Why have I been MIA in my posting?
Well being sick on and off the first two or so weeks of school for some reason really gets in the way of finishing readings and keeping up with school work. But I am pretty much better now and will be continuing to post on previous chapters read until I catch up. Hopefully I'll be able to stay well. So stay tuned!
Why did these "strangers of a different shore" come?
Before reading Takaki, I think I unknowingly assumed that these "strangers" had more in common with each other than they actually did, when first arriving in Hawaii and California. As Francis said in our class discussion on chapter 2 of Strangers of a Different Shore, one box was being created for the people who had come from 6 or more nations. Takaki points out that in actuality the emigrants from each of the Asian nations all came from more than just different countries, but from different backgrounds, as well. They all had different religions (Taoism, Buddhism, Shintoism, Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, and Christianity). Most were men, though there were a number of Japanese and Korean women. I found it interesting that culture played a pretty big role in who came over to America. Since Chinese women were expected to take care of her husband's family and it was not custom for them to travel alone, they very often stayed home in China. However, it wasn't so taboo for women to travel for Japanese and Koreans. They also all had differences in educational background, situations in their homeland that contributed in them leaving, and varying contact with U.S. culture prior to coming to America.
I cannot even imagine going to such a different place as these immigrants did. Takaki rightly documented a few excerpts describing the voyage some immigrants took and their feelings about it. Currently, I want to go abroad myself to work for a year some place in Asia. I hope it will be a great experience, but right now, I'll be honest it scares me shitless to think about it. I still have no idea what I would be doing or where I'll be but am looking into all of my options. Still, the world is so much smaller than it was then. I can travel in one or two days to Asia, so rather than having a month to think about whether I made the right decision, I only have a day contemplating that before I actually arrive and really find out. The laws are not as rigid and discriminatory as they were in the last 1800s and early 1900s. Also, English is pretty widespread in the larger cities in Asia. A language barrier does still exist, but it is not nearly as rigid.
Though my reason for going abroad is the interest of experiencing something new, for most Asian immigrants 100 years ago, it was a "necessity" that drove most immigrants them come to American despite having different respective backgrounds. Takaki's title for chapter 2 "Overblown with Hope" is very fitting. Necessity led immigrants to hope for better lives rather than just try to stick it out in their respective homelands. Unfortunately, it was not exactly what they bargained for.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
A continuation of exploration and revelation
Why did I not find this out sooner?
After I had written my last entry I actually talked to my dad and was surprised that there was more to find out from him. I guess I hadn't previously asked the right questions before. It started off with me asking if he had heard of Angel Island. Like many others, my dad had not heard of Angel Island. I figured maybe he had since he entered the country through California, but I forgot the fact that he was not considered an immigrant.
I guess I should take the time to disclose my background as Todd did. At first I just assumed if anyone was confused they would ask, but now I see the value in revealing it first, as one may not even think to ask further but once revealed it does help to put things into perspective. Anyway, my dad was born in the Philippines to an American soldier and a Filipina, so that makes me only 1/4 Filipina. He moved to the US when he was 10 years old with his parents and sisters. My heritage from my mother's side includes having Cherokee ancestors who experienced the Trail of Tears and a mixture of English, German, Irish and maybe a little Dutch. I was raised in a white middle class environment. My parents also pay for my tuition, food, and even gas (though I generally pay for the road trips I take occasionally). So yeah, that's a quick look at my background. I really am open to answering more questions if anyone has them.
Back to the conversation I had with my dad, another question I had asked him was a question of identity. Does he consider himself white? Filipino? Half? He answered that he considers himself white. I was a little surprised, even though I probably shouldn't have been. I mean like I said before, I was raised in a white middle class environment. My dad said that he thinks it is because he has such a bad connotation with his Filipino side. He was definitely made fun of and called names when he moved to the States. He and his siblings were mistaken for being Chinese and called derogatory names which I won't repeat here. I just think back and am sad to know that he went through that. No one should. Unfortunately it happened and still happens, whether through ignorance or pure racism. I also am sad that because of the connotations my dad has with being Filipino, I may have missed out on knowing more about it.
