5/11 Lisa Lowe's and Shishir Kurup's Readings

5/11 Angel Truong Journal Lisa lowe’s and Shishir Kurup’s Readings

             The two readings for today ties to the theme of assimilation that create unity and difference in the concept of Asian American culture. I contemplated on how assimilation is mostly tied to second-generations which creates a unique element in Asian American identity. Through Lisa Lowe’s article, its depicted that second-generations Asian Americans contributes to the heterogenous definition of Asian American culture where the generation both preserve traditional Eastern culture and incorporates Western ideas to create their bicultural identity. Relating to Kurup’s reading, there’s a struggle in assimilation where second-generations deal with prejudice from others for their Eastern roots but are also scolded by first-generation for assimilating to Western culture. As a second-generation, I can relate to the struggle of assimilation that has made me also question my cultural authenticity.  I considered myself very assimilated to the American culture where I barely speak my mother’s Vietnamese language and I support more individualistic beliefs than collectivist ones. Just like the characters in Diana Chang’s story, I have created an anxiety for myself to test how “more Asian” I am compare to other Asian Americans by critiquing myself such as my limited Vietnamese skill. However, after reading Lowe’s article, I am more relieved that the definition of Asian Americans can be a more fluid concept that is not fixed but instead interwinding and changing by incorporating many different lives such as assimilated second generations like myself.