bamboo offshoot fall 2010

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Vietnamese shers

Japanese Shumeiarming

NORTHEAST

MIDWEST

Maithreyi Shankar

Dance crews

SOUTH

WEST

Fall 2010TABLE OF CONTENTS

3468

10121416

1718

20

22242526

Editors Note

Bruce Cabanayan

K-Town Jersey Shore

Eaphy Mao

Midwestern cultureBeibei Bai

A brie history lesson

Political leaders

Opinion: AsianAmerican too broad

cover art by DIANA LING

USC at a glanceVoices o immigrants


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{APA} Asian Pacic American

{API} Asian Pacic Islander

{APASS} Asian Pacic American Student Services, the ocial

USC student services department

{APASA} Asian Pacic American Student Assembly, a student-

run umbrella group that oversees APA organizations

Flower Mound, Texas, is 86 percent white.No, thats not an exaggeration, and yes, its really called Flower

Mound.

Flo Mo, as I aectionately call it, is where I did most of my growing up. Its

an interesting thing, being Indian and American and Texan all at once.

I dont t the Texan stereotype. Dont care much about the Dallas Cowboys, dont

have an accent, and Im vegetarian to boot. But Im still a proud Texan! Case in point: I am the

obnoxious owner of a 3x5 Texas ag.

I also dont t the Indian stereotype. Got my dads frizzy curls instead of a Bollywood

mane, dont feel the need to marry a nice Indian boy, and likely to the chagrin of the entire

Indian community, Ive decided to shun medicine, engineering and business to be a journalist

But Im still a proud Indian! Case in point: Ive learned classical Indian dance since I was 6.

Growing up in Texas, I never felt brown enough for the brown kids or white enough for th

white kids. I live in a strange space in between, and it took me a long time to realize that othe

people live there too. This got me thinking: what is it like being Asian American across the

country?

And so this issue is dedicated to the geographic diversity of Asian America. We dont simp

exist in pockets on the East and West coasts. We exist everywhere and our environments a

least partly shape who we turn out to be. Read about Eaphy Mao, one of only 2 Asians in hi

high school class in Ponca City, Oklahoma (p. 10), Japanese-style farming in upstate New Yo

(p. 20), and even the three-headed monster that is K-Town, L.A.s Asian version of Jerse

Shore (p. 8) somewhat horrifying, but you cant look away.

Weve tried our best to give you a snapshot of Asian American communities in the Wes

South, Midwest, and Northeast, from coast to coast. Yall enjoy now, ya hear?

Yours till the cows come home,

We serve as both a sounding board and a resource for

USCs growing Asian Pacic American population.Bamboo

Offshootis dedicated to educating its readers about issues

impacting the APA community both on campus and in the

surrounding LA area and features stories covering topics asdiverse as politics, entertainment and health.

about usBamboo Oshoot c/o

Asian Pacic American Student Services

University of Southern California

Student Union 410

Los Angeles, CA 90089

http://BambooOshoot.com

EMAIL// [email protected]

TWITTER// @BambooOshoot

FB// Facebook.com/BambooOshoot

Bamboo Offshootis published with support from

Campus Progress, online at CampusProgress.org.

decoded

BAMBOO OFFSHOOTVOLUME XVIII | ISSUE 1FALL 2010

EDITORIAL BOARDNIMISHA THAKOREEditor-in-Chie

MICHELLE BANHUSC News Editor

PHILANA HOArts & Entertainment Editor

ALYSON OWYANGOpinion Editor

DIANA LINGDAVID LAUArt & Design Editors

ELIZABETH DENGManaging Editor

ELAINE JIANG

Business Manager

STAFFCONTRIBUTORSIvana BanhTiany BanhRebecca GaoChanel HungStacy KwokEdwin LeeCherise OsakiKaren PhamAlekya Reddy

Maithreyi ShankarAnne SuChloe WangYimu XueVivian YanRita Yeung

contact

Pssst Were mostlyonline now! Check out ourspankin new website or weekly

content about everything AsianAmerican under the sun (p. 26).

FALL 2010 | BAMBOO OFFSHOOT | 3

EditorsNote


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West Coast Asian

Americans rock thedance crew scene

4| BAMBOO OFFSHOOT | FALL 2010

Watch a ew episodes o Americas Best Dance Crew and youll noticea trend: many o its best crews are Asian American. And rom the WestCoast, too. by ALEKYA REDDY / Photography by NIMISHA THAKORE

Asian American or not -- dance is all about the movement andconnection. C3 considers itself a team and a brotherhood


5/32

uest Crew, Kaba

Modern,Jabbawockeez,

and Poreotics are all

representative of two

worlds. Not only are the

groups all from the West Coast, they

represent an emerging culture of

Asian American dance crews.

Over the last decade, AsianAmericans have taken hip hop,

break dancing, choreography,

and robotics to new heights. So

famous are these current top crews

that MTVs critically acclaimed

television show Americas Best

Dance Crew has been dominated

not only by West Coast crews but

Asian American West Coast crews.

From the Jabbawockeez toPoreotics, the champions of the

majority of the seasons hail from the

Southern California region.

Their display of dancing

prowess shows not only an

exodus of talent from the area but

also an Asian American interest

in displaying athleticism that

challenges the stereotypical molds.

Break dancing, often considered

one of the most physically taxingsports in existence, is no small feat.

Its a sport full of artistic concepts

that require hours of practice and

training to execute.

The top crews have become

vanguards for the Asian American

community. They show that doing

what you love, even if it is not

a traditional profession, can still

be a worthwhile pursuit. With

their examples of hard work and

success, they break the traditional

stereotypes of Asian Americans.

What is it about dance that

draws Asian Americans? Its more

than just an idea; its a lifestyle

choice. Its a culture that has taken

hold of the West Coast and has

challenged succeeding generationsof dancers to follow their passions.

One of the most inuential

aspects of these crews is their

role in inspiring new generations

of dancers on college campuses.

USCs own Chaotic 3, for example,

is more than just a team. Its

a brotherhood of likeminded

individuals who share a common

passion.I think being Asian American

denitely allows me to connect with

the many other Asian American

dancers on the team, said Richard

Wang, a USC sophomore and C3

member. To be honest, I don't

know why or how Asians just came

to be the majority of the hip hop

dance team. But culturally, Asian

Americans are able to bond more

easily to other Asian Americans.According to Wang, C3 goes

out for bubble tea and ramen all

the time denitely an Asian

American thing to do.

Chaotic 3 is a major presence

in the Southern Californian hip

hop scene. Upcoming competitions

include All-Cal and Maxt Out. In

the past, the group has attended

competitions such as Prelude and

Vibe, competing

against teams from various

universities all around California.

