Balancing being Asian-Americain
I Stumbled acorss a CNN article focusing on Asian-americain life and the still existing stereotypes. I think this article is really interesting because it actually sheds light on a lot of the problems we talked about in class, and seemed to give information with an unbiased sense. This article I think is kind of a positive thing, because it seems to bring these issues into focus, reminding people that being American is not only for people that are white, without also being negative towards them.
One thing I liked especially was noting that you can't simply say one is Asian and have that encompass all cultures, languages, and people. The term Asian-american seems like such an old un-updated word, that still floats around carrying all of it's stereotypes, such as not being able to speak enlglish very well or to be good and successfull only in math or science. The acticle also mentions 'Apu' from "The Simpsons" as the old Asian-american stereotype, and how our society is finally starting to move away from that.
I think that this relates to our class topics because of all of the inequalities we talked about considering race. Especially now, I'm very undecided which direction society should strive to head for. Whether it's important for society as a whole to move towards more terms for people of different areas and cultures, or if we as a whole need to move away from labels completely. It seems that by eliminating labels we may be throwing away important pieces of culture, but by creating more distinct labels it could simply increase stereotypes, assumptions and inequalities among us. I generally feel that in our specific society, we would be better of without labels in all aspects, because labels in America generally only lead to further discrimination. What do you think?
Comments
It amezing to here that the America stereotiping of Asian-Ammerican is shifting. maybe one day the African-American will also have it better some day. I allways resent the fact that people are allways refered at by thier race in america. I think every body sould only be clled American as in Europe or Africa, you are etheir french or Congolese. It is throuth that there is tribal issue in africa for example but not nationality issue. When a color or continent of origine is place in front of your nationality it makes you less of that nationality as if you are not realy fully American. that way I resent this practise. Most European when they arrived in America, they themselves did not speak English, but today you will never heare any of them refred as European America, white-American, Polish-American, or Irish- American and so forth, they are American period. I think that The country should drop this"name colling" thing, color should be invocqued only when needed like when tracking a criminal down, or for governement pourposes like makind ID or pass-port...
This in my oppinion will reduice racism at most. Also people should loosenup about this racial issue, if some one called you Asian-American or Black or whatever people call each other in this country, then you should just look take them for what they are "Ignorant" after allwhy should you stress your self about such persone he is not whorth you time.
1. Martin Luter king ha adream in the sixties of a unified America, My dad was not even born yet, today I'm in America, there is still the strongest racism i never withness. can some one give me a hope of when this will be about to end, it just one to many years.
2.Is there any lagislative work out ther to end this "name calling" practice? because it is rather childish.
Posted by: Nathalie Buhendwa | May 15, 2007 12:21 PM