Anthony Tran, ASA 115, week 2 readings

In this weeks’ readings, we have the themes of race translators, traitors, cultural intermediaries, and mix race makers.” I specifically enjoyed the work Kip Fulbeck, “Part Asian, 100% Hapa: A Retrospective. It is a fun book talking about the lives of Hapa people, mixed Asian folks, around Southern California. I especially liked hearing that many of them are learning more and trying to do more for the community they are a part of, but also the fact that they have such a solid grasp of their own identities as mixed race. That acceptance for themselves is so beautiful. It’s so inspiring to hear some of their stories, like that of Sunada, where she was born in Thailand and came to America, being half a white and half Thai, she was talking about the different stereotypes that people expose her to, and more interestingly how each culture does it. When she was in Thailand that half white made her taller than the average girl, people thought she was better at sports. In my opinion, that’s a great thing, but maybe not for her. In America, kids asked some of the rudest things like whether or not people in Thailand had flushing toilets. It makes one think about how one’s own identified communities see them as outsiders. It must’ve been hard to cope with all of that growing up, so it is commendable for these people to come back to talk about those hardships.

One thing I think about, as an Asian American, is how I look with the lenses of Sino-Vietnamese heritage, that would identify as being part anything else would stand out to me and seem drastically less Vietnamese then they are and have to almost prove themselves by speaking more Vietnamese or eating more fish sauce. I wonder if that is what the people in this book feel that there is ever that need to respond to others’ desire/pressure to act more Asian than they already do. To ask a more specific question, why are Hapa people living in richer areas like Shane in Brentwood less attacked and more prized by those around him for being race than say Harper and her mom in Santa Monica n Crenshaw? Is it just what’s being told in the book, or is there an actual correlation?

I also want to introduce a mixed race YouTuber and music producer, Conan Grey. I love the indie music he produces that speaks to him being half white and half Japanese. I first learned about this UCLA undergraduate at a Panic! At the Disco concert this year. Please check him out with this link https://youtu.be/kEYAudxO8HY. Also, give a listen to Khai Dreams’ song, “Ultimately.” He also identifies as mixed race, being half-Vietnamese living in the Pacific Northwest.