Its not always easy to

juggle the image of being an

Asian American crew while also

searching for new opportunities

to dance. Some crews participate

in events that showcase theirheritage, such as Los Angeless

Asian Culture Day and the Asian

American and Pacic Islander

Voter Registration Concert. But

others have had to contend with

the issues of negative stereotyping

and being compared unfairly to

other crews because of their Asian

backgrounds.

In an interview with MTVsRemote Control Blog, a member

of the Asian American Fr3sh

Crew emphasized the groups

desire to be dancers before Asian

Americans.

"We are an all-Asian crew and

we embrace our heritage, but we

want to be thought of as dancers,

not Asian dancers," crew leader

Adrian Causing toldRemote

Control. "There is nothing wrongwith being compared to those

crews, but we feel we have more

to offer.

Still, this dance culture

persists and attracts more Asian

followers each day. A new

movement for the pursuit of

artistic passion in the West Coast

Asian American community?

It seems so.

Q


WEST


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Out o the

desert,parchedcultural

roots startto grow

house, charmingly enclosed by a

white fence and cheery owers.

Inside was no different.

Cabanayans warmth radiated

off the sand-colored walls and

he was instantly at home.

In fact, he hadnt always

referred to Los Angeles as home

until moving his life here four

years ago to pursue a degree

in biochemistry. Born in San

Diego, Calif., Cabanayan and

his family later relocated to

Chandler, Ariz., a small suburb

of Phoenix.

As an Asian American

among a predominantly

Caucasian population, Cabanayan

occasionally felt the sparseness

of the Asian community. Because

of the large ratio of Caucasians

to Asians, Cabanayan felt the

students at his school formed

assumptions about him. He never

thought the issue of ethnicity was

an outright problem just that

there was something separating

the Asian community from the

USC senior Bruce Cabanayandiscovered his Filipino culturehere, ater growing up in asmall, predominantly whitesuburb o Phoenix, Ariz.

ruce Cabanayan wasnt

hard to spot through the

students crowded in theshade alongside Tommy

Trojan.

The 20-year-old USC senior

had donned a light blue polo and

khaki shorts, sporting an outt

that embodied his put-together yet

laid-back personality. After initial

introductions, we hopped on our

bikes and made our way to his

B

Story & photography byTIFFANY BANH


WEST


7/32

rest.

I was stereotyped or

overlooked, he said. And they

placed expectations on you that

youre quiet, which I denitely

lived up to in a lot of aspects, but

there is also so much more to me.

But the culture clashdisappeared when Cabanayan

arrived at USC. Here, he has

been able to explore his Filipino

roots through his involvement

with Troy Philippines. TroyPhi

is an organization that immerses

university students in Filipino

culture.

Cabanayan has taken on

various roles in TroyPhi, from

acting at the forefront of its

annual culture show as a freshman

to coordinating the show as a

sophomore to currently serving as

president.

However, as a freshman,

Cabanayan was bafed by the

existence of a club just for

Filipinos.

Here, I was very much

surprised by different aspects ofthe culture that I wasnt used to,

Cabanayan said. I didnt know

there was a whole club dedicated

to bringing Filipinos together.

So it was very different coming

from Arizona just because of the

composition of races.

There was something of a

lack of cultural roots growing

up in Arizona. This void drove

Cabanayans involvement withTroyPhi so that he became its

president. Because of USC, he

went from having little knowledge

of to becoming the epitome of

Filipino culture.

Its been a blessing that I

got to come here and learn more

about the culture, he said.

Besides the cultural distinction

between Arizona and Los Angeles,

Cabanayan feels that another

difference is the friendliness of

Californians. When going home,

he often nds that he must readjust

back to Arizonas traditionalist

nature.Everyone in Arizona is

more conservative. Coming here,

everyone is hugging and everyone

is loud. Just because I wasnt used

to it, the friendliness of everyone

was almost overwhelming at rst,

Cabanayan said.His dening college memory

is taking the stage as a freshman

for TroyPhis culture show. The

last time he had been on stage

was when he played Peter Pan in

elementary school. Playing the lead

role reinvigorated his lost interest

in acting.

To Cabanayan, being able

to showcase his talent at Bovard

Auditorium was an incrediblesense of achievement. The

experience sparked his initiative to

declare a theatre minor.

When hes not spending

time on stage, Cabanayan

is completing his studies in

biochemistry.

Coming from Arizona, where

the educational climate wasnt

extremely competitive, he had

the misconception that college

wouldnt be much different than

high school. He soon found

himself ghting to prove to his

professors that he belonged

alongside other top students.Since he was in the Resident

Honors Program, a program

offered by USC for high school

juniors to begin college a year

early, he especially felt the

pressure to measure up with his

peers.

But Cabanayan eventually

realized overshadowing his peers

was not most important.

Its more about being

here to learn and challenging

yourself, he said.

As a senior preparing for

graduation, Cabanayan entertains

many possibilities for his future:

Teach For America, medical

school, social work, or even

activism.

He has too many passions to

stick to a particular line of workfor too long. Its likely hell nd

himself tackling any or even all

of these possibilities. Regardless

of what he decides to pursue,

he knows that he will have the

support of his family and friends.

I want to keep a lot of

options open. But its kind of

scary right now because I dont

have a very set life. If anything,

college has shown me thatthrough hard times, you need

to have those people to support

you, Cabanayan said.

Lessons well learned by a

small town kid from Arizona

turned big city dreamer.

They placedexpectations on you

that youre quiet,which I denitely

lived up to in a lot oaspects, but there is

also so much more tome.



8/32

Jersey Shore

goes Asian inLAs Koreatown

ow to break down the

beat at Club Karma.

Defending yourself from

grenades.* GTL.**

These are just a few lessons weve

learned from the classy guidos

and guidettes of Seaside Heights,

the stars of MTVs latest reality

television hit, Jersey Shore.

The show revolves around a

group of 8 roommates who hook

up, get low, and st pump until

their tans melt off. With standout

caricatures like Snooki or The

Situation, America is exposed

to an extreme version of Italian

Americans who have received

numerous amounts of backlash due

to their inappropriate, disorderly

conduct.

Intrigued by this concept,rapper-actor-model Tyrese Gibson

of Transformers fame believed he

could monetize on an opportunity

to introduce to America a new,

previously unheard of culture.

I want sexy, wild, personality, I

want hot tubs, sex scenes, Gibson

has said in interviews. At the

same time, I want people to know

the many different layers and

characteristics I want people to

know that Asians have layers

Weve got insecurities

heartaches challenges I want

to capture all of that on camera

for all the world to see.

