Stereotypes are a common problem throughout the world, Kesaya Noda was no exception. She had to face the stereotyping due to her heritage and race all because she was Japanese. Stereotyping is present and an ongoing negative occurrence. Throughout the world there are numerous records kept of these circumstances. For example, Rita Moreno, a Latino actress, singer, and dancer had to face the prejudice of Hollywood, the audience, and directors. Her talents and skills were ignored and overlooked all because she was a Latino. She was cast in degrading and unrecognized movies such as; Fabulous Senorita, Latin Lovers, and the Yellow Tomahawk. She was cast as a fiery Latin sex kitten or Indian maiden all based on her race and the historical prejudices of the past. Even after her contract with MGM was canceled she was once again doing stereotypical movies under Twentieth Century-Fox. The roles were all the same, she played a dimwitted sexy Latin woman who danced and sang her heart out, a barefooted native woman, and even a slave. Even after putting up with all these degrading roles, once again her contract was lapsed. Rita was no exception to the prejudices of this world, her career and life suffered many downfalls but it never knocked her down. She kept her head high and was soon recognized as a major talent. (References: http://biography.jrank.org/pages/3155/Moreno-Rita-1931-Actress-Singer-Dancer.html) Stepin Fetchit, the most controversial movie actor in American history, stood up against the prejudices of white peoples expectations by exhibiting the low expectations expected of black people. He would undermine his white oppressors through denial of his labor and cooperation through an act of defiance, being later referred as "coon". He acted lazy, stupid, and babbled when he talked on stage to white people but the black people could understand it. Even through trying to make a point at how stupid this stereotype was to all his white audiences, the crowd ate it up and loved his shows. They learned nothing from it and just dubbed him as a true representation of black people. Stepin tried his hardest to fulfill the whites audiences low expectations of his race in order to frustrate them. When he was told to say offensive lines that insulted him and his race he just mumbled the lines or said them so quiet that no one could understand him, when yelled at to do it right he only acted stupid as if he couldn't comprehend it. Through his acting of behalf of what white people expected he became the first black millionaire, but at what cost? Because of his acting even more racist films were produced even years after he stopped performing. He was scorned for the backfire of his intentions, but later regained his pride and respect through a film he acted in later at the end of his career and life. He played a small role in the comedy Amazing Grace in 1974, where he scolded a white train conductor to save Mom's freedom and rights. He was no longer outcast from films and scenes due to acting upon the stereotypes cast at him. He was later inducted into the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame. Although these examples of stereotyping had a "happy ending", it doesnt always turn out this way from everyone else. People even today have to face the scorn and disrespect from prejudice usually by white people but extends to all races.
This short story by Kesaya E. Noda titled, “Growing up Asian” is a story about identity. Noda writes about her thoughts and views on her being “racially Japanese”. She says that all her life, people make assumptions and stereotype her to the point where she is on edge. She also explains how the past and the present have become intertwined with one another. Our society today sometimes does not realize that some things in the past our done and over with. One example Noda tells us is how when she tells others her parents were in California, they ask if they were imprisoned in camps there during the war. I can see how this is would be very distracting to Noda, when people just make assumptions about her way of life and race. However, these sorts of things still go on today with all races.
In this story Noda also speaks on how her people have been considered “aliens” ever since the immigration many years ago. She touches on how these aliens in California were never to be considered citizens, and they could never own, lease, or buy land. Noda mentions how this burden of history is worn on her face everyday. She then tells us of favorable times in Japan and how she loves it there, especially around festival time. She talks of the food, rituals, alcohol, and invocation that happen. This is the side that Noda sees, that no one else does. A side that has nothing to do with race, but a culture.
In closing, it only seems logical that this story is about a person identifying herself. Saying what people historically and racially think, and then explaining her true self. Everyone wears a story, even if we don’t know who they are. Black, White, or Asian, everyone has a racial background and stereotype. What Noda does, is explain to us how she is different and how people identify her. Then explains her values and what being Asian is really like. When reading this passage it really helps you to think about who you are and figure out your own identity.
The purpose of Growing Up Asian is to show to the reader that there is a lot more to a person than their appearance. One should not base the way they conduct or see themselves based wholly on their appearance. While stereotypes and ideas may try to contradict who you really are, there is no need to have to fall into those categories in order to adhere to the guidelines of what people think you should be. The narrator stressed this point all throughout the story, saying “I can see myself today as a person historically defined by law and custom as being forever alien.” (27) This statement may be true, but that does not me that she herself defines herself that way. What Noda is conveying in that statement is that she acknowledges the way that others may look at her, but does not let that define the way she really is. Just because people look at her as an “alien” doesn’t mean that she acts that way or sees herself that way. Noda wanted to try to get this point across because she wants the reader to know that what other people think of you does not define who you are, nor should you let it. The way you are should be based on your own beliefs about yourself, with roots to your past involved within your views. Noda shows this by talking about her grandmother visiting the shrine. By her explaining how she thinks back to that and relates to that, she shows that she has pride in her heritage, which some people don’t understand.
