Russell Leong


Russell Charles Leong is an academic editor, professor, writer, and long-time Chen-style tai chi student. The long-time editor of Amerasia Journal, Leong was an adjunct professor of English and Asian-American Studies at University of California, Los Angeles and currently serves as senior editor for international projects. He is the founding editor of the, published by the, and served as a Dr. Thomas Tam Visiting Professor at Hunter College/CUNY. He is the author of which received the American Book Award. His most recent publication,, a graphic poem about New York City restaurant bicycle deliverymen, was released in 2015.
WWW russellleongwrites.com

Early life

Leong was born in Chinatown, San Francisco. Leong attended local Chinese and American schools where his English teachers and family encouraged him to write.
In 1972, he received his B.A. from San Francisco State University, where he took one of the first Asian/American writing classes from Jeffery Paul Chan. Linking art with social and political activism for Asian-Americans, Leong participated in the Kearny Street Workshop. From 1973 to 1974, Leong studied at the National Taiwan University before earning an MFA from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1990.

Career

Leong was the editor of Amerasia Journal, and an adjunct professor of English and Asian-American Studies at University of California, Los Angeles
From 2012–2013, Leong served as a Dr. Thomas Tam Visiting Professor at Hunter College, CUNY in New York City. He is the founding editor of, published by the Asian American / Asian Research Institute - CUNY.
Leong is also the editor and project coordinator for the, published by the UCLA Asian American Studies Center.
In 2015, Leong published "Mothsutra: For Those Who Delivery Food on Bicycles / New York City," a visual graphic portfolio of his poetry and drawings. "MothSutra" was performed at the Bowery Poetry Club NYC and at the City University of New York's . It will be published as an e-book by the UCLA Asian American Studies Center.

Personal life

Leong has a "life is war" ideology representing his dislike towards the academic community. He would like to see himself more as an activist than an academic. Leong's religious views relate most strongly to Buddhist philosophy. Buddhism applies to many aspects of his life including relationships and writing. He agrees with the accepting nature of Buddhism and finds it a strong, but not oppressive set of values to incorporate in daily life.

Full Oeuvre

Selected works

Mothsutra: For Those Who Deliver Food on Bicycles / New York City Phoenix Eyes and Other StoriesThe Country of Dreams and Dust
  • ''My Chinatown A to Z''

Fiction, Memoir and Poetry

  • "No Bruce Lee"
  • "Looking after Hands"
  • "Enter the Year of the Dragon"
  • "Haishan"
  • "The Story of Haishan"
  • "Memories of Stone Places"
  • "Fish don't wear no hats"
  • "A Yin and Her Man"
  • "Litany"
  • "Geography One"
  • "The Painted Branch"
  • "Aloes"
  • "Clay"
  • "Granite"
  • "Sail"
  • "Unfolding Flowers, Matchless Flames"
  • "In the Country of Dreams and Dust"
  • "Beware of the M Word"
  • "Aerogrammes"

Video Documentaries on Writers