Investigates the struggle of migrants towards cultural assimilation and ethnic-identification as portrayed in Amy Tan's "The Joy Luck Club", K.S. Maniam's "The Return", journal articles and an interview with a professor of migrant literature.
Abstract This paper demonstrates that, regardless of ethnicity and cultural background, migrants worldwide have similar problems of ethnic-identification and cultural assimilation. The author compares two semi-autobiographical novels by two Asian migrant authors of different diasporic movements: Amy Tan's "The Joy Luck Club', which reflects the Asian-American migrant experience, and K.S. Maniam's "The Return", which is a portrayal of the Tamil-Indian migrant community in Malaysia. The paper concludes that migrant literature should maintain its niche in contemporary literature to continue to fulfill its purpose of spotlighting the often silent struggles of migrants everywhere. The paper includes in the appendix a summary of the interview with a professor of post-colonial Malaysian and Singaporean theater and a list of the questions.
Table of Contents:
Abstract
Introduction
Review of Literature
Methods
Findings and Discussions
Cultural Displacement, Ethnic-Identification and Attempts at Assimilation in "The Joy Luck Club" (Amy Tan) and "The Return" (K.S. Maniam)
The Trouble with Tongues: Language as a Barrier to Ethnic-Identification and Cultural Assimilation
The Absence of Reminiscence: The Lack of Memory of the Homeland and its Consequences on Ethnic-Identification Negotiation and Elusion: Attempts at Assimilation and Ethnic-Identification Conclusions and Recommendations
Appendix: Interview Questions
Appendix: Interview Summary
From the Paper "These efforts, however, lead often to crisis of ethnic-identification. It is not simply a matter of being one culture or the other; it is the dilemma of being neither. Many find it difficult, in reality, to articulate the "cultural hybridities" Bhabha mentions. This displacement of and attempts at negotiating ethnic identity thus become the common vein of Tan and Maniam's highly personal works. The semi-autobiographical stance of both novels is reflected through the first-person narrative and the protagonists' personas."
Tags:asian-americantamil-indianethnic-identificationlanguage, cultural memory
Abstract This paper reviews the history of Asian-American discrimination in the United States, race-based policies and court decisions. The author points out the stereotyping of all AsianAmericans as a model minority image and why the term AsianAmericans is too broad a category. The paper stresses the need for affirmative actions programs to correct the problem of under-representation of Asian-Americans in academia.
From the Paper "There can be no question that Asian-Americans have been subject to racial discrimination in the United States. Until only a generation ago, Asian-Americans were essentially treated as second class ..."
Tags: affirmative action, asianamericans, race, students
Abstract This paper attempts to construct a definition of an Asian-American writer through the common themes in their literary works. Several examples of Asian-American novels are presented and analyzed for their shared themes such as alienation and family. These works include Eric Liu's "The Accidental Asian," "The Interpreter" by Suki Kim and "No-No Boy," by John Okada. The author concludes that the themes of self-doubt and estrangement make reading 'Asian-American' literature an enriching, complex experience.
From the Paper "This theme of internal estrangement becomes a metaphorical plot device in The Interpreter by Suki Kim. The protagonist of the novel has two murdered parents. The young woman is a both a literal and figurative orphan of her home, her original Korean culture, and cast adrift in America. If she can find their murderers, Suzy hopes, she will gain a sense of identity and a greater affinity with her national past. However, her pursuit of justice only drives her deeper into psychological turmoil and a sense of displacement, as she seeks her parent's murderers in vain in the Korean-American underworld of New York City."
Tags:Asian-Americans, literature, immigrant, experience, Suki, Kim, Eric, Liu, Jon, Okada
Abstract The writer looks at the killing of an Asian-American woman in San Jose, California in 2003, by a police officer. The writer analyzes this case in terms of Asian-Americans and discrimination. Details of the shooting are included in this article. The writer also discusses response to the shooting.
From the Paper "... a mentally disturbed year-old Vietnamese mother of two, Cau Bich Tran, was shot and killed by San Jose California police officer Chad Marshall in front of her boyfriend and young sons. Gathright A. Marshall was brought to the Grand Jury, which heard testimony that resulted in a refusal to indict the officer for murder or manslaughter after seven days of testimony, during a rare public grand jury probe of the incident in which Officer Marshall testified that he was forced ... "
Abstract This paper studies how the image and identity of AsianAmericans, as perpetuated and politicized by media in the U.S. The paper also compares these images to those of African Americans.
Abstract This paper highlights the commonalities and differences in the immigration and integration process of African and Asian-Americans. The focus is on the hardships endured by both groups. The author points out how both groups endured difficult voyages to reach America, although the Chinese paid a fee to come while the blacks were brought against their will. Also illustrated is the racism both groups endured upon their arrival to America, which often included violence. The author concludes that although both groups have gained freedom and rights in modern America, they still face prejudice and racism in various parts of their lives.
