Its a difficult moment for Asian Americans : In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, people in AAPI communities have been widely scapegoated for the virus, which is believed to have originated in Wuhan, China. The online reporting forum Stop AAPI Hate said that since its inception on March 18, its received more than 1,500 reports of discrimination primarily targeting Asian Americans.

Given everything thats going on, Asian Pacific American Heritage Month couldnt be better timed. To mark APAHM this year, we asked artists, writers and other creators of Asian descent to share one thing theyre currently reading, listening to or watching to counter all the negativity.

Their recommendations include everything from a sprawling five-part PBS documentary series on the Asian American experience to a graphic novel by Gene Luen Yang in which Superman absolutely pummels the Ku Klux Klan. See all their recs below.

Responses have been edited for style and clarity.

TV Shows

Ugly Delicious on Netflix

As a food and beverage professional, I immediately missed working with hospitality and flavor on a daily basis when social distancing began. One of the first things I watched when I couldnt work every day was David Changs Ugly Delicious series on Netflix . Watching this show helped with the loss of my professional identity in my day to day, but it also brought me so much more hope and joy than I expected. At the heart of this travel/food documentary series is the idea that all cultures are more similar than we expect and that we can all connect with food. In a time when I was feeling alienated because of my cultural identity, remembering that every culture has their version of a dumpling gave me a sense of inclusion.

While watching the first episode of season two, Kids Menu, I sat in my living room crying. Partially because I needed a release from all the stress, but mostly because the stories of parents succeeding in their careers and having families despite how difficult it is to juggle both in our industry gave me so much hope. Seeing another first-generation Asian American use their love of food and culture to have an incredible career and beautiful family has helped motivate me to use this time to move toward the life I want on the other side of this. Caer Maiko, bartender and co-owner of Daijoubu Pop Up