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She also recognized Takei for his work as an LGBTQ advocate. He directed and starred in the show “Allegiance” on Broadway, which was set in a US-run internment camp during World War II. Takei used his own experiences with internment as a child to speak out against anti-immigrant policies.

Chang also acknowledged civil rights leader, Fred Korematsu, who was also known as the “Asian Rosa Parks.” He fought against the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II.

New York Knicks star Jeremy Lin is another Asian American figure who Chang said she admired for bringing the topic of representation to the basketball court. The Knicks launched his campaign “Linsanity,” which had a positive impact on Asian American fans who cheered him on. Juju Chang was one of those fans, and she still has the shirt to prove it!

\"PHOTO:
Courtesy Juju Chang
PHOTO: Juju Chang is photographed wearing her "Linsanity" Jeremy Lin shirt.
>

“He brought attention to the need for representation both on and off the court,” she said.

The journalist also credited “Crazy Rich Asians” author, Kevin Kwan, and Jon M. Chu, who directed the movie based on the novel, for “making a bold statement about Asian Americans in media.”

“Crazy Rich Asians” was a smash hit at the box office and was the first feature-length movie led by an all-Asian cast since “The Joy Luck Club” premiered 25 years ago.

Chang saluted these men and women saying, “I stand on their shoulders, proud and grateful for all that these pioneering leaders have done for all of us.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Juju Chang (@jujuchangabc) on Aug 17, 2018 at 9:06pm PDT

Editor's note: This was originally published on May 2, 2019.

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