Simon Tam

Simon Tam is an author, musician, activist, and self-proclaimed troublemaker. Best known as the founder and bassist of The Slants, the world’s first and only all-Asian American dance rock, he approaches activism through the arts and encourages people to challenge their perceptions of how we connect with others we normally don’t get along with. In 2017, he won a landmark case at the U.S Supreme Court, unanimously, helping to expand civil liberties for marginalized groups. His work has been highlighted in over 3,000 media features across over 150 countries, including Rolling Stone, TIME, NPR, BBC and the New York Times.

SEPTEMBER NON-FICTION: AN EXCERPT FROM "SLANTED: HOW AN ASIAN AMERICAN TROUBLEMAKER TOOK ON THE SUPREME COURT" BY SIMON TAM

"One thing I never expected to pick up from touring was my social justice activism—and I really dove into that world, of all places, at an anime convention." Here's an excerpt from Chapter 4 of Simon Tam's stereotype-flipping memoir on taking a fight all the way to the Supreme Court.

Chapter 4: Yo Ho

LIFE AS A TOURING MUSICIAN, I imagine, is a lot like being on the crew of a pirate ship.