On Upstream tonight, we discussed Irwin Tang's latest book, Gook: John McCain's Racism and Why It Matters, with the author.
"The portrait of John McCain painted in Gook is far more disturbing than any racial epithet. A central thesis of Gook: war fertilizes racism, and racism justifies wars and the killing of civilians. This dynamic thrives within the most dangerous leaders of the world. Is John McCain one of them?"

It's going to be a great show, regardless of whether you participate in the existing electoral system, support Senator Obama, or thought you didn't care two shakes of a lamb's tail about John McCain. This show will be about the power of words, symbolism, racism, hate, war, and violence. (See below for Irwin's more extensive bio or go to http://www.irwinbooks.com/?page_id=3).

We are on the lookout for new hosts, so if you are interested in Upstream, listen in! Otherwise, support this project of the Social Justice Action Coalition.
www.myspace.com/upstreamradio

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Irwin A. Tang is the author or co-author of four books.
He is the editor and co-author Asian Texans: Our Histories and Our Lives. On this monumental project, he worked with some 20 other writers and researchers for a period of five years.
How I Became a Black Man and Other Metamorphoses (2006) is his first book-length work of fiction. The Austin Chronicle called this collection of stories "brilliant and heartbreaking," although most people found it quite humorous. Nha Magazine calls How I Became a Black Man "the Asian American Crying of Lot 49" and AsianWeek calls Tang's writing "laugh-out-loud funny" and "righteously sexy."
Irwin served as a co-author for Dr. Chi Huang, M.D. on his gripping memoir When Invisible Children Sing: a true story of five street children, an idealistic young doctor, and their dangerous hope (2006).
Publisher's Weekly wrote in a starred review that When Invisible Children Sing "demonstrates the humanity of those who are usually invisible."
Irwin's first book was The Texas Aggie Bonfire: Tradition and Tragedy at Texas A&M.
Irwin Tang was born and raised in College Station, Texas. As a child, he fought agains racist kids and small-town nothingness, all the while unknowingly embracing the spirit of Aggieland. Upon graduating from A&M Consolidated High School, he attended his hometown Texas A&M University on a major scholarship.
At Texas A&M, he was a campus leader on various issues, and when César Chávez spoke at the university, he asked Tang to work for the United Farm Workers. After graduation, Tang worked as a community organizer for the union and then earned a master's degree in Asian Studies at UT Austin.
Tang wrote his master's thesis on the history of the political organizing surrounding anti-Asian violence in the United States. While studying at UT, Tang co-led a movement to establish the university's Center for Asian American Studies.
After enlightening experiences as a substitute teacher and a worker in a social program for the homeless, Tang earned a master's degree in fiction and screenwriting from the University of Southern California. In 1998, he took a trip to La Paz, Bolivia to witness the work of then-medical student Chi Huang, who was treating street children for ailments and police brutality and gang violence. From this came the publication by Salt River/Tyndale House of When Invisible Children Sing: a true story of five street children, an idealistic young doctor, and their dangerous hope by Dr. Chi Huang, M.D., with Irwin Tang.
Tang has since worked as a freelance writer, an NPR radio correspondent, and a college screenwriting teacher. He continues to seek production of his screenplays, one of which was optioned in Hollywood.
In 2002, Tang started the Asian Texans History Project with the help of the UT-Austin Center for Asian American Studies, with one major aim being the publication of a comprehensive history of Asian Americans in Texas.
In 2003, Tang caused a national sports controversy by criticizing basketball superstar Shaquille O'Neal for his racial taunts and threats against basketball rookie Yao Ming. The controversy helped change the way that Asians are treated in U.S. sports media.
In 2005, Irwin Tang decided to publish the short stories he had been working on for ten years. The stories are largely based on his childhood, coming of age, the splintering of his identity, and his attempts to find meaning looking through a shattered looking glass.
Irwin Tang is a professional counselor holding an LPC-Intern license. He lives in Austin, Texas.