Just a suggestion, but it may be more efficient to conduct midterms/finals in this class if you do everything the same...except give out outlines with all the possible questions for the essays to be hand written for the test.
So on the day before the test, give the students the outlines with the test questions on it. The outline should provide students the theses and citations from Takaki, Bold
Words, CRT term/tenets, etc. for the essay. It should be enough to get a good basis on
what to write, but not enough to copy the outline word-for-word so that students could finish the whole essay way before the time limit.
This will give the students plenty of time to cite sources and come up with well-structured essays. This should help because when the students walk in, they don't have to worry about collaborating with other students beforehand. They can start right away and finish the test within a reasonable amount of time. And students should still be able to learn and study the material this way. Again, this is just a suggestion that worked pretty well for my English teacher last year.
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Overall Class Reflection
I thought that this class was really interesting because a lot of it opened my eyes to how things were in America back then. It enhanced my perspective on other people's cultures and especially mine as a Chinese American. Before this class, I was taught in 5th grade that the only sucky part about being an Asian immigrant was going through Angel Island, but that obviously wasn't even close to half of what they all experienced. This realization also pointed out that US education should not focus solely on white history (with some black, civil rights, abolitionist history), but on one that consists of all the races that contributed to the prosperity of America. If only there were thousands of you teaching at high schools, or even middle schools, would our nation understand other races and how they stand in America today. Hopefully someday that will happen and there would be less racism and more acceptance of all people.
(Untitled)
As Chinese American, I would like to share my experience with double consciousness. First off, I was born in Taiwan and moved to California when I was still a baby. My dad was spent a lot of his youth in southern China and my mom was born in the Bronx and grew up in Miami. Both of them had parents who stuck to traditions pretty well and they are still being practiced today in the family. Our furniture arrangements are somewhat strange and traditional, we have "hot pot" dinners, celebrate Chinese holidays with relatives and have huge family dinners. Although we have family traditions dating way back to our ancestors in China, you can say that my family now is pretty Americanized considering that we are literate in English, eat American food and follow American customs.
I would say that I am technically the third generation of my family in America. My parents speak Chinese and my parents' parents spoke Chinese, but my brother and I speak only English and a little Spanish. Connecting with the reading, my brother and I follow the inevitable trend of Americanization. It's weird when I think about it. But it just happens when you're born in a community dominated by white people and customs and my parents never really were strict on learning Chinese or kept me away from Japanese kids like the mom from "Clay Walls." They didn't say that I had to be a doctor, engineer or some kind of genius scientist. My parents gave me a lot of freedom compared to some of the fictional characters from Bold Words and I am grateful for that and I am also grateful for being in America during a time of greater equality.
I would say that I am technically the third generation of my family in America. My parents speak Chinese and my parents' parents spoke Chinese, but my brother and I speak only English and a little Spanish. Connecting with the reading, my brother and I follow the inevitable trend of Americanization. It's weird when I think about it. But it just happens when you're born in a community dominated by white people and customs and my parents never really were strict on learning Chinese or kept me away from Japanese kids like the mom from "Clay Walls." They didn't say that I had to be a doctor, engineer or some kind of genius scientist. My parents gave me a lot of freedom compared to some of the fictional characters from Bold Words and I am grateful for that and I am also grateful for being in America during a time of greater equality.
Chinese food
The food yesterday was good even though it wasn't exactly authentic Chinese food. The orange chicken was definitely the best dish out of all of them. If only the bbq pork wasn't so dry it would have been the best. Anyway, it was definitely all worth the $6 and I thank you for all of it. Also, I overheard you talking about dim sum and if you want really good dim sum and happen to be in San Francisco, you should definitely drop by a place called Yank Sing in downtown SF. I have been to dim sum restaurants all around California, Hong Kong and Taiwan and I think that Yank Sing is the best out of all the ones that I've been to. If you do go, may I warn you of the unorthodox and crowded parking garage below the restaurant. The spaces are really close together and cramped that it is a guarantee you will have to make multiple corrections. If you're lucky, you can park right outside the building in front of the meters. Besides parking, you should have a good time there.
Last one
I am going to talk about my experience in the class as a whole. I loved it, the information was interesting not always the brightest of topics. But we need to learn from the past, great example is the giver (one of my favorite books, why i wrote about it twice). This class was lively and fun, I can't think of anyone sleeping in the entire class, unheard of. I think the professor is amazing. Yea I think this was just a cool class. It opened my eyes to some ideas that I hadn't even considered before. I have a new appreciation for several of my friends who grew up with parents who were immigrants themselves.
NONE
Is there a difference in racism between the beliefs of ethnic groups and European Americans. I think there is a huge difference between what European Americans believe they did and what the ethnic groups believe happened. I think European Americans believed that what they were doing was OK and right there wasn't any fault to them, the brain doesn't honestly register some experiences like that. It was too normal for them to make any note about their behavior. The ethnic groups were treated so poorly they felt that it was unjust, and it was, so they made notes about it and remembered it. They didn't want to have their children experience the same injustice so they had to remember theirs more.
8
Is a crt pessimistic or optimistic? well I don't think its either, its both and none. I think that because it is a way of describing the problems that we have had in the past and knowledge them it is a pessimistic thing. We were jerks and these are essential classifications of different jerkiness to people. I think this is an optimistic thing because as any AA attendee the first step to fixing the problem is accepting and acknowledged that you have a problem. We have accepted that we have them which means we can now start to work on eliminating them, I think that in time we will have similar situations but for other issues. These are both optimistic and pessimistic all at the same time, I am going against the grain here and saying that.
Monday, January 28, 2013
Reflecting on Class
As the term comes to a close, I have found that I have learned more about American history than in any other class. I had no idea of the numerous groups from all across Asia who helped to develop the United States into the economic power that it is today. Without the help of these people, the U.S. would not nearly be the country that it is today. I had no idea of Angel Island, of the horrendous living conditions that most of the immigrants were forced to live in, or of way the new American were treated upon arrival. This course focused on an area that has seemed to have been skipped over in textbooks, and I am thankful for the learning that has been opened up to me. The course has shown me how there is a possibility of a better, more accepting future, which will be necessary if the United States wants a chance to advance in a world whose boundaries are shrinking by the day. Although the CRT tenets seem to focus around the idea that racism is going to be permanently a fact of life, it seems that America has a bright future in store. As cultures begin to mix, the borders separating these different cultures begin to to diminish, and soon, an America where all cultures are accepted will be born.
Race, Today and In the Future
With all the talk of race and ethnicity and the problems that have been brought on because of this kinds of topics, I have had cause to wonder, where did it all originate? What sparked humanity to believe that certain skin colors or traits are better than others? It truly seems as CRT states, that racism is part of humanity, and has been for many years. This is a flaw that humanity seems doomed to always have as well, because no matter what, certain groups, specifically those in the majority, will take advantage of those who are in the minority. It is an inherit part of human nature. As much as people would like to admit that race does not affect them, this statement will never be entirely true. People will always place importance on their heritage, and will be biased in the belief that their heritage is more important than others. But there is hope. As society has continued to progress, there has been glimmers of change. More and more people are accepting other cultures, and as was stated in class today, the numbers of multicultural marriages are on the rise. The lines that used to define different racial groups are changing, and more people of varying cultures are making their way to the United States. If this all continues, there seems like there is little standing in the way between society now and a future of acceptance for all cultures.
My Take Away From the Class
I am very glad I took this class. I was able to learn more about my Chinese heritage and have gained a greater awareness of the different cultures surrounding me today. I had very little knowledge of the Asian presence in history, I knew that the Chinese had laundry businesses and took little jobs to survive, but I did not know about the extent of the hatred towards Asians in general. I have always known the typical history of America of how the pilgrims settled here, how Lewis and Clarke fought across the country, and abolition of slavery. Asian American Lit has shown me that Asians, too, play a huge role in the founding of America today. I now have a greater sense of respect for my grandparents and the courage they had to come to America, but it breaks my heart to see how terrible Asians in general were treated. Very slowly, the squeaky-clean American reputation and history I saw as a kid is becoming fading as I grow older. As I continue to learn, I come to the understanding that perhaps the US is not the be-all, end-all. We are as human as everyone else, and struggle with things like racism, slavery, violence and discrimination. I still love America, but I recognize it has to be taken for all that it is, and some parts are not pretty.
I also think I've gained a greater sensitivity to hints of racism. Now, whenever I watch or read anything, I can recognize and acknowledge traces of racism and discrimination. This in turn has caused me to be more careful with my choice of words and more aware if something I saw might be taken as racist or discriminatory. I've learned great life skills and historical context, Asian Lit was a wonderful learning experience. Thanks Doug!
I also think I've gained a greater sensitivity to hints of racism. Now, whenever I watch or read anything, I can recognize and acknowledge traces of racism and discrimination. This in turn has caused me to be more careful with my choice of words and more aware if something I saw might be taken as racist or discriminatory. I've learned great life skills and historical context, Asian Lit was a wonderful learning experience. Thanks Doug!
Respect the Family
The group presentations showed me one underlying theme throughout Asian cultures: the importance of family. There is a very high regard for actions (how the actions of one member speak for the whole family) and respect for elders. I think it's safe to say that such qualities are lacking in our society today, perhaps we can take a leaf or two out of the Asian nation's book? I think broken homes can be the source of a lot of issues caused today and I consider myself very blessed to have come out of a good family and good home.
Sure, the Asians might do weird things like eat fertilized egg, jellyfish tentacles, and black dog. They may marry people without seeing them and hold shrines for dead relatives, but they do have their moments to shine and I think this is one of them. Imagine what such a society would look like where respect was given to those older than you and before deciding anything, you would make note that whatever action you choose will impact and express what the family as a whole would choose.
Something to think about...
