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Hyphenated Other
From: QP Subject: [VWF] bio, VN visits, racial classification Date: Tue, 8 May 2001 22:01:18 +0800
KL, you have effectively bullied me into making a formal introduction in this forum.
Hi, Ladies. I am the director of a virtual gallery that showcases contemporary Vietnamese art. Check out the site at www.galeriequynh.com/gq/index.htm if you want to learn more about the art.
I have been living in Ho Chi Minh City for about 3 years. I was born in Danang, fled Vietnam just before the fall of Saigon and grew up in San Diego. I came back with my husband in November 1997 for the first time as I was curious about both my homeland and the contemporary art scene (I studied art history in college and could find hardly any information on contemporary Vietnamese art).
I didn't know a soul in Saigon when I first arrived. I started teaching English to earn some cash and to make some contacts. Six months later I began writing and doing PR for an art gallery here. I then found myself freelancing as an arts writer for several English-language publications in Vietnam and abroad. I still do the occasional review/article but I'm focusing now on making real money from what I love. I'm currently looking for a permanent gallery space in Saigon.
With regard to the many visits to Vietnam planned this year, I'd be happy to meet with members to talk, eat amazing Vietnamese food, drink a glass of Californian wine (hint to those coming from Cali), chill to some hip hop, trip hop, acid jazz, whatever. My home/office number is XXX XXXX; my mobile is XXX XXX XXX.
On a completely different topic...
There have been several postings recently regarding anti-Asian sentiment resulting from the China plane incident. This has made me think about the whole system of racial classification in the States.
My husband, who is British, has often commented on how odd it is that non-white Americans are distinguished by having their ethnicity hyphenated (e.g. Vietnamese-American). When I was in England, everyone considered me 100% American, which seemed strange to me when all my life I thought of myself not as American, but Vietnamese-American. But if I differentiate myself, how can I expect others not to?
I honestly think that this distinction propagates racism between ethnic groups and "Americans" who, by default, are white. Terms like Asian-American and African-American are especially problematic as they talk only about skin color (which shouldn't be important), not a person's culture. For example, the Japanese are much more different from the Malaysians than the English are from the French. In the case of African-Americans, it's even more ridiculous considering that, unlike Vietnamese-Americans, Japanese-Americans, etc., most don't even know what country their ancestors came from.
Considering that everybody in America is an X generation immigrant, why are only people of color singled out? We will never be integrated if we are seen as not being American. Let's take for example the Chinese. They have been in America for hundreds of years yet they are still seen as having just stepped off the boat.
I'm not saying that we should eschew our culture by defining ourselves as American because in reality, America's culture is defined by us, its citizens.
Regards, Quynh
P.S. Before I change my bio on my gallery site to "American" versus "Vietnamese-American," can anyone give me a good argument why I shouldn't? .................................. QP
From: QP Date: Tue, 8 May 2001 22:10:20 +0800
To all the non-American women in this forum, my apologies for that last sentence. I did not mean to alienate you by assuming that everyone in this group is American.
-Q
From: CTN Subject: Re: [VWF] racial classification Date: Tue, 8 May 2001 09:25:41 -0700 (PDT)
i've lived here for 26 years -- most would probably consider me more American than Vietnamese -- but I consider myself 100% Vietnamese. because i am. i do not classify myself as Vietnamese-American. and I don't see any need to. i was born Vietnamese, i am Vietnamese, and i will be Vietnamese until the day I die.
PT
on another note -- i think it's silly-ass to hyphenate yourself in anyway. people are just plain unrealistic when they think that by saying african-american, japanese-american, chinese-american, mexican-american, vietnamese-american... that it makes any difference.
no matter what-american you may be, when people see you -- what they see is that you're black. or you're asian. or you're whatever -- what they see is that you're not white. and you will never be white. and no matter how many years or how many generations you've lived here, you will still never truly be "american". do you hear of anyone calling themselves irish-american? french-american? german-american? they don't have to. that distinction has been accorded to us "non-caucasians". come on! think about it -- "native" americans??????
From: KL Subject: [VWF] hyphenated OTHER Date: Tue, 8 May 2001 13:39:12 -0700 (PDT)
Dear Q,
Welcome welcome! Now y’all make me want to move back to Viet Nam. I’m just relieved you offered to host us ladies instead of me “volunteering” you all the time. ;-)
As for the hyphenated issue—I tend to side with chi Xuan Sutter. I don’t believe it’s a matter of choice to be anything but the “other” for people of color (POC) in the States. If you are a second generation Italian, you can ostensibly choose to be “American” (i.e. white, Euro-American). However, if you are a fifth generation Chinese, you are seen as a plane stealin’, communism lovin’, slant-eyed alien.
So, Q, you can decide to use “American” to describe your cultural and personal character, but within the context of the United States, you are seen as Chinese (or Filipino…)—not even Vietnamese. “Americans” are not even sophisticated enough to differentiate between the ethnicities (think Frank Chin).
Furthermore, I am certain a few members in this forum have attempted to be “American.” You happily go eatin’ you peanut butter sandwiches, watching your “Happy Days” (or “Friends” depending on your age) and dating the white boys. Then boom, one day someone asks you why your English is so good or why you don’t know how to use chopsticks? Reality check! You have to deal with how the outside world perceives you.
Maybe the answer is in some country far away—maybe “que huong,” huh? My experience with Viet Kieu going back to Viet Nam shows that they are as motivated by the pull of interesting jobs and finding their roots as much as the push factors such as racism in the States and parents and schools not teaching them about the Vietnamese history and culture.
Still, I understand the thinking of expats and those out of the US. You identifying yourself as “American” can make perfect sense. Just be prepared to explain yourself to closed-minded folks. I remember answering the “what are you question” when I was in Ha Noi in 1993. I didn’t even bother answering “Vietnamese” due to my “lai” phenotype. But, when I answered, “American” I was told I was too “nho con” to be American (aka white).
Let’s face it, even in our language, “nguoi My” means white American. If we cannot get it through our heads the concept of entitlement, how can we expect others to give a flying poop about our self-identification.
Just my thoughts.
KL (the bully)
From: XNS Subject: Re: [VWF] hyphenated OTHER Date: Wed, 9 May 2001 09:31:41 -0400
KL;
I wished I had come up with such complicated reply on the Hyphenated issue.
Now I have to put in my 2 cents: who cares how the world perceives you. It is how you see yourself. Everybody no matter what race, background, etc...has lenses on his/her eyes and mind and there will never be an uniform identity. So why bother? Put your energy in developing your own identity and live your life to the best you can. The only person you have to answer to is the one looking at you in the mirror first thing in the morning and last thing before you go to bed at night.
x
From: JCL Subject: Re: [VWF] hyphenated OTHER Date: Wed, 09 May 2001 18:19:54 EDT
chi XS,
I agree with you totally. The important thing is how you perceive yourself and feel good about it.
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