Laotian Daughter and Monkey Dancer

In the article “The Political of Race: Political Identity and the Struggle for Social Rights” by Bindi V. Shah, it mentions the struggles that the Laotian community faced in Contra Costa County.  Laotian community were one of the least represented community in the county due to the lack of representation via politics.  They experience racism through the structural “neighborhood race effect” of “underfunded and resource-deprived schools, environmental pollution and low-wage jobs.”  (53)  When it comes to the perception of model minority, it heavily affects the Laotian community negatively because they are not on the same playing field as other Asians who are economically success and assimilated.  So when the fire arose in the Contra Costa Valley, the Laotian elders were not aware that the fire happened until hours later.  The reason was because they could not understand the messages that were being said when they were informed.  So many elders expressed their frustration to the town meeting.  This shows that the Laotian community were in an environment that lacks resources which does not help them in assimilating into the American Society. 


In the Monkey Dance film, it documents few Khmer teenagers who are the generation that represent hope through maintaining their culture and also receiving an education.  When I was watching this film, I was emotional because I resonated with most of their experiences.  For one of the interviewee, he was active in sports and received lots of awards for his academic accomplish.  These accomplishments made his parents really proud.  Being the youngest and first generation to attend college, I understood the meaning of every achievement that was placed on the walls.  Refugee parents used their kids to represent restoration and hope in order to forget everything that happened during the war.  My parents lean towards me for stability and mental support because I am the most accountable out of siblings. 

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