[RANT] I’m not just Asian, I’m an ASIAN-AMERICAN.
[THERES NOONE LIKE ME. AND THERES NOONE LIKE YOU] **apologies for spelling & grammer problems**
I’ve been meaning to really write this post for a minute. I guess its more of a rant more then anything. I think a lot. Majority of the times I keep my opinions to myself and refrain from blogging about it or anything just because I know some people may take it the wrong way or what not.
So the inspiration came from last night when I was out at a bar w/ a friend visiting from Shanghai and she was fairly intoxicated and blurted out “You dress like an Asian gangster.” And she then continued to call me a cholo in a bar filled w/ hispanics. Lol. I wasn’t offended at all because shit like that doesn’t offend me, I’m comfortable with the way I dress and it takes more then that to offend me.
But it did spark up the idea of this post though. The stereotypes of the world. How an asian is suppose to dress like. How black people act. How we need to assimilate to certain things because of what people say. Society & media controls what the norm is, and honestly I say fuck that. Do you. Do what makes you happy.
Its kind of a perfect timing for this post too because of the rise of Jeremy Lin, who is a amazing chinese dude that is rising in the NBA right now. He’s breaking down stereotypes as that asian dude that can ball the fuck up. One week ago if any asian guy was like “I want to be a baller in the NBA”, people would have thought he was crazy. Its so much bigger then that too because its not just an ASIAN dude. Its an ASIAN AMERICAN DUDE.
It’s a big deal because us Asian Americans have it pretty hard growing up out here. Because in the States we’re looked at as ASIANS, not Americans. And you would think that when we fly out to our respected home countries we would be viewed as Asians. Nope. We’re Americans. So at the end of the day we’re homeless.
Sounds like an extreme comment haha but it is what it is. And because of that many of us do have identity crisises. We are “TOO ASIAN…” or we’re “TOO WHITE”…or we act “BLACK”. We worry about racial issues that shouldn’t matter. We feel like we have to go out of our way to do things to be “LESS ASIAN”
Segway into my next story is when I met this girl at Belasco who I had a pretty chill conversation with. She was pretty drunk but somehow the conversation came about that I should hang out w/ more white people. I told her that I wouldn’t go out of my way to do that but if it’d happen sure why not? But she got mad and called me a racist and told me she loved hanging out w/ white people and that it made her more cultural then me. (Little did she know I was actually dating a white girl at the time). She then ranted on about how she hated asian clubbing and usually at the mixxed clubs. (Which I really don’t think exist…what you’re talking about is a white club)
But thats the beauty of being an ASIAN-AMERICAN. We’re a country that is a melting pot of culture. Thats why I love being an Asian-American. I’m not just an asian dude from ching chong china. I’m not just some cowboy from America. I’m an ASIAN AMERICAN w/ roots that stem very far. THERE ISN”T JUST ONE MOLD of an ASIAN AMERICAN. we all were raised in different parts. LA > SF > NY > TX > SEA. (Watch the homie JOE from Just kidding film’s vlog about “Acting Black”) My favorite thing about when I get to travel around the world isn’t the sights & stuff. Thats all a bonus. Its the people I meet. Its finding out about who they are and why they’re different & similar to me. Everyone is special in their own way.
I grew up in the EAST SIDE OF LA. I am a SGVer. I’m from the 626. I grew up on Carne Asada Tacos & Tostadas. I love Dim Sum. I eat Pho when I’m hungover. I was raised on Tupac & Bone Thugs. I learned Cantonese from TVB Dramas, and Mandarin from the MONKEY KING on LA18. My button ups are buttoned all the way up. I sag my pants real low. I’m not Jeremy Lin, or Jackie Chan. My first birthday had a Pinata. I’m computer geek who loves to read. Psycho is one of my favorite all time movies. I enjoying riding the metro subway in LA. I LOVE DISNEYLAND. I bump my music way too loud. I love frank sinatra & otis redding. I love going to clubs that play ratchet hip hop. I love electronic music & going to raves. I do KUNG-FU tea w/ the homies. I light up trees. The 50’s in America is my favorite decade. My dad raised me on the LA LAKERS & LA RAIDERS. I wear Orisue & Publish cuz I support my homies. Jay Chou is still my favorite chinese singer and I don’t care what anyone says he was cool as fuck in GREEN LANTERN. I LOVE MUSIC & going to concerts. I love family.
Stop trying to be something/one that doesn’t make you comfortable, and just be yourself! Learn about your roots and your history and who you are.
I’m not just ASIAN, I’m not just AMERICAN. I’m an ASIAN-AMERICAN
THERES NOONE LIKE ME, AND THERES NOONE LIKE YOU.
