Series:

Suburban Chinatown: Chinese American Business and Political Leaders in the San Gabriel Valley

Topic:

Asian American History

Biographical Note:

Chinese American comedians and rappers. Creators of comedy music videos depicting Chinese American life in the San Gabriel Valley and Asian cuisine and food culture.

Interviewer:

Cline, Alex

Interviewee:

Fung, Andrew and Fung, David

Persons Present:

David Fung, Andrew Fung, and Cline.

Place Conducted:

Fung brothers' home in Alhambra, California.

Supporting Documents:

Records relating to the interview are located in the office of the UCLA Library's Center for Oral History Research.

Interviewer Background and Preparation:

The interview was conducted by Alex Cline, series coordinator, UCLA Library's Center for Oral History Research; musician. Cline prepared for the interview by studying biographical information supplied by the interviewees and by holding a pre-interview meeting with the interviewees.

Processing of Interview:

The interviewer prepared a timed log of the audio recording of the interview. Andrew and David Fung were given the opportunity to review the log in order to supply missing or misspelled names and to verify the accuracy of the content. Those corrections were entered into the text without further editing or review on the part of the Center for Oral History Research (COHR) staff.

Length:

3.5 hrs.

Language:

English

Copyright:

Regents of the University of California, UCLA Library.

Audio:

Series Statement:

The Suburban Chinatown series focuses on political and business leaders in the San Gabriel Valley who came to the U.S. in the post-1965 wave of Asian immigration after the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 abolished the quota system based on national origins. The series was undertaken as a collaborative effort between the UCLA Library’s Center for Oral History Research and the American East Asian Cultural and Educational Foundation (AEACEF). AEACEF recommended the majority of the individuals interviewed and introduced the interviewer to the narrators. Many of the narrators are also featured in the AEACEF’s book Thirty Years of Chinese American Immigration in Southern California.

Brothers birth in Renton, WA—Discussion of family’s background in Southern China—Discussion of parents’ relocation to the United States—Reflections on upbringing in Renton—Discussion on influences of hip-hop culture, sports and church on upbringing—Reflections on traditional academic expectations of first-generation Chinese American parents—Reflections on racism and racial dynamics—Attendance of all siblings at University of Washington—Factors and influences leading brothers into the realm of comedy—Parents’ religious convictions and political activism—The financial and business culture in Seattle—Impact of YouTube on the brother’s direction—Relocation to Los Angeles—Discussion of relationship between brothers—Impressions of the largely Chinese American San Gabriel Valley area—Business, social and lifestyle trends in the San Gabriel Valley area—Inspiration of Chinese immigrant life in the San Gabriel Valley on comedy—Resistance experienced from community due to representation in comedy—Tensions between different Asian immigrant communities in Los Angeles—Discussion of the act of telling truth through comedy being distinctly “non-Chinese”—The “tribal” nature of the world which appeals to their younger generation of consumers—Impact of internet and social media on fan base—Discussion of Asian pride—Potential entrepreneurial ideas that bring authentic culturally specific Asian products to the mainstream American consumer—Influence of Asian Americans on contemporary culture—Decision to relocate to New York City—Visions for their possible future in the media business—The Chinese economic “takeover” of the U.S.—Discussion of the future of Chinese language and culture among younger generation of immigrants—Brothers’ wish to inspire Asian Americans and gratitude to San Gabriel Valley Chinese American community in supporting their careers as entertainers