Asians in America: From Filipino Sailors to Transcontinental Migration - Essay Sample

Introduction

As much as the first Asian people who immigrated to the United States were the Filipino sailors of the eighteenth century who made port in the undeveloped territory that now belongs to Louisiana, the steady migration of Asians during that time from their home countries started a century later. The main contributors to the migration were the transcontinental railroad and the gold rush. The western land boom was also another factor that contributed greatly to Asian migration. The dream of the Asian Americans was concurrent to the dream of the Americans. They both had an overwhelming urge to run away from social, economic, and political difficulties. They also wanted to get some degree of success and prosperity that were not possible in their respective homelands, and they hoped that migrating to America would be the only escape and would help them achieve their dreams. Just like other immigrants., the Asian immigrants had the perception that America would create all the avenues, and they would get through all the loopholes that they wanted with ease once they settled in America. They thought America had all the fortune and opportunity. However, for the Asian Americans, they perceived the American dream as a partition into two significant promises that would make the future glow. Some Asia Americans perceived America as an ideal place where they could create a source of income and earn money that would help them support their families and future back at home. Others perceived America as an avenue where they would secure new, prosperous identity in both personal and national terms. Therefore, it is important to evaluate whether the Asian Americans have achieved American Dream, through the short story of Carlos Bulosan "Be American," the video on Yellow Face, Taqwacore: The Birth of Punk Islam, and Vietnamerica: A Family's Journey.

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In his essay, "Be American," Carlos Bolusan, an immigrant Filipino describes the process by which his cousin, Consorcio got American citizenship. Bolusan described the process by which many people from his native immigrated to America, through his cousin. He gave an account of the entire process that immigrants, especially the Filipinos use to enter America. The moment that Consorcio stepped in the American land, he declared straight away that he wanted to be an American. As much as he was illiterate and could not speak English, he knew what he wanted to be and aimed towards achieving it. Bulosan points out some of the ways that the Asians got their citizenship during his time, through his essay. Concorsio did not have the exposure of so many things that he came across in America like sleeping on a mattress, washing the dishes, wearing shoes, and eating bread and butter, so he took time to adapt to the American environment. However, he always had the confidence of talking about how much he wanted to be an American(Bolusan 67). Consorcio used the little money that he used to buy books in all the fields including Mathematics, Science, Law and brochures that related to political and governmental matters(Bolusan 67). He showed his cousin, who was perplexed at how much he was determined to be an American. These Actions show how much the Asian Americans wanted the best out of themselves and they would stop at nothing until they got what they wanted. One year later, Consorcio graduated from washing the dishes to working in a bakery (Bolusan 68). He even enrolled in a night school after getting the advice from his cousin Bolusan. Many years went by, and the two lost communication since they worked in different states. However, Asian Americans could always know the location of their fellow citizens when they got gifts by looking at the freight mark. They also referred to themselves as wanderers, and Consorcio depicted a lot of transformation when he met his cousin again. He had improved in his English, as much as he did not have any job, and he still hoped that he would become the American citizen that he yearned for so much. Moreover, Consorcio was determined, and he knew that one day, the dream that he ever wished for would materialize (Bolusan 67). As the years went by, Consorcio improved significantly and had become an American citizen without knowing. He became an American by the mere fact that he had his publications, where he wrote his articles and expressed himself the best way he knew how. He was also so much into Americanization that he advocated for the rights of his people in the American soil. This essay shows how much the Asian Americans went through in America and the fact that they were perceived as the minority groups (Bolusan 68). Their struggles to be Americans and the jobs that they did to earn a living visa clear indication that they were determined to get the best life, and they always aimed for the best that they could. The question that still begs here is whether they achieved their dream. In this sense, the answer is no. From the essay, it is clear that by the time Consorcio died, he had not been the American citizen that he hoped to become (Bolusan 70). His death came at a time when he was still the kind of person who struggled with identification in the American soil, and he did not live to fulfil his dream. The pay that he got was not as promising as many people think they would get when they go to America. Consorcio is just a representation of the many other Asians who went to America with the American dream but never fulfilled their dream.

