Week 2_Melanie Manuel_ASA 114

Melanie Manuel

ASA 114 001

11 January 2020

E. San Juan JR’s “The Ordeal of Ethnic Studies in the Age of Globalization” highlights a pervading downside for ethnic studies in the modern age; of course, this is not to say that San Juan JR seeks to denounce ethnic studies entirely, but rather seeks to warn and urge other ethnic studies scholars to realize that ethnic studies must evolve with the times without falling into patterns of multiculturalism and pluralisms. I think to take as an example, the birth of ethnic studies with the work from members of the Third World Liberation Front (TWLF) demonstrates the possibility for change. While the degrading solidarity demonstrates the fragility of movements that do not continue to evolve with time and obstacles, though this is not to fault folks of color involved (because really, the end to the TWLF came intentionally to separate its members), but that right there is why it is so deeply important that we come together now, that we acknowledge our own differences, but also really hone in on the similarities of our struggles to fight together and reach a better place of understanding. I think what San Juan JR really wanted to convey was the idea that the journey--or really, battle--is not yet over, and it might not be, but it’s still worth working through if it means changes are to come. 

The image included features Richard Aoki, Charles Brown, and Manuel Delgado. These folks were members of the Third World Liberation Front (TWLF), advocates for Third Worldism, and the notion that we (folks of color) should be in control of our own lives--education, welfare, etc.

Works Cited

Anderson, Wanni W. and Robert G. Lee Eds. 2005. Displacements and Diasporas: Asians in the Americas. New Jersey: Rutgers University Press. 

Image used: 

https://www.jacobinmag.com/2018/08/richard-aoki-fbi-informant-leonard-gallagher