Double Consciousness (Takaki Reflection)

One of the important CRT terms is double consciousness. According to W.E.B.Du Bois, double consciousness is “an awareness of the majority group and their own at the same time.” Double consciousness often happen on second generation immigrants. On page 286 of Takaki’s reading, “many second-generation Koreans also found themselves floating ‘insecurely, in the rootless grouping fashion of men hung between two worlds.’” Second generation Americans often experiences double consciousness that they feel “pulled” by the two worlds.

Even though I am not a second generation Asian American, I feel double consciousness sometimes as well. I came to America when I was 15 years old. Half of my teen years I spent it here. I experienced the culture shock and depression when I first got here (I will make another post about my culture shock later). On one hand, when I go back home during the summer, I feel I am really open minded about a lot of the stuff, like Taiwan, Tibet, our government, relationships, styles and more; on the other hand, I often feel my “Asianess” when I come back here for school. I noticed that I am more conservative about things and take school more seriously than American students. My attitude about some things often has two sides too. Like I will debate if I should go for something I truly like and fellow my heart, or chose something because it has better future and I can make a lot of money. I guess it was because my parents sent me here when I was too young, when my personality was still developing.