Epitomized in media like Crazy Rich Asians, boba liberalism diverges from the radical roots of the 1960’s and 1970’s Asian American Movement. Asian American cuisine has largely remained the domain of “boba liberals.” This talk contrasts the career of one such “boba liberal” restauranteur, Cecilia Chiang (1920-2020), with those of her workers. Chiang operated San Francisco’s first fine-dining Chinese restaurant, The Mandarin. Yet, this fame ultimately obscures the equally significant labor history of The Mandarin, whose employees formed the first documented labor union of Chinese American restaurant workers in the country during the 1970’s.

Ultimately, this talk asks us to consider who we are speaking about when we talk of Asian American leaders. Does Cecilia Chiang represent the Asian American community? And most importantly, what is risked by continuing to uncritically uplift such figures?