Three Lives
The selection from the play Three Lives provides some unique insight on the Vietnam War from the view of the refugees. Without warning, the war seems to jump into the lives of the main character and his family, and they are swept up into the mad rush to escape with little time to gather things or do anything other than burn the pictures of family. For the main character this seems to be of great importance because he sees his "childhood...just ashes fluttering in the wind...fluttering in the wind." He loses his entire life up to this point in an instant, and as the pictures of his childhood are destroyed, so is his actual childhood in a sense, as he is thrust abruptly into a war. The play later goes on to capture some of the distinct fears that the refugees would have experienced, like running from airplanes going out on a bombing run, or running to the American helicopters who are airlifting them out of the country. It all come to a climax at the end with the lines, "My second taste of America. Every man for himself. No one there to lift you up. You're on your own now." This, for many of the refugees, would be the first glimpse of Americans: Pilots and soldiers who refused to take people on board their helicopters, when many of Vietnamese people needed help. The refugees would only have this idea of Americans to go on after arriving in the United States, which most definitely seems like it would have an impact on how the newly arrived Vietnamese would interact with American society. As an American citizen, this is kind of a scary thought, considering the amount of contact that the U.S. has with other nations in war time. I can't imagine what it would be like being forced to travel to a country where the people seem to pay little heed to the struggles of people who could be family members trying to escape from a war torn area, and who seem to only place importance on the job they were given.
Lieutenant Governor David Lam
I didn't mention one of my other famous family members, great-uncle David. He was actually the 25th Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, the second non-white to hold the position and the first Asian Canadian in that position. Basically, the Lieutenant Governor acts roughly like what we would associate as a governor and is a direct representative of the Queen of England/Canada. When Queen Elizabeth visits Canada and specifically British Columbia, he was on her list, and had hosted several dinners for her at the Governor's mansion. Sadly he died about 2 years ago, but I was able to meet him a few times before then. He had a fascinating story of immigrating to Canada after WWII and his "rags to riches" journey is remarkable. I believe there is a biography or documentary on him.
One interesting story my dad told me about Uncle David's period as lieutenant governor was that Uncle David owned a special Lexus. The Lexus itself was not special, but the license plates on it were. Uncle David told my dad that these allowed him to park wherever he wanted, whenever he wanted. And so, during a family reunion, my dad had to pick up his sister and borrowed Uncle David's Lexus to do it. Now as we know, it's not exactly permitted for one to park in the no-parking zone in front of the terminal at the airport, but since dad had these fancy license plates, he figured he'd test the system to see if Uncle David was actually right. So he parked right in front of the terminal. Soon enough, the Royal Mounted Police came up behind him and an officer stepped out of his car, pen and citation book in hand. The way dad tells it, he came around the back of the Lexus, already writing down the preliminaries, took one glance at the plate... and walked away. Oh yes, it was good to be governor.
Fascinating man, wish I had had more time learn from him. Here he is on the left, and below is his coat of arms, which I think is really awesome. I need a coat or arms.
One interesting story my dad told me about Uncle David's period as lieutenant governor was that Uncle David owned a special Lexus. The Lexus itself was not special, but the license plates on it were. Uncle David told my dad that these allowed him to park wherever he wanted, whenever he wanted. And so, during a family reunion, my dad had to pick up his sister and borrowed Uncle David's Lexus to do it. Now as we know, it's not exactly permitted for one to park in the no-parking zone in front of the terminal at the airport, but since dad had these fancy license plates, he figured he'd test the system to see if Uncle David was actually right. So he parked right in front of the terminal. Soon enough, the Royal Mounted Police came up behind him and an officer stepped out of his car, pen and citation book in hand. The way dad tells it, he came around the back of the Lexus, already writing down the preliminaries, took one glance at the plate... and walked away. Oh yes, it was good to be governor.
"The Dead"
As I was reading this poem, I was struck with a thought. What would life be like after experiencing something as horrendous as war? How would one adjust to an entirely new lifestyle following moving from a war zone, where each step could be the difference between life or death? The poem brings up an idea that these people have lost a part of who they are, yet still try to make the most out of the opportunity they have been given. Dinh states, "The dead are not dead but wave at pretty strangers from their pick-up trucks on Bolsa Avenue...But the living, some of them, like to dig up the dead, dress them in native costumes, shoot them again, watch their bodies rise in slow motion." These lines struck a chord with me for some reason. For me, who has never really experienced loss on such an epic scale, it is tough to imagine what losing family along with my entire country would be like. It also seems like the amount of hurt that would reemerge each time there was talk of family or past events would be unbearable. The poem seems to address this idea with the statement that some of the living end up shooting the dead again. It is like each time the refugees speak of the past, they rediscover the pain and suffering that occurred when family was first lost. Personally, I cannot imagine what this would be like, and it seems to add a whole new level of strength to the people who were affected by the Vietnam war.
Newfound Appreciation
Initially I had my doubts about enrolling in this class. Being an engineering major, I was thinking, "What am I doing sitting in an Asian American literature class for three hours a day? How will this help me in pursuing my engineering degree?" Honestly, I am quite sad that this Jan Term went as quickly as it did. I enjoyed every minute spent in this class and found the readings very interesting. The various plays we performed in class were a great deal of fun to watch and participate in. It was really great to see what the first generation of Asian-Americans went through. Whether it was Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Korean, Indian, Vietnamese or Cambodian, each different group had its own experience unique from any other. It is inspiring to see what these immigrants had to overcome in order to settle in America in the midst of animosity and negative feelings towards them. It is also neat to see how far we have come as Americans. Although there is still racism to a certain extent, it is amazing to see how much times have changed and racial tolerance has increased over the years.
Being of Japanese descent, it really opened my eyes to what my people went through in finding their home in the United States. Of course I had a general idea of what my family went through and how they found their way to the United States, but reading the literature and watching the films on what picture brides went through definitely helped me to find a new appreciation for the sacrifices and risks that my great-grandparents took in sailing across the Pacific Ocean to settle in what is now home for our family.
Being of Japanese descent, it really opened my eyes to what my people went through in finding their home in the United States. Of course I had a general idea of what my family went through and how they found their way to the United States, but reading the literature and watching the films on what picture brides went through definitely helped me to find a new appreciation for the sacrifices and risks that my great-grandparents took in sailing across the Pacific Ocean to settle in what is now home for our family.
My Chinese Roommate
I just realized that, in all of my posts, I have yet to mention the relationship between myself and my Chinese Roommate. Over this Jan Term I have really had a chance, not only to learn about Chinese American history in class, but also to talk to my roommate and learn about her culture and traditions first hand. She is a first generation Chinese American, having come over when she was 13 years old. While she is very assimilated to American culture, her mother, who came over with her, is not. While my roommate does speak Chinese fluently having lived in China for 13 years, she also speaks English very well and behaves very much like any other American teenager. However, her mother barely speaks any English despite having lived here for quite a few years and, for the most part, she still lives as though she were in China. She cooks mainly traditional chinese meals and keeps the traditions and customs of China alive. For example, she is hosting a huge Chinese New Year celebration coming up and is making a ton of traditional foods for it. As a result of this strong Chinese influence, my roommate definitely exhibits double consciousness. She seems to feel as though she truly is stuck between two distinct cultures. She dresses like an American and talks like an American but she still eats mostly Asian foods feels strong ties to the home that she left behind to come to America. I have really enjoyed getting to know more about Chinese Americans in this class and I hope to apply the knowledge that I have gained in my experiences with my roommate so that I can learn as much as possible about her and her unique heritage and culture.
Show and Tell
I'm starting to run out of things to talk about so I'm just going to talk about some of the literature that we have read recently. So far, I think my favorite piece of literature that we have read is Show and Tell. I liked that it was really simple and easy to understand but also had so much meaning and emotion behind it. We read in Takaki all about the wars and political conflicts in Southeast Asia but to see the effects of war on a little boy uprooted from the only home he has ever known and forced to attend school in a foreign country was really powerful to me. Reading about how Cao behaved in class, especially when he was taunted by the other students, really made the stories of the refugees more personal and more significant. I also really liked how the story showed how people from different ethnic backgrounds can resolve their differences, understand one another without a common language, and even become friends. Robert and Cao develop a sort of nonverbal communication (which, as we learned in class today, is high context) throughout the story and eventually Robert is able to tell the entire class how Cao is really just like any other kid. He grew up in a small village with his family. He attended school and had friends that he played with outside just like many of the kids in this class did. However, due to things beyond his control, namely war, Cao was forced to move away from his family and friends and become a stranger in this new land called America. This story really just made me think about how we often judge people before we really even get a chance to know them and how, if we just took the time to learn more about them before making our judgments, we might very well learn something in the process, and maybe even make a friend or two.
What do we do with them?
I have to say that I found it really surprising when I read in Takaki that the Vietnamese were forced to come to the US as a result of the Vietnam War. Of course we were among the nations opposed to the communist regime, but there were other nations who fighting for the Southern Vietnamese too! I assume it was no great secret to the rest of the world that America was not the greatest welcomer of ethnic groups, who determined we were the best choice in the evacuation? Other countries fighting against the communists included Australia and South Korea, were they not closer in location and in ethnic acceptance? Perhaps America was the one able to provide the resources for evacuation, but I wonder if taking them all the way back to the United States was in their best interest, considering they did not even want to be there. Dropping scared, homeless people into a knowingly hostile culture hardly seems like the best solution for the Vietnamese. What would be really interesting is to find out if the second generation Vietnamese living in America assimilated into the new culture or held that same yearning to return home...
(Untitled)
After talking about the poem "Untitled" by Frances Chung in class, I had some questions. I understand that the poem is a commentary on the intermixing of culture and how it has become a somewhat everyday thing, but it almost seems as if the speaker is still judging the man at the airport. There is a specific importance that the speaker seems to place on the parents of the barber, specifically stating, "His father was Chinese and came from Hong Kong. His last name is Jung. His mother is Mexican." Perhaps I am reading too much into the poem, but if this mixing of culture is starting to become ordinary, why should there be specific reference to the parents of one individual? It seems as though the speaker cares about this piece of information, and by twisting the idea of a sonnet, it almost is as if there is not something entirely right with the barber. It may be that the speaker is seeming to hide some underlying idea that no matter how ordinary a mix of cultures becomes, there is still something that will seem different about it, which again goes back to the idea that racism is normal, as upsetting as that idea is.