From the Paper "Asian Americans and African Americans both had to immigrate to the United States, they were not native to the area. African Americans were some of the first immigrants to arrive; most of them were initially brought here against their will to serve as slaves in both the North and South of the eastern United States. There are records of slaves and free blacks living in the U.S. in the 1700s and by the early1800s, there were thousands of blacks working as slaves on the great plantations of the South."
Abstract This paper discusses the problem of Asian-American gangs in the United States and attempts to explain why many Asian youths that have immigrated to the United States become gang members. The paper looks at the socio-economic reasons and the cultural reasons as well as the Asian mentality that makes gang life appear attractive to Asian youth and then takes a look at certain aspects of gang life including attitudes, subcultures and fighting between different Asian groups.
From the Paper "When one wonders why Asian-American young people become gang members, they might want to listen to Vietnamese observer Le Xuan Kho. He suggests that Asian-Americans refugees share a common tendency, after coming to America. They like, he says, to cluster together and form community organizations. "[This] can be traced back to a traditional pattern common to all agrarian societies in Southeast Asia," Le says. (Cassidy)"
Tags: indochinese, language, vietnamese, independent, family, member, village, citizen, criminals
Abstract This paper discusses the film, "Who Killed Vincent Chin", and the message it contains about America's tendency to perpetuate stereotypes and racist attitudes regarding the Asian-American community. The paper looks at some of the reasons why stereotypes persist, the serious consequences of racial hatred, and the inadequacy of the American legal system to address the problems that racism creates.
From the Paper "The film Who Killed Vincent Chin? tells a story that on the one hand is too common in American society--a young man gets into a fight at a bar and is killed. Alcohol and testosterone create such tragedies virtually every day. This particular instance was different because it had an economic and racial component suggesting that Vincent Chin was killed by two white men because of their resentment at the loss of jobs in the auto industry to Asian, and specifically Japanese, auto manufacturers. The film tells this story and suggests that the broader issues are highly relevant and in some sense make us all guilty of killing Vincent Chin, guilty for perpetuating stereotypes and racist attitudes and for creating the climate where this sot of crime could occur."
This paper reviews Asian-American history and provides a course outline for incorporating Asian-American literature studies into middle-school or high-school coursework.
Abstract This paper explains that Asian-American literature, which has grown considerably over the last several decades, is considered one of the subdivisions of multicultural literature. The author points out that scholarly and popular interest in Asian-American literature is of recent vintage, having found its direct roots in student activism at San Francisco State and the University of California, Berkeley in the late 1960s, which resulted in the creation of interdisciplinary ethnic studies programs; today, courses in Asian-American literature are common throughout U.S. higher education. The paper relates that Asian-American literature is an oft-contested field due to the wide variety of cultures and backgrounds in the Asian-Americans culture; however, this variety of backgrounds has given rise to writings reflective of cross-generational concerns and styles.
Table of Contents
Introduction
History
Course Outline
Course Abstract
Fiction
Group Project
Single Project
Survey
Conclusion
From the Paper "When considering the history of Asian-American literature, it is necessary to also look at the history of those who came to the United States since its formation. In reviewing the Asian-American literature, it is also important to note the history of Asian immigration to the United States. The Chinese first started immigrating to the United States during the mid- to late-1860s, as part of the gold rush. They provided cheap labor for farms and the transcontinental railroad. Other Asian groups joined them during this same time to work in the Hawaiian sugar plantations or California farm fields. The Asians were recognized as second-class citizens from their very first days in the country. However, they still had to contribute 50 percent of the taxes collected in California between 1850 and 1870 because of the Foreign Miners Tax of 1850. Other discriminatory events included the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1885, which initiated a ban on Chinese immigration."
Abstract In this article, the writer notes that historically the Asian-American population has experienced significant conflict with the health care system because of differences in culture, language and ideas on the delivery of health care. The writer points out that this conflict is evident using Leininger's trans-cultural model for nursing. The writer maintains that the research indicates that the Asian-American population has experienced a difficult existence in relation to health care. This existence has been complicated by barriers in language, understanding of the health care delivery system, communication and through the lack of cultural training that exists in the health care community. The writer concludes that in order to change the current dilemma it is evident that education of the health care community, as well as within the Asian community must commence. When this occurs then nurses will be able to provide quality care to this culture and ensure that the health concerns of this population are addressed.
