The Intersectionality of Black and Yellow Bodies: Why Ferguson SHOULD Matter to Asian Americans

Brina Sylve

ASA 2 - A02

April 4, 2015

Week 2

 

There is an intersectionality between Asian and African American experiences in America that clearly goes un-talked about. So much so that I was more shocked and awed by fellow classmates in their responses to Soya Jung's article "Why Ferguson Matters to Asian Americans" then I was by the event and article itself, therefore I would like to address some of the arguments made by fellow classmates in correlation with my response to Jung's article.

 

First of all, for those who may not know what intersectionality means, it describes the study of systems of intersection of oppression, domination or discrimination and the interactions which constantly reinforce each other. So when I claim that there is intersectionality between Black and Yellow bodies, I am describing the experiences of oppression and discrimination that Black and Asian peoples have faced in the United States on account of their race. Although there are different presumptions made about their race, it is the fact that there are presumptions attached to the races at all is the case.

 

This intersectionality is something that Jung tries to argue that must be recognized in the article. But the possibilities of solidarity amongst Asian Americans with Ferguson are threatened by the pervasiveness of Model Minority dogma. The dogma of the Model Minority theory is described as a way to pit Asian Americans against other minority groups, to make it so that Asian Americans believe that they are not a threat to the hegemonic society and blend into mainstream culture. Thus in order to not become a threat to the hegemonic society there has to be some sort of acceptance of anti-blackness amongst the masses, which is supported by Jung when she argues that "Japanese and Chinese American organizations and leaders were active in creating the model minority myth, and they embraced anti-blackness."

 

Therefore because the nation is "moving toward two societies, one black, one white - separate and unequal" Asian Americans are thrown into this "chasm between blackness and whiteness." And in this chasm there is invisibility, rewards of non-blackness, and complicity.

 

So when my fellow classmates claim that Ferguson doesn't mean anything to them, or that race issues are only an issue between whites and blacks so Asian Americans simply have nothing to do with this issue... they are throwing themselves into the chasm. They also fail to realize that Asian American history itself, like African American experience, is inherently political. What do I mean by 'inherently political'? I mean that for centuries Asian Americans have constantly had to defend their existence and position in United States society in their struggle against inequality and discrimination. And those who fail to see how Ferguson affects Asian Americans have so embraced anti-blackness promoted by the Model Minority that they even fail to see how Asian American history is scarred with oppression and inequality but was met with RESISTANCE.

 

This same resistance must be met with the racially charged oppression that is Ferguson. There is an intersection of a desire for an end to state endorsed violence and discrimination between the Black and Asian American community, but when one falls into the chasm, this desire cannot be achieved -- making your own history or even your own death invisible.

 

 

 

Why shouldn't Ferguson matter to Asian Americans?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Impact of Ferguson

Week 2

Qimin Li

Section 2

                Personally, I was not particularly shocked by the outrage during the Ferguson incident. Crimes driven by race have existed within our nation for hundreds of years. Many cases, much like the one in the article Why Ferguson Matters to Asian American, I believe, can be justified up to a certain extent.  However, the fact still remains that we don’t have the necessary clues to pass judgement on those involved, and yet we do so anyways. The media is a tool that’s been used to further drive a rift between the Caucasian and African American community. When a Caucasian police officer kills a black minority during an arrest, the media immediately adds more fuel to the fire. This causes a rise in “protesting” when in reality, it’s a disguise in order to wreak havoc on businesses that hurt more people. Does this happen with Asian Americans? Most definitely, but the media wants to report eye-catching news that would create social buzz, and, unfortunately, Asian Americans don’t make the cut.

Question: As a nation, how can we prevent further crimes against police officers and minorities while also striving for peace?

The 'Four Prisons' and The Movement of Liberation

Jessica Wong
Section 2
Week 1

The article "The 'Four Prisons' And The Movements Of Liberation" by Glenn Omatsu focused on the driving forces of various movements that impacted history for Asian Americans.  Prior to reading this piece, I was not aware that living in this society meant essentially living in a prison created by--geography, history, society, and self.  Society has taught us to live a way in which we are to be obedient and not to question authority figures. I do have to admit that I have been living in this way and have been traveling on the "conveyer belt".  For countless years, minorities, especially Asian Americans, went along with the flow even if they did not have the same ideals. Asian Americans finally decided to take a stand in 1968 and won the nation's first School of Ethnic Studies, which freed them from the shackles. Through this, they achieved freedom and expressed the strength of Asian Americans as a group and their ability to challenge moral values. This began an age of the Cultural Revolution in which activists challenged class structure, bureaucracy, and other times of inequalities.  Looking back at history shows us that with a common goal, a group can achieve success.  My question is, what would happen if all groups decided that they wanted to challenge authority?

