Asian-American Racial Identity

The necessity of the racial category “Asian American” stems from western orientalism. All Asian races are conglomerated though they do not necessarily feel any unity within themselves or have a shared lineage. Even those who have completely assimilated and who no longer identify as Korean, Filipino, Japanese, etc. cannot claim to be “American” because they are not white and are hence relegated the identity of “Asian American”. While those who live in America but do feel a sense of transnationalism tend to identify themselves more specifically i.e. Korean American, Vietnamese American, Japanese American etc. This racial category is a shortcut to stereotypes only make it harder for people to actually understand the differences between vastly different cultures, and propagate violence and discrimination. Based on the absence of an Asian …show more content…
Combining different races ignores the large differences in culture and experience. Lac Su’s, “I Love Yous are for White People” discusses the differences in Asian subgroups and their immigration experience. As well as discussing the important fact that most Asian races do not see themselves as a singular identity. There are clear differences here where in immigrating to the US there is no longer the sense of a shared identity. "Did you get off to ask those people for directions? They're Asian." "You idiot; you think all Asians speak Vietnamese?" -Sac 34 Placed into multiracial communities but no community really. The idea of there being unity within a race is also shown in KIDS relationship with OTHER in the ESL class. These boys are the only two Vietnamese children, coupled with a similar immigration experience, and at home life the two become friends. It is probable to assume that the shared cultural identity stems from similar experiences in both Vietnam and the United States. This is a vastly different than the assumption that Asian groups identify culturally with each