Crash Course in Identify

What would happen one day if you woke to find out that you weren’t who you thought you were. Say for example that tomorrow Saturday November 14th, you log onto the internet and discover that to your surprise an identity you comfortably held onto turned out to be an imagined identity on your part. This pretty much sums up what happened to Lou Jing, a young woman from Shanghai who is the product of an African American father and Chinese mother, after appearing on "Go Oriental Angel" a Chinese talent show. I posted about her a few weeks ago, only casually commenting on her uniqueness in a country that by and large is mono racial, despite over 50 different ethnic groups, none of which physically stand out as much as Lou Jing . Jing’s appearance on the show left many in China questioning whether she was really Chinese, often accompanied with tinges of racism.
As an American I’m in no position to comment on the state of racism in China, compared to the United States. That would be like the U.S chiding India about Carbon emissions, or Iran on nuclear proliferation, but I’m granted some license to comment on her story as person whose parents belong to two different racial groups. I think most people of color who happen to grow up in areas that are overwhelmingly white, to some extent struggle feeling comfortable in their own non white skin. That’s not to say that people of color, and particularly people of mixed race heritage ,have a monopoly on issues of identity, but being a person of color in an area where no one else shares your phenotype does uniquely color (pun intended) the normal angst associated with growing pains.
What Lou Jing has abruptly been confronted with, is a major theme that underscores the larger American narrative; race. A blessing in disguise for Americans perhaps, but notions of race and how they affect personal constructed identities in my experience is a process that occurs quite naturally in a pluralistic country like ours, albeit not always easy. Our history also plays a large role in this narrative, and the lasting legacy of antiquated notions of race can still be observed. So a young women growing up in a society that falls on the opposite spectrum in regards to racial pluralism as the United States is just now beginning the process of constructing a racial identity, which most in the states have a started as children.
I can’t help but feel for Lou Jing as she traverses through a complicated journey of self discovery. I lack understanding about the nuances of race in a Chinese context, but wonder where her journey will lead her. I’ve read some interviews where she’s expressed a desire to study in the states, and also mentioned that Barack Obama is someone she relates to. I ‘m curious if she sees the American narrative on race as a way to help guide her on her construction of a healthy racial identity.
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Global Amnesia

Familiar with the men in this picture? Probably not. Follow the link and learn something new. Check it out

Collective Mea Culpas

Tila Tequila, Flavor flav, New York (from I love New York), you may wonder why these people are even mentioned in the same sentence. While these seemingly unrelated public reality personas generally have nothing in common aside from their questionable rise to fame, they are however connected by their ability to elicit a collective emotional response from their respective racial groups. Chances are if you’re a person of color in America you’ve been mortified every time the embodiment of decade’s worth of stereotypes such as these characters appeared on TV, especially if you happened to be the lone representative of your group among non members bearing witness these disasters. VHI has made a fortune off of eliciting horror from black folk. Their formula for TV success goes a little something like this; (disparaging black protagonist x 10(insane libido) + 20 steps back for black folk = majority of VHI’s content. I’ll admit it, I watch some of this debauchery from time to time, but I wonder how much freedom as an individual do people of color enjoy? Are successes individual, while we share in the shame when members of our own group engage in shameful behavior?
I wonder why the gunman at Virginia Tech who just so happened to be Korean, forced many Asians students across the nation to feel weary and worry about possible retribution. I’m curious why so many Muslim Americans are now feeling scared about possible acts of violence committed against them because the gunman at Ft. Hood coincidently turned out to be Muslim. Why did Jewish organizations come out publicly and lambast Bernie Madoff after the discovery of his Ponzi scheme? Why was I a little shook up after discovering that the DC sniper was a black man? We’re all individuals right? Why all the collective mea culpas?

Pulling oneself up by the deleterious boot straps

Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about the reluctance of some in America to support a public option healthcare plan. Some political pundits would have you believe that the Democrats lost the fight for the realization of such a plan, by simply naming it a “public option”, knowing that many in this country are adamantly against anything that may be perceived as a federal handout, and yet another burden to an economy grappling to recover. I however think that this notion is too simplistic, and offers little in explaining true reluctance towards such a plan. One would think that support for reform would be a no brainer in a country where the majority of adults are overweight, and chronically ill, and where claims for even those insured can be arbitrarily tossed out. Wouldn’t it be reassuring to have a federally backed plan in place, limiting gross abuses by health issuance companies? I think so, but apparently not everyone sees the proposals set forth by the proposed health care bill as solutions for Americas’ dysfunctional healthcare system. What I find particularly troublesome is that some of the biggest opponents to healthcare reform are those who need it the most. Working / middle class Americans who hold steadfast to an ideology counter their own self interest and support a status quo, in which they have no steak in. I totally understand why executives, and upper management of insurance companies, as well as lobbyist and the politicians whose campaigns they support, are strong opponents of healthcare reform, but I struggle to make sense out of the plumber Joes of America who also object to a plan that would have real beneficial ramifications in their lives.
When I hear the arguments spewed by some of the biggest critics of healthcare reform and the constant demonization of countries in Europe, whose populations are by the way markedly healthier than our own, despite spending far less on healthcare than we do, I’m baffled of how anyone can fall for an argument that in all estimations holds absolutely no weight. What’s more, the same people who vehemently argue against increased spending that the creation of a Public healthcare option would demand are shortsighted in their own ability to see how reform of America’s healthcare system directly impacts the country’s economic well being, by allocating less monies to inefficient entitlement programs, subsequently freeing up a larger portion of desperately needed GDP.
Listen, I may jokingly attack my country men on their embarrassing ineptness, but I do think that most in this country are intelligent enough to know a good thing when they see it. Yet for some strange reason an alarming amount of people here are having a tough time recognizing the good in ensuring that we have a healthy population. Are Americans so fiercely independent that they would undermine their own well being, rather than accept what may be perceived as a free hand out? Has the American legacy of “pulling oneself by the deleterious boot straps” run amok?

Sandra the Cow Girl

If you’re a Sandra Bullock fan, chances are you’re probably a little psyched about her new western film “The Blind Side”. She’s a talented actress who seems a lot more grounded than most in Hollywood. She’s starred in a wide range of roles, garnered numerous accolades, and even dabbled in charity work. Her new film provides her with yet another unique character to add to her impressive resume.
While I’ve only seen the trailer, and this is purely speculative on my part, Sandra’s new film focuses on her unconventional relationship with a raging wild black buck. From the 3 minute clip that I saw, Bullock is able to bring civility to an otherwise untamable stallion, without the aid of a lasso, and in an incredibly ultra original plot, welcomes this man-beast into her heart and home.
Look I know it’s got to be pretty hard for actors of color to get quality roles, but seriously hasn’t this storyline been regurgitated enough. Right now I can count three films from the top of my head (remember “Radio” & “Mr. Holland’s Opus”) “where the black protagonist is cognitively inept, and in dire need of a helping white hand to help him realize his woefully low expectations, and from the brief few minutes of the trailer it looks as though just holding a knife and fork are accomplishments for this young buck. Check out the trailer!