Yvonne Chen, ASA 002 A01, week 5

After reading "The Cost of Speaking" by W.P., I can feel the depressed atmosphere through his sentences. His loneliness is everywhere according to the unfair treatment of Asian Americans in the academic world. It's clear that those depressing things influence his sleeping, breathing, and daily life requirements. The author emphasizes that silence can result in something that seems peaceful and well such as higher income and successful graduation. However, it's suffering inside your mind and heart. W.P.'s personal experience can be the most solid evidence for discrimination and unfair treatment. He is not "good enough" forever compared with other whites. And it's even impossible for him to fight for his right and equal treatment because Asian Americans are minorities. However, it's undeniable that he feels better than do nothing and accept that he is "not good enough". His action lets more people know that there is a group of people need help and need to be treated more equally in the academic world. In my experience, it's definitely not fair during the process of the college application. It's clear to every foreigner, especially Asians that we are not going to have equal opportunities compared with Americans. Under same circumstances, we, Asians will be rejected and leave space for Americans. I have a question that is it better now compared with the past for Asian Americans in the academic world? Events mentioned by W.P. were so bad and it's hard for me to imagine it still happens today.

Reference:
1. Valverde, Kieu-Linh Caroline, and Wei Ming Dariotis. Fight the Tower: Asian American Women Scholars Resistance and Renewal in the Academy. Rutgers University Press, 2020.