Week 2 - William Chan; Evelyn Hu-Dehart "Asian American Formation in the Age of Globalization"

Evelyn Hu-Dehart brings up an interesting idea of transnationalism that plays a role in the migration of Asians and Asian-Americans. Hu-Dehart brings up this fact that most middle and upper class Asians migrate to America and "builds a bridge" between Asia and America to bring more success, profits, networking, and ultimately progress into their lives. Most of the Asians who come to America are already in a well off situation to even create this progress in their lives. They have the comfort to come to America. The idea of the different classes and economic status of Asians who come to America create a different boundary between Asians who are in America.

 The working class who come to America are often coming to America because they are "bought" into this idea that America is the 'land of opportunity' and is sold the cliche 'American Dream'. So, already the mindset, lifestyle, and purpose to coming to America is far different from the Asians who come to America to make bigger business moves. The working class are usually put into rough, low income, poverty stricken neighborhoods and are now working to only survive. This relates a lot back to what we spoke in class about the idea of giving someone just enough so they don't revolt, or even have time to rebel due to their living situations. What Hu-Dehart says in her article really made me elaborate and opened up this idea that Asians do come to America, but there are Asians coming to America from different classes and different life situations.

Does the idea of class affect the way we define 'Asian' ?

https://koumbadem.wordpress.com/2014/10/09/the-american-dream-doesnt-exist/

Evelyn Hu­Dehart. “Introduction: Asian American Formations in the Age of Globalization.”