There was a period of time, I will admit, where I vehemently hated being Asian.
I refused to learn my mother tongue of Hokkien, and I would put on a fake accent. Instead of my grandma’s amazing cooking, I’d much rather have Mac and Cheese, or a burger. Worse of all, I hated how I looked, I wanted blonde hair and bright blue eyes. I used to watch a lot of television shows, particularly American shows, and admittedly they were not very diverse, and are still not very diverse. Perhaps many people cannot really identify with what I went through as a child, but it was very discouraging when everyone in your favorite TV show just didn’t look like you.
This week has been particularly tough. Why? We have arguably made leaps and bounds in the race conversation, unfortunately, Asians aren’t a part of it. It was Asian American Heritage Week, and all I have been hearing about was Matt Damon.
Everyone has heard of the Great Wall of China. It is one of the world’s most amazing sights, linked culturally to China’s long history. As an overseas Chinese, I have always been enchanted by Chinese history, my favorite is when Matt Damon saved China in the Song Dynasty. Every year my grandfather tells us this heroic tale, where we sit in huts and wear coconut bras!
Jokes aside, there was a myriad of amazing Asian actors that could have filled the role; Randall Park, Sung Kang, Daniel Henney, John Cho, Constance Wu would have done a better job than Matt Damon! People are forgetting about the integrity of the media and its strong influence. There is someone, reading the latest “diversity” edition of Vogue, who is thoroughly confused as to why Karlie Kloss, a white model, is portraying a Japanese geisha.
Just exhibiting Japanese culture is not “diversity” it is yellowface, exotification, and CULTURAL APPROPRIATION. If you do not believe that Karlie Kloss and Matt Damon are convincing enough evidence that Asians are being left out of the race conversation; look at Emma Stone in Aloha, Tilda Swinton in Dr. Strange (2016), Scarlett Johansson in Ghost in Shell (2015), and Jeffrey Ma! In the movie 21, Jeffrey Ma, whom the main character is actually based on, is completely switched out for a caucasian actor, while Ma himself played a minor character.
But, there is still hope -- a light at the end of the tunnel. Fresh off the Boat (2015) is one of my personal favorite shows. While it does play off of many stereotypes, it is evidence that there are Asians playing important roles on mainstream media! The #StarringJohnCho movement is bringing more attention to the lack of visibility of Asians in the media. Besides that, audiences were able to combat the idea of having a white main character in the upcoming Mulan movie, forcing the company to cast an Asian female as the lead.
News also recently broke about Constance Wu becoming the lead for Crazy Rich Asians. One of the amazing things about Crazy Rich Asians is how it was written. Kevin Kwan was unapologetically Asian -- there were Asian phrases, set in a Southeast Asian country, with almost an entirely Asian cast. His book is proof that Asian culture is not unattractive, it is amazing in its own right.
Let this be a lesson to every Asian out there, there is no shame in your ethnicity. You come from a beautifully diverse and richly cultured place. You are not just an exotic figure from a Third World Country, no, you are a person from a Majority World Country.
Do not hide your accent, or try to fake a Western one, have pride in your mother tongue. While you may still not look like your favorite character on Pretty Little Liars or the Bachelor, never give up on the dreams of people like Justin Lin or Michelle Yeoh. Better Luck Tomorrow (2002) put Asian actors in unconventional roles and broke the mold. Let us put ourselves out there, and never falter.
