In David Henry Hwang’s short play, “Trying to Find Chinatown,” two vastly different, yet similar characters interact on a sidewalk in New York. Benjamin, a white male from Kansas, stumbles upon Ronnie, a Chinese-American male from New York who is a street performer. Benjamin is looking for Chinatown and asks Ronnie for help, sparking a conversation that is anything but dull. Though Ronnie and Benjamin come from two completely different backgrounds, and do not seem to see eye to eye, by the end of the play, it is apparent that Ronnie and Benjamin have similar views when it comes to race and identity. Ronnie is a Chinese-American that does not want to be seen as a Chinese-American. Ronnie understands that the Chinese culture is rich with history
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Ronnie assumes that Benjamin asked him if he knew where Chinatown was, just because of how he looks. This enrages Ronnie causing him to insult Benjamin and rant on how he is tired of people assuming he knows all of this information about Chinese culture and such, just because he is Chinese-American. As the play progresses, Ronnie learns that Benjamin attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he took courses on Asian-American studies. Ronnie also discovers that Benjamin believes that he is Chinese-American and is seeking Chinatown to find his “roots” and where his adopted father grew up. Ronnie confronts Benjamin and asks, “did they bother to teach you that in order to find your Asian “roots” it’s a good idea to first be Asian.” Ronnie thinks that just because Benjamin is white, with blonde hair and …show more content…
While Benjamin is white, yet identifies as a Chinese-American, Ronnie is a Chinese-American who identifies himself as a white or black person. Benjamin sees Ronnie’s skin color and assumes that just because he is a Chinese-American, that he has faced the struggles and hardship of identifying as a Chinese-American. Benjamin says, “To be marginalized, as we are, by a white racist patriarchy, to the point where the accomplishments of our people are obliterated from the history books, this is cultural genocide of the first order.” Benjamin also infers, based on the color of Ronnie’s skin, that Ronnie has found his roots, accepting and participating in Chinese customs. Benjamin states, “Brother, I’m just trying to find what you’ve already got.” Ronnie answers with, “What do I got?”, to which Benjamin responds, “A home. With your people. Picketing with the laundry workers. Taking refuge from the daily slights against your masculinity in the noble image of Gwan Gung.” Benjamin continues to assume that Ronnie identifies as
Ronnie assumes that Benjamin asked him if he knew where Chinatown was, just because of how he looks. This enrages Ronnie causing him to insult Benjamin and rant on how he is tired of people assuming he knows all of this information about Chinese culture and such, just because he is Chinese-American. As the play progresses, Ronnie learns that Benjamin attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he took courses on Asian-American studies. Ronnie also discovers that Benjamin believes that he is Chinese-American and is seeking Chinatown to find his “roots” and where his adopted father grew up. Ronnie confronts Benjamin and asks, “did they bother to teach you that in order to find your Asian “roots” it’s a good idea to first be Asian.” Ronnie thinks that just because Benjamin is white, with blonde hair and …show more content…
While Benjamin is white, yet identifies as a Chinese-American, Ronnie is a Chinese-American who identifies himself as a white or black person. Benjamin sees Ronnie’s skin color and assumes that just because he is a Chinese-American, that he has faced the struggles and hardship of identifying as a Chinese-American. Benjamin says, “To be marginalized, as we are, by a white racist patriarchy, to the point where the accomplishments of our people are obliterated from the history books, this is cultural genocide of the first order.” Benjamin also infers, based on the color of Ronnie’s skin, that Ronnie has found his roots, accepting and participating in Chinese customs. Benjamin states, “Brother, I’m just trying to find what you’ve already got.” Ronnie answers with, “What do I got?”, to which Benjamin responds, “A home. With your people. Picketing with the laundry workers. Taking refuge from the daily slights against your masculinity in the noble image of Gwan Gung.” Benjamin continues to assume that Ronnie identifies as