Freedom Writers
Freedom Writers. A movie of discovery and realization. It is a story of the effects learning can have on a group of young people, yet it is also something more. It is, as the title suggests, a story of freedom. In the beginning, the student are separated, each wanting nothing to do with the other ethnic groups represented at the school. The troubles with the students in the classroom seem to escalate when the student stop showing up to class, and then when a shooting involving a few of the students occurs at a mini-mart. It is after this event that the students begin to learn. The teacher starts to involve the class in different activities in order to show how similar the students all are, and the students begin to drop the walls that were separating them from each other. The students begin to learn that they are all similar, and that they all have been affected by the gang violence and discrimination that has become increasingly prevalent in the community. Mrs. Gruwell, their teacher, bring the idea to them that they all are a part of the same society, and that in order to be successful they will have to put aside the belief that the should push others away from them. The kids take this into account, and at the end of the film end up finding success, thanks to help from Mrs. Gruwell.
This film places an enormous amount of emphasis on the CRT tenet revolving around compound and complex identities. Each of the students is a product of the society in which they live, however the students also are unique individuals, and find that this is important for finding their own success. The idea that each group has a unique story to tell also is a focus of the film, as each student grows up in a house and culture that is unique to him or her, and by the end of the film, each student seems to come to realize that their heritage is what makes every one of them unique, which makes it easier to for them to accept one another.
This film places an enormous amount of emphasis on the CRT tenet revolving around compound and complex identities. Each of the students is a product of the society in which they live, however the students also are unique individuals, and find that this is important for finding their own success. The idea that each group has a unique story to tell also is a focus of the film, as each student grows up in a house and culture that is unique to him or her, and by the end of the film, each student seems to come to realize that their heritage is what makes every one of them unique, which makes it easier to for them to accept one another.
Soldier's Conceit Detrimental to the American Journey
So recently, we've been emphasizing on the war that took place in Southeastern Asia with the Communists versus Americans. However, there hasn't been much talk about the American soldier's opinion of the battlefield within this area. The perspective of the war from the American side could help us to grasp a better concept of the Southeast Asians exodus to the States. In le thi diem thuy's play, Red Fiery Summer, the writer gives account of how the Marines must have felt in coming to Vietnam.
"Though I walk through the valley
in the shadow of death
I fear no evil
for I am the biggest
baddest motherfucker
in the valley" (thuy 388).
This quote is sufficient in explaining that the soldiers view Vietnam as a "valley...of death", and also thought of themselves as top of the food chain in the foreign country. It portrays the soldiers as extremely conceited and vulgar, characteristics which would hardly make them appear sympathetic to the locals. If American marines showed no kindness for the inhabitants of Vietnam, then we can assume that the Vietnamese might have had a disliking for Americans, thus making the forced trip to the United States more than likely one less promising. It's interesting that every other Asian group came to America because of promising prospects except those who were from Southeast Asia, a group who might have had quite opposite expectations. This distinction makes the Southeast Asians of America a very unique group due to their less-than-promising journey from their homeland to America.
"Though I walk through the valley
in the shadow of death
I fear no evil
for I am the biggest
baddest motherfucker
in the valley" (thuy 388).
This quote is sufficient in explaining that the soldiers view Vietnam as a "valley...of death", and also thought of themselves as top of the food chain in the foreign country. It portrays the soldiers as extremely conceited and vulgar, characteristics which would hardly make them appear sympathetic to the locals. If American marines showed no kindness for the inhabitants of Vietnam, then we can assume that the Vietnamese might have had a disliking for Americans, thus making the forced trip to the United States more than likely one less promising. It's interesting that every other Asian group came to America because of promising prospects except those who were from Southeast Asia, a group who might have had quite opposite expectations. This distinction makes the Southeast Asians of America a very unique group due to their less-than-promising journey from their homeland to America.
A Dream in Doubt
I really enjoyed the movie that we watched the other day in class called A Dream in Doubt. I guess I always knew that people who looked similar to middle eastern men were persecuted and harassed more after the terrorist attacks on 9/11 but I had never really thought about it until I watched the film. I found it unnerving that people could be so cruel to people they do not even know simply because of their appearance and then try to justify their actions by calling themselves "Americans". They somehow felt as though they were getting revenge for the terrorist attacks by, in turn, killing innocent people who, in actuality, had absolutely nothing to do with the attacks. In fact, as was presented in the movie, the targets of much of the hate crimes were Sikhs, who teach acceptance of all religions and ethnicities. They are typically very peaceful and willing to accept people based on their character instead of pre-conceived notions. However, despite their willingness to live peaceful lives in America, they were made the victims of hate and violence simply because they slightly resembled the terrorists.
I also really liked how a lot of the movie was presented from the perspective of children. They provided a sense of innocence that really allowed me to gain a greater understanding of the atrocities committed by the so called "Americans". They represented the innocence of the people as a community, simply wanting to live their lives without the fear of persecution for their religion. Overall, this movie really opened my eyes to the treatment of immigrant people that is still occurring in this country today; racism is not a thing of the past after all.
I also really liked how a lot of the movie was presented from the perspective of children. They provided a sense of innocence that really allowed me to gain a greater understanding of the atrocities committed by the so called "Americans". They represented the innocence of the people as a community, simply wanting to live their lives without the fear of persecution for their religion. Overall, this movie really opened my eyes to the treatment of immigrant people that is still occurring in this country today; racism is not a thing of the past after all.
Tiger in the Class
Today while we were going over the Literature in class my group had the poem (Untitled) by Frances Chung. This was about a gentleman who worked in a barber shop at the local airport that falls in love with a girl and "stalks her".The author in the poem made it very clear that his father came from China and his mother Mexico. Having a multicultural background seems to becoming the norm in America now. When I came home from school I talked to my Dad about golf and Tiger Woods, the professional golfer, came up in the conversation. Despite the controversies Tiger has some ties into this class.
Tiger woods was born Eldrik Tont Woods to his parents Earl and Kultida Woods. Tiger, kind of like the Barber in the story, has a background of many different cultures. He is one fourth african american, one fourth Thai, one fourth Chinese, and one fourth Native American. His father African American and Native American and his mother Thai and Chinese. A small fact I also found that relates to this class was that Tiger's father Earl Woods was a Lieutenant Colonol in the Vietnam war. Earl Woods actually met Tiger's mother on tour in Asia. So not only does Tiger's Family have multicultural ties to this class but his father had hands on experience of the Southeast Asian movement into the United States.
Interracial Marriage
Today in class when we were discussing how in about 30 years, the majority of the population will be non-white and how interracial marriage will be the standard for all intense and purposes, I began to think of my own family. My uncle, who is German American married an African American woman. I love my new aunt and her family (my new family) but I cannot deny that there are many differences between the two families. Most of these differences simply deal with differences in culture an traditions but others, such as ones dealing with religion, are more serious. My aunt and uncle seem to be dealing with the differences and incorporating both cultures into their new life together. However, I realize that other marriages between people of different ethnic backgrounds are not always as successful. Sometimes the differences are just too great or either partner cannot learn to accept the differences in the other.
My aunt and uncle had a little girl a few years ago and I can already begin to see how she has a sort of double consciousness. While both of her parents come from families that have been living in America for several generation, she still exhibits this state of being between cultures. She has two very different sides of the family and he parents are teaching her cultures from both, in the hopes that she will grow up with an appreciation not only for her own unique heritage but for the heritage and cultures of all people, which is something that I feel many Americans today are lacking and need to learn.
My aunt and uncle had a little girl a few years ago and I can already begin to see how she has a sort of double consciousness. While both of her parents come from families that have been living in America for several generation, she still exhibits this state of being between cultures. She has two very different sides of the family and he parents are teaching her cultures from both, in the hopes that she will grow up with an appreciation not only for her own unique heritage but for the heritage and cultures of all people, which is something that I feel many Americans today are lacking and need to learn.
The Grand Finale
Alright, so here it is, the last blog post that I will probably be making... EVER. Unless of course I am put into another class where it is a part of my grade, in which case I will be typing until my little fingers bleed for that professor as well.
So I'm running out of things to talk about, I feel like all of my former posts have been pretty interesting... but I'm not the person handing out the grade so I guess I will find out soon enough.
So one thing that I never really talked about was my family history. This was partly because on my Dad's side of the family, there is a lot of divorce and weird genealogy going on. But on my Mom's side, my grandma is SUPER into genealogy. Unfortunately, she is quite the world traveler, and contacting her isn't always an easy thing to do... So instead, I'm just going to talk about my grandpa, Donald Leroy Jagla. His is my mom's dad, and was an orchardist in the Wenatchee Valley for pretty much all of his life. The Jagla Family has been in the Wenatchee Valley for what seems like forever, so long in fact, that on Wenatchee Heights (which consists of many orchards and homes), there is a Jagla Road. This is where my mom and her two siblings grew up. By grandpa (Papa Don as we called him) was one of about 8 children. I say "about" because I'm not sure how many siblings he actually had growing up. So between him and his 7 or so other siblings, there are A LOT of cousins in the valley. I never really realized how much family I actually had until I went to my first Jagla family reunion. Oh. My. God. There were so many people. And I later found out that the whole family wasn't even there... EEK! My dad used to joke with me and tell me "Be careful who you date in this valley, they might end up being your cousin." of course my response was "Yeah sure dad, whatever." Well after attending this family reunion, I must admit that I did become a lot more careful when it came to pursuing women. Don't worry though, I can confirm that I have never dated any cousins, whether on accident or on purpose. Also, my Papa Don was kind of a celebrity, or at least, my family thought he was. His orchard (or the fruit packing company in which he contributed largely to, I can't remember) was one of the largest exporters of cherries to Japan. So my grandpa got his face on a billboard in Japan!!! Now that is pretty cool just in itself, but since I'm in an Asian-American Literature class, it seems even more appropriate to mention. My grandpa is also responsible for the creation of the Jagla cherry. This cherry is a mix of some two cherries (can't remember that either) that my grandpa worked with and created a whole new type of cherry! So now, after picking season, my family ends up with a bucket load of Jagla cherries. Whether or not these cherries take off like the big name cherries that many people consume today like Bings or Rainier, well that remains to be seen. But hopefully it will!
