What Is an Asian?

What is an Asian?

A person cannot be defined by ethnicity or race, or can they? If a person is born under a certain type of nationality does that make them different from someone else? I believe the fact that I am Asian makes me unique to other ethnicities. Being Asian can be a very difficult thing in America. Although I believe that all nationalities have their advantages and disadvantages based on genetics and culture, I think that we are all the same in the end.

Being Asian in the United States could be hard sometimes. I remember back when I was in high school, I normally witnessed American students calling Asian students by names resembling to racism jokes. The jokes are design to make fun of the Asian language. They normally would try to imitate the Chinese language by saying words such as, “Ching-Chong!” To them they think it’s humorous but to us, the Asian groups felt offended by this remark. We felt as if we were insulted, and most certainly, we don’t think that this joke or is humorous at all. Instead, we think this is a racist remark. Fights normally start because of name callings. I think they are making this joke because they think it is funny and that they did not understand Asian people, therefore, they do not know the difference between the groups of Asians.

In Asia there are many different types of people. There are Mongolians, Chinese, Laotians, Koreans and Vietnamese people. I am Vietnamese and very proud of being from Vietnam. This is because it is my roots. It is where I am from and what I love. Being from South Vietnam is my identity. That is part of my identity but not my whole identity is being “Asian”. I understand that I am Asian but more specifically, I am Vietnamese. There is a big difference in being Vietnamese and being Asian, just as there is a difference from being Asian and being Asian American. I am a Southern Vietnamese person that lived in the United States. I am still viewed generally as Asian.

To define what an Asian is you must look over the criteria. There are many characteristics of Asians. Some of these include being short, squinty eyes, straight dark hair. Others define Asians based on stereotypical ideals like ability to do math well, makes good food, knows martial arts etc. These do not define what an Asian is. To define “What is an Asian” I feel that it is an individual identity. Each person has their own opinion of who they are and how they define themselves. I believe that to define what an Asian is I can only talk about who I am as an Asian person.

I am not just an