Spot.light
Shining a light on talented East and South East Asian voices in Britain and exploring important topics among our communities.
What it’s like watching Raya from a UK SEA perspective
What it’s like watching Disney’s Raya from a UK SEA perspective
‘Take Your Place: A Celebration of BESEA Identity’
Asians in Britain is proud to launch ‘Take Your Place’ - a celebration of BESEA identity.
The Sewell Report through ESEA eyes: Part Two
Vy-Liam Ng writes his feelings about The Sewell Report for besea.n. The article assesses the Sewell Report through a personal lens and, in the spirit of progress, through the lens of the ESEA experience.
Rallying banners: How did the terms ‘ESEA’ and ‘Asian American’ take root?
How did the terms ‘ESEA’ and ‘Asian American’ take root? Amy Phung explores the events that rallied the East and South East Asian communities in the UK and US, explores the effectiveness and pitfalls of these terminologies and seeks to understand the relationships our struggles hold with colonialism and capitalism.
The Sewell Report through ESEA eyes: Part One
Vy-Liam Ng writes his feelings about The Sewell Report for besea.n. The article assesses the Sewell Report through a personal lens and, in the spirit of progress, through the lens of the ESEA experience.
Interview with Julie Ma, author of Happy Families
We interviewed Welsh-Born Chinese author, Julie Ma, to chat about her upbringing and her debut novel, Happy Families, which won the Richard & Judy Search for a Bestseller 2020.
Sinophobia Part 2 - The Media
Part 2 of this series by Enxi Chang on Sinophobia, exploring the role of the media.
Storytelling through travel, with Alicia Warner
With the introduction of the BNO visa, Vy-liam Ng explores what this means both societally, politically, and what this means for us in the UK.
The Hong Kong Story – The BNO for BESEA
With the introduction of the BNO visa, Vy-liam Ng explores what this means both societally, politically, and what this means for us in the UK.
10 things my Vietnamese mother taught me
On Mothers Day this year, Mai-Anh Peterson reflects on the life lessons she’s learned from her Vietnamese mother.
Hardly a zinger: ESEA food and the tide of ignorance
Amy Phung examines the damaging branding of a North London restaurant determined to tread on the skills and legacies of those that paved the way for it to exist.
TikTok are mad for Mochi. Meet Howard Wong, Co-Founder of Little Moons
Viv had the pleasure of speaking with Howard Wong, Co-Founder of Little Moons. Read to find out more on Howard’s thoughts on identity and business.
2020 - It wasn't easy, but it was ESEA
2020 was a year of many things: the pandemic, Biden winning the US election, Brexit, Tiger King and more. But out of a year that brought so many challenges, something fantastic happened - the ESEA community and allies have come together stronger than ever.
The 2021 Lunar New Year gift guide
2021’s Lunar New Year gift guide of ESEA-run businesses based in the UK.
No, our food is not dirty: #ESEAeats
2020 has shown that the ESEA community has the power to take a negative and deeply triggering situation and celebrate the things which make our communities different. #ESEAeats is one example of the hope we can create and fight for collectively as one group. With defiance and resilience in taking hold of the narrative, we can continue to hold those in positions of power and influence to account.
End of The Mahjong Line…
Earlier this week, we saw three women from Texas, US promoting their online business, The Mahjong Line. There was major controversy surrounding the problematic language used on their website and social media; with the founder, Kate, suggesting how her first Mahjong set didn’t reflect her own ‘personal style and personality’ and that the game needed a ‘respectful refresh’. In this post, we take back the narrative by sharing your #MahjongMemories…
We stand together and celebrate together - On International Migrants Day
Mariko Hayashi celebrates International Migrants Day by sharing the positive contributions and challenges migrants face and why she believes its important for the ESEA community to address these issues.
Sinophobia, Pt. 1: The Unspoken Virus
The first installment in a four-part series, multidisciplinary playwright, actor, spoken-word poet and Mandarin translator Enxi Chang 常恩悉 explores the increased prevalence of Sinophobia, and Western society’s reluctance to admit it.
ESEAly Muslim and Queer
Joy Muhammad Arrow is a mixed Asian-British bisexual Muslim intersectional activist and writer of ESEA heritage. She shares with an insight into her life with besea.n