I’m an American. I’m also Chinese. But don’t think for a second that I’m a second-class citizen. And for that matter, nobody should feel that way about themselves, either.
The other day, while in conversation with my mother, I learned that one of her Asian friends “married an American man.” In other words, some oriental lady bagged herself a white husband. I love my mom, but I hate that insidious fog of prejudice that’s drifted its way into her subconscious and infected her vernacular. Aren’t we Americans too? To refer to white people–or Caucasians, to humor you PC Nazis–as “Americans,” we undermine the very meaning of the word. Implicit in that terminology is the idea that the typical and ideal American is a “fair-skinned,” individual whose ancestry and moral philosophy are rooted in all the correct, Western ideals.
My mother is not the only person “of color” (so to speak) to use that kind of language. I’ve known peers of various ethnicities who have referred to white people in just the same way. I know Chinese girls that are careful about whom they date because their parents prefer them not to go out with “American boys.” A Mexican friend once told me that she has a lot of Latin friends, but she doesn’t know too many “Americans.” The list of examples continues, but to carry on would be an exercise in tedium.
So many “American minorities” have been subtly brainwashed into believing that they are somehow inferior to and separate from the rest of the national community. We, the minorities, are only Americans insofar as we have the proper documentation to prove it. But aside from that minor detail, our citizenship is a mere technicality, for white people are the only true Americans. Prevailing attitudes of prejudice have become so rampant, that people are actually buying it.
Of course, it could be argued that many minority groups have a tendency to gravitate towards others in their own cultural group, thus making it more difficult for themselves to assimilate their minds and hearts into the national fabric. If such were the case, then people that belong to such groups would be much more at fault than I’ve let on. It’s a plausible counterpoint, and I even recognize that it may very well serve to refute my entire argument.
Regardless, my suspicions still linger. Prejudice doesn’t always parade itself in blatant and clumsy sheets accessorized by tall, pointy hats. No. It’s far more insidious than it often lets on. Sometimes prejudice roots itself in the most unlikely of places–such as the minds of minority members–where it gestates and fosters subconscious attitudes of inferiority.
No matter what the explanation may be, I still say that this damaging terminology needs to end. I’m as much an American as anybody else, and that is not subject for debate.
The topic of this entry is something we talked about a lot in my asian american studies class. I totally agree with you — asians should try to abstain from reinforcing the idea that we are any less american than anyone else.
well duh KZ, of course ur as much of an american as i am. and i completely agree with what u’ve said.
i think that most “american minorities” see themselves as americans, it just might be easier to say “american guy” than “white guy,” the whole “blahblahblah-american” saying gets old after a while.
some people just segregate themselves naturally. it’s not a bad thing but i think it does breed ignorance on occasion.
There’s this great bit in the book “My Year of Meats” by Ruth Ozeki, where the protagonist (whose dad is American and whose mum is Oriental) gets harrassed about her heritage at some buffet line. This middle-aged asshole gets exasperated that he can’t pin down who she is and just blurts out: “WHAT are you?”
And she takes a deep breath and looks him in the eye and says: “I…am…a…FUCKING AMERICAN.”
The book is mostly geared toward vegetarianism, but I found that bit very touching.