Asian American Dreams: The Emergence of an American People

after reading chapter 5 and 6 of Asian American Dreams by Helen Zia, i would have to say that i was more aware of the struggles that we had to go through in our asian american communities. i suppose normally i make myself ignorant to the issues only so that i don't feel the need to deal with them. but after reading about them, and only two of these issues, it made me realize what the asian american people have been going through for decades. we had to endure just as much racism during the time of the civil rights movements as the african american people. this surprised me. and the funny part is that we didn't get recognized for our fight as much as african american's did. it's all pretty interesting.

reading about the issues with stereotypes and asian american actors dealing with showbiz in chapter 5 made me understand more of the inequalities they had to endure. asian american actors didn't have the same opportunities as caucasian american actors and they still don't. they also had to deal with the sterotypes that emerged from television programs, plays, and movies about asian people. as if it wasn't degrading enough to not be able to get the lead role in a movie, they had to be tormented with the sterotypes about asians thanks to that movie.

chapter 6 really opened my eyes to the struggles of my people. as a filipino-american, i found this specific chapter especially interesting because it talked about the struggles that my people went through at the salmon canneries in alaska. i never even knew there were filipinos in alaska! lol. anyways, i was really intrigued when she mentioned how most of their struggles was going on during the civil rights movement and that made me connect with history more. i never felt connected to U.S. history because they always talked about black/white history. and here in chapter 6 of this book by helen zia i found a missing puzzle piece to my own U.S. history. something i actually might have cared about if they mentioned it in junior year of high school.

over all, the chapters i read were very insightful, and i hope to read the rest of the book at some point when i get the chance.

take care,
Donna ;)

Who's driving that car?!

Hey everyone,

Sooo it's been a long while since I've gotten around to blogging, but since I'm at work, I figure I might as well.

Lately when I'm out and about, regardless of the time of day, I've noticed some really HORRIBLE drivers! I mean, I know everyone says that people in the bay drive crazy.. but I didn't know they drive so stupidly! Sadly but surely, the idiotic drivers behind the wheel of these cars are Asian. They aren't even OLD.. so they can't use their old age as an excuse! But yeah, I mean, way to prove the stereotype that Asian people can't drive! They're driving is so horrible that I'm embarrassed for them. I know I may not be the BEST driver, but I know that I drive A LOT better than what I've seen lately.

I was in the Serramonte parking lot a few days ago with my friend Somandy getting frozen yogurt, and there was this lady in a SUV, and she was trying to park in a parking space at the corner. Parking there was not difficult, except she kept reversing and going forward, and she almost hit the car in the parking space next to her. I don't know what she was doing because she could've went directly into the parking space, but she didn't.. for some odd reason, she kept reversing and going forward and making things so difficult! She held traffic up for a good 15 minutes before she finally decided to give up and move on to the next parking spot. If I was her, I'd be so embarrassed and would've given up after the 3rd try, not the 150th try.

This wasn't the first occasion that I've seen where people have difficulties parking. I mean, parallel parking is one thing, but parking in a parking lot shouldn't be that difficult. And it just so happens that the people who can't park are WOMEN.. and the people who drive like idiots are majority women as well.. although I've seen guys drive like their blindfolded too, so guys, don't feel flattered.

--Kim [=

Windows of Opportunity

A brief synopsis of Chapter 5 in Helen Zia’s Asian American Dreams reveals the historic struggle of Asian Americans in the performing arts. In televised media, there was a stringent mold that Asian Americans played. Prior to their actual involvement in the said field, there were few roles open to any Asian. Consequently, it became a common practice for Anglos to don yellow powder and to tape their eyelids. Additionally, the roles played by these characters were unbefitting and degrading.

Initial depictions of Asian characters ultimately skewed popular belief of Asians and Asian Americans alike. As a result, a strict mold, which defined Asian American casting, was established. Both male and female Asian Americans were type casted as grossly misrepresented characters. The only roles that were offered to Asian Americans males fell within three categories: 1) A diabolical deviant that was toppled by an Anglo hero, 2) A bumbling sidekick with profound ‘Asian characteristics’, or 3) emasculated geeks. Asian American women, on the other hand, were also placed under the same amount of scrutiny, but were offered less diverse roles. Petite and subservient, Asian American women played the role of sex slaves that awaited liberation from the tyrannical grasps of Asian pimps. The only form of salvation would come from white skinned liberators. These controversial roles would eventually come under the spotlight when the world renowned play Miss Saigon made its initial opening stateside.