In the Yellow Face video, David Henry Hwang brings out the fact that many Asian Americans have been through thick and thin to get to where they are. They had to go through many things, including demonstrating for their rights and collectively bargaining for a chance to be heard. It is clear that David was so determined to bring the Asian American community to another level. He proved that this community would thrive in the American soil, he advocated for the representation of his community by declaring that all the demeaning encounters they went through must stop ("The YOMYOMF Network" 4.36). There existed a dispute in the theatre industry dubbed Miss Saigon, where the board of film directors could not find an Asian representative that they sought for, who would act on their behalf. Therefore, the fact that they chose a Caucasian to act Asian brought so many wrangles among the Asian community and the Caucasian community. The American Asians took to the streets and demonstrated in pursuit of actors' equity, and the media stations were all over with the news (The YOMYOMF Network 7.59 - 8.53).

David's father paints the image on the ambition that he had to go to America while he was in China. He admired many movie stars, and when he got the opportunity to go to America, he had to keep on pushing. He became successful, and when he looked back at his office, his house, his car, and the fact that his kids were in top colleges, he concluded that he lived a good life in America. What more would a father want with all these, and the fact they can get the resources to educate their kids? David's father also represents the fact that some Asia Americans have thrived in this country, and they have fulfilled their American dreams. As much as all these Asians went to America with one dream, some were in a position to achieve their goals while others did not achieve anything at all (The YOMYOMF Network 13:25-15:04). Therefore, the father and son are a typical example of the success of other people. The father has also pointed out the fact that a Vietnamese girl had to kill herself after getting pregnant for an American soldier just so that her baby would grow up in the American soil (The YOMYOMF Network 15:13-15:23). Indeed, this revelation shows how much Asia Americans were desperate to settle in America since they believed it was a land of opportunities. This land of opportunities is clear in the success that David shows throughout the whole video, where he has thrived in the industry, and he is doing better. Besides, the other Asian Americans who take part in the video have shown that the American land of opportunities nurtured them and made them who they were (Boles 216). There is no doubt in this sense that these people lived up to the American dream.

The Taqwacore band is also an example of how immigrants have thrived in the United States. It is an indication of how some people lived up to fulfil their American dream. This band is famous, and many people all over the world listen to them. Besides, they are an interesting portion of the various press and academic articles. The band has thrived in the American soil, and it attributes its success to the network of friends that it forms, bloggers, artists, producers, directors, and filmmakers in general (Sarif 1). The political message of this band connects to multiculturalism and cultural questions through the interaction between the east and the west. This is just another example of how Asian Americans can thrive in this industry. The essence of this argument is that once people get into America, they should learn how to maneuver their ways through the roots of success in the country so that they can fulfil their American dream (Sarif 7). Many platforms exist, and people can navigate through them as long as they use the right channels.

In Vietamerica, Tran tells of the stories about himself and his family. He delves into his urge to know more about his native country. Thus, he is a perfect example of the Asian Americans who know nothing about their roots. Their previous generation had immigrated to America, and they were born in the country, never to step foot in their own. learns everything about his roots from Vietnam and has to get used to the new life in America that he will live. Before the fall of Saigon, the parents of Tran left there country, Vietnam with two children. Tran, who was now born in America did not have any idea of his Vietnamese roots, because he was born between two cultures (Davis 252). This example indicates that there are so many Asian Americans who are born in America and they do not relate to their roots at all. They do not have any idea of what their families left behind in their home countries (Davis 254). However, for Tran, he finds out some things about his family. His grandparents were in a bad state, where the grandfather had left his family and indulged in revolution, while the grandmother was in the presence of a French colonel and her life was at risk because the grandfather wanted to assassinate her - the question in this sense related to the people who would take care after the children. The family had to make tough decisions, according to Tran. If the family had not left Vietnam, his father would have ended up in the labor camp, and his mother would have been barred from work, forcing her to languish in poverty. Trans met his relatives for the first time when he attended his mother's memorial service. Therefore, it is clear that for most of the Asian Americans, they do not know their relatives back at home since their past generations went to America in search of the American dream (Davis 256). Trans shows the importance of visiting his Vietnam hometown, and the satisfaction that he got. He needed to listen to most of the stories from his culture as much as he had been told some before. If the family had not decided to leave Vietnam, maybe he would not have been born. He brings out the fact that his family had to sacrifice and look for greener pastures in America (Davis 258). The living condition that Trans saw in America did not look good to raise three children. The family's decision to leave Vietnam in search of the American dream proved to bear fruits because, as it is, Trans' family was happy and free.

Asia Americans can attest that they are a community which is in search of better livelihoods in America than their res...