Robert Maningding, also called LLAG by his facebook public namesake, or "Love Letters of an Asian Guy", has, in more recent years, been a voice for asian activism. However, there are many things that he says regarding matters of asian activism that are controversial amongst the pan-Asian community and I think needs some pretty serious criticizing. If we are to have an honest conversation about asian activism and representation, I think we ought to examine them.
problem #1: His distinction between SE vs. non-SE asians
For starters, one quip has been that he has always made a distinction between southeast asians and non-southeast asians, wherein he has consistently tried to paint non-SE Asian activists as uncommitted, or less committed (on average?) to the cause of asian activism. There is absolutely nothing to suggest that this is the case, and even if it is, we shouldn't be putting a divide amongst the pan-Asian community and pitting one Asian race after the other; instead, we ought to address problems constructively and give the most charitable interpretation of any argument. To have an honest conversation about asian activism and representation means that you shouldn't be making assumptions regarding a large part of other asian activists and needlessly bring discord, and Maningding doesn't seem to understand this.
In the picture below are some of his posts wherein he said his issues with non-SE asian activists.
Dude, if you're gonna be the voice of asian activism everywhere, you shouldn't be making base assumptions about a HUGE section of asian activists, much less in a condescending tone wherein no one really resonates with your opinion. Calling East Asian activists "punk asses" doesn't seem very unifying for asian activism, I would think.
Now what was his concern here anyway? Supposedly East Asian activists don't care about non-East-Asian-country issues. To be as charitable as possible, i'll interpret this as saying East Asian activists care more about their own problems and less of those outside the East Asian diaspora. Which, initially I don't think seems that bad, if at all; people are just more concerned about their own problems, and while you ought to care about another group's problems to an extent, it seems rational to care more about your own problems. However, within the scope of Asian activism, you ought to give those issues that are outside of your own pan-Asian section more consideration. That's fair too. However, the manner in which he did this is completely beneath him. As a representative of Asian activism, you should be above mocking and deriding them in the manner in which you just did.
problem #2: endless pandering for the black, erm african american? audience
Sorry about that weird impromptu title, I just feel like I need to check the PC mark here lol.
Another problem that seems to be a common theme amongst LLAG's messages is that he seems like he panders to the African American audience; this is partly an extension of his criticism of East Asian activists, wherein he claims that they "want to be the White people of asians". While we ought to care about the problems of black people, to have an honest conversation, we should not be pandering to any demographic to get a point across, point blank period. The pandering peaked when, in a recent podcast with The Extraordinary Negroes, when the hosts asked LLAG if there was anything they could do in order to foster better understanding and ties with Asians. His answer: "nothing".
....
Really? "Nothing"? The fuck is that shit? There are so many things that could help in that regard, and he says "nothing"? It's bad enough that he has the audacity to call out East Asians for supposed pandering to white people, but yet here he is giving the politically correct answer to a question that had some very easy answers, wherein him of all people should know and be able to answer honestly.
So yeah, overall LLAG is a hack and should not be taken seriously. Now while he brings some problems to light that would otherwise not be recognized by people, I think if you really want a voice for asian activism and representation, Maningding unfortunately has a lot of self-reflection before he makes himself rightfully qualified to talk about said activism and representation.
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