Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
"Doing something is always better than doing nothing."
Through six decades of tireless advocacy as an activist, labor organizer, journalist, and author, Helen Zia has shaped the modern civil rights landscape in America. Growing up amid intense anti-Asian xenophobia in the 1950s and 60s, Zia looked to the rising civil rights and anti-war movements to discover the power of collective resistance.
Her life is defined by breaking barriers—she graduated from Princeton in its first co-ed class and fought for equity within the labor movement. Her leadership in the historic, unified Asian-American response to the murder of Vincent Chin in 1982 was the catalyst for a national civil rights movement and empowered Zia to find her own voice as a proud lesbian, a queer person of color.
Subscribe to THIRTEEN newsletters to stay informed:thirteen.org/email-preferences/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=HonoringOurStories&utm_id=HonoringOurStories
This episode is from Hidden Voices in the Historical Narrative, a video series produced by THIRTEEN’s Kids’ Media & Education team in collaboration with the New York City Public Schools social studies department, with funding from the New York City Council.
The WNET Group presents Honoring Our Stories: LGBTQ+ Pride featuring films, documentaries and digital-first archival content from the THIRTEEN vault. Throughout the month of June, we'll highlight programs that focus on our civil rights history and milestone events and the vibrant cultural contributions to stage, screen and the arts from the LGBTQIA+ community.
#HelenZia #CivilRights #AsianAmericanHistory #AAPI #QueerHistory #VincentChin #Intersectionality #LaborMovement #MsMagazine #SocialJustice #StopAsianHate #MarriageEquality #LGBTQ #LGBTQIA #PrideMonth #HiddenVoices
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For full episodes, check out thirteen.org
Facebook: facebook.com/thirteenwnet
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TikTok: tiktok.com/@thirteenwnet
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THIRTEEN is one of America’s most respected and innovative public media providers. Part of The WNET Group, THIRTEEN is a unique cultural and educational institution that harnesses the power of television and electronic media to inform, enlighten, entertain and inspire. The flagship public television station of the New York City tri-state area and the most-watched public television channel in the nation, THIRTEEN reaches millions of people with programming that celebrates arts and culture, offers insightful commentary on the news of the day, explores the worlds of science and nature, and invites people of all ages to have fun while learning.
"Doing something is always better than doing nothing."
Through six decades of tireless advocacy as an activist, labor organizer, journalist, and author, Helen Zia has shaped the modern civil rights landscape in America. Growing up amid intense anti-Asian xenophobia in the 1950s and 60s, Zia looked to the rising civil rights and anti-war movements to discover the power of collective resistance.
Her life is defined by breaking barriers—she graduated from Princeton in its first co-ed class and fought for equity within the labor movement. Her leadership in the historic, unified Asian-American response to the murder of Vincent Chin in 1982 was the catalyst for a national civil rights movement and empowered Zia to find her own voice as a proud lesbian, a queer person of color.
Subscribe to THIRTEEN newsletters to stay informed:thirteen.org/email-preferences/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=HonoringOurStories&utm_id=HonoringOurStories
This episode is from Hidden Voices in the Historical Narrative, a video series produced by THIRTEEN’s Kids’ Media & Education team in collaboration with the New York City Public Schools social studies department, with funding from the New York City Council.
The WNET Group presents Honoring Our Stories: LGBTQ+ Pride featuring films, documentaries and digital-first archival content from the THIRTEEN vault. Throughout the month of June, we'll highlight programs that focus on our civil rights history and milestone events and the vibrant cultural contributions to stage, screen and the arts from the LGBTQIA+ community.
#HelenZia #CivilRights #AsianAmericanHistory #AAPI #QueerHistory #VincentChin #Intersectionality #LaborMovement #MsMagazine #SocialJustice #StopAsianHate #MarriageEquality #LGBTQ #LGBTQIA #PrideMonth #HiddenVoices
Please SUBSCRIBE if you enjoyed: youtube.com/@ThirteenWNET?sub_confirmation=1
For full episodes, check out thirteen.org
Facebook: facebook.com/thirteenwnet
Instagram: instagram.com/thirteenwnet
TikTok: tiktok.com/@thirteenwnet
-----------------
THIRTEEN is one of America’s most respected and innovative public media providers. Part of The WNET Group, THIRTEEN is a unique cultural and educational institution that harnesses the power of television and electronic media to inform, enlighten, entertain and inspire. The flagship public television station of the New York City tri-state area and the most-watched public television channel in the nation, THIRTEEN reaches millions of people with programming that celebrates arts and culture, offers insightful commentary on the news of the day, explores the worlds of science and nature, and invites people of all ages to have fun while learning.