Thus we are introduced to a

new monstrous hybrid: a reality

show starring Asian Americans

based in downtown Los Angeles

Koreatown.

K-Town is immersed

with, as a Craigslist casting

advertisement calls for,

interesting, attractive, colorful

Asian-Americans with lively,

strong, and unique personalities

between the ages of 18 to 30

with equally interesting life

stories and perspectives to share,especially individuals who know

about and/or experienced the

Koreatown life.

The cast Young Lee,

Joe Cha, Peter Le, Steve Kim,

Jennifer Field, Scarlet Chan,

Violet Kim, and Jasmine Chang

is a gloried Asian version of

the original characters of Jersey

Shore. We are introduced to a new

type of Asian American, ranging

from the juiced muscle head

gorillas (hold the hoisin sauce) to

the platinum blonde diva.

Throw away any conceptions

of a studious, reserved, and

conventional Asian these people

love to party and go wild.

But is it a carbon copy of an

already established TV show?

Each character seems to be an

Asian replica of a Jersey Shore

member: The Situ-Asian; a

miniature mom who resembles

Snooki; an erotic model whose

outlandishness resembles

JWowws.

But when all the booze

stops pouring and the rooms stop

spinning, it gets one thinking: Whoare these people?

Scarlet Chans blog is

dedicated to my hookers, whores,

and cross-dressers... to my mother

who taught me strength and

courage... to the gays who embrace

my slutty ways... I heart you.

Jennifer Field, the only non-

full-Asian cast member, is a

Hby YIMU XUE

A group o 8 Asian Americans are the new stars o an Asian spin-o oMTVs Jersey Shore, set in our very own backyard.


WEST


9/32

Eurasian actor recently relocated

to Los Angeles, supposedly

trying to claim her 15 minutes of

fame.

Joe Chas Facebook name is

Joe Knuckles Cha.

What kind of image are they

trying to portray, let alone bring

forth as a new vision of AsianAmericans everywhere?

Defying established

stereotypes in America has

been a major issue for all races

and ethnicities, but especially

Asian Americans. Not only

is there an extremely limited

amount of Asian Americans on

TV, but those that do get the

opportunities to shine are outdated

misrepresentations of the Asian

American people.

Its the age-old debacle

of increasing Asian American

exposure on television and having a

culture so misrepresented on TV.

Drunken renditions of K-Pop

at karaoke bars. Sake bombing andKorean barbecue. BCD.***

Perhaps a few of the lessons we

can take from K-Town: both a

deance of and a new resource for

Asian stereotypes.

Who says getting crazy is just for guidos and guidettes? The shameless stars of K-Town like to

party, too. From left: Young Lee, Jennifer Field, Joe Cha, Scarlet Chan, Violet Kim, Peter Le, SteveKim, Jasmine Chang.

*To those out of the loop: a gre-

nade is dened by TMZ as an ugly

chick who tags along with her hot

friend. Hey, we dont make this

stuff up.

**GTL: Gym, Tan, Laundry, the

daily prescription for maximumfreshness.

***BCD: Buk Chang Dong, an

area of Seoul, South Korea, made

famous by Koreatowns BCD Tofu

House.



10/32

unior Eaphy Mao seems like

your average USC student in

Los Angeles: jeans, a tan, a

friendly smile and a love for

football. And then you hear

hes from Oklahoma.

What?

Its alright he gets that reaction

a lot.And I totally understand, said

Mao. Because before I moved there,


Jwhen I was told by my parents I w

moving there, I was like, What?

Why?

Though he was not born in

Oklahoma, Mao, a self-described

American-born Chinese, has lived

the South for the majority of his lif

He moved from Texas to Florida to

a suburb outside Atlanta, Georgia,before settling in Ponca City, Okla

Ponca City is a small place of 25,0

in north-central Oklahoma that is

comfortably outnumbered by USC

student body of 35,000.

Among those students, more

than 10,000 are Asian a striking

contrast to Maos hometown

demographics.

I was one of two Asian kids

in my class of 300, said Mao. So

there were maybe 10 Asians in my

by VIVIAN YAN

Southern

hospitalitywith an Asian twistPhotography by STACY KWOK

SOUTH


11/32


USC junior Eaphy Mao was one o two Asians in his high school class. Heslearned more about being Asian American at USC, but the charm o theSouth still has his heart.high school out of 1,500.

Mao, a business and Chinese

double major, knew all the other

Chinese people in his town, which

amounted to a total of 20 or 30 people.

Its like a circle of friends, said

Mao. You know all the Chinese kids

and then your parents know each other

and on holidays wed all get

together.

But outside of his

home life, Mao

describes himself as

just another guy in histown, absorbing many

facets of Southern

culture into his own

personality. He

espouses a die-hard

love for soul food

fried chicken in particular and

passionately roots for his home team

at football games.

Footballs like a way of life

there, said Mao, who played football,

cross country and track in high school.

Like here, SC football fans,

we go and when were up by 20, we

leave. But there, they get excited

about the game probably a week

before. And then they

stay for the entire

game. And then after

the game, thats allthey talk about for like

the next half-week.

Mao also recalls

celebrating other

American traditions

with a similar

exuberance unique to the South,

largely due to the openness of

Oklahomas landscape. In Southern

California, not everyone will buy

reworks from stands for the Fourthof July, but according to Mao, its a

common practice down South.

My friends and I, during the

summer, would usually go and pool

a bunch of money together, spending

like $300 on reworks, and just shoot-

ing them off for hours, said Mao. In

the country, no one really cares in the

middle of nowhere. Everyone does it.

Though Mao grew up in an all-American way, his parents tried to

keep him in touch with his Chinese

heritage. They sent him to Chinese

school to learn the language and took

him to China to visit his relatives.

Yet the mix of Chinese and

Southern backgrounds led Mao, like

many other American-born Asians,

to struggle nding a balance between

cultures.

When I was younger, I tried

to do everything I could to be mor

white, because all my friends were

white and I just wanted to t in

with them, said Mao. But then

as I got older, Ive gotten more an

more interested in Asian culture.

Coming to USC also inuenc

Maos desire to explore his Chines

heritage further, partly because of

the sizeable Asian population on

campus.

I felt like I knew a lot less

about Asian culture, said Mao.They [other students] knew the

dates of all the Asian holidays, or

theyd eat Asian food. Like I had

no idea what boba was before I

came here, and they were more

used to hanging out with Asians

than I was.

Mao now looks toward

having a career that eventually

takes him to China. But he still

wants to live mainly in the Ameri-can South, evidence of his obviou

love for its people and lifestyle.

Youve heard the term

Southern hospitality? Its basically

just like that, said Mao. It seems

like people there just care more or

are more interested in you when

they meet you. Theyre just

friendly for friendliness sake.

