in a camera lens to document life from within the camp.
“Photographic Justice: The Corky Lee Story,”Saturday, May 3, at 10 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus
Using his camera as a “weapon against injustice,” Chinese American photographer Corky Lee’s art was his activism. His unforgettable images of Asian American life empowered generations. This film’s intimate portrait reveals the triumphs and tragedies of the man behind the lens.
“Finding Your Roots: Children of Exile,”Tuesday, May 6, at 8 p.m.; Thursday, May 8, at 11 p.m.; Saturday, May 10, at 6 p.m.; and Tuesday, May 13, at 7 p.m. on PBS SoCal
Henry Louis Gates explores the poignant roots of chef David Chang and actor Raúl Esparza.
“Ancestors/Silk Roads and China Ships,”Thursday, May 8, at 7 p.m. on PBS SoCal
Explore China’s early history with host Michael Wood as he joins a million people at a festival devoted to ancient gods, hear the tale of China’s bloodthirsty first emperor and travel the Silk Road to discover the brilliant Tang dynasty.
“The Migrant Kitchen: Omotenashi,”Monday, May 12, at 7 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus
Charles Namba and Courtney Kaplan, the couple behind Echo Park’s Tsubaki, have always loved the culture of izakaya but found Los Angeles lacking in these Japanese taverns. Sonoko Sakai is a teacher with a passion for buckwheat and the near-sacred art of soba noodles. Seiichi Yokota knows how to prepare and preserve fresh fish with a traditional Japanese technique never seen before in Los Angeles. Each aims to introduce Angelenos to the unique spirit of Japanese hospitality and the culture’s deep culinary customs.
“Independent Lens: And So It Begins,”Monday, May 12, at 10 p.m. on PBS SoCal; Saturday, May 17, at 10 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus
Follows the Philippines’ turbulent 2022 presidential race, with the son of ousted former dictator Ferdinand Marcos waging a combative social media campaign against his more progressive opponent, incumbent Vice President Leni Robredo. Following it all is independent journalist and Nobel-winner Maria Ressa, with an eye toward the specter of increasing autocracy.
“The Migrant Kitchen: Beyond Pho,”Tuesday, May 13, at 7 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus
Banh mi. Spring rolls. Pho. The war and its subsequent refugees. These are things most commonly associated with the Vietnamese culture and its people. But a group of chefs in Los Angeles (including Cassia’s Bryant Ng and Kim Luu-Ng, Diep Tran of Good Girl Dinette, and Minh Phan of Porridge & Puffs) are hoping to demonstrate that there’s so much more than that.
“Finding Your Roots: Far From Home,”Tuesday, May 13, at 8 p.m.; Thursday, May 15, at 11 p.m.; Saturday, May 17, at 6 p.m.; and Tuesday, May 20, at 7 p.m. on PBS SoCal
Jamie Chung, Cyndi Lauper and Danny Trejo retrace the journeys of their immigrant ancestors.
“To Be Takei,”Tuesday, May 13, at 10 p.m. on PBS SoCal; Saturday, May 17, at 9 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus
Together with his husband Brad, actor-activist George Takei parlays his remarkable acting career and wicked sense of humor into a new role as beloved pop-culture icon and Internet phenomenon.
“Fanny: The Right to Rock,”Tuesday, May 13, at 11 p.m. on PBS SoCal
A Filipina American garage band morphed into the ferocious rock group Fanny. This documentary tells the little-known story of the first all-female band signed to a major record label with a multi-album deal. Their five critically acclaimed albums made Fanny a groundbreaking act in spite of its little-known history in music.
“The Migrant Kitchen: “Sequoia Sake,”Wedneday, May 14, at 7 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus
Rooted in the traditions of Japanese sake brewing, Sequoia Sake works to resurrect an heirloom rice in California and pioneer the young but growing craft sake movement in the U.S.
“Artbound: Giant Robot: Asian Pop Culture and Beyond,”Wedesday, May 14, at 9 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus
Giant Robot created an appetite for Asian and Asian American pop culture, exploring Sawtelle Boulevard as a Japanese American enclave, and ultimately resulted in a lasting legacy of Asian American artists that achieved worldwide recognition. The film features interviews with Margaret Cho, Takashi Murakami and Daniel Wu, among others.
“The Migrant Kitchen: Mister Jiu’s Chinatown,”Thursday, May 15, at 7 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus
With the rapid gentrification of the neighborhood, the face of the country’s oldest Chinatown is changing while a younger generation holds on to the traditions and flavors of the past.
