One aspect of the increasing debate and focus on multiraciality that has always baffled me is the lack of such intense debate and concentration on multiraciality internationally- particularly the Asian countries. In America, the topics are addressed on a daily basis. However, when I was in China over the summer, such issues rarely surfaced in everyday conversation. The responses Kip Fulbeck received in Japan are the kind of responses I would anticipate from Chinese people as well- that we concentrate too much on ourselves and the search for the individual. What are the possible reasons for such differences? Could it be that America is more of an individualistic culture whereas Asian countries tend to practice collectivism? And in the event that a culture that was at one point collectivist begins shifting towards individualism, would that culture experience the same debates and topics that America has faced?
In addition, I found Kip Fulbecks' "Refusing to use a Chinese name to identify as Asian American" particularly interesting. Identifying an individual based purely on one's name is a mistake often committed. My last name being "Song," I often get mistaken for having a Korean background when in actuality, I'm Chinese. I think that I have purely Chinese features and yet other people insist that my features depict me as Korean. Could my last name have an influence in their opinions? At the same time, I often find myself seeking for Asian last names whenever possible (ie. looking for a dentist or in the movie credits). There's a sense of familiarity and closeness that I feel I can easily achieve with other Asians. Is this thought based on cultural realities or could it be purely psychological? At the same time, I admire and must applaude Kip Fulbeck for refusing to utilize his Chinese name for professional advantages and establishing a 'name' and position for himself despite difficulties. Yet, we must consider- why is a name so important and powerful?
Thanks for your time!
Jing Song
I went to an underprivileged, low-income, predominantly Hispanic high school where most of my classmates were first and second generation children of Mexican and El Salvadorian immigrants. Interestingly, because my name is "white" it was assumed that I wasn't from nor lived in the neighborhood, that I was wealthy and intelligent, and that it was an unusual coincidence why a white girl was at their high school. I was an average student. But because I was white, my classmates always thought I was the smartest in the class.
Some television broadcast news journalists may use their ethnic names but I don't think it means that they work less at their skill. I doubt that an aspiring tv journalist's foot in the door toward his career depends on his last name being "Chen" or "Tokumatsu."
Victoria Kraus