Theyre just friendly because itsthe right thing to do.

Mao admits with

practicality and a wry grin that

Oklahoma wouldnt be his rst

choice to settle in (Im a business

major, right? Theres not a whole

lot there). But its clear that his

love for the South, with its fried

chicken, its football and its people

will have him living there again.

Youve heard o

the term Southernhospitality? Itsbasically just like

that.


12/32

SOUTH


13/32

lthough Asians only make up a mere 4.6 percent of the United States population, several

political leaders of Asian descent are beginning to make their mark in history. Vietnamese

Americans made up 45 percent of Hurricane Katrinas victims a statistic that strongly urged people

like Anh Joseph Cao to aid in the recovery of many of those who could not speak English. Other

Asian American political leaders have also been prompted to rise to power in order to aid the

growing Asian population. As can be seen from the accomplishments of leaders like Bobby Jindal and Harry

Lee, their strong cultural connections with the people have clearly been benecial.


In 2008, Bobby Jindal was sworn in as the governor of Louisiana. At the age of 36, Jindal

was not only one of the youngest but also one of the few Indian Americans to take

political ofce. Jindal was born in Baton Rouge, La., on June 10, 1971, to parents who had emigrated from

India several years earlier. The rst-generation baby attended both Brown and Oxford Universities and

completed a two-year stint as a consultant for numerous Fortune 500 companies. Jindal also aided in

rebuilding Louisiana, which was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. After a multitude of accomplishments with

the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Jindal emerged as one of the most favored candidates for

governor. Since his election, Jindal has been heavily involved with Louisianas Hurricane Katrina recovery and

medical and taxing policies.

King Harry Lee served 28 years as the sheriff of Jefferson Parish, La., before his death inOctober 2007. Lee was born in 1932 to a Chinese family in New Orleans. He attended

Louisiana State University and Loyola Law School. Lee worked as a right-hand man for a congressman and

was quickly inspired to pursue politics. He ran for sheriff in 1979 and easily defeated his opponent. During his

political career, Lee was often accused of racism. He had been known for barricading to separate races and for

unjust court cases against African Americans. Despite the accusations, Lees loyalty to the citizens won him six

re-elections. Lees nal accomplishments included his quick evacuation of the Parish during Hurricane Katrina,

as well as his patrol of the area after the storm. The Chinese Cowboy died of leukemia several months after

Katrina, leaving behind a wife, daughter, and two grandchildren.

The South gave birth to jazz, bourbon, Elvis Presley, ried anything and now: a

handul o strong Asian American political leaders.

Caos childhood in Vietnam during the 1970s may very well have inspired him to devote

his life to social equity. After eight years in Saigon, he emigrated to Houston, Texas, as a

refugee following the Vietnam War. Caos mother shipped him and two siblings out just three days before the Fall of

Saigon. His father was serving in the Southern Vietnamese Army.

Cao started a new life in the U.S., initially intending to become a Jesuit priest. After graduating with degrees from

Baylor and Fordham Universities and Loyola Law School, Cao became a legal counsel and later part of the

National Advisory Council of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. As a member of the Conference, Cao aided in

the recovery of Louisiana following Hurricane Katrina. In 2007, Cao was nominated to head the Louisiana

Republican Party and as a delegate to Minneapolis. Caos political efforts eventually earned him the title of

Louisianas 2nd Congressional District Representative as well as the rst Vietnamese American and Vietnam native in

the U.S. Congress.

Political leadersrise rom theSouth

HARRY LEE

BOBBY JINDAL

AHN JOSEPH CAO

by IVANA BANH / Art by EDWIN LEE

A


14/32

LouisianasVietnameseAmericancommunity

rebuiltitselfafterHurricaneKatrina...

but now it faces another crisis atsea:

recovering fromthe BP oil spill.

ore than 1 million

people ed Vietnam

after the fall of Saigon

at the end of the Vietnam

War 35 years ago.

Thousands died trying to escape the

country via boat. Those who survived

became refugees, most settling in

North America, Europe and Australia.

The United States accepted

823,000 Vietnamese refugees who

came to rebuild their lives.

In the face of struggles

establishing a new life in a foreign

land, Vietnamese Americans have

rapidly built strong and resilientcommunities throughout the U.S.

One such community established

itself in New Orleans.

Perhaps nding the tropical

weather familiar to home, the

Vietnamese found New Orleans a

perfect place to settle. Even more, the

Catholic community there sponsored

many Vietnamese refugees

M


following the Vietnam War. Most of

the population became involved in

the shing and shrimping industries

and through the years developed a

thriving network that has come

together, especially in the midst of

disaster.

In Louisiana, there are about

25,000 Vietnamese Americans,

according to the New Orleans

Tourism Marketing Corporation. Ofthose, 6,000 live in a concentrated

area of New Orleans East. Roughly

80 percent of Vietnamese Americans

in the Gulf region have ties to the

shing industry, whether it be as

seafood restaurant owners, vendors,

or shermen.

These shermens ties to the

sea trace back to their roots, back

to Vietnam, where many shermenrelied on the sea to fuel their

livelihoods.

Hurricane Katrina ripped

through the Gulf Coast in 2005,

leaving the region devastated

physically and nancially.

A public housing

neighborhood named Versailles is

home to many Vietnamese

Americans on the outskirts of New

Orleans. In the wake of the

damage, the Vietnamese congre-

gated to rebuild their existence.

With little government funding, th

community reconstructed Versaill

faster than other neighborhoods in

New Orleans. The local

government attempted to imple-

ment a landll harboring toxic

Viet

nam

ese&

Cam

bodi

ans

hrim

pers

at

am

eetin

ginBur

as,La.

,for

mor

e

info

rmatio

nabou

tthe

spill

inMay

.

Phot

oby

Sean

Gar

dner

,Reu

ters

.

SOUTH


15/32

VietnameseAmericanfshersintheGulhithardagainbyCHANELHUNG


waste from the nearby hurricane. The

community rallied together to protest

against the citys will, forming one

voice to save their neighborhood.

Now, Vietnamese Americans

dependent on the Gulf of Mexicofor survival face another crisis. The

British Petroleum oil spill that started

in April and gushed for three months

has left many out of work and with

many bills to pay.

This time, recovery is uncertain.

Many Vietnamese Americans

have lost their jobs now that shing

zones are restricted and there is no

work available. Fishers are bringing

in less than half the yield normallyproduced in the Gulf waters. Without

jobs, the Vietnamese American

community struggles to pay off

mortgages and bills.

Entire livelihoods are affected,

and there may not be an immediate

recovery due to the environmental

impacts of the spill, said Mai Phan,

a Vietnamese lawyer who works with

the Vietnamese American Bar

Associations efforts to help the

New Orleans community.

