Barack Obama: A New Voice for Asian Americans
New America Media, Commentary, Ronald Takaki, Posted: Mar 04, 2008
Editor’s Note: Asian Americans see Barack Obama as a challenge to a master narrative that has traditionally defined American as “white.”
Asian American voters in Texas and Ohio may differ from their counterparts in California, who voted for Clinton, and vote for Barack Obama, a candidate with Asian American ties that bind. Obama’s appeal can be traced back to his childhood in Hawaii, where Asians represent the majority of the population and “American” doesn’t mean “white.”
Obama hails from Hawaii, and is familiar with the variety of Asian American cultures – Japanese, Chinese, Korean, and Filipino. His island identity certainly contributed to his sweeping, hands-down win of Hawaii’s Democratic primary.
I also grew up in Hawaii. In Palolo Valley on the island of Oahu, my neighbors were Japanese, Chinese, Portuguese, and Hawaiian. As children, we visited each other’s homes and heard a variety of languages. We all spoke Pidgin English as our common language.
Obama went to Punahou, while I attended Iolani. Both of us lived in a part of the United States where everyone belonged to a minority. Both of us left the islands for our college education on the mainland. Our Hawaiian roots shaped our perspective on what America was and could become.
After graduating high school in 1957, I attended the College of Wooster in Ohio, where I experienced a culture shock. My classmates asked me questions like: “How long have you been in this country?” and “Where did you learn to speak English?” In fact, my grandfather came here from Japan in 1886, before many European immigrants. Yet, they did not see me as a fellow American. I did not look like an “American,” and did not have an “American”-sounding name.
They saw me through what I call the familiar, master narrative: Our country was settled by European immigrants; therefore Americans are white with European ancestry.
Today, this narrative is challenged by demography declaring: “Not all of us came originally from Europe. And we are all Americans.” According to the 2000 Census, whites have become a minority in California, and what has happened in the Golden State is happening in Texas and will happen to the total U.S. population by 2050. We will all be minorities.
Senator Edward Kennedy’s endorsement of Obama is a reminder that his brother, Robert Kennedy, played a critical role in the passage of the 1965 Immigration Act. “Everywhere else in our national life, we have eliminated discrimination based on national origins,” Attorney General Robert Kennedy told Congress in 1964. “Yet, this system is still the foundation of our immigration law.” He was referring to the National Origins Act of 1924, which prohibited immigration from Asia.
Asian Americans also owe a debt to the African-American struggle for civil rights led by Martin Luther King, Jr: Most of us are here because they “overcame” in the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
In Ohio and Texas, Asian Americans represent a tiny percentage of voters. Still, with such a close race, their votes will matter.
For me, regardless of what happens in the primaries or the general election, Obama is already a winner. He’s blazed a path toward a new identity not only for African and Latino Americans, but especially for Asian Americans. He has made his complexion an American-looking, his name American sounding. In his candidacy, Asian Americans can insist that they should no longer be viewed and treated as "strangers from a different shore," or as foreigners forever. They can feel audaciously hopeful that they will be respected simply as Americans.
Ronald Takaki is professor of Ethnic Studies at the University of California, Berkeley, and author of "Strangers from a Different Shore: A History of Asian Americans" (Little, Brown).
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Asian Americans Outraged by CNN Election Report
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User Comments
Jane on Mar 24, 2008 at 21:35:03 said:
Ronald Takaki erases native Hawaiians in this piece. He does not address the tensions that arise between Asians who occupy many positions of power over the land that belongs to Native Hawaiians that the U.S. government took from them. As a Chinese American woman, I find this article a poor representation of my support for Obama! I support Obama for his deep analysis of race and the power race plays in American politics. But I would never mis-use Obama to erase the colonial narrative of U.S. race relations, because that history is part of how we ought to understand the development of our own Asian Americans politics in the U.S.
I feel Professor Takaki's analysis is a bit out of touch with what is actually going on in Asian American political arenas.
