Yellow Journalist: Dispatches from Asian America (Mapping Racisms)

Who are Asian Americans? Are they the remnants of the "yellow peril" portrayed in the media through stories on Asian street gangs, unscrupulous political fundraisers, and crafty nuclear spies? Or are they the "model minority" that the media present as consistently outranking European Americans in math scores and violin performances? In this funny, sobering, and always enlightening collection, journalist William Wong comments on these and other anomalies of the Asian American experience. From its opening tribute to the Oakland Chinatown of Wong's childhood to its closing tribute to Tiger Woods, Yellow Journalist portrays the many-sided legacies of exclusion and discrimination. The stories, columns, essays, and commentaries in this collection tackle such persistent problems as media racism, criminality, inter-ethnic tensions, and political marginalization. As a group, they make a strong case for the centrality of the Asian American historical experiences in U.S. race relations. The essays cover many subjects, from the personal to policy, from the serious to the silly. You will learn a little Asian American history and a lot about the nuances and complexities of the contemporary Asian American experience. If there is an overriding theme of these stories and essays, it is the multi-faceted adaptation of ethnic Asians to the common American culture, the intriguing roles that they play in our society, and the quality of their achievements to contribute to a better society. Bill Wong's high school journalism teacher took him aside during his senior year and told him he would have to be "twice as good" to succeed at his chosen profession. Succeed he did, and "twice as good" he is. As Darrell Hamamoto remarks in his Foreword, "'Chinaman,' Chinese American, Asian American; any way you slice it, Bill Wong is one straight-up righteous Yellow Man." 'For three decades, William Wong has been America's most energetic and entertaining chronicler of the Asian diaspora and its effects on politics, culture, business, sports, dress, diet, and language. Like other great humorists, he exposes the painful absurdities that plague each new wave of immigrant families as they enrich the national character, from Wong's own adventurous parents to Tiger Woods. Some of these pieces offer surprising insights on geopolitics and others explore the legal and social consequences of racial discrimination, but my favorites are the playful essays, including the classic'So That's Why I Can't Lose Weight.''--Jay Mathews, Washington Post reporter and columnist, and author of Class Struggle Who are Asian Americans? Are they the remnants of the'yellow peril'portrayed in the media through stories on Asian street gangs, unscrupulous political fundraisers, and crafty nuclear spies? Or are they the'model minority'that the media present as consistently outranking European Americans in math scores and violin performances? In this funny, sobering, and always enlightening collection, journalist William Wong comments on these and other anomalies of the Asian American experience. From its opening tribute to the Oakland Chinatown of Wong's childhood to its closing tribute to Tiger Woods, Yellow Journalist portrays the many-sided legacies of exclusion and discrimination. The stories, columns, essays, and commentaries in this collection tackle such persistent problems as media racism, criminality, inter-ethnic tensions, and political marginalization. As a group, they make a strong case for the centrality of the Asian American historical experiences in U.S. race relations. The essays cover many subjects, from the personal to policy, from the serious to the silly. You will learn a little Asian American history and a lot about the nuances and complexities of the contemporary Asian American experience. If there is an overriding theme of these stories and essays, it is the multi-faceted adaptation of ethnic Asians to the common American culture, the intriguing roles that they play in our society, and the quality of their achievements to contribute to a better society. Bill Wong's high school journalism teacher took him aside during his senior year and told him he would have to be'twice as good'to succeed at his chosen profession. Succeed he did, and'twice as good'he is. As Darrell Hamamoto remarks in his Foreword,''Chinaman,'Chinese American, Asian American; any way you slice it, Bill Wong is one straight-up righteous Yellow Man.''One of the advantages of having a writer of Bill Wong's talent around is that we don't have to depend upon intermediaries and go-betweens to give us insights about issues affecting Asian-Americans. He is often entertaining, and ironic, but underneath it all is a serious mind devoted to shattering myths about one of our fastest growing minorities.'