But while many need assistance,

few actively seek it, quite possiblydue to cultural norms. Vietnamese

Americans are self-driven hard

workers and have always managed

to rebuild from scratch. It is no

surprise that they are a proud people.

Accepting government-sponsored

assistance is equivalent to accepting

charity in a community that deems

accepting handouts a sign of

weakness.

The legal ght is another battle

all its own. The lengthy and

complex legal documents that are

supposed to offer compensation for

damages have proven to be tedious

and unhelpful.

Many Vietnamese Americans,

especially the older generation, are

not uent in English. With such a

strong community and knowledge

about their trade, English isnt a

necessity. Yet this language barrier

has hindered Vietnamese Americans

in pursuit of ling claims againstBP to gain compensation. More-

over, BP offers only about half the

amount of revenue these shermen

would be earning if the Gulf were

clean and healthy.

A gloomy future lies ahead for

Vietnamese Americans in the Gulf

region. Until BP successfully cleans

up the spill, disastrous environ-

mental and economic implicationsremain for those who rely on the

sea to maintain their livelihoods.

For such a strong, hardworking

community, idleness and powerless-

ness during BPs inaction is painful

There is no doubt, however, that

the Vietnamese people will pull

through the oil crisis and become

stronger than ever.


16/32

Asians inAmerica: PuttingAPA immigration

on the map

From as early as the

mid-1800s, people

from Asian

countries have

immigrated to the

United States seeking better

lives. With assurances ofprosperity and opportunities

abound, the U.S. has and

continues to play the role of

the promised land for many

foreigners.

Filipinos expected just that when

they settled in modern day Louisiana in the

1760s. Arriving by Spanish galleons broad, multi-

decked ships that stopped in Mexican ports, these Asian

pioneers deserted their maritime posts to make their way into

America. Once settled, Filipinos began forming shrimping

villages that have lasted to this day.

Roughly 80 years later, Chinese and Indian immigrants came to the U.S., though

under extremely unsavory circumstances. With the abolition of the slave trade recently

underway, British and Spanish colonialists were running short on African slaves. Before long, South

China and India became the new it locations to nd replacement laborers. These Chinese and Indian

individuals were ultimately recruited to work at remote sugar and cotton plantations.

Approximately 250,000 Chinese and 500,000 Indians were transported to America under this new system of

slavery.

It was not until 1848 that Asians voluntarily immigrated to the U.S. in signicant numbers. Lured by the promise of

wealth at Gold Mountain (a Chinese nickname for California during the Gold Rush), Chinese immigrants ocked to

America in record numbers. While some became miners, others worked as smalltime merchants, gardeners, and

domestics.Then in 1865, the Transcontinental Railroad project revolutionized transportation and effectively established Asian

social standing in America.

As the Union Pacic worked westward from Nebraska and the Central Pacic worked eastward from Sacramento, the

two companies hired roughly 3,000 Chinese immigrants to take part. Although they worked strenuous hours

often without fair pay and sacriced a number of their lives in the process, the Chinese were ultimately left out of any

celebrations when the railroad was complete.

Anti-Chinese sentiments came to a head in 1882 with the Chinese Exclusion Act, which stopped all

immigration from China and denied citizenship to any Chinese already in the U.S.

Such were the beginnings of Asian immigration to America not always positive, but

denitive of the Asian American community today.

When I read about how Asians used to be persecuted by Americans in

history, I feel a sense of happiness that we have moved so far from that now thatAmericans can embrace being Asian, said Jenny Liu, a USC freshman from

Fremont, Calif.

Though the Asian American community has had its fair share

of obstacles in immigrating to this country, its tremendous

efforts to build and foster an Asian American identity

from the ground up has forever impacted the millions

of people living in America today.

by MICHELLE BAN

Chinese railroad workers line the Transcontinental

Railroad, buried in snow. Roughly 3,000 Chinese were

recruited to work on the railroad project,

which started in 1865.

SOUTH


17/32

From cornelds to opportunity:A new generation o

Midwestern Asian Americans

idwestern Asian culture just

digest those three words for

a second.Historically, Asians came to the

United States predominantly on the

West and East Coasts through the ports of

Angel Island in San Francisco Bay and Ellis Island

in New York for those who came through Europe or

around Africa. The coasts

allowed easier access to the

homeland, a wealth of opportunity

through port cities, and a way to

break in and assimilate to a new

culture.

Middle America, quite

appropriately, became abandoned

by Asians in their early years

because it represented all they left

behind at home: farming, little opportunity, and

wide open spaces. Especially during the explosions

of the Asian population in the late 1800s and the

early 1900s, America meant a new day and a new

life neither of which the Midwest represents.

However, the Midwest is now boomingeconomically, boasting a strong economy and

balanced by growing cityscapes and open

cornelds. This growth has fostered more

migration of Asians to this region. According to

Asian-Nation.org, a site about the growth and

demographics of Asian Americans in the U.S., the

city of Chicago, for example, is now 4.3 percent

Asian American.

In the Minnesota counties of Ramsey and

Hennepin, the Asian population growth stood at an

81 percent increase from previous years in 2001,according to Minnesota Public Radio.

Due to having a lesser presence of

minorities, students do not segregate as often, said

Ayane Nishi, a freshman neuroscience and

psychology student from Hennepin County, Minn.

According to Nishi, there are

certain Asian ethnicities that are larger

in number and do have a tendency

to congregate, but for the most part

Asians assimilate into groups.

Asian parents will have get-

togethers, and then their children will

also become friends that way, said

Nishi, herself an immigrant from

Japan.

Immigrant parents, having come to a new

country, desire that cultural identity of the food,

language, and values from their homelands, but

they also seek to integrate into the American

culture and value system.

However, I dont know how it is for people inother parts of the Midwest, Nishi said, drawing

attention to the fact that the Midwest is a very large

region with a lot of diversity to offer in terms of

ways of life and culture.

The Asian American community will have

to keep a close watch on the Midwest to see how

diversity and Asian culture grow there in the years

to come.

M

The Midwest historically represented everything Asian immigrantslet behind: arming, lack o opportunity, and empty open spaces.But thats all changing. by MAITHREYI SHANKAR


The Midwest isnow booming

economically,ostering moremigration o Asians.

MIDWEST


18/32

Growing up in Ohio,senior Beibei Bai

didnt consider herselAsian American. Thatwas an identity shediscovered only aterleaving the Midwest.

Story & photographyby CHLOE WANG

Midwest, and her years in the

Midwest in turn dened her

learning experiences as an Asian

American at USC.