Anyways... well there is it, the mark on the world that the Jalga family (my Papa Don more specifically) has left. Not to mention my grandpa's face on a billboard in Japan!
So I'm running out of things to talk about, I feel like all of my former posts have been pretty interesting... but I'm not the person handing out the grade so I guess I will find out soon enough.
So one thing that I never really talked about was my family history. This was partly because on my Dad's side of the family, there is a lot of divorce and weird genealogy going on. But on my Mom's side, my grandma is SUPER into genealogy. Unfortunately, she is quite the world traveler, and contacting her isn't always an easy thing to do... So instead, I'm just going to talk about my grandpa, Donald Leroy Jagla. His is my mom's dad, and was an orchardist in the Wenatchee Valley for pretty much all of his life. The Jagla Family has been in the Wenatchee Valley for what seems like forever, so long in fact, that on Wenatchee Heights (which consists of many orchards and homes), there is a Jagla Road. This is where my mom and her two siblings grew up. By grandpa (Papa Don as we called him) was one of about 8 children. I say "about" because I'm not sure how many siblings he actually had growing up. So between him and his 7 or so other siblings, there are A LOT of cousins in the valley. I never really realized how much family I actually had until I went to my first Jagla family reunion. Oh. My. God. There were so many people. And I later found out that the whole family wasn't even there... EEK! My dad used to joke with me and tell me "Be careful who you date in this valley, they might end up being your cousin." of course my response was "Yeah sure dad, whatever." Well after attending this family reunion, I must admit that I did become a lot more careful when it came to pursuing women. Don't worry though, I can confirm that I have never dated any cousins, whether on accident or on purpose. Also, my Papa Don was kind of a celebrity, or at least, my family thought he was. His orchard (or the fruit packing company in which he contributed largely to, I can't remember) was one of the largest exporters of cherries to Japan. So my grandpa got his face on a billboard in Japan!!! Now that is pretty cool just in itself, but since I'm in an Asian-American Literature class, it seems even more appropriate to mention. My grandpa is also responsible for the creation of the Jagla cherry. This cherry is a mix of some two cherries (can't remember that either) that my grandpa worked with and created a whole new type of cherry! So now, after picking season, my family ends up with a bucket load of Jagla cherries. Whether or not these cherries take off like the big name cherries that many people consume today like Bings or Rainier, well that remains to be seen. But hopefully it will!
Anyways... well there is it, the mark on the world that the Jalga family (my Papa Don more specifically) has left. Not to mention my grandpa's face on a billboard in Japan!
Asian American Literature!!
i have to say, this class has definitely been more of an adventure then a learning epxerience..... just kidding it was equally as funas it was a learning experience. I thoroughly enjoyed coming to class everyday this janterm and analyzing asian americans lives through literature and film despite the short amount of time, i learned so much this month and had a blast everyday with the class and doug, and it was truly fun acting( which i usually despise) and working hard. thank you asian american literature class for this great experience!!!!!
Takaki as a whole
now that our journey with Takaki is quickly coming to an end in this class, i wanted to comment on his book as a whole, and just say that his work has opened my eyes to a huge part of america. first, honestly it never came to mind that we have more then just ASIANS in america, we have korean americans, chinese americans, japanese americans, filipino americans, and numerous others. my point is, that although i may not be able to tell them apart at first glance, i surely hold a higher respect for these people, for what they have been through, what they put up with, and most importantly how they have continued to affect america and be a big part of americas growth. thank you Takaki for teaching me so much, and thank you asian americans for your unbreakable persistence and for not giving up all these years. i truly and personally appreciate it.
Freedom Writers
I found Freedom Writers to be a very entertaining movie as well as a very informative one. I found it interesting to see the interactions of kids from different ethnic backgrounds when they were placed in the same setting, in this case, a classroom. At first, the kids seemed to partition themselves off into walled communities based on their cultural heritage. They rarely interacted with people of other groups and some disputes even broke about between the different groups based on racism. This really emphasizes the CRT tenet that some groups have no desire to eradicate racism. Instead of trying to overcome their cultural differences, they clung to those who shared their background and shunned everyone else. However, as the class progressed, the kids began to realize that they weren't actually all that different from one another. I think one of the most significant scenes when it comes to this conclusion is when Mrs. Gruwell has them play a sort of game where they stand on a line in the middle of the room if the statement she makes is true for them as an individual. For me, the most meaningful statement was when she asked them to stand on the line if they had lost a friend to gang violence. Almost every student in the room stood on the line at first and some even stayed there when she asked if they had lost four or more friends to gang violence. The students really seemed to recognize at that point that they were all victims of hate and violence, despite their different backgrounds. They all began to come to the same conclusion as Mrs. Gruwell; they all had compound and complex identities as well as a unique story that would contribute to American history. They all came from different walks of life and they all had different experiences. However, despite their differences, they were all targets of the same discrimination and violence. They had the opportunity to learn from not only their own experiences but also those of their classmates.
Overall, I really liked this movie and I feel as though it put the information that we are learning in class into a different light. It really enabled me to get a better grasp on the material since it was presented in a way that resembled real life; it wasn't just words on a page anymore. I had never heard of this movie before this class and feel that it should be stressed more because society in general could definitely benefit from seeing this movie. They could see that people do have the ability to work past their differences and to accept one another based on character instead of appearance.
Overall, I really liked this movie and I feel as though it put the information that we are learning in class into a different light. It really enabled me to get a better grasp on the material since it was presented in a way that resembled real life; it wasn't just words on a page anymore. I had never heard of this movie before this class and feel that it should be stressed more because society in general could definitely benefit from seeing this movie. They could see that people do have the ability to work past their differences and to accept one another based on character instead of appearance.
is CRT pessimistic or optimistic??
i was going through the CRT powerpoint and found this question at the beginning of one of the slides, and thought it would be kinda fun to answer it. so here goes:
i believe CRT can potentially be optimistic, because with the gradual change of majority and minority groups we will have the opportunity to change the way we react to racism. as of right now, CRT is more facts and reality of what racism has become, and at the same time these CRTs can become the standard of how we act. for example, one of the CRT tenets claim "racism is...difficult or impossible to eradicate". now, when i read that, the first thing that comes to mind is: challenge accepted. knowing that society does not think we can get rid of racism is not encouraging, and its also a wake up call to let us know its time to do something about racism. i know america has done many activities and created programs for the sole purpose of racism, but with the chantge of public ethnicity majorities coming faster than we imagine, i believe our generation has the prime opportunity to rid america of the majority of racism. doug said today " when you guys(us) are hitting your forties, ethnic majorities will be changing"; which means our children will be growing up during this time, and teaching them about life with the absence of racism can drastically change the influence of racism in america. now, im not saying to forget about your background or anything, because like we learned self culture is the most important, but we dont necessarily have to emphasize that "our personal race is more powerful then theirs" to our children. i dont know if im making sense, but i definitely believe racism is NOT impossible to eradicate, and its definitely becoming a new goal of mine.
i believe CRT can potentially be optimistic, because with the gradual change of majority and minority groups we will have the opportunity to change the way we react to racism. as of right now, CRT is more facts and reality of what racism has become, and at the same time these CRTs can become the standard of how we act. for example, one of the CRT tenets claim "racism is...difficult or impossible to eradicate". now, when i read that, the first thing that comes to mind is: challenge accepted. knowing that society does not think we can get rid of racism is not encouraging, and its also a wake up call to let us know its time to do something about racism. i know america has done many activities and created programs for the sole purpose of racism, but with the chantge of public ethnicity majorities coming faster than we imagine, i believe our generation has the prime opportunity to rid america of the majority of racism. doug said today " when you guys(us) are hitting your forties, ethnic majorities will be changing"; which means our children will be growing up during this time, and teaching them about life with the absence of racism can drastically change the influence of racism in america. now, im not saying to forget about your background or anything, because like we learned self culture is the most important, but we dont necessarily have to emphasize that "our personal race is more powerful then theirs" to our children. i dont know if im making sense, but i definitely believe racism is NOT impossible to eradicate, and its definitely becoming a new goal of mine.
Not the Top Pick but it should've been.
When I registered for classes for this semester and the next I have to admit that Asian American Literature was not my top pick, but I am glad I fell into this class. Throughout Jan Term I found myself becoming extremely interested in the topics we talked over in class. I found that Takaki and Bold Worlds were not boring works that were a struggle to read over and I really enjoyed them and the class.
Coming from a world still involved in racism and with immigration still a hot topic of discussion in the United States especially with the recent discussion of immigration policies directed at Mexico. Its hard to stay on one side or the other. This class was refreshing to see how the hard working immigrants that came to America in the 1900's were doing so to improve themselves and most of the time to improve America even if they didn't intend to at the time. It was also nice to know they weren't coming here to take the whites jobs even if that is what the white people believed. The class also put me in my place many times, it made me realize that the early "white" American's that were glorified in my mind in previous history classes over the years weren't necessarily the saints they were made out to be. It's nice to know Whitworth offers classes like this. Thanks Doug!
Coming from a world still involved in racism and with immigration still a hot topic of discussion in the United States especially with the recent discussion of immigration policies directed at Mexico. Its hard to stay on one side or the other. This class was refreshing to see how the hard working immigrants that came to America in the 1900's were doing so to improve themselves and most of the time to improve America even if they didn't intend to at the time. It was also nice to know they weren't coming here to take the whites jobs even if that is what the white people believed. The class also put me in my place many times, it made me realize that the early "white" American's that were glorified in my mind in previous history classes over the years weren't necessarily the saints they were made out to be. It's nice to know Whitworth offers classes like this. Thanks Doug!
Everyone! Hurry! Make all your blog posts at the last minute!
