What constructs define Asian America?
What constructs define Mixed Race?
What and who comprises Asian-America and more specifically, how does a mixed-race Asian (American or Canadian) navigates today’s complex world? The key is today’s world because there are many factors including state/ province of residence, circle of family and friends, educational status, socioeconomic status and acceptance and understanding of one’s own identity which will in turn effect how one sees oneself. However, if questions about defining your identity or helping someone else to do the same still exist, the following are some helpful resources, some serious and some with a humorous twist which will help you in your journey of understanding.
To begin, consider the following term:
hap·a
ˈhäpə,ˈhapə/
noun
US
1. a person who is partially of Asian or Pacific Islander descent.
"Some academics theorized that by the turn of the century Asian America would be comprised mostly of hapas."
This term which has been appropriated from Hawaii by mainlanders of Asian descent has given many of part Asians a specific identity. When asked the “What are you question?” can you just say hapa and be done with it?
Take a look at the following pages and see, are you a hapa, or something else?
What is the importance of naming yourself in this way?
There is more to this question of being mixed race: whether you have clearly identifiable mixed race lineage or not, we all have multiple identities which this site will also help you to navigate.
Additional questions to help guide your journey:
What is Mixed Race? How narrowly do we define what Mixed Race is? For example, how do transcontinental adoptees from Asia who have adopted parents of another race define themselves?
What is the Asian Mixed Race experience in the United States of America? Canada?
How can we understand mixed race in America without making assumptions?
What are the various ways in which someone can be mixed race? What if your parents are of two different religions? If your parents are of two different religions, does that constitute mixed race or just a mixed cultural experience?
See the assignment page to help engage your thought process further.
What constructs define Mixed Race?
What and who comprises Asian-America and more specifically, how does a mixed-race Asian (American or Canadian) navigates today’s complex world? The key is today’s world because there are many factors including state/ province of residence, circle of family and friends, educational status, socioeconomic status and acceptance and understanding of one’s own identity which will in turn effect how one sees oneself. However, if questions about defining your identity or helping someone else to do the same still exist, the following are some helpful resources, some serious and some with a humorous twist which will help you in your journey of understanding.
To begin, consider the following term:
hap·a
ˈhäpə,ˈhapə/
noun
US
1. a person who is partially of Asian or Pacific Islander descent.
"Some academics theorized that by the turn of the century Asian America would be comprised mostly of hapas."
This term which has been appropriated from Hawaii by mainlanders of Asian descent has given many of part Asians a specific identity. When asked the “What are you question?” can you just say hapa and be done with it?
Take a look at the following pages and see, are you a hapa, or something else?
What is the importance of naming yourself in this way?
There is more to this question of being mixed race: whether you have clearly identifiable mixed race lineage or not, we all have multiple identities which this site will also help you to navigate.
Additional questions to help guide your journey:
What is Mixed Race? How narrowly do we define what Mixed Race is? For example, how do transcontinental adoptees from Asia who have adopted parents of another race define themselves?
What is the Asian Mixed Race experience in the United States of America? Canada?
How can we understand mixed race in America without making assumptions?
What are the various ways in which someone can be mixed race? What if your parents are of two different religions? If your parents are of two different religions, does that constitute mixed race or just a mixed cultural experience?
See the assignment page to help engage your thought process further.