The play Miss Saigon entails an Asian women who is impregnated and abandoned by her loved, an American GI, during the Vietnam War. When the play opened up in Europe, it was met with rave reviews despite the disproportionate number of Asian actors. When the play came stateside, there was an outcry by Asian American actors. Directors were only willing to open up the part of Kim to an Asian American woman. The plays antagonist, The Engineer, was said to be openly casted, but was ultimately handed to a British man with no Asian heritage. When the director of the play was questioned, he defended his choice by saying that there were no male Asian American actors that were suitable to fill the role. In subsequent productions, the role became open to Asians, but a different reprisal was bound to surface.

Eventually, the common state of mind questioned why are Asians limited to sparse roles? There was fervor amongst the masses to open up all plays for an Asian American lead. Plays that once offered Asian Americans with a chance to perform were spurned. Why does an Asian American or any individual in general, have to degrade their personal character and heritage in order to find a job? Although later productions did open up different roles for Asian Americans to play, a stigma still remained. The number of plays that glorify Asian Americans are too few. Additionally, the modes of representation for these ideas are still untested. Adapting those ideas for popular culture while maintaining the essence of the story is not only challenging, but it is trivial as well.

SYTFU BBQ. Donations to Children's Hospital

Last Saturday April 11,2009 SYTFU held a fundraising/donations bbq to the Children's Hospital. People from Nor Cal and So Cal came with their finest cars. From BMWS, Benz, Bikes, Scions, Evos, Civics, Intgeras, WRXs, G35, S2000,Lexus, Muscle Cars, 240s, Preludes, Supras, RX7s, Porshe, Lambos and many many more came to support the event and show off their cars. It was a version of Hot Import Nights but free admission and all donations/proceeds goes to the children's hospital. There were more then 300+ cars that came through and it was a success. My friends and I worked all day tryna make sure everything goes well and running around to get donations for the spectators and working on the grill and boy it waas H0T! I think I got sun burned but I'm not sure but my face was burning hot and I forgot to bring sun block. Serving Hot Dogs, Drinks, Burgers, and Chicken wings was a work out. And may I say, them chicken wings was off the hook. We also held a raffle and the prizes were shirts, car parts, starbucks baskets, pictures with models, and many many more. The grand prize was a free detail for their car. Thanks to Darkside (San Jose) purchased many many tickets and raffled their prizes and donated the money to the children's hospital. I had a great time and thank everyone for coming out to support SYTFU.

BTW, as i was walking around with my friend to sell raffle tickets, we came across this group of boys and asked them if they wanted to participate and one of them goes "Oh I'm from Oakland so I'm broke" and I go, "I'm from Oakland too" he goes "Well then you know what I mean" I go " Well no because I'm not broke" People that came to the bbq knew that it was also a fundraising/donation event and you can't even spare not even $1 to the children's hospital??? FUCKIN CHEAP ASS! I'm sorry but I must say, I do not like CHEAP people. There is a difference between being broke and being cheap. If you're broke than stay yo ass at home.

To look at the pictures from the BBQ visit our mixed persuasian website and look at the photoalbums. www.myspace.com/mixedpersuasian.

xoxo
Julie Joi

Midterm Spring 09

I'm kinda late on this but I just finally had the time to sit down and write besides typing and researching for my wonder 15 page essay :( As for the midterm, when I first heard about it, I must admit that I was nervous because I've never performed or spoke in front of a big crowd especially at state. I'm not a shy person but when it comes to performing in front of an audience, i get stage fright and freeeze. Anywho, I was part of the dance crew and I thought we did a great job for the time spent practicing. I would say we had about 10-15 hours to practice two dance routines and it was the day before the performance. I actually learned the whole dance routine an hour and a half before the actual performance. Overall, I think that everyone did a wonderful job and that everyone was participating. Spoken words did a great job and actually showed emotions while speaking about how they felt. As for the guys that did the skit, I thought that it really caught everyone's attention in the quad. The dance group was the last to perform and most of us were nervous but at the same time excited. Great Job ETHS 210 Spring 09. Everyone did a get job.

My friend was watching the performance and while we were chanting, he went inside the market to buy a bottle of water while the cashier ran outside and looked at what we were doing, he came back inside to ring up the customer and she asked " what's going on out there"? and the cashier replied "oh nothing, just some asian pride stuff", my friend was angry and wanted to say something to him but he didn't. My friend thought that he was being racist and it was not called for and what a surprise to him, he was a caucasian guy. Not to be racist and all, but my friend and I feel that a lot of caucasian people do not like minorities and I know many of you agree with me and I don't know why people are like that and why others have to judge one another because of the color of their skin. We are all human beings, why can't we just all get along?

xoxo
Julie Joi