The Alpha Asian Mindset
So I'm sure you've noticed that I've got a book out: The Alpha Asian Mindset. It's a compilation of my writings here on the Alpha Asian blog from the first year, organized into nice neat chapters. If you've enjoyed my insights into life, psychology and the Asian American consciousness, then this is my gift to you.
For those who are fans of my Strength and Physique books, you will find a chapter in The Alpha Asian Mindset on strength training with a training program. The book is available now through Amazon.com.
All sales of The Alpha Asian Mindset will go to an Asian American cause. I'll provide you the causes, and you the reader will vote on which cause the profits go to. Causes will change every so often. And yes I stole this idea from Kev Jumba.
For this round of causes, I've chosen the traditional non-profit organizations. Take the time to vote on the poll on the side. Here are the links for each of the organizations:
80-20 Initiative
APA's for Progress
Asian Law Caucus
Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund
Media Action Network for Asian Americans
I've been playing around with some exciting ideas for other causes which address Asian American images, which I'll reveal later. But for now, spread the word about The Alpha Asian Mindset challenge and the cause you'd like to advance. Buy a copy for yourself and buy a few extra copies and give them out as Christmas gifts.
I started the Alpha Asian blog a year ago, because I felt that although Asian Americans had a presence on the Web, nobody was using it to aggregate positive and confident portrayals of Asian Americans. Sure, there were plenty of Asian Americans creating positive images, but nobody thought of compiling these images. Most blogs and forums compiled videos and articles about Asian Americans without any sort of standard. Just being an Asian in public light seems to merit progress.
But it's not just about representation. It's about respect for the Asian American image. I didn't want to start a blog commenting about yellow guys doing yellow face and call that activism. Asian Americans have to be damn fucking good as actors and performers. So fucking good that people of all colors will see someone remarkable that they can relate to, not just an Asian person. Getting respect from other people means we have to respect ourselves and that means holding ourselves to a higher standard.
Blogs, forums, Facebook and Twitter are just tools. Phil Hartman once said, “You give one guy a computer, and he invents the space shuttle. Give it to another guy, and he plays ‘Doom’ all day.”
Some guys use the Internet to make money and learn new skills, while other guys use it to wallow in self-pity in forums and clamor for page hits and comments for their blogs. Blogs and forums are great tools for self-expression, but they have so much more potential than that. Whining and venting about issues is fine, because we all need an outlet where we can vent in anonymity and without fear of repercussion. But being a bad ass on the Internet means just that: you’re a bad ass on the Internet. If you’re angry about the situation our communities are in, then what the fuck are you going to do about it?
The Internet gives us the power to create our own images and spread our unique views of the world. It gives us the power to control our reality. So why not close the gap between reality and perception?
Over the past year, I think my blog has helped spread some rather unique idea viruses: Develop an Asian American Consciousness and Be Damn Good at Something, The Kubler-Ross Model Applied to Asian Americans. I feel like Tyler Durden when I read other people on the Internet parroting my statements and ideas. But idea viruses without action just die. Which is why I’ve decided the blog needs to earn its keep by generating some income for Asian American causes. So buy The Alpha Asian Mindset, accept the challenge and let’s spread this virus around.
For those who are fans of my Strength and Physique books, you will find a chapter in The Alpha Asian Mindset on strength training with a training program. The book is available now through Amazon.com.
All sales of The Alpha Asian Mindset will go to an Asian American cause. I'll provide you the causes, and you the reader will vote on which cause the profits go to. Causes will change every so often. And yes I stole this idea from Kev Jumba.
For this round of causes, I've chosen the traditional non-profit organizations. Take the time to vote on the poll on the side. Here are the links for each of the organizations:
80-20 Initiative
APA's for Progress
Asian Law Caucus
Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund
Media Action Network for Asian Americans
I've been playing around with some exciting ideas for other causes which address Asian American images, which I'll reveal later. But for now, spread the word about The Alpha Asian Mindset challenge and the cause you'd like to advance. Buy a copy for yourself and buy a few extra copies and give them out as Christmas gifts.
I started the Alpha Asian blog a year ago, because I felt that although Asian Americans had a presence on the Web, nobody was using it to aggregate positive and confident portrayals of Asian Americans. Sure, there were plenty of Asian Americans creating positive images, but nobody thought of compiling these images. Most blogs and forums compiled videos and articles about Asian Americans without any sort of standard. Just being an Asian in public light seems to merit progress.
But it's not just about representation. It's about respect for the Asian American image. I didn't want to start a blog commenting about yellow guys doing yellow face and call that activism. Asian Americans have to be damn fucking good as actors and performers. So fucking good that people of all colors will see someone remarkable that they can relate to, not just an Asian person. Getting respect from other people means we have to respect ourselves and that means holding ourselves to a higher standard.