Asian Americans and Panethnicity

Ryan Ke

Section 1

Week 1

            The article “Asian Pacific Americans’ Social Movements and Interest Groups,” talks about how the increasing Asian American population has been fighting injustices throughout the last couple of centuries. The section about panethnicity was the most interesting and engaging to me. While the article acknowledges the immense variety in the religions, languages, and political ideology of differing Asian American groups, it also highlights the similarity in their struggle for rights. This is especially enlightening for me because in the past I believed the label of Asian American to be an exclusively political term. I saw how different the Asian American experience was between different Asian American groups and thought it was ridiculous that all these groups were lumped together as one. After reading this article, I am beginning to see how panethnicity may be valuable when fighting for a common good. While not fully convinced, I feel the need to become more informed about Asian Americans and panethnicity. 

The fact that guides like this (though perhaps more of a joke) exist show how often the culture and people of different Asian American groups are seen as a single group. This leads me to ask, what are the advantages and disadvantages of the existence of the label, "Asian Americans?"

Nothing is More Important than Thinking Dialectically – Grace Lee Boggs

Herman Sok
Section 001
Week 1

In the piece “Nothing is more important than thinking dialectically”, Grace Lee Boggs proposes changes in the education system in order to fix a greater, global issue of oppression. I agree with this solution in that the current education does require change because I feel as if social issues are not being properly introduced or taught in schools. Personally, prior to taking ASA in UC Davis, I was never taught of the struggles and oppressions that Asian Americans faced in the past. My curriculum prior to college completely excluded Asian American studies. The contributions of Asian Americans in the development of the United States are significant, yet history textbooks in schools seem to completely ignore Asian American presence. If other students followed a curriculum similar to mine but did not attend an ASA course, then, eventually, the lives and history of Asian American struggles will be erased.  Boggs is correct and the current school systems need to adapt a more “community-based, socially responsible education”. Members of communities need to be able to relate and understand one another. Thus, education is a decent place to start.

Why aren’t more social issues and Asian American studies included in the current education system?

The 'Four Prisons' and The Movement of Liberation

Tiffany Li
Section 001
Week 1


What stood out the most for me in The ‘Four Prisons’ and The Movement of Liberation is how Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. had a huge impact on Asian Americans. He “inspired them to demand access to policymakers and initiate advocacy programs for their own communities.” This makes me feel that if people really wanted something, then they have to really work for it. They cannot always complain about it to someone and not actually work for it. Although this is a different example, it reminded me of students trying to become a school president. They have to give a speech of how they want to improve their school. These students had self- determination because they thought the school needed a change from their current curriculum. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s influence also reminded me of how in the past, women barely had any rights, but they fought for their rights and received them eventually. This article made me feel that everyone deserves to have equal rights. One ethnicity does not create a community, but diversity does.


If none of the historic models influenced the community in the past, how would the current community fight for their civil rights? Or how would the current community look like?

Social Movements of Asian Americans

Week 1

Qimin Li

Section 2

                In the article, Asian Pacific Americans’ Social Movements and Interest Groups, it made me reflect on the struggles many Asian Americans had to face coming into the U.S., hoping to achieve the American dream. For instance, many immigrants from Asia come to the U.S. with nothing but their hopes and aspirations, very much like my parents. They work low wage jobs because of the discrimination in the work force. One of the first acts of discrimination occurred during the California Gold Rush, which resulted in the Chinese Exclusion Act. These constraints placed over the minority have a huge effect on their rights, resulting in many of the social movements described in the reading. As Martin Luther King said, “There is power in unity and there is power in numbers.” A lot of minorities are able to create strong bonds because they are united by their experiences and dreams. My parents came to California and were able to create relations with other Asian Americans. They have helped one another through thick and thin and are close friends to this day.

Question: What struggles do Asian Americans endure now as compared to the past? Are there any similarities or differences?