Shirley Le is the Vietnamese-Australian author of the book 'Funny Ethnics.' As a child, Shirley grew up watching politicians on screen push harmful rhetoric and say things like Australia had been 'swamped by Asians.'
In cities Yagoona and Bankstown, she didn’t always feel like she belonged. She was called 'ethnic' often, further stigmatizing her as an outsider. That’s why she's reclaiming the word in the title of her book.
"I find great joy in being empowered to take the role of storyteller."
Today, she’s an important and authentic voice because of one central defiance: she is speaking from her community rather than for it.
Director Andrew Yee
Producers Andrew Yee Chris Yee
Editor Andrew Yee
Director of Photography Kaan Cansiz
Sound Andrew Yee
Assistant Editor Rendy Abi
Editor-in-Chief Keshia Hannam
Head of Production Stephanie Tangkilisan
Producer Yudistira Dilianzia
Post Production Coordinator Skolastika Lupitawina
Color Nadya Shabrina
Sound Ernesto Suarez
Additional Music by Leon Laudenbach - Pirate Blues Free Walking Trio - At the Corner Shahead Mostafafar - Purple Drop Lalinea - Calm On Ziv Grinberg - Its Fun Being a Cat Raw - Nonsense Bunker Buster - Arak Elite Kicktracks - Fat Banana
Additional Archival Material The Guardian, Funny Ethnics by Shirley Le review – a second-generation migrant wrestles with longing and belonging, (2023) Good Reads, Funny Ethnics, (2023) The West Australian, Book review: Funny Ethnics by Shirley Le a sharply humorous take on identity, racism and growing up, (2023) rtrfm, Shirley Le’s Funny Ethnics is not your usual coming of age story, (2023) The Sydney Morning Herald, ‘Biting, bold and visceral’. A debut novel about migrants and racism, (2023) Readings, Funny Ethnics by Shirley Le, (2023) Scrap multiculturalism, Pauline Hanson declares, (1996) Pauline Hanson's maiden speech: Has Australia been 'swamped by Asians'?, (2016) Macquarie University, Macquarie University Campus tour, (2021) Hungry Passport, VIETNAM Travel Guide 2023 - [Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Nha Trang, Ho Chi Minh City & more], 2022 Sweatshop, Sweatshop Women on The Drum, (2020)
Special Thanks Sweatshop Literacy Movement Michael Mohammed Ahmad Winnie Dunn Rosanna Hunt Benjamin Law Better Read Than Dead Books Kinokuniya