3 comments:
Morgan Foster-Researcher
Stereotypes are a common problem throughout the world, Kesaya Noda was no exception. She had to face the stereotyping due to her heritage and race all because she was Japanese. Stereotyping is present and an ongoing negative occurrence. Throughout the world there are numerous records kept of these circumstances.
For example, Rita Moreno, a Latino actress, singer, and dancer had to face the prejudice of Hollywood, the audience, and directors. Her talents and skills were ignored and overlooked all because she was a Latino. She was cast in degrading and unrecognized movies such as; Fabulous Senorita, Latin Lovers, and the Yellow Tomahawk. She was cast as a fiery Latin sex kitten or Indian maiden all based on her race and the historical prejudices of the past. Even after her contract with MGM was canceled she was once again doing stereotypical movies under Twentieth Century-Fox. The roles were all the same, she played a dimwitted sexy Latin woman who danced and sang her heart out, a barefooted native woman, and even a slave. Even after putting up with all these degrading roles, once again her contract was lapsed. Rita was no exception to the prejudices of this world, her career and life suffered many downfalls but it never knocked her down. She kept her head high and was soon recognized as a major talent.
(References: http://biography.jrank.org/pages/3155/Moreno-Rita-1931-Actress-Singer-Dancer.html)
Stepin Fetchit, the most controversial movie actor in American history, stood up against the prejudices of white peoples expectations by exhibiting the low expectations expected of black people. He would undermine his white oppressors through denial of his labor and cooperation through an act of defiance, being later referred as "coon". He acted lazy, stupid, and babbled when he talked on stage to white people but the black people could understand it. Even through trying to make a point at how stupid this stereotype was to all his white audiences, the crowd ate it up and loved his shows. They learned nothing from it and just dubbed him as a true representation of black people. Stepin tried his hardest to fulfill the whites audiences low expectations of his race in order to frustrate them. When he was told to say offensive lines that insulted him and his race he just mumbled the lines or said them so quiet that no one could understand him, when yelled at to do it right he only acted stupid as if he couldn't comprehend it. Through his acting of behalf of what white people expected he became the first black millionaire, but at what cost? Because of his acting even more racist films were produced even years after he stopped performing. He was scorned for the backfire of his intentions, but later regained his pride and respect through a film he acted in later at the end of his career and life. He played a small role in the comedy Amazing Grace in 1974, where he scolded a white train conductor to save Mom's freedom and rights. He was no longer outcast from films and scenes due to acting upon the stereotypes cast at him. He was later inducted into the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame.
Although these examples of stereotyping had a "happy ending", it doesnt always turn out this way from everyone else. People even today have to face the scorn and disrespect from prejudice usually by white people but extends to all races.
John Byron-Summarizer
This short story by Kesaya E. Noda titled, “Growing up Asian” is a story about identity. Noda writes about her thoughts and views on her being “racially Japanese”. She says that all her life, people make assumptions and stereotype her to the point where she is on edge. She also explains how the past and the present have become intertwined with one another. Our society today sometimes does not realize that some things in the past our done and over with. One example Noda tells us is how when she tells others her parents were in California, they ask if they were imprisoned in camps there during the war. I can see how this is would be very distracting to Noda, when people just make assumptions about her way of life and race. However, these sorts of things still go on today with all races.
In this story Noda also speaks on how her people have been considered “aliens” ever since the immigration many years ago. She touches on how these aliens in California were never to be considered citizens, and they could never own, lease, or buy land. Noda mentions how this burden of history is worn on her face everyday. She then tells us of favorable times in Japan and how she loves it there, especially around festival time. She talks of the food, rituals, alcohol, and invocation that happen. This is the side that Noda sees, that no one else does. A side that has nothing to do with race, but a culture.
In closing, it only seems logical that this story is about a person identifying herself. Saying what people historically and racially think, and then explaining her true self. Everyone wears a story, even if we don’t know who they are. Black, White, or Asian, everyone has a racial background and stereotype. What Noda does, is explain to us how she is different and how people identify her. Then explains her values and what being Asian is really like. When reading this passage it really helps you to think about who you are and figure out your own identity.
Steve Wainwright-director
The purpose of Growing Up Asian is to show to the reader that there is a lot more to a person than their appearance. One should not base the way they conduct or see themselves based wholly on their appearance. While stereotypes and ideas may try to contradict who you really are, there is no need to have to fall into those categories in order to adhere to the guidelines of what people think you should be. The narrator stressed this point all throughout the story, saying “I can see myself today as a person historically defined by law and custom as being forever alien.” (27) This statement may be true, but that does not me that she herself defines herself that way. What Noda is conveying in that statement is that she acknowledges the way that others may look at her, but does not let that define the way she really is. Just because people look at her as an “alien” doesn’t mean that she acts that way or sees herself that way. Noda wanted to try to get this point across because she wants the reader to know that what other people think of you does not define who you are, nor should you let it. The way you are should be based on your own beliefs about yourself, with roots to your past involved within your views. Noda shows this by talking about her grandmother visiting the shrine. By her explaining how she thinks back to that and relates to that, she shows that she has pride in her heritage, which some people don’t understand.
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