Who Am I? Creating an Asian American Identity and Culture

Creating an Asian American Identity and Culture

Introduction

• The chapter explores the formation of Asian American identity and culture, particularly during the Asian American Movement.

• It addresses the challenges faced by Asian Americans in a complex America and world.

• Highlights the necessity for Asian Americans to understand their cultural history to assert their humanity.

The Question of Origin and Alienation

• Asian Americans are frequently asked, "Where are you really from?"

• The question implies they are strangers, unlike European Americans.

• Many young, middle-class Asian Americans felt alienated from American society, mirroring a broader generational malaise.

• They viewed American society as culturally sterile and dominated by corrupt institutions.

• The U.S. government's foreign policy in Southeast Asia and conscription further fueled their disillusionment.

• They questioned aspects beyond their control and experienced racial prejudice, feeling like unwelcome foreigners despite being American.

• Asian Americans felt "in American culture, but not of it."

Disillusionment and the Pursuit of Ethnic Identity

• Asian Americans experienced disillusionment upon realizing the U.S. Constitution's promises of equality did not fully apply to them.

• This realization led to feelings of betrayal and radicalization.

• Having been rejected after attempting assimilation, they sought alternatives.

• They aimed to establish a place in America's pluralist society by developing a unique ethnic identity and counterculture.

• The Movement facilitated a pan-Asian consciousness, transforming Asian ethnics into Asian Americans.

The "Yellow Identity" Conference

• An early effort to develop an Asian American identity was the "Asian American Experience in America-Yellow Identity" conference in 1969 at UC Berkeley.

• Approximately 900 Asian Americans, mainly Chinese and Japanese Americans from the West Coast, attended.

• The conference aimed to explore Asian-American history, destiny, and the need for solidarity in a predominantly white society.

• The event challenged the stereotype of Asian Americans as "mellow yellow."

• The conference shifted unexpectedly into a political convention, with students addressing the Third World strike at San Francisco State College.

• Sponsoring groups distanced themselves from adopting resolutions.

• The conference highlighted the need for sustained efforts to achieve ethnic solidarity.

Consciousness-Raising Groups and Identity Formation

• Asian Americans formed consciousness-raising groups to address identity issues.

• These meetings provided a cathartic experience, allowing individuals to release negative feelings and inner tensions.

• Participants helped each other deconstruct unconscious cultural assumptions.

• Some Asian Americans had futilely attempted to physically transform themselves to resemble European Americans.

• Individuals like Amy Tan and Edward Iwata felt confused and inferior due to societal pressure to conform to the dominant culture.

• They recognized the need to develop a self-defined identity to overcome psychological and political vulnerability.

• The goal was to integrate past experiences with present conditions and foster group esteem and pride through collective action.

• The Movement became the means of accomplishing this identity formation.

Cultural Domination and Estrangement

• Activists believed cultural domination played a central role in shaping individual identities.

• The absence of an autonomous culture contributed to their powerlessness.

• They felt estranged from Asian cultures, viewing them through a Eurocentric lens.

• Asian cultures were perceived negatively due to their emphasis on group conformity, agrarian stagnation, and oppression of women.

• American culture was esteemed for individual freedom, commercial enterprise, and material advancement.

The Myth of Dual Heritage

• Before the 1960s, Asian Americans were often assumed to benefit from both American and Asian cultures.

• Activists like Frank Chin criticized the concept of a dual heritage as racist.

• He argued that society falsely assumes Asian Americans maintain their cultural integrity as Asians.

• This notion explains their seeming inability to assimilate and justifies injustices against them.

• Asian American activists rejected the dual heritage concept, emphasizing a distinct Asian American identity shaped by their experiences in America.

• They sought to define "Asian America" by refuting stereotypes, reclaiming their history, and reconstructing their culture.

Refuting Stereotypes

• Combating stereotypes was and remains a major concern within the Movement.

• Historically, stereotypes reflected antagonism towards Asian immigrants and Asian countries.

• Before the Immigration Act of 1924, anti-Asian sentiment stemmed from fears of economic competition and racial mixing.

• Nativism portrayed Asians as unassimilable aliens and actively discouraged their assimilation.

• The image of Asian Americans as perpetual foreigners reinforced the idea that only European Americans could be "authentic" Americans.

• In the 1930s, anti-Asian animus arose from anxieties over the military threat posed by Asian nations, particularly Japan.

• Asians were perceived as a Yellow Peril threatening Western civilization.

• Racial stereotypes have portrayed Asians as subhumans, inhumans, or superhumans, but rarely as humans.

Common Stereotypes

• Subhumans: Asians are depicted as having a low regard for human life, exemplified by suicidal attacks in war movies.

• Inhumans: Asian villains are portrayed as lacking compassion and seeking world domination.

• Superhumans: Asians are depicted as geniuses with arcane knowledge or masters of martial arts, often used for evil.

• Examples: Fu Manchu, Charlie Chan, Bruce Lee.

• Asian Americans are often compared unfavorably to European Americans, who are seen as the standard. This skewed representation contributes to a narrow understanding of Asian American identity, positioning them as either the sinister villain or the exotic hero, thereby overshadowing the rich diversity and complexity within Asian American communities.