A professor creates the first, EVER, Asian American History course at William and Mary. The only problem is no one could possibly know its about history because the title of the course has no such word or anything remotely resembling "history" in its title. Of course the true intention was to have the word "history" in the title to make it quite clear what was being studied and in fact that was the way the professor submitted the course in its approval stages, BUT when posted for students to enroll there was no such thing mentioned. Even after the professor talked to the chair of his department, the only explanation was that its ommitance was to prevent controversy. What is the meaning of this? I guess thats what I'm supposed to be answering right?
Honestly, to truely answer this question, at least do the justice it deserves, I could probably receive a PhD in comparative historical studies or something like that. Not to digress any further, I'll make my clear and decisive statement. The College of William and Mary is not ready to accept the study of Asian American History as a respectable field of academia.
Colleges and Universities on the west coast have accepted and promoted the study of Asian subcultures in the United States. Its ironic that the second oldest institution of higher learning, a beacon among the small colleges of the nation, hasn't taken a stand and pushed for broadening of minds. The study of history is not limited to the Other or the foreign nor of our past because history is our recorded story. If that were the case, then why wouldn't a study of Asian American History, the history of a group of people sharing common ancestry who have contributed imperatively to our nation's success, not be embraced and supported?
Honestly, I can't think of a good reason why any course no matter how provocative or disturbing should be rejected. If the course were financially unreasonable or if it put students in danger then the course would obviously be denied, but something as simple as teaching history through the study of plays and films, the art of a people, should be accepted regardless. Its the propagation of knowledge. From the perspective of the college I could see them regarding it as "unnecessary", that there aren't enough people to "appreciate" whats being taught. Thats obviously not true, because the seminar has 15+ enrolled, when most are never that large. But to regard the word history as controversial when it is adjacent to the words Asian and American seems a little backward to me. My most logical guess is that there are still professors who still regard Asian American History as a unimportant subject in the grand scheme of their pedagogy. Even the Black and Woman studies programs pale in comparison to the breadth of choice other subject matter has offered at the college. To paraphrase the words of our professor, Tanglao-Aguas, "Its amazing that in a college built by slaves in a country built by slaves that the black studies office is the size of a 1 room apartment let alone not an entire department of study". This is after 35 years of offering a black studies major. Asian American History has much to push for it seems.
If its the professors that might create backlash then its the students that have to do something about the educators. Its not only our responsibility to learn what is being taught, but to uphold the integrity of our school and insure that what's offered is what really needs to be learned. A need must be met, but if there is no voice for the need then what is the point? Students have to be aware of what they are missing out on and have to see passion for subjects they've never considered. The College of William and Mary doesn't celebrate Asian Pacific Heritage Month (April 2008). One of the purposes of our course is to raise awareness on campus of Asian American history. Students already study east Asian and pacific Asian history, but none have ever studied the history of those peoples here in the united states.
I really like the way other cultural associations on our campus have put together culture "showcases". Taking up a similar program and sharing Asian American history in the same way would be just as effective if not more. Students would find it fascinating to not just learn about other cultures, but of the cultures here in our own country and how they affect everything from pop-culture to academia on this coast and on the west. I propose that we as a class gather leaders of the different culture associations and organizers of the culture showcases to create a showcase that only highlights the contribution of Asian Americans, not just those with ancestry of one nation or people. If we could show others passion for a subject being left out of the William and Mary curriculum then more course and professors would follow. History majors requesting to their professors more knowledge of Asian Americans, our history as a nation, then a movement would happen. The more aware students becomes of the deficit the more the need will become apparent.
If the Faculty are not ready for the inclusion of Asian American History as a proper subject there is nothing we as students can do about it. If we as students are not prepared to learn then there is something to be done. If we have the want and the need to know more about our past not just as Asian Americans, I am Caucasian/white myself, but as people of this nation, then our professors will only be obliged to do so. They will be forced to provide, that is the only way we can change.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
The History in Asian American History
As the first post in my blog, I'd to introduce myself to the rest of you. Introducing the real me will put a lot of what I say in perspective.
I'm a white male from a middle class family in northern Virginia. My parents pay my college fees and provide for other amenities. I also have a job as a certified pharmacy technician so I pay for the rest of whatever it is that I "want" other than my college tuition. My girlfriend is Filipina. Not Filipino as many people would say, but Filipinia because in Tagalog or in Filipino language their adjective system is similar to the romance language system of words describing "masculine" things ending in -o and "feminine" words ending with an -a. She is quite different from me. She isn't an American Citizen (will be soon) , and still lives with her parents at the age of 20. She is in college, but has to use loans and grants to pay for tuition. Her parents don't pay for anything, and not because they cannot contribute either. Her 22 year old sister who is not in school also lives at home and works periodically, but mostly does nothing. She also has her younger sister living with her as well. She also has 2 aunts 1 uncle and 3 cousins living with her as well as her lolo and lola (Tagalog for Grandpa/Grandma). We met almost two years ago and honestly neither of our lives will ever be the same.
