John David Rodriguez,
Sacramento, CA.
Being an Asian-American today is not even a far cry to what it was 20-75 years ago, especially if you were a Japanese American who had to endure living in the American Japanese Camps. Not even many Americans remember those days. I am a Californian that is Japanese, Mexican, Irish, and German. I am so greats up for having the opportunity to grow up near the American city of San Francisco where cultures of a kinds come together and make one. Even more grateful that I am 25 years old and the undertones of racism have been vastly diminished since the civil rights. My six words mean that these days Asians in general are made fun of for being “too smart” I can remember in elementary school being made fun at and crying to my father about the kids at school patronizing me for my intellect. Those words had stabbed me enough for me to tone down my capability of grasping and excelling in my knowledge at school. I would often have to dumb myself down to fit in. Most Asian immigrants tell their children to become doctors, engineers, lawyers, and other positions of high professions. To attain these job titles a lot of schooling is involved, which is why in today’s culture most Asian-Americans are regarded as some of the smarter kids in class. Almost as if it was expected of us to know the answer to the question in any subject and playing into that role of knowing the answer to the question. Almost as if my hand was raised all the time. The pressure from this is overbearing at times, that’s why there are two types of these Asians to assimilate to. Fight or flight. When I didn’t know the answers and I was called on it was like a bomb went off in the classroom jaws would literally drop and feeling of inadequacy sinks in. Asian-Americans still are not looked at the same because of the number of college students there are of us in the CSU/UC system.
