Asian American Substacks We’re Reading Now
Woven is a Bookshop.org affiliate. We earn a small commission when you buy a book through links in this article, at no extra cost to you. Bookshop.org’s profits support independent bookstores.
The most interesting Asian American Substacks right now aren’t always published by the major outlets — they’re run by working journalists, book authors, and independent writers building readerships of their own. The five we’ve been reading are below — each covers a distinct beat, and each is worth a subscription.
Half-Caste Woman by Katie Gee Salisbury
Salisbury writes about race, belonging, and forgotten histories in American film and culture. She’s the author of Not Your China Doll, a biography of Anna May Wong — the first Asian American movie star — and her newsletter extends that work into mixed-race identity, Hollywood erasure, and the figures classic Hollywood would rather we forget.
Thought Process by Ellie Yang Camp
Camp writes about anti-Asian violence, racial identity, and the Asian American experience in the United States. She’s the author of Louder Than the Lies, and her newsletter pairs essays with reading recommendations, event announcements, and reflections on AAPI history and the political moment.
The kultura by Nicole Abriam
Abriam writes about Filipino diaspora culture, identity, history, and current affairs — covering food, language, art, and politics across the global Filipino community. The newsletter also includes an interview series with Filipino entrepreneurs, activists, and creators.
Iris Writes by Iris (Yi Youn) Kim
Kim writes about Asian American identity, mixed-race representation, and contemporary pop culture. Recent essays examine the rise of “Wasian” representation in film and music, K-pop fandom, and the books and friendships shaping her reading life. She also contributes cultural criticism to Salon.
Dear Clarissa by Clarissa Wei
Wei is a freelance journalist and cookbook author writing about Taiwanese food, food systems, and the business of building a food brand. She is the author of Made in Taiwan and the forthcoming Sitting the Month, a cookbook of postpartum Taiwanese recipes, and the co-founder of HEYDOH, a single-origin soy sauce company.
These aren’t the only Asian American Substacks worth reading, and we’ll be back with more. If you’ve also enjoyed our guide to Asian American memoirs and have a newsletter you’d add to this list, we’d love to hear about it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best Asian American Substacks to follow?
Some of the best Asian American Substacks right now include Half-Caste Woman by Katie Gee Salisbury (race and Hollywood history), Thought Process by Ellie Yang Camp (anti-Asian violence and AAPI identity), the kultura by Nicole Abriam (Filipino diaspora culture), Iris Writes by Iris Kim (mixed-race identity and pop culture), and Dear Clarissa by Clarissa Wei (Taiwanese food and culture).
Who is Katie Gee Salisbury?
Katie Gee Salisbury is the author of Not Your China Doll, a biography of Anna May Wong, the first Asian American movie star. Her Substack, Half-Caste Woman, covers mixed-race identity, forgotten Hollywood histories, and Asian American representation in film and culture.
Who is Clarissa Wei?
Clarissa Wei is a freelance journalist and cookbook author specializing in Taiwanese food. She is the author of Made in Taiwan and the co-founder of HEYDOH, a single-origin soy sauce company. Her Substack, Dear Clarissa, covers Taiwanese food systems and the business of building a food brand.
What is the kultura Substack about?
The kultura, written by Nicole Abriam, covers Filipino diaspora culture, identity, history, and current affairs. It includes writing on food, language, art, and politics, as well as an interview series featuring Filipino entrepreneurs, activists, and creators.
Are there more Asian American newsletters on Substack?
Yes — the five featured here represent a cross-section of the Asian American writing happening on Substack. Woven will continue highlighting independent Asian American writers and newsletters as part of our ongoing coverage of the community.