Identity is a huge question for everyone. I have heard many people struggling with this issue for themselves, and I am definitely no exception. Many of us will probably always struggle with identity or at least constantly be shaping it in some form or fashion. My dad's answer to the identity question I posed to him almost makes it harder for me to know what to consider myself. I am basically 3/4 white, and yet I cannot accept that I am just white. I also want to claim that one quarter that I've been exploring so much recently. I do know that I look white (although there are those few times that I'll forget). How much of that plays into my identity? I really have no answer to that yet, or even to what I consider myself in general, but I am always looking for one.
Also in my conversation with my dad I found out for the first time that my grandmother's maiden name was Villegas, indicating that I also am of Hispanic decent. My dad even thought that her uncle may have been the first treasurer of the Philippines. I have not yet been able to find evidence of this, but it would be interesting if I could verify this or not. I'm not entirely sure why it is so interesting when you can link your personal and family history to a historical event, person, place, or time that is recognized by many others. I speculate that it serves as additional verification of your own personal history in the same sense that Takaki includes so many dates and numbers to validate his writing of Asian American history. This is also probably why in my background I wrote that my Cherokee ancestors experienced the Trail of Tears. But anyway, perhaps I have a starting point for my solo project, to investigate any family relation to the first treasurer of the Philippines.
After I had written my last entry I actually talked to my dad and was surprised that there was more to find out from him. I guess I hadn't previously asked the right questions before. It started off with me asking if he had heard of Angel Island. Like many others, my dad had not heard of Angel Island. I figured maybe he had since he entered the country through California, but I forgot the fact that he was not considered an immigrant.
I guess I should take the time to disclose my background as Todd did. At first I just assumed if anyone was confused they would ask, but now I see the value in revealing it first, as one may not even think to ask further but once revealed it does help to put things into perspective. Anyway, my dad was born in the Philippines to an American soldier and a Filipina, so that makes me only 1/4 Filipina. He moved to the US when he was 10 years old with his parents and sisters. My heritage from my mother's side includes having Cherokee ancestors who experienced the Trail of Tears and a mixture of English, German, Irish and maybe a little Dutch. I was raised in a white middle class environment. My parents also pay for my tuition, food, and even gas (though I generally pay for the road trips I take occasionally). So yeah, that's a quick look at my background. I really am open to answering more questions if anyone has them.
Back to the conversation I had with my dad, another question I had asked him was a question of identity. Does he consider himself white? Filipino? Half? He answered that he considers himself white. I was a little surprised, even though I probably shouldn't have been. I mean like I said before, I was raised in a white middle class environment. My dad said that he thinks it is because he has such a bad connotation with his Filipino side. He was definitely made fun of and called names when he moved to the States. He and his siblings were mistaken for being Chinese and called derogatory names which I won't repeat here. I just think back and am sad to know that he went through that. No one should. Unfortunately it happened and still happens, whether through ignorance or pure racism. I also am sad that because of the connotations my dad has with being Filipino, I may have missed out on knowing more about it.
Identity is a huge question for everyone. I have heard many people struggling with this issue for themselves, and I am definitely no exception. Many of us will probably always struggle with identity or at least constantly be shaping it in some form or fashion. My dad's answer to the identity question I posed to him almost makes it harder for me to know what to consider myself. I am basically 3/4 white, and yet I cannot accept that I am just white. I also want to claim that one quarter that I've been exploring so much recently. I do know that I look white (although there are those few times that I'll forget). How much of that plays into my identity? I really have no answer to that yet, or even to what I consider myself in general, but I am always looking for one.
Also in my conversation with my dad I found out for the first time that my grandmother's maiden name was Villegas, indicating that I also am of Hispanic decent. My dad even thought that her uncle may have been the first treasurer of the Philippines. I have not yet been able to find evidence of this, but it would be interesting if I could verify this or not. I'm not entirely sure why it is so interesting when you can link your personal and family history to a historical event, person, place, or time that is recognized by many others. I speculate that it serves as additional verification of your own personal history in the same sense that Takaki includes so many dates and numbers to validate his writing of Asian American history. This is also probably why in my background I wrote that my Cherokee ancestors experienced the Trail of Tears. But anyway, perhaps I have a starting point for my solo project, to investigate any family relation to the first treasurer of the Philippines.
Sunday, September 2, 2007
Chapter 1
Why...
