California journalist Sam Chu Lin demonstrates America's love of ketchup during a talk Wednesday in the Materials Science Laboratory Auditorium. According to Chu Lin, an Asian Pacific American invented ketchup by cooking the tomatoes so they would not rot during times of flood. Chu Lin said the cooked tomatoes were then distributed in "Asian shaped bottles." Photo by Ed Vigil, Public Affairs
"Every time you drink a cup of coffee you partake in the Asian American experience," according to Sam Chu Lin. He also said an Asian American graduate student from Stanford patented powdered milk. Chu Lin, a reporter for KTTV Fox 11 news in Los Angeles spoke at the Laboratory’s Materials Science Laboratory Auditorium on Wednesday as part of the Lab’s observance of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.
Chu Lin refers to himself as fourth generation Chinese American by residence and first generation by birth. Born and raised in Mississippi, he said, he’s proud of his Asian Pacific heritage. He gives presentations across the country to ensure that the Asian Pacific community is not forgotten.
According to Chu Lin, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have helped to build a better America. There are more than 50 different Asian Pacific Islander groups and API heritage month started 25 years ago, he said. "We’ve done much more than just build the transcontinental railroad," he said.
"Asian American heroes can be well known or just the guy next door," said Chu Lin. "We need to let others know about Asian Pacific Islanders and we need to go out and learn about our neighbors so that we can give back to the community," said Chu Lin.
Chu Lin also said there is a need for Asian Americans to give not necessarily with just our money but with our knowledge and our time, because there is so much knowledge to share.
"Asian Americans have fought in wars since the days of the Civil War," Chu Lin continued. "Asian Americans are not just in the headlines, but part of this country and part of the politics. Asian Americans have demonstrated loyalty to our country with utmost pride," he said.
For more information about Asian Pacific Heritage month see the Asian American Diversity Working Group Web page at http://www.lanl.gov/orgs/dvo/asiandwg/ online.