Earlier today Francis talked about the reason its important to study Asian American history and how we must become a part of that history in order to propagate it. He also gave examples to reasons for being in the class or studying it. A few were generic, similar to the statement that I made at the beginning of the paragraph. Another, concerned being an Asian-American male coming to terms with white guys dating asian girls and being alright with it. He also restated that from the perspective of the white guy, asking whether or not he was truely interested in Asian girls for more than just being "hot", which is what pertains to me. Francis and I had an provocative conversation in which we frankly discussed that topic and I'm willing to share it openly. He knows that I'm dating a Filipina and he also knows the apprehension I had about the nature of my relationship.
I've learned a lot about the United States place in the world, especially in relation to Asian culture and society. Our past is one of imperialism and orientalism. The thought of my relationship being imperialistic and orientalistic scared me and my reason for pursuing more knowledge is for me to come to terms with my "Americanism" as Asian American students study Asian American history to come to terms with their "Asianism". The story of the old world parents new world children isn't one fresh, but a relationship of conflicting ideas that has solidified itself a staple of progress and the migration of people for 100s of years, if not 1000s.
So basically, I'm writing from the perspective of the white American coming to terms with a possible Asian fetish. Do you know how scary that is? What if you began to question your very world view because you finally realized how messed up and scary a country you live in. Don't get me wrong, the United States has done a great many things, but for every innovation and world moving event so much has been done against the world. When love is overshadowed by your fear of being an impostor what else can you do, but question and tackle the thing holding you back. Its only right that one questions whats been given them and its only right that a person takes the required step outside of their comfort zone.
I'm a white male from a middle class family in northern Virginia. My parents pay my college fees and provide for other amenities. I also have a job as a certified pharmacy technician so I pay for the rest of whatever it is that I "want" other than my college tuition. My girlfriend is Filipina. Not Filipino as many people would say, but Filipinia because in Tagalog or in Filipino language their adjective system is similar to the romance language system of words describing "masculine" things ending in -o and "feminine" words ending with an -a. She is quite different from me. She isn't an American Citizen (will be soon) , and still lives with her parents at the age of 20. She is in college, but has to use loans and grants to pay for tuition. Her parents don't pay for anything, and not because they cannot contribute either. Her 22 year old sister who is not in school also lives at home and works periodically, but mostly does nothing. She also has her younger sister living with her as well. She also has 2 aunts 1 uncle and 3 cousins living with her as well as her lolo and lola (Tagalog for Grandpa/Grandma). We met almost two years ago and honestly neither of our lives will ever be the same.
Earlier today Francis talked about the reason its important to study Asian American history and how we must become a part of that history in order to propagate it. He also gave examples to reasons for being in the class or studying it. A few were generic, similar to the statement that I made at the beginning of the paragraph. Another, concerned being an Asian-American male coming to terms with white guys dating asian girls and being alright with it. He also restated that from the perspective of the white guy, asking whether or not he was truely interested in Asian girls for more than just being "hot", which is what pertains to me. Francis and I had an provocative conversation in which we frankly discussed that topic and I'm willing to share it openly. He knows that I'm dating a Filipina and he also knows the apprehension I had about the nature of my relationship.
I've learned a lot about the United States place in the world, especially in relation to Asian culture and society. Our past is one of imperialism and orientalism. The thought of my relationship being imperialistic and orientalistic scared me and my reason for pursuing more knowledge is for me to come to terms with my "Americanism" as Asian American students study Asian American history to come to terms with their "Asianism". The story of the old world parents new world children isn't one fresh, but a relationship of conflicting ideas that has solidified itself a staple of progress and the migration of people for 100s of years, if not 1000s.
So basically, I'm writing from the perspective of the white American coming to terms with a possible Asian fetish. Do you know how scary that is? What if you began to question your very world view because you finally realized how messed up and scary a country you live in. Don't get me wrong, the United States has done a great many things, but for every innovation and world moving event so much has been done against the world. When love is overshadowed by your fear of being an impostor what else can you do, but question and tackle the thing holding you back. Its only right that one questions whats been given them and its only right that a person takes the required step outside of their comfort zone.
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