Who Killed Vincent Chin Discussion Guide The Film: Key Participants and Issues

The Film: Key Participants and Issues

In this collection:

Film Summary and Using This Guide

Before You Begin: Tips and Tools for Facilitators

The Film: Key Participants and Issues

Background Information

Discussion Prompts

Taking Action

Resources

Credits & Ackowledgements

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Vincent Chin - adopted son of C. W. and Lily Chin; held two jobs as a draftsman and waiter; recent graduate of computer trade school; murder victim
Lily Chin - mother of Vincent Chin; activist leader of the Justice for Vincent Chin campaign
Helen Zia - activist leader of the Justice for Vincent Chin campaign through the American Citizens for Justice organization
Horace Sheffield - founder and president of the Detroit Area Black Organizations (DABO)
Ronald Ebens - auto foreman who killed Vincent Chin
Nita Ebens - wife of Ronald Ebens
Michael Nitz - autoworker who was an accomplice to the murder of Vincent Chin; stepson of Ronald Ebens
Rich Wagner - friend of Ronald Ebens
Gary Koivu - friend of Vincent Chin
Racine Colwell - witness of what led to the killing, dancer at bar
“Starlene” - witness of what led to the killing, dancer at bar
Michael Gardenhire - off-duty Highland Park police officer who witnessed the crime
Morris Cotton - off-duty Highland Park police officer who witnessed the crime
Charles Kaufman - judge, Wayne County Circuit Court
Frank Eaman - defense attorney of Ronald Ebens and Michael Nitz

KEY ISSUES

Stereotypes of Asian Americans—“perpetual foreigner,” “model minority myth”
Institutional racism and criminal justice complex
Hate crimes and incidents
Legal justice
Racial scapegoating and discrimination
Activism
Cross-racial solidarity
Masculinity and violence

Who Killed Vincent Chin? is an excellent tool for outreach and will be of special interest to people who want to explore the following topics:

Racial Scapegoating and Discrimination
Systems of Legal and Criminal Injustice
Asian American Activism and Cross-Racial Solidarity

Sources

About the author:

Freda Lin

Freda Lin is the co-director of YURI Education Project, a business that develops curriculum and professional learning with a focus on Asian American and Pacific Islander stories. She began this work as a student activist leader for Asian American Studies at Northwestern University. This led her to become a middle and high school teacher to integrate these and other marginalized stories in schools. She taught history and leadership at Chicago and San Francisco Bay Area schools for 16 years. After leaving the teaching field, she facilitated social movement history tours with Freedom Lifted and consulted with the Center for Asian American Media and UC Berkeley History-Social Science Project. She also served as the education program director of the Fred T. Korematsu Institute, where she implemented new programming to promote awareness of the World War II Japanese American incarceration experience and its connection to current issues. Freda currently serves on the National Council for History Education Board of Directors.