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A Happy 40th Anniversary To AALDEF!

Who were this year's recipients of AALDEF's Justice in Action Awards?

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Last night, I had the privilege and pleasure of attending the 40th anniversary celebration of the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF). Forty years is a remarkable milestone, so everyone was in a celebratory spirit. Here’s my account of the evening, which also honored several leaders within the Asian-American community….

The festivities took place at Pier 60 here in New York City. I was seated at the K&L Gates table, as a guest of partner Wilson Chu, a leading M&A lawyer. Throughout the evening, various attendees approached our table to say hello to the well-connected Chu, who seems to know everyone who’s anyone.

The program began with welcoming remarks by Tommy Shi, president of AALDEF’s board of directors, and Margaret Fung, executive director of AALDEF. Fung provided an overview of AALDEF’s accomplishments over its four decades but noted that much work remains to be done on a wide range of issues, from voting rights to immigration.

The dinner was, of course, a fundraiser for AALDEF. Harnessing the power of texting, guests were invited to text pledges to AALDEF (347-602-3157), which were then displayed on large screens throughout the room. My favorite pledge was this one: “$25 — I still have student loans but AALDEF is worth it!” (If you’d like to donate to AALDEF, you can do so here.)

Proceedings then turned to presentation of AALDEF’s Justice in Action Awards, overseen by emcees Juju Chang of ABC News and Cindy Hsu of WCBS. This year, the deserving honorees were as follows:

  • John G. Chou, Executive Vice President and General Counsel of AmerisourceBergen Corporation, and a pillar of the Asian-American bar;
  • Mari J. Matsuda, Professor of Law at the University of Hawai’i at Manoa, known for her pioneering scholarship in critical race theory; and
  • Aasif Mandvi, the Indian-American actor and comedian perhaps best-known for his work as a correspondent on The Daily Show.

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Aasif Mandvi was the professional comedian among the group, but John Chou used humor in his remarks quite skillfully. He explained that he wanted to study English literature and pursue a career in journalism, but wound up majoring in biochemistry and going to law school after losing negotiations with his parents. “Fortunately for my employer, I’m a lot better at negotiation now.” He joked about how Asian-American parents favor medical school over law school — but then made a serious point about the important role that lawyers can play in protecting the Asian-American community from injustice.

The struggle for justice featured prominently in Professor Matsuda’s acceptance speech. She said that when she consoles students who have encountered roadblocks or opposition in their efforts to promote social justice, she tells them, “You have to decide who in your life judges you. If you get pushback, it’s because you’re not standing still.” Turning to AALDEF, she talked about how the organization is needed not just during times of crisis, like 9/11 or the Golden Venture crash, but during times of social change, when it’s possible to bring about a “justice convergence.”

In his remarks, Aasif Mandvi was just as funny as his hilarious appearances on The Daily Show would have predicted. Acknowledging that he might not be an obvious choice for an award from AALDEF, he quipped, “I’m sure you’ve been wondering: what about the comedians? Are they getting enough awards?” Discussing how he wound up at The Daily Show, he noted that he was initially a bit of a snob in response to the offer, as a stage actor performing the works of Chekov and Ibsen — “but I took the job because I was an actor who needed the money.”

Mandvi made some serious points as well. He talked about how his work as a Daily Show correspondent, which has required him to meet with and interview bigoted people around the country, has “radicalized” him, increasing his awareness of race- and religion-based prejudice in our society. He talked about the important role that programs like The Daily Show can play in holding people accountable for their actions.

Holding people accountable and promoting justice: this is what AALDEF has been doing for the past four decades. Congratulations to this worthy organization on its 40th anniversary, and good luck to AALDEF as it continues to fight important battles.

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Justice in Action Awards [Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund]
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