Urging for Change isn't an one-man game

Jiajun Li

Section A02

Reading Reflection #8

In response to: Creating Identity, Defining Culture, and Making History from an Art Exhibit: 'Unfinished Story: A Tribute to My Mothers'

                 One interesting thing I found was the similarities between Huynh and Prof Valverde herself. Despite and subject areas they differ from, Valverde and Huynh were both somehow isolated and "biased" by the authority or the majority of her own ethnic group, respectively. The common sense of isolation gave me a feeling of Prof Valverde was implicitly defending for herself and her tenure campaign on behalf of arguing for Huynh's struggle in art.

                However, whether a ten-year struggle or a full-scale Asian American Rights Movement should not be a one-man or two-men game. Jackie Chan had an impressive quote when he was interviewed by a Chinese magazine, "instead of going to Chinese Theatre (in LA) and Walk of Fame, why don't we set up our own (Chinese) Hollywood, our own Walk of Fame?" Same story could be referred on Vietnamese American communities as well. Instead of urging for social sympathy or political change through writing, a more powerful alternative way to achieve (or at least, approach) our goal is to take into action.

               

Questions: Vietnamese American community isn't the only community that urges for change. In fact, all pan-Asian communities need to step out to urge for change. The previous successful example of African American movement provided excellent reference for Asian American social movement, but what hinders Asian Americans to take into action?