The Accidental Asian: Notes of a Native SpeakerBeyond black and white, native and alien, lies a vast and fertile field of human experience. It is here that Eric Liu, former speechwriter for President Clinton and noted political commentator, invites us to explore. In these compellingly candid essays, Liu reflects on his life as a second-generation Chinese American and reveals the shifting frames of ethnic identity. Finding himself unable to read a Chinese memorial book about his father's life, he looks critically at the cost of his own assimilation. But he casts an equally questioning eye on the effort to sustain vast racial categories like “Asian American.” And as he surveys the rising anxiety about China's influence, Liu illuminates the space that Asians have always occupied in the American imagination. Reminiscent of the work of James Baldwin and its unwavering honesty, The Accidental Asian introduces a powerful and elegant voice into the discussion of what it means to be an American. |
Contents
Song for My Father | 3 |
Notes of a Native Speaker | 33 |
The Chinatown Idea | 85 |
Copyright | |
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Accidental Asian Amer Asian Ameri Asian American activists Asian American identity assimilation Baba Baba's became become began called Carroll century child China Chinatown Chinese American color Cordell course culture David Hollinger difference Dim Sum dreams East English Eric Liu ethnic eyes face father feel Frank Wu friends girls hair heritage Hispanic ican imagine immigrants Japanese Americans Jewish Jews John Woo kids knew Korean learned Li Tai Liu's live look matters means memory mother multiracials named nation nese never once Overseas Chinese pan-Asian parents perhaps Peter Kwong Po-Po politics race racial realize remember restaurant rumors seems sense Shawn Wong simply smile social sometimes speak stereotype stir-fried stories student sure Taiwan talk tell things thought tion took trip voice walked wonder words Yale yangren yellow