So this is one of my two blog posts that I will have to do tonight. I, like a lot of my other classmates, have to do a couple last minute posts in order to meet my requirement of 10.
So all of this reading about different languages has made me realize how large this world actually is. A lot of people in my life, and myself included, have said "Man, it really is a small world" whenever we make connections from one thing to another. Well... the reality is, that is totally incorrect. At least I think it is. After reading about all of these different Asians and their experiences both in America and in their homeland, it has made me realize that there is A LOT more out there than I could ever imagine. Sure, the world that I live in, the places that I go, will probably consist only of a couple cities (not including vacations). For the most part I will probably spend most of my life in Washington, where I have lived, grown-up, and will probably have a family someday. Am I okay with that? Well sure I am, I don't mind being close to my family and living in Washington. I love Washington! But after reading all of this Takaki stuff, it has made me realize just how much there is out there in this big world that I will never get to see or experience. Even if I had all the money in the world and I started right now, at the ripe age of 19, I probably still wouldn't be able to see everything, and I definitely wouldn't get to experience everything. And a large part of this I attest the the language barrier between people. Sure, I took a couple years of Spanish in high school, and I'm going to be taking at least 1 full years worth here, but that doesn't mean much...
Basically what I'm saying is that there is a small part of me that is sad that I won't get to experience some of the great cultures of this world, and that I won't get to see all of the amazing things this world has to offer. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with living in the same place all of your life if that's what works for you. Hell, it's probably what I'm going to do, but like I said, a small part of me wishes that I could experience all of the great things that this world has to offer, not just in the Asiatic world, but all over. But the reading that we have done in this class has made me come to this realization.
So all of this reading about different languages has made me realize how large this world actually is. A lot of people in my life, and myself included, have said "Man, it really is a small world" whenever we make connections from one thing to another. Well... the reality is, that is totally incorrect. At least I think it is. After reading about all of these different Asians and their experiences both in America and in their homeland, it has made me realize that there is A LOT more out there than I could ever imagine. Sure, the world that I live in, the places that I go, will probably consist only of a couple cities (not including vacations). For the most part I will probably spend most of my life in Washington, where I have lived, grown-up, and will probably have a family someday. Am I okay with that? Well sure I am, I don't mind being close to my family and living in Washington. I love Washington! But after reading all of this Takaki stuff, it has made me realize just how much there is out there in this big world that I will never get to see or experience. Even if I had all the money in the world and I started right now, at the ripe age of 19, I probably still wouldn't be able to see everything, and I definitely wouldn't get to experience everything. And a large part of this I attest the the language barrier between people. Sure, I took a couple years of Spanish in high school, and I'm going to be taking at least 1 full years worth here, but that doesn't mean much...
Basically what I'm saying is that there is a small part of me that is sad that I won't get to experience some of the great cultures of this world, and that I won't get to see all of the amazing things this world has to offer. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with living in the same place all of your life if that's what works for you. Hell, it's probably what I'm going to do, but like I said, a small part of me wishes that I could experience all of the great things that this world has to offer, not just in the Asiatic world, but all over. But the reading that we have done in this class has made me come to this realization.
America's Future
The facts that Doug told us today in class absolutely blew my mind. To hear that 50% of the United States will be Hispanic, 25% will be Asian, 25% wil be Caucasian, and 10% will be African-American took me by surprise. It is crazy to think that within two decades the demographics of the United States will be nothing like it is now. It will be interesting to see how our society develops over the course of twenty years and through this change in demographics. Although racism is no where near where it was years ago, there definitely still is a considerable amount of racism. I pray that over the course of the years to come, that we will be able to eradicate racism a considerable amount. Because after all, according to the CRT Tenet number three, race is a social or man made product and not a biological construction.
Alex
in case your wondering, alex was the main character in the play done today by myself, audrey, elena, lucas and tj. i felt compelled to write about this young man because of exactly that: he is a young man. the majority of the stories we have read throughout the class has been from the point of view of an adult, minus a few like Show and Tell. anyways, alex really hit me hard today because i realized children are almost forgotten when we talk about refugees; i know when i picture a refugee i think of a man with nothing, but the truth is a refugee is anyone! and to be a child refugee is definitely life changing, and todays play portrayed perfectly exactly what these children go through. these children are the strongest of children, mentally and physically, being able to travel halfway across the world and still survive at such a young age, even through fear from the war, confusion of what exactly is going on, and most important where are we? i look up to these children, they are the pinnacle of mental toughness.
Vietnamese Astronaut
While looking up Vietnamese Americans I stumbled on Dr. Eugene H. Trinh. So I thought I might share who he is to the class. Dr. Eugene H Trinh born 1950 in Saigon, South Vietnam. His parents and him moved from Vietnam to Paris France when he was two. So it is presumed that he moved just before the hight of the Vietnam war in 1955 yet it was still uncomfortable in Vietnam as we have learned, in 1952. When Trinh turned 18 he migrated into the United States and recieved his bachelors degree in Mechanical engineering and applied physics.
As a Biochemist Dr. Trinh went on to work for NASA in the 1990's and was a crew member on the STS-50 space shuttle flight of 1992. As his efforts toward scientific research Dr. Trinh won a Golden Torch award from the Vietnamese American National Gala. I thought it was neat to see an Southeast Asian American succeed in American culture after learning in Takaki about the first immigrants from Southeast asia and how difficult it was for them to adapt to the american workforce.
Asian Canadians
I actually have a large family population in Canada, specifically Vancouver. After we have been reading about Chinese Americans and their reasoning for coming to America, I began to research what drove the Asian Canadians to Canada. Apparently they arrived during 1900s (slightly later than when the Chinese arrived in the US) and came for many of the same reasons that the Asian Americans came from. The Chinese specifically came to work on the Canadian Pacific Railway, and the Japanese came to become fishermen and merchants. Again, a Chinese Exclusion Act was put in place to prohibit Chinese from becoming citizens called the Chinese Immigration Act of 1923, but it was repealed in 1947.
Its interesting how similar the stories are between different nations on the same continent even. The tenet that seems to best describe this situation has to be 1, that racism is ordinary. The general reception of Chinese during the late 1800s and early 1900s has been hostile throughout North America.
Its interesting how similar the stories are between different nations on the same continent even. The tenet that seems to best describe this situation has to be 1, that racism is ordinary. The general reception of Chinese during the late 1800s and early 1900s has been hostile throughout North America.
Racism is Ordinary?
so i was looking over my CRT tenets and "Racism is Ordinary" is the first on the list, and i realized we havent really been using it in our literary analysisor anything. however thats not my point; after i read that the first thing that popped into my mind was the stats that doug gave us today about what america will look like in 20 years. its crazy to know that america will most likely not have a majority of caucasian, but its even hard to believe what the racism will be like: how will it change? most racism today is aimed towards the minority, so.....if the caucasian group is soon to be a minority, what then?? i feel like racism is a choice and i think that if and when caucaians become a minority, many people will have to make the choice to put them down or not. I personally do not have anything wrong with race, but i also know in reality there are alot of individuals who are waiting to "get their turn" at racial discrinimation and honestly it frightens me what america will be like when that time comes.
My Growth Throughout this Class
At the beginning of this class, we learned that the most important step to understanding other cultures is to understand your own and to truly listen to the other group. I feel like through this class, I have been able to do both and therefore learn to understand a culture that I honestly have had no idea about. I have bought into the model minority myth that Asians are submitted to. But now there is more to the Asian culture than just being good students. I know why some (not all!) Asians are so driven in their education - it is because of their histories and the other generations pushing them for a better future then they had. I have been forced to look at myself and how I view others and I have been forced to consider my own personal culture in this class. And after a LOT of Takaki reading to educate myself on the Asian American experience and reading the literature of many different types of Asian Americans, I can confidently say that I know much more about the Asian culture and I am able to look at the culture with more respect and understanding.
my life as a refugee
The paragraph that doug shared today from takaki, pg 449:
"Unlike other Asian groups alreayd in America, the 1975 wave of veitnamese migrants did not choose to come here. In fact, they had no desicion to make, for they were driven out by the powerful events surrounding them."
expressed to me a feeling of great sorrow; to be ripped away from all you know for reasons out of your control is unimaginable. These Veitnamese refrugees had to make a choice that had no intentions of making sense: stay home and die, or forget everything and start over. i look up to these people because to be forced to assimilate in a foreign country in exchange for their life is definitely an accompishment no matter how long it took them.
another reason why i bring this up is these refugees remind me of a very important time in my life: i was adopted at the age of 6, and i can definitely relate to the idea of being ripped away from all you know. i had to "assimilate" to my new lifestyle, and also had to almost forget all that i had known in my life proir to my adoption. when i read of these immigrants and their journies it only reminds me of my journey, from multiple foster homes to a "second chance" at life. "Starting over" is definitely a very hard concept to accept, however for me and the majority of these refugees, it meant living another day.
"Unlike other Asian groups alreayd in America, the 1975 wave of veitnamese migrants did not choose to come here. In fact, they had no desicion to make, for they were driven out by the powerful events surrounding them."
expressed to me a feeling of great sorrow; to be ripped away from all you know for reasons out of your control is unimaginable. These Veitnamese refrugees had to make a choice that had no intentions of making sense: stay home and die, or forget everything and start over. i look up to these people because to be forced to assimilate in a foreign country in exchange for their life is definitely an accompishment no matter how long it took them.
another reason why i bring this up is these refugees remind me of a very important time in my life: i was adopted at the age of 6, and i can definitely relate to the idea of being ripped away from all you know. i had to "assimilate" to my new lifestyle, and also had to almost forget all that i had known in my life proir to my adoption. when i read of these immigrants and their journies it only reminds me of my journey, from multiple foster homes to a "second chance" at life. "Starting over" is definitely a very hard concept to accept, however for me and the majority of these refugees, it meant living another day.