Outline:
Introduction
Asian Cultural Group
Nutrition
Health Beliefs
Specific Health Concerns
Management of Health Care
Chinese Traditional Medicine
Conflict Between Asian Culture and U.S. Health Care
Cultural Assessment Theory: Leininger
Conclusion
From the Paper "In relation to health, most Asian Americans use Western medical practices. However, many of these individuals also rely on Chinese Traditional Medicine as a corresponding health maintenance regime. For those Asian Americans that do practice Chinese Traditional Medicine as part of their health maintenance, the nutritional guidelines that they follow are based on a medical prescription for good health, allowing the flow of Qi to cease being restricted. Yet, those Asian Americans that do not practice Chinese Medicine have diets that severely affect their health. This is especially true within the lives of poor Asian Americans in large urban areas."
Abstract This paper is a discussion of Asian-Americans, with sociological analysis of the term "race" and a related history of Americans, Asians, and immigration in the U.S. In this essay, an understanding of racism against Asian-Americans is explored in-relation to historical contexts and cultural ideology.
Abstract This paper discusses Yen Le Espiritu's book, "Asian-American Panethnicity: Bridging Institutions and Identities". The paper examines the issue at stake and presents the author's point of view. The paper analyzes the Vincent Chin killing and the ensuing court case. The paper contends that the book explains ethnicity and Panethnicity, very thoroughly, by giving examples of the confusion about Asians many Caucasians exhibit and express. The author also discusses the influx of Asian immigrants and refugees to America and explores how they have had to adopt to the new culture.
From the Paper "The same cannot be said for Asian Americans - and much of the book is going into great detail to emphasize this point - because they have "no readily identifiable symbols of ethnicity." For example, Vietnamese people do not speak the same language as Japanese, or Cambodians - though they are all from Asia. Meanwhile, there are things, though, the author points out, that do bind Asian-Americans to a common heritage, and they are not positive cultural things (p. 17). They are: "A history of exploitation, oppression, and discrimination.""
Abstract This paper analyzes the way the literature of a certain culture portrays that culture. The focus of this paper is on the Asian-American immigrant population. The paper examines and compares two novels written by Asian-Americans, "China Boy" by Gus Lee and "The Hundred Secret Senses" by Amy Tan. The paper contends that the two novels share similarities in setting, the role of multiple languages and the belief in the Chinese spirit world. Nevertheless, the paper points out that these similarities exist only in the most general sense; these three shared themes are dealt with very differently in each book.
From the Paper "The United States of America is a country of immigrants. Throughout the history of our nation, people from all over the world have come to the United States. Disparate as their reasons for new so may be, all immigrants had to learn to cope with a similar situation. Living in a new and, to them, foreign nation, the immigrants had to come to terms with both their present and their past and how the two could be integrated. What that de facto meant is that the immigrants and their children had, in order to become successfully a part of the culture of the United State, to reconcile the culture of their homeland with American culture. This reconciliation was often unwilling or forced, and often fraught with problems. Nevertheless, immigrants often wanted to keep part of their old customs, even while adapting to America. In the twentieth century, America has experienced a wave of non-European immigrants."
Abstract This paper discusses how stereotyping is a reality of society and how it tends to go hand in hand with ethnic diversity. It shows that because stereotyping most often exaggerates differences in an unflattering profile, it may lead to bigotry and prejudice. In particular it looks at the AsianAmerican community and examines how it copes with being known as the "model minority" stereotype.
From the Paper "A 1996 study reported that high and low achieving Asian students experienced anxiety to uphold the expectations of the model minority stereotypes. Students who could not perform well academically became depressed and were too embarrassed to seek help. Asian American students are stereotyped as overachievers, geniuses, nerdy, competitive, and obedient. Stereotyping has led to neglect of student services and support for the many Asian American students who are undereducated and have low socioeconomic status (http://ericcass.uncg.edu/virtuallib/diversity/1077.html)."
Abstract This paper shows that, despite the enormous contributions made by Asian-Americans to American capitalism, U.S. immigration policies did not grant citizenship status to Asian-Americans until later modifications to the U.S. Immigration Acts of the 1960s.
Paper Outline
Introduction
The 1965 U.S. Immigration Act
Asian-American Contributions to American Capitalism
The Growth of American Chinatowns
U.S. Congress Designates May as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month
The Building of the Trans-U.S. Railroad
Asian-American Contributions to the U.S. Military
Conclusion
From the Paper "The Chinese were the first Asians to arrive in the US in large numbers. By the 1830s Chinese were selling goods in New York City and toiling in Hawaiian sugarcane fields. Gold was discovered in California in 1848, eventually attracting thousands of Chinese miners and contract laborers. Through such cheap labor provided by early Asian immigrants, there is no denial that American Capitalism directly benefited from such contributions. Early Japanese immigrants also came to Hawaii and California to work in agriculture."
