Sunday, November 22, 2015

Week 2 - Charles Miin


 Charles Miin
ASA 114
November 22, 2015

Week 2 – The Asian American

Older generations adhere strictly to their upbringing and the times that forged their experiences. The newer, millennial generation is one based heavily on change and personal introspection that can be seen as almost defying the wishes of the elders that we are supposed to render our respect to. There is no fault on either side, simply different time periods that heavily emphasize different things from one another and leads to conflict. Older members wish to conform and be included as being American by the larger society in which they entered. Today, we are more considered with being more fluid and understanding of our heritage in the U.S. and otherwise and being able to connect the different parts that we draw from. The desire is to be a flexible citizen that carries fewer roots in a place or location and derives confirmation from kin and their personal values. This is all while members of the community are forced to contend with the perpetual offenders of our image, “the model minority myth” and the less popular and older “coolie” of the 19th century. Even with the designation of having innate “Asianness” as a reason for success, Asian-Americans do want validation from their fellow Americans, however White Americans in particular. In the end, despite any political or racial misgivings, it can be widely observed that contemporary Asian Americans are the best chance for promoting understanding in otherwise ignorant groups on both sides of the Pacific, and depending on their efforts, we may yet see an Asian American in the top political office in our lifetime. However, what will it take to overcome the deep set racial perceptions exhibited by the rest of American society on Asian Americans, to the point where we can be foreigners despite never once leaving the U.S.?

Hu-DeHart, Evelyn. 1999. "Introduction: Asian American Formations in the Age of Globalization." pp 1-22



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