From a Whisper to a Rallying Cry:
The Killing of Vincent Chin and the Trial that Galvanized the Asian American Movement
by Paula Yoo
| June 2012. Jarod Lew came face to face with his past. A past he never knew existed. He began a quest to uncover thirty-year-old family secrets. June 1982, Vincent Chin was sitting in front of a McDonalds when he was bludgeoned with a baseball bat. Days later, he died of massive brain injuries. The narrative introduces several seemingly unconnected individuals and brilliantly interweaves their life stories. Jarod’ Lew sought to uncover his past. Vikki Wong fought for justice after violent death of her son. Ronald Ebens and Michael Nitz were auto industry workers during the years when Toyota, Datsun, and Honda began to dominate the car market. Vincent Chin's life and death is the common factor that connects all four. Compelling nonfiction recounts a heinous hate crime that sparked the growing mobilization of Asian Americans seeking justice. |  |
The narrative introduces several seemingly unconnected individuals and brilliantly interweaves their life stories. Jarod’ Lew sought to uncover his past. Vikki Wong fought for justice after violent death of her son. Ronald Ebens and Michael Nitz were auto industry workers during the years when Toyota, Datsun, and Honda began to dominate the car market.
Vincent Chin's life and death is the common factor that connected all four.
Compelling nonfiction recounts a heinous hate crime that sparked the growing mobilization of Asian Americans seeking justice.
Vincent Chin's life and death is the common factor that connected all four.
Compelling nonfiction recounts a heinous hate crime that sparked the growing mobilization of Asian Americans seeking justice.
A lengthy legal battle ensued. Initially Ebens and Nitz were charged with manslaughter but sentenced to probation with no jail time. The Asian American community was shaken by this verdict. They would no longer remain silent. Asians and Pacific Islanders united to protest, seek legal redress, increase media exposure, and join with other civil rights advocacy groups.
With excellent pacing and stunning detail, Yoo uses newspaper reports, court documents, and in depth interviews to recount events leading up to the horrific crime and its long-term affects.
The work is well documented with an extensive timeline, 311 source note citations, numerous photos, and suggested reading. The author’s Afterward personalizes the story of racism and brings current events, especially the world wide pandemic the part these events influence current episodes of verbal, and hateful attacks on Asians.
From a Whisper to a Rallying Cry: The Killing of Vincent Chin and the Trial that Galvanized the Asian American Movement chronicles a pivotal moment in the ongoing struggle for civil rights. The story chronicles history of a racially motivated hate crime, creation of the first pan-ethnic Asian American civil rights organization, and the genesis of the Asian Lives Matter movement.
Electronic copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: April 20, 2021 Publisher: Norton Young Readers ISBN: 978-1324002871
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