Reading Min Jin Lee’s “Free Food for Millionaires” had me thinking about class and how it factors into the Asian American experience. I thought of all the Asian Americans I know, correlating their socioeconomic class with how they behave today and from all that speculation, grappled with the following question: When will we realize the grass isn’t greener on the other side?
Inner-city bred Asians who have the brains and ambition to get out of their ghettos pull out all the stops to get themselves into ivy leagues or notable institutions of higher education, even if it means exploiting affirmative action. Once there, they bend over backwards to climb the social ladder. To present a case study, I cite the archetypal fellow who grows up in the back alleys of Chinatown, goes to M.I.T. by taking out exorbitant private loans, then tries desperately to appear “white-washed,” like the suburbanite Asians he met in college, because that in his mind somehow correlates with upper middle class status. Such a fellow becomes fixated on the way he speaks–taking pains to enunciate the way a blue-blooded American would, and lose that inner-city slang or even accent he spoke with in his youth. He is obsessed with “sounding white,” “appearing white,” and if you ever casually tell him he in fact “sounds Asian,” he will begin to hyperventilate with paranoia. If they can, they will move to white suburbia where they may live out the rest of their lives denying their humble beginnings. If they could, they would dissociate from the Asian community altogether.
On the other hand, you have the upper-middle class suburbanite Asians who spent their childhoods and adolescence pampered with every material comfort your mind can think of, who went to a private all-white prep school, and who now, in their young adulthoods, have moved from their suburban permanent addresses to a run-down studio in the heart of a big city where the Asian population is 99.9%. They’ve become the hipsters and emo kids who shun wealth, shun the academy, glorify all things Asian, and who may even become an activist in a non-profit organization to help the indigent yellow plebeians. (Ever notice how almost every grassroots Asian-interest organization is run by whitebread Asians who are otherwise completely detached from the life experiences of those Asians they claim to represent?) They rant ad nauseum on marginalization, racial inequality, lack of voter turnout from the APA community, but never take the time to understand the existential struggles of working class Asians and why, maybe, these people don’t have the privilege of ranting on marginalization, racial inequality, or voting blocks.
And while both groups make their way to the other (supposedly greener) side, they still never hesitate to remind the world how much they’ve diverged from the path expected of them. The inner-city Asian glamorizes the poverty to his elite circles of friends to distinguish himself from them. “Look how far I’ve come,” he implies. “I worked to get here, while all of you had this life handed to you on a silver platter.” The suburbanite Asian will preface almost everything she says with, “I grew up in an all-white neighborhood…I used to be so white-washed…” This is what separates her from all the other Asians in the city she now lives in, the city that’s 99.9% Asian. “Look how noble I am,” she implies. “I left my castle for the village to come save you all from the plight I believe you’re in.”
Of course, more than two over-generalized categories exist here. You also have the inner-city Asians who never quite leave their neighborhoods, joined gangs, dealt drugs, and continued their cycle of poverty, becoming the great disappointment of their hard-working blue collar parents who sacrificed everything they had just to give their children a better opportunity those thankless children never bothered to take. Then there are the suburbanite Asians who neglect their Asian heritage for the full length of their lives and live in blissful ignorance believing they’re “no different from the white folk, no different at all.” These kids are not only white-washed, they’re brainwashed.
True, the great economic divide applies to all of society across all ethnic lines, but I am primarily interested in how class plays out in the Asian American experience. Social class has become yet another fault line in Asian America, inhibiting solidarity. Those suburbanite emo hipster activist kids have their hearts in the right places, but they fail to put themselves in the shoes of those they claim to represent. Inner-city Asians who run from their neighborhoods and never look back are selfish. Of all groups, they possess the greatest potential and capacity to foster change, and yet they do not.
The race card is pulled out all too often, but few dare to touch the class card. If any single factor could explain how Asian Americans act, then it would be social class. Lower class Asians want to hide their poverty by financing luxury model cars beyond their means and upper class Asians refuse to acknowledge the privilege they were born with. All of it epitomizes denial and few things rank as a truly Asian skill like utter denial.