The Killing Fields
My Experiences with Microagression
The CRT definition of microagression is "stunning small encounter with racism, usually unnoticed by members of the majority race". Yes, I know that I am a part of the majority race because I am caucasian, but I feel like because I have blonde hair I have been the target of small forms of microagression. Many times in high school, I have been called stupid because people judge me before they hear me speak. When I went into IB Classes, people didn't want to be in groups with me because they assumed I was stupid and didn't want to lose points or do all the work for me. Even though my experiences are in no way close to those of whom we have been reading about, I can find myself relating to them on a small level.
Khmer Rouge
I did alot of reading up on this particular group, and i was appalled to know that the group had NO REACTION to what they were doing! personally, killing ONE person would really mess me up, but these men killed millions in cold blood, and not only that, but they killed men women AND children! so i did a little bit of thinking, and i find it sad that man can act so irrationally; when the veitnamese soldiers were allowed to enter Cambodia to retrieve supplies during the war, they took advantage of the weaker Cambodia, and almost brainwash them with their communiat ways, which in turn caused the Cambodians to turn against themself and literally kill off most of their own people. absolutely appalling. thats all
Red Doors
This movie was a huge eye opener for me, I did not realize the internal turmoil of a family, especially of an asian american family who is still in the process of assimilation. The characters in this movie do a great job of expressing the differences of people and their process of assimilation. the father seemed to have done a great job, becoming a well liked teacher at a school, however he was definitely going through major withdrawals which was evident in the 30 to 40 attempts of suicide. i feel the father is the most important character in this movie because he truly expresses the life of almost all immigrants who come to america: he seemed to have assimilated, but through false consciousness he sort of believed he was american, but was constantly drawn to his traditional culture from back home, which highlights his double consciousness, of wanting to still be in the life of his home country, and also blending in with the american way.
It seems most immigrants are "happy" to be in america, but secretly almost all of them are longin to go back home where they feel they belong.
It seems most immigrants are "happy" to be in america, but secretly almost all of them are longin to go back home where they feel they belong.
Freedom Writers
After watching the movie freedom writers, I cant help but to think "what if the immigrants from asian descent were given a chance to tell their story?" in freedom writers the students didnt care about each other until they actually heard each others life stories and backgrounds. in Freedom Writers, the students were of caucasian, african american, asian american, and hispanic descent, and though they couldnt stand each other in the beginning of the movie eventually they all became the closest class of students on campus. with the same idea in mind, I can only imagine what immigrant fieldworkers would have been like if they were to give each other the chance to express themselves instead of competing against each other like the chinese americans and japanese americans did. the fields probably would have been a little more lively.
After watching the movie freedom writers, I cant help but to think "what if the immigrants from asian descent were given a chance to tell their story?" in freedom writers the students didnt care about each other until they actually heard each others life stories and backgrounds. in Freedom Writers, the students were of caucasian, african american, asian american, and hispanic descent, and though they couldnt stand each other in the beginning of the movie eventually they all became the closest class of students on campus. with the same idea in mind, I can only imagine what immigrant fieldworkers would have been like if they were to give each other the chance to express themselves instead of competing against each other like the chinese americans and japanese americans did. the fields probably would have been a little more lively.
The Last Great Hope
Takaki has offered a broader concept of American history, and with that comes the shattering of the preconceived notions of what America was and is.
In public school we are taught all about the splendor that is the United States. I was pounded with the notion that this nation is the last great pinnacle of morals, the last outpost standing above the tyrannical and beastly outside world. That America, in all its infinite wisdom and god like benevolence, is the last great hope of man kind. Sure we had a few problems but wave those away with historical context. The way history was taught to me, the way Social Studies classes were worded and toned, America was painted infallible and wonderful. Well, maybe that’s not so much the case.
As my understanding of American history, as well as current politics and relations, grows, that shiny image of the United States isn’t so shiny, those “rough patches” are not just patches you can wave away. Racism, hate, blood shed, tyrannical hypocrisy, those seem to be much more prevalent themes than the “Liberty and Justice for all.”
I am not filled with cynicism, I’m not saying all Americans are monsters nor am I about to go all Che, the United States offers a lot of goodness, I have just been taken aback by the inaccurate image of America that has been painted in my head since elementary school. I have been taken aback by the falseness of the attitude Americans take towards America: that the U.S. is the world’s and history’s knight in shining armor. Maybe we shouldn’t be so shamelessly proud of the stars and stripes. Maybe we shouldn’t have arrogance as a national policy. Maybe Patriotism 101 should come with a shot of humility. Maybe I should work a little harder at being the change I want to see. I hope America will continue to learn from its mistakes and become what it pretends to be.
I think of Shane Claiborne’s lecture back in fall semester, and one line continues to stay in my mind, “We’ve found the last great hope; it’s not America, it’s not Barack, it’s not Romney, it’s Jesus.”
I found this somewhere. Let me know what you guys think.
Let's talk about that time
the people needed release
an eagle came to them
with gold rings and white hair
it whispered seductively:
"The times, they're a changin'."
Promise us, they said
return, help, live,
of course, he said
Gam Saan, and beyond;
conquer, how could I not return?
"The times, they're a changin'."
Not gold, only gilded
the eagle returned in sight
but with a hammer,
he spat, and said, "rot
The times, they're a changin'."
Death, but perhaps something sweet
will change a fate;
if only truth were
as frequent as death.
Stoop, stand, faster, s(l)ave.
"The times, they're a changin'."
Let's talk about that time
the red sun shone bright
over the land, like blood
and covered the glimmering boats
with it's flash-dance fanaticism.
"The times, they're a changin'."
More, more, MORE
he is a friend, albeit
indistinguishable
undigestive, irresponsible
praise one, hide another
no red sun to shine on these "traitors."
"The times, they're a changin'."
Let's talk about that time
the little boy stole the woman
and in return they decided
it was up to them, so
they took him, and, magic:
he is invisible.
"The times, they're a changin'."
Give him a disease
that produced a voice
for a pen that
poured ink over their
transparency; to dark? Forget.
"The times, they're a changin'."
Let's talk about that time
the spit flooded the concrete
and still new ones came; but
fire burns more than hate.
Necessity.
"The times, they're a changin'."
Go professional
realize a dream that
your forefathers (not theirs)
envisioned, a future of-
no, only walls that turn
dreams to cement, and
drown you, but keep you here.
"The times, they're a changin'."
Let's talk about the time
the eagles's son wore a
smile
and said opportunity;
stern, still, similar of
lies before.
"The times, they're a changin'."....?
Look at him
Dirty "Jap," wait
the pale one is
misunderstood
perhaps ignorance surpasses
the grave, the cracked
skull and broken legs that
lead to it.
The times are not changing.
Perhaps NOW
Sam, help them.
"No.
They burn, die, like us."
It is apparent that a
wrap is a wrap, no matter
the color or coincidence;
ignorance is.
The times aren't changing.
Let's talk about the time,
after the pot sits
and simmers; perhaps
they will look and
see a reflection
past, present, future.
The times can change.
the people needed release
an eagle came to them
with gold rings and white hair
it whispered seductively:
"The times, they're a changin'."
Promise us, they said
return, help, live,
of course, he said
Gam Saan, and beyond;
conquer, how could I not return?
"The times, they're a changin'."
Not gold, only gilded
the eagle returned in sight
but with a hammer,
he spat, and said, "rot
The times, they're a changin'."
Death, but perhaps something sweet
will change a fate;
if only truth were
as frequent as death.
Stoop, stand, faster, s(l)ave.
"The times, they're a changin'."
Let's talk about that time
the red sun shone bright
over the land, like blood
and covered the glimmering boats
with it's flash-dance fanaticism.
"The times, they're a changin'."
More, more, MORE
he is a friend, albeit
indistinguishable
undigestive, irresponsible
praise one, hide another
no red sun to shine on these "traitors."
"The times, they're a changin'."
Let's talk about that time
the little boy stole the woman
and in return they decided
it was up to them, so
they took him, and, magic:
he is invisible.
"The times, they're a changin'."
Give him a disease
that produced a voice
for a pen that
poured ink over their
transparency; to dark? Forget.
"The times, they're a changin'."
Let's talk about that time
the spit flooded the concrete
and still new ones came; but
fire burns more than hate.
Necessity.
"The times, they're a changin'."
Go professional
realize a dream that
your forefathers (not theirs)
envisioned, a future of-
no, only walls that turn
dreams to cement, and
drown you, but keep you here.
"The times, they're a changin'."
Let's talk about the time
the eagles's son wore a
smile
and said opportunity;
stern, still, similar of
lies before.
"The times, they're a changin'."....?
Look at him
Dirty "Jap," wait
the pale one is
misunderstood
perhaps ignorance surpasses
the grave, the cracked
skull and broken legs that
lead to it.
The times are not changing.
Perhaps NOW
Sam, help them.
"No.
They burn, die, like us."
It is apparent that a
wrap is a wrap, no matter
the color or coincidence;
ignorance is.
The times aren't changing.
Let's talk about the time,
after the pot sits
and simmers; perhaps
they will look and
see a reflection
past, present, future.
The times can change.
Chinese Food
While we were eating the Chinese food today in class I found it very amusing to know that most of the food would never be found on the menu of an authentic Chinese restaurant. Only two of the dishes would have been available: the rice and the broccoli. The other (3?) dishes are very much Americanized entrees that some restaurants now serve in order to have a larger customer group. I remember going out to eat with my family once and I asked my dad if we could order orange chicken. He gave me a confused look and told me he had never heard of such a thing. At the time I didn't understand why not since orange chicken is one of the most popular "Chinese" foods displayed in the media and among my non-Asian friends. Now I understand why there are Americanized Chinese food. If you look on a typical menu you would find some dishes that are considered very strange in the American culture. For example, there's a spicy jellyfish salad appetizer and marinated chicken's feet dim sum that would be strange to the average American. They are not typical meats or parts of an animal eaten, therefore a Chinese restaurant in a largely white community probably wouldn't put it on their menu because it simply wouldn't sell. Today's meal had me laughing about what is now considered Chinese food.
By the way, the spicy jellyfish salad is delicious.
By the way, the spicy jellyfish salad is delicious.
Three cheers for US history!
