Making Waves: The Rise of Asian America

Making Waves explores the role of ethnic studies in redefining Asian America.
by
Jon Osaki
2025
58 mins

Making Waves tells the story of past and present Asian American movements fueled by a legacy of anti-Asian hate in the United States. Activist, educators, and the hopeful voices of youth articulate the urgency to counter the harmful stereotypes that persist in America by amplifying the stories of Asian America to build political power, cross-racial alliances and service to the community.

While paying homage to the student activists at UC Berkeley and San Francisco State who birthed the Asian American movement in 1968, this moving documentary by Jon Osaki and Josh Chuck also introduces audiences to young activists like the Texas teenagers fighting to add Asian American studies to their state’s curriculum.
Hannah Bae
San Francisco Chronicle
Read more at: sfchronicle.com

Synopsis

Making Waves: The Rise of Asian American explores the vital role of ethnic studies in redefining the narrative and promoting service to communities across the country. From the 1968 student strikes at UC Berkeley and San Francisco State to present-day movements, Making Waves documents the stories of Asian American activism and efforts to lift-up ethnic studies as a strategy to address present and future anti-Asian hate.

Over the decades, waves of anti-Asian hate and violence has activated communities to examine the vital role of ethnic studies as a vital strategy to amplify the true experiences of Asians in America. This latest call for expanded Asian American Studies comes at a time when a culture war has erupted with many states enacting laws to prevent the teaching of systemic racism. False narratives connecting ethnic studies to critical race theory have led to book bans, policies eliminating diversity and inclusion practices, and the erasure of historical atrocities targeting communities of color. However, despite a deeply divided nation, a new generation of student activists are stepping forward to demand that their stories are taught throughout the country.

Reviews
Making Waves is clear, focused, and inspirational, shedding light on the work to create a world where Asian Americans are seen, understood, and valued, and where everyone feels represented in their education. The film is as much an honoring of the movement as it is an invitation to join it. Through Making Waves, we are invited to feel the joy and collective healing that comes with doing this movement work.
Vania Fong
Asia Blooming
Read more at: asiablooming.com
Making Waves is an important commentary on education in America. Creating Asian American Studies courses in the face of a national culture war over education and reluctant state institutions is truly awe-inspiring.
David Michaelsen
7-12 Social Studies, Texas

Awards and Screenings
Accolade Global Film Competition Award of Excellence
DisOrient Asian American Film Festival Reflections Award
The People's Film Festival Radical History Makers Award
Silicon Valley Asian Pacific Film Festival Best Social Justice Documentary
Impact Docs Award of Excellence

Director Commentary

I was extremely fortunate to attend a high school which offered an Asian American Studies class. Mistakenly, I had convinced myself that my upbringing in the Asian American community would somehow make the course intuitive. Little did I know that I would soon find myself struggling to keep up with an overwhelming amount of Asian American history I knew nothing about.

I would later take Asian American Studies courses in college and slowly, but steadily my consciousness began to take shape. During my college years I also happen to stumble upon employment at a youth development non-profit I would later learn was established by members of a revolutionary coalition called the Third World Liberation Front. It was incredibly inspiring to learn that it was the advocacy of students and activists who would demand and succeed at creating Ethnic Studies programs across the country. For nearly three decades, I have had the privilege of leading that same youth organization which was once born out of the Black Panther party's call to "serve the people."

In 2021, as I traversed the many racial and social justice issues erupting in this nation, including the re-emergence of anti-Asian hate in America, I was stunned to discover a tragic truth. Asian American Studies at UC Berkeley, one of the original, legacy programs in the country was in trouble. It was shocking to learn that one of the founding Asian American Studies programs was being diminished to a shell of its former stature. Equally as disturbing was the fact that even as a life-long Asian American activist, the distance between those in academia and the community had grown so wide, I had no clue this program was under siege.

Making Waves: The Rise of Asian America is a full-circle journey of activism, resilience, and belonging. The film begins in 1969 when the first Ethnic Studies struggle was won, but then takes audiences on a journey to experience the many ways that these programs continue to impact Asian American communities and people throughout this nation. Making Waves is ultimately about communities discovering self-determination and the voices of youth rising-up to reaffirm that Asian Americans have a rich history of experiences, struggles, and contributions to America.

Features and Languages

Film Features

  • Closed Captioning

Film/Audio Languages

  • English

Resources for Educators

File Downloads

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