Note: So as not to misrepresent Ms. Lee’s novel, “Free Food for Millionaires” had little to do with this tirade. It spoke on class issues, but not quite as unintelligibly as this posting has.
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omg wrote:
hahaha, rock on sista.
Posted on 14-Oct-07 at 8:29 pm | Permalink
Ratrace wrote:
YOu really love putting Asians into neat little white stereotype bundles. Did I mention Tila Tequila has a new MTV show?
Posted on 14-Oct-07 at 9:08 pm | Permalink
Chook wrote:
Akrypti
What might some of the solutions be?
Posted on 14-Oct-07 at 9:31 pm | Permalink
akrypti wrote:
Hey Ratrace:
You’re right. I do such a terrible job as a commentator on my observations of the Diasporic Asian community. You could do better. From the tone of all your comments, it’s clear you think you could do much better.
So I challenge you to write for 8Asians as a guest editor under my name for a week. Are you up for it? For one week, I won’t post here and instead, in my place, YOU will. It can be one week, it can be one post - whatever you think you’re game for.
All you have to do is e-mail me through the “Contact Us / Suggest A Story” link above with an e-mail address for us to contact you at. Or, if you prefer, continue in your cowardice by staying anonymous and simply e-mail us the post you want me to publish. Be sure to address the e-mail to my attention and note that you are Ratrace.
Confused? See Maureen Dowd’s latest in the Times: A Mock Columnist, Amok - http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/14/opinion/14dowd.html
It’s a challenge, Ratrace. Step up or step out.
Posted on 14-Oct-07 at 10:25 pm | Permalink
Ratrace wrote:
I have to think about it, see, I’m not much of a Tila Tequila fan and I don’t label other Asians with white people’s language so I don’t know if I match up with your obvious skill set.
Posted on 14-Oct-07 at 11:05 pm | Permalink
akrypti wrote:
All you have to do, my dear Ratrace, is write what you think should be addressed in a forum like 8Asians. Basically, anything you want that is more substantive than gushing over Tila Tequila or labeling other Asians with white people’s language.
Posted on 14-Oct-07 at 11:22 pm | Permalink
Chook wrote:
FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!……….
Posted on 15-Oct-07 at 12:07 am | Permalink
Bertie wrote:
Well at least the “hipsters and emo kids” are making an effort and are attempting to make a real difference. If they don’t understand what it’s like to grow up working class, it’s because they *didn’t* grow up working class. People are limited by their perspectives, and that’s never going to change. For example, I grew up in a small town the south; I’m never going to fully understand how it is to grow up in, say, Canada. I can make analogies, but I’m never going to fully comprehend it. I say that, as long as someone is making an effort, no matter how limited their abilities, good for them. Don’t knock their efforts. Although I wouldn’t classify them as “hipsters and emo kids.” [snark] Real hipsters and emo kids are only concerned about their music collections. [/snark]
And as for the Chinatown kid, good for him too. If he made it to MIT from a disadvantaged background, hats off to him. Perhaps he will serve as an example to others who want to leave the ghetto.
Posted on 15-Oct-07 at 2:59 am | Permalink
Chook wrote:
Bertie
Good points. I’m not certain of the purpose of denigrating other people’s efforts without presenting solutions to the issues. Plus, it goes beyond mere ethnic drives to better one’s life. If more and more Asians are turning to white American society for inspiration and solidarity does that expose them as traitors or does it expose AA movements as lacking enough strong direction and purpose that can inspire AA’s to follow their lead? I say this with complete respect for the efforts of any AA movements.
Posted on 15-Oct-07 at 3:11 am | Permalink
Jesse! wrote:
akrypti, which one are you?
Posted on 15-Oct-07 at 8:26 am | Permalink
akrypti wrote:
First, please don’t read only what you want to disagree with and then go off in that direction without taking context into consideration.
Second, I did present my solutions, albeit un-profound, to the issues. The question presented is in the first paragraph and I close each subsequent paragraph with a point toward what sort of self-reflection each of these groups should do. I even reiterated it at the end of the entire post. If that is lost to you, then tragedies.