The section from Takaki that hit me the hardest came from the section describing the internment of the Japanese during World War II. Takaki talks about the daily lives of internees, going onto the children he says, “After eating breakfast in a cafeteria, the children went to school, where they began the day by saluting the flag of the United States and then singing “My country, ‘tis of thee, sweet land of liberty.” Looking beyond the flagpole, they saw the barbed wire, the watchtowers, and the armed guards” (Takaki 895-6). This page in Takaki I have kept flagged with a sticky note since I read it. The passage highlights the criminality and stark hypocrisy that E.O. 9066 gave the United States. To force not only American citizens, but children, into concentration camps is by itself absurd, ludicrous and unjustifiable, but to then force them to pay homage to the flag that put them in bondage and sing songs of what America boasts and denies them, that is beyond me.
I cannot imagine what rage being put in that situation would bring up in me. The scene is straight out of a dystopian society novel. Outside of fiction, it gives me a terrible taste in my mouth. How could the United States act with integrity after that? How could the United States pretend to fight for lofty goals it obviously didn’t believe in? Or was it that the Nazi party were concentrating and killing white Europeans that made the act of mass imprisonment and violation of human rights and human will so unacceptable.
I am impressed by the fortitude and resilience of the Japanese Americans during that time. I am impressed by their continuing faith in the United States after such an experience. I am impressed by their insight and understanding. I’m not sure I would have been.
Refugee Children
The story "Show and Tell" by Andrew Lam reminded me of the refugee children I worked with at my elementary school back home. I helped in the book club that was specifically for the refugee group of about 15 kids that were all in the 5th grade. The purpose of the book club was to improve their literacy skills and the school provided free books for them to take home and read. They all varied in their reading levels, some were struggling to read simple words like "cat" and "water" while others were starting to read chapter books. Many of them, especially the boys, seemed like they had assimilated well because they were not afraid of expressing their opinions and asking many questions. Others, especially those who did not speak or understand as much English, were more reserved and hesitant about reading aloud. But what stood out to me was that they all wanted to learn English and worked really hard to get enough stickers to choose a book that they could have for themselves. The most exciting part of those afternoons was when the teacher showed the new books that the kids could pick from. I think that speaks for the hardwork and determination those kids had for learning a new language and becoming adjusted to a new culture.
Language Barrier
“The new kid didn’t say nothing. You could tell he pretty much figured it out that Billy’s an asshole ‘cause you don’t need no English for that” (BW 294). This line from “Show and Tell” by Andrew Lam is a) really awesome and hysterical; and b) underscores an amazing attribute of Asian immigrants coming to the United States: the ability to overcome the language barrier. The thought of being dumped in a foreign country with a different language and culture I find terrifying, to be asked to live and operate in an alien world is asking a lot. I am very impressed at the willingness of Asian immigrants to jump into that. To travel so far from what they understand and restart in an environment that is not only hostile, but incommunicable. To overcome that wall and live normally I find very impressive. Bravo first generation Asian Americans, bravo.
Freedom Writers: walled communities or salad bowl?
Watching the movie Freedom Writers made me think about our
class discussion today. Doug mentioned that there will be a significant
decrease in the white/Caucasian population, and I found a photo that illustrates
the population distribution and future projections for the population in the
year 2050:
If the United States becomes more diverse in later years,
how will that change the way we interact and behave? Will become the “salad
bowl”?
Based on watching Freedom
Writers, I think it is our
natural tendency to form walled communities. Over 100 years after the Chinese Exclusion
Acts, America is still experiencing what Takaki calls “volatile” tension
building between racial groups due to “mutual cultural ignorance” (such as the
violence between Korean Americans and African Americans during the Rodney King
race riots in 1992) (494). Furthermore, I remember from class discussions that
schools in the U.S. are more segregated now than they were fifty years ago. If
the U.S. is becoming more diverse and there is no effort spent in understanding
these differences between races, I don’t think there is much chance of us
achieving the “salad bowl” ideal.
In Freedom Writers,
Erin Gruwell sees many walled communities forming at Wilson High School after
the school undergoes an integration program. This new integration program
decreases the amount of white students in Erin’s sophomore classroom, and could
be used as a microcosm, albeit and extreme one, of the future projections of diversity
in America. However, during the first few days of school, the junior English
teacher says to Erin “integration is a lie.” Angry, Erin storms out of the
teacher’s lounge, but realizes the truth of the English teacher’s words. She
stares around campus looking at the cliques forming based upon race. The
integration of the school has not succeeded because students tended to self-segregate
based on race and form walled communities within the school.
How can such an
obstacle be overcome? Erin adopts the mentality holding to the fifth and sixth
tenet of Critical Race Theory: everyone has a compound and complex identity and
because of that all people have a unique story to tell. It is through the stories
of holocaust survivors that Erin is able to connect to her students, garner
their interest, and gain their respect. Erin decides to help guide her students
toward overcoming their “mutual cultural ignorance.” She begins to eliminate
some racial tension by playing the “line game” which allows students to become
aware of their own complex identities as well as the similarities between their
own identities and other students.
Students finally come to understand one another by letting
go of old prejudices, look at their peers unique stories, and eventually
transition away from walled communities and toward a “salad bowl” class
community.
What is required in society to prevent these walled
communities is, I think, the intentional action and effort demonstrated by Erin
Gruwell. If left up to our natural tendencies, we would likely self-segregate like
the students at Wilson High School. But, if we make an attempt to have an open
and understanding mindset about other’s history, become educated and informed
on their background, I do think we can eliminate much of the prejudice and segregation
occurring in modern times. I don’t think racism will ever become a thing of the
past simply because there is more ethnic diversity in America. Racism is a
social, not a biological construction, right? But I do think we can work to
reduce it in the future as long as we are intentional about our actions.
The Silent Friendship of Show and Tell
The heart-wrenching story of Cao Long Nguyen from Andrew Lam's Show and Tell, gracefully expresses all the emotions behind the experiences of Vietnamese refugees in their exodus to the United States. It gives an example of a young Vietnamese boy who comes to America and has difficulty assimilating due to his background and culture. Other students at school make fun of the poor boy by insulting his name or showing gruesome pictures of the war, but Kal is still able to find strong friendship with the good-natured Bobby. Together they endure all the harsh criticism from fellow students, which brings them closer in their friendship. At the end, Kal goes to the front of the class to draw out his life story on the board and gets Bobby to translate his drawings in English. After they succeed in portraying Kal's sad story, Kal looks to Bobby as if to say "ain't we a good team or what?" (Lam 298). Bobby wants to reply, but instead keeps quiet in order to remain in the silence of their friendship. This touching display of unspoken love is such a great example of high-context, because it helps portray the bond which these two friends share. They know each other so well that dialogue can be exchanged between them without any words, an ability that is reserved only for the best of friends.
This message of high-context might be referred to through out the whole short story, because the author never once uses quotations to present dialogue, but instead integrates communication into sentences and phrases. Lam might be using this lack of quotations as a way of saying that communication does not need to be directly spoken, but can be interpreted through actions and expressions too. So not only does Lam give a good detailed account of how the Vietnamese must have felt coming to America, but he also effectively portrays high context character within his story.
This message of high-context might be referred to through out the whole short story, because the author never once uses quotations to present dialogue, but instead integrates communication into sentences and phrases. Lam might be using this lack of quotations as a way of saying that communication does not need to be directly spoken, but can be interpreted through actions and expressions too. So not only does Lam give a good detailed account of how the Vietnamese must have felt coming to America, but he also effectively portrays high context character within his story.
Impact of photos..
I don’t know how many of you noticed but our book has
pictures (Yay!). Between pages 304 and
305 of Takaki has eight pages of
photographs about the Asian American Experience. One of the pictures that
really stood out to me shows three Filipino American women dressed in American
fashion with their hair bobbed. The caption reads “We were treated like
actresses. It didn’t matter what you looked like. Just that we were Filipinas”
(Takaki 503 ¾). I believe this sort
of thing still happens today where we treat people as some exotic treasure
because of the color of their skin or where they are from. A lot of our
literature shows how ignorant of a response this is. In a fictional story, a girl enters a writing
contest and has her work chosen because it is Korean. She senses this
difference in her writing from the other’s that were chosen from her feel good
stories and reminds herself “never to say thank you” because why should she “like
a… beggar... thank them for listening” to her (A Cab Called Reliable 258). This shows how she is treated
substantially different from other students because of her heritage and used
almost as a tourist attraction of authentic Korean miserable stories. In another fictional work, a similar story is
told where a man travels to different towns talking about the war in Korea. His
audience is bored during the majority of his speech until finally he showed
pictures that “satisfied” his audience which “murmured with pleasure at the
images of the farmers, in their year-round stripped pajamas” (From the Foreign Student 290). We use
foreign people as an attraction. This was also the case in a play where a
Filipino father pretends to be Hawaiian and plays in bars in America because “It’s
a treat! It brings in a crowd, a curious crowd (Eye of a Coconut 337). This differential racism still happens today.
I have overheard many conversations where people are unconsciously racist- “You’re
Hawaiian- do you surf?” “Oh! From Montana? You must ride horses a lot.” “Korean?
Have you eaten a dog?” I am not exempt
from this but it is good to notice this sort of thing.
Food
I am going to talk about the distinct nature of food. Really what better thing in the world. Several food groups have no equal in the united states food culture. Really where can you go to find a wonderful Vietnamese dish if you don't travel to a restaurant where they speak the language in the kitchen. Another thing that people don't think about is location, location is so important, I would be weary of trying any sashimi in Spokane The freshness would be questionable to say the least. I think one of the greatest things to do is find a hole in the hole wall place where the language of the cuisine is Spokane by 95% of the people who work there, eat there. I am not a big fan of the americanization butchering of international cuisines. really who in their right mind would think some of these things up, what do mothers think about them. Pizza has transformed, Chinese food. Pastas made famous by the Asians and adopted by Italiano who does that. I want someone to go through history and find people who made up things like fortune cookies and tell them to take a lesson from their parents about cooking. I want TRADITIONAL foods, I want things I am afraid to ask what they are. I want to be adventurous.
