May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. Since I lack the time or money to travel to the various festivals around the country, I’ve spent my time commiserating at the Asia Society YouTube channel, where names such as Giant Robot founder Eric Nakamura, actress Sandra Oh, and Senator Daniel Inouye, speak about their experiences, thoughts, and hopes as Asian Americans. The stories vary in topic and scope, but all touch upon community and the desire to have more representations, in all forms, of Asians living in a Caucasian-dominated society.
I nodded to each video, amused at the absurd assumptions—Asian Americans have to be immigrants from Asia, not born in America—and saddened at the memories of discrimination. Each story mirrored a thought or experience that I have had myself, but I especially identified with those that spoke about alienation and stereotypes.
Growing up in New Hampshire, I lacked an Asian community. Everyone else was Caucasian. All my friends were Caucasian. I was twelve before I met another person of Asian heritage who was not immediate family. I identified largely with mainstream Caucasian America, and was shocked when I learned that I was not part of that culture. I was different—nerdy and industrious, shy and submissive, a chink, a dangerous dragon lady. I was alien.
I couldn’t believe that those stereotypes were all that I was. I still don’t believe it. I won’t accept the people have the audacity to tell me who I am or who to be. I don’t want to see any more effeminate Asian men. I don’t want to see any more nerdy Asian women with large unattractive glasses. I want to see people—real or fictional—that move me, not because they are Asian or American, but because they are human.
That is what this month is for. It’s not just about the celebration of an ethnic identity. It’s about connecting Asia America to America. It’s about Asian Americans exercising the right to define themselves, as a group or individually. It’s about understanding that America—including Asia America—is rich and diverse. It’s so easy to get lost in the stereotypes. These are the times when we remind ourselves that we don’t have to listen, that we could be so much more.
