PBS: Becoming American
:: Wednesday, March 26th, 2003 @ 11:38:07 pm
:: Tags: Thoughtful
And, in a strange departure from the deliberate superficiality that usually graces this site…
I just finished watching “Between Two Worlds,” the second in a series of three PBS specials called “Becoming American: The Chinese Experience.” I’ve had rudimentary Asian-American history (through text and lectures), but it really hit me hard to see video footage of people who could be my parents (grandparents, more likely) tell their experiences personally. The Chinese Exclusion Acts weren’t repealed until 1943, and it’s very existence is shameful for our country (as are numerous other things in our past). I am very happy that I was given life in modern times, and I hope that opportunity levels — for everyone — become even across the country sooner, rather than later. Sure, we can pretend that it’s like that now, but I still see my parents being treated like idiots because people have assumed that they can’t speak English — and these experiences were in California. Luckily, the only recent sources of racism I’ve encountered come from travel abroad and from cowards who leave immature messages online, cloaked by the safety of anonynimity. Growing up in a mostly-white community, I was subjected to it quite often, even though a lot of it was unintentional.
I guess I also feel fortunate that I live in the San Francisco Bay Area. My second cousin goes to a local school where half of the curriculum is taught in Mandarin. His mother told me a story about a friend of his, who is Caucasian. Both of the kids were over at the friend’s house, and the kid’s mother over there asked something that involved my cousin being Chinese. The Caucasian kid looked confused, and said to his mother, “He’s Chinese-AMERICAN… just like ME!” :)
More about the Bay Area: I still remember the first time I met a Caucasian woman with an “Asian fetish” — which only happened after I moved up to the Bay Area. And — Stanford was 25% Asian when I arrived! That was “bizarre,” too. Memories of how that felt are also still vivid. But now, I’m used to it. I never even notice it until I leave. But I’m not so sensitive about it, if the people around me don’t make me feel different. My first girlfriend was Caucasian, and MAN, did we get stares. It took me a long time to get used to it. And frankly, I’m sure that kind of stuff still happens, because even I stare when I see an Asian man with a non-Asian woman.
On a related note, why is it that it is not so strange for Caucasian men to have the so-called “yellow fever?” (although, I prefer using the term, “bamboo fever” — facetiously, of course :). It seems to be running rampant everywhere in Ivy League schools, from what I (and my sister) have seen ;). Some of my friends are actually extremely hostile towards non-Asians with Asian fetishes, but I don’t understand that sort of knee-jerk reaction. But I suppose that it might have something to do with whether the interest is stirred up by geniune infatuation with the specific person or culture (good), or by visions of “exotic” Asian women in old American media (bad).
The special continues with the last of the series, called “No Turning Back, which airs at 9pm tomorrow, March 27th on PBS.
Finally, I would like to plead to the health-gods to drive away this festering fever. I ban thee from my body! (please? whimper)
Journal RSS 
It’s been a really fantastic series. The thing that impressed me the most was how it belies the historical myth of the subservient, obeisant Chinese immigrant and recognizes the huge amount of bravery it took for a person to travel thousands of miles to a totally foreign land when travelling thousands of miles was an actual hardship and “foreign” meant much more than it currently does. As the son of parents who immigrated in the mid-70s, I can appreciate at least a little of that sacrifice. Lately, it has been astounding for me to realize that my parents came to this country right about the age at which I am currently. And here I thought I was well-accomplished for being able to tie my shoes.
Anyway, it’s a series well worth watching. As the old KTVU commercials used to say, “I’m proud to be a Chinese American.” Such a statement wasn’t always possible…at least, such a statement wasn’t always prudent. Quite amazing what our forbears were able to achieve.
As for the whole “yellow fever” thing goes, the term I’ve always used/heard is “rice fever.” And, if an Asian hooks up with someone who truly has rice fever as opposed to true emotion, then I view the union as being something that removes stupidity from the gene pool.
But that’s all pretty silly and, aside from that, whatever — people love whom they love. Far be it from me to begrudge anyone who finds happiness in that arena — particularly since at least one friend of mine insists that I have a fetish for blond women.
Again, whatever. If I may extend my episode of piggishness a bit further, in all my travels, I really don’t understand all the hullabaloo people raise about Swedish women. As far as I’m concerned, the women of Liaoning are where it’s at.
Well, the blond ones, anyway…
I’m just fresh out of an Asian Am. class at school. This series is pretty much 10 weeks of lecutres and readings into three, one and a half hour specials. I thought it had many excellent points. For me, some parts made me angry and sad while at the same time instilling some sort of lost connection with a culture that people associate me with rather than what I associate myself.
Watching this series is very personal for me and I bet for many other 1st or 2nd AA’s because this is exactly how the majority of the Chinese became AA.
The real sticker for me was how much hate people can have for one another. I love my country for it’s ideals, but it’s past is marked with so much hate/racism to forget. While the concept of the perpetual forigner is still engrained into the perceptions of many Americans, I know that change is continous and over time nothing can be truely solidified.
(off topic) Chester — your China photos are fantastic!
the PBS series really is good. many times i feel like our parents/grandparents were so concerned with “succeeding” that the experience of coming here has been subsumed by efforts to assimilate.
anyway, i feel like most of the time, “racism” is really just an outgrowth of minority/majority tensions. if it weren’t chinese, it would be mexican, or hispanic, or black. the race doesn’t matter as much as the minority, potential threat, and otherness of the people involved.
as for asian fever, there are “fevers” and fetishes on both sides. although fetishes for asian females probably outnumber fetishes for asian males. although i have had many experiences with scandinavian women with asian male fetishes. all in all, it is really a wanting for differentness. hopefully we should all be more concerned about the authenticity of our own motivations, rather than critiquing everyone elses’.
Thanks. Much appreciated, coming from you.
I don’t disagree with Paul, but I still hereby nominate the following for understatement of the year:
“fetishes for asian females probably outnumber fetishes for asian males.”