Blogs, forums, Facebook and Twitter are just tools. Phil Hartman once said, “You give one guy a computer, and he invents the space shuttle. Give it to another guy, and he plays ‘Doom’ all day.”
Some guys use the Internet to make money and learn new skills, while other guys use it to wallow in self-pity in forums and clamor for page hits and comments for their blogs. Blogs and forums are great tools for self-expression, but they have so much more potential than that. Whining and venting about issues is fine, because we all need an outlet where we can vent in anonymity and without fear of repercussion. But being a bad ass on the Internet means just that: you’re a bad ass on the Internet. If you’re angry about the situation our communities are in, then what the fuck are you going to do about it?
The Internet gives us the power to create our own images and spread our unique views of the world. It gives us the power to control our reality. So why not close the gap between reality and perception?
Over the past year, I think my blog has helped spread some rather unique idea viruses: Develop an Asian American Consciousness and Be Damn Good at Something, The Kubler-Ross Model Applied to Asian Americans. I feel like Tyler Durden when I read other people on the Internet parroting my statements and ideas. But idea viruses without action just die. Which is why I’ve decided the blog needs to earn its keep by generating some income for Asian American causes. So buy The Alpha Asian Mindset, accept the challenge and let’s spread this virus around.
Comments
very worthwhile goals. you are to be commended for picking up the banner and running with it and making your imprint somewhere. change doesn't happen over night, but you have to start somewhere.
Yo James,
I just read your post from last year on the Kubler-Moss model applied to Asian Americans. Its a damn good one I might add. Unfortunately, I identify with all of the different Asian American personality types; especially the Angry Asian Man. To be honest, its quite eye opening and simultaneously embarrassing since I'm able to see these identical behavioral elements internally. I would be lying if I said I have never bitched about the IR dilemma.
What's funnier is that it never really bothered me before until I started seeing WM/AF couples almost everywhere I turned while kicking it in NorCal almost 8 years ago. Even my sister was dating a White guy at the time!
I tried to ignored it, but one day I went skimming through craigslist classifieds and roughly 80 percent of the AFs were seeking out WMs, yet not even 1 percent of the non-AF listings were seeking out AMs. This accumulation of recurrence, along with Asian sistas telling me in the clubs, "I'm only date White guys" was probably the impetus to my bitterness, contempt and (I hate to admit) envy.
Looks like there are many instances of this "Angry" or "Bitter Asian Man" out there since there's a separate category in itself. Its time for me to clear out my conscience.
You know we've all been there dude. I was an angry Asian man during certain periods of my life, and I was a bit of all the other categories (internally colonized, yellow Uncle Tom) as well.
The thing is feelings are natural. There's nothing wrong with feeling pissed off when you see racial injustice.
Question is: how do you act on that feeling? There are times when you SHOULD be angry, because anger pushes you to an emotional extreme where you must act. If you don't act, then the anger submerges back into your psyche and eats away at your happiness and your health.
But the circumstances that bring about anger should be rare. In order words, you should have a pretty high threshold before you become angry. The circumstance should be serious enough to warrant anger.
If you get angry seeing AF/WM's all the time, then you're going to lead a pretty miserable life because all AF's are traitorous whores.
I'm kidding. I'm kidding.
Not all AF's are traitorous.
OK all joking aside, you should raise the threshold that triggers anger. It's not worth it to get angry seeing an AF/WM pairing, because your entire day is shot with this mental distraction.
You should get angry when you witness an Asian female in an abusive relationship.
I know it's easier said than done to be positive in the face of all the negativity from the Bargaining AF's in Denial. Personally I think it's a good idea that Asian men remain open as to who they want to date and marry. They should not limit themselves to AF's, because AF's don't limit themselves to AM's
Why should they? Attraction is a very personal thing. What gets AF's into trouble is when they mouth off and publicly declare to the world, "I don't date Asian guys."
They've now made the personal public, and opened themselves to repercussions for saying such a bigoted statement.
Anyway, Asian guys should not limit themselves to AF's. Just yesterday, my wife and I were attending an infant care class, and the couple behind us were an AM/HF. With regards to looks, the guy definitely married up a league.
It still does get under my skin once in a while but not as much as it used to. I think in the beginning it pissed me off because all of a sudden I saw it everywhere I went. After a while I just accepted it as a trend, Gamed harder and laughed it off since most of the couples were busted. Occasionally I'd see some hot ones up in there.
Now that I'm not in the states though, it's not that big of a deal. But the truth is, you like who you like whether its for race, looks, money or personality. They can always be critiqued.
Where are you at if not in the States?
You know I knew this angry Asian man (AAM) who constantly bitched about the IR disparity. A friend offers set him up on date with a girl who happens to be white.
Then he gets cold feet and gives some lame excuse about how he'd have more in common with someone who was Asian. I told him, "Why limit your opportunities for happiness?"
Not to be crude, but I think some of these AAM's need to focus on who they fuck as oppose who other people are fucking.