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This viral Twitter thread perfectly shows why ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ is so important.

This viral Twitter thread perfectly shows why ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ is so important.

Over the weekend, Warner Bros. new rom-com, “Crazy Rich Asians,” made its debut at number one at the American Box Office, bringing in $25.1million. The film is the first by a major Hollywood studio to feature a predominantly-Asian cast since 1993’s “The Joy Luck Club.”

That’s right, it’s been 25 years.

The film has also received amazing reviews. It has a 93% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes and has been praised for its “terrific cast” and visual “razzle dazzle.”

The film stars Constance Wu as a native New Yorker who travels to Singapore for a wedding to meet her boyfriend’s (Henry Golding) family. The family ends up being extremely wealthy and full of quirky characters.

via Getty Images by Alberto E. Rodriguez

While the film’s critical and financial success are important in an industry that’s decisions are firmly anchored to the bottom line, the film's biggest impact has undoubtedly been on the Asian community.

Asians are one of the most underrepresented groups in American cinema. Of the 174 theatrical films released in 2016, Asian actors and actresses made up 3.1 percent of top film roles.

Now, for the first time in a generation, Asian-Americans are able to see a Hollywood film with a predominantly Asian cast.

When people see themselves represented in popular culture, it gives them permission to dream bigger. It shows them their experiences are relevant and that their voices should be heard.

Kimberly Yam, editor of Asian Voices for HuffPost, perfectly summed up why the film is so important to her community. Yam shared her thoughts in a Twitter thread that traces her journey of self-acceptance.

Yam’s viral thread has also gave others a platform to share their stories.

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Adorable 'Haka baby' dance offers a sweet window into Maori culture

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If you've never seen a Maori haka performed, you're missing out.

The Maori are the indigenous peoples of New Zealand, and their language and customs are an integral part of the island nation. One of the most recognizable Maori traditions outside of New Zealand is the haka, a ceremonial dance or challenge usually performed in a group. The haka represents the pride, strength, and unity of a tribe and is characterized by foot-stamping, body slapping, tongue protrusions, and rhythmic chanting.

Haka is performed at weddings as a sign of reverence and respect for the bride and groom and are also frequently seen before sports competitions, such as rugby matches.

Here's an example of a rugby haka:

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Meet the people infusing their communities with love and support when it’s needed most

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If the past year has taught us nothing else, it's that sending love out into the world through selfless acts of kindness can have a positive ripple effect on people and communities. People all over the United States seemed to have gotten the message — 71% of those surveyed by the World Giving Index helped a stranger in need in 2020. A nonprofit survey found 90% helped others by running errands, calling, texting and sending care packages. Many people needed a boost last year in one way or another and obliging good neighbors heeded the call over and over again — and continue to make a positive impact through their actions in this new year.

Upworthy and P&G Good Everyday wanted to help keep kindness going strong, so they partnered up to create the Lead with Love Fund. The fund awards do-gooders in communities around the country with grants to help them continue on with their unique missions. Hundreds of nominations came pouring in and five winners were selected based on three criteria: the impact of action, uniqueness, and "Upworthy-ness" of their story.

Here's a look at the five winners:

Edith Ornelas, co-creator of Mariposas Collective in Memphis, Tenn.

Edith Ornelas has a deep-rooted connection to the asylum-seeking immigrant families she brings food and supplies to families in Memphis, Tenn. She was born in Jalisco, Mexico, and immigrated to the United States when she was 7 years old with her parents and sister. Edith grew up in Chicago, then moved to Memphis in 2016, where she quickly realized how few community programs existed for immigrants. Two years later, she helped create Mariposas Collective, which initially aimed to help families who had just been released from detention centers and were seeking asylum. The collective started out small but has since grown to approximately 400 volunteers.

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Budweiser cancelled its Super Bowl ad and donated the money to fight COVID anti-vaxxers

via Budweiser

Budweiser beer, and its low-calorie counterpart, Bud Light, have created some of the most memorable Super Bowl commercials of the past 37 years.

There were the Clydesdales playing football and the poor lost puppy who found its way home because of the helpful horses. Then there were the funny frogs who repeated the brand name, "Bud," "Weis," "Er."

We can't forget the "Wassup?!" ad that premiered in December 1999, spawning the most obnoxious catchphrase of the new millennium.

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Minnesota kindergarten teacher explains why she's refusing to take time off during chemotherapy

via Good Morning America

Anyone who's an educator knows that teaching is about a lot more than a paycheck. "Teaching is not a job, but a way of life, a lens by which I see the world, and I can't imagine a life that did not include the ups and downs of changing and being changed by other people," Amber Chandler writes in Education Week.

So it's no surprise that Kelly Klein, 54, who's taught at Falcon Heights Elementary in Falcon Heights, Minnesota, for the past 32 years still teaches her kindergarten class even as she is being treated for stage-3 ovarian cancer.

Her class is learning remotely due to the COIVD-19 pandemic, so she is able to continue doing what she loves from her computer at M Health Fairview Lakes Medical Center in Wyoming, Minnesota, even while undergoing chemotherapy.

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