--Ishmael Reed, author of The Reed Reader'It is about time that America meet William Wong--an icon in journalism whose experience as a second generation Chinese-American has given him a unique lens through which life in America can be examined. For almost two decades, his columns in the Oakland Tribune and other San Francisco bay area newspapers have captured a different kind of reality about some of our most important social, cultural, and political moments. Wong's readiness to share his family, his community, and his conscience allows readers to cross a bridge into the world of Asian America. Whether it is an analysis of the 1996 campaign finance scandals or a perspective on how parent pressures and bi-cultural conflicts can play out in a young Asian American teen's life, Wong's skillful weaving of humor, irony, and poignant portrayals of the circumstances make each story linger long past the final sentence of his essay.'--Angela E. Oh, Lecturer/Former Advisory Board Member, President's In Contents......Page 8 Series Foreword, by Darrell Y. Hamamoto......Page 12 Acknowledgments......Page 16 Introduction......Page 18 American Dream, Chinatown Branch......Page 27 A “Manong” with Magical Hands......Page 41 Finding Sacred Ground......Page 47 Traditions: Old and New......Page 62 “Rock On, Mr. President”......Page 65 Conquering Frontiers and Barriers......Page 67 Wong Is an American Name......Page 69 The “Forgotten Holocaust”......Page 72 Healing Wounds, or Opening Them?......Page 74 The Price of Memories......Page 78 Still Searching for Gold Mountain......Page 81 Second-Class Citizenship......Page 84 Downsize Your SUV......Page 86 Se Habla English......Page 87 A State of Mind......Page 90 So That’s Why I Can’t Lose Weight......Page 94 Yellow Chic......Page 95 A Tumultuous World in Transition......Page 97 “We Lost a Country”......Page 99 Who’s a Bonehead Now?......Page 102 Paradise Lost......Page 105 Minnesota Chow Mein......Page 109 Best Friend or Best Meal?......Page 112 Violating the Crustacean Creed......Page 113 Parenting, Chinese Style......Page 115 The American Nightmare......Page 118 “The Boat People Own Everything”......Page 124 Learning from the Vincent Chin Case......Page 127 Escaping Racism: No Way Out......Page 130 The Golden State of Bigotry......Page 134 Swastikas in the Sunset......Page 137 Un-American Christians......Page 139 I Am a Gook......Page 141 Picking on the Most Vulnerable......Page 143 New Global Capitalists......Page 146 An Obnoxious Status Quest......Page 149 The Rich Can Be Nice Too......Page 151 Exploiting Our Own......Page 153 Between a Rock and a Hard Place......Page 155 Calling for Magician Administrators......Page 160 The Selfish Versus the Altruists......Page 162 When Values Collide......Page 164 The “Hottest” Dating Trend......Page 167 Special Assets......Page 171 Hiding Behind a Cultural Defense......Page 173 The Hero of Asian Men......Page 176 Just Who Is the Victim Here?......Page 181 Playing Together......Page 185 Plenty of Blame to Go Around......Page 187 Middleman Myopia......Page 189 Yellow Pride Versus Multiculturalism......Page 193 Beyond Black and White......Page 197 Right Man, Wrong Time......Page 200 Race and Ideology: Bumping into Each Other......Page 203 An Asian American “Mr. Fixit”......Page 206 Riding a Yellow Wave......Page 211 A Common Human Affliction......Page 215 A Question of Loyalty......Page 217 Trolling for the Big Fish......Page 219 Scientific Scapegoat......Page 221 “It Makes You Feel Special”......Page 223 The Model Minority Criminal......Page 225 Born to Kill......Page 230 Boyish Appeal......Page 232 Colorblind Casting......Page 236 Forbidden in More Ways Than One......Page 240 The Connie Chung Syndrome......Page 243 Kowtowing to the Queen......Page 245 Disposable Commodities......Page 250 Mercenaries......Page 255 The Politics of a Bond Film......Page 259 Money Talks......Page 260 The News Media: Only Getting Part of It......Page 262 Everybody’s Child......Page 268 Publication Credits......Page 270 Index......Page 276 Contents 8 Series Foreword, by Darrell Y. Hamamoto 12 Acknowledgments 16 Introduction 18 1. Hometown: In the Shadow of San Francisco 27 American Dream, Chinatown Branch 27 A “Manong” with Magical Hands 41 2. Family: From Agrarianism to Cyberspace 47 Finding Sacred Ground 47 Traditions: Old and New 62 “Rock On, Mr. President” 65 3. History: From Exclusion to Confusion 67 Conquering Frontiers and Barriers 67 Wong Is an American Name 69 The “Forgotten Holocaust” 72 Healing Wounds, or Opening Them? 74 The Price of Memories 78 4. Immigration: Huddled Masses 81 Still Searching for Gold Mountain 81 Second-Class Citizenship 84 Downsize Your SUV 86 Se Habla English 87 5. Identity and Acculturation: Visibly Invisible 90 A State of Mind 90 So That’s Why I Can’t Lose Weight 94 Yellow Chic 95 A Tumultuous World in Transition 97 “We Lost a Country” 99 Who’s a Bonehead Now? 102 Paradise Lost 