“Golden Age/The Ming,”Thursday, May 15, at 7 p.m. on PBS SoCal
See the stunning achievements of two of China’s most brilliant dynasties: the Song, creators of a Chinese renaissance, and the Ming, builders of the Great Wall and the Forbidden City.
“The Migrant Kitchen: Louis & Jazz,”Friday, May 16, at 7 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus
Jazz Singsanong of Jitlada Thai and Louis Tikaram of E.P. & L.P. transport the palate around the world with the complex flavors of Thai cuisine.
“Snapshots of Confinement,”Monday, May 19, at 11 p.m. and Friday, May 23, at 5 p.m. on PBS SoCal; Wednesday, May 21, at 8 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus
During World War II, U.S. government-imposed policies limited the use of cameras by Japanese Americans in confinement sites. Despite the ban, Japanese American families found ways to document their lives. Photo albums reveal stories of community and resilience, transforming how this history is understood today.
“Finding Your Roots: Larger Than Life,”Tuesday, May 20, at 8 p.m.; Thursday, May 22, at 11 p.m.; Saturday, May 24, at 6 p.m.; and Tuesday, May 27, at 7 p.m. on PBS SoCal
Research the ancestry of singer Lea Salonga and actress Amanda Seyfried, revealing relatives who survived heart-wrenching ordeals.
“Artbound: East West Players: A Home on Stage,”Wednesday, May 21, at 9 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus
East West Players theatre company has been a home for Asian American artists such as George Takei, John Cho, Daniel Dae Kim, James Hong and many others featured in this documentary. Through candid conversations about the creative process, the film chronicles the 58-year history of the longest running theatre of color in the U.S., founded by a group of rebellious Asian American actors in 1965. The troupe continues to produce works and educational programs that give voice to the Asian American experience.
“The Last Empire/The Age of Revolution,”Thursday, May 22 at 7 p.m. on PBS SoCal
Journey back in time to see the splendor of the last Chinese dynasty, the Qing. Witness the fateful First Opium War, which sparked the fall of the empire, and, after the 20th-century revolutions, the birth of today’s China.
“Finding Your Roots: Stranger Than Fiction,”Tuesday, May 27, at 8 p.m. and Thursday, May 29, at 11 p.m. on PBS SoCal
Travel across China and the American South to reveal the ancestry of novelist Amy Tan and poet Rita Dove.
“American Masters: Tyrus Wong,”Tuesday, May 27, at 9 p.m. on PBS SoCal
The art, 106 years of life and impact of Chinese American painter and visual artist Tyrus Wong as seen through new and never-before-seen interviews, movie clips and art from the golden age of Disney animation.
“POV: Liquor Store Dreams,”Tuesday, May 27, at 10:30 p.m. on PBS SoCal; Sunday, May 25, at 12 a.m. on PBS SoCal Plus
The Korean American children of liquor store owners attempt to reconcile their own dreams with those of their immigrant parents amid the struggle for racial equity in Los Angeles.
“Lost L.A.: Historic Filipinotown,”Wednesday, May 28, at 8:30 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus
Filipino Americans fight to make their heritage more visible in Los Angeles. Host Nathan Masters explores the Yo-Yo’s surprising origin story, tours Historic Filipinotown in a Jeepny and tastes classic Filipino street foods. Featured interviews include activist/librarian Florante Ibanez and the hosts of “This Filipino Life” podcast.
“Artbound: Chinatown Punk Wars,”Wednesday, May 28, at 9 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus
In the late 1970s, two Chinese restaurants became the unlikely epicenter of L.A.’s burgeoning punk rock scene. The emerging music form featured fast-paced songs and hard-edged melodies with anti-establishment messaging. As told through interviews with John Doe (X), Alice Bag (The Bags), Keith Morris (Circle Jerks, Black Flag, OFF!), and Martin Wong (Save Music in Chinatown), featuring music from current performers such as The Linda Lindas and more.
“Betrayed: Surviving An American Concentration Camp,”Thursday, May 29, at 7 p.m. on PBS SoCal
Explore the long-term effects of the U.S. government’s incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II, including intergenerational trauma.
“Amache: An American Injustice,”Thursday, May 29, at 8 p.m. on PBS SoCal
The incarceration of 120,000 innocent Japanese Americans during World War II following the bombing of Pearl Harbor, 7,500 of which were held at Amache in southeastern Colorado.