Ya know, George Bush is trying his darndest to do what’s best for this country. I truly believe his intentions are noble. So we shouldn’t knock his efforts. He’s limited by his perspectives. That’s never going to change. We should let him off the hook. It’s not his fault.
Criticism isn’t denigration. There’s a particular very casual tongue-in-cheek style that an informal blog like this takes on. This isn’t The Economist.
Posted on 15-Oct-07 at 8:31 am | Permalink
akrypti wrote:
Hey Jesse:
I’m glad you asked that. It seems those who know me can laugh at this post and those who don’t get huffy puffy.
So, Jesse, I invite you to guess which one I am first. =)
- Akrypti
Posted on 15-Oct-07 at 8:35 am | Permalink
Bertie wrote:
LOL @ George Bush.
Posted on 15-Oct-07 at 8:58 am | Permalink
Chook wrote:
I’m lost. Sorry if I took you too seriously.
Posted on 15-Oct-07 at 10:14 am | Permalink
Akrypti wrote:
lol. Never take me too seriously, Chook.
To be honest, though, I don’t know if there’s a viable solution other than an armeggedon-like revolution, which isn’t going to happen any time soon because too many people are too content. I just call for a little more self-awareness from people, that’s all.
Posted on 15-Oct-07 at 11:14 am | Permalink
Jesse! wrote:
If I had to guess, I’d say you come more from the “growing up in an ‘all-white’ neighborhood” side of things, but most likely your story is far more complicated than that, something you do not take into account for your respective gross generalizations.
Posted on 15-Oct-07 at 11:45 am | Permalink
Chook wrote:
“..I just call for little more self-awareness…”
Fair enough - we all need that!
On a more serious note
, I wonder which Asian-Americans are you describing? Chinese-Ams, Fil-Ams, Korean-Ams? What unites us as an ethnic minority is not necessarily the culture we bring from the old countries but a shared experience of being Asiatic in a non-Asiatic society. Basically it’s the shape of our eyes that determines our experience of life in the west. The exact circumstances of one’s path to Asian pride/awareness is irrelevant because the experiences that got you there are shared by most other Asians in the west, regardless of class or ethnicity. So I agree that we should all be more sensitive to each others experiences.
“The Economist”
Posted on 15-Oct-07 at 12:40 pm | Permalink
Bertie wrote:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Englewood_Cliffs,_New_Jersey
Where 1 out of 3 people are Asian, and the median home price is $1.1 million. Actually, that pretty much sums up Bergen County, NJ in general. Lots of Asians. Lots of money.
Where do these folks fit in?
Posted on 15-Oct-07 at 1:39 pm | Permalink
Jesse! wrote:
Bertie: sounds like Cupertino and West San Jose, where I grew up…
Posted on 15-Oct-07 at 1:43 pm | Permalink
akrypti wrote:
They’re anomalies. So they try to squeeze themselves into one of any of the above categories. You’ve got the Bergen County kids who try to be gangster and thug. Then there’s the ones who do everything in their power to avoid all the other Asians on their block and actively seek out only non-Asian friends. And some of those Cupertino kids are the most sheltered, pampered, babied spoiled brats I’ve ever met in my entire life. Like I said. They’re all anomalies. Not worth a category.
By the way, I was born in New Jersey.
Posted on 15-Oct-07 at 1:50 pm | Permalink
Bertie wrote:
“Bergen County thugs.” That’s hysterically funny.
It reminds me of one of the first episodes of the OC where this preppy blond kid punches this other guy, knocks him to the ground, makes a thuggy expression, and bellows, “That’s the way we do it in the OC!”
But seriously, I find that quite a few privileged Asian kids from gated communities try to act thug and glorify hip hop culture. It cracks me up.
Posted on 15-Oct-07 at 2:17 pm | Permalink
Bertie wrote:
Okay, seriously. I learned how to “talk thug” from a couple of college classmates from Hillsborough, CA and Kensington, CA. Those from the Bay Area will understand the ridiculousness of that statement.
