Janine Nguyen ASA 115 Week 2 Readings

Janine Nguyen
ASA 115 001
Week 2 Reading Blog


This week, we are discussing "Race Translators, Traitors, Cultural Intermediaries, and Mixed Race Makers". Since we haven't had class yet, my inference for the underlying theme is that mixed race people often face the feeling of not belonging; however, multiracial people have made efforts to connect to their roots and bond with their communities by attempting to learn the languages and customs of the groups they come from. While the divide still remains at large, it is important to acknowledge that there have been efforts to bridge the gap between multiracial people and their respective groups.

In “Part Asian, 100% Hapa: A Retrospective”, Kip Fulbeck documents the shift in perspective of five multiracial participants. The Hapa Project is an ongoing project in which Fullbeck photographed participants around ten years prior before interviewing aforementioned participants. In delving deeper into Hapa reflections of their identities and self-perceptions, multiracial stories are important to share and write about. In order to combat stigma, multiracial stories need to be told so that people don't feel alone. In sharing a history of memory, the Hapa Project exemplifies how these works are so critical in building people's confidence and love for their roots, appearance, and upbringing. In accepting oneself, Teresa's story stuck out to me; initially, she was hesitant in letting down her natural hair. However, the second time that Fullbeck encountered her, she was proud of her hair and was actually unabashed in the fact that her thesis was actually on Black and Filipina women on Youtube reclaiming their voice. The turning point in which an individual starts seeing the traits that they have been taught to be "unnatural" or "strange" as instead "beautiful" and "unique", shows how with time and exposure to multiracial stories, it is possible to lessen the burden that multiracial people experience on a daily basis.

This reading brought me so much joy; I feel like in a lot of historical texts or projects, multiracial people or ethnic minorities are portrayed as helpless victims. Progress can be made, albeit in this case, over the course of a decade. I can't help but wonder: can we change people's minds even if certain ideas have been ingrained? How can we combat harmful stereotypes without fear of retaliation from perpetrators? How can we bridge the gap between ethnic communities?

"What Mixed Race Asians Will Never Tell You" is a video that somewhat covers this topic from the lens of multiracial Asians.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZWn-VRkZTw