In China, Bai attended a private

primary school in Tianjin for two

years. The school was so rigorous

that she didnt have to relearn thethings she was taught up to second

grade until middle school in Ohio.

Because of that, a lot of Bais

friends in the United States thought

she was good at math a common

Asian stereotype.

Everyone thought I was great

at math, but it was just Ive done i

already, she said with a laugh.

Beibei Bai never

considered herself

Asian American until

she came to USC.

I appreciate my

culture more because when I was

growing up, I wasnt always

surrounded by it, said Bai, asenior majoring in business

administration, who until a few

years ago thought of herself as an

American born in China.

After living seven years in

China, Bai moved to Beavercreek,

Ohio, and started life as a

Midwestern girl. Her years in

China dened her move to the

18 | BAMBOO OFFSHOOT | FALL 2010

with NIMISHA THAKORE

MIDWEST


19/32

As it turns out, being from

Ohio made for an interesting

experience for a young Chinese

immigrant.

I think it was a great place

to grow up because it has anall-American feel, but at the same

time, it wasnt the most exciting

place, Bai said. It made the

transition from a different culture

easier and harder at the same

time. It was a complete culture

shock for me but at the same

time, everyone was so nice.

According to Bai, she had a

typical American childhood onethat included not considering

herself Asian American.

I think where Im from,

there was not a strong and solid

Asian American identity, she

said. There wasnt that many

Asian Americans and I think I

purposely made myself not be

friends with a lot of Asian

Americans that were at school

because I didnt want to t thestereotype. I wanted to do what I

wanted to do.

Bai was a self-proclaimed

whitewashed kid but still

culturally aware. Her parents

taught her to keep speaking

Mandarin and encouraged her

understanding of Chinese

culture.


She did not realize how much

of an advantage she had until she

came to USC. Here, she met plenty

of Chinese Americans who didnt

t her assumption that they knew

Chinese because they weresurrounded by it in Los Angeles.

Their Chinese is terrible

because maybe their parents told

them that You want to reform,

you want to be more American,

she said. But my parents were

like, You will learn English, dont

worry. The entire world around

you speaks English but you will

pick that up, especially when youare young. But the Chinese identity

is what you should worry about

because thats the one thing you

might lose.

Bai was at rst freaked out

by the Asian American culture at

USC, but she delved right into

exploring it. As a freshman, she

joined a six-week program called

CIRCLE (Critical Issues in Race,

Class, and LeadershipEducation), hosted by Asian Pacic

American Student Services to en-

courage students education about

Asian American history and issues.

I think for me it was very

eye-opening because I had no idea

about Asian American culture, Bai

said. It really taught me a lot of

things about the Asian

communities that I didnt know

and made me more aware in

everything I do.

She feels that there are many

things that can be done to make

the Asian American communitystronger. Bai thinks much of

Asian America is more

preoccupied with the small things

while missing out on the bigger

picture within the Asian

American community, there often

tends to be a lot of competition

between ethnic groups.

That being said, Bai

believes that if there are morepeople helping each other and

really bringing the community

together, it could have a brighter

future.

Thats a detriment to the

entire community because theres

not enough solidarity to help one

another out, she said.

Now that Bai has found her

place in the Asian American

community at USC, she has somewell-learned advice to give to

others.

Dont let your race or your

ethnicity hold you back, but at

the same time dont ever forget

it, because thats what makes you

special, she said. Whether you

think it or not, it will

eventually help you.

A whitewashedMidwesterner

nds her color


20/32

Japanesefarming

philosophytransplanted

totheUS

by ANNE SU / Art by RITA YEUNG

ts a very local, small

operation, said Akemi

Imai, a USC alum, of her

workplace this summer:

a farm run by a Japanese

family in upstate New York.

In the summer of 2010, aftergraduating from USC in May with

a bachelors degree in international

relations, Imai interned at the Natural

Agriculture Farm at Maplecrest and

Hunter Village in the Catskill

Mountains of New York. Out of

curiosity and an inclination to try new

things, Imai left the bustling city to

help tend a natural agriculture farm.

The farmers have a very

personal relationship with the peoplewho buy the produce. They [the

products] taste wonderful, and I wish

they could be expanded to more

people They tend to have a richer

taste, more avorful, she said.

The Natural Agriculture Farm is

part of the Catskill Mountain

Foundation, which promotes the arts,

I


education, and sustainable living in

the region. Founded in 1999, the

half-acre farm grows a variety of

crops: tomatoes, lettuces, radishes,

carrots, potatoes, green beans, and

even the Japanese greens shungiku

and komatsuna.Farm director Kenji Ban was

originally a farmer with Shumei

Natural Agriculture in Japan.

Shumeis emphasis on the

integrity of nature to produce pure

and wholesome foods for the people

is deeply connected with spirituality

and physical relationships between

people and the earth.

Ban was born and raised in

Japan, where he obtained abachelors degree in agricultural

science from Kochi University. He

practiced natural agriculture in

Japan for four years before moving

to Pomona, Calif., in 1997.

The director of the John Lyle

Center for Regenerative Studies at

Pomonas California Polytechnic

University was interested in the

Shumei method of farming.

She actually wrote some

articles about natural agriculture

and she was interested in natura

agriculture, said Ban. She told

Shumei America Center and theshe asked someone to start natur

agriculture here [New York].

Shumei decided to send me ther

Ban moved to the Catskills

village in 2000 to carry out the

Shumei philosophy.

In natural agriculture,

nothing else is needed besides s

good soil and clean water. Natur

fertilizers such as manure or

compost can still be used in orgafarming. At NAF, compost is ap

only when the soil needs to be k

warm. Conventional farming us

genetically modied seeds much

the time due to its intention to m

produce.

Principles and practices of

natural agriculture employed at

IntheremoteCatski

llsofNewYork,aha

lf-acrefarmrunby

aJapanesefam

ilycontinuespractici

ngthephilosophyo

f

naturalagriculturefarming.

NORTHEAST


21/32


originated from Shinji Shumeikai,

also known as Shumei. Shumei is

now known as a spiritualorganization that endeavors to

create universal harmony and

well-being.

People who rst purchased

the natural products of NAF were

acquaintances of Ban. Among the

customers are Asian American

families as well as American

families who enjoy the more

avorful taste unarguably richer,

according to Imai.To order produce, families

subscribe to a one-year plan. During

each season (summer and fall), the

vegetables of that particular season

are home-delivered.

Ban began as an organic farm

intern but later asked the

chairman of CMF in the winter of

2001 whether it was possible for

him to practice natural

agriculture, and the chairmanagreed. So they converted from

organic farming to natural

agriculture and Shumei decided to

send more staff to the farm.

