By Benjamin Pola

Nina Yang Bongiovi, Associated Chair of the Peter Stark Producing Program, helped kick off USC's AAPI Heritage Month celebration in early April. As a USC alum and renowned film producer, Bongiovi passionately emphasized the significance of inclusive narratives in her keynote. She highlighted the value of diverse storytelling, drawing from her personal journey to underscore the importance of embracing cultural heritage in one's career. 

Scroll down to read Bongiovi's speech. 

AAPI HERITAGE CELEBRATION
April 2, 2024
by Nina Yang Bongiovi

Heritage. The definition of heritage is: “valued objects and qualities such as cultural traditions.”

When I think of this word, it certainly has evolved quite a bit for me personally. I recalled being a little immigrant at the age of 5, moving from Taiwan to southern California with my mom…my parents have been told by many that my siblings and I could have a real future here. 

As we encountered this new world, a world who spoke a foreign language called English, a world that had to be interpreted by a kind Cambodian social worker who spoke Mandarin, Chinese –who searched endlessly for us, for a place to live. Looking for an apartment who would accept a mom with 4 kids in tow was not easy; and my sister is disabled…I still don’t understand how my mom powered through. My dad stayed back in Taiwan and would send us his paycheck every month. Fortunately, a senior citizens apartment took us in - about 15 miles from here in East Los Angeles - because my siblings and I were well-behaved, and oh so quiet. And that quietness continued. It continued because whenever we were to speak Mandarin in the public, we were mocked and ridiculed. Kids in the neighboring apartments would throw rocks at our windows and shouted awful, hurtful words at us. I resented my language, therefore my heritage, and I raged inside. I wanted to belong, and I wanted erasure of ME. 

Throughout my youth, I wished nothing less than to be American. I asked my mom to never speak Mandarin around me or my friends as I was ashamed. With fierceness in her eyes, she would always say, “I will never speak with you in English because one day, you will be grateful that you’ve kept your native tongue.” 

As I matured into adulthood, I came to understand that my heritage has become my superpower. My heritage allowed me to see and view things from an outsiders’ perspective, to grow empathy when humans are “othered,” to feel certain cultural connections when “Americana” wasn’t enough. My heritage allowed me to share with others the philosophies of Asian beliefs and customs, and to tell great stories from my parents and grandparents – and the richness of stories from my family and relatives were like no other; the abundance of history was a blessing. I recalled when my brother traced our genealogy (from my dad’s side) to a famous woman assassin from the Qing Dynasty which prompted an entire family’s name change – and that was almost 400 years ago; and my mom had the most incredible ghost stories from Taiwan that kept me at the edge of my seat every single time she repeated them…how I wish I can hear them again from her.

I’ve finally come to be comfortable in my own skin in grad school, here at USC, and had the confidence to speak my mind and explore what could be the real American dream. I never thought I could have a career in film and television – to champion underrepresented narratives and storytellers…to team up with my friends and allies with similar vision for a better, stronger, and authentic representation of us? that’s unheard of! 

Well, here I am, loud and unafraid to pursue my dreams, speaking my mind and speaking my native tongue: I’m so thrilled to be here at the University of Southern California to celebrate our history and our future. My mom would be ecstatic to know that I’m standing here on stage, speaking Mandarin!

...my mother’s spirit lives through me. She would be so proud. 

Count me in to lift our collective diaspora through great storytelling. I stand with you today, as a proud Asian American producer of film and television who is committed to shepherding stories told by our AAPI communities. I will fight for our value, worth, and equity. And that, it’s great business to be in OUR business. 

I want my Heritage to become my Legacy. I hope the same for you, and us, hand in hand.

Thank you for being here.

Nina Yang Bongiovi
Associate Chair, Stark MFA Producing Program
School of Cinematic Arts
University of Southern California