Steven Yeun’s Oscar nomination (and possible win) is a big deal. Some may argue, so what? Technically Yul Brynner was the first “Asian-American” actors who was nominated for (and won) the Best Actor trophy, but Steven Yeun’s nomination is significant in many ways.

Let’s accept the fact that Yul Brynner was, in fact, the first, even though Mr. Brynner did not build his career as an person-of-color actor. Besides, that was 1956. Yeun’s nomination came a whole 55 years later — I’d wager that many of Mr. Yeun’s fans weren’t even born in 1956 (I wasn’t).

55 years is a long time.

Now that is out of the way, let’s examine why Yeun’s nomination is so significant. First of all, this came at a time when Asian-Americans are being attacked due to heightened racism in the US. Anti-Asian sentiments are rising across America, perpetuated by lies and insensitivities. The previous administration gleefully threw around the term “Kung Flu” or “China Virus” to fan the flames. Regardless of nationalities, members of the AAPI community are targets of assault, prejudice and ridicule even if they have nothing to do with China or the pandemic (Steven Yeun is of South Korean descent, for example). So Yeun’s nomination is a big deal because it draws attention to the other side of the racism coin: UNDER-REPRESENTATION.

Even though AAPI have, by and large, stayed quiet, productive, and earned certain respects in their communities, they are still sorely under-represented in media. There is a joke among AAPI artists that the only way someone can make it in Hollywood is by being an ugly comedian. It’s true. Look around you, most well-known Asian actors are, in fact, comedians (albeit not really “ugly”). They have found success, but they are forever held back by playing only supporting roles or comic reliefs. And if you say, “there are Asian leading men and women,” look again. Unless you’re of mixed races (Keanu Reeves, Henry Golding, to name a few) or you know martial art, your chances of being cast as a male lead in a Hollywood movie are slim. Even if you do end up there, most likely you’re limited to Asian- or Martial Art-theme productions (e.g. Warrior, Crazy Rich Asians, Shang-Chi, even Minari, for which Yeun was nominated). We can count on one hand the number of leading men of Asian descent in a non-Asian-theme movie or TV show (e.g. Henry Golding in Last Christmas… can you think of anything else?).

Yeun’s nomination is a big deal also because he’s earned it. His performance in Minari is sublime, nuanced and heartfelt. And that was built on top of a career that had started out in comedy (surprise!) and then a breakout, non-Asian specific role in The Walking Dead. His heartfelt performance in TWD has made his tragic character one of the most beloved. While Minari is about Asian-Americans, the theme is undeniably AMERICAN: It’s about a man pursuing his dream despite what culture, society, or even his own family tells him. Isn’t “pursuit of happiness” the ultimate American dream? It’s fair to say that Yeun, an American immigrant, encompasses all of that quality, and his Oscar nomination is a culmination of hard work, against all odds, to achieve a formidable American Dream. In some ways, Yeun has somehow crossed the invisible wall, having success playing non-Asian specific roles and becoming a leading man without having to throw a few punches. His recent first-look deals are testament that he is now considered an A-List star with power.

Amidst all the chaos and anti-Asian sentiments, I feel that Asian-Americans are finally waking up, and we begin to realize that yes, we’ve been under-represented, and yes, we’ve been silenced, and yes, we’ve been ignored. There are many Asian-American artists out there still struggling, still waiting to be seen, heard or read. While a few managed to rise to the top, the struggle persists. As communities, we need to support and help Asian-American artists. As a society, we need more Asian voices to be heard. We are on the cusp of breaking out, much like African-Americans and Latin-Americans of the last few decades. And that makes a lot of people nervous.

That’s why Steven Yeun’s nomination (and potential win) is a big deal.

(read/hear about my discussion with Reta on NPR’s Talk of the Nation here)