Posted on 15-Oct-07 at 2:23 pm | Permalink
liv wrote:
akrypti,
if the “hipster/emo” kids lack the necessary street-cred, at least they are aware of the issues that affect asian americans. really, inner-city or suburban, all the “yellows” are lumped together by the mainstream anyways; we all receive the same, unequal treatment anyhows. it seems that the distinction is only brandished by those inside the movement who wish to discredit the other side…of the same team. and doesn’t that seem somewhat petty?
you emphasize the need for the more affluent asians to understand the existential struggles of the working class asians. i agree, but isn’t it a gross generalization to assume that all of them don’t? that establishing yourself automatically means a loss of connection with the asian community? it’s a useless “us vs. them” mentality here, and in the end, nothing gets accomplished.
Posted on 15-Oct-07 at 6:45 pm | Permalink
ancient one wrote:
Akrypti:
While I have met Asian-Americans who have fit exactly into the categories you mention – you really hit the nail on the head in some of your descriptions – Asian American communities have grown so diverse that there is plenty of spectrum in between. I was Asian-American kid from a working class Asian American area who went to the Ivy Leagues. I definitely don’t try to be act “white” after leaving New Jersey (yeah, I spent time there too). I now live in a live in a predominantly Asian part of Silicon Valley, and it is amazing watching how my kids and their friends grow up. I spent a lot of time with my daughter and her classmates, as a volleyball coach for a number of years. These kids don’t see themselves as being no different from white people – they are acutely aware that they are different. A lot of them keep much closer ties to their Asian heritage than kids did when I was growing – making lots of trips back to Asia, even enjoying watching Asian soap operas. Musically, they prefer hip-hop, and some of them were a bit shocked when they went to predominantly white dance at another school and the music was completely different. I laughed when my daughter told me: “the music was bad – but we fixed that.”
What’s notable to me is that these kids are all over the economic spectrum, so it is hard to generalize about rich kids who are “white washed” or poor kids who want to act white. They know they are not white and don’t try to act that way. Some of this came from our experiences as a volleyball team, I am sure. Silicon Valley being the highly segregated place that it is, we would regularly have to play teams that were mostly white. Having been blessed with a great bunch of extremely athletic girls, we would often beat them, and I think the girls could sense resentment form the other teams from having lost to some small Asian kids.
To reiterate my main point, be careful about making large generalizations. There are people all over the spectrum, and lots of those who don’t fit in those categories.
A few other points:
Btw, most Asian-Americans aren’t covered by Affirmative Action. Indeed, some people have argued affirmative action penalizes certain Asian Americans.
Coaching a mostly Asian-American team lead to some great team potlucks, with food ranging from ukoy and mamon to pate chaud. Yum, I still remember those days.
Posted on 15-Oct-07 at 11:12 pm | Permalink
Jesse! wrote:
you trying to start sumptin wit da Hillsborough Hillbillies? Cuz you better recognize!
Posted on 16-Oct-07 at 11:03 am | Permalink
Bertie wrote:
Shut up, or I’m going to call the Short Hills Shootaz on you.
EEEAAASSTTTTSSIIIIIDDEEEE!
Posted on 16-Oct-07 at 11:39 am | Permalink
Hannah wrote:
Wow, you’re officially my HERO. Good god damn. This is the first article I’ve read from this website (stumbled in from “working class asian” google search) and I’m hooked. As a dirt-poor asian who grew up in inner-cities/foster care in the LA metro area, this piece really resonates with me. I spent two years in Koreatown post high school, and nothing damaged my psyche more than living amonst the most affluent, well-heeled Asian Americans in this country… driving by in their immaculate merc. benz while I would pedal on my rusty bike to the local community college. I always had a “fuck you” mentality towards the asian community, because although I’m Korean, I’ve never had any Asian people real out and try to help me. If anything, I always got the cool once over and visible disdain for my old and out of style clothes. Koreatown I was treated like dirt in every asian-owned store I went into. I’ve currently transferred to a 4-year college since then, am majoring in Business, and plan on never looking back.
Posted on 28-Oct-07 at 8:58 pm | Permalink