aoki / Cambodian refugees

In the article Deporting Refugees by Soo Ah Kwon addresses the struggling condition of these refugees in America. The first generation are being deported while the second generations struggle to survive and make a living. Immigrants already have a hard time coping with new surroundings, and don’t have any political or social power because they are the minority. They are treated different because of their race, but try their best to maintain a life in a new environment. As result organizations form to help gain recognition of issue for these people. Whenever I hear the word deport it usually applies to Mexicans, I never really hear about Asians being deported because getting to America illegally is harder, but I guess those who decide to visit and never leave could be one way they can be here illegally. I have friends who are here legally but their parents aren’t, they live in fear that one day their families will have to go back. The topic of illegal immigrants is hard topic to discuss that involves economic, social, and ethical issues. I can see why some people are upset due to their tax dollars being used on illegals, but they are here to work and they work hard for their families.









The documentary Aoki reveals his past in the Japanese labor camp. When Japan bombed Pear Harbor in 1941, wreaked havoc on Japanese Americans. Americans fears that there could be spies and the Japanese could not be trusted and therefore should live in isolation. The government round up all those who look like Japanese into a camp. The bombing caused the Americans to hate the Japanese, calling them Japs, and expressing their hate publicly. The internment camps lasted for four years, many were born in the camps, many died in it. Even after they were release racism towards the Asian community still exists. Aoki now speaks of this experiences in the concentration camps and address the issues of the minority. Aoki and his family moved to Oakland, he grew up with Asian Americans and African Americans and observed the similar issues African Americans face. I also lived in Oakland for a period, and I see a big divide between Asians and the African Americans. When I was child I learned that the African Americans were dangerous and to stay away from them. Gang violence was high, and many Asian Americans were targeted by African Americans. But quickly learned that there some that are very nice people and get the wrong presentation due to their peers. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

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 e...
Read more

5/30- Fiske

In "Shopping For Pleasure", one point was raised "In shopping malls and department stores women's pleasure and desires are catered to, but only in so far as they serve the greater interest of the market". I somewhat disagree with this. While it may be true that the notion of shopping and the market is mostly managed by the predominantly male. The fact that women have a place to exercise a small resistances is important. It is also worth noting that it might be true that it is mostly managed by males, women are exercising the power to vote with their wallet. Also, it creates a space where women can be employ because of the fact that they belong to the group of the target audience, therefore, they have better knowledge of the market. So I argue that shopping malls might not be the place created by women, but it is a stepping stone for women to achieve equal right.
Read more

5/23 Kelly Loves Tony Part 2 Video Response

5/23 Angel Truong Kelly Loves Tony Part 2 Video Response             The documentary Kelly Loves Tony highlights the difference between second-generations Asian Americans who are either assimilated or not assimilated. Kelly wants a life where she is not restricted by traditional gender roles. However, Tony is not assimilated as Kelly since he values family more than Kelly’s well-being. This is depicted from his rant with his boss where Tony does not understand why Kelly is always upset with his family. He believes she should care for their baby and his family conveying that he wants her to be a domestic wife and daughter-in-law. Their conflict also ties to the model minority myth where Asian Americans are not as assimilated or obedient as the myth depicts them because Tony has a criminal record and both Kelly and Tony are struggling to live with his family who are very dependent on each other. This is displayed from the fact th...
Read more