No.3 Frank Chin

Introduction

Frank Chin is an American author and playwright. He was born in Berkeley, California. He attended college at the University of California, Berkeley. He is regarded as a pioneer and activist in Asian American writers. He currently resides in Los Angeles.

Selected Works

• The Chickencoop Chinaman 1971
• The Year of the Dragon (play) 1974
• Aiiieeeee: An Anthology of Asian American Writers 1974
• The Chinaman Pacific and Frisco R.R. Co 1988
• Donald Duk 1991
• The Big AIIIEEEEE!: An Anthology of Chinese American and Japanese American Literature 1991
• Born in the USA: A Story of Japanese America, 1889-1947, 2002

Recognition&Awards

Chin received an American Book Award in 1989 for a collection of short stories, and another in 2000 for Lifetime Achievement.

Influences

Chin is considered to be one of the pioneers in Asian American Theater. His opinions are radical and hence arouse great controversy. In his works, he expresses the rage against the stereotypes of the

Asian male. He founded the Asian American Theater Workshop, which became the Asian American Theater Company in 1973. His play, the "Chickencoop Chinaman" was the first by an Asian American to be produced on a major New York stage. Frank Chin criticizes other Asian American writers, particularly Maxine Hong Kingston and Amy Tan, of furthering such stereotypes and misrepresenting the traditional stories by faking Asian literature and history. He is the pioneer of Asian American literature and makes constant efforts to eliminate racism and stereotypes of Asian Americans in America society.(Wikipedia)