AsAm in US-20th Century and the continuing Asian problem-1

Asian Americans in the U.S. 20th Century and the Continuing Asian "Problem"

Lecture Overview

• Topics Covered:

  • Enduring Anti-Asian Racism

  • The Filipino Problem

  • The Japanese Problem

  • The Korea/Vietnam Problem

  • Anti-Asian Sentiments in the 80s/90s

• Key Term:

  • Zoomorphism: Assigning animalistic characteristics to individuals or groups.

Enduring Anti-Asian Racism

• Evolution of anti-Asian sentiments over decades.

• Notable periods showcasing disdain for Asian communities:

  • Early anti-Chinese sentiments.

  • Specific discrimination faced by various Asian American sub-ethnic groups:

    • Filipinos: Racialized due to ties to the Spanish-American War, exploited as farmworkers and low-wage laborers.

    • Japanese: Targeted during WWII with internment and discrimination post-Pearl Harbor.

    • Chinese/Korean/Vietnamese: Racialized as enemies/refugees in the context of the Cold War.

The Filipino Problem

U.S. Colonization

• Philippines taken as a war prize post-Spanish American War (1898).

• U.S. sought colonial power similar to European powers, leading to violent occupation and suppression of independence leading to 200,000 civilian deaths.

Labor Exploitation

• Filipinos were essentially paradoxes in U.S. policy:

  • Exploited for labor while U.S. discussed democracy.

• Mass Migration: Driven by political/social turmoil, leading to exploitation in agriculture.

• Involvement in labor movements advocating for rights alongside other marginalized groups.

The Japanese Problem

Historical Context

• Complex U.S.-Japan relations with initial cooperation but rising tensions due to Japan's imperial ambitions.

• Japanese immigrants sought inclusion and faced racial exclusion post-Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882.

WWII and Racialization

• New racialization for Japanese during WWII, contrasting acceptance of Chinese due to allyship.

• Zoomorphism applied, depicting Japanese as "Yellow rats."

Internment and Bombing of Hiroshima/Nagasaki

• Executive Order 9066 led to internment of 120,000 Japanese Americans, losing property and rights.

• Use of atomic bombs on Japan resulted in massive civilian casualties and lasting health issues.

Korea/Vietnam Problem

• Strategic conflicts during Cold War, leading to U.S. interventionism.

• Devastating effects of warfare on civilians in North/South Korea and Vietnam.

• Use of mass casualty weapons resulting in long-term health effects and unexploded ordinances.

Anti-Asian Sentiments in the 80s/90s

• Persistence of anti-Asian sentiment after Cold War.

• Economic changes: de-industrialization and globalization led to loss of manufacturing jobs and targeted racial violence against Asian communities.

• Ongoing political and social instability in Asia caused by U.S. interventions contributed to a rise in Asian emigration.

Conclusion

• Overview of key topics discussed:

  • Enduring Anti-Asian Racism

  • Filipino, Japanese, Korea/Vietnam Problems

  • Anti-Asian sentiments in the 80s/90s

• Importance of understanding racial dynamics and historical contexts.