Japanese New Years
New Years is a big deal in my family. Even though fireworks have been made illegal in Hawaii, my family still finds a way to make New Years meaningful. My dad likes to go all out for New Years. He is very traditional when it comes to the rituals and things that are used as offerings for a traditional Japanese New Years. My dad brings out the kadomatsu which is a bamboo and pine decoration that goes at the entrances of houses. This is a symbol for longevity, prosperity, and steadfastness. In addition to the kadomatsu, my dad also will put out kagami mochi which is two pieces of mochi stacked up on top of each other with the bottom one larger than the top with a tangerine finally to top the whole thing off. This New Years' decoration symbolizes the generations to come and the continuation of the family.
We have some foods that we always eat on New Years. Kuromame (black beans), konbu (boiled seaweed), fishcake (kamaboko) are just a few of the foods that my Great-Grandpa and Great- Grandma Aoki would always make for New Years. Till this day, my Aunty and Grandma still make all of the traditional Japanese foods for New Years. I will never forget when my Great-Grandma would tell me to eat her kuromame so that I could "be like the bean" and live a long life. We also eat noodles for New Years because noodles are long and represent long life. I love my Japanese heritage and culture. I feel that my Japanese background plays an important role in my life and how I was brought up. I will continue all the New Years traditions that my dad and grandparents brought me up with for sure. I think that it is important to me and my culture.
High Context
I think that my family is high context. I feel who I am today is very much a reflection on my family and how I was brought up. My dad is the only one who has a full time job. He really does work for the good of the group a.k.a the family. He works so hard everyday so that my family can all go to school and live in a wonderful house and have a hot meal on the table everyday. We really do love each others company. My mom looks forward most to school breaks and vacations because we all are home at the same time and can spend a lot of time together. The relationship that we have with each other is really close. We do a lot of things together and as a group. I think that what my parents have taught me is that a lot of the choices I make are not only a reflection on myself but also a refection on them and how they raised me. For example if I made a mistake and made a poor decision, it would not only be a reflection on my part, but also my parents because they did not teach me the right choice and how to make a decision properly. I am not surprised that my family is high context because we practice many traditional Japanese and Chinese traditions. My Japanese and Chinese heritage is something that means a lot to me and is something that has influenced who I am and how I think. According to the handout that we got in class, both Japanese and Chinese were classified as high context.
Modern Day Picture Bride
I’m sure a lot of
you who read the stories in Takaki
about picture brides felt disconnected and had thoughts of how strange things
used to be. A lot of you would be surprised if this still happened in America-
well, SURPRISE!
My
Aunt Cherryl came to America almost seven months ago from the Philippines. She
is, what I’d like to call, a modern day picture bride because her adventure
started with posting her picture on a website that connects Filipino women with
American men. It may seem strange but this is what she was raised to do along
with many other women in that country. She even went to college in the Philippines
to get a BA in the English language. Her decision supports her family because
as a sort of dowry my uncle sends the family money to support them.
Unlike the brides
in Takaki, my uncle actually traveled
to her village before they were married so that they could meet and decide if
their partnership would work. After eight months, she was finally approved and
she was flown to the US on a temporary VISA. Because of immigration laws, they
had to be married within three months of her arrival or she would be deported. I
was one of the first people she met in America and I was the maid of honor in
their ceremony. Cherryl was raised as a devout Catholic and so the ceremony was
traditional and familiar. However, the reception was not so much. There is a
small community of women who came over to the same small town just as Cherryl
did. This group of women made up her brides maids and party planners. All of
the food was Filipino. They played music popular in the Philippines, sang karaoke,
danced, and talked in their dialects together. I believe this group is a huge
support to her success in America. My family also has given her a big roll,
inviting her to do things like water aerobics, parties, and other events.
She has adapted certainly
well in a new land although we do like to have fun with her every once in
awhile. For example, when she woke up on Christmas to find extra presents under
the tree she was confused. My uncle told her Santa had left them presents. “How
did he get in the house?!” she asked terrified “Did you give him a key?!” “No,”
my uncle replied, “he used magic to get in.” For a good half an hour Cherryl
worried about a strange man breaking into the house while they were sleeping and
leaving them gifts before she realized (spoiler alert) my uncle was Santa (no,
not for all of you).
Before you go
judging my family too much, you must know my aunt and uncle genuinely love each
other and have benefitted each other’s lives greatly. I cannot describe to you
the changes I have seen in the both of them as they get further along in
marriage. My uncle’s faith has grown and Cherryl has learned to be more
assertive and outgoing. They are inseparable (seriously, you have no idea).
Hapa
In Takaki, there is mention of a "post ethnic society" which is identified as, a "society of cosmopolitan and multiple identities for groups and also individuals (Takaki 504)." It then goes on to talk about the multi-racial baby boom that hit the country and the mention of hapa's. Hapa Haole is a Hawaiian term which initially meant half Hawaiian and half Haole (white) in the days when many children were born with one parent being Native Hawaiian and the other being a missionary. Since then it has evolved into a term in which one is part Haole and usually Asian or a mixture of various ethnicities. Further in the reading Takaki says, "This fusion of races and cultures is being played out at family gatherings (Takaki 505)." Since Hawaii is known as the "melting pot of the Pacific", there are many cultures that blend to form our unique culture. A simple example can be a family potluck or party. Within an extended family there may be a huge range in ethnicity. With each family bringing a dish, there may be Hawaiian, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, etc. An example of a plate made at these parties could be, rice, kalua pig (hawaiian), teri chicken (Japanese), Chow Fun (Chinese), Meat Jun (Korean), and possibly even spaghetti. An example of the fusion of cultures can be seen at some funerals, although the deceased may be cremated it is not a Buddhist funeral. There are many funerals that have a Christian service yet the deceased is cremated. Some saw mixed races and fusion of cultures in a negative light as they "represent the extinction of the community." However, there is a beauty in the mixing of races and fusion of culture. People are able to see different walks of life and may become more tolerant of one another and their respective cultures.
China to America
Over the weekend, I
was able to meet up with some family friends. One of which is a second
generation Chinese American immigrant and I was able to find out about some of
his experiences (yes, I realize the Chinese-American unit was so three weeks
ago but deal with it).
My
friend’s father came to America through a sponsorship program in 1963 where he
came from a small village in China to become a housekeeper to a farmer. He
earned a living of $25 a month and much of that would go back to his family.
For a short time in 1969 he went back to China for an arranged marriage to a
city girl. When they returned, they opened up a restaurant where they could get
by not knowing the language and depending on themselves rather than other
sources of work. The couple asked some Caucasian “friends” to give them more
American names. They were dubbed Chuck Eng and Chew Eng (how cruel is that?!?).
Chuck and Chew never fully learned
English. The language barrier is a problem when talking to their family (including
Martin who I interviewed and never was taught Chinese). Chuck sometimes uses a
machine to talk into and translate his Chinese into English.
As
a second generation, Martin was not exempt to experiencing racism. He learned
not to go to certain areas and especially small towns such a Colfax, which was
the last place in the US to have a lynching post.
Martin
dated and ended up marrying a white woman named Janette. His parents were very
unhappy at this news. If they had settled in a larger area with other Chinese
he would have likely followed their wishes. Their miscegenation was not only
looked down upon by Martin’s family, but also society. Like one part we read in
Takaki (pg 324-325), Janette and
Martin could not get waited on in small town restaurants.
Even
their half Chinese daughters experience racism. A few years ago, the neighbor kids
who grew up with Jade and Jasmine Eng told the girls they weren’t allowed to
play with “gooks” anymore.
The
family still keeps some Chinese traditions and beliefs. They celebrate Chinese
New Year and are given red envelopes. They also have to be cautious about
buying a house. They cannot buy a house where they can see a graveyard close by
because the spirits can come to your house. Buying a house at the end of a coldisac
is also taboo because the negative energy gets trapped there. I like how
Janette respects these customs and how Martin and the Children, although
assimilated, still partake in their heritage.
"The Namesake" response
I thought that the movie was the best we've seen as a class because it wasn't as depressing as the other movies. I liked it also because it had a better plot structure and the actor who played Kumar in "Harold and Kumar" played a good Gogul in this movie. I was surprised on how well he could play such a different role than his humorous counterpart.
I was quite engaged in Gogul's fight for his true identity throughout the movie. In the end, he finally finds a balance between his independence and his family's traditions. What was most touching was the build up of Gogul's name and how he got it. It was annoying at first when his father said he will tell him later, but it was heart-warming once he told Gogul the true meaning behind his name. I think that was when Gogul finally realized how lucky he was and how much his father had to go through to raise him.
I was quite engaged in Gogul's fight for his true identity throughout the movie. In the end, he finally finds a balance between his independence and his family's traditions. What was most touching was the build up of Gogul's name and how he got it. It was annoying at first when his father said he will tell him later, but it was heart-warming once he told Gogul the true meaning behind his name. I think that was when Gogul finally realized how lucky he was and how much his father had to go through to raise him.
Last Reading Response
I thought the last reading was good in particular because it connected all of the history we have read about in class. It has made me realize many things and how unforgiving America can be to Asian Americans. It was powerful how Takaki explained that all the history of Asian immigrants connects to Asian Americans in the late 1900's and 2000's.
There's still a lot of inequality based on race today and that's the most frustrating part of the whole thing. Our nation's constitution is nothing if our nation and government cannot commit to its principles. I thought this quote summed up a lot of the reading: "The killing of Vincent Chin happened in 1982, not 1882-the year of the Chinese Exclusion Act". A lot has changed since the exclusion act, but there is also a lot of subtle racial inequality that still exists today.
There's still a lot of inequality based on race today and that's the most frustrating part of the whole thing. Our nation's constitution is nothing if our nation and government cannot commit to its principles. I thought this quote summed up a lot of the reading: "The killing of Vincent Chin happened in 1982, not 1882-the year of the Chinese Exclusion Act". A lot has changed since the exclusion act, but there is also a lot of subtle racial inequality that still exists today.
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