Trevor on Mar 06, 2008 at 03:26:37 said:
According to Race Card Rob, anyone who doesn't swear allegiance to Obama is a brainwashed racist. The world doen't need your communism Rob.
Paul Allen on Mar 06, 2008 at 03:20:17 said:
>he even admitted he never learned another langauge in a debate (to his chagrin).
Debates are better for learning about dangling modifiers;)
Rob on Mar 05, 2008 at 23:01:18 said:
Its kinda sad some Asian Americans can see how the progression of African Americans helps ALL minorities but many Latinos still don't get it and are stuck with a racist mentality. They can't see the big picture.
And there are people like "Chris" that feel Obama shouldn't have the audacity to run for President because he gives minorities a choice besides a white candidate.......As if the attraction has nothing to do with the man's integrity and principled stances on lobbyist, foreign policy, and education.......jeeeeezzz.
Chris on Mar 05, 2008 at 12:23:57 said:
Barack DOES NOT speak fluent mandarin or cantoneese. That is false. In fact, I think he even admitted he never learned another langauge in a debate (to his chagrin).
I don't think Barack Obama is ready to be president. Further, there is no "happy people" rainbow coalitiont that people on this board seem to want to believe (or the professor in his secluded ivory tower).
I see alot of racism from African Americans, Latino Americans against Asian Americans and vice versa.
Barack Obama, and the politics of identity is actually what will ruin this country... as it is ruining the democratic party right now.
troy williams on Mar 05, 2008 at 09:28:13 said:
four reasons why Barack Obama will be the first "Asian American President".
1) he grew up in Hawai'i.
2) Asian American sister, step father, brother in law and and family members in Asia.
3) Went to School in Asia.
4) speaks fluent Chinese.
florine king on Mar 05, 2008 at 07:40:12 said:
Thank you for this article. Americans need to know that many paid the price for America's greatness. Unfortunately, that history has been suppressed for too long and never appreciated. I am a Black American and though a history major in college, I learned of the contributions of Asian, Mexican, Native and Black Americans largely outside the education system. Disparate, brutal treatment was heaped upon us all. We were excluded from the "melting pot" but we experienced the fire.
ronke on Mar 04, 2008 at 16:49:14 said:
I was pleased to see the Prof. Takaki's remark regarding the African American Civil Rights struggle and its positive impact on Asians and I may add for all Americans. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 covers all Americans. Indeed, the article triggers a refined example of intellectual thought with an emphasis on reality.
Thank you Prof. Takaki.
L. ROBINSON on Mar 04, 2008 at 16:21:31 said:
WOW! AMAZING ARTICLE..IT'S WITH GREAT INTEREST I READ THIS ARTICLE VERY INSIGNTFUL...GO OBAMA GO..TIME FOR CHANGE "A NEW DAY IS ON THE HORIZION FOR AMERICAN AND ALL AMERICANS".
bob on Mar 04, 2008 at 09:12:31 said:
WELL WRITTEN AND SPOKEN.
Francis Ibe MOGU on Mar 04, 2008 at 05:31:55 said:
I stand firmly in solidarity with Professor Ronald Takaki and his comments. Some of us share the ideal dream of a loving, kind, friendly, colorless, raceless, genderless United States of America that is abundantly blessed and guided by the Most High GOD of all Creation. The Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. said: "I have a dream... that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character... So let freedom reign..." Today is that long awaited day that Reverend King talked and dreamed about. Let us recognize that fact and bond to actualize the full potentials of the United States of America - one great rainbow nation with all the colors, tastes and diversities that aptly represents the Most Holy Trinity - which is GODhead itself. Please read Gerard Manley Hopkins poems, "Pied Beauty" and "GOD's Grandeur" to see what I mean. Barack Obama, go for gold and diamonds! Allow the almighty GOD to use you as HIS obedient servant to bless America and the entire World! GOD bless you!
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