Analysis on From Assimilation and Heterogeneity, Hybridity, Multiplicity: Asian American Differences

Shihir Kurup’s article “Assimilation” and Lisa Lowe’s “Heterogeneity, Hybridity, Multiplicity: Asian American Differences” describes the experiences of Asian immigrants upon moving to America and the notion and perception of the Asian identity. Within Shihir Kurup’s “Assimilation”, she addresses the stereotypes and misconceptions that Asian immigrants have with America and her experiences living and moving to America. A quote that intrigued me was the part when a young immigrant was being integrated into the American society and asks about where she receives her blue eyes. This notion intrigued me because it creates a common barrier and misconception of what America is and what it is supposed to look like. Many people claim that America is a melting pot of cultures and identities where the most successful groups of people within each race are represented (i.e. Jennifer Lopez, James Brown, Bruce Lee,...). However,  growing up from a low income family with other obstacles within my life have made me see the United States in a different light. Rather than a melting pot, it seems like an appropriation and filtration pot where America just wants to steal and edit other people’s culture for commercialized profits rather than looking at the people who have contributed to that culture and paying respect for them. An appropriate motto that explains such a mentality is “emulate or emigrate”. I must acknowledge that being a first- generation Chinese American, I have seen the struggles of both assimilating into America and maintaining the Asian Identity. Personally being shunned and rejected by both cultures have taught me to select and analyze aspects of cultures that I enjoy and parts that I can overlook. This also taught me to be less bias when it comes to selecting friends, as I select friends based on personality and common interests rather than looks and superficial standards. Even though people of different generations could have disagreements and disputes with each other in regards to ideas and perceptions of the world, I believe it would be most beneficial to analyze the aspects of the culture and decide on whether or not it can benefit your life.