105 Minnesota Chow Mein 109 Best Friend or Best Meal? 112 Violating the Crustacean Creed 113 Parenting, Chinese Style 115 The American Nightmare 118 6. Anti-Asian Racism: Forever Foreigners 124 “The Boat People Own Everything” 124 Learning from the Vincent Chin Case 127 Escaping Racism: No Way Out 130 The Golden State of Bigotry 134 Swastikas in the Sunset 137 Un-American Christians 139 I Am a Gook 141 7. Class: Yin and Yang 143 Picking on the Most Vulnerable 143 New Global Capitalists 146 An Obnoxious Status Quest 149 The Rich Can Be Nice Too 151 Exploiting Our Own 153 8. Affirmative Action: The Myth of Meritocracy 155 Between a Rock and a Hard Place 155 Calling for Magician Administrators 160 The Selfish Versus the Altruists 162 When Values Collide 164 9. Gender: He Said, She Said 167 The “Hottest” Dating Trend 167 Special Assets 171 Hiding Behind a Cultural Defense 173 The Hero of Asian Men 176 10. Race Relations: Why Can’t We All Get Along? 181 Just Who Is the Victim Here? 181 Playing Together 185 Plenty of Blame to Go Around 187 Middleman Myopia 189 Yellow Pride Versus Multiculturalism 193 Beyond Black and White 197 11. Politics: A Seat at the Table 200 Right Man, Wrong Time 200 Race and Ideology: Bumping into Each Other 203 An Asian American “Mr. Fixit” 206 Riding a Yellow Wave 211 A Common Human Affliction 215 A Question of Loyalty 217 Trolling for the Big Fish 219 Scientific Scapegoat 221 12. Crime: Bang, Bang, You’re Dead 223 “It Makes You Feel Special” 223 The Model Minority Criminal 225 Born to Kill 230 Boyish Appeal 232 13. Stars: I AM Somebody 236 Colorblind Casting 236 Forbidden in More Ways Than One 240 The Connie Chung Syndrome 243 Kowtowing to the Queen 245 Disposable Commodities 250 Mercenaries 255 The Politics of a Bond Film 259 Money Talks 260 The News Media: Only Getting Part of It 262 Everybody’s Child 268 Publication Credits 270 Index 276 9781566398299 Series Foreword / Darrell Y. Hamamoto -- 1. Hometown: In The Shadow Of San Francisco -- American Dream, Chinatown Branch -- A Manong With Magical Hands -- 2. Family: From Agrarianism To Cyberspace -- Finding Sacred Ground -- Traditions: Old And New -- Rock On, Mr. President -- 3. History: From Exclusion To Confusion -- Conquering Frontiers And Barriers -- Wong Is An American Name -- The Forgotten Holocaust -- Healing Wounds, Or Opening Them? -- The Price Of Memories -- 4. Immigration: Huddled Masses -- Still Searching For Gold Mountain -- Second-class Citizenship -- Downsize Your Suv -- Se Habla English -- 5. Identity And Acculturation: Visibly Invisible -- A State Of Mind -- So That's Why I Can't Lose Weight -- Yellow Chic -- A Tumultuous World In Transition -- We Lost A Country -- Who's A Bonehead Now? -- Paradise Lost -- Minnesota Chow Mein -- Best Friend Or Best Meal? -- Violating The Crustacean Creed -- Parenting, Chinese Style -- The American Nightmare --^ 6. Anti-asian Racism: Forever Foreigners -- The Boat People Own Everything -- Learning From The Vincent Chin Case -- Escaping Racism: No Way Out -- The Golden State Of Bigotry -- Swastikas In The Sunset -- Un-american Christians -- I Am A Gook -- 7. Class: Yin And Yang -- Picking On The Most Vulnerable -- New Global Capitalists -- An Obnoxious Status Quest -- The Rich Can Be Nice Too -- Exploiting Our Own -- 8. Affirmative Action: The Myth Of Meritocracy -- Between A Rock And A Hard Place -- Calling For Magician Administrators -- The Selfish Versus The Altruists -- When Value Collide -- 9. Gender: He Said, She Said -- The Hottest Dating Trend -- Special Assets -- Hiding Behind A Cultural Defense -- The Hero Of Asian Men -- 10. Race Relations: Why Can't We All Get Along? -- Just Who Is The Victim Here? -- Playing Together -- Plenty Of Blame To Go Around -- Middleman Myopia -- Yellow Pride Versus Multiculturalism -- Beyond Black And White -- 11. Politics: A Seat At The Table --^ Right Man, Wrong Time -- Race And Ideology: Bumping Into Each Other -- An Asian American Mr. Fixit -- Riding A Yellow Wave -- A Common Human Affliction -- A Question Of Loyalty -- Trolling For The Big Fish -- Scientific Scapegoat -- 12. Crime: Bang, Bang, You're Dead -- It Makes You Feel Special -- The Model Minority Criminal -- Born To Kill -- Boyish Appeal -- 13. Stars: I Am Somebody -- Colorblind Casting -- Forbidden In More Ways Than One -- The Connie Chung Syndrome -- Kowtowing To The Queen -- Disposable Commodities -- Mercenaries -- The Politics Of A Bond Film -- Money Talks -- The News Media: Only Getting Part Of It -- Everybody's Child. William Wong. Includes Index. Portrays the many-sided legacies of exclusion and discrimination. The stories, columns, essays, and commentaries in this title tackle such problems as media racism, criminality, inter-ethnic tensions, and political marginalization. As a group, they make a case for the centrality of the Asian American historical experiences in US race relations.