Throughout history, many people come to America by force or immigration. Many found the hardship and fulfilled the dream. At the time Olaudah Equiano arrived in America, the new land, his life and fate is set to change dramatically. In the narrative, the conflicts that Equiano wrestles within in his life are devastating account that happened in human history. Although Equiano and I live in different time, our experiences connect us with the problem of first generation settler. Examining contexts of the Equiano’s narrative and my life reveals how the differences and similarities of process of assimilation, fighting for identity, and freedom that happened in our lives.
While both Equiano and I assimilate to Western culture, Equiano’s process …show more content…
There is a term, banana, used to marginalize the Asian person living in a Western country, referencing yellow on the outside and white on the inside. Many of my friends who are American-born Chinese face the dilemma. They can speak fluent English but do not know any Chinese characters and culture. When they entered the university, the question of identity came up. They speak English as well with the Americans, but in the eyes of American youth they still are foreigners and find it difficult to establish a relatively close relationship with friends. Chinese people would say to them: "You are Chinese. Why can you not speak Chinese?" while Americans would say to them: "You are Chinese. Why is your English so much better than mine?" Evena friend circle is still mostly confined between the Asians. Then they soon feel the loneliness and cannot find home. While Equiano constructs his identity through religion and changing his name, many Chinese Americans desire to seek cultural identity with enthusiasm to learn Chinese. We can see that the University Chinese classes are most often occupied with Chinese Americans. According Miller, "by learning Chinese, parent gives child a key” (Miller 15). One day, when they have a desire to enter the Chinese culture, their keys can open the world. As a Chinese American, I continue to develop my own thoughts, identity, and hopefully one day I can find my own place on the
While both Equiano and I assimilate to Western culture, Equiano’s process …show more content…
There is a term, banana, used to marginalize the Asian person living in a Western country, referencing yellow on the outside and white on the inside. Many of my friends who are American-born Chinese face the dilemma. They can speak fluent English but do not know any Chinese characters and culture. When they entered the university, the question of identity came up. They speak English as well with the Americans, but in the eyes of American youth they still are foreigners and find it difficult to establish a relatively close relationship with friends. Chinese people would say to them: "You are Chinese. Why can you not speak Chinese?" while Americans would say to them: "You are Chinese. Why is your English so much better than mine?" Evena friend circle is still mostly confined between the Asians. Then they soon feel the loneliness and cannot find home. While Equiano constructs his identity through religion and changing his name, many Chinese Americans desire to seek cultural identity with enthusiasm to learn Chinese. We can see that the University Chinese classes are most often occupied with Chinese Americans. According Miller, "by learning Chinese, parent gives child a key” (Miller 15). One day, when they have a desire to enter the Chinese culture, their keys can open the world. As a Chinese American, I continue to develop my own thoughts, identity, and hopefully one day I can find my own place on the