Tea & Justice

Tea & Justice profiles three Asian women in the New York City Police Department: Agnes Chan, the force's first Asian American female officer; Trish Ormsby, who joined because she felt degraded in her corporate position; and Detective Christine Leung, who applied on a dare and had to persuade recruiters that she was physically tough enough for the job. All three joined the NYPD in the 1980s and are now retired. The women are articulate and open about their backgrounds, reactions of their parents (not happy) to their career choices, and the discrimination they faced because of both gender and ethnicity. The trio talk about balancing femininity and strength, and the qualities that made them good at their jobs, and all feel it's important that more Asians work in law enforcement where Asian cultures predominate. Filmmaker Ermena Vinluan adds her own observations, including her belief that women are more likely than men to seek peaceful solutions in heated situations rather than use force; they may also hold their colleagues to higher ethical standards and be ostracized as a result. Cartoons, stills, and archival and contemporary footage provide the visuals (an illustrated timeline takes a lighthearted look at the history of minorities in the NYPD) for this interesting slice-of-life portrait that also features interviews with colleagues and community residents. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (M. Puffer-Rothenberg)