The beginning of natural

agriculture was not as easy one may

think, especially in New York.

According to Ban, the rocky soil and

cold weather on the northeast region

posed certain challenges.

There are two other naturalagriculture sites in the United States:

one in Santa Cruz and another in

Hollywood.

For Imai, her work everyday

from 8 a.m. to noon allowed her to

enjoy a meal made with the

vegetables of the farm. She

nished her internship with much

more appreciation for simple food

and the people who put their

efforts wholeheartedly into whatgoes into our mouths.

[Natural agriculture]

compared to conventional

farming, [which] you can just

literally make limitless... I feel it

does sacrice some of that quality

and attention you might give to

vegetables, Imai said.

In addition to the richer

produce, Ban appreciates the

change of pace on a farm.Here is very countryside... not

like Manhattan, Ban said. The

president of Catskills Mountain

Foundation understand[s] natural

agriculture, so they support me to

practice natural agriculture. I am

very happy to work with them. So I

want to stay as much as I can.


22/32

aithreyi Shankar had

an interesting problem

growing up: she was

an Indian American

who felt left out of the

Indian American crowd.

I always felt like they were

talking about me! I know its

irrational, but its a feeling I always

get. I wanted to be included in the

community, she said.

Shes talking about the

community in Burlington, Mass.,

where she lived from the age of

5 until venturing cross-country

to USC to study neuroscience (or

maybe biomedical engineering, its

still up in the air).

Burlington is a small town

northwest of Boston that

measures just less than 12 square

miles and is home to 24,521

people, according to the citys web-

site. It is 80.6 percent white and

10.6 percent Asian/Pacic Islander.

Shankar guesses of that Asian

demographic, 10 to 20 percent is

Indian.

Despite the largely Caucasian

population, Shankar, an excitable

18-year-old sophomore, speaks of

multicultural clubs, fairs and Asian

American leadership programs at

her high school. She even recalls

the sometimes stuffy nature of an

extremely close-knit Indian

community. All things considered,

Burlington is a lovely and diverse

place to live.

I liked living in the suburbs,

said Shankar of the safe area. In

April and May, we would walk

around places It made us feel

independent.

Shankar was born in

Mumbai, India, and spent four

years in Singapore before

moving to the East Coast. Her

South Indian family hails from the

state of Tamil Nadu and speaks

both Marathi and Hindi.

Many of the Indians in

Burlington are Gujarati (originally

from the state of Gujarat in North

India), leading to language and

interethnic barriers that Shankar

felt kept her slightly outside their


M

USCsophomoreMaithreyiShankarwaspartofanalmostoverbearinglyIndiancommuniinBurlington,Mass.,butshesrealizednowthatbeingAsianAmericanisnotaboutbeingAsianorAmericanitsaboutbeingboth.

NORTHEAST


23/32

on the spectrum

Finding her place

Story & photography by NIMISHA THAKORE

very, very cohesive commu-

nity. A lot of immigrants werent

interested in exploring American

culture, while Shankars family

enjoyed such non-Indian

activities as hiking.

She is small, but her frame

walls in a kind of energy that

seems on the verge of exploding.Yet when Shankar talks about

her experiences nding cultural

connections in a cliquey high

school environment, she waxes

philosophical. She pushes back a

drape of jet-black hair in a brief

moment of silence when shes

searching for the right words.

The way I really did culture

was through dance and family,

not the school. I didnt like [all]the people. You dont really want

to be around that when you know

youre Indian enough, she said.

Bharatnatyam, a classical

Indian dance form based on

Hinduism, helped shape

Shankars Indian American

identity. Because dance wasnt

something that came easily to her,

she sweated over it for 13 years.

Its very physical, mental

and spiritual It was very core to

developing as an Indian for me,

she said.

At USC, she has continued

her passion for dance. Shankar

is the founder of USC Drishti

Classical Indian Dance and is in

the process of getting the team

recognized as a student

organization. She is also involved

with Undergraduate Residential

Student Community, the Hindu

Student Organization, and is

coordinator of the DESI (Discov-

ering and Enriching South Asian

Issues) Project.

It wasnt until she left the

suburbia of Burlington that sherealized being Indian American is

not just about being a gung-ho desi

or completely whitewashed.

I realized theres a spectrum

of Indianness Ive come to terms

with it. I have a better understand-

ing of where I fall, she said.

Shankar gestures animatedly

with her hands as she speaks,

especially when she delves into

her freshman year wake-up call.She skipped her senior year of high

school to come straight to USC

with the Resident Honors Program.

Shankar doubted USCs ability to

challenge her but she was wrong.

Things didnt pan out

completely according to plan. I

think I was overcondent, she

said. I thought I would ace

everything and transfer.

Instead, she had to work hard

for good grades in her science

classes. But as a reward, she found

her place.

Something connected when

I got here, she said, noting she

didnt have that in high school. I

like what Im trying to accomplish,

so theres no reason to leave.

In the next three years,

Shankar wants to continue her

involvement in various corners of

campus to connect communities

and build conversations. She then

hopes to earn a Ph.D. and become

a professor and entertains the idea

of one day returning to

Burlington.

I love the Northeast for alot of reasons, she said. It feels

intellectual, the seasons [are]

more in tune with reality And

I associate with the East Coast

culture, said Shankar.

And, after all, it has played at

least some small part in making

her who she is.

Shankar is nothing if not a

free spirit. Shes carved out her

own unconventional path from anortheast town known for Amy

Poehler and a ginormous mall

to an urban heavyweight like Los

Angeles.

Her strikingly young age

belies her introspection and self-

condence. She never wanted

to be whiter, but she also never

wanted to be more Indian.

Shankar has what many children

of immigrants struggle to nd:

peace of mind with her place on

the spectrum.

Its how removed you want

to be and how connected you

want to be with your culture, she

said about nding ones roots.

Im Indian enough for me

now.



24/32

A snapshot o the diversity o Asian American andAsian international students at USC.

USC at a glance

O the 2010 incoming class (reshmen andtranser students)*

identiy as Asian Pacic American

O the incoming APAs...*

19%

are rst-generation college students

are multiracial/multiethnic

are rom Caliornia

Chinese (505 students)Korean (222)Indian (168)Persian/Armenian/Southwest-Central Asian (143)

Other ethnicities include:Other Asian (99)Japanese (98)Filipino (98)Vietnamese (69)Arab (40)Pacic Islander (27)

Most o them identiy as...

