A Mourner of Swine; although centered within an African environment; sends its message across the imaginary; ethnic and cultural dimensions that has deterred our focus away from the expanding realities of our diminishing global village. A village that reminds us of just how small our planet really is. For untold centuries; unimaginable horrors have occupied the voids created by human indifference and will once again; to our dread; remind us in no uncertain terms that what is a threat to one man; is a threat to all men.
#148786 in Books Erika Lee 2016-08-16 2016-08-16Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.00 x 1.20 x 6.00l; .0 #File Name: 1476739412528 pagesThe Making of Asian America A History
Review
22 of 23 people found the following review helpful. Curious about your Own or the Other Lee’s work is Relentless DramaticBy wsmrer“I never knew that this happenedâ€Erika Lee’s America is the continent itself revealing Asian impact on South America and the Caribbean well before the formation of the USA but the bulk of the story is America’s treatment of what were viewed as the oriental – the other – and it is not a happy tale. That said; it is a beautifully written scholarly inquire into how Asians have been rejected; accepted; and have developed their own identities in a constantly changing political universe.Packed full of detail the reader may wish to skim and skip ahead but the delightful human tales along the way will likely suppress that urge. You will want to know how the forces being described can be resolved or blunted. Ignorance; hate; animosity and fear; pride; intelligence; compassion and resolve battle in our nation’s history to find their way; Lee doesn’t miss a beat. As she indicates at the end; the story is very much still in process as America becomes more Asian in composition and more global in direction. A good read.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Clear overview. Highly recommended.By S. LeeDespite attempts to lump them together or tell their through a simplistic and monolithic “model minority†lens; Asian Americans and their histories are in fact exceedingly diverse and complicated. To be Asian American in the twenty-first century is an exercise in coming to terms with a contradiction: benefiting from new positions of power and privilege while still being victims of hate crimes and microaggressions that dismiss Asian American issues and treat Asian Americans as outsiders in their own country (Lee; 391).There seems to be an existential crisis every time an Asian American; like myself; attempts to answer “am I American (enough)?†If yes; then what do we mean by “American (enough)â€? If no; then what prevents us? What has infected our imagination of who belongs and who does not in this so-called “Land of the Freeâ€?America; seems to me; has a unique ability to remember things differently and selectively. Reading The Making of Asian America was a speechless experience — how have I never heard of these stories before? Truly; the phantasm of Asian American histories attests and perpetuates the non-visibility of Asian Americans. The reading was also heart-wrenchingly painful — oh; how much we; as a collected lump of diverse Asian Americans; suffered so much and so silently! One does not need to understand much of politics or policy making to see the one thing American history has made clear: things get done fast when — not if — people discriminate. Many preposterous laws; such as you have to be born in the states and be of white skin tone (many early petitions and appeals have been shut down because Chinese or Japanese Americans born in the States do not shimmer white tones; there was even one Middle Eastern who argued on the grounds that he is actually a caucasian but was still denied); have passed and lasted because of unbated fear and hatred.Of course; Asian Americans are not without faults and blame. I cannot blame all of America; where my citizenship is tethered to; for my own ignorance of our checkered histories.This is not to say reading and learning history solve moral corruption — far be it! Rather; history provides both a window and mirror: a window to our expansive past; enriched with valuable resources for virility and grace; and a mirror to match and differentiate how our current situations; personal and public; relate to prior ones. Matching and differentiating are crucial for understanding the complicated nature of diagnosing personal and social ills and implementing prescribed healing. In short; learning history must be paired with both constructive-critical lens and untiring hands and feet.The Making of Asian America is a must read. Do not be stumped by its length (402 pages). By the time you finish; you’ll wish she wrote more.sooholee.wordpress0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Good read!By ChloeI loved this book! It gives a frank view of history; and how the Asian Americans in the country helped shape it. This isn't very mainstream history; and the modern times part of the book I was less enamored with; with the author seemingly glossing over but implying innocence of many criminals; some of which I knew the cases very well and was disturbed at what she left out; but overall it is a quick and easy read; and as long as you do your research and don't take this book as 1000% un-biased truth; you should learn some amazing things about history!