... did I decide to take Asian American Theater and Film, better known as Asian American History in Action? This was a question that was answered by several others in the class during introductions. Part of Vicky's response especially got me thinking. Although many if not everyone in the class would agree with this, Vicky was the first to voice her frustration at the lack of Asian American classes of any sort. One reason I wanted to take this class was that I hoped it would shed light on my personal history and heritage in addition to just exposing me to Filipino American History and Asian American History. My frustration lies in the fact that my family cannot really help me explore this now that I see it is important and have the desire and passion to do so. My grandmother has passed away, my father does not remember anything of his life in the Philippines except for picking mangoes, and I am not really close to the rest of my family to really be able to ask them in depth questions. Much of this is no ones fault. My dad was only 10 years old when he moved here from the Philippines and I can't remember what I had for lunch today so how can I expect him to remember something 50 years ago? This may be a little too personal for a class blog but even having any sort of discussion about heritage and things like that with my dad is difficult and it is both frustrating and sad for me. I guess I'm just happy that there is this class and it will hopefully give me a place to start since I am both personally and emotionally invested in finding out more.
... did I not realize the same President I have adored for years is the same that issued Executive Order 9066 on February 19, 1942 that sent thousands of Japanese Americans (as well as a number of German and Italian Americans) to internment camps? I don't know if it was how that particular part of history was taught to me or I just have refused to make that connection until now. It is rather upsetting though. I suppose he could have been in a pickle with having to calm mass hysteria, deal with the politics of the situation, and listen to all of his advisers, but I still don't think it is an excuse to take away the civil liberties of people.
... was the Filipino Repatriation Act of 1935 passed? In the reading I came across mention of the Tydings-Mcduffie Act of 1934. In exploring it further I saw that it also led to the 1935 act which among other things haulted family reunification. I guess I just have such a hard time figuring out what caused laws like these to be passed. I'm sure I will never be completely satisfied with the reasoning but I just feel so lost in terms of the political and social history surrounding these laws. I just hope to learn more about the history surrounding these acts. Even just in the one chapter of Takaki that I read it just made it even more apparent how much I already didn't know of Asian American history.
... did I decide to take Asian American Theater and Film, better known as Asian American History in Action? This was a question that was answered by several others in the class during introductions. Part of Vicky's response especially got me thinking. Although many if not everyone in the class would agree with this, Vicky was the first to voice her frustration at the lack of Asian American classes of any sort. One reason I wanted to take this class was that I hoped it would shed light on my personal history and heritage in addition to just exposing me to Filipino American History and Asian American History. My frustration lies in the fact that my family cannot really help me explore this now that I see it is important and have the desire and passion to do so. My grandmother has passed away, my father does not remember anything of his life in the Philippines except for picking mangoes, and I am not really close to the rest of my family to really be able to ask them in depth questions. Much of this is no ones fault. My dad was only 10 years old when he moved here from the Philippines and I can't remember what I had for lunch today so how can I expect him to remember something 50 years ago? This may be a little too personal for a class blog but even having any sort of discussion about heritage and things like that with my dad is difficult and it is both frustrating and sad for me. I guess I'm just happy that there is this class and it will hopefully give me a place to start since I am both personally and emotionally invested in finding out more.
... did I not realize the same President I have adored for years is the same that issued Executive Order 9066 on February 19, 1942 that sent thousands of Japanese Americans (as well as a number of German and Italian Americans) to internment camps? I don't know if it was how that particular part of history was taught to me or I just have refused to make that connection until now. It is rather upsetting though. I suppose he could have been in a pickle with having to calm mass hysteria, deal with the politics of the situation, and listen to all of his advisers, but I still don't think it is an excuse to take away the civil liberties of people.
... was the Filipino Repatriation Act of 1935 passed? In the reading I came across mention of the Tydings-Mcduffie Act of 1934. In exploring it further I saw that it also led to the 1935 act which among other things haulted family reunification. I guess I just have such a hard time figuring out what caused laws like these to be passed. I'm sure I will never be completely satisfied with the reasoning but I just feel so lost in terms of the political and social history surrounding these laws. I just hope to learn more about the history surrounding these acts. Even just in the one chapter of Takaki that I read it just made it even more apparent how much I already didn't know of Asian American history.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)