"In his critically acclaimed graphic novel, American Born Chinese, Gene Yang shares his struggle to reconcile his Chinese heritage with his American homeland. This comedic, touching and deeply personal book shows that, as a community of diverse individuals, America offers everyone the opportunity to create a culture of their own."(youtube)
“Everyone
comes from some sort of culture heritage and has something to share. Comics are
really individualistic… as a creator, you can tell real intimate stories…express
who you are and choices you’ve made. What I have really appreciated about
America is that allows me to make my own choices… what pieces of you you can
change and what pieces of you you can’t…I really appreciated that the
opportunity America gives me…both struggling with the culture of my parents and
establishing a culture of my own.”(Gene Yang)
Gene Yang, who has successfully combined his own special identity with his comic skill, created a bestseller comic book in US’s market. Unlike other American traditional superhero bestseller comic books, American Born Chinese tends to observe the world from a young Asian man’s angle of view, discovering and showing the differences between “global migrants/diasporas”(Sang Y. Bai, P385) and the “mainstream group”(Sang Y. Bai)
As it turns out, “Asian Americans have been considered one of the fastest growing groups of all major racial/ethnic groups in the United States due mainly to the great influx of immigrants”(Sang Y. Bai). This group, although growing bigger, still being considered as a minority in United States. On one hand they are struggling with their own culture identities and on the other they are trying hard to get involve into the majority/white/American group and expecting to get approved by the majority. The “Asian Paradox”(Sang Y. Bai, P391) renders them more difficulty to live like normal.
“Being the norm allows Whites to ignore race, except when they perceive race (usually someone else’s) as intruding on their lives” (Sang Y. Bai, P390) Thus, being “someone else”/ “the visible”/ “the minority”, they are more vulnerable and sensitive.
However, as Yang said, America has its magic as well, rendering everyone chances to build their own identities. There are more choices, more possibilities and more opportunities for the minority. Therefore, Instead of self-pitying and acting like victims, the minority can take active actions to compete with the majority since before races and ethnicities, we are humans and we will respect who are really capable.
Gene Yang, who has successfully combined his own special identity with his comic skill, created a bestseller comic book in US’s market. Unlike other American traditional superhero bestseller comic books, American Born Chinese tends to observe the world from a young Asian man’s angle of view, discovering and showing the differences between “global migrants/diasporas”(Sang Y. Bai, P385) and the “mainstream group”(Sang Y. Bai)
As it turns out, “Asian Americans have been considered one of the fastest growing groups of all major racial/ethnic groups in the United States due mainly to the great influx of immigrants”(Sang Y. Bai). This group, although growing bigger, still being considered as a minority in United States. On one hand they are struggling with their own culture identities and on the other they are trying hard to get involve into the majority/white/American group and expecting to get approved by the majority. The “Asian Paradox”(Sang Y. Bai, P391) renders them more difficulty to live like normal.
“Being the norm allows Whites to ignore race, except when they perceive race (usually someone else’s) as intruding on their lives” (Sang Y. Bai, P390) Thus, being “someone else”/ “the visible”/ “the minority”, they are more vulnerable and sensitive.
However, as Yang said, America has its magic as well, rendering everyone chances to build their own identities. There are more choices, more possibilities and more opportunities for the minority. Therefore, Instead of self-pitying and acting like victims, the minority can take active actions to compete with the majority since before races and ethnicities, we are humans and we will respect who are really capable.
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