Fact Sheet

The first Asian American history documentary series from NPR

Eight one-hour documentaries

Hosted by George Takei and Margaret Cho

Executive Producer: Dmae Roberts, Peabody-award-winning producer

With major funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting

Free to NPR stations

Available in March on the NPR satellite or the content depot for broadcast starting in May 2006 (Asian Pacific American Heritage Month) for one year.

Crossing East formatted to the NPR clock– 54:00 to allow for the five-minute newscast break.

We also offer 5:00 music features on Asian American artists for stations not using newsbreaks.

30-second Promos available with the program.

Crossing East is eight one-hour documentaries on the history of Asian American immigration, from pre-America to post-9/11.  The programs are hosted by George Takei and Margaret Cho.  The executive producer is Peabody award winning Producer Dmae Roberts.  

Because of systematic exclusionary laws, the numbers of Asians immigrating have been kept down over the course of America's history.  Though the fastest growing minority, Asians are viewed as perpetual foreigners and their history has largely been untold.  

Crossing East is the first comprehensive series on radio or television on Asian American history and it's due out in May 2006 (Asian Pacific American Heritage Month) on NPR stations.

For further information, contact Kathy Groneau of Creative PR at (888) 233-5650 or info@creativepr.org

Individual Hour Summaries:

#1 – First Contacts: Sailors, merchants, and fishermen from Hawaii, the Philippines, South Asia, and China joined in the adventure of America before there was an America.

#2 – Frontier Asians: Miners, buckaroos, farmers and doctors settled in the West and formed communities and towns.

#3 – Raising Cane: Since the mid 1700s Hawaii has been a connecting point between the U.S. and Asia with its multicultural sugar plantation history.

#4 – Exclusion & Resistance: Asians have been consistently legally excluded since 1882.

#5 – Brides & Children: War brides and adopted children from Asia bring understanding and awareness of Asian culture.

#6 – Post ’65 Generation: The Immigration Act of 1965 allowed Asian family members, entrepreneurs and skilled workers to immigrate to the U.S.

#7 – Refuge From War: Refugees fled after the U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War. 

#8 – New Waves, New Storms: Discriminatory laws and practices still exist but the Asian community unifies against hate crimes, racism and new injustices.