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Within Texas’ rich multiethnic history, the stories of Asian American families are often overlooked. That’s why filmmaker Tim Tsai helped give them a forum with his PBS series, Austin Revealed: Pioneers from the East.

First broadcast in 2015, it was a preview in many ways of what PBS is doing with its massive and enthralling five-part series, Asian Americans, currently being broadcast as part of Asian and Pacific Islander American Heritage Month.

Tsai (whose true-crime documentary Seadrift is available on PBS now) examined and highlighted how three families who migrated to Austin from Asia affected and amplified the city: the Wongs, who came to America as part of the Pershing Chinese who joined General Pershing’s army in pursuit of Pancho Villa, and then settled in America; the Lungs, who helped introduce Texas audiences to Chinese food in the wake of World War II; and the Aguallo Hernandez family, who were finally able to put the pieces together about their ancestor, Jo Fung Sheng, and make the story of the Sing family part of the story of Austin.

Catch the entire series on KLRU at the link below.

Austin Revealed: Pioneers from the East

• PBS (Link)

This article appears in May 15 • 2020.

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The Chronicle's first Culture Desk editor, Richard has reported on Austin's growing film production and appreciation scene for over a decade. A graduate of the universities of York, Stirling, and UT-Austin, a Rotten Tomatoes certified critic, and eight-time Best of Austin winner, he's currently at work on two books and a play.