Blog 11 – Diasporas with Different Generations of Asians

By Eric Yu

            Ang’s commentary on Asian Diasporas reveals how different each experience is for different groups of Asians, due to the different circumstances and experiences they obtain from immigrating. Such experiences are interesting because of how they differ from the larger nation-state, which has a point of contention with these immigrants over identity. Thus, Ang makes a particular point about nation-states using “multiculturalism or pluralism” in order to promote their own “internal diversity” (287-288). Thus, Ang’s recognition of differences between those already living in a country and those who are newer immigrants from outside of the country are important to consider in daily interactions between the two groups. However, questions remain over how to handle an ever-growing split between the old and new diasporas, due to how these generations focus on different topics for their respective audiences (Lee, 2004). She also notes how the hyphen has “spatially and temporally” modified where the generations differ, which can also apply to the newer diasporic immigrants (Lee, 2004, p. 69). This understanding of different groups helps further the idea of how Asian immigration happens worldwide, not just in the United States.

The Fung Brothers represent themselves as the new generation of youth with new Asian immigrants entering the area. 

Original Quote: “From left, David Fung, Matthew Hui and Andrew Fung at Mr. Hui’s Asian fusion shaved ice shop. ‘This culture doesn’t exist everywhere,’ David Fung said.”

Source: Medina, J. (2013, April 28). New Suburban Dream Born of Asia and Southern California. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/29/us/asians-now-largest-immigrant-group-in-southern-california.html?pagewanted=all&_r=1

Question: Do you suppose that a new generation of Asian immigrants could consider themselves as Asian Americans? What would this new generation look like to you?

References

Ang, I. (2007). Beyond “Asian Diasporas.” In R. S. Parreñas & C.D. Liu (Eds.), asian diasporas: NEW FORMATIONS, NEW CONCEPTIONS (pp. 285-290). Stanford, CA: Stanford Univerisity Press.

Lee, R. (2004). Theorizing Diasporas: Three Types of Consciousness. In R. Goh & R. Wong (Eds.), Asian Diasporas: Cultures, Identities, Representations (pp. 53-76). Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press.

Medina, J. (2013, April 28). New Suburban Dream Born of Asia and Southern California. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/29/us/asians-now-largest-immigrant-group-in-southern-california.html?pagewanted=all&_r=1