The term “Asian” was originally used to define and label everyone that was not white, and by definition, the term generalizes people of vastly different backgrounds, histories, languages, and religions all into one incorrect misappropriately defined category. The term Asian itself is referred to as a race, yet a race is associated with biology. If people are of the same race, the may share the same ancestry or have similar physical characteristics, whereas the term ethnicity is used to refer to the culture one associates itself with. In either situation, the use of the term Asian to define one’s race implies that the entire scope of people, who by law, are identified as Asian, all share the same ancestry and physical features, when that is
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The 1st generation, in terms of immigrants, refers to two types of people: a person who was born in and is a citizen of one country, but whose parents are born in another country, and a foreign-born who has immigrated to a new country. Then there is the 1.5 generation composed of people who immigrated to a new country before or during their early teen years. Now, the term Asian-American, by definition, are just Americans of Asian descent. First generation and 1.5 generation Asian-Americans are viewed as perpetual foreigner regardless of their native-born or citizenship status. The attachment of the term “Asian” in front of the term “American” signifies that there is something about that person, from the eyes of the “true citizens” of the United States, that tells them that they do not belong there, a sentiment that is only bolstered and reconfirmed when people see that Asians have different colored skin and hair and different facial features. They are invaders in the land that supposedly belongs to them, hence they are not and cannot be just “American,” but they are Asian-American. They are the other. Similarly, from the viewpoint of the people who have remained in their countries and have not immigrated or been exposed to the daily life of a U.S citizen, the term Asian-American is a reminder that members of the 1st generation, particularly those were born in the U.S and those of the 1.5 generation, are also truly not one of them. When interacting with people of the country they have descended or immigrated from, they may be viewed as “outsiders” due to having interacted and lived in the country deemed to be the land of freedom and opportunity. Asian-Americans who have left their home country physically through birth or immigration, to go reside and immerse themselves in the land full of dreams, hopes, freedom, and opportunity, are now outsiders. They are
The 1st generation, in terms of immigrants, refers to two types of people: a person who was born in and is a citizen of one country, but whose parents are born in another country, and a foreign-born who has immigrated to a new country. Then there is the 1.5 generation composed of people who immigrated to a new country before or during their early teen years. Now, the term Asian-American, by definition, are just Americans of Asian descent. First generation and 1.5 generation Asian-Americans are viewed as perpetual foreigner regardless of their native-born or citizenship status. The attachment of the term “Asian” in front of the term “American” signifies that there is something about that person, from the eyes of the “true citizens” of the United States, that tells them that they do not belong there, a sentiment that is only bolstered and reconfirmed when people see that Asians have different colored skin and hair and different facial features. They are invaders in the land that supposedly belongs to them, hence they are not and cannot be just “American,” but they are Asian-American. They are the other. Similarly, from the viewpoint of the people who have remained in their countries and have not immigrated or been exposed to the daily life of a U.S citizen, the term Asian-American is a reminder that members of the 1st generation, particularly those were born in the U.S and those of the 1.5 generation, are also truly not one of them. When interacting with people of the country they have descended or immigrated from, they may be viewed as “outsiders” due to having interacted and lived in the country deemed to be the land of freedom and opportunity. Asian-Americans who have left their home country physically through birth or immigration, to go reside and immerse themselves in the land full of dreams, hopes, freedom, and opportunity, are now outsiders. They are