*According to preliminary datacollected by USCs Asian PacicAmerican Student Services prior tothe 2010-2011 school year

1 . India: 1,623 students2 . China (PRC): 1,428 students3 . South Korea: 735 students4 . Taiwan: 518 students5 . Canada: 289 students

Total international students: 6,585

Top 5 Places o Origin oInternational Students**

**Enrolled or the all 2009 semester,according data rom USCs Ofce oInternational Services


by CHLOE WANG

21%

73%

25%

GENERAL


25/32

VOICESWhy did you/your amilydecide to come to the U.S.?

My amily is similar to manyamilies post-1965 who arebeneciaries o the Hart-Cellarimmigration act, which removedthe rigid quotas or Asianimmigration My dad immigratedin 1969 to Vancouver to pursue hiseducation.

Sumun PendakurFamily rom Karnataka, IndiaU.S. hometown: Evanston, IL

Originally I came to the states asa student, and ater one year ostudying at that university I got ascholarship to study at graduateschool, so I came to USC... Andater that I met my husband,

who is Japanese American romCaliornia, and I moved here to bewith him.

Masako Tamanaha,Okinawa, Japan

U.S. hometown: Torrance, CA

What did you think o theU.S. beore you moved here?

How has your perception othe U.S. changed since youmoved here?

I was a 14-year-old child when Icame here. My rst impression washow big it was and how importantindividual rights were.

Tina TynerSouth Korea

U.S. hometown: San Diego, CA

[I believed that] the U.S. wasstrong in economy & militaryorce, advanced in science& technology, upholding Christianbanner and healthy moral andamily values, and was respectedbecause o such status. Thoughmost aspects are still true,her economy has weakened...

The Christian heritage has alsobecome an eyesore or manyliberals and [is] consistently underattack by the media, thus, hascorrupted the moral value o thesociety and weakened the amilystructures.

W.T. LinTaipei, Taiwan

U.S. hometown: Simi Valley, CAI just imagined blonde peopleeverywhere, like Am I going to bethe only Asian?

Jungwon Park,Seoul, South Korea

U.S. hometown: Arcadia, CA

I thought most Americans werekind, patient, and honest.

Wen Fang PanPeoples Republic o China (PRC)

U.S. Hometown: Sunnyvale, CA

What do you miss mostabout your home country?

Bamboozler

CHERISE OSAKIasked immigrants andchildren o immigrantsabout lie in America...

[My parents] really miss theamily aspect. But I also think theymiss the India that they knew. Myparents have an imagined idea owhat India was.

Sumun Pendakur

What do you like mostabout the U.S.?

I nd many share the same

values, and I am ree to worshipmy God as our ounding athersmeant or this country to enjoy,and because this is my homenow.

W.T. Lin

In Japan, you always have toworry about what other peoplethink about you... But I guesshere, people dont care. They

dont try to interere here, so I eemore ree.

Masako Tamanaha

When I came to America it wasso much more ree, so muchmore well-rounded interms o education. And Im atUSC and its one o the mostwell-rounded schools, socially,academically, and everything,and I dont think I would havegotten that in Korea at all.

Jungwon Park

Just my amily and riends, butnot other things because we canobtain anything here.

Makiko OsakaHokkaido, Japan

U.S. hometown: Torrance, CA



26/32

sian American what a broad,

encompassing term for us. What does

it even mean to be Asian American

anymore in a hyper-localizing,

globalizing world?In 1968, UC Berkeley student activists began

referring to themselves as Asian American

as a backlash against the more degrading term

oriental. Three on-campus anti-war leagues

the Chinese American Citizens

Alliance, the Japanese American

Citizens League, and the Philippine

American Collegiate Endeavor

joined forces into a conglomerate

christened the Asian AmericanPolitical Alliance.

A few months later, UCLA

professor and historian Yuji

Ichioka ofcially coined the

term Asian American to promote solidarity

among the various dislocated minority groups, from

Korean to Chinese to Indian.

While the consolidation of Asian American

interest groups may allow for greater lobbying

power, it fails to appreciate the incredible diversity

within the community. The label may be ableto unify us, but it also homogenizes us. A Sri

Lankan citizen has a vastly different culture and

heritage than a Vietnamese American but would be

encapsulated under the umbrella moniker of Asian

American.

Just as the French and the Germans are

distinctive peoples not to be clumped together

strictly as Europeans, Asian Americans are too

widely distributed for any one label to stick.

In fact, a single catch-all name distorts the

view of Asians by non-Asians. While we within

the Asian American community might clearly

understand the disparity between Thai and

Taiwanese, others might not. With one overarchingterm, we fail to communicate our unique cultures,

almost encouraging one-size-ts-all stereotypes

on people who trace from the largest, most heavily

populated, and arguably the most varied of all

continents.

Just the sheer land range of what

constitutes Asia is mind-boggling.

Imagine if we called everyone in North

and South America Americans, be

they Canadians or Columbians, and therest of the world assumed that every

American was identical with a few

minor differences some

just paler or browner than others.

After all, Americans kind of look the same, you

know?

Granted, distributing ourselves into

smaller, more distinct groups might foster mini-

communities less tolerant of the qualities we

have in common that a term Asian American

might allow. However, they help us recognize theindividual histories, traditions, and distinctions

which lend each group its own air.

For example, at USC, we have the Chinese

Student Association, the Vietnamese Student

Association, Nikkei, and many more cultural

groups under the broad sweep of the Asian Pacic

American Student Assembly. Traverse Japan Town

on a sushi tasting tour with Nikkei, attend a luau

with the Hawaii Club, or a beach retreat with

OPINION:Were all Asian American,

but theres more to us than thatThe diversity within the Asian American community begs to avoidhomogenization with an umbrella label like Asian American.

by REBECCA GAO

Asian Americansare too widely

distributed or onelabel to stick.


A

GENERAL


27/32

continued from page 26HapaSC if you identify with many ethnicities.

We represent an astonishingly diverse

community and should embrace both the

similarities and differences within the various Asian

American ethnicities. With an ever-growing

population of Asian Americans, it is simply against

our interests to be dusted neatly together into a pile

under a single label and to be left there without a

deeper understanding of ourselves.

CLICK IT

Bryan Says:

September 17th, 2010 at 2:30 pm

This article is superb. Im already hungry!


Ruth Ward Says:August 10th, 2010 at 4:30 am

A very insightful article with interesting input from a couple of USCs

students. Regarding media saturation, as shallow as it sounds, its

been very inspiring to see Asian comedic talents like Mindy Kaling

and Aziz Ansari doing what they do best. When you say youre

Asian, stereotypes have ensured that Wow I bet theyre witty is not

the frst thought that crosses ones mind but theyre gradually

helping us to change that...and to be fair, we do tend to be pretty

good at math.

Jasmine Says:

August 2nd, 2010 at 7:12 pm

I love Lisa See! Great feature.

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A conversation with Lisa SeeAsian or South Asian?


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