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ELIT24/ICS24

Asian American Literature

Blog

• Look around the room. Can you guess what people are interested in?

Agenda

• I need to learn your names!

• Essay 1

• Recap

• Homework

Essay 1• A preview of the essay description:

Tell the story of Hmong Americans and the story of another people. Use The Latehomecomer as a reference. Your essay should compare and contrast the story of the Hmong with the story of another people. The essay will be due on Monday, January 28.

• This will be an opportunity for you to learn the history of your own people.

Essay 1• For about five minutes write about the

reasons why your family decided to come to the US.

• More likely than not your story will involve war, financial pressures, marriage, or a combination of these three factors.

• Be prepared to share.

Essay 1• For your first essay, you should compare

and contrast the story of your own family’s immigration experience with the story of Yang’s family’s immigration experience.

• You will likely discuss war, financial pressures, and/or marriage.

• If you discuss financial pressures you need to answer this question: Why is there inequality in your family’s country of origin?

Essay 1• I suggest that we break up into the

following groups:• Vietnamese ancestry• Chinese ancestry• Filipino ancestry• Latino ancestry• International students• Latino ancestry• European ancestry• African ancestry• Japanese ancestry/Islander ancestry• Mixed

Essay 1• Vietnamese ancestry

– Come to the front of the room and read the Wikipedia article on Vietnam. Prepare to share what you learn.

– Later on you should also read the article “Vietnamese American.”

• Chinese ancestry– Discuss your connections or distance from

Hong Kong, Taiwan, and the People’s Republic of China

Essay 1• Filipino ancestry

– Think about the reasons for class inequality in the Philippines.

• Latino ancestry– Think about the reasons for class inequality in

the country of origin of your families. Also, think about relationships between your families and Asian American families.

Essay 1• International students

– Discuss your reasons for studying in the US and the involvement of your families in your decision to study in the US.

• European ancestry– Consider the role of war, economics, and

marriage in your family’s relationships with Asian Americans.

Essay 1• Your essay should consist of parts that are

set in the US and parts that are set outside of the US.

• We will prepare now to write about parts set in the US.

Essay 1• For about five minutes write down

struggles that immigrants face. Different immigrants face different struggles, so it is ok if you have only some immigrants in mind. You might also consider the struggles that Yang’s family encountered in Part III of The Latehomecomer. Be prepared to share.

Essay 1• For the parts of your essay that are set in

the US you might write about the following topics:– Struggles to maintain family unity– Culture shock– Learning English– Different religions– Setting a strong foundation for future

generations– Racism or discrimination– Financial hardship

Essay 1• For the parts of your essay that are set in

the US you might write about the following topics:– Climate– Trying to keep culture and traditions alive– Native diseases; health– Food (cheese, dairy); ingredients– Getting used to the laws (police harrassment)– Internal conflict within extended family

(generational conflicts)– Finding work, education; social class structure

Essay 1• For the parts of your essay that are set in

the US you might write about the following topics:– Deskilling; the situation when someone with

training from one country cannot practice his or her profession in the US

– Pressures to enter certain professions– Immigration laws, enforcement; methods to

determine who can be in the US legally and who can have legal documentation

– Getting documentation for employment and education

Recap• In your essay you will tell the story of

Hmong Americans and the story of another people.

• Your essay should consist of parts set outside of the US and parts set in the US.

• Your essay should focus on the story of your family and the story of Yang’s family.

• Any questions at this point?

Recap• For the parts set outside of the US here

are some topics that you can use to compare and contrast your family’s experience with the experience of Yang’s family:– The struggle to acquire legal residency in the

US (including student visas).

Recap• For the parts set inside of the US here are

some topics that you can use to compare and contrast your family’s experience with the experience of Yang’s family:

Homework• Answer the blog question if you have not yet done so.• Finish reading The Latehomecomer.• Start writing the story of Yang’s family and your family. For a

reference you might read the Wikipedia articles on your country of origin and the ethnicity associated with that country in the US (for example, “Taiwan” and “Taiwanese Americans”). Also, consider diasporas.

• See me if you are not yet officially enrolled in the class or if you did not hear your name during the roll call. If you still need to add the class you need to do it ASAP.

• There is no class at De Anza on